...Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution funds an emergency repair to close a declared Public Works Emergency at the Mendota Mental Institute grounds. At this time, the cost of the emergency repair is unknown. Funding for repairs will be provided by the 2024 Adopted Sewer Utility Operating Budget. No additional appropriation is request at this time.
Title
Declaration of Public Works Emergency for the Failure of sanitary sewer force main on Mendota Mental Institute grounds (301 Troy Drive)(District 18)
Body
On April 29, 2024, City Engineering was notified by Capitol Underground regarding potential wastewater ponding at 301 Troy Drive, State of Wisconsin Mendota Mental Institute on the corner of private roads Memorial Drive and North Road. The Mendota Mental Institute had hired Capitol Underground to complete a private water main repair that they believed to be the source of the standing water. However, after visiting the site, Capitol Underground believed that the ponded water was wastewater and contacted Engineering. At 11:00AM Engineering Operations Crews visited the site and confirmed that ponded water was wastewater, believing the source was a leaking 10”diameter cast iron (1934) City sanitary force main.
Engineering Operations initiated use of a vactor truck to collect the surface water at 11:00 AM. Engineering Operations Crews also brought two additional vactor trucks at 1:00PM and an excavator, to attempt the force main repair. Engineering Crews had 3 vactor trucks and an excavator attempting to complete the repair and were unsuccessful finding the force main sewer pipe to complete the repair, while trying to manage unstable trench conditions. Engineering Operations Crews believed that management of the break exceeded their capabilities and Engineering reached out to the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District(MMSD) for assistance.
MMSD provided two tanker trucks over the entire evening of April 29th and were able to handle the volume of new flow being pumped into the force main from the Veith Lift Station (4100 Veith Ave) which is the sole source of wastewater in the force main. Engineering Operations Crews had a vactor truck at the break overnight to ensure safety in the work area.
On the morning of April 30, Engineering, MMSD and staff from Capitol Underground met on site and determined we were not digging in the correct location. This was a result of the force main being installed at five(5) foot depth in 1932, however subsequent fill and an asphalt layer on the site made the current depth approximately 10 feet deep. This impermeable asphalt surface caused the surface expression of the break (ie where the water was coming out) to present in a different surface location.
We believe that this force main has had a problem for multiple days, and the Mendota Mental Institute contacted Capitol Underground when they noticed the problem on the morning of Monday, April 29. Wastewater did migrate from the break location to about 1000’ away on ground surface, resulting in a sanitary sewer overflow (SSO), which the City promptly reported to the WDNR. No wastewater reached Lake Mendota.
City Engineering was 1) not able to locate the break; 2) unaware of the extent of the necessary repair; 3) unable to avoid additional wastewater from leaving the repair location, without the assistance of MMSD.
Surface collection and flow of untreated sanitary sewer wastewater endangers the public health and welfare, and, in this situation, the damage to the force main presented a public works emergency due to the size and complexity of the break. As a result, City Engineering hired a private contractor to complete the work. Engineering and MMSD continued to assist the contractor until completion of the repair.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the Board of Public Works that, in accordance with the emergency provisions of Wis. Stat. Sec. 62.15(1b), because of the damage caused by the April 29, 2024 force main break, the public health or welfare of the city is endangered and the emergency repair and reconstruction of public facilities is necessary. Based upon this declaration of a public works emergency, the City Engineer is authorized to expedite the contracting process and obtain construction services without the need to follow the standard public works contracting process for necessary emergency repairs. Contracts shall be authorized pursuant to Madison General Ordinances Sec. 4.26(4)(c), or as otherwise authorized by Ordinance or the Common Council.