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OLS WPCA

Overview of Survey & Historical Context

26 May 2022

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Overview

  • Survey Conclusions
  • Review the WPCA Mission
  • WPCA Accomplishments & Challenges
  • WPCA Next Steps

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Survey: Generally Strong Support

  • If fully funded by grants
  • Do not favor walking away
  • Cost-consciously move forward
  • Emphasis or urgency on getting done
  • Sewers for DEEP compliance
  • New roads
  • Stormwater & drainage

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100

0

100

0

87%

76%

100

0

63%

100

0

61%

100

0

66%

100

0

77%

100

0

61%

86%

93%

76%

74%

*Light green includes indifferents who would go along with the majority.

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Survey: All About the Costs

  • We are all aware that costs have risen since the initial cost estimates
  • All possible efforts being explored to move forward without exceeding the amount authorized by the association in 2012 resolution
  • Exploring additional grant funding at state and federal levels
  • Need to be careful when throwing numbers around; compare apples to apples and be cognizant of nominal vs. present value vs. future value; identify real costs
  • In current high interest rate (7%) environment, we don’t want to lose current state financing at 2% over 20 years – that will cost us significantly more to replace
  • How do project cost increases compare to other increases in costs and value in the past 10 years?

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WPCA Project Scope

  • Wastewater Management
    • Engineering studies found sewers offer best functional & economic solution
  • Drinking Water Supply
    • Connecticut Water Company offered to install new water mains at their cost
  • Road Regrading & Repaving
    • Roads in disrepair need attention, but 25% subsidy available if done with sewers
  • Stormwater & Drainage Management
    • Significant impact to minority of residents, but ineligible for subsidies

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WPCA Summary Timeline

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Vote for Wastewater Control Study (OLSBA)

Facilities Plan (Fuss & O’Neill)

Centralized Wastewater Management Plan (Fuss & O’Neill)

Ordinance Establishing WPCA (OLSBA)

2010

2012

2014

2016

2018

2020

2022

Pandemic

Consent Order (CT DEEP)

Unified Consent Order (CT DEEP)

Three Beaches

Cost Sharing

Agreement

New London Agreement

East Lyme Agreement

Bad Bids

Legend:

OLSBA Actions

Intermunicipal Agreements

Engineering Studies

State of Connecticut Actions

Other Items

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Amended WPCA Ordinance (OLSBA)

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Engineering Studies

  • Completed Studies
  • Conclusions
    • Community pollution problems exists pursuant to CT Gen. Stat. Sec. 22a-428
    • Site conditions make compliant septic system repairs or upgrades very difficult and very costly
    • Construction of sanitary sewers that convey waste to an off-site treatment location identified as most cost-effective solution to address issues identified in all study areas

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Inter-municipal Agreements (IMA)

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Summary Organizational & Relationship Structure

Three Beaches

Old Lyme Shores

Old Colony

Miami Beach

Town of

Old Lyme

Town of

East Lyme

City of

New London

State of Connecticut

DEEP

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Achievements & Challenges

  • Concluded all inter-municipal agreements
  • Included the Town of Old Lyme to offset shared infrastructure costs
  • Deferred obligation to begin repayment of state funds
  • Successfully concluded the planning, contracting, and design phases
  • Retained strong support for the project, even with challenges
  • Politics and negotiations to conclude agreements considerably slowed efforts
  • Unfortunate timing of pandemic and resulting supply chain issues coincided with bidding period
  • We face inflationary pressures and expect further delays to only increase cost, regardless of choices – including doing nothing

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Next Steps

  • Seeking additional funding to offset cost increases
  • Reviewing project scope and current costs
  • Assessing need for new referendum on the project
  • Addressing objections to moving forward
  • Engaging & communicating with members more directly

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