FORT WORTH WASTEWATER PROGRAM, REVITALIZING THE WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM FOR FORT WORTH'S FUTURE

The City of Fort Worth, in order to meet the needs of the community, address conditions of the collection system, and comply with an EPA Administrative Order developed the Fort Worth Wastewater Program. This program, developed into a multi-tasked program that not only responded to the immediate needs of the collection system but also the future requirements of the city through a joint effort that involved a team of consultants and the city's Water Department and Department of Engineering. As a joint effort the results accomplished greatly exceeded expectations and met their requirements of the Administrative Order before it's deadline and below the anticipated budget.The program was originated when the Water Department decided the response to the Administrative Order would require more effort, manpower and specific expertise than the department had available. The Department selected a team that had extensive previous experience in program management, engineering analysis, financial analysis, project scheduling, master planning, and operation and maintenance practices.The program initially begun with twenty-three tasks including the development of models for financial analysis of rates and bonds, a dynamic hydraulic model of the collection system, and a template for scheduling all projects to be designed and constructed under the program. The collection system had specific areas of concentration as outlined in the Administrative Order and was defined in seven groups of collection system basins. These basins each had specific deadlines for start and completion of SSES work, design and construction of projects. Within the seven years that comprised the program over three hundred and fifty (350) construction projects were identified. To meet the schedule and disperse the engineering SSES work and design, over twenty different consultants were used. This led to various coordination and review problems that were resolved by the program and the addition of city staff.To meet the enormous demand for construction contractors to complete all the projects in the limited time frame the program also developed a small contractor development program. This program assisted small utility construction contractors in becoming prime contractors and thereby able to bid on construction contracts. This program was race and gender neutral and open to all small contractors.Looking toward the future of the City of Fort Worth, the program had several tasks included that reviewed the collection system and treatment plant capabilities and capacities. A wastewater collection system master plan included the creation of a 12,000 node dynamic model, the review of various alternatives to address wet weather flows and the presentation to a citizens advisory committee for review and selection of the final alternative. A treatment plant facilities plan was also developed to assist in identifying the various requirements of the plant over the next twenty years.Other tasks included water quality studies and development of SSES standards and engineering specifications. Operations and maintenance issues were also addressed through the development of a preventive maintenance group within the Water Department to more aggressively keep the collection system cleaned and maintained. This task identified equipment and personnel needs and set basic standards of accomplishment.