MemorandumUNB Stormwater – East Providence Existing LOS September 8, 2015 Page 2 UNB Stormwater_Existing LOS_E Providence.docx Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Compliance – …

UNB Stormwater_Existing LOS_E Providence.docx

Memorandum

To: Upper Narragansett Bay Stormwater – Steering Committee

From: Cynthia Baumann, P.E.

Date: October 19, 2015

Subject: East Providence - Existing Level of Service

UNB Regional Stormwater Management District Feasibility Study – Phase II

As part of the Upper Narragansett Bay Regional Stormwater Management District Feasibility Study,

CDM Smith is developing a 10-year cost of service estimate for each municipality related to their

operations of the stormwater program. In developing this cost of service, CDM Smith first

considered the existing stormwater level of service (LOS) provided by each municipality, the Rhode

Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), and the Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) and

from the corresponding stormwater budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 (July 1, 2014 to June 30,

2015). For the purposes of the LOS analysis, the stormwater programs are divided into five

categories:

�� Program Administration – this component includes the management of the stormwater

program as well as planning, engineering and other administrative responsibilities.

�� Municipal Separate Strom Sewer System (MS4) Compliance – these are the activities that are

done to achieve compliance with the MS4 permit. In some sense all of the components may

consider MS4 compliance; however, for the purposes of this analysis, the activities include

only those that have been added to the stormwater program to achieve compliance excluding

administrative activities associated with soil erosion and control and post-construction

stormwater requirements. Examples of such activities include mapping, inspection, annual

reporting, public participation and training, and illicit discharge detection and elimination.

�� Operations and Maintenance (O&M) – this component includes the maintenance of the public

stormwater system (i.e., stormwater assets) such as cleaning, street sweeping, and minor

repair and replacement.

�� Capital Improvement Program (CIP) – this component includes the design and construction

of major capital assets for the purposes of flood control and/or stormwater quality

improvements.

UNB Stormwater – East Providence Existing LOS

September 8, 2015

Page 2


�� Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Compliance – these are the activities that need to be done

to be in compliance with the specific TMDL requirements for those water bodies within each

municipality that have a TMDL.

East Providence’s Stormwater Program

The City of East Providence is located east of Providence in the eastern portion of Rhode Island.

East Providence had a population of 47,149 based on the 2010 Census and the 2013 estimated

population is 47,037 (US Census Bureau, 2015). The eastern boundary of the state of

Massachusetts, to the west is the Providence River, to the south is Barrington and to the north is

Pawtucket. The northern fourth of the City is bisected by Ten Mile River and a portion of the

eastern boundary is the Runnins River. The City comprises about 14.0 square miles in area, with 66

miles of drainage pipe, about 2,109 catch basins and 1,354 manholes. The City has about 2 miles of

drainage swales, 955 curb inlets, and 50 dry wells. The City is not part of a combined sewer system

so 100 percent of the City is within an MS4. There are 133 MS4 outfalls that discharge to waters of

the U.S. and 28 best management practices (BMPs) such as detention basins, grass swales and

proprietary systems. Figure 1 illustrates the City boundaries and major river systems.

TMDLs have been completed for the Runnins River and the Ten Mile River. The TMDL for the

Runnins River is for Fecal Coliform and was completed by the state in December of 2002. The

TMDL required East Providence to investigate and fix sewer system overflows as well as

improvements to the stormwater system. For the Ten Mile River, the TMDL was completed in April

of 2014 for dissolved oxygen, pathogens, phosphorus, and metals (cadmium and aluminum).

Level of Service (LOS)

For the purposes of this study, different levels of service have been defined and assigned standard

values, with A being the highest and F being the lowest. These standard definitions facilitate

evaluation of the LOS currently being provided by the City of East Providence stormwater program,

and allow consideration of alternative levels of service.

As discussed in the LOS Protocol, a matrix has been developed to assist in understanding the

different levels of service as they relate to the five major program areas (refer to Table 1). Within

this matrix, the first column contains the LOS alphabetical value ranging from A to F with LOS A

being the best. Subsequent column headings are provided for the program areas, and each box

within the matrix contains a brief description of the key elements required to achieve the given LOS

for each program area.

PROVIDENCE

WARWICK BARRINGTON

CRANSTON

PAWTUCKET

REHOBOTH

Upper Naragansett Bay Regional Stormwater Management Feasibility Study Phase IIFigure 1: Project AreaAugust 2015City of East Providence, RI

0 0.5 1Miles

´HydrologyCity of East Providence

Road

MASSACHUSETTS

RHODE ISLANDTe

n Mile

Rive

r

Runnins River

East Providence Existing LOS Technical Memo

I-195

TAUNTON AVE

WAMPANOAG TRAIL

SOCONY RD

NORT

H BRO

ADWAY

ST

SEEKONK


September 8, 2015

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The matrix and LOS descriptions combined with the costs of the current program provide a basis

for understanding the relative differences between the increasing levels of service and the

associated connected program improvements needed to increase the LOS. Ultimately, this will

provide a basis for determining the revenue required to fund each level of service.

