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Marylou Berg, Communication Manager, 240-314-8105
Rockville Staff Recommends Water System Upgrades
Improvements will Address Aging Infrastructure and New EPA Regulations
ROCKVILLE, Md., February 13, 2008 – At the February 11 Mayor and Council worksession, City of Rockville staff proposed a plan to initiate a 15-year Water Line Replacement Program to replace 33 miles of pipe. The City’s aging water distribution system is experiencing fire flow issues and a record number of water main breaks. An increase in water rates will be needed to fund the $67 million project proposed by staff and the existing projects to upgrade the City’s Water Treatment Plant and replace aging water meters. View the presentation.
“The City must initiate an ongoing program that systematically replaces a portion of these aging water lines each year,” said Craig Simoneau, Rockville’s Director of Public Works. “This program is likely to be needed well into the future.”
Rockville’s water distribution system consists of a network of water meters, storage tanks, fire hydrants, valves and pipes. Of the 180 miles of pipe in the distribution system, approximately 70 percent are cast iron installed before the mid 1970s. As cast iron pipes age, corrosion occurs, and a rough surface forms. This effect, known as “tuberculation,” reduces the interior pipe diameter, thereby lowering the flow in the pipe. After many years of buildup, tuberculation lowers the flow rate to a point where it impacts the ability to meet fire flow demands.
Rockville has 1,369 hydrants, of which 51 (approximately four percent) are considered insufficient for fighting residential fires.
Rockville also is experiencing a large number of water main breaks caused by the aging water pipes. In 2007, Rockville had a record 65 water main breaks in its distribution system, which cost approximately $250,000 to repair.
To address the reduced fire flow and water main breaks, staff proposed a new 15-year Water Line Replacement Program to replace approximately 33 miles of pipe. On average 2.2 miles of pipe will be replaced each year for the next 15 years. This project is expected to cost $67 million.
Besides fire suppression, another purpose of Rockville’s water system is to supply safe drinking water. In order to meet more stringent regulations set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Maryland Department of Environment, Rockville also is conducting a study of its Water Treatment Plant.
“After evaluating our water treatment plant processes, an overall facility upgrade plan will be recommended,” said Simoneau. “These upgrades will include improvements to the hydraulics and electrical components of the plant.” While the Water Treatment Plant Study will not be completed until the fall of 2008, costs are estimated at approximately $15 million. Rockville must comply with the two 2006 EPA regulations by 2013.
Rockville is conducting an ongoing water meter replacement program. All commercial water meters have been replaced and all residential water meters will be replaced by the fall of 2009. Aging water meters under-measure water usage. The meter replacement program completion is planned for fall of 2009.
Staff will bring recommendations on how to fund the water system improvement to the Mayor and Council in early March. Approval of the replacement plan and the expected water fee increase will be included in the Fiscal Year 2009 budget, which begins July 1, 2008.
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