Sewer System. The Company’s sewer system currently consists of a single-cell lagoon with a capacity of 41,000 gallons per day, one lift station, and a collection system a portion of which is a gravity sewer system and a portion of which is a pressure collection system utilizing pump units at customers’ premises. The gravity collecting sewers are composed of various sizes of PVC (25,480 feet), ABS plastic pipe (20,598 feet), and ductile iron (11,780 feet). The system has one lift station that works using an air compressor, which was replaced in 2011, and two 1,000 gallon pressure tanks. The waste water collected from the homes at lower elevations around the lake flows to the lift station and then is pumped through 600 feet of ductile iron to the lagoon. The lagoon is fenced and well maintained. The facility is marked with the proper signage except for marking the outfall, which is easily identified. DNR has documented this in the past but has not marked it as a significant deficiency. The Company performs an annual manhole inspection. The manholes in the gravity collection system are constructed of brick and are in need of repair as they are degrading below the surface allowing in a significant amount of ground water inflow and infiltration (I&I). A lagoon such as the Company presently utilizes is not particularly adversely affected by significant storm water infiltration, but mechanical treatment plants are much smaller and are more susceptible to problems including sludge washing into the receiving stream. The Company may need to address this matter if, in the future, it replaces the lagoon with a mechanical treatment facility. The system is currently operating adequately with no violations of discharge permit limitations and no records of sewage overflows or storm water-related backups in customers’ homes. However, DNR is requiring that the Company improve its sewage treatment because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established new water quality criteria, including ammonia discharge, for wastewater plants discharging into a receiving stream. DNR has adopted the EPA federal standards, and the Company’s operating permit is subject to modification of discharge specifications and subject to changes when it is renewed in 2018. The single-cell lagoon may not be able to meet the new ammonia limits imposed. The schedule of compliance the Company received from DNR required an engineering evaluation by December 1, 2013, and an application for a construction permit by July 1, 2014. Integrity Engineering from ▇▇▇▇▇ performed the engineering analysis for the Company to submit to DNR as requested in the Schedule of Compliance as well as proposing options for the new waste water treatment. The Company is also working with other engineering firms to discuss potential options available to it to help it comply with the new DNR regulations. The initial estimated cost for the upgrades, as presently under consideration by the Company’s engineer, is nearly two millions dollars. The Company is requesting an annual increase of $93,840 to pay for the costs of the upgrades. Among its options, the Company has considered land application of the waste water in order to avoid discharge to a receiving stream, but any such arrangements with any nearby land owners adjacent to the lagoon do not seem to be workable. As such, a mechanical treatment facility with discharge meeting new regulations will likely be necessary. At this time there has not been any work performed beyond engineering study and reporting. DNR has established January 1, 2018, as the date to have construction complete for the new sewer treatment plant. (▇▇▇▇▇▇) Staff continues the process of updating water and sewer tariffs as necessary as individual companies file rate cases with the Commission. Peaceful Valley Service Company’s current tariff became effective August 15, 1975. Staff will work with the Company to replace the current water and sewer tariffs with updated tariffs as part of this rate case. A new rate schedule will be developed to reflect the new rates the customers will be required to pay based on the Company’s current cost of service. In addition, Staff reviewed the existing miscellaneous service charges with the Company to recover the actual costs related to these services. Miscellaneous charges have been calculated by Staff to allow the Company to recover the actual costs related to these charges from the customers causing the event/cost. The rates proposed are reasonable for the costs incurred for the services and are consistent with the majority of other regulated water companies in the state of Missouri. In the water tariff, Staff changed the connection fee charge from $450 to actual cost. A service connection fee of $25 and a water service line inspection fee of $25 were added. The turn-on and turn-off fees were raised from $5 to $15 each. A charge for service calls has been added, which shall be the actual cost but not less than $40. The sewer tariff also received some revisions. A late fee of $5 or three percent was added to the sewer tariff service charges as well as a returned check charge of $25. The inspection fee was increased from $15 to $35 with a re-inspection fee of $20 if the first inspection is not satisfactory to the Company. The charge for physical disconnection of service was changed from $100 to the actual cost. The charge for service calls that are not related to preventative maintenance has been increased from $15 to $40. The new and updated tariffs for Peaceful Valley Service Company will be filed by the Company as part of this current rate case proceeding. The current PSC MO Number 2 tariff will be cancelled and replaced by PSC MO Number 3 tariff for water and PSC MO Number 4 for sewer. (▇▇▇▇▇)
Appears in 1 contract
Sources: Disposition Agreement