Existing LOS

CDM Smith considered the existing LOS for the City of East Providence through interviews with City

staff and review of available MS4 reports, stormwater documents, and the City’s FY 2015 Budget. A

description of each of the stormwater management components is provided below.

Program Management

The self-assessment reports that there are a number of completed stormwater studies including:

Level of

Service

Program

Administration

MS4

Compliance

O&M

Activities CIP Projects

TMDL

Compliance

A

Comprehensive

Planning + Full

Implementation

Capabilities

Exemplary

Permit

Compliance

Full

Preventative &

100% Routine

10-year Plan

Exemplary

Permit

Compliance

B

Pro-active

Planning +

Systematic CIP

Implementation

Capabilities

Pro-Active

Permit

Compliance

Mixture of

Routine and

Inspection

Based

20-year Plan

Pro-Active

Permit

Compliance

C

Priority Planning

+ Partial CIP

Implementation

Capabilities

Minimal

Permit

Compliance

Inspection

Based 40-year Plan

Minimal

Permit

Compliance

D

Reactionary

Planning +

Minimal CIP

Implementation

Capabilities

Below

Minimum

Permit

Compliance

Responsive

Only

Complaint

Based

50-year Plan

Below

Minimum

Permit

Compliance

F

No Planning + No

CIP

Implementation

Capabilities

Non-

Compliance

Less Than Full

Response to

All Complaints

75-year or

More Plan

Non-

Compliance

Table 1 – General Level of Service (LOS) Criteria


September 8, 2015

Page 5


�� Runnins River Watershed Stormwater Management Study, US Army Corps of Engineers (1994)

�� Runnins River Drainage Study, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. (2007)

�� Southeast Area Drainage District Comprehensive Study, CDM (1981)

Additional flood prone areas have been identified in the self-assessment which need to be studied.

The LOS for Program Management is C.

MS4 Compliance

Based on the self-assessment, it appears that each of the components of the MS4 permit are being

achieved. Highlights of the existing program include:

� Public awareness has been accomplished through the distribution of fliers as well as

through the City website.

� A number of shoreline cleanup activities have also been accomplished in conjunction with

local environmental interest groups.

� Outfall maps of the MS4 system has been completed for the City including catch basins and

manholes.

� Construction plans are reviewed and construction activities has been inspected.

Based on this information, the East Providence MS4 compliance LOS can be characterized as C,

which is characterized as compliant with the MS4 permit.

Operations & Maintenance (O&M)

The O&M program for the City can be characterized as an inspection based program. Based on the

inspections approximately 25 percent (525) catch basins are cleaned annually, generally from April

to October. Street sweeping is routinely done with about 150 miles of roadway swept per year,

generally from April to October. Maintenance of open channels is complaint-based (i.e., in response

to customer complaint or comments).

Although it has not been confirmed, it is believed that a portion of the stormwater system is

relatively old (40 years and greater), which may result in repair and replacement activities to soon

dominate the O&M program (or CIP expenditures).

Overall, the O&M program for East Providence can be characterized as a mixture of routine-based

and complaint-based, yielding a LOS of C.

Capital Improvement Program (CIP)

During the discussions with the City, 15 locations were identified as described in Attachment A

and depicted on Figure 2. In order to develop a stormwater CIP plan each area would require an

evaluation, development of recommendations, engineering design, permitting and preparation of

PROVIDENCE

WARWICK BARRINGTON

CRANSTON

PAWTUCKET

REHOBOTH

Upper Naragansett Bay Regional Stormwater Management Feasibility Study Phase IIFigure 2: Capital Improvements ProjectsAugust 2015City of East Providence, RI

0 0.5 1Miles

´HydrologyCity of East Providence

Road

MASSACHUSETTS

RHODE ISLANDTe

n Mile

Rive

r

Runnins River

East Providence Existing LOS Technical Memo

I-195

TAUNTON AVE

WAMPANOAG TRAIL

SOCONY RD

NORT

H BRO

ADWAY

ST

SEEKONK

Capital Improvement Project Area

EP01, EP02, EP03

EP05

EP06

EP14

EP12

EP09

EP08

EP07

EP04EP10

EP15

EP11

EP13


September 8, 2015

Page 7


plans and specifications in order to construct the recommended improvements. As noted above,

drainage studies from previous evaluations exist for several of the areas. These areas would not

require a full evaluation; improvements would be based on the initial study. Currently there is no

funding allocated for capital improvements. This represents a CIP LOS of F.

TMDL Compliance

The City of East Providence has two TMDLs that affect water bodies within the City limits:

� “Fecal Coliform TMDL for the Runnins River, Rhode Island” dated August 2002

� “TMDL for the Five Water Bodies of the Ten Mile River Watershed” dated April 2014

Formal notification from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM)

regarding TMDL requirements has not been issued to any TMDLs approved by the US

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after October 2010. No action is currently required by

East Providence for these TMDLs. For TMDLs approved by the US EPA before October 2010, East

Providence is mandated to meet TMDL requirements. Table 2 below lists the TMDL requirements

of the City and the status of each.

