Wal-Mart STEP Sewer SystemIPM.Note
Wal-Mart STEP Sewer System
Steve Harrington
Jim Gibson
Steve Harrington
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/O=CITYOFYELM/OU=FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=GIBSON
Wal-Mart STEP Sewer System
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/O=CITYOFYELM/OU=FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=STEVEH
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/O=CITYOFYELM/OU=FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=STEVEH
Jim Gibson
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/O=CITYOFYELM/OU=FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=GIBSON
Steve Harrington
Grant Beck; Jon Yanasak; Tim Peterson
Wal-Mart STEP Sewer System
Grant -
We went out to the Wal-Mart to inspect the step sewer system on Thursday September 13, 2007. The City employees that went out to Wal-Mart were Tim Peterson, Jon Yanasak, Randy Hatch,
Kevin Ray, Gary Carlson, Steve Harrington and myself. Also onsite was Alton Lewis of Bird Construction.
We went to the site because it was reported by the Sewer Department that the STEP system was not functioning correctly. The sewer department did a standard inspection about 6 weeks
after the opening of the store and noticed the following anomalies:
* When the tank lid was removed the bio filter tube that holds the pumps and floats had floated up in the tank.
* The holes in the bio filter tube were plugged with rags, toilet paper, rubber gloves, sharpie pens, plastic bags etc.
* The pumps were operating in high float alarm conditions.
* The amount of waste that was flowing into the step tank was significantly greater than the system was designed for
Following the initial sewer inspection the sewer department arranged for the step tank to be pumped out and the refuse and waste be removed from the tank. Following the completion of
this, Pubic Works met with Community Development Department to discuss possible problems with the system that might cause these symptoms. After these discussions we scheduled a site
inspection for Thursday September 13, 2007 at 1:30pm. After our office discussion and the onsite visit we have came to the following conclusions about the installation and operations
of the step sewer system.
* The water use as shown by the water meter records does not exceed the expected use at this time.
* The water flow into the step tank appears to be flowing at a normal rate.
* During the 2 hours we were onsite we watched at least two large blockages form and clear themselves within the gravity portion of the side sewer.
* The pump clocks and pump run times were not conclusive due to the tanks be pumped 2 week prior. (Tank had to refill)
* During this same time we noted large amounts of paper towels, gloves, plastic bags, pens etc. The toilet paper appears to be breaking up before it reaches the step tank. This is
what we expect to happen. Paper towels will not do this.
* The consensus of the group was that either the side sewer was clogged and cleaned itself out just prior to the sewer inspection or
* The pump system could not keep up with the amount of effluent due to the plugging of the pump basket and the tank levels were artificially high due to the blockages
We have proposed the following in an effort to monitor the situation and prevent any future step tank failure.
* The sewer department will inspect this tank on a bimonthly basis.
* The sewer department will record the pump information and monitor how much is being pumped to the City’s system.
* They will also monitor how fast the tank fills up and if the debris is continuing to clog up the pump basket.
* We need to educate the Wal-Mart personal on what should on should not be sent into the step sewer system
* We need to notify Wal-Mart of the possible problems that this type of misuse of the step sewer system could lead too. Flooding of the store, additional maintenance that will not be
the responsibility of the City of Yelm. The City only maintains the system from the inlet of the tank to the street.
If you need any further information or if this does not reflect the discussions that we had please let me know so I can change this letter to reflect your understanding of our visit.
Jim Gibson P.E.
City of Yelm, Development Review Engineer
PO Box 479 Yelm,WA. 98597
Ph. 360.458.8438 Fx. 360.458.3144
<mailto:jimg@ci.yelm.wa.us> jimg@ci.yelm.wa.us
<DC90029353CCCD468AA2A2858FFCD8F5426500@server1.ci.yelm.wa.us>
Wal-Mart STEP Sewer System.EML
Jim Gibson
Jim Gibson
11.0
Grant Beck
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/O=CITYOFYELM/OU=FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=Grant
grantb@ci.yelm.wa.us
Grant Beck
Grant Beck
SMTP
grantb@ci.yelm.wa.us
Grant Beck
Grant
Jon Yanasak
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/O=CITYOFYELM/OU=FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=Jony
jony@ci.yelm.wa.us
jony
Jon Yanasak
Jon Yanasak
Jony
Tim Peterson
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/O=CITYOFYELM/OU=FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=Tim
tim@ci.yelm.wa.us
tim
458-8499
Public Works
Tim Peterson
Tim Peterson
tim
Steve Harrington
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/O=CITYOFYELM/OU=FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=Steveh
steveh@ci.yelm.wa.us
steveh
Steve Harrington
Steve Harrington
Steveh