June 2017

TECH TALK:
Better approach
to jar testing
PAGE 34
tpomag.com
JUNE 2017
Starting
Fresh AN OPERATIONS TEAM
TACKLES THE CHALLENGES
Ray Pardee
Plant Superintendent
Cottage Grove, Ore.
OF A NEW MEMBRANE PLANT

PAGE 36
TECHNOLOGY DEEP DIVE:

Ionization odor control
PAGE 46
HOW WE DO IT:
Smart pumping strategy
PAGE 44
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contents June 2017 top performers:
WASTEWATER OPERATORS Page 14
Surrounded by Water
The wastewater treatment plant team in Columbia stayed on duty for two days
through South Carolinas 1,000-year flood and kept the effluent in compliance.
By Doug Day
WATER OPERATOR Page 28

Water by Design
Eric Gonzales and his team run plants that produce water treated for
14 28 specific purposes, from irrigation to groundwater recharge to boiler feed.
By Trude Witham
WASTEWATER PLANT Page 20

on the cover Sharing Their Knowledge
When Ray Pardee sees the award A Virginia plant raises the bar with innovative wastewater management
plaques on the walls at the Row
program, leading to numerous operational excellence awards.
River Water Treatment Plant, he
feels pretty good. Thats because By Trude Witham
the awards dont just represent
36 quality finished water; they WATER PLANT Page 36
document how far he and his Starting Fresh
staff have come learning to operate a brand new
A small but dedicated operations team meets the challenges of learning to
membrane facility, drawing from Oregons Row
20 River. (Photography by August Frank) operate a new membrane plant treating seasonally variable source water.
By Jim Force
LETS BE CLEAR Page 8 testing can help water treatment plants more INDUSTRY NEWS Page 59
When Rates Cause Burdens reliably meet limits for disinfection byproducts.
Major water infrastructure improvements can By Amanda Scott WORTH NOTING Page 60
come with major rate increases. How can utilities People/Awards; Events
shield low-income customers from expenses they SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS Page 42
cant afford? Power Diet
By Ted J. Rulseh, Editor A New York City treatment plant is slowly increas-
ing its appetite for food waste to be converted to
coming next month: July 2017
@TPOMAG.COM Page 10 biogas for delivery to the natural gas grid.
Visit daily for exclusive news, features and blogs. By Doug Day FOCUS: Pumps, Drives, Valves, Blowers and
Distribution Systems
LETTERS Page 12 HOW WE DO IT: WATER Page 44 Lets Be Clear: A toast to technology
Better Water. Little Cost. Top Performers:
PLANTSCAPES Page 18 A creative storage tank and distribution system
Productive Move Wastewater Plant: Oakdale (California) Wastewater
pumping strategy helps a Massachusetts utility Treatment Plant
Trees transferred from a New York reduce water age and improve water quality.
communitys botanical garden to the Wastewater Plant: Wellington (Florida) Water
By Jeffery Fournier Reclamation Facility
wastewater treatment plant will contribute
Wastewater Operator: Melinda Ward, Eden,
to a major tree restoration project. TECHNOLOGY DEEP DIVE Page 46 North Carolina
By Jeff Smith From Inside Out Water Operator: Martha Tasker, Salina, Kansas
Odor control using ionization destroys odorous
IN MY WORDS Page 26 How We Do It: Fine screen and peripheral-feed
gases within building spaces, creating healthful clarifier in Addison, Illinois
Sparking the Conversation workplaces and discharging innocuous air.
A major pump company looks to jump-start How We Do It: Smart pumping choices in
By Ted J. Rulseh
public awareness of water infrastructure chal- Carmel, Indiana
lenges, celebrate operators roles, and help PRODUCT FOCUS Page 48 Sustainable Operations: LEED Gold certified
utilities gain support for their initiatives. Odor Control and Disinfection nanofiltration plant in Florida
By Ted J. Rulseh By Craig Mandli In My Words: The ASCE Infrastructure Report Card
Tech Talk: Advanced technology in sludge
HEARTS AND MINDS Page 32 CASE STUDIES Page 52 measurement
Grass Heads and Water Wisdom Odor Control and Disinfection PlantScapes: Mosaic artworks in Kenosha,
A Waterama festival in Fort Worth teaches By Craig Mandli Wisconsin
fourth-graders about water and its value in
rapid-fire interactive sessions. Technology Deep Dive: Innovative gas mixing
PRODUCT NEWS Page 56 system for anaerobic digesters
By Craig Mandli Product Spotlight Wastewater: Popular belt
filter press shrunken for smaller communities
TECH TALK Page 34 Product Spotlight Water: Turbidimeter puts
Jar Testing Plus power in the hands of operators smartphone
Adding total organic carbon analysis to jar By Craig Mandli

