Storm Drain Art Contest Wins Award

The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities has received the 2017 National Environmental Achievement Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies.The award will be formally presented at their winter conference in February.

The RVAH20 Storm Drain Art Contest was entered in the Public Information and Education:E-Media category. 

The project goal was to obtain a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit by 2018, making Richmond one of the first cities in the U.S. to do so.

DPU is mandated to reach 20 percent of Richmond residents with a stormwater/water quality message: address pollution, how the public is related to area waterways, and how individual actions impact overall water health.

So Richmond DPU developed the first annual Storm Drain Art Project, "It All Drains to the James." Richmond-area artists would apply to paint a storm drain design that conveyed how important it is to keep our river – and our drinking water – clean.

The goal was to educate the public that pollutants that go into storm drains impact Richmond waterways – the very places that are so beloved for community swimming, fishing and water sports.  It’s why all five of the storm drains selected for this project carry stormwater directly into the James River – and into our water supply.

When the artists were selected and the art work completed, fans voted for a favorite design online. The artist with the most votes received the RVA Choice Award, along with special recognition.

Stroll down Tredegar Street and see for yourself how art can help communicate that what goes into these drains flows directly into the James.

Fan Favorite

City Enters Bond Market in Public Utility Revenue and Refunding Bonds

The City of Richmond successfully sold $502 million in Public Utility Revenue and Refunding Bonds of which $169 million was for new money projects and $333 million was to refund existing debt service for interest rate savings in 2016.

The cost of funds for the City’s New Money Projects was approximately 3.47 percent, which is near the lowest cost of funds in several decades. In addition, the City took advantage of the historic low interest rate environment to refund two outstanding bond issues, which will result in the City reducing its existing debt service by roughly $100 million over the next 24 years.

The Bonds were highly rated by all three national credit rating agencies: Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch (Aa2, AA, AA respectively).

Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Raymond James and Siebert Cisneros Shank served as underwriters on the financing. Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Raymond James have offices in Richmond. Siebert Cisneros Shank is based out of New York and is the nation’s largest minority owned bond underwriting firm.

David Rose, senior vice president and manager of Public Finance at Davenport & Company LLC, the City’s financial advisor, said “As best we can determine, the level of debt service savings is unprecedented for a Virginia local government.”

DPU Wins National Gold Award for Exceptional Water Utility Performance

City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU) was one of 20 public drinking water

AMWA President Scott Potter and DPU Director Bob Steidel

systems recognized by the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) for its utility management.

DPU received AMWA’s Gold Award for Exceptional Water Utility Performance, Oct. 17.

“These awards spotlight the impressive advances and substantial achievements of public drinking water utilities that are leading the nation in their efforts toward sustainability through innovative management practices, executive leadership and employee engagement,” said AMWA President Scott Potter. "Communities count on their drinking water systems for reliable and adequate supplies of clean, safe water, and those served by AMWA’s 2016 award winners can take pride in their outstanding accomplishments.”

AMWA’s Gold Awards recognize outstanding achievement in implementing the nationally recognized Attributes of Effective Utility Management, which include product quality, customer satisfaction, employee and leadership development, operational optimization, financial viability, infrastructure stability, operational resiliency, community sustainability, water resource adequacy, and stakeholder understanding and support. These Attributes were developed by a blue ribbon committee of water industry executives at the request of the U.S. EPA, AMWA, and other water organizations.

DPU is one of the largest water producers in Virginia, operating a modern water treatment plant that can treat up to 132 million gallons of water a day from the James River. Its treatment plant and distribution system consists of approximately 987 miles of mains, nine pumping stations, one reservoir, and 10 ground and/or elevated water storage tanks providing water to approximately 63,000 customers in the City.

DPU also has wholesale contracts to the surrounding counties, resulting in a facility that provides water for approximately 500,000 people in the greater Richmond region. In addition to supplying water to customers, the water utility provides water for fire protection throughout the City and maintains fire hydrant water valves and water mains as well as provides routine and emergency services.

Are you ready for hurricane season?

By the end of July 2016, Metro Richmond had already experienced a couple of thunderstorms with high winds that toppled trees and knocked out electrical power for days...and it wasn’t even hurricane season yet.

