Fiscal Year 2005 Proposed Budget

UTILITY OPERATIONS

PROGRAM MISSION: To protect the health and welfare of Arlington residents and visitors by efficiently providing safe water and sanitary sewer services.

Primary programs within the Utilities Operations are the following:

• Water Purchase includes funds for the wholesale purchase of water safe for drinking from the Army Corps of Engineers' Washington Aqueduct Division.

• Water Distribution provides continuous, safe, healthy drinking water. It is our goal to maintain the necessary pipes, pumping stations and related appurtenances to ensure adequate flows and pressure for routine demands, as well as flows necessary for fire protection.

The Water Meter Program inspects and tests water meters and inspects fire lines.

Control Center Operations run on a seven-day per week, 24-hour basis and monitor the operation of the County's water system. The Control Center investigates leaks and citizen concerns, operates water pumping stations and storage tanks, provides mechanical maintenance of engine equipment; and dispatches for County Trades Center crews during non-working hours. The analysis of nearly 2,000 water samples taken this past year determined that water provided through the County water systems met all state and federal standards.

The Water Construction and Maintenance Program provides the construction and repair services required to ensure the continuous operation of the water system. The program's main activities are repair and maintenance of mains, valves, fire hydrants, and other appurtenances. The program also is responsible for installation of new water service connections and fire lines, and the relocation or adjustment of water mains, service connections, and fire hydrants in conjunction with street and utility construction.

The Flushing and Inspection Program provides monthly inspection and maintenance of all pressure control valves, and conducts mechanical inspections and maintenance of water pumping stations. In addition, this component exercises large valves in the system on an 18-month cycle; provides for line flushing, which freshens the system and checks flow and pressure; and provides fire hydrant inspection for all hydrants on an annual basis.

• Sanitary Sewer Maintenance and Repair provides a safe and healthy environment by operating and maintaining a sewage collection system.

Flushing and Rodding maintains certain lines as part of the grease control program, cleans lines where stoppages or significant problems occur, and ensures that sanitary sewer lines remain clear. The four flushing and rodding crews have established a regular schedule for flushing all sewer collection lines in the County's collection system. In the past, crews have responded only to areas identified as problem areas. However, increased emphasis is being placed on flushing to reduce the number of emergency incidents and stoppages.

TV Inspection identifies deficiencies in the sewer system by running cameras through sewer lines and performing detailed inspections. Prompt repair of damaged lines results in a reduction of the number of trouble spots, infiltration and inflow, and general deterioration. This inspection is undertaken by both County and contract crews. TV inspection of the sanitary sewer system has been focused on the trouble spot lines. After inspection, many lines were repaired and/or removed from the list, thus reducing these targets.

Contract Services include the root control program, manhole frame and cover adjustments, and asphalt patching.

Construction crews make spot repairs where the system has failed, adjust manholes prior to paving, and replace manhole frames and covers that have become worn. Over the past two years, more capital resources have been directed toward contract re-lining services. As a result, emergency cave-in responses have been reduced and crews have been directed toward scheduled maintenance.

The Emergency Response component allows personnel to be available to respond to sewer stoppages and other emergencies on a 24-hour, seven days a week basis.

Significant BUDGET Highlights:

• In addition to step increases, the Personnel budget has increased by $90,000 to reflect ongoing callback pay needed to meet service expectations.

• The wholesale purchase of water is 69 percent of the non-personnel budget. The increase in FY 2005 of the water purchase cost of $756,000 is due to costs incurred for a change in process by the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

PERFORMANCE MEASURES:

FUTURE BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS:

• The Water Supervising Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system will continue to expand, which will enable us to better operate our water distribution system. Installation for tank sites and pump stations is nearing completion. The system is now providing electronic data to the control center on the operation and control of the water system, allowing for early detection of and response to potential system problems.

• It has been determined that changes to the processes by which Dalecarlia disposes of sediments removed from the drinking water are required. These changes are not likely to take full effect until 2007 or later, but there will be significant construction and operating cost increases to bring these processes on line.

Proposed Budget Contents | Section N Contents | Utilities Fund Contents | Public Works Contents