tpomag.com June 2017 7
lets be clear
The closed bag system

for screenings, grit and
sludge screenings.
Mounts to existing When Rates Cause Burdens
equipment.
MAJOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS
Increased odor control.
CAN COME WITH MAJOR RATE INCREASES.
Minimized mess.
HOW CAN UTILITIES SHIELD LOW-INCOME
Very robust, 90m (295)
CUSTOMERS FROM EXPENSES THEY CANT AFFORD?
long continuous feed,
non-porous, polythene bag. By Ted J. Rulseh, Editor
W
Over 20,000 installations ater and sewer pipes have to be maintained. Treat-
worldwide. ment plants need periodic upgrades and expan-
sions. These things are necessary. Theyre also
Visit www.paxxo.us expensive. Paying for them often
for more information. means raising rates. And then what
happens to people on the struggling
end of the income scale?
Its an issue thats getting more
attention as infrastructure ages and
PAXXO (USA) INC. 1924 Millard Farmer Road, Newnan, GA 30263 the need to fix and improve it grows
www.paxxo.us Tel +1 770 502 0055 Fax +1 770 502 0088 more urgent. What should utilities
do? Forgo big infrastructure projects
as unaffordable? Let lower-income
customers off the hook? Neither idea
is palatable. So, whats to be done?
Theres a move afoot in the fed-
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Income Sewer and Water Assistance Program Act provides a
lifeline for some households struggling with their water and
wastewater costs.
The mayors of Cleveland and Akron and the CEO of the
Northwest Ohio district came out in support of the LISWAP Act.
PUT THE
At present, the main tool utilities can use to lessen the
rate impact of major projects is to spread the cost over more SUN TO WORK
years so that the cost per year is lower. But thats not the best
answer and it doesnt effectively address the effects on low-
income customers.
The Low-Income Sewer and Water

Assistance Program Act provides a lifeline
for some households struggling with their water
and wastewater costs.
CONGRESSWOMAN MARCIA FUDGE
BETTER APPROACHES
The Northeast Ohio district does not defer infrastruc-
ture investments required to protect public health and
safety just because the costs are high. Instead, the district
offers low-income customers various affordability programs.
These include:
A Homestead Program reduces sewer rates by 40 per-
cent for customers age 65 or older, or to people under 65
who are totally disabled, provided they own the prop-
erty and have total household income below a set limit
An Affordability Program that cuts rates by 40 percent
for households with income at or below 200 percent of
the federal poverty level
A Crisis Assistance Program that pays up to half of
sewer account balance, up to $300, for customers who
suffer life setbacks like a major medical expense, loss
of a job, separation or divorce
SUPPORTIVE INDUSTRY Cost effective volume reduction

NACWA has backed the LISWAP bill and other afford-
ability measures and took part in a Congressional briefing
on the subject last summer. A number of recent surveys of Solar designs for most latitudes
wastewater and drinking water utilities throughout the
country demonstrate that utilities have been increasing
their rates at double the rate of inflation for several consecu- Combinations possible to
tive years in an effort to keep pace with new environmental augment with waste heat
compliance obligations and to upgrade outdated infrastruc-
ture, said an article in a recent NACWA newsletter.
These increases show no signs of abating, and many See how it works at: Linear feed allows
utilities are on track to continue increasing rates for the
foreseeable future. These issues have gained the attention of
huberforum.net/SRT fill as you dewater
Congress, and the purpose of the briefing was to high- solutions@hhusa.net
light the important role low-income rate assistance plans 704-990-2053
can play in addressing affordability concerns.
These initiatives bear watching for communities and
utilities of all sizes. As a nation we cant afford to defer
investments in essential infrastructure, but we also cant
afford to have them bankrupt people on low incomes. Some
sort of federal intervention seems not only reasonable, but
necessary.
WASTE WATER Solutions

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SEATTLE PLANT FLOOD

Back on Track
Thirty minutes was all it took
for an unprecedented flooding
event to almost incapacitate a
A SOLDIERS STORY major Seattle-area wastewa-
ter treatment plant and leave
Protecting Clean Water operators picking up the pieces
for weeks. Severe f looding
Army veteran John Dorris once guarded water convoys in caused by power and equip-
Iraq, and now hes a treatment plant operator near Denver, ment failures led to at least $25 million in damage to the facility. But after
Colorado. In the midst of war, water was a commodity argu- weeks of ceaseless labor, crews are on pace to restore function to the plant.
ably more precious than food and weapons. Even today, the tpomag.com/featured
dwindling supply of water in the Mideast plays a key role in
ongoing conflicts. Join author Melanie Goetz as she describes
Morris journey delivering water in war and peace.
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letters
CORRECTION
True blue The Annual Company Directory in the May 2017 issue of TPO included
I just read, This is Your Brain on Water (Lets Be Clear, TPO, April incorrect information for the following company. Their correct contact
2017). During my 29 years working in the water and wastewater industry, information is below:
I have definitely become more and more environmentally conscious.
I have found it is the water that motivates me politically and gives me
Byo-Gon, Inc.
strength to not only work in the field, but also volunteer my time and energy
with organizations such as the Water Environment Federation, Trout 888-296-4661
Unlimited, Coastal Conservation Association, and local river associations. info@byogon.com
I participate in river cleanups and actively protest those who willingly harm www.byogon.com
our water environments. All of this is for the love of water.
My passion for water began as a child when my grandfather taught me
how to fly-fish. Water continues to fuel my passions and has done so for over
half a century. This love of water is even how I met my wonderful wife.
This article has done an exceptional job of explaining to me how and
why my love of water is so strong. I truly enjoyed it and will share it with
others. Thank you for your research and insightfulness. Now, I think Ill go
fishing and think about it.
Jeff Cope Mahagan

