04-05-12 Utilities Committee - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

undertaken not as part of its combined sewer overflow long -term control pan, but as a locally proposed project benefitting the local environment in lieu of paying higher fines and penalties to EPA for pas combined sewage overflows. Bowman Creek enters South Bend near the AM General test track along West Chippewa Avenue before wining its way for two miles through southeast South Bend. The creek passes landmarks like Riley High School and the Studebaker Golf Course mostly underground or within enclosed storm sewer pipes until it drains into the St. Joseph River across from the Farmers Market. Bowman Creek runs dry during droughts, floods during rainstorms, is little valued and often serves as a dump, despite fencing that seeks to control dumping. It is one of the most impaired tributaries in the St. Joseph River watershed. But we can fix it. Bowman Creek could become an area with attractive passive linear parks, hiking tails and wildlife habitat. Fish could thrive where they now barely survive. South Bend was named Indiana's Green Community of the Year in 2009, and we are building on that recognition as good environmental stewards. Out team is always searching for creative cost effective ways to improve City services, enhance quality of life and be a socially responsible advocate for our environment. Mr. Gilot advised that Phase 1 CSO Collection System Controls start date 3/1/2012 end date 12/31/2017; CSO controls upstream of East Race start date 3/1/2014 end date 12/31/2025, Leeper Park CSO Storage Tank (Downstream of East Race) start date 3/1/2017 end date 12/31/2023, Remaining CSO Controls Downstream of East Race start date 3/1/2023 end date 12/31/2031 and Other collection system projects such as sewer extension and replacements, River Crossing #5 and Engineering project to be underway for the entire duration of the LTCP. Mr. Gilot further elaborated on CSOnet, an innovative solution to CSO's. He stated that CSOnet is a solution for CSO abatement. It's a wireless network of control points and sensors. It offers monitoring of hydraulics and water quality and distributed control strategy and software. It gathers data and reports. The monitoring system is an extensive real time monitoring system with 116 monitoring points, with real time data. It is focused along the river and integrated with utilities operations. The benefits include 96% reduction n unpermitted overflows, enables $200k of additional proactive maintenance per year and identifies inefficiencies in real time control Mr. Gilot then went over various power point slides. (A copy of Mr. Gilot's power point is on file in the Office of the City Clerk.) Chairperson Scott thanked Mr. Gilot for his update of the CSO LTCP Consent Decree. He opened the meeting up for questions. Citizen Member Dawn Pontius questioned what pervious paving was and why the City doesn't use more of it? She also asked where it has been used. Mr. Gilot stated that water can go through it or percolate allowing for better drainage. He stated that the cost is quite a bit higher. He stated that it was used around the location and intersection of Main and LaSalle around the Burger King Restaurant location.