Seven of the last eight hurricanes to impact Richmond happened in August and September.

Hurricanes cause flooding. Are you prepared for a flood? Do you know the evacuation route should your main road be blocked by downed trees or flooding?

If you live in an area next to a stream or river, do you have flood insurance to protect your valuables?

Protect your family and your property. Prepare now. Map out alternative routes, stock up on water and medicines, keep cash on hand in case of power outages. Get flood insurance even if you rent to protect your valuables. Most homeowner policies don’t cover flood insurance. Check your policy now before a storm hits. Be prepared! Know the risks! Visit floodsmart.org or call 646-7586.

High Water Mark Sign Unveiled at Pony Pasture

According to the Federal Emergency Management Management Agency (FEMA), 70 percent of Americans surveyed do not believe their community is at risk of flooding. But Richmond has been hit by 21 hurricanes since 1952, and in June 1972, suffered unprecedented flooding caused by rainfall from Hurricane Agnes.

On June 23, 2016, several agencies joined with the City Department of Public Utilities to dedicate a high water mark sign at Pony Pasture Rapids Park. Signs will follow at Brown’s Island, Plant Zero, and Great Shiplock Park to remind local residents of Richmond’s flood risk. 

This initiative was developed in partnership with the Virginia Silver Jackets, Venture Richmond, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency High Water Mark Initiative and Region III, the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Wakefield, the U.S. Geological Survey Water Science Center, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District.

Richmond is the pilot community program for the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

The Silver Jackets Program brings together state, federal, and local agencies to share information and apply resources to reduce flood risk. 

Speaking at the sign unveiling (see video below) were Jonet Prevost-White from the Stormwater division of the city Department of Public Utilities (DPU); Robert Steidel, DPU director; John Buturla, deputy chief administrative officer for Operations; April Cummings, deputy director Mitigation Division, FEMA Region III; Lt. Col. John Drew, deputy commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District; and Curtis Brown, deputy secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, Commonwealth of Virginia.

Unveiling the signage for the high water mark

The Hurricane Agnes information sign

The actual High Water Mark is above the Call Box part of the sign and shows how deep the water was at the Pony Pasture in June 1972.

Is That Really a Utility Worker at Your Door?

How do you know if the person knocking on your door is really from the Department of Public Utilities?

You may have heard a recent news story about two men knocking on a door at 4 in the morning, claiming they were utility workers investigating a gas leak, but actually they were burglars. They wore neon safety work vests.

But Department of Public Utilities employees only wear work vests or shirts that have the city logo clearly marked on it, usually on the breast pocket and on the back. There would be a vehicle parked outside as well with the city logo on the door. Most city work trucks are white.

City employees also carry identification badges and will introduce themselves by name before saying anything else. If they don't, you can ask to see their city ID first.

An unmarked safety vest alone is no proof that the person at your door is actually a utility worker. And in the event of a gas leak, there would be fire department personnel on the scene as well, and the gas can be turned off at the street, so you do not have to let them in if you have any doubts. Utility workers would not insist on coming inside your home, and if some emergency requires them to do so, city police would also be on hand. Most visits from utility workers are made by appointment, so you know when to expect them.

Shirts may come in a variety of styles and colors, but the Utilities logo is always on the front.

All city employees carry a city photo ID, which should be displayed on their person. If it is not, ask to see it.

Logos are also on the back of some shirts.

Even the neon safety vests have the logo on them.

Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals Appreciation Day is June 30

House Joint Resolution No. 88 designates June 30, 2016 as Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals Appreciation Day in Virginia.

Excerpts from the resolution:

Before the implementation of reliable drinking water and wastewater treatment, thousands of people in the United States died of waterborne diseases like cholera, dysentery, typhoid, polio, and hepatitis each year. The World Health Organization estimates that unsafe water supplies in developing nations still cause approximately 1.8 million deaths annually.

Technological advances by water and wastewater professionals have improved the treatment of both drinking water and wastewater in the Commonwealth, the United States, and the world. Access to clean drinking water is crucial to the health and safety of more than 8.3 million Virginians.

Treatment of the Commonwealth's average of more than 620 million gallons of wastewater each day plays a critical role in reducing toxic chemicals and nutrient buildup in Virginia's surface waters, such as the Potomac, the James, and the Chesapeake Bay. Much of the drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in the United States is located underground in millions of miles of pipes, unseen by the public.

