The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (SCCOG) is seeking qualifications and proposals from firms to prepare a Regional Wastewater Management Plan.

Interested firms must demonstrate knowledge and experience in wastewater management, wastewater treatment planning, sewer system planning and design, and in other water resource planning and engineering practice areas.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Southeastern Connecticut is a 616 square mile region with a resident population of more than 286,000 people. SCCOG is comprised of twenty-two towns, cities, and boroughs, and is governed by the chief elected officials of those municipalities.

Southeastern Connecticut is currently served by 16 sewage systems and 12 wastewater treatment plants. Like the region’s water systems, the sewer systems are located within and influence the location of the region’s more densely populated and developed areas. The most extensive sewer systems are located in the municipalities of East Lyme, Groton, Montville, New London, Norwich, Stonington, Waterford, and Windham. SCCOG’s remaining municipalities have limited or no sewer service available.

SCCOG’s predecessor agency, the Southeastern Connecticut Regional Planning Agency (SCRPA), had prepared a Recommended Regional Sewerage Plan for the region in 1969. This plan documented and made recommendations for the region’s municipal sewerage systems at that time, and recommended the formation of a region water pollution control authority, which was not implemented.

In 2009, SCCOG formed a Regional Water Committee comprised of the chief elected officials, and supported by a Technical Advisory Subcommittee, from the region’s municipalities and tribes which have water utilities. The Regional Water Committee has adopted a Regional Water Priority Planning Document, and has prepared and received permits for a plan to allow emergency transfers of water to take place between its municipal and tribal water utilities. The SCCOG Regional Water Committee has been approached over the last several years by SCCOG member municipalities interested in the preparation of a regional wastewater treatment plan, but has not previously had the resources to prepare such a plan.

PRELIMINARY PROJECT SCOPE

1) INTRODUCTION

• Background Information
• Purpose and Scope
• Planning Area and Time Frame
• Review of Previous Planning Efforts
• Coordination with Current Planning Activities

2) EXISTING CONDITIONS

• Geology, Soils, and Topography of the Region
• Municipal Governance/Wastewater Treatment Control Authorities
• Generalized Land Use, Demographics, Population
• Natural Resources and Environmentally Sensitive Areas
• Groundwater and Surface Water Supply Areas and Quality
• Existing Wastewater Treatment Plants
• Existing Major Sewer Transmission Piping and Pump Stations
• Existing Onsite Private Wastewater Treatment Facilities

3) FUTURE WASTEWATER DEMAND AND FACILITIES

• Land Use, Demographic and Population Projections
• Forecast of Wastewater Flows and Pollutant Loadings
• Analysis of Existing Wastewater Treatment Capacity to Meet Future Demand
• Analysis and Selection of Future Wastewater Treatment Options

4) CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDED FUTURE ACTION

• Recommended Areas of Need
• Prioritized Wastewater Management Options and Probable Cost (Capital and Ongoing Operating)
• Recommended Staged Implementation Plan
• Recommended Policy and Governance Guidance for Implementing Management Plan

DELIVERABLES

The project deliverable will be a plan that analyzes the region’s existing wastewater treatment facilities, projects future demand for upgrades to these facilities, evaluates the capacity of the existing wastewater treatment facilities to meet that demand, and makes recommendations for upgrades to existing and for new wastewater treatment facilities in southeastern Connecticut.

The plan will include appropriate GIS mapping such as but not limited to existing and proposed sewer service areas; generalized land use; natural resources and environmentally sensitive areas; existing wastewater treatment facilities, outfalls, major sewer transmission lines, and pumping stations; and recommended options for upgrades/expansion of the existing system including interconnections, new sewer transmission lines, and other wastewater treatment facilities.