20170405FLS to Staff 8-20 and Exhibits.pdf

FIULSW TER
Corr,tPANY
2180 N Deborah Dr, Idaho Falls,Idaho 83401
Website: www.fal lswater.com
April4,2017
ldaho Public Utilities Commission
472 West Washington Street
PO Box 83720
Boise, ldaho 83720-0074
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone] .
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Enclosed are one (1) original and seven (7) copies of the Company's Response to Second
Production Request of the Commission Staff. Also enclosed is a CD disk with an electronic version
of the response with exhibits and Excel files referred to in response.
lf you need anything else, please, let me know what you need.
Thank you,
K*flJJ^or
K. Scott Bruce
GeneralManager
Falls Water Company, lnc.
Enclosures
K. Scott Bruce
Falls Water Company, lnc.
2180 North Deborah Dr
ldaho Falls, lD 83401
Tel. (208)s22-73O0
Fax (208) s22-4O99
E-mail : scottL @fa llswater.com
Representative for Falls Water Co., lnc.
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BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF
FALLS WATER COMPANY, INC FOR
AUTHORIZATION TO BUILD A NEW WATER
SOURCE, AND ACCESS TO THE SPECIAL PLANT
RESERVE ACCOUNT.
cAsE NO. FrS-W-17-01
COMPANY'S RESPONSE TO SECOND
PRODUCTION REQUEST OF THE
COMMISSION STAFF TO FALLS WATER
COMPANY
Falls Water Company hereby submits the following responses to the second production request of the
commission staff. The records are held by Falls Water Company in their main office located at 2180
North Deborah Drive, ldaho Falls, ldaho 83401. Scott Bruce is the contact person for the records and
can be reached at [phone]. Scott Bruce, General Manager, will be the witness who can sponsor
answers at hearing for the responses to the production requests unless noted differently in the
response.
REQUEST NO. 8: Please provide a current scaled Falls Water system map showing the following
Pump/well locations
b. System storage
c. System mains, headers, and primary distribution lines (this information should provide lines size,
piping material, and elevations)
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)
)
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)
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d. Hydrant locations
Area served by Company
RESPONSE TO REQUEST NO.8:
Response prepared by Tony Wise, Operations Manager. Witness at hearing will be Tony Wise
The system map (Exhibit 1 North and Exhibit l South)shows the pump/well locations, system
mains, headers, and distribution line sizes, fire hydrant locations, and the service area of Falls Water Co.,
lnc. The system has no storage. The water lines in the system are SDR-21 plastic pipe and C900 plastic
pipe in the subdivisions built since L975. The older parts of the system are a mix of ductile iron, A/C
pipe, and SDR-21 plastic pipe. The subdivisions with the mix of piping materials are Fallsbrook,
Lawndale, Cloverdale, and Lincoln Townsite.
An AutoCAD 2015 LT file named '2OL7 Area Base Map' is included on the CD accompanying this
response.
REQUEST NO. 9: Please provide design parameter for each of the wells and pumps providing
system capacity to the Falls Water system. The requested information for each pump would include:
a. Pump elevation
b. Pump discharge elevation
Design flow rate
Maximum allowable flow rate
e. Design discharge pressure
f. Pump curves
c.
d
2
RESPONSE TO REQUEST NO. 9:
Response prepared by Tony Wise, Operations Manager. Witness at hearing will be Tony Wise
(a)
Pump
Elevation
in Feet
(b)
Pump
Discharge
Elevation
in Feet
(c)
Design
Flow
Rate
ln GPM
(d)
Maximum
Flow
Rate
In GPM
(e)
Design
Discharge
Pressure
in PSI
(f)
Pump
CurvesWells
Pump 7 *
10 Proposed
70 Exhibit 2-1
70 Exhibit 2-2
70 Exhibit 2-3
70 Exhibit 2-4
70 Exhibit 2-5
70 Exhibit 2-5
70 Exhibit 2-6
70 Exhibit 2-7
1
2
4
5
6
8
9
4743
4749
4749
4765
4749
4749
4759
4767
4786
4743
4749
4749
4765
4749
4749
4759
4767
4786
750
500
1500
750
750
750
1500
3000
N/A
750
500
1500
750
7so
750
1500
2400
N/A
* Pumps 6 & 7 are the same make and model of submersible pump.
REQUEST NO. 10: Please provide a current Falls Water system hydraulic model, similar to that
used by Schiess & Associates in November of 2013, to reflect non-compliance with ldaho Rules for Public
Drinking Water Systems 58.01.08.548.01.b.v and 58.01.08.548.01.b.i. The model scenario of non-
compliance should reflect system flows, pressures, pump operating condition, any points of pressure
regulation, and points(s) within the model of non-compliance. All point(s) of non-compliance should be
physically located within the system.
