City of Valentine Water & Wastewater Systems Improvements Valentine, Texas

1. City of ValentineWater & Wastewater Systems Improvements Valentine, Texas Presented to:Project Sponsor and Agency Stakeholders July 29, 2003

2. Agenda • General Aspects • Environmental and Human Health Indicators • Environmental, Human Health and Sustainable Development Indicators • Technical Approach, Objectives and Funding Plan • Public Participation • Project Development Schedule

3. General Aspects Project Location The City of Valentine: • Located in west Texas, in Jeff Davis County; • Approximately 36 miles west of Fort Davis; • Approximately 30 miles northeast of the U.S. / Mexico Border. Texas

4. General Aspects Project Sponsor Profile • City of Valentine • Population: 187 (Census 2000) • Colonia Designation • State of Texas Attorney General • Texas Water Development Board • Tejeda Center to assist Valentine in adopting Model Subdivision Rules relative to colonias for BEIF eligibility. • Median Household Income (Census Data): Income survey recommended to make determination regarding income • 1999 - $34,375 • 1989 – $9,183 • Unemployment Rate: 21% • Existing Facilities • Water – 80 metered service connections • Wastewater – None

5. General Aspects Existing Water Treatment, Storage, & Distribution System • Production • Groundwater, of suitable quality is obtained from West Texas Bolsons Aquifer; • Two Production Wells • Storage • Water Standpipe 47,000 gal built in 1976. • Distribution • System constructed in 1976; • 80 service connections with meter. .

6. General Aspects Existing Water Treatment, Storage, & Distribution System Existing Well Site Existing Well

7. General Aspects Existing Water Treatment, Storage, & Distribution System Existing Standpipe Existing Chlorine Injection

8. General Aspects Water Facilities Deficiencies • Production • Existing well requires new pump and wiring; • City relies on the VISD well during emergency provisions; • VISD well production insufficient for City over a prolonged length of time. • Storage • Standpipe inadequate to satisfy pressure requirements. • Distribution • Preliminary review indicates inadequate looping of the system; • Provisions for fire do not exist; • Accuracy of meters installed in 1976 should be verified. • General • City of Valentine does not employ a system operator but contracts for this service; • High incidence of unaccounted for water at 19%.

9. General Aspects Proposed Water Systems Improvements • Production • Replace existing well pump, control wire, miscellaneous piping and electrical controls and well site security fencing; • Construct new production well for simultaneous operation with existing well. New well would provide additional production and an alternate source during emergencies; • Install 2,000 lf of 4-inch well line; • Construct new chlorination building for both existing and new well; • Determine source for high incidence of unaccounted for water. • Storage • Construction of new storage facility adjacent to the existing standpipe to increase system pressure. A $263,000 grant has been approvedby ORCA for construction of the new storage facility. • Distribution • Perform water model analysis as required; • Complete looping of existing system; • Evaluate fire provisions requirement. Total Estimated Cost - $604,000 (excludes ORCA grant)

10. General Aspects Existing Wastewater Collection and Treatment System • Collection • Valentine does not have any centralized collection system; • All residents use on-site sewage cesspools for disposal. • Treatment • The City of Valentine does not have any treatment facilities. Wastewater System Deficiencies • Collection • Valentine does not have any centralized collection system; • All residents use on-site sewage cesspools for disposal; • Due to small residential lots many of the existing cesspools do not comply with current state regulations; • Design and/or construction of the existing cesspools and septic tanks is inadequate. Many cesspools suspected to be unlined; • Additional investigation required to determine the possibility of groundwater contamination from these on-site systems. • Treatment • Valentine does not have any centralized treatment system.

11. General Aspects Proposed Wastewater System Improvements Improvements proposed by GSWW, Consultant Engineer for Valentine, include (existing population plus 20 year growth): • Collection • Gravity collection system consisting of 19,000 lf of sewer mains ranging in size from 6-10 inches with 38 manholes; • 200 lf of 16-inch steel casings at two locations; • One duplex lift station with 1,500 lf of 3-inch forcemain; • Treatment • 2 facultative lagoons; • 2 stabilization ponds with clay liners; • Construction includes plant piping, effluent metering station and recirculating pump, discharge line and site security fencing; • A preliminary 22-acre site has been identified southwest of the City limits; • Approximately 40 acres required for irrigation. Total Estimated Cost - $1,441,320

12. Environmental and Human Health Indicators Compliance with Environmental Norms & Regulations • Water System TCEQ Comprehensive Compliance Investigation of Valentine’s water system: • Notice of Violation issued March 7, 2003; • The City was cited for failure to design and maintain a minimum pressure of 35 psi at flow rates of at least 1.5 gpm at each service connection; • TCEQ has indicated that a response to the Notice is required soon; • Tejeda Center to assist Valentine with the response • Wastewater System • TCEQ indicated there have not been any complaints issued for the various on-site wastewater facilities and therefore, inspections have not been performed for these systems; • TCEQ will assist in performing a survey of existing on-site facilities.

