WPCA Report
Old Lyme Shore Beach Association
Fall Meeting
September 12, 2020
Pump Station / Shared Infrastructure
Town of Old Lyme reviewed an easement for sewer pipes to go through Sound View streets and Gorton Ave (Odor Control Station) at the September 8 BOS public hearing and meeting with a vote to approve is expected on Sep 21.
Sound View Private Property (Maratta) easement was not able to be reached through negotiations with the owner. Old Lyme is in the legal process of having a court issue utility easement through condemnation.
Town has approved the ‘Agreement to join the Cost Sharing Agreement’ and we are awaiting a signature meeting.
Purchase agreement for the pump station land at 73 Portland Ave has been approved. The sale price of $50,000.00 is $150,000 less than the Town parking lot property.
Special permit was submitted to the Old Lyme Zoning commission for the construction of the pump station, force main and odor control station with a public hearing on Oct. 13. Note the PowerPoint for the Odor Control Station located on our property on Gorton Ave is on our website.
Fuss & O’Neill working on additional permits with AMTRAK, DOT, DEEP (Flood Management Certificate (FMC) followed by Coastal Resources General Permit for Structures Dredging & Fill (SDF)). Sewer project can go to bid without the SDF.
We are meeting with DOT to encourage them to financially participate in the final milling and paving on Rte. 156
The Beaches have received $546,000 through August from the Clean Water Fund for the design of the shared infrastructure.
Estimated start of construction April 2021 and completion August 2022
Old Lyme Shores Infrastructure Project
Design 85% complete – We have received $585,000 through August from the Clean Water Fund for the design. We will “roll over” the design costs into a Clean Water Fund construction loan and we will be responsible for paying DEEP back once the system is operational
Note that the installation of the drainage and sewer pipes will require separate trenches.
We will incorporate in the bid package that the contractor will furnish backflow preventers to those homes in the Coastal High Hazard Area (flood zone) for the homeowner’s contractor to install.
Estimated start of construction April 2021 and completion August 2022 with the road pavement as the final phase.
Stormwater Management / Drainage
Design is virtually complete – goal is to control the flow of rainwater to minimize flooding through new catch basins channeling water through new outfalls into Long Island Sound.
Because of the large scope of the project including the outfalls into Long Island, DEEP Coastal Resources requires a major review and coastal area management permit (Structural Draining & Fill – SDF) which normally has a 6-month review. DEEP has agreed to allow concurrent review of the SDF permit with bidding the sewer project.
Estimated Project Costs
At the August 11, 2012 OLS special meeting, we approved a bond of $9,700,000 for a sanitary sewer system, storm drainage improvements, road reconstruction and water system improvements. The total project improvements were estimated to be between $28,000 and $41,000 per parcel. This approval did not include individual water and sewer hookup or septic system abandonment.
At the September 21, 2019 Fall special meeting we reaffirmed the $9,700,00 bonding and voted to approve OLS to obtain private financing for costs not covered by Clean Water Funding.
The OLS project cost has increased from $6,600,000 in 2013 to $7,600,000 in 2020 –
The 2020 estimated benefit assessment costs per resident are $39,600 or $2600 per year
Sewer connection and septic system abandonment are not included.
Well only residents may have additional hookup and well abandonment expenses that we anticipate will be covered by a grant (25% / 75%) from DPH (DWSRF).
In 2013 we estimated that the cost per resident would be $34,300 and in Sep 2020 it is $39,600.
Fuss & O’Neill has developed listing of the changes to the DEEP eligible construction cost estimates for OLS and the shared projects between 2013 and 2020.
Note: the project has not changed from the 2012 original bonding resolution; i.e. sanitary sewer system, storm drainage improvements, road reconstruction and water system improvements. Unfortunately, the costs have increased.
Cost of project decreases –
• Miami Beach & Sound View sharing infrastructure costs
• CWC installing the water mains and fire hydrants
• Purchase of private property for pump station rather than an easement from Town of Old Lyme
Cost of project increases –
• 20% inflationary costs
• Intermunicipal agreements with East Lyme and New London
• Extra DOT required road work and AMTRAK crossing
• Geotechnical accommodations- -poor soils in Sound View
• Drainage / Stormwater Management –
• Bedrock in Old Lyme Shores
• Pipe jacking beneath Sheffield Brook
• Backflow preventers – required by Old Lyme zoning for homes within Flood Zone
• Increased height of shared pump station due to FEMA mapping changes
• Engineering and permitting
The actual costs per resident will be known when we receive the construction bid results.
CT Water Co – CWC
Saltaire Drive is almost finished with the water main installation and then the contractor will start Sea Lane to Seaspray and then the streets north of Rte. 156. The contractor encountered a significant amount of ledge on Billow which slowed their progress.
Lateral hookups to existing CWC customers will start on Brightwater.
CWC/VMS focused on completing their work with existing customers by Dec. to comply with PURA.
If residents want additional water work done, they must coordinate work with CWC and their contractor once the new deep-water main has been activated. Several residents with wells have already obtained quotes from local contractors.
Joseph D. Halloran