Presentation at the 2017 SWIFT Funding Workshop in Grapevine, Texas. Panel included:
William Moriarty P.E., Vice-President, King Engineering;
Keith Fisher, Director of Public Works, City of Keller;
Thomas Hoover, Thomas Hoover Engineering, LLC
Case Study: The City of Keller’s Application for SWIFT Funds
1. CASE STUDY:
The City of Keller’s
Application for SWIFT Funds
Grapevine, Texas
June 23, 2016
2. Project Team
King Engineering Associates Inc.
In association with
Thomas Hoover Engineering, LLC
In collaboration with: Keith Fisher, PE, City of Keller
4. Keller – the Heart of Texas
• First non-native pioneers migrated from
Missouri in 1840’s
• Railroad allowed town to prosper
• Population 47,000
• Aged water system
• Almost 286 miles of water mains, pipes
range from 2” to 42”
• Consistently named one of the best cities
to live, raise a family, and safest cities of its
size
5. Keller – the Problem
• Excessive Leakage in older, problem pipe categories
• Aged, deteriorated water system
• Polybutylene Services
6. Replacement Mains
TYPE OF MAIN: LENGTH OF MAIN IN FEET:
Asbestos Cement (AC) 47,095
Cast Iron 944
Thin Wall PVC (Class Pipe) 13,139
Galvanized Steel 1,068
Polybutylene Services 1,560
TOTAL 63,806
8. Enhanced water loss control program
FROM THE MOST CURRENT STATE WATER PLAN:
“An enhanced water loss control program may include
comprehensive water loss audits, active leak detection
and repair, pressure control, replacement of water mains
that are a significant source of water loss,
implementation/installation of automatic meter reading
(AMR) technology, implementation/installation of an
advanced meter infrastructure (AMI) system to
significantly reduce water loss, or other measures
deemed appropriate to prevent or reduce water loss.”
9. Advantages of SWIFT Funding
• Fast Approval
• Better Rules, no federal cross cutters
• Flexible
• The TWDB has professionals who are very helpful, responsive
• TWDB willing to work closely with water systems
10. City of Keller Perspective
• Bedford vs. Keller Application
• Did not have to amend the State Water Plan
• Application Process is now On-Line
• Easy for various professionals to add their sections (Finance,
Engineering)
11. Keller vs. Bedford Application
KELLER: BEDFORD:
Amount: $12.6 million $90 million
Main Replacement: 12 miles 150 miles
AMR: No Yes
Design: Yes Yes
Program Management: Yes No
Planning: Yes Yes
Incremental Loan
Closings:
Yes Yes
Categorical Exclusion: Yes Yes
12. Loan application timeline
• Abridged application, early February
• If invited, full application by May
• Closing in November
13. Savings Calculator On-Line
Entity saves roughly 35% of Boards’ cost of funds
• Visit: http://www.twdb.texas.gov/financial/programs/SWIFT/index.asp
• Savings is roughly 10% in repayment costs
• $10 million dollar 20 year SWIFT loan saves about $965,000 at today’s rates
15. Keep in mind
• This program is only for water projects
• Your project must be listed in the most current State Water Plan
• TWDB reviews bidding documents
• TWDB releases funds from your escrow account based upon
milestones of the project
SWIFT is only for Water Supply, not wastewater; project must be named with capital costs in the state water plan
There are almost 15,600 water services in the current City of Keller distribution system. The City allowed for the services to be installed with polybutylene in lieu of soft copper in the late 1980’s when copper prices soared. Over the last several years, the polybutylene has been deteriorating at an alarming rate. The City of Keller has adopted ordinances and design standards that do not allow for new services installed in the City to be polybutylene.
These older services are becoming problematic and need to be replaced to enhance the water conservation measures endorsed by the City of Keller. The City of Keller has been replacing about 15-20 of the polybutylene services a year. The Utility Manager for the City of Keller estimates that 1,560 of the existing water services are polybutylene and will need to be replaced. This proposed program will allow for the removal of the remaining substandard services to be replaced in a single project versus the annual replacement over the next ten years.
The City of Keller has adopted ordinances and design standards that do not allow for mains to be installed in the City less than 8” in diameter. Also, the City does not allow for the pipe materials for new mains to be anything but PVC DR18 or RCCP. Therefore, this request will be to replace the pipes shown above with 8” PVC DR18 if they are less than 8” currently. Otherwise, the pipe will be replaced with like size.
The City of Keller has adopted ordinances and design standards that do not allow for mains to be installed in the City less than 8” in diameter. Also, the City does not allow for the pipe materials for new mains to be anything but PVC DR18 or RCCP. Therefore, this request will be to replace the pipes shown above with 8” PVC DR18 if they are less than 8” currently. Otherwise, the pipe will be replaced with like size.
Federal cross cutters don’t apply: Davis Bacon rules, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise solicitation and proof, “Buy American”,
Flexible, can close a portion of the total loan separately, i.e.: 12 million can be closed as 3 separate $4 million as needed
Bedford vs. Keller Application process
Bill, I think Keller had an Engineering Feasibility Report
On line app doesn’t need to be printed, easier to complete
Bedford vs. Keller Application process
Bill, I think Keller had an Engineering Feasibility Report
On line app doesn’t need to be printed, easier to complete
Pre app early January; board commitment April’; submission due early May; loan closing probably November
Link to the SWIFT program page. You could distribute SWIFT handouts at this time.
Savings calculator updated with new rates weekly
TWDB has experienced engineers willing to work with your entity. They have flexible terms.