2013.10.01 Work Session Packet (2nd)CRYSTAL CITY COUNCIL
SECOND WORK SESSION AGENDA
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
To immediately follow the Regular City Council Meeting
Conference Room A
Pursuant to due call and notice given in the manner prescribed by Section 3.01 of the
City Charter, the second work session of the Crystal City Council was held at
p.m. on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 in Conference Room A located at 4141 Douglas
Drive, Crystal, Minnesota.
I. Attendance
Council members
Libby
Peak
Selton
Adams
Budziszewski
Deshler
Hoffmann
Staff
Norris
Therres
Mathisen
Norton
Revering
Serres
Il. Agenda
The purpose of the work session is to discuss the following agenda items:
• Introduction to Sanitary Sewer Smoke Testing for Inflow and Infiltration — Project
#2013-10
• Update on pending personnel litigation (portions of this discussion may be closed
pursuant to State law)*
* Denotes no supporting information included in the packet.
III. Adjournment
The work session adjourned at p.m.
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
crernf Sanitary Sewer Smoke Testing Project
;CRYSTAL
FROM: Tom Mathisen, Public Works Director & City Engineer
TO: Anne Norris, City Manager (for October 1 City Council Meeting)
DATE: September 26, 2013
RE: Work Session - Inflow and Infiltration Detection Project # 2013-10
The City of Crystal sanitary sewer system is known as a "collection system" due to the
fact the City has no treatment plant. Like all other Twin Cities cities, the Crystal system
collects sewerage and sends it "downstream" into the Metropolitan Council
Environmental Services (MCES) Division system and ultimately to the treatment plant at
Pigs Eye on the Mississippi River.
Inflow and infiltration (I & 1) plagues all collection systems ever built. This is clear water,
made up of both rain and ground water, that gets into the underground sewer pipes,
significantly increasing the volume of water that must be treated at the treatment plant.
This is of particular importance during wet weather. In Crystal, it is suspected, as in
many cities, that a high percentage of the I&I gets into the collection system via footing
drains (drain tile) around building foundations. Many of these drains were plumbed
directly into the property sewer service during original construction, and are not visible
in the basement or any other location. Other I&I entrance points are leaking pipe joints,
broken cleanout covers, yard and driveway drains, and manhole covers.
One of the most cost effective ways to locate these sources of I&I is through a simple
process called "smoke testing." This technique uses a harmless white smoke that is
blown down a manhole and subsequently up property sewer services to the building.
The smoke will rise out the vent stack on the roof of the building, and will also be seen
rising along the outside of foundation walls if there is drain tile connected to the sewer
line, or in the grass or street above the location of bad joints or leaking pipes.
Funds have been budgeted in 2013 to perform smoke testing in the Winnetka Hills
neighborhood (map attached). This area has long been known as a major source of
I&I. The best time to do this work is late fall which is typically the driest time of year
when soils have pulled away from the foundation allowing any of the white smoke to
escape and be observed.
This will be the first area ever smoke tested in the city. The information collected will be
used to determine the extent of the problem and devise policies and programs to get
these illegal connections disconnected from the sanitary sewer system.
Total Gravity -27,119'
Incl .Winnetka and
32nd Ave Mains
11,441'N of 32nd, W of Winnetka
Winnetka N. o
32nd Ave:
1,439' Gravity,
1,811' Force
2,362' on 32nd A
10,707'S of 32nd, W of Winnetka
TrM
a _ -
ERFORMAaNCE COUNTS
HURCO's Smoketesting System
• Teamed with HURCO's original RIPCORD Smoker
Liqui-Smoke " is the safest and cleanest way to
smoke test a sewer line.
• Utilizing the patented SuperJet"' smoke generator,
produces more smoke faster for less dollars - one
gallon of Liqui-Smokell-, will last up to 3 hours.
• Cost less to operate -- HURCO's RIPCORD Smoker
functions operator free, no additional worker required
to make srnoke,
• Ensure that your smoke testing program is done
correctly with HURCO's complete training and
support system.
7 �.
If any HURCO product does
not perform exactly as we
claim, let us know within the
first 10 days after purchase
and we'll refund your money.
Training & Support System
On line support
www.smoketesting.com
provides information
regarding sewer system
smoke testing activities
24 hours a day seven
clays a week.
Community Awareness
Package
We also offer a "Public
Service Announcement"
kit with broadcast
ready TV and radio
commercials, and print.
Training
Video and
powerpoint
training materials
are available at
www.gethurco.corn.
11111PHIM IRS1e1
in -But
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u e
TrM
a _ -
ERFORMAaNCE COUNTS
HURCO's Smoketesting System
• Teamed with HURCO's original RIPCORD Smoker
Liqui-Smoke " is the safest and cleanest way to
smoke test a sewer line.
• Utilizing the patented SuperJet"' smoke generator,
produces more smoke faster for less dollars - one
gallon of Liqui-Smokell-, will last up to 3 hours.
• Cost less to operate -- HURCO's RIPCORD Smoker
functions operator free, no additional worker required
to make srnoke,
• Ensure that your smoke testing program is done
correctly with HURCO's complete training and
support system.
7 �.
If any HURCO product does
not perform exactly as we
claim, let us know within the
first 10 days after purchase
and we'll refund your money.
Training & Support System
On line support
www.smoketesting.com
provides information
regarding sewer system
smoke testing activities
24 hours a day seven
clays a week.
Community Awareness
Package
We also offer a "Public
Service Announcement"
kit with broadcast
ready TV and radio
commercials, and print.
Training
Video and
powerpoint
training materials
are available at
www.gethurco.corn.
11111PHIM IRS1e1
in -But
SMOKE TESTING SEWER LINES
Your city Is conducting a smoke test
of its sanitary sewer system.
Work crews will be in your area starting
Month/Day/Year
A "SMOKE TEST" survey will assist our inspection
crews in locating breaks and defects in our sewer system.
The smoke you see coming from the vent stacks on hous-
es or holes in the ground is NON-TOXIC, NON -STAIN-
ING, HAS NO ODOR, WHITE TO GRAY IN COLOR
AND CREATES NO FIRE HAZARD.
The smoke should not enter your home unless you have
defective plumbing or dried tip drain traps.
It is advisable for the home owner to pour a gallon of
water into each floor drain prior to our testing. If smoke
enters your home there is good reason to assume that
dangerous sewer gases may also be entering your home
or business. You should evacuate immediately and noti-
fy our work crews. If you are not home and discover
smoke when you return, please call us at Phone Number.
IMPORTANT! If there is any individual in your
home or business who has respiratory problems and is
immobile, please notify us at Phone Number
prior to testing.