Cedar Creek Inflow and Infiltration Reduction Program
Purpose of the Program:
The Lee's Summit Cedar Creek Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) Reduction Program was created in 2009 by City Ordinance (Chapter 32, Article VI, Sec. 32-350) as a pilot project to assess the impact of reimbursing for the removal of sources of I&I into the sanitary sewer system from private property. It was determined by a city contracted study that approximately seventy percent of inflow and infiltration entering the public sanitary sewer system originated from sources on private property. Any reduction in the amount of stormwater and groundwater into the public sanitary sewer system is a public benefit to all residents of the City of Lee's Summit because it increases the capacity of the sanitary sewer system, minimizes costs of future CIP projects, reduces treatment costs, and reduces claims and claim related costs. The program focuses on two pilot areas and involves conducting inspections on both the public and private sewer systems in the pilot area and the removal of any identified sources of I&I.
Pilot Project Area and Eligibility:
The Cedar Creek I&I Reduction Program applies to all properties located within the Cedar Creek 16 (CC-16) and Cedar Creek 20 (CC-20) watershed sub-basins (see map). Professional analysis and investigation reveals that the City's sanitary sewer system within these basins are overloaded due to I&I which has and can lead to sanitary sewer surcharges and backups. Any properties located within these sub-basins are eligible for reimbursement for the removal of identified sources of I&I. All property owners in these sub-basins have already been contacted for home inspections or have had their homes inspected. If sources of I&I were found on the property, the city will be contacting that property owner with the necessary procedures for removing those sources.
Procedures:
If a property inspection reveals sources of I&I, the Lee's Summit Water Utilities Department will contact that property owner with the necessary procedures for removal and reimbursement. Those procedures will include acquiring three bids from Lee's Summit licensed plumbing contractors and submitting those bids for approval before a Notice to Proceed will be sent. The selected plumbing contractor will pull the necessary permits and complete the work. Once the work is completed, the property owner will send in a final invoice from the plumbing contractor and an approved codes inspection report for final approval and reimbursement. The reimbursement check will be sent to the property owner to reimburse the plumbing contractor that was hired.
Plumbing Contractors:
The Lee's Summit Water Utilities Department conducted a meeting about this program in May of 2010 for all plumbing contractors with a Lee's Summit business license. The meeting served to provide information on the program and to help get everyone on the same page with the corrective actions required to remove identified sources of I&I. The meeting also gauged interest in the program from plumbing contractors and was used to develop a list of interested plumbing contractors for property owners to contact for bids. The City in no way endorses any plumbing company on the list, but merely provides the list of interested plumbing contractors as a convenience for the property owners. Property owners are not limited to the list and are free to use any plumbing contractor to obtain bids provided that contractor has a Lee's Summit business license. The list of interested plumbing contractors can be found at the top of this page under Information Resources.
Program Status:
August 2011 - Several property owners have successfully completed the program and removed sources of I&I from their property. Several other property owners are in the process of having sources of I&I removed from their property.
April 2011 - The private property inspections have been completed. Letters are being sent to property owners with confirmed sources of I&I.
August 2010 - The majority of the private property inspections in the pilot area have been completed. The inspection results are being compiled and analyzed to determine what properties have sources of I&I that need to be removed. Several properties that were inspected and had sources of I&I have already received notification letters on the removal process and how to apply for reimbursement. Property owners that have not received a letter and had sources of I&I discovered during the inspection process can expect to receive a notification letter from the Lee's Summit Water Utilities Department sometime this year or in 2011.
For any questions, please contact 969-1930 |