Saraland Water & Sewer Service Master Plan
Saraland Water and Sewer Service Utilities Contracts with Volkert, Inc. to develop Sanitary Sewer Collection System Master Plan
In 2022, the Saraland Water and Sewer Service (SWSS) Utilities took a significant step towards enhancing the City of Saraland’s sewer infrastructure by partnering with Volkert, who is a locally trusted engineering, environmental, and construction services firm, to develop a Sanitary Sewer Collection System Comprehensive Master Plan. This initiative’s primary goals are to address current sewer system transportation and treatment challenges, identify future sustainable solutions for anticipated City of Saraland expansion and growth needs, and to ensure efficient and streamlined management of the Saraland Water and Sewer System Utilities.
The City of Saraland is a vibrant community and has experienced record growth over the past 20 years. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the City’s population is 16,171 and it continues to grow each year due to its proximity to quality job opportunities, high-quality public schools, and affordable housing in a close-knit community.
The Saraland Sanitary Sewer Collection System was constructed in the 1990s to provide a solution to numerous failing on-site systems. The existing infrastructure, while functional, is facing pressure from various factors such as aging systems, increased use and subsequent loading, increased regulatory compliance requirements, and future growth of the City of Saraland. As the City expands westward, it is critical that the Saraland Water and Sewer Service Utilities addresses the system’s identified deficiencies as a primary action while maintaining utility use rates as low as reasonably achievable for the System’s 4800 residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
Volkert brings extensive experience and expertise in engineering and environmental services, making them a fitting partner with the Saraland Water and Sewer System Utility for this comprehensive project. The resulting Master Plan assessed the existing sewer basins and the type and size of the collection system components. The second phase of the Master Planning evaluation effort provided an overview of the SWSS owned 37 lift stations and force mains and their current condition(s). Data for each lift station was gathered that including wet well area, force main size, pump data such as number of pumps, horsepower, and capacity.
Once the data on the system was assembled, Volkert subcontracted to CSL Services, to perform a sanitary sewer flow study to determine the amount of infiltration and inflow (I/I) entering SWSS’s sewer collection system. Infiltration can be defined as the entry of extraneous groundwater into the sewer system through pathways including but not limited to improperly connected or defective pipes, joints, connections, service laterals, or manhole walls. Inflow can be defined as the entry of extraneous rainwater into the sewer system through pathways including but not limited to roof down spouts, drains, manhole lids, storm drain cross connections, service laterals, cleanouts, stormwater runoff, and creek water. I/I directly impact the collection system due to the increase of system flows and may lead to sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs). SSOs are a release of untreated or partially treated sewage into the environment when the sewer infrastructure capacity is exceeded and may be harmful to any persons and/or surrounding ecosystems.
The study was performed in two phases and included the installation, data collection and analysis, and removal of six flow monitors for each phase. Depth and velocity readings were collected by the flow monitors in 15-minute intervals. Additionally, a rain gauge was installed at the Saraland Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) to quantify rainfall intensity and duration throughout the entire study period and footprint.
Last, Sanitary System Overflow reports were analyzed to provide valuable data on the location, frequency, causes, and impacts of each overflow. By systematically understanding, evaluating and leveraging this information, engineers and planners identified problem areas, assessed system capacities, and developed the resulting SWSS Master Plan to further ensure regulatory compliance, and prioritization of infrastructure repairs and upgrades.
The end product of this effort study resulted in the identification of future projects the Saraland Water and Sewer Service Utilities could implement that would have the greatest benefit on the collection systems. These projects were categorized by immediate priority, short-term priority, intermediate-term priority, and long-term priority. These identified projects provide the Saraland Water and Sewer Service Utilities an invaluable tool for identifying, prioritizing, and securing funding for critical infrastructure projects. By providing a detailed, data-driven assessment of the system’s current state and future needs, the study supports effective financial planning and enhances the likelihood of obtaining both capital and grant funding. This strategic approach ensures that resources are directed towards projects that offer the greatest benefit to the community, enhancing the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of the sanitary sewer system.
The collaboration between Saraland Water and Sewer Service Utilities and Volkert Engineering further demonstrates a proactive approach to addressing the City’s sanitary sewer system challenges. By developing a comprehensive master plan, Saraland Water and Sewer System Utilities has invested in the future of its infrastructure, ensuring that it remains capable of supporting the community’s needs for years to come. This strategic initiative not only reflects the Utility’s commitment to its residents’ well-being but also underscores the importance of sustainable growth and development.
For more information, please feel free to download the full report listed in the links below.
1-SWSS MP Final Report wo Appendices-Digital; 2022.06.20
2-Appendix A-Saraland Wastewater Collection System Capacity Analysis (2005)
3-Appendix B-Saraland Sewer System 10-Year Plan (2008)
4-Appendix C-City of Saraland Master Plan (2014)
5-Appendix D-Sanitary Sewer Flow Study (2021)