Border Environment Cooperation Commission
Water and
Wastewater Improvement Project in Santa Rosa, Texas
Financial Feasibility and Project Management
Type of Project. The
project consists of the expansion of the citys water treatment plant,
construction of water lines, expansion of existing wastewater treatment plant,
construction of collection lines, lift stations and service connections.
Location of Project. The City of Santa Rosa is
located at the intersection of State Highway 506 and State Highway 107,
approximately 10 miles northwest of the city of Harlingen in Cameron County,
Texas. The project is located within
the 100 km border region. According to TWDB, the population in 2000 was 3,071.
In addition, the population in the surrounding areas (16 colonias) is
estimated at 1,173. The proposed water and wastewater
improvements are designed to provide adequate services to 4,104 in-city
residents and 2,040 colonias residents by the year 2020. The population
estimated by then is 6,144, with an annual growth rate of 1.6%.
Description of Project and Tasks.
The project includes the expansion by 0.307 MGD of the Citys Water Treatment Plant for
a total treatment capacity of 1.002 MGD; 19,000 linear feet of 8-inch water
lines, and 86 water hook-ups. The cost of this portion of the project will be $
2,212,421. The wastewater improvements includes the expansion by 0.291 MGD of
the Citys Wastewater Treatment Plant for a total treatment capacity of 0.681
MGD; a conventional wastewater collection system consisting of 68,200 linear
feet of 8-inch through 12-inch gravity sewer lines and 19,600 linear feet of
4-inch through 6-inch sewer force main; five lift stations; and 373 sewer
service connections. The cost of this portion of the project will be $
7,494,284.
The total cost of the improvements will be $
9,706,705.
Since 1992 the City has extended
water distribution lines to three colonias and wastewater collection lines to
one of the 16 colonias. In addition, the North Alamo Water Supply Corporation
(NAWSC) is anticipating serving water to eight of the previously identified
colonias. Consequently, the number of colonias the City is planning to provide
water services to five colonias and wastewater services to fifteen.
Compliance
with International Treaties and Agreements. The project is within the Agreements that
the United States and Mexico have signed, such as the La Paz Agreement, Border
Environmental Comprehensive Plan, Border XXI Program and the Free Trade.
II. Human Health and the Environment
Human
Health/Environmental Needs. The
city operates an existing Water Treatment Plant, which was completed in 1981
and provides a total treatment capacity of 0.695 MGD. The existing water supply
system is unable to provide adequate water service to its current customers,
nor to meet TNRCC minimum standards. Problems exist in the water systems capacity
for raw water pumping, treatment, storage and distribution. In many areas, particularly along the
periphery of the water system, water pressure is nonexistent during periods of
greater demand.
Cameron County and the city of Santa Rosa
have seen extreme population growth in the last 20 years, much of it in the form of colonias that were
developed in an unregulated environment, as there was no county health
department to enforce minimum standards for septic tanks or lot sizes and no
subdivision regulation. Therefore the on-site systems are not in compliance
with the TNRCC On-Site Sewage Facility criteria. In addition, the Texas
Department of Health performed an environmental health assessment of the Santa
Rosa vicinity in 1991, and concluded that nuisance conditions dangerous to
public health and safety exist, resulting from poor sanitation problems in the
area
. Continued operation of these inadequate facilities poses a constant
serious threat to human health and safety.
The city operates an existing Wastewater
Treatment Plant, which was completed in 1986 and provides a total treatment
capacity of 0.39 MGD. It is an extended aeration wastewater treatment facility
that discharges to the North Floodway approximately 3 miles north of the city,
which discharges into the Arroyo Colorado. Significant expansion of the
existing wastewater collection system is proposed for areas outside the city
limits of Santa Rosa that are not presently served by the system. Currently,
only 3,071 persons of the 4,244 population have access to a centralized
wastewater collection and treatment system. Construction of the proposed
wastewater improvements, and more importantly, the ability of the residents to
connect to these improvements, will eliminate contamination of water systems
due to inadequate septic tanks or the use of backyard cesspools, reduce the
risk of gastrointestinal diseases and infections experienced among children and
adults, and improve their overall quality of life.
Environmental
Assessment. An Environmental Information Document (EID) has
being prepared as a supplement to an earlier EID completed in 1991. The EID was submitted to TWDB and EPA for
review under the NEPA process. Although
the 1991 document concluded no significant environmental impacts would occur,
the EID needed updating to account for the lapse of time and any current
changes in the project. The FONSI will be issued early August, 2002.
