Friday, October 9, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Questions & Answers
Stephen,
I want to thank you and BES staff for the presentation delivered at the Garden Home Neighborhood meeting on Th, 9/24/2009, evening. Although your presentation regarding a new secondary pump station design was very informative, many questions remain unanswered regarding this project.
I have a couple of questions below:
1) Specifically, I asked you about a reference made during the Maplewood NA meeting on 6/8/2009. The attached meeting minutes reflect your statement pertaining to "cracks developing in the Fanno Basic line due to winter storm water pressure." Can you please expand, in detail, on the location and severity of these cracks? Also, what risk maybe posed to the Fanno gravity line currently in operation, including any discharge into Fanno Creek should that line fail in the future?
2) Notwithstanding the future pump station construction, has the completion date of the existing plastic pressure line replacement and current pump station repair still targeted for completion by early 2010? This was the original completion estimate given in the Fanno Creek resident notices distributed in April/May 2008 and on your Website. If not, what is the new completion estimate and when is it expected that the "old pump station system" will be in operation and functional..
3) When, if ever, does BES plan to stop discharging "partially treated" sewage into Fanno Creek during a severe event, defined as "2 inches of rain in a 24hr period" as a backup plan. Surely, you must be aware that there have been two flooding events, during the last 2 years, that have caused Fanno Creek to rise higher than the 1996 flood mark. I understand no sewage was "released" during the last event, although it came "pretty close". Clearly, when Fanno Creek has already overflowed its banks would be the worst possible time to discharge any sewage into the creek flow. It appears that BES's current backup plan would do just that. Please expand with some details regarding discharge rates or correct me if wrong.
In addition, most residents in the immediate neighborhood, myself included, remain very concerned. Theses concerns are magnified by BES's lack of community involvement, information, and follow-through regarding the history, current state, and future plans of this evolving and seemingly endless project. I trust BES is committed to addressing the communities concerns and questions. As such, your quick response is much appreciated.
Regards,
Frank DiBenedetto
frank.dibenedetto@att.net
Frank,
I apologize for the delayed response to your questions.
1) I believe this is the quote that you are referring to (taken from the Maplewood 6/8/2009 NA mtg):
"The pipe line is ten years old and there has been a problem with the pipe joints in the pressure line from day one. In addition the Fanno Basic (sic) has developed cracks in the system. The Winter storm water put more pressure on the line."
I interpret this notation from Maplewood NA to refer to two different parts of the entire Fanno basin system. The first sentence refers to the Fanno forcemain. The second and third sentences refer to the collection and conveyance system of sewer pipes that are in the Fanno basin. Collection and conveyance systems refers to the sewer pipes that are in residential and commercial districts.
The cracks that I was referring to are the ones that are in the sewer collection and conveyance pipes throughout the Fanno Basin. I was not referring to any cracks in the Fanno forcemain.
The reference to winter storm water putting more pressure on the line is a reference to the increase in flows to the Fanno pump station that BES sees during the wet months of the year. Once the ground becomes saturated in fall, older sewer pipes that have cracks in them experience an increased amount of inflow of stormwater each time that it rains.
2) In response to your second question: "Notwithstanding the future pump station construction, has the completion date of the existing plastic pressure line replacement and current pump station repair still targeted for completion by early 2010? This was the original completion estimate given in the Fanno Creek resident notices distributed in April/May 2008 and on your Website. If not, what is the new completion estimate and when is it expected that the "old pump station system" will be in operation and functional.."
Response: the current construction period to replace the single plastic pressure line with two metal pressure lines is expected to start in March 2010 and be completed by November 1, 2010. We are planning to have the current pump station (and associated pressure line capacity or "old pump station system") operational by November 2010.
3) In response to your third question: When, if ever, does BES plan to stop discharging "partially treated" sewage into Fanno Creek during a severe event, defined as "2 inches of rain in a 24hr period" as a backup plan. Surely, you must be aware that there have been two flooding events, during the last 2 years, that have caused Fanno Creek to rise higher than the 1996 flood mark. I understand no sewage was "released" during the last event, although it came "pretty close". Clearly, when Fanno Creek has already overflowed its banks would be the worst possible time to discharge any sewage into the creek flow. It appears that BES's current backup plan would do just that. Please expand with some details regarding discharge rates or correct me if wrong.
Response: Here is an excerpt from the project website (www.portlandonline.com/bes/fanno) that answers your questions:
"If the Fanno Pressure Sewer is activated during an extreme rain storm to pump sewage to the Portland sewer system, and if the pressure sewer fails after being activated, this backup system will pump some sewage from the gravity system to relieve pressure on the sewer and prevent uncontrolled overflows downstream. The sewage pumped from the gravity line at the Fanno Pump Station will flow through an aboveground, screened vault to remove solids and debris.
The highly diluted, partially treated wastewater will then be discharged to Fanno Creek. This relief system will remain in place for the next two years, until the project to replace the Fanno Pressure Sewer is complete. The repaired Fanno Force Main has been activated twice, once in January 2009 and February 2009. The relief system has not been activated."
Note that BES plans to remove this emergency relief system after the "old pump station system" is operational in November 2010. I don't have specific information regarding discharge rates but would be happy to obtain them if you can clarify your question; are you requesting the specific volume that the relief system can produce? Keep in mind that because the relief system capacity is variable, I am not able to say the exact volume of partially treated highly diluted wasterwater that would enter Fanno creek during one of these emergency events.
In closing, I reiterate my apology for not responding more quickly. Please continue to send questions to me that you would like explained. Additionally, I am available by phone and can continue to make visits to the site to meet with concerned neighbors.