Thousands of water and wastewater industry professionals in the Commonwealth dedicate their careers to keeping drinking water and treated wastewater clean and free of disease-carrying organisms that can harm both humans and the environment. The Virginia Section of the American Water Works Association and the Virginia Water Environment Association, as well as the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments, the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, and the Virginia Rural Water Association, support the creation of Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals Appreciation Day.

Wastewater Plant

CNG Road Rally stops in Richmond

The CNG Road Rally "From Sea to Shining Sea" traveled from Long Beach, Calif., to Washington, D.C., from May 10 to June 10, 2016, entirely in vehicles powered by compressed natural gas.

The CNG fueling station on Maury Street was the 12th stop of the rally, sponsored by the American Public Gas Association and NGVAmerica. The rally's mission is to promote the benefits of natural gas vehicles and demonstrate availability of filling stations across the country.

The three cars in the rally traveled 3,144 miles. The City of Richmond has 110 CNG vehicles in operation, including refuse trucks. GRTC is updating its bus fleet to natural gas and the shuttle buses at Richmond International Airport run on natural gas. 

St. Catherine's School received the Innovation and Leadership Award for converting their bus fleet to natural gas and setting up their own on-site fueling station. The city's Energy Services Manager Mike Kearns participated in the rally and shared some of his experiences going cross country with Pat Riley, the general manager of Gibson County Tennessee Utility District. Other speakers included City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities Director Bob Steidel, Richmond Interim Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Operations John Buturla, Mike Bisogno, director of the Office of Fleet Services for the Commonwealth of Virginia, Nick D'Andrea, vice president for Government Relations at UPS, and Gary Parker, business development manager for Clean Energy Fuels.

Contain(er) Your Butts

Did you know that cigarette butts are the number one most littered item? Cigarette butts dropped carelessly on sidewalks or thrown from vehicles are carried by rain water into storm drains, streams and ultimately into the James River.

Ninety-five percent of cigarette filters are composed of cellulose acetate, a plastic material that disintegrate slowly. These filters are harmful to animals and marine life, as they are often mistaken for food and cause digestive blockages or other harmful effects.

Cigarettes also litter beaches and require expensive clean-up procedures. (Many beaches now have smoke-free beach laws to help reduce butts.)

Smokers should think twice before stomping out cigarettes on the ground or throwing them out of the car window. Be more accountable to Mother Nature and dispose of your butts in a proper waste receptacle at all times.

Fire Hydrant Inspection Program

This program ensures that the city's fire hydrants and associated valves are in proper working order, minimizing replacement costs and reducing risks.

Purpose

Fire hydrants are an important part of our water distribution system's infrastructure and serve a critical role in public safety by providing water for fire emergencies. This inspection program ensures hydrants are kept in proper working order and geographic information system (GIS) records are current.

Public Impact

Customers may notice water in the street and surrounding areas during flush times. Crews will utilize diffusers with dechlorination, safety cones, and traffic control to minimize disruption and maintain public safety.

If hydrants are being inspected in your area, you may notice a slight change in water pressure, air in the water pipes, some temporary water discoloration or sediment. If crews are working in your area, run water from an outside tap or basement spigot for a short time to counter any of these temporary effects.

You will not experience an interruption of service. Your water remains safe to drink. Any temporary water quality issues caused by hydrant inspections are aesthetic (visual) and can be relieved by running faucets or spigots for a few minutes.

The work should not have significant impacts on traffic or parking. If it does, prior notification will be provided. Each hydrant inspection takes 15-30 minutes.

This routine maintenance is not related to water main or service line replacement programs. 

Issues and Safety

Hydrants found to be non-operational will get a visible "Out of Service" ring placed on the nozzle, saving valuable time for firefighters to access the next closest hydrant. DPU Operations will immediately notify the Fire Department of the out of service hydrant and repair or replacement will be scheduled as quickly as possible.

DPU and contractor crews are trained in safety practices and will wear protective equipment during this work. To ensure public safety, temporary cones, barricades and other traffic control procedures may be used.

Unusually High Water Bill?