Compliance
with Applicable Environmental and Cultural Resource Laws and Regulations. The
following agencies were consulted in the preparation of the Environmental
Information Document or received notice of public hearing of the Environmental
Information Document: Texas Historical Commission, Federal Emergency Management
Agency, TNRCC, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, National Marine Fisheries
Service, IBWC, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Department of
Housing, Bureau of Mines, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bureau of
Reclamation, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Geological Survey.
Appropriate Technology. The proposed facilities
adhere to technologies widely accepted and proven in the United States. All
design improvements are in accordance with 30 TAC # 290. The city operates an
existing Water Treatment Plant, which was completed in 1981 and provides a
total treatment capacity of 0.695 MGD. This plant is to be expanded to provide
a total treatment capacity of 1.002 MGD. The proposed modifications include an
additional 0.307 MGD water treatment unit, which includes flocculator, settling
basin, and filters. The design of the proposed system
will comply with the minimum requirements established by the TNRCC.
The city operates an
existing Wastewater Treatment Plant, which was completed in 1986 and provides a
total treatment capacity of 0.39 MGD. This plant is to be expanded to provide a
total treatment capacity of 0.681 MGD. It has an extended-aeration activated
sludge process. Engineering efforts in addition to the plant design, include
preparation of a closure plan for the sludge lagoons and O&M manual. To
satisfy current TNRCC regulations, consideration for the need to obtain a 150
ft buffer zone around the plant perimeter must be included.
Significant expansion of
the existing wastewater collection system is proposed for areas outside the
city limits of Santa Rosa that are not presently served by the system. All
housing in the proposed project area currently have indoor facilities. No
dwelling rehabilitation will be necessary to allow the use of the proposed water
improvements. The only rehabilitation of individual dwellings required to allow
the use of the proposed wastewater facilities involves those residences that
are presently using a septic tank or cesspool. Each of these dwellings will
require a yard service line to connect from the dwellings waste plumbing to
the applicable section of the proposed sewer collection system connection. A
total of 373 service connections have been identified. All design will comply
with the TNRCC Wastewater System Design Criteria.
O&M
Plan. The city of Santa Rosa has adopted a resolution for
the TNRCC and TWDB regarding the commitment to personnel training for the
operation and maintenance of the water and wastewater treatment plants. In addition,
the Design Engineer is required to develop Operation and Maintenance Manuals
for each of the proposed improvements as well as providing 24 hours of O&M
training to city personnel for the new Water Treatment Plant and Wastewater
Treatment Plant. The contractor is also required to develop a catalog of
equipment installed and furnish replacement parts that are critical to the
continued operation of proposed facilities.
Compliance
with Applicable Design Regulations and Standards. The
project will comply with applicable design norms from the beginning of
construction and will be regulated by the TNRCC and the guidelines established
by the State of Texas and the Federal Government. It should be noted that all
designs for proposed improvements will be reviewed and approved by the TWDB
Engineering staff and construction will be inspected on a monthly basis by TWDB
field personnel. In addition, the TWDB will review and approve the O&M
manuals and acceptance of each project as completed.
IV.
Financial Feasibility and Project Management
Financial Feasibility.
The
NADB will complete the financial analysis to determine the funding structure of
the project and the user rates to guarantee the
financial sustainability of the operating agency.
|
Estimated Cost |
|||
|
Concept |
Amount (US$) |
||
|
|
|
Water system improvements |
2,212,421 |
|
|
|
Wastewater system improvements |
7,494,284 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
$9,706,705 |
|
2002 Water and Wastewater Expenses |
|||
|
Concept |
Amount (US$) |
||
|
|
Water Wastewater |
$ 169,726 $ 144,836 |
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
$ 314,562 |
Water Financial Structure
|
Source
|
Amount
(US$) |
% |
|
TWDB
(EDAP) Grant |
976,500 |
44.1 |
|
TWDB
(EDAP) Loan |
172,000 |
7.8 |
|
NADBANK-BEIF
Construction Assistance (grant) |
1,063,921 |
48.1 |
|
Total |
$ 2,212,421 |
100% |
Wastewater Financial Structure
|
Source
|
Amount
(US$) |
% |
|
TWDB
(EDAP) Grant |
5,142,300 |
68.6 |
|
TWDB
(EDAP) Loan |
870,100 |
11.6 |
|
NADBANK-BEIF
Construction Assistance (grant) |
1,481,884 |
19.8 |
|
Total |
$ 7,494,284 |
100% |
In
addition, the NADB is proposing Transition Assistance in the amount of $
1,429,454.00 to reduce the overall impact of increased debt service payments on
the City of Santa Rosa ratepayers caused by the construction of the Project.