13. Environmental, Human Health and Sustainable Development Strategies • Border Health Office - May be contacted to determine health statistics • Water System • Discuss the threatening impacts of inadequate system looping, lack of an adequate alternative water source, and inadequate pressure; • Document the enforceable regulatory standard(s) which require minimum system capacities for fire flow capacity; • Research the capacity of the West Texas Bolsons Aquifer; • Existing reports regarding the West Texas Bolsons Aquifer may be available through the El Paso Water Utilities (EPWU. • Wastewater System • Research and document examples of existing on-site disposal utilizing unlined cesspools and those constructed on lots smaller than minimum requirements or instance of more than one cesspool per lot; • Describe the environmental and health risks associated with these out- dated technologies; • Percolation of untreated wastewater into the groundwater supply may be a concern. Additional geotechnical investigation should be conducted; • Groundwater data may be available in previous EPWU reports; • Prepare for environmentally sensitive issues such as historic preservation, floodplain and farmland conversion.

14. Sustainable Development Strategies • Two stakeholder workshops to be conducted. The baseline conditions report is complete. • A back-up operator and additional training is recommended. • An operation and maintenance program will be developed as part of the project. • Present worth analysis and comparison to community affordability with examination of user fee will be performed. • 30% design review by system operator

15. Technical Approach,Objectives and Funding Plan • Provide the City of Valentine’s residents with adequate, affordable wastewater and water service in compliance with TCEQ requirements; • Improvement to existing water distribution system in accordance with regulatory requirements; • Construction of a centralized wastewater collection system and treatment facilities; • Abandonment of existing on-site wastewater disposal facilities. Project Objectives

16. Technical Approach,Objectives and Funding Plan Recommended Technical Approach PDAP Eligible Tasks: • Preliminary Engineering Report • Environmental Report (EID) • Financial Analysis • Public Participation Program • Final Engineering Designs • Operation and Maintenance Plans • Survey of Household Income Non-PDAP Eligible Tasks: • Rate study. • Training and institutional strengthening. • Contingency Plans • Project Management • Survey of Existing On-site Facilities

17. Technical Approach, Objectivesand Funding Plan • The Frank M. Tejeda Center prepared a Statement of Institutional Capacity of the City of Valentine addressing the following : • Regulatory Compliance Issues • On-going Projects and Planning • Existing Planning • Project Development and Funds Management • Outsourcing • Operational Capacity • Management Capabilities • Governance Institutional Capacity

18. Technical Approach, Objectives and Funding Plan Project Sponsor Financial Potential • The City of Valentine generates revenue by imposing a sales tax. • The City of Valentine does not have a police department or fire department. • Fiscal year from January 1st to December 31st for each year; • December 31, 2002 first audited report completed for the City; Water Fund Current Rate Structure Average Monthly Bill • $18.00 for first 2000 gallons; • $2.25 / 1,000 gallons for next 2,000 gallons; • $1,85 / 1,000 gallons for next 3,000 gallons; • $1.55 / 1,000 gallons for next 4,000 gallons. • Average Water $20.00 • Garbage Collection $15.00 Total $35.00

19. Technical Approach, Objectives and Funding Plan Identified Potential Funding Sources • USDA-RUS • Colonias Grant and Water and Waste Disposal Program. • FHA – In 1976, the City received a loan for construction of the water facilities. To date, the City owes approximately $71,000 on this loan. • Pre-application has been submitted to RD. • TWDB • Dfund, CWSRF, DWSRF, RWAF, and EDAP and CWTAP – TWDB has indicated no EDAP/CWTAP funds are available at this time. • ORCA • Applied for and received a $263,000 water improvements grant in June 2003. The City has two years to complete the proposed improvements • NADBank • BEIF to support construction, service connections, project management and rate transition. A rate study and additional capacity building tasks may be funded through the IDP. • BECC • The City is eligible through the Project Development Assistance Program (PDAP).

20. Public Participation Strategy Potential Obstacles • Largest obstacle is cost associated with repaying loans and will be a concern of all residents; • Concurrence form the community for mandatory sewer service connections and; • Land acquisition for the wastewater treatment facilities. Potentially from EPWU. Local Politics • A mayor and two City Council positions and one secretary. One City Council position is currently vacant; • Elections take place every year, for a two-year term. Generally elections not required as the current politicians run unopposed; • There are no term limits; • Local organizations: Valentine ISD, Jeff Davis County, Council of Governments, Border Health Office. Socio-Economic Indicators • Approximately 21% of the population, over the age of 25, has completed a high school education; • TX Workforce Commission, 2002 Labor Market Information denotes 21% unemployment.

21. Project Schedule