Agenda Packets - 2003/09/08 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Televising storm and sanitary lines is also time consuming. Data entry, setup times and equipment problems require two operators at all times. One operator moves the camera down the pipe while the other performs the data entry tasks. Initiating the storm sewer cleaning inspection program based on the requirements set by the NPDES Storm water permit will require the City to expend an enormous amount of man hours to make the initial round of cleaning. At the current rate, using a season employee, this may take up to three years. Without a seasonal employee it could be as long as five years. This is assuming that no cleaning of the City’s sanitary sewer system is done during this period. It has been the maintenance practice of the Public Works Department to clean the sanitary sewer once per year. With this practice, there has not been one sewer flow related problem. At the current staffing levels, this level of service will not be sustained. With many roadway rehabilitation projects either about to be underway or being studied, it will be necessary to survey the condition of the existing pipes. Any deficient sanitary or storm sewer pipe(s) will need to be addressed during a street rehabilitation project. Efficiency factor Sewer cleaning and televising together require four employees for optimum performance and efficiency. If these tasks were run simultaneously, twice the amount of work can be accomplished. The addition of one seasonal employee, together with the two full-time employees in the sewer division and the one full- time employee in the Surface Water/ Storm Sewer Division would make this possible. With four employees working on sanitary and storm sewer, two employees could be cleaning while the other two could be televising. This would increase productivity exponentially. Without a seasonal employee, the current Staff of three full-time employees can clean 300 to 400 feet of storm sewer per day. Assume that on the next day the same crew then televises the same 300-400 feet of storm sewer. At an estimated cost per full-time employee of $28 including befits, this translates to an average cost of $3.84 per foot to clean and televise the storm sewers. With a seasonal employee, two crews can be formed doubling the work performed with only a small incremental increase cost. Assuming two crews of two employees, one being a seasonal employee at $10.50 per hour. The average cost to clean and televise the storm sewers is reduced to $2.16 per foot. Given that the City has approximately 184,800 feet of storm sewer to clean, this translates into an overall savings of $310,000 each time the entire system is cleaned.