February's APWA Reporter...In the Spotlight: Council Bluffs' Successful Sanitary Sewer Rehab Program

GBA Senior Associate Gary Beck and Council Bluffs Director of Public Works Greg Reeder shared the success of the city’s Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Program in an article that appeared in the February issue of the APWA Reporter. The article sets out the level of effort required and steps needed to significantly change the level of protection of the city’s sewer system. Other cities can learn from this example.

A quick summary. Back-to-back storms during the summer of 1987 exceeded storm intervals and brought system inadequacies to the forefront. Even before the storms, basement backups and overflows to streams were common during storms. Deteriorating sewers, early design practices that allowed private storm connections, and incomplete and often inaccurate city records, contributed to the problems faced by the 150-year-old city. The following year Council Bluffs selected GBA to evaluate the condition of the sewer system and develop and implement an improvement plan.

Today more than 20 years later the program has been a great success. Steps have included investigation and pilot studies, funding source determination and approval, selection of design storm protection, investigative phases, database and GIS mapping, I/I reduction, structural repairs, and capacity improvement. 

While the success of the Sanitary Sewer Rehab Program is apparent – damaging sewer backups and overflows have been reduced from hundreds annually to almost none – city leaders realize that maintaining the integrity of the system requires constant monitoring and capital investment.

KC Business Journal Talks to GBA VP Roy Wilson About LEED Certification in the Current Economy

KC Business Journal staff writer Mark Kind talked with GBA VP Roy Wilson for an article entitled "Cost concerns growing, but LEED is not slowing" that appeared in the February 5 issue of the publication.  How has the recession in the construction industry affected the pursuit of LEED certification?  Roy shared his thoughts along with Bob Berkebile, principal of Kansas City's BNIM Architects, and Bob Courtney, energy manager for the Olathe School District.  

All agree that energy-efficient buildings are the gold standard today, whether LEED is part of the mix or not.  In fact, Roy noted that some states are developing alternative regulations to allow state-owned energy-efficient buildings to avoid the costs associated with LEED verification.  Countney said that he's not sure the district can justify going for an award (LEED certification), and opted out of obtaining LEED certification for three existing schools because of the high cost. He will do the same with another school now under construction. Yet Berkebile noted that while fewer projects are being designed and built because of the recession, the percentage of those seeking LEED certification is growing. 

Commissioning is a well documented, systematic method of assuring that a building’s systems perform according to design standards and meet the needs of the owner and occupant. It is a prerequisite for LEED certification.  Roy noted that commissioning is a critical step, especially for buildings containing critical 24/7 operations. But while many owners elect to have their buildings commissioned, they choose not to seek LEED certification.

As our clients know, we are committed to helping then achieve their goals for sustainability, from small steps that incorporate green materials, principles, and practices,  to helping them earn LEED certification. That's the goal of our FocusGreen Team of LEED Accredited Professionals.