RESPONSE TO REQUEST NO. 10:
Response prepared by Tony Wise, Operations Manager. Witness at hearing will be Tony Wise
The most current hydraulic model of Falls Water's system was created in June 2013 prior to the
scenarios run for the proposed addition of Norco (which did not occur). Attached as Exhibit 3 is a letter
and other documentation from Schiess & Associates describing the items they proposed to help the
system at that time.
3
ln the hydraulic model the Company had thought to locate Well 10 on a lot owned by the
Company that was in the south east part of the water system. The new proposed location for Well 10 in
the application is in the north end of the system. The change was made for the following reasons:
Falls Water Company's system has two railroad spurs that essentially cordon off the system into
three zones.
b. Currently all wells are located in the southwest zone of the system.
The elevations for the system are higher on the north end (4786 feet at the intersection of
Ammon Road and Edwards Drive) than on the south end of the system (4732 feet at the
intersection of Aschli Lane and Jessica Lane).
d. With the completion, this month, of an 8" loop under the railroad track on Deloy Street (Deloy
Street runs parallel to the south of the railroad tracks that run east - west in the system and the
completion, this month, of a 10" loop under the railroad tracks on First Street (the southern
most major artery street in the system), the flow between the west and east sides of the
southern portion of the system should now have sufficient flow under the railroad tracks
running north - south to meet the customers' needs (2 - 72" lines, 3 - 8" lines, and 1 - 10" line
running under the tracks). Most of the southern area is built out and further development in
the south will be minimal in nature.
e. The northern area (north of the railroad tracks running east - west) of the water system is the
growth area of the water system. The connection opportunities under the railroad tracks
between the north and south zones are more limited than between the east and west zones in
the southern part of the system. Currently the lines running under the railroad tracks include 2 -
12" lines and 1 - 10" line. The undeveloped land to the south of the railroad tracks and east of
Hitt Road has three active gravel pit businesses and a large grain elevator business located just
south of the tracks.
f. Currently the system has a bottleneck in the north of the system on Ammon Road just north of
lona Road. The Birchwood subdivision is looped but both loops are being fed by the same 12"
line going north on Ammon Road
g. The placement of Well 10 on the 12" line at the north end of the system would provide a
redundancy in the north of the system. lt would also provide additional flow to make up for
demand that exceeds the possible flow through the existing 12" line on Ammon Road.
Since the hydraulic model was completed in June 2013, the Company has completed the
following looping projects to improve flows in parts of the system (referencing proposed projects on the
system map in Exhibit 3):
1.. Proposed 1240 linear feet of 8" waterline connecting Pheasant Grove subdivision to Birchwood
subdivision.
4
a
c
2. Proposed 1045 linear feet of 6" waterline in the Crow Creek subdivision.
3. Proposed 430 linear feet of 12" waterline connecting Old Mill subdivision with the new Green
Valley subdivision.
4. An 8" waterline under the railroad track on Deloy Drive connecting the Victor Hanks subdivision
with Old Mill subdivision.
5. A 10" waterline under the railroad track on First Street.
6. A 10" waterline connecting Cloverdale Estates to Centennial Ranch subdivision. Line was
installed on Crimson Drive in Cloverdale Estates and run to Robison Drive in Centennial Ranch.
This loop also connects to the 10" waterline that is installed under the railroad tracks on First
Street.
7. An 8" waterline connecting Bridgewater subdivision to the Lincoln lndustrial Park going under
Big Sand Creek to add loop to customers west of Big Sand Creek.
However, the issues with low pressure in some areas of the system have gotten worse over the
years since the last hydraulic model of the system was completed. ln June 2016, using a pressure
recorder in the Birchwood subdivision on Edwards Drive the Company recorded the system pressure
dropping below the 40 psi level that the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ rules deems as
acceptable. This occurred without any other event (ie. fire) happening at the time the low pressure was
recorded.
REQUEST NO. 11: Please provide a summary of all well maintenance completed for the past five
years.
RESPONSE TO REQUEST NO. 11:
Response prepared by Tony Wise, Operations Manager. Witness at hearing will be Tony Wise.