Sewer System. The Company’s sewer system currently consists of a single-cell lagoon with a capacity of 41,000 gallons per day, one lift station, and a collection system a portion of which is a gravity sewer system and a portion of which is a pressure collection system utilizing pump units at customers’ premises. The gravity collecting sewers are composed of various sizes of PVC (25,480 feet), ABS plastic pipe (20,598 feet), and ductile iron (11,780 feet). The system has one lift station that works using an air compressor, which was replaced in 2011, and two 1,000 gallon pressure tanks. The waste water collected from the homes at lower elevations around the lake flows to the lift station and then is pumped through 600 feet of ductile iron to the lagoon. The lagoon is fenced and well maintained. The facility is marked with the proper signage except for marking the outfall, which is easily identified. DNR has documented this in the past but has not marked it as a significant deficiency. The Company performs an annual manhole inspection. The manholes in the gravity collection system are constructed of brick and are in need of repair as they are degrading below the surface allowing in a significant amount of ground water inflow and infiltration (I&I). A lagoon such as the Company presently utilizes is not particularly adversely affected by significant storm water infiltration, but mechanical treatment plants are much smaller and are more susceptible to problems including sludge washing into the receiving stream. The Company may need to address this matter if, in the future, it replaces the lagoon with a mechanical treatment facility. The system is currently operating adequately with no violations of discharge permit limitations and no records of sewage overflows or storm water-related backups in customers’ homes. However, DNR is requiring that the Company improve its sewage treatment because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established new water quality criteria, including ammonia discharge, for wastewater plants discharging into a receiving stream. DNR has adopted the EPA federal standards, and the Company’s operating permit is subject to modification of discharge specifications and subject to changes when it is renewed in 2018. The single-cell lagoon may not be able to meet the new ammonia limits imposed. The schedule of compliance the Company received from DNR required an engineering evaluation by December 1, 2013, and an application for a construction permit by July 1, 2014. Integrity Engineering from ▇▇▇▇▇ Rolla performed the engineering analysis for the Company to submit to DNR as requested in the Schedule of Compliance as well as proposing options for the new waste water treatment. The Company is also working with other engineering firms to discuss potential options available to it to help it comply with the new DNR regulations. The initial estimated cost for the upgrades, as presently under consideration by the Company’s engineer, is nearly two millions dollars. The Company is requesting an annual increase of $93,840 to pay for the costs of the upgrades. Among its options, the Company has considered land application of the waste water in order to avoid discharge to a receiving stream, but any such arrangements with any nearby land owners adjacent to the lagoon do not seem to be workable. As such, a mechanical treatment facility with discharge meeting new regulations will likely be necessary. At this time there has not been any work performed beyond engineering study and reporting. DNR has established January 1, 2018, as the date to have construction complete for the new sewer treatment plant. (▇▇▇▇▇▇) Staff continues the process of updating water and sewer tariffs as necessary as individual companies file rate cases with the Commission. Peaceful Valley Service Company’s current tariff became effective August 15, 1975. Staff will work with the Company to replace the current water and sewer tariffs with updated tariffs as part of this rate case. A new rate schedule will be developed to reflect the new rates the customers will be required to pay based on the Company’s current cost of service. In addition, Staff reviewed the existing miscellaneous service charges with the Company to recover the actual costs related to these services. Miscellaneous charges have been calculated by Staff to allow the Company to recover the actual costs related to these charges from the customers causing the event/cost. The rates proposed are reasonable for the costs incurred for the services and are consistent with the majority of other regulated water companies in the state of Missouri. In the water tariff, Staff changed the connection fee charge from $450 to actual cost. A service connection fee of $25 and a water service line inspection fee of $25 were added. The turn-on and turn-off fees were raised from $5 to $15 each. A charge for service calls has been added, which shall be the actual cost but not less than $40. The sewer tariff also received some revisions. A late fee of $5 or three percent was added to the sewer tariff service charges as well as a returned check charge of $25. The inspection fee was increased from $15 to $35 with a re-inspection fee of $20 if the first inspection is not satisfactory to the Company. The charge for physical disconnection of service was changed from $100 to the actual cost. The charge for service calls that are not related to preventative maintenance has been increased from $15 to $40. The new and updated tariffs for Peaceful Valley Service Company will be filed by the Company as part of this current rate case proceeding. The current PSC MO Number 2 tariff will be cancelled and replaced by PSC MO Number 3 tariff for water and PSC MO Number 4 for sewer. (▇▇▇▇▇)
Appears in 1 contract
Sources: Company/Staff Disposition Agreement