The Importance of Operations and Maintenance Staffing and Non-Staffing Needs for SSO/CSO Control Facilities

As long term wet weather control plans are developed and implemented in accordance with federal and state requirements, the operations and maintenance manager is often faced with developing an operations and maintenance (O/M) budget with little to no background information. The development of Control Plans include detailed capital costs along with some consideration of the associated O/M requirements and utilize a cost-benefit analyses in the selection of specific control options included within the Plan. Capital costs can be amortized over the life the revenue bond sold to finance the project while revenue for O&M costs is derived directly through the rate structure. Without consideration of the O/M costs associated with each control option, the "least cost" capital alternative may result in a higher overall cost alternative when O&M costs are accounted for. In addition, O/M costs can dramatically impact sewer rates for wet weather control facilities, which must be properly budgeted for. This paper discusses the importance of considering O/M costs in developing a long-term wet weather control plan.