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.
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���� 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
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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
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���� 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
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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
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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