WRC E-Newsletter Spring 2015

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WRC E-Newsletter Large

     Spring Issue                                                                                                                           April 2015

Jim Nash

Greetings from the Commissioner

In this Spring issue of the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner's E-Newsletter, I want to once again promote and celebrate the excellent work our staff members do collaboratively with community partners and our business and corporate friends. As you will see below, several staff members had major roles in projects that have achieved award status by our peers. I'm pleased to give recognition to our staff members and partners for the world-class projects that we have worked on together. Enjoy the warm Spring weather!


APWA Project of the Year Award - Michigan Chapter

We are so proud to learn that the creation of the North Oakland County Water Authority - NOCWA - has won the American Public Works Association, Michigan Chapter’s “Project of the Year.”

This award is in the “Governmental Cooperation Less Than $5 million” category and represents success and praise from our peers across the state of Michigan. The Authority was formed less than a year ago in order to join certain communities together to cut costs and increase efficiencies. NOCWA is made up of Pontiac, Auburn Hills, Rochester Hills and Orion Township.

The creation of NOCWA provided significant overall water system benefits including the following:

1.      Community Collaboration – Sharing of optimum water management practices and better communication

2.      Economic Benefit – A New Detroit Water and Sewerage Department contract results in approximately $3.3 million in annual savings to members; enabling sustainable water rates and  enhancing community economic development and growth.

3.      Enhance Level of Service – Better management of peak hour demands will result in a pressure increase along the Adams Branch during high water demand periods.  This will directly benefit the City of Auburn Hills and Orion Township by reducing future capital costs.

4.      Sustainable Construction – Maximizes the effectiveness of existing Pontiac water storage infrastructure.

5.      System Reliability – Emergency connection mapping with system pressure aid in emergency operations among members.

Although the new DWSD rates from revenue requirements have not yet been finalized, the Pontiac water system itself will save an estimated $1.8 million this year alone. These funds will then be used to make much needed repairs and improvements to Pontiac’s infrastructure.

From the beginning of this effort our office has worked diligently toward the creation and success of this Authority. While many staff worked as a team to make this happen, special recognition goes to WRC’s Sue Coffey, Jody Caldwell, and Carrie Cox for their assistance with the creation of the Authority and our pump maintenance and system control unit staff, specifically Dave Brown and Matt Carr, for managing the system improvements.  The majority of the Pontiac water system improvements were performed in-house by WRC staff.  We are proud of our staff, our efforts, our success, and our communities.



WRC Shares in American Council of Engineering Companies Awards for 2015

Two important WRC projects were recently recognized during the ACEC 2015 awards ceremony. The projects were the Oakland Macomb Interceptor Drain rehabilitation project administered by the engineering firm of NTH Consultants and the Farmington Hills water storage tower project administered by OHM Advisors.

OMID tunnel

In the OMID project, NTH performed a sophisticated geophysical study of the Drainage District's tunnel to identify voids that required the injection of more than 27,000 cubic feet of cement grout. By utilizing this innovative technology, the team was able to rehabilitate serious deficiencies before they resulted in failures that could impact the environment and the system's 800,000 users. WRC Assistant Chief Engineers Sid Lockhart and Mike McMahon were project managers who oversaw the project.

FH Tower

The second project involved the Farmington Hills Elevated Storage Tank and its complex network of system control valves which allow the City of Farmington Hills to effectively manage its peak water demand from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. In addition to improved water pressure, reliability and fire protection, the City is expected to realize about $3.5 million in annual savings. Chief Engineer Glenn Appel and Assistant Chief Engineer Tom Maxwell were the project's managers.

WHAT'S NEW ?

  1. Greetings from the Commissioner
  2. APWA Project of the Year Award - Michigan Chapter
  3. WRC Shares in American Council of Engineering Companies Awards for 2015
  4. Collection Systems Professional of the Year Award for 2015
  5. Art, Fish, Fun Festival
  6. WRC Contact Information                           

MWEA


Collection Systems Professional of the Year Award for 2015

Michigan Water Environmental Association qualifications:

Awarded to a worthy individual who, working on a day-to-day basis in collections, has displayed remarkable dedication to an employer and to the MWEA, excelled professionally, publicly promoted the water environment profession, has five years of collection system experience and contributed to the advancement and understanding of collection system issues.

Carl Perkins, a Pump Maintenance Mechanic II in the WRC Pump Maintenance unit, has been chosen by the Michigan Water Environmental Association as the Collection Systems Professional of the Year for 2015. "His integrity and desire to perform quality workmanship is always at the forefront of every project that he is involved with," says supervisor Dave Brown.


AFF


Art, Fish Fun Festival

June 13 2015, is our 2nd annual Art Fish Fun Festival, a family friendly and no-cost event sponsored by WRC, Pure Oakland Water (POW), The Art Experience, Clinton River Watershed Council, City of Pontiac and many others. It is part water festival, part art experience, and a whole lot of fun! To be held at Beaudette Park in Pontiac, the festival includes hands-on art exhibits for kids, hot dog grilling and “Fish with the Commish.” 

    The park clean-up is from 11 am to noon, with lunch to follow. Fun art display booths and water education booths will be set up from noon to 4 pm. Youth can fish or learn to fish with Commissioner Nash. (You bring the poles, we provide the bait.) Admission is free!



WRC Contact Information

Address:
One Public Works Drive
Building 95 West
Waterford, MI 48328

Phone: 248-858-0958
Fax:  248-858-1066

Water & Sewer Billing:
248-858-1110

Oakland County 24-Hour Pollution Hotline
248-858-0931

Email:
wrc@oakgov.com

Website: www.oakgov.com/water