Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Survey (SSES) Outline

1.  Summary, Conclusion, and Recommendations

Summarize the problem and discuss the basis for selecting the proposed rehabilitation area (e.g. overflows/bypasses, 90% of design capacity, 80% of design capacity, other). An SSES is considered an engineering report; therefore, the front page or cover should be signed and sealed by an engineer licensed to practice in North Carolina.

2. History

Provide a short discussion of any previous sewer system rehabilitation and its geographic relationship to the currently proposed work. If applicable, the report should include a brief history of overflows/bypasses and their location, numbers of Notices of Violation, and/or other pertinent information to support the need for the rehabilitation.

3. Current Situation

1. Provide a description of the collection system to include the following:

1. The age of system, general materials, total footage and inch miles of sewer lines in the system and in the project area.
2. The number of pump stations, their age, capacities, and condition.

2. Provide a copy of any SOC or sewer moratorium that applies to the system.
   
   
3. If applicable, also provide copies of any associated inter-local agreements.

4. Rehabilitation

1. Provide a brief description of the proposed rehabilitation including the methodology proposed; whether the existing lines will be lined, replaced, sized larger than the existing lines; and if the work will be done within existing rights-of-way or easements.

2. Provide the approximate flow expected to be removed by the proposed work.
   
   
3. Provide an estimate of the total project costs including capital costs, engineering fees, contingencies, and if applicable, the 2% State Revolving Fund (SRF) closing cost.
   
   
4. Provide a map of the proposed repairs that identifies manholes, pump stations, pipe sizes, and pipe lengths.
   
   
5. Provide a plan for monitoring the collection system after completion of the project to evaluate its effectiveness.

5. User Charges and Eligibility

The report must include the current and expected user charges for a typical residential customer using 5,000 gallons per month. Expected user charges must be sufficient to pay back the loan and should be based on the project's first year billable flow.

Funding of service lines is limited to the portion within the sewer easement or rights-of-way. Cost estimates should be developed accordingly.

6. Environmental Assessment

A Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI) may have to be prepared for the proposed project. Therefore, the report must include an environmental assessment (EA) of the proposed work. This information will be the basis for developing any required FNSI. The EA will also enable reviewers to determine whether the project is above or below the minimum criteria threshold.

Guidance for preparing an Environmental Assessment can be found at the following web site: http://www.nccgl.net/fap/eaguide.htm.
Any applicable items should be addressed in the EA.

Relocation of pipes or an increase in pipe size may require a permit. A more detailed environmental assessment will be required for these types of projects.

7. Public Participation

For projects funded through the SRF program, a public hearing with an advertisement in a newspaper having community-wide circulation is required if, as a result of the SRF loan, the current user charges increase by more than 10% (See Section V).

Any required public hearing must identify the problem, discuss the proposed rehabilitation, identify the size of the SRF loan, and identify the effect on a typical residential user's monthly sewer bill.

After the hearing is conducted a transcript or detailed summary of the hearing and an affidavit of publication of the hearing notice must be provided.