WOBURN - Complying with an administrative consent order (ACO) from the state Department of Environmental Protection, the City Council's Finance Committee this week approved a $2 million appropriation that will pay for seven sewer projects in the city.

The appropriation, funds from which come from a special sewer account, will likely be approved when the full council meets on Tuesday (7 p.m.) at City Hall.

The work will be focused in three areas of the city - Horn Pond, West Woburn and a region city officials refer to as "Area 3," starting just north of the pond and extending up to Winter Street in North Woburn, to a connection with the Mill Pond water treatment facility in Burlington.

The seven projects - which range in price from $1,020,000 to $25,000 - are designed to give Woburn a more efficient sewer system that will remove inflow from excessive storms and illegal sump pumps, and satisfy the conditions of the DEP's order.

"I'm optimistic ... once this work is finished DEP will rip (the ACO) up," said David Elmer, an engineer with the Weston & Sampson firm contracted by the city to consult on sewer issues.

Sewer issues

The $2 million appropriation will fund the following projects:

* Design of approximately 155,000 linear feet of sewer line in Area 3 ($95,000).

Elmer said most of this will be "trenchless" work to repair or replace pipes, joints and service connections.

* Removal of improper inflow sources on private property ($500,000) in all three project areas.

According to Elmer, the price also contains "a few dollars" for about 700 buildings in the three zones which have still not been inspected for illegal sewer hook-ups.

* Arlington Road sewer investigation ($120,000).

The money will be used for investigation and evaluation of approximately 20,000 linear feet of sewerage between Arlington Road and Main Street that is a tributary to Horn Pond.

* Horn Pond interceptor sewer bypass and investigation ($25,000).

The project will provide a temporary waste water flow bypass system to allow television inspection of two line segments.

"Inspection of these pipes could not be completed due to high flow conditions and potential pipe defects," wrote Elmer, in a memo to the council.

"Inspection of these segments is critical due to their proximity to, and potential impact on, the sanitary sewer overflow," added Elmer.

The Cummingsville main running along Horn Pond also includes sewage from Burlington and frequently overflows during significant rain events.

* Area 3 rehabilitation construction ($1,020,000). Implementation of the repairs identified in the design phase.

* Area 3 rehabilitation construction services ($200,000). Field engineering support, construction, administration and "resident representative services" during the construction phase of the project.

* Arlington Road sewer rehabilitation design ($40,000). For the final design and bid award for the Arlington Road project.

Finances

The money for the projects comes from a special inflow and infiltration (I&I) mitigation account to which developers have contributed. The ordinance was changed at the beginning of the decade to charge new residential development at $1,000 per new unit.

The fund has about $2.14 million, almost all of which will be spent if the council approves the appropriation for the sewer projects.

According to Elmer, the city has exhausted all the grants and zero-interest loans it has received from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. There are no further funding options for the city this year, though the initiation of the work on these seven projects does no preclude the city from applying for any MWRA money should it become available in the future.

Elmer said the projects should be completed in time to satisfy the terms of the ACO, though there is "one potential surprise" in that the sump pump inspections - which because they are on private property and require permission of the property owner - and removals can be unpredictable.

"Because we're being aggressive, I think we'll be OK," Elmer said.

Alderman at-large Joanna Gonsalves asked about the cost-effectiveness of the projects. Elmer said the city will save money for "every drop of water that's removed upstream," but it will be 15-20 years before the project pays for itself.

In response to a question from Ward 3 Alderman Scott Galvin about Burlington's effort to reduce flow to the Cummingsville line, Elmer said he was aware the town was under an ACO of its own but didn't know any specifics.

Galvin suggested using the city's I&I fund exclusively in the future for sewer projects rather than applying for loans, "which end up not being as attractive as they seem to be."

City Council President Charles Doherty noted there will still be costs to the city even after the terms of the ACO are satisfied. Elmer said there are four additional projects looming - which combined should cost about $750,000.

In response to further questioning from Doherty, Elmer said the figures on most of the items in the $2 million package are good, but not exact estimates. The city may also benefit from the sagging economy, he said.

"The trenchless work is being bid at very, very competitive prices I haven't seen," said Elmer. "A lot of folks are hungry."

Doherty asked for documentation as the bid process continues, and successfully lobbied for the Finance Committee to add an amendment that any excess funds from an individual bid must be returned to the I&I account.

"I'd prefer to get a copy (of each bid package) before it's signed," said Doherty. "I want to make sure the council is included."

Also, at Doherty's suggestion, any bids that are accepted at more than the posted figures require further approval from the council.

Also in attendance at the meeting were Mayor Thomas McLaughlin, who submitted the $2 million appropriation to the council, City Engineer Jay Corey and Department of Public Works Supt. Vincent Ferlisi.