Is your water bill unusually high? If you haven’t increased your usage significantly, you may have a water leak. There are several ways to check for a leak. One way is to check the indicator on your water meter. Make sure there is nothing inside using water. After ensuring this, go to your meter (under meter cover) and see if the usage indicator (blue dial) is turning. If it is, then water is flowing through and could indicate a leak in the water service line between the meter and your home or building. It could also indicate that water is being used inside the home or building.

To determine if you have a leak in your water service line, close off the main valve* to your home and look at your water meter. If the indicator is turning, this is an indication you have a leak in the pipe between your water meter and the main valve to your home. It could also mean that the main valve is not shutting off water completely.

If the indicator on your water meter was turning but stopped when you shut off the main valve, this indicates that something inside is using water. With the main valve open (and the indicator on the meter turning), turn off the valve to individual fixtures (toilets, sinks, etc.) one at a time. Check the indicator each time you turn off a fixture valve to see if it stops turning. If it does, the last fixture turned off is the culprit.

Toilets can often be the cause of a “mystery” water leak. Open the cover on the tank. If the water level is above the overflow tube, there is a problem. The water level should be approximately ½ inch or so below the top of the overflow pipe. Adjust the float level, so that the water is turned off at that level. If the valve controlled by the float is leaking, it may need to be replaced.

Toilet leaks can also be due to a leak at the flapper valve that lets water flow into the toilet bowl. To test for this, put a drop or two of food coloring into the tank (not the bowl). Wait about 10 minutes and see if the colored water shows up in the bowl. If it does, your flapper valve may need to be replaced. 

*Usually the main water valve is located where the water supply pipe enters your home or office. It may be near your clothes washer or hot water heater. In some cases, it may be located under the house in the crawl space. Be sure to locate and mark the main water valve before you need it. That way, you will be able to find and close it quickly should a water leak occur.

Second Baptist Church Gets a Rain Garden

Second Baptist Church in the Broad Rock neighborhood installed a large-scale rain and community garden on the church's property in March of 2016. First Lady of Virginia Dorothy McAuliffe attended the ribbon-cutting.

The rain garden will capture and filter pollutants that run off from the church's paved parking lot and prevent them from entering the stormwater system and local streams, helping the city of Richmond and the state meets its Chesapeake Bay cleanup goals. Additionally, rainwater from the roof will be captured in a 10,000 gallon cistern and used to irrigate the community garden, providing fresh vegetables to the congregation and local community.

The project is part of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's holistic restoration project in the Broad Rock neighborhood, which includes community education and other conservation activities, like buffer plantings and residential rain gardens. The project was funded through a partnership of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Community Foundation of Richmond and Central Virginia, RBC, and REI Outfitters.

"Flushable" Wipes are Not Flushable!

Excerpted from Water Online website:

Flushable wipes and similar products have been a blight for wastewater utilities in recent years. Wipe manufacturers label their products as flushable, but they do not disintegrate like toilet paper in the collection system. Flushable wipes are mislabeled as sewer and septic system safe, but they do not break apart like toilet paper. This causes downstream clogs for treatment plants.

Members of the wastewater industry say these are some of the most troublesome nonwoven materials in their collection systems:

Non-flushable paper, hand towels, tissues and napkins: 47 percent
Non-flushable baby wipes: 18 percent
Feminine hygiene products: 13 percent
Household wipes: 14 percent
Flushable wipes: 8 percent

Though "flushable" products make up only 8 percent, it is important to also consider them "do not flush."

In 2013 and 2014, class action suits were filed against leading manufacturers of "flushable" wipes for property damage due to clogged pipes in homes and businesses. "The Guardian" website says "baby wipes designed for adults have become the scourge of residential and municipal sewer systems around the world."

Baby wipes tend to end up in the diaper pail with the disposable diaper and go to the landfill. Most adults don't keep a diaper pail in the bathroom and are reluctant to put used wipes in the bathroom trash can, so they buy so-called "flushable" wipes, thinking that's the solution. But the majority of wipes do not biodegrade quickly enough to avoid clogging pipes. The next thing you know, you have to call a plumber to have your drains snaked.