Regards,
Stephen Sykes
BES – Community Outreach
Phone: 503-823-7898
Cell: 503-823-8341
I want to thank you and BES staff for the presentation delivered at the Garden Home Neighborhood meeting on Th, 9/24/2009, evening. Although your presentation regarding a new secondary pump station design was very informative, many questions remain unanswered regarding this project.
I have a couple of questions below:
1) Specifically, I asked you about a reference made during the Maplewood NA meeting on 6/8/2009. The attached meeting minutes reflect your statement pertaining to "cracks developing in the Fanno Basic line due to winter storm water pressure." Can you please expand, in detail, on the location and severity of these cracks? Also, what risk maybe posed to the Fanno gravity line currently in operation, including any discharge into Fanno Creek should that line fail in the future?
2) Notwithstanding the future pump station construction, has the completion date of the existing plastic pressure line replacement and current pump station repair still targeted for completion by early 2010? This was the original completion estimate given in the Fanno Creek resident notices distributed in April/May 2008 and on your Website. If not, what is the new completion estimate and when is it expected that the "old pump station system" will be in operation and functional..
3) When, if ever, does BES plan to stop discharging "partially treated" sewage into Fanno Creek during a severe event, defined as "2 inches of rain in a 24hr period" as a backup plan. Surely, you must be aware that there have been two flooding events, during the last 2 years, that have caused Fanno Creek to rise higher than the 1996 flood mark. I understand no sewage was "released" during the last event, although it came "pretty close". Clearly, when Fanno Creek has already overflowed its banks would be the worst possible time to discharge any sewage into the creek flow. It appears that BES's current backup plan would do just that. Please expand with some details regarding discharge rates or correct me if wrong.
In addition, most residents in the immediate neighborhood, myself included, remain very concerned. Theses concerns are magnified by BES's lack of community involvement, information, and follow-through regarding the history, current state, and future plans of this evolving and seemingly endless project. I trust BES is committed to addressing the communities concerns and questions. As such, your quick response is much appreciated.
Regards,
Frank DiBenedetto
frank.dibenedetto@att.net
Frank,
I apologize for the delayed response to your questions.
1) I believe this is the quote that you are referring to (taken from the Maplewood 6/8/2009 NA mtg):
"The pipe line is ten years old and there has been a problem with the pipe joints in the pressure line from day one. In addition the Fanno Basic (sic) has developed cracks in the system. The Winter storm water put more pressure on the line."
I interpret this notation from Maplewood NA to refer to two different parts of the entire Fanno basin system. The first sentence refers to the Fanno forcemain. The second and third sentences refer to the collection and conveyance system of sewer pipes that are in the Fanno basin. Collection and conveyance systems refers to the sewer pipes that are in residential and commercial districts.
The cracks that I was referring to are the ones that are in the sewer collection and conveyance pipes throughout the Fanno Basin. I was not referring to any cracks in the Fanno forcemain.
The reference to winter storm water putting more pressure on the line is a reference to the increase in flows to the Fanno pump station that BES sees during the wet months of the year. Once the ground becomes saturated in fall, older sewer pipes that have cracks in them experience an increased amount of inflow of stormwater each time that it rains.
2) In response to your second question: "Notwithstanding the future pump station construction, has the completion date of the existing plastic pressure line replacement and current pump station repair still targeted for completion by early 2010? This was the original completion estimate given in the Fanno Creek resident notices distributed in April/May 2008 and on your Website. If not, what is the new completion estimate and when is it expected that the "old pump station system" will be in operation and functional.."
Response: the current construction period to replace the single plastic pressure line with two metal pressure lines is expected to start in March 2010 and be completed by November 1, 2010. We are planning to have the current pump station (and associated pressure line capacity or "old pump station system") operational by November 2010.
3) In response to your third question: When, if ever, does BES plan to stop discharging "partially treated" sewage into Fanno Creek during a severe event, defined as "2 inches of rain in a 24hr period" as a backup plan. Surely, you must be aware that there have been two flooding events, during the last 2 years, that have caused Fanno Creek to rise higher than the 1996 flood mark. I understand no sewage was "released" during the last event, although it came "pretty close". Clearly, when Fanno Creek has already overflowed its banks would be the worst possible time to discharge any sewage into the creek flow. It appears that BES's current backup plan would do just that. Please expand with some details regarding discharge rates or correct me if wrong.
Response: Here is an excerpt from the project website (www.portlandonline.com/bes/fanno) that answers your questions:
"If the Fanno Pressure Sewer is activated during an extreme rain storm to pump sewage to the Portland sewer system, and if the pressure sewer fails after being activated, this backup system will pump some sewage from the gravity system to relieve pressure on the sewer and prevent uncontrolled overflows downstream. The sewage pumped from the gravity line at the Fanno Pump Station will flow through an aboveground, screened vault to remove solids and debris.
The highly diluted, partially treated wastewater will then be discharged to Fanno Creek. This relief system will remain in place for the next two years, until the project to replace the Fanno Pressure Sewer is complete. The repaired Fanno Force Main has been activated twice, once in January 2009 and February 2009. The relief system has not been activated."
Note that BES plans to remove this emergency relief system after the "old pump station system" is operational in November 2010. I don't have specific information regarding discharge rates but would be happy to obtain them if you can clarify your question; are you requesting the specific volume that the relief system can produce? Keep in mind that because the relief system capacity is variable, I am not able to say the exact volume of partially treated highly diluted wasterwater that would enter Fanno creek during one of these emergency events.
In closing, I reiterate my apology for not responding more quickly. Please continue to send questions to me that you would like explained. Additionally, I am available by phone and can continue to make visits to the site to meet with concerned neighbors.
Regards,
Stephen Sykes
BES – Community Outreach
Phone: 503-823-7898
Cell: 503-823-8341
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