Utilities Committee

Chair - Charlie Williams

charlieinfinity@comcast.net

Co Chair - Stewart Wills

The next Engineers Forum will be held on Monday October 27th from 1:30pm to 3:30pm at the Leon Young Service Center. Some of the topics that will be covered are:
CTRB’s and CRA’s design
Private/public water main and water line looping requirements
Electronic reviews
Line extension and service standards and customer service improvements

New HDPE issues
Springs Utilities has been experiencing some problems with the use of HDPE. When HDPE is being used SU needs to know this early in the process. If the contractor taps the main with a 3/4" corporation tap at a 45 degree angle then 3/4" copper pipe must be used from the corporation tap to the curb stop at or near property line. (Ref. page B 1-1 & B1-2 in the C.S. LESS dwgs.) (It will no longer be acceptable to transition from a 3/4" corporation tap up to 1" HDPE pipe at the main). If the contractor intends to install HDPE service line from the main to the curb stop, you must use a 1" corporation tap installed at a 90 degree angle with 1" HDPE pipe installed to the curb stop. (Ref. page 7-31 in the C.S. LESS.) If you have any questions or comments feel free to contact marla@cshba.com

Looping Requirement Language
HBA is reviewing and commenting on the changed policy for water connections to a looped distribution system for new developments. CSU’s main goal is to have two connections to the same pressure zone.
LOOPING LANGUAGE DOC

DOT Interim Work in the ROW, Disruption & Degradation Fee Schedule-FEE CHANGES TO EL PASO COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WORK IN THE RIGHT OF WAY PERMIT
The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners passed a new fee schedule for work in the right-of-way. The new fee schedule replaces the Interim System and is effective as of July 1. The schedule combines the asphalt and sub-grade fees into one fee that is based on the age at the time of replacement, changes the fee for the number of lanes closed eliminating fees for peak and non-peak hours, and creates an incentive program that discounts future permits for contractors who meet certain notification and job completion requirements, submit compaction test results, and set-up and maintain the zone per the approved traffic control plan. You can review these fee changes here.

Underdrains
HBA members and staff continue working toward finalizing the technical standards and fees with both SU and the City. Currently there is only one public underdrain system known of in the state and the rest are private. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued Rule 61 effective January 1, 2008 requires underdrain systems to be permitted and discharges monitored. City and Utilities staff reviewed the regulations and options with the state on July 1st. Until the regulatory issues and permitting issues are resolved, the draft City regulations cannot be defined about the ownership and maintenance of underdrains. An updated version of the design & materials draft has been created with the input from a July 28 meeting. The group’s next meeting with operations to flush out any technical concerns. CSU will be testing different scenarios to determine the best solution.

Commercial Water Meter Sizing Form
The Commercial Water Meter Sizing form will be implemented on September first. The completed form must be provided to Colorado Springs Utilities with the mechanical plan for the review and sizing of the water meter. The water meter shall not be released until the water meter sizing form has been reviewed and approved by CSU and development fees paid. CSU permits the size of the water service line to be one size larger or smaller (with an exception) than the meter. View Form Here

Development Plan Checklist
HBA members met to discuss and gather comments to the Development Plan Checklist and the preliminary utility plan general notes. The collective comments were discussed and addressed at the working group meeting on October 2nd. SU will make the changes agreed upon by the group and research some of the larger concerns at which time a more targeted discussion can take place.

Permanent Easement Agreement
The latest versions of the Permanent Easement Agreement and Executive Agreements can be found on the Springs Utilities website at http://www.csu.org/business/development/easement/index.html. Choose the one you want based on the type of ownership of the property and download it in Word format and fill in the blanks for name, date, address, etc., and you can edit the signature page. The terms and conditions are protected by a password.

Working Group
Plan Review turn-around times are currently about 3 working days.
SU continues to work with HBA on improvements to the construction & development plan review process and the check lists used.
Changes to the wrecking permit process which were implemented August 1, 2008 are a new topic of discussion. Due to a number of abandoned water and wastewater taps and service lines being damaged, changes were needed.
There is a requirement for thrust block and anchor sizing calculations to be submitted with water construction plans.
Discussions regarding the possible use of SU utility easements are taking place with a targeted group. Guidelines and education are the direction of those discussions.
Colorado Springs Utilities revamped chapter 3 of the Private/Public Policy. CSU reviewed the policy and its reference to City codes that do not exist resulting in items being removed.
The 2009 proposed changes to the Water & Waste Water Standards will start in August. Please review the document. An internal ticket can be made through Rita Soller or Peter Bond at CSU. City Code and wtchap

The next Working Group meeting will be on November 6th, 2008 at the Springs Utility Customer Service Center at 111 S. Cascade at 7:30am.

The next HBA Utilities Committee meeting will be on October 16th at the HBA office. The meeting commences promptly at 7:30 AM. If you would like to sponsor breakfast please contact Marla at marla@cshba.com

IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE PAPER AND COST MINUTES WILL NOT BE PRINTED OUT FOR THE MEETINGS.