The pumps are routinely maintained as follows:
7. Check Packing Daily (Adjust as needed)
5
2. Clean screens weekly
3. Change Oil Yearly ( First week in March)
4. Winterize summer pumps (Oct 15th time frame)
5. Check Electrical Panel Monthly
The following non-routine maintenance was performed on the systems wells during the last five years
o Pumps 6 & 7 Replaced outside piping 2012
. Pump 8 has had some electrical components replaced in 2014
o PumF 9 replaced column piping and shaft, bowels 2015
o PumF 5 Re-built motor and replaced column pipe, shaft 2016
REQUEST NO. 12: ln the letter from Schiess & Associates dated November 20,2073, a flow of
2,000 GPM is shown as the requirement for supplying fire flow for Norco. Given that serving Norco is
not relevant in this case, are system upgrades required to resolve pressure issues and satisfy DEQ
pressure requirements? lf so, please provide system requirements with Norco excluded.
RESPONSE TO REQUEST NO. 12:
Response prepared by Scott Bruce, General Manager. Witness at hearing will be Scott Bruce.
The Exhibit 3 referenced in REQUEST NO. 10, provides the system requirements needed excluding
Norco.
Pressure issues are not the only consideration. Granted for the customers of Falls Water, it is the
most important. The ability of the water system to meet its peak hour flow with the largest well out of
service is another consideration. As shown in Exhibit 3 page 2 referenced in REQUEST NO. 10, the water
system does not comply with IDAPA 58.01.08.501.17 & 18.
The information in Exhibit 3 provides estimates of probable costs in 2013. ln the Company's
response to REQUEST NO. 10, six looping projects were enumerated that show that the Company has
taken action to improve the short comings of the system but has not been able to completely resolve all
short comings.
The proposed solutions at the time the hydraulic model was done, in 20L3, were
1. Construct a new well with a capacity of L,9L2 gpm
2. Construct a L.5 million gallon storage tank and booster pump station.
5
Neither option was done at the time the hydraulic model was completed. The company
completed some looping projects that were mentioned in the hydraulic model. The higher cost options
were postponed to accumulate the funds needed to put in the less expensive option of the two
mentioned above.
REQUEST NO. 13: Has the Company considered any of the following approaches to resolve non-
compliance with ldaho Rules for Public Drinking Water Systems 58.01.08.548.01.b.v and
58.01.08.548.01.b.i? lf so, please provide all analysis including estimated costs:
a. Looping of system piping headers to reduce pressure drop and increase flow
b. lncreasing the pipe size of system headers to reduce pressure drop and increase flow
c. Upgrades to existing well pumps to increase pressure and/or flow
RESPONSE TO REQUEST NO. 13:
Response prepared by Scott Bruce, General Manager. Witness at hearing will be Scott Bruce.
As previously shown in the response to REQUEST NO. 10, the Company has completed seven
looping projects, Three of the projects specifically targeted problem areas in the north end of the
system (see items 1-3 in the response to REQUEST NO. 10).
The only other looping option to go under the railroad track is to connect to the existing 12" main
on Hitt Road and lay new line to the north across the tracks and continue to the intersection of Hitt
Road and lona Road. Then take the line to the east and connect to an existing12" line in front of Crow
Creek subdivision. The east end of the 12" line would be extended eastward to connect to an existing
12" line near the intersection of lona Road and Ammon Road. (See estimated costs Exhibit 4)
The Company did not look into increasing pipe sizes of system headers to reduce pressure drop
and increase flow.
The only upgrade to an existing well that was reviewed was to install a sand separator at Well 9 to
allow the well to produce an additional 500 gpm for a total of 3000 gpm instead of 24OO gpm. The
estimated cost for the project would have been about 513,000. No formal analysis was prepared. The
additional flow would not be sufficient to overcome the deficiencies in the system.
7
REQUEST NO. 14: Please provide all communication, documentation, pricing, and analysis
associated with the proposed "1.5 MG STORAGE TANK & BOOSTER PUMP STATION ALTERNATIVE"
shown on page 3 of Exhibit 2 submitted as part of the Application.
RESPONSE TO REQUEST NO. 14:
Response prepared by Scott Bruce, General Manager. Witness at hearing will be Scott Bruce.
Exhibit 5 is the proposed cost for the 1.5 million gallon storage tank and booster pump station
alternative. This is an excerpt from Exhibit 3 from REQUEST NO. 10.
The proposed cost of S1,7L5,000 is almost three times the cost for Well 1-0 that the Company
seeks to install. lt is not an economical alternative and is too costly.
REQUEST NO. 15: Please provide the analysis of all alternatives the Company considered to
resolve non-compliance with ldaho Rules for Public Drinking Water Systems 58.01.08.548.01.b.v and
58.01.08.548.01.b.i.
