RIP Application for Wastewater Project Information

RURAL INFRASTUCTURE PROGRAM (RIP)

APPLICATION FOR

WATER/WASEWATER/SOLID WASTE

PROJECT INFORMATION

1. Describe the nature of the problems or inadequacies, and the manner in which they will be addressed in the project.

HISTORY - Bluewater W&SD is located about seven miles northwest of Grants, New Mexico adjacent to Interstate 40.  It is a small farming community that was settled in 1894 and was reorganized from a Community Water System to a Water and Sanitation District on October 21, 1975.

CONDITION OF EXISTING FACILITIES – The original sanitary sewer (clay and concrete) extended from the elementary school to the existing lagoons.  In 1977, a developer installed sanitary lines (PVC) in Sunrise Estates in 1975 the District installed sanitary sewer lines (PVC) in the remainder of the system.  

The lift stations were installed in 1978.  The pumps have been rebuilt in lift station no. 1, so it is in reasonable condition.  Lift station no. 2 is a simplex pump.  

The treatment plant is an extended aeration plant.  It was built in 1978 by MAROLF Waste Treatment Systems, who are no longer in business.  The concrete enclosure is in fairly good condition; the controls, blower and piping for the aeration equipment require replacement.

The lagoon was part of the original sewer system and was originally designed to be part of a gravity system.  After construction of the wastewater treatment plant, the lagoon served as a storage pond for the plant.  It needs to be reshaped and the existing clay liner needs to be replaced with a new synthetic liner. 

The effluent is supposed to be re-used as flood irrigation for the existing 10 acre field leased by the District.  Because of evaporation and infiltration, the District seldom has to pump effluent to the field. 

SANITARY SEWER LINES – The sanitary sewer consists of about 3.9 miles of pipe and 64 manholes.  Most of the pipe and manholes were installed in 1978.  

The original sanitary sewer extended from the elementary school to the existing lagoons.  It was a gravity system including clay pipe and concreate pipe.  The remainder of the sanitary sewer was installed in 1978 using PVC pipe and is generally in satisfactory condition.  The District replaced the original concreate pipe that was located adjacent to the Main Street from the lift station no. 1 to the pipe flowing east to the existing lagoon.  The pipe from Main Street to the lagoon is still the original clay pipe.

LIFT STATIONS – Lift station no. 1 located on Main Street about 500 feet north of Pinon Street.  Lift station no. 1 is about 15 feet deep and was constructed in 1978.  It has two 1.3 hp submersible pumps each capable of pumping 140 gpm.  The pumps were recently rebuilt and the lift station appears to be in fairly good condition.

Lift station no. 2 is located adjacent to the treatment plant.  Lift Station no. 2 is about 12 feet deep and was constructed in 1978.  It has one 5.0 hp submersible pump capable of pumping 400 gpm.  Because lift station no. 2 only has one pump, the Board would like to replace it with new duplex pumps.  

TREATMENT PLANT – The treatment plant was installed in 1978.  It is an extended aeration package treatment plant.  It has a concrete enclosure consisting of two aeration basins, a clarifier and a chlorine contact chamber.   It is rated for 65,000 gallons per day and is inspected on a daily basis.  

The raw sewage is pumped from lift station no. 2 through the bar screen into aeration basin no. 1 (32,700 gallons), which then flows into aeration basin no. 2 (32,700 gallons).  In the aeration basins the sewage is thoroughly agitated by diffused air bubbling up through liquid causing it to mix as well as become oxidized.

The aerated sewage then flows to the settling tank.  The sewage separates behind a baffle and the stabilized sludge settles to the bottom to be returned through air pumps to aeration basin no. 1.  This sludge is mixed with the raw sewage and immediately begins oxidizing it.  A small portion of the sludge is piped to tanks located outside the treatment plant where it is removed by septic haulers 3 to 4 times a year.

After the settling tank, the clear liquid effluent flows through the chlorine contact chamber, over a weir and out into the existing lagoon.

The only motors powering the treatment plant are the pump in lift station no. 2 that pumps the sewage into the wastewater treatment plant, and the motor powering the aeration equipment.  The District has replaced several motors serving the aeration equipment.  The concreate enclosure of the treatment plant appears to be in fairly good condition and could be reused.

LAGOON – The existing lagoon was part of the original gravity sewer system that served the school and a few homes.  It had a clay liner and was originally divided by a dike, which has since disappeared under the water.  In 1978, the District installed the new wastewater treatment plant and the lagoon became a storage pond for the treatment plant.  The pond is approximately one acre in size and the average depth of the water is assumed to be about six feet with an estimated two feed in sludge in the bottom.  The District rarely pumps the pond effluent to the flood irrigation area so apparently the water is removed by evaporation and infiltration through the bottom of the pond.

FLOOD IRRIGATION – The District leases 10 acres to serve as the re-use area.  The original plan was to see the 10 acres with alfalfa and flood irrigate with the effluent.  Because the infiltration and evaporation, the District has not recently pumped any effluent over to the re-use area.  The 10 acres has been graded for the irrigation with the necessary slope and border strips located at 50 feet intervals.  Because of the lack of water, the area is presently weeds and grass.  The property owner is not happy about the lack of water for irrigation and is not sure about renewing the lease, which expires March 2017.  For that reason, the District has included funds in the PER cost estimate to purchase 10 acres for the flood irrigation.

ESTIMATED COST OF PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS – This application for the Rural Infrastructure Program is for Design Phase only but listed below is total cost of the project.  See the enclosed project budget form for the design cost.

PHASE 1

Design  $294,686

PHASE 2

Acquisition of Land $21,600

Construction $806,986

Equipment $365,000

Total Cost $1,468,068

2. Which of the following documents have been completed for the proposed project?

Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) Yes

Environmental Information Document (EID) No

Plans & Specifications No

3. Is the applicant currently out of compliance with any regulation that is eligible under the loan application? 

At this time, the District is in compliance with all regulations that are eligible under the loan application.  

4. Will the funds result in a complete/operational project?  If not further clarification of how the project will be completed must be provided.

The funds will cover the cost for Phase 1 – Design ($294,686) which includes:  plans, specifications and an EID.  Upon completion of the design phase and an EID, the District will be in a better position to seek construction funds for Phase 2 ($1,173,382) which will complete the project.