Water and Sewer InfrastructureTexarkana, Arkansas

Board of Directors Presentation

February 21, 2012

General InformationUtility staff is not aware of any mandate from city ordinance or

state statute to provide water and sewer services following an annexation.

During former annexations, citizens have been advised that water and sewer services might not be available.

In the last twenty four years, no potential customers have been promised or led to believe that such services would be made available specifically because of annexation by Utility staff.

Some Arkansas residents seem to confuse Texas statutes (which do provide services following annexations) with Arkansas rules and statutes.

Almost all residents want sewer services but a great many are satisfied with their wells and do not want City water or solid waste services.

Arkansas regulations from the Department of Health and the ADEQ mandate that certain standards be maintained where water and sanitary sewer services are provided.

Texarkana, Arkansas ordinances require any structure within 300 feet of a water or sanitary sewer main to be connected.( Sec. 26-5 )

General Sewer Service

Plan: Texarkana, Arkansas

•Long Term Plan - 20 to 30 years• Very Expensive• Current sewer system

must be maintained• Any plan is unlikely to

please everyone• Population density is

the problem

Overall Cost EstimateCurrent Dollars

Cost Projection by Area

Area II $23,598,750

Area III $19,575,300

Area IV $12,773,450 __________ $55,947,500

Average cost per structure to provide sewer service to these areas is $30,589.

IV

III

II

How to Progress??Any number of plans can be formulated but all will

require a long period of time and hard choices.Annual projects can be adopted at budget time with

new main extension projects funded through the Capital Improvement Fund and old infrastructure replaced through the Infrastructure Fund based on condition and growth.

Expansion of the North Texarkana WWTP, construction of a new East WWTP and upgrade of the South Regional WWTP* may require bond issues.

Connection and/or use of available sewer, water and solid waste services needs to be strictly enforced. Cooperation of Public Works, TWU and the City Attorney can put such a program in place.

How to progress? (continued)The Board of Directors may want to determine if

pro rata connection to services will be a part of the program to extend services to their customers as currently provided by ordinance.

The Board of Directors may want to decide if a low-interest loan, to be repaid monthly on the water bill, should be a part of the overall program to provide water and sewer services, especially to low income families who own the homes.

Current Projects for Consideration1. Broadmoor/Pinson Area Sewer Rehabilitation2. University of Arkansas Way/Clay Pit Road Sewer

Extension. Part A and Part B3. Clay Pit Road/East 50th/East Broad Water Extension. Part

A and Part B

PLEASE NOTE: Utility staff does not necessarily recommend all of these projects.

These three projects can be funded from the Capital Improvement and Infrastructure Funds in addition to the specific projects already listed in these funds. Engineering will be done by the TWU Engineering Division.

Broadmoor/Pinson Sewer Rehabilitation

Broadmoor/Pinson Cost Estimate

• Estimates are very conservative (worst case scenario) and bids may come in 5% to 20% less than

shown for these projects.• All projects would be bid

and come back to the Board for final approval.

• This project could be designed, bid and returned to the Board for review by the first meeting in May.

• If approved, construction could begin in June and completed in four months.

University of Arkansas Way/ Clay Pit Road Sewer Extension

Part A (Green)

Part B (Green)

Part A Estimate - $197,533Four current potential customersPart B Estimate - $142,532Six potential customers

Total Project - $340,065

University of Arkansas Way and East Broad Water ExtensionPart A and Part B

Part A Blue green

Part B(Purple)

A. Part A Estimate $55,000B. Part B Estimate $48,950 Total Project $103,950Note 1: Part A. will serve three

customers for $55,000 .Note2: Part B will complete another water loop for fireprotection to the Fair Groundsand U of A as well as eliminates a dead end water main.

Locations Bearing Some Resemblance to the East 50th Request for Water

There are 12 locations that bear some resemblance to the East 50th request for water, i. e. not served by a water main but within 300 feet of where a water main could be constructed. The cost to extend water mains to these twelve locations is estimated to be $120,375 plus customer costs of approximately $1000 per customer for meter taps and sets.

Residences Currently Not Connected to Water and Often Not Paying Solid Waste

Two weeks ago ,the Utility sent out letters to connect to water service within one year to 96 residents currently not connected to water service but who are within 300 feet of a water main per the current ordinance. There is some strong resistance to connect to water service and many of these individuals are not paying solid waste fees but their solid waste is being collected.Another 39 residences are currently vacant and not connected to available water service. Condemned buildings have been excluded.

Unusual CircumstancesThere are other circumstances under which residences are not known to be connected to water.1. Residences within 300 feet of water main but

“landlocked” by other property owners.(approximately 32)

2. Long side, major highway connections (24 known locations) These residents will receive a letter to connect unless the Board directs otherwise. This circumstance increases the cost from approximately $1000 + plumber to $1700 + plumber.

3. Residences more than 300 feet from water main (approximately 43).

4. Multiple residences connected to a single meter ( unknown number of locations)

5. Illegal connections (unknown number of locations)

Possible Actions1. A consensus of the Board to proceed with design and bidding of the three

projects or portions of these projects that the Board wishes returned to it for final consideration.

2. A consensus for the Utility to work with the City Attorney and Public Works Department to structure a program to notify and work with citizens to connect and/or use required water, sewer and solid waste services as per ordinance and to provide such a draft program to the City Manager .

3. A consensus to provide the City Manager’s office with a draft budget amendment for the Utility to fund an existing low interest loan fund for low income citizens.

4. A consensus of whether to implement a pro rata program as a part of providing water and sewer services..