Rate
Model: The rate model was developed by NADB.
|
SINGLE
FAMILY RATES (US$) |
|||
|
|
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
|
Average
Monthly Water and Sewer Bill |
41.20 |
42.79 |
44.43 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
|
Average Monthly Water and sewer Bill |
45.39 |
46.40 |
47.46 |
|
|
|
|
|
Project
Management. The city has adequate personnel to handle the proposed
infrastructure and to respond to any potential emergency that might arise
during operation and maintenance of the project.
Comprehensive
Public Participation Plan. Comprehensive Public Participation Plan was submitted by the City of
Santa Rosa on May 11, 2001 and approved on May 14 of that year.
Steering
Committee: The steering
committee was formed on February 15, 2001 from local
residents Frank Roberts, Chair and retired form US Navy; Cruz Rodriguez,
housewife; Alfonso Guillén, of the Texas State College; and Diana Sanchez,
housewife. This committee identified outreach activities, contacted
local groups within the community, review technical project issues, disseminated
information to the community. The technical work
group developed to support the committee was composed of Javier Mendez, City
Administrator; Keith Kindle, consulting engineer; and Enriqueta Caballero of
the Texas Secretary of State of Colonias Initiatives Office.
Local Organizations: Local organizations contacted as part of
the outreach include: Amigos de Valle Senior Citizen Center, Santa Rosa
Independent School District, County Commissioners, and Cameron County
Judge. Letters of support exist from
these agencies for the project.
Public Information: Project
information, such as the Facility Plan and Step II Document were available for
public review at City Hall and the local library 30 days prior to the first
public meeting. A fact sheet was developed and distributed to local residents
and available at the public meetings.
Public Meetings: Public meetings
were held on July 3 and August 14, 2001. The first BECC
required public meeting was held on June 26 and the second on July 24, both in
2002. An average of 25 people attended
each meeting. Exit surveys show 90 per cent support the project and the rates.
Definition and Principles. The project complies with BECCs definition of
Sustainable Development: Conservation oriented social and economic
development that emphasizes the protection and sustainable use of resources,
while addressing both current and future needs, and present and future impacts
of human actions.
The water and wastewater system improvements
project are centered on providing an improved quality of life for human beings.
The project provides services to households and neighborhoods where such
services were either lacking or were totally inadequate. The project accounts
for normal expected population growth over the next 20 years, thereby taking
into account the needs of future generations.
The project
provides environmental protection to soils and groundwater by eliminating the
use of faulty septic tanks and cesspools.
Stakeholders
for this project include the City Council, City departments that plan and
operate the water and wastewater systems, the residents that will benefit from
the infrastructure improvements, those who will be impacted by the construction
activity and the location of the facilities.
Institutional
and Human Capacity Building. An aspect of this project that will build
institutional capacity is the creation of reserves for any potential
emergencies. In addition, the project calls for training of facility operators
and other utility personnel for proper operation and maintenance of the
facilities. Safety, security and
accident prevention training will also be provided. The City has also commissioned a Project Management Study by the
NADB to identify institutional changes and equipment needs that may be required
to manage, operate and maintain the Citys utility system. The City intends to incorporate
recommendations from the study to improve management capacity and provide
effective and efficient services.
Conformance
with Applicable Local/Regional Conservation and Development Plans. The project satisfies the
TNRCC regulations that require a minimum treatment capacity for public water
supply entities. Adoption of a draft water conservation plan will bring the
project into compliance with the TWDB and state regulations for water
conservation and drought contingency planning.
Natural
Resource Conservation. The elimination of the use of inadequate
on-site septic systems by providing access to a centralized wastewater
collection and treatment system will lessen the loading of pollutants contained
in the runoff from these areas. This will significantly reduce the adverse
water quality impacts from non-point Source pollution to the Rio Grande River
in the Santa Rosa area. In addition,
improvements to the pumping and distribution system will allow the City to be
more efficient in the treatment of water.
The City has a draft Water Conservation Plan under consideration, as
required by the TWDB for granting financial assistance.
Community
Development. Without the water and wastewater improvements, a
number of negative impacts to the community will continue, hindering community
development. Future community
development is made possible by having adequate infrastructure in place to
accommodate addition of new businesses, schools, and industry.