Subject:
Title
Amendment to the County’s Private Sewer Lateral Rebate Policy revising Sections V and VI, addressing private sewer lateral inspections and rebate requests.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval by the County Administrator amending the County’s Private Sewer Lateral (PSL) Rebate Policy revising Sections V and VI, addressing private sewer lateral inspections and rebate requests.
• Approval of the PSL Rebate Policy Amendments to allow for additional rebate opportunities for property owners that require emergency PSL replacement or rehabilitation. Specifically, the changes address:
o Allowing rebates for non-program related repairs or partial replacements, which brings a PSL into compliance, since it satisfies policy intent and County Ordinance.
o Requiring review by a state licensed civil engineer to allow non-related repairs and scenarios to be determined by County staff on a case-by-case basis.
• Once the policy amendment is approved, it will be applied retroactively to the start date of the PSL Rebate Program. Therefore, some customer rebate requests, which were initially denied, may be approved if they meet the revised requirements.
• To date, County has received 124 rebate submittals.
• .
Body
Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.1 Providing planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community
Practice Superior Environmental Stewardship
3.3 Protect and improve the quality of our water, air, and other natural resources
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.3 Ensure effective and efficient delivery of county services and support
Summary:
The amended PSL Rebate Policy allows for additional rebate opportunities for property owners. It allows property owners who require an emergency PSL replacement or rehabilitation to mitigate the high cost as they will be able to apply for a rebate. The current policy, implemented on December 1, 2022, does not allow a rebate for the replacement or rehabilitation of a private sewer lateral unless an approved inspection has been completed prior to the entire replacement or rehabilitation of the PSL.
Repairs or partial replacements, which bring a PSL into compliance, should be included for rebates since it satisfies the intent of both the policy and County Ordinance in reducing extraneous water into the sanitary sewer system.
Amended language added to the PSL Rebate Program Policy is as follows:
• “A homeowner may opt to replace or rehabilitate the entire private sewer lateral without a video inspection if the certified plumber deems the private sewer lateral to be defective in accordance with the definitions within this policy.”
• “Pinellas County sanitary sewer customers can receive rebates for sewer lateral replacements, if the work is permitted thru the building department, meets current plumbing code design & materials standards and the PSL passes a hydrostatic test following repair.”
• “If the rebate submittal does not meet the specific requirements of this policy, other repair work may be considered and approved by the Utilities department in alignment with the stated goals of reducing inflow & infiltration into the sewer system and are in accordance with Pinellas County Ordinances. This will be determined through a review process by a Utilities department state licensed civil engineer.”
To date, the County has received 124 submittals for rebates. There have been several prior rebate requests where unusual circumstances, which have been submitted to the Count for review as they were outside the parameters of the Rebate Policy. Adding “review by a “state licensed civil engineer” will allow these scenarios to by determined by County staff on a case-by-case basis. Once the policy revisions are approved, they will be applied retro-actively to the start date of the PSL Rebate Program. Some customer requested rebates, which were initially denied, may be approved if they meet the revised requirements.
Background/Explanation:
The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution 22-21, “Sewer Lateral and Private Systems Policies” on February 22, 2022. Contributing factors for the adoption of the Resolution included a consent order with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for regulatory compliance related to the effluent quality and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs). The Utilities Department continues to experience SSOs during heavy rain events from defective pipes contributing to I & I entering the sanitary sewer collection system. Reducing I & I at the source is the most pragmatic strategy to eliminating SSOs.
Currently, this issue is being addressed through four (4) methods, one of which is the PSL Rebate Program. Unless flow entering the sanitary sewer system through defective PSL’s is abated, there will be more frequent and severe SSOs, which impact public health and the environment throughout the County. These excessive flows will also overwhelm the two (2) Wastewater Treatment Plants hindering the ability to meet regulatory effluent requirements and creating a need for costly plant expansions.
Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to approve this Amendment is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1) and adopted Resolution No. 22-21.
Staff Member Responsible:
Megan Ross, Director, Utilities
Partners:
N/A
Attachments:
Revised PSL Rebate Policy
Resolution 22-21
Ordinance 22-10