Notice: Public Meeting on Sewer Overflows
In 2011, the City of Elkins negotiated a Long-Term Control Plan (LTCP) for Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), which identified two sewer separation projects.
With the completion of the two phases of improvements, the City is required to update Agencies on the progress of the program and to update the LTCP, which includes receiving input from the public.
As such, a Public Meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. on January 23, 2023 to discuss continued conformance with USEPA requirements and finalizing an Implementation Schedule for future improvements in the wastewater collection system.
This meeting will be held in the council chamber at Elkins City Hall.
8/31: Parking Restrictions on Lavalette
On Wednesday (8/31), Bear Contracting will begin patch paving on Lavalette Ave. Work will begin at 7:00 a.m. and is scheduled for completion by noon, weather dependent.
There will be no parking on Lavelette between 14th Street and 15th Street during this time.
8/22-8/24: No Parking on Lavallette
Monday-Wednesday (8/22-8/24), Bear Contracting will be excavating Lavallette Avenue between 14th and 15th. There will be no parking on this block while this work is ongoing.
The purpose of this work is to perform sewer installation and storm-drain repair under warranty from last year’s sewer/stormwater separation project.
This schedule is weather dependent.
Storm Water Update From Chief Operator
Whitney Hymes, the chief operator of the Elkins sewer utility, has provided the following update concerning recent extraordinary rain events in Elkins, obstacles for storm water management, and next steps that are being planned to continue making improvements:
The past few months have exhibited extremely extraordinary rain events for the Elkins area. These unprecedented influxes of precipitation are causing system overloads.
Usually, overload issues are relieved by permitted discharges located throughout the City. These permitted overflows are designed to help reduce any potential flooding or surcharges involved with the Sanitary Sewer system. These abnormal rain events experienced are surging the system and are maxing design capacities.
The City of Elkins has been working diligently to improve system flaws throughout past years. These developments are very exhaustive and expensive and must be completed in “Phases” to provide a cost-effective solution to not only the City but also to the residents that will ultimately be responsible. The City began these “Phase Projects” with the initial “Phase I Project”, which began in 2015. The “Phase II Project” was just completed in 2021 and is still undergoing finalization.
Comparing dates, the duration of a Phase Project can take anywhere from 3-5 years. The length of time is due to the thorough work it takes for design, execution, and completion. At this time, there have not been any designated areas chosen for the upcoming Phase III project.
City personnel and collaborating partners are in the beginning stages of identifying areas impacted the most to provide the most success for the system and the best cost-effective strategy for residents. State and federal guidelines also play a large factor as to what can and cannot be implemented in the system. Since it is not feasible to have one project covering the entire City, the Phase III Project will not be the last progress seen. Numerous Phase Projects throughout future years will provide a cost-effective option for City residents.
A short-term solution that may help alleviate flooding issues would be to remove downspouts/roof drains from the Sanitary Sewer. Removal of excess storm water from the Sanitary Sewer will aid in the control of overload issues. Please note, if downspout/roof drain removal is completed consideration should be followed for any neighboring properties or locations.
In conclusion, the City of Elkins is aggressively working toward improving the current system. These improvements will take time due to regulatory standards, concentrated studies, and guaranteeing that studies confirm areas that will provide the most impact and cost effectiveness not only for the City but also for the residents we serve.
Separation Project Reduced Storm Water in Sewer Lines
This time last year, South Elkins was the scene of near-constant excavation work as a city contractor installed new underground pipes to carry storm water to the river. As is still the case in much of Elkins, South Elkins had no storm-water lines. Instead, storm drains and many residential downspouts in that neighborhood were connected directly to sewer lines. In combined sewer/storm-water systems like ours, too much rain can enter the sewer system during big storms, resulting in overflows of untreated wastewater to the river. Last year’s work in South Elkins was the second phase of an ongoing project to separate sewer and storm-water lines to reduce the occurrence of such overflows.
So, how effective was this project? Whitney Hymes, the chief operator of the Elkins wastewater system, says that the two phases of sewer/storm-water separation work completed so far have already been extremely effective at reducing the volume of water entering sewer lines during heavy rainfall.