Impaired

Water

TMDL Requirements

Outstanding Fulfilled

Runnins River

� Phased plan to map the County street storm drain system and to inspect illicit connections.

� Plans for the design and installation of structural BMPs on OJ Creek.

� Removed overflow from the Wannamoisett Road Pumping Station.

Based on the self-assessment, it appears that minimal measures are being taken to address TMDL

requirements.

Additional revenue is needed to address the TMDL requirements identified by RIDEM. While the

costs to address TMDL needs are more speculative, they are anticipated to be significant. Based on

the minimal TMDL implementation effort, this represents a TMDL LOS D.

Summary of Existing LOS

In summary, the existing stormwater management program for the City of East Providence can be

characterized as LOS C, characterized as adequate administration and available drainage plans, MS4

compliant activities, slightly better than average maintenance and limited planned CIP

improvements.

Table 2 – Summary of TMDL Requirements for East Providence


September 8, 2015

Page 8


Stormwater Program Costs

From the assessment of the costs of the existing

stormwater program for the City of East

Providence, the total budget for stormwater

activities is estimated at $574,909 per year as

shown in Table 3. Table 3 is based on the

percentage of time spent by Public Works staff on

stormwater activities as identified by East

Providence staff – this identified the total labor for

stormwater activities. Also, using the Approved

Annual Operating Budget FY 2015 for East

Providence, a factor was developed to help estimated the total budget from the raw salary: the

Public Works Department factor was estimated at 1.728. Table 3 then estimates the salaries and

multiplies the result by this factor to estimate the total existing expenses. The majority of the

budget today is spent on O&M activities (almost 82 percent). The per capita expenditure for

stormwater programs in East Providence is about $12.19 per capita. This indicates based on the

cost per capita that the comparative LOS is D, lower than the LOS assessment above.

Table 3 - Summary of Existing Stormwater Expenses for

East Providence

Category

Total

Budget

% of

Total

Program Management $66,584 11.6%

MS4 Compliance 1

$23,782 4.1%

O&M $469,543 81.7%

CIP $15,000 2.6%

$574,909 100.0%

Attachment A

Capital Improvement Projects

EP01 Southeast Area Drainage System Improvements - Phase I

● Diversion of flows from north of Forbes Street out of

the study area and into Willett Pond.

● Channel improvements to Annawomscutt Brook

● Installation of drainage facilities, including perforated

pipe undrain systems, in areas reporting high

occurrences of flooding problems.

EP02 Southeast Area Drainage System Improvements - Phase II

● Continue with installation of storm drainage facilities

that were installed under Phase I.

● Install facilities in other problem areas, particularly in

the southern section of the study area.

EP03 Southeast Area Drainage System Improvements - Phase III ● Installation of storm drainage facilities in the

remainder of the study area.

EP04 Grosvenor Avenue Drainage System Improvements Drainage system improvements to address localized flooding at headwaters of Metacomet Brook.

EP05 Sabin Point Outfall Relocation Relocate outfall away from beach area. Consideration of tidal tailwater.

EP06 Pawtucket Avenue Drainage System ImprovementsDrainage system improvements to address localized flooding in the vicinity of St. Mary Academy - Bay

View, from Village Green to Boyden Boulevard.

EP07Taunton Avenue & Commercial Way Drainage System

Improvements

Drainage system improvements to address localized roadway flooding at low spot in intersection in

commercial area.

EP08 Runnins River Drainage System ImprovementsImprovements include modifications of the Warren Avenue Culvert, upstream channel modifications,

and nonstructural flood proofing of several properties.

EP09 Kent Heights Drainage System Improvements

Investigate drainage system improvements in the Kent Heights area, near Amaral Street, such as

upstream controls on runoff or removal of downstream hydraulic constrictions within the Runnins

River.

EP10 North Blossom Street Drainage System ImprovementsDrainage system improvements to address localized roadway flooding along street between residential

property and commercial parking area.

EP11Dewey Avenue & Broadway Street Drainage System

ImprovementsDrainage system improvements to address localized roadway flooding at the intersection.

EP12 South Broadway & Lee Road Drainage System ImprovementsDrainage system improvements to address localized roadway flooding at culvert. Could involve

maintenance.

EP13Newport Avenue & Ferris Avenue Drainage System

Improvements

Drainage system improvements to address localized roadway flooding at the intersection in

commercial area.

EP14 Veterans Memorial Parkway Drainage System ImprovementsDrainage system improvements to address tidal roadway flooding near South Broadway Roadway

(Watchemoket Cove).

EP15 North Broadway Drainage System Separation Separate out neighborhoods southwest of Dewey Avenue to reduce flow.

Project IDProject IDProject IDProject ID CIP ProjectCIP ProjectCIP ProjectCIP Project DescriptionDescriptionDescriptionDescription

Upper Narragansett Bay Regional Stormwater Management District Feasibility Study - Phase II

Capital Improvement Projects - East Providence

Documents

MemorandumUNB Stormwater – East Providence Existing LOS September 8, 2015 Page 2 UNB Stormwater_Existing LOS_E Providence.docx Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Compliance – …