RESPONSE TO REQUEST NO. 15:
Response prepared by Scott Bruce, General Manager. Witness at hearing will be Scott Bruce.
The 2013 hydraulic model proposed a number of looping projects. The Company has completed
all but two of the proposed waterline loops from the 2013 model. The projects not completed are the
'proposed 1020 L.F. of 8" waterline' in Crow Creek subdivision and the 'proposed 320 L.F. of L2"
waterline' at the east end of Lincoln Road. The completion of these two projects would do little to
improve the pressures in the Birchwood subdivision on the north end of the water system.
Another looping project was considered. The loop would n)n a !2" waterline north on Hitt Road
to the intersection of North Hitt Road and East lona Road. Then head east on East lona Road to the west
end of a section of 72" waterline existing on East lona Road. At the west end of the existing 12"
waterline, the 12" waterline would be continued east and tee into an existing 12" line about 275 feet
west of the intersection of East lona Road and North Ammon Road. The Company's rough estimate of
the project's cost is 5381,000 (See Exhibit 4 from REQUEST NO. 13). The issue the Company sees with
this project is that the added flow to North Ammon Road would still have the bottleneck on North
Ammon Road north of East lona Road to throttle the flow of water to reach the Birchwood subdivision.
REQUEST NO. 16: Please confirm or identify the units for vertical axis on page 11 of the
Application as pounds per square inch gauge (psig). Additionally, please provide a legend of all lines
represented on the graph.
RESPONSE TO REqUEST NO. 15:
Response prepared by Scott Bruce, General Manager. Witness at hearing will be Scott Bruce.
The vertical axis on the graph on page 11 is in pounds per square inch. (See Exhibit 6 which shows
the graph with legend and label on the axis.)
REQUEST NO. 17: Please confirm or identify the units for vertical axis on page 12 of the
Application as gallons per minute (Spm). Additionally, please provide a legend of all lines represented
on the graph.
RESPONSE TO REQUEST NO. 17:
Response prepared by Scott Bruce, General Manager. Witness at hearing will be Scott Bruce.
The vertical axis on the graph on page 12 is in gallons per minute. (See Exhibit 7 which shows the
graph with legend and label on the axis.)
REQUEST NO. 18: Please provide a file that shows actual load growth by customer type for the
last five years.
RESPONSE TO REQUEST NO. 18:
Response prepared by Scott Bruce, General Manager. Witness at hearing will be Scott Bruce
Actual Customer Grovvth lor 2012 - 2016
Residential Commercial
102
123
218
321
268
1032
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
4
1
5
3
0
9
Total 13
REQUEST NO. 19: Please provide a file that shows projected load growth by customer type for the
next five years.
RESPONSE TO REQUEST NO. 19:
Response prepared by Scott Bruce, General Manager. Witness at hearing will be Scott Bruce.
Projected Customer Growth for 2017 - 2021
Residential Commercial
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
250
230
220
225
230
2
2
2
2
2
Total 1155 10
REQUEST NO. 20: Please provide a file that shows six months (June-November) daily consumption
and pressure data by time of day following the Company's June 22,20L6letter to customers.
RESPONSE TO REQUEST NO. 20:
Response prepared by Scott Bruce, General Manager. Witness at hearing will be Scott Bruce
During September of 201,6, the SCADA computer's hard disk started to fail. As the data was
copied to a new hard disk, the file containing the pressure and flow data was corrupted. No back up of
the file exists. The technician was able to recover a portion of the pressure information from the
corrupted file. The recovered data contained the July and August 2016 pressures. The data is available
in the file 'July 2015 Pressures' and August 2016 Pressures'. Understand that the pressures are recorded
at the well house for each respective well. The pressures are not the pressures experienced by the
customers in the various areas of the system. The Company has started backing up the pressure and
flow data file from the SCADA computer.
To provide daily production information, the Excel file 'welllog201.5' is provided. A flow meter was
not working on Well 7 in the early part of the irrigation season. Both Well 6 and Well 7 were started on
June 5, 2016. The flow meter was corrected on July 29,2076. Normally we would use the run time data
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from SCADA to estimate the production from the well when the flow meter is not working correctly
The run time data was part of the SCADA data corrupted and could not be found.
Exhibit 8 is a collection of printouts from June 23, 2015 through September 12,2A16. The
printouts include graphs for pressures and flows from 12:00 am to approximately 8:00 am on the days
the printouts were printed.
Dated at ldaho Falls, ldaho, this 4th day of April 2017
Respectful ly subm itted,
FALLS WATER COMPANY, INC.Kg
K. Scott Bruce, General Manager
L7