Oneonta to fund infiltration and inflow study after SPDES permit revisions; committee advances item to consent

City staff described a proposed infiltration and inflow (I&I) study to identify where stormwater and illegal connections are entering the sanitary sewer system and to prioritize repairs and lining work.

Judy (city staff) said the study will include flow monitoring at key points in the collection system using data loggers, and it may include smoke testing to detect illegal connections such as downspouts or basement sump pumps tied to the sanitary sewer. Staff said the study will estimate linear feet of sewer main that require lining or replacement and will identify likely sources including cracked mains, manholes and faulty laterals.

Staff noted the city’s wastewater treatment plant average flow is just shy of 2,000,000 gallons per day and that flows can surge to about 8,000,000 gallons per day during rain events — a spike staff attributed to I&I. Judy said SPDES (State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permit conditions and renewal prompted this work; the city must reduce I&I to avoid bypasses and permit violations.

Funding: staff said the project has a grant component and that the city’s match could be up to $20,000 from the CERT fund. Committee discussion clarified that sanitary sewer laterals (the private connection from a building to the main) are currently the owner’s responsibility, while the main is the city’s responsibility; smoke testing can reveal problems in laterals and may require follow‑up with property owners.

Ending: Committee members agreed to move the study funding approval to the consent agenda; staff will work with consultants to define the monitoring plan and any smoke testing protocol and will return with more detail as the project progresses.