"The Guardian" reports that flushable wipes were a major factor in London's famous "fatberg," a 15-ton lump of congealed grease that nearly flooded out the city's sewer system and took three weeks to drill apart in 2013. The combination of grease poured down the drain and wet wipes created the gigantic clog.

Instructions to "do not flush" on wipes are often hidden on the package, in tiny print or under the package flap so you don't see it until you've already purchased and opened it.

If you like wet wipes, consider alternatives. Just dampening toilet tissue often produces the same benefits. You can dampen with water or witch hazel, making your own safe medicated wipes. Or put a small, lidded diaper pail in the bathroom with a plastic bag inside and tie up and dispose of wet wipes in the regular trash.

Capital Improvement Projects Meet Infrastructure Needs, Boosts Economic Development

Capital Improvement Projects (CIPs) allow localities to meet critical infrastructure needs while contributing to economic development. The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) completes and begins many CIP projects that positively impact our customers, as well as the residents and visitors of our region and state.

 In 2009, as part of the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Program, DPU began upgrading the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The $156 million series of projects included improvements for the removal of more nitrogen and phosphorous pollutants.

Stormwater improvements on S. Kinsley Avenue

The Water Treatment Plant saw improvements as well, the most notable being the installation of the last roof on the treated water basin. Many general plant and electrical upgrades were also completed.
Stormwater projects include work in Manchester on a combined sewer overflow regulator. The Fan District has a new green alley on the 1900 block of Grove Avenue that will help absorb stormwater and eliminate flooding. Improvements on 14th Street in the Downtown area include stormwater absorbing plantings and tree wells.

Rounding out DPU’s five utilities, other projects include the ongoing replacement of natural gas lines throughout the city and upgraded streetlights in the western part of the Fan District. All CIPs are planned and implemented as part of the comprehensive plan to make the best Richmond.

By design, CIPs cost more than $25,000 and have an expected life greater than the life of any debt used to fund the project. They require public funds for the purchase, construction, enhancement or replacement of physical infrastructure assets.

Cover on treated water tank

E. 2nd Street combined sewer overflow regulator project

Chemical systems improvements at Wastewater Plant

DPU's Role in Keeping The Lead Out

The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU) has been monitoring and addressing the potential for lead contamination of drinking water for more than 20 years. When the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its Lead and Copper Rule in 1991, DPU began collecting data and making changes to its system to maintain compliance with all requirements. The EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule focuses on treatment techniques for lead and requires water systems to control the corrosivity of the water and conduct monitoring as needed. DPU did testing as part of the “Loop Study” to best determine the optimal chemical, chemical dose and pH to  keep lead from leaching into the city's drinking water.

DPU's Water Treatment Cycle

Over the years, DPU has upgraded its systems to ensure proper chemical doses. There will also be a new calcium hydroxide system going into service in the next two months to better control the pH of the finished water. DPU monitors the pH of the water with online equipment that provides instantaneous results, and also runs tests twice a day to verify proper chemical dosage.

Lead Testing

In addition to the process control performed at the Water Treatment Plant, water that leaves the plant is also monitored. It is tested for lead content by the Virginia Department of Consolidated Laboratories once a year. The results for this testing have always been well below the 15 µg/L action level set by EPA.

Every three years DPU is required to collect water samples from customers at 50 different locations throughout the service area. These samples are tested for lead and copper concentrations and the report is submitted to the Virginia Department of Health. Since the program started, the system has been in compliance for both lead and copper levels.

As needed, based on information or a request that indicates there may be a lead issue at a specific customer location (e.g., medical exam may show high levels of lead in the body, or lead pipes or lead solder is discovered during plumbing repairs), the city will conduct sampling at the site and provide the customer with the results of the testing. This not a frequent issue. Over the last four years, DPU has responded to 24 requests and all results have come back below the EPA action levels.

What You Can Do

The water service line, after the water meter, and the pipes in all buildings are owned by the property owner and they decide how and when to renew those pipes. When pipes are replaced, it must be done so in compliance with current codes and lead-free fixture standards.

If customers are concerned about the possibility of lead in drinking water, they should flush the taps by letting the water run for at least 60 seconds. If your dwelling has a lead service line, you should flush water for an additional two to three minutes to ensure you're getting fresh water from the water main. To conserve water, you can collect the water being flushed and use for cleaning purposes or watering plants.