Preparing for the Unexpected: Cost Management in CSO Control Implementation

Increased program costs during implementation of wet weather control plans are a reality in many communities where plans are undergoing implementation. It is not unusual for costs to double or triple over the course of plan implementation. While an increase in costs due to inflation is generally expected, there has been less published regarding the reasons for costs to increase during implementation of plans. Three primary causes of cost changes have been identified and are explored in this paper: changes in regulatory requirements, difficulty in siting, inability to fully define the scope of work during the planning stages of the project.