Responses from Public Works are in Red
- Our sewer and water systems should be managed on a risk basis. What are the risks and what plans are in place to mitigate those risks?
The videos produced by Public Works that are available at TAP – Video Library – Tellico Village Property Owners Association (tellicovillagepoa.org) clearly outline the risks, alternatives that have been identified and studied, as well as the solutions to be delivered with the proposed projects. If you have not already watched those videos, I suspect the answers to your questions are included within.
- There needs to be a communications plan, including an emergency response system that ensures all residents are contacted in the case of an emergency.
TVPOA Public Works staff responds to emergencies (water and sewer line breaks and pumping station outages) on a routine basis. Typically, residents who are affected by the emergency are notified in person and with door-hangers. For wider-scale emergencies, Public Works staff is in communication with Beth Kuberka’s Communications team who employ communication strategies on a wider scale.
- There needs to be an emergency response plan to address known risks and a casualty control plan for casualties that could occur. Needed equipment needs to be procured and prepositioned. Responders need to be trained.
TVPOA Public Works staff is well-trained with experienced operators. The Supervisor and his assistant carry the highest water and wastewater certifications available for the water distribution and wastewater collection systems operated by Tellico Village. The heavy equipment and operators are contracted with Tellico Dirt Works.
- We need an I&I condition based maintenance program, that methodically works to identify and resolve all I&I issues. Regular reporting on progress should be provided to all residents.
A proposed plan and alternatives have been prepared for the CEO and Board of Directors. It is under consideration.
- The freshwater system needs the capability to measure pressure in all neighborhoods. Currently they can only measure pressure at the main tank. That prevents any diagnostic of individual neighborhood concerns or resolution of those issues.
The proposed Elevated Water Storage Tank project includes these improvements. However, pressure isn’t static with increased demand. In any case, Public Works staff can assess where pressure is likely suffering based upon ground storage tank water levels.
- The fire hydrants need to be added and extended to ensure that all homes are within range of the pumper truck. A map with the location of every fire hydrant and the water pressure at the last test needs to be published. Per state requirements, as the “Water Department”, the POA should be testing and reporting results to the applicable Fire Departments. The POA should request that Tellico Village Volunteer Fire Department evaluate the adequacy and risks of Tellico Village’s water supply system to fight fires.
Tellico Village is compliant with the standard that was in place when fire hydrants were installed (which is 1,000’ radius). Public Works maintains an inventory of hydrant locations, testing and pressures. It would not be an industry practice to publish such information. State law does not allow the installation of fire hydrants on anything less than a 6” waterline. Presently, areas that would be candidates for hydrant installation are on waterlines less than 6”. Tellico Village Public Works staff stays in regular communication with the Volunteer Fire Department, and they have access to the same inventory of hydrants and pressure.
- Water line dead ends need to be eliminated where possible. Those that cannot be eliminated should be identified. Routine testing and flushing needs to be part of a planned maintenance program and the results published to the community regularly.
Ideally, dead ends should be eliminated to ensure chlorine residuals. However, every water system has them. Waterline installation is estimated at approximately $150 to $300/linear foot and is generally not cost-effective unless achieved with new customers. That’s why testing and flushing is the typical practice. Tellico Village Public Works ensures testing to TDEC and flushing maintenance practices.
8. Regarding the main sewer line to Loudon
A) LUB needs to be engaged to reopen the contract and resolve the capacity limiting they are currently enforcing on us. At the same time, we need to ensure we have sufficient pumping capacity on the village end so that we can take advantage of any additional capacity that LUB allows.
My advice on that topic would be “be careful what you wish for.” Assuming LUB could be convinced to undertake a wastewater capacity improvement program (while also engaged in a $80 million water treatment project), expect those improvements to alleviate their capacity to be proportionately passed on to Tellico Village in form of higher wholesale distribution rates.
B) Ensure that that main sewer line itself has sufficient capability to handle any additional loads (e.g., are we doing any testing, etc. to ensure minimal breakage of the line?).
The line is pressurized. Cameras and “pigging” (typical assessment techniques) cannot be used.
9. While the TAP program addressed several specific issues, it does not address the existing piping within the village. What is the plan for maintaining/replacing the piping? What is the plan to evaluate the condition of and risk of failure of these assets.
Tellico Village does not suffer from water distribution or sewer collection line capacity issues. The vast majority of the water distribution and wastewater collection system is PVC pipe. It can last 100 years. Most water and wastewater leaks in Tellico Village are the result of substandard installation, not pipe deterioration.
10. What is the policy regarding new commercial builds? The CCI land purchase resulted in several large plots of land that are now being marketed. If someone wanted to build on one of these parcels, does it automatically grant them access to our sewer/water systems.
No.
11. The Reserve Study identified that 2/3 of POA assets are dedicated to water/sewer, so why are we not using 2/3 of the available reserve funding (totally nearly $20m) for TAP projects?
At the same link provided above, go to the video of the June 25, 2024 Town Hall meeting. At about the 36:41 minute mark, slides 11 and 12 answer the question.
12. Encourage homeowners to understand their own impact to the I&I problem by installing a usage meter on their wastewater controller and then measuring their own usage over time”.
Under consideration. It has shortcomings (particularly during wet weather events when the pump may be operating but the wastewater may not be leaving the tank).
13. Develop an incentive plan to reduce water used for irrigation purposes. Such as, provide homeowners with clear guidelines for installing a separate, optional irrigation water meter. Offer reduced water rates to enable payback if the homeowner agrees to not water between 5am-8am on any day. If the new WIFI meters allow for it, establish controls to prevent usage during peak hours.
Tellico Village water meters are not capable of inhibiting or throttling consumption. Public Works cost of installing a separate irrigation meter is approximately $1,000. The resident would then have to pay to have their irrigation system and backflow preventer attached to the new irrigation meter (unknown cost). Also, go to https://www.tellicovillagepoa.org/tap/ and the review question #1, “Why are irrigation restrictions not put in place to reduce the peak hourly summer demand?” for an explanation of the difficulties associated with irrigation restrictions.