“When I started working at the treatment plant about 12 years ago, heavy rain events could result in as much as 8-10 million gallons leaving the plant after treatment,” says Hymes, who points out that the plant is designed to treat and release no more than 4.99 million gallons of outflow, or effluent, per day. “The effluent we were releasing still met environmental standards, but it definitely wasn’t as clear and clean as it could have been.”
According to Hymes, since the completion of the underground work last fall, the highest spike in system volume caused by a large rain event was only 5.99 millions in a single day.
“We still have work to do to eliminate overflows entirely, which is the goal DEP [the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection] has set for us ,” says Hymes, “but we are making good progress toward that goal.”
Hymes and her team are currently working with engineers to plan a third phase of sewer/storm-water separation work. The project start date has not yet been set. In the meantime, there is something that property owners in South Elkins can do to help further reduce the volume of storm-water entering the sewer system.
“There are still a lot of houses in Elkins with gutter downspouts connected directly to the sewer lines,” says Hymes. “We really need to get those tied to the storm-water lines instead. If anyone wants more information, I encourage them to get in touch with me.”
Reach the Wastewater Treatment Plant at (304) 636-2058 or by emailing whymes@cityofelkinswv.com.
10/26: Updated Street Paving Closures for Rest of Week
Today’s rainy weather has resulted in changes to plans for Bear Contracting’s final paving and milling work, as part of the sewer/stormwater separation project.
As this work proceeds, there will be no parking 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on the day/streets listed below:
- Wednesday-Thursday (10/27-28): 14th Street, 15th Street, 16th Street, Lavalette Avenue, Taylor Avenue, Whiteman Avenue, Kerens Avenue, Granny’s Lane, River Street, Granny’s Lane, and two sections of Ward Avenue (one section between Livingston and Lavalette, and one section extending southeast from Davis)
- Friday (10/29): Work might need to continue on Granny’s Lane and River Street.
Please check back for updates.
Street Paving Closures, Week of 10/25
As the sewer/stormwater separation project nears completion, Bear Contracting will be milling and paving several streets during the week of October 25, as listed and shown in the map below. There will be no parking on the indicated dates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Monday (10/25): 14th Street, 15th Street, 16th Street, Lavalette Avenue, Taylor Avenue,
- Tuesday (10/26): 14th Street, 15th Street, 16th Street, Lavalette Avenue, Taylor Avenue, Whiteman Avenue, Kerens Avenue, Granny’s Lane, River Street, and Ward Avenue between Livingston and Lavalette
- Wednesday (10/27): Whiteman Avenue, Kerens Avenue, and Ward Avenue extending southeast from Davis
- Thursday (10/28): Granny’s Lane, River Street
These dates may change, depending on asphalt availability from the plant and weather conditions. We will provide updated information as quickly as possible.
Click map to enlarge.
Week of 9/13: Street Closures
As part of the sewer/stormwater separation project, Bear Contracting will be working on the following streets during the week of September 13:
- Monday-Wednesday: 14th Street from Lavalette Avenue toward Taylor Avenue
- Wednesday-Thursday: Lavalette Avenue from 15th Street toward 16th Street
Sections of 14th Street and and Lavalette Avenue will be closed during the above work as shown on the below map.
Paving on South Davis Avenue, 15th Street, and South Henry Ave is complete.
RESCHEDULED: 9/2 South Elkins Water Outage
- Livingston Avenue
- 12th St./railroad tracks
- South Gate/South Davis Ave.
- Scott Ford Road
No Parking: sections of S. Davis and 15th
Alerts
MLK Day (1/16) Schedule
Elkins City Hall will be closed on Monday, January 16 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Garbage service will run on regular schedule.
Christmas Tree Disposal
The City of Elkins Street Department will collect Christmas trees for disposal January 3-20. Please place trees at the curb after removing all ornaments, tinsel, lights, etc.
Starting Jan. 1: No more phone payments
Starting Jan. 1, City of Elkins will no longer accept phone payments for any city bills or services. Learn more.
No Spring Cleanup
Because of the city’s monthly bulk-item pickup program, we will no longer be offering Spring Cleanup. Don’t wait until spring, put your items out each month. Find the schedule for pickups here.
Bulk Pickups Schedule Change
As of the week of October 17, the bulk-item pickup schedule is changing. Find the new schedule here.
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Last modified on May 8th, 2022 at 10:51 am
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