HomeMy WebLinkAbout08882ORDINANCE NO. 8882
AN ORDINANCE CREATING PROJECT NO. WW1503,
SELENIUM REDUCTION PROJECT, AND BUDGETING
AND APPROPRIATING A SUM OF $450,000 FROM THE
SEWER USER FUND RESERVES FOR THE PURPOSES
OF SAID PROJECT
WHEREAS, the City of Pueblo owns, operates and maintains a wastewater
system subject to the requirements of the Federal Clean Water Act and the Colorado
Water Quality Control Act; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pueblo has a longstanding compliance record with the
Federal and the State Government; and
WHEREAS, the City anticipates implementation of strict selenium reduction
requirements; NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that:
SECTION 1.
Project No. WW1503 is to be created by the Finance Department.
SECTION 2.
The sum of $450,000 is hereby budgeted and appropriated from the Sewer User
Fund Reserves to fund the Selenium Reduction Project.
SECTION 3.
The officers and staff of the City are directed and authorized to perform any and
all acts consistent with the intent of this Ordinance and to effectuate the transactions
described therein.
SECTION 4.
This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon passage and approval.
INTRODUCED: May 26, 2015
BY: Dennis Flores
PASSED AND APPROVED: June 8, 2015
City Clerk’s Office Item # R-3
Background Paper for Proposed
O
RDINANCE
COUNCIL MEETING DATE: May 26, 2015
TO: President Stephen G. Nawrocki and Members of City Council
CC: Sam Azad, City Manager
VIA: Gina Dutcher, City Clerk
FROM: Gene Michael, Wastewater Director
SUBJECT:
AN ORDINANCE CREATING PROJECT NO. WW1503, SELENIUM
REDUCTION PROJECT, AND BUDGETING AND APPROPRIATING A
SUM OF $450,000 FROM THE SEWER USER FUND RESERVES FOR
THE PURPOSES OF SAID PROJECT
SUMMARY:
Attached is an Ordinance creating Project No. WW1503, Selenium Reduction Project,
and budgeting and appropriating $450,000 to fund said Project.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:
None
BACKGROUND:
Members of the Colorado Water Quality Control Division believe that selenium is
currently a very significant water quality issue for Colorado and the groundwater in the
Pueblo area contains a high concentration of selenium. The Colorado Water Quality
Control Division believes that groundwater infiltration into sanitary sewer mains is
contributing to high selenium concentration in the Arkansas River. The Pueblo
Wastewater Department operates and maintains more than 470 miles of sanitary sewer
main and more than 8,000 manholes. The Pueblo Wastewater Department intends to
select areas in Pueblo with high water table elevations and high selenium
concentrations in groundwater, line the sanitary sewer mains in such areas decreasing
the opportunity for ground water infiltration, and evaluate the effect of this action on the
concentration of selenium making its way in to the Arkansas River via the wastewater
effluent from the Water Reclamation Facility. This proposed transfer of funds will allow
for an evaluation of this source control for mechanism selenium, and the data collected
from this effort will be used in an attempt to establish practical and achievable
conditions in Pueblo’s discharge permit.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
A cost of $450,000 is estimated for this project. Funds are available from the Sewer
User Fund Reserves.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
None.
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS:
None.
ALTERNATIVES:
The alternative to performing this project is to do nothing and await a State or Federal
mandate on selenium. A lack of measured data on the costs and effectiveness of
source control efforts will impair the City’s ability to influence the regulatory process to
attain appropriate limits and conditions for selenium in the discharge permit.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Wastewater Department recommends approval of this Ordinance.