Wastewater Treatment Superintendent
Town of Hillsborough, North Carolina
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top performer
wastewater: OPERATORS
The team at the Columbia Metro Wastewater

Treatment Plant includes, from left, Adrian
Martin, chief operator; Brandon Wilcox, A
Level wastewater operator; Ashley Dove,
maintenance coordinator; and James Foust,
chief operator.
Surrounded by
Water THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT TEAM IN COLUMBIA
STAYED ON DUTY FOR TWO DAYS THROUGH SOUTH CAROLINAS
1,000-YEAR FLOOD AND KEPT THE EFFLUENT IN COMPLIANCE
STORY: Doug Day | PHOTOGRAPHY: Ken Osburn

WHEN THE NATIONAL GUARD CANT GET TO YOU,
you know youre in trouble.
Such was the case in October 2015, when historic rainfall left some of the
staff at the Columbia (South Carolina) Metro Wastewater Treatment Plant
surrounded by a raging river, a failing dike, and more than 7 feet of floodwater.
None of that kept them from staying on duty for two days to keep the
plant running while crews manned lift stations to avoid adding raw sewage
spills to the communitys problems.
The 1,000-year flood came from the remnants of Hurricane Joaquin,
which dumped 15 to 20 inches of rain in the region and localized amounts
more than 25 inches. Rain fell at up to 2 inches per hour; the Columbia air-
port reported 10.28 inches for Oct. 3-4, beating the old record by nearly 3 The Columbia Metro Wastewater Treatment Plant survived major flooding in
inches. The city set records for one- and two-day rains. October 2015.
The flooding and storms caused 19 deaths and $12 billion in damage.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the praise from it. We did what we hope anybody in this career would do. Thats
Columbia area experienced seven dam failures that rated Class C1 (may to care for the environment and try to do whatever you can to keep an envi-
cause loss of life or serious damage) and 16 that ranked Class C2 (may dam- ronmental catastrophe from happening.
age infrastructure).
Yet the wastewater plant kept staff right on working as floodwaters rose RISING TIDE
around them. For their actions, Ashley Dove, Adrian Martin, James Foust While the plant itself never flooded, it was threatened by the Congaree
and Brandon Wilcox received the Water Heroes Award from the Water Envi- River. We have a dike that protects us from the river, and the authorities
ronment Federation. We do love a challenge, says Foust, chief operator. didnt know if it was going to hold with the river rising and a dam upstream
Adds Dove, maintenance coordinator, This is what we signed up for being opened, says Dove. We had that on the river side, and then on the
when we decided we wanted to do this as a career. We dont really expect any other side we had a creek with a dam breech and floodwater coming at us.
There wasnt much to do about the dike other than watch it. Eventually,
it collapsed just downstream from the plant and flooded the surrounding
farm fields. Everything around us was flooded, and we were the only dry
land, says Foust.
At one point, the National Guard tried to get to the plant with a high-
water rescue vehicle. We could see that they had a couple of guys walking

This is what we signed up for when we
decided we wanted to do this as a career.
We dont really expect any praise from it. We did
what we hope anybody in this career would do.
ASHLEY DOVE
in front of their vehicle and they were up to their chins in water before they
stopped and slowly retreated, says Dove. As it turned out, the water reached
more than 7 feet deep on the road.
HUGE INFLUENT FLOW

Adding to the challenge was the flow experienced at the 60 mgd biologi-
cal oxidation extended aeration facility. With an average flow of 35 mgd from
its 60,000 customers over 120 square miles, the plant is designed for a peak
flow of 120 mgd. During the peak of the storm, daily flows were 87, 120 and
156 mgd. It was dicey, but we did it, says Foust. We sent some to the equal-
ization basin for later treatment.
Melissa Engle, lab analyst

RECORDS BROKEN
The rainfall in the Columbia area on Oct.
3 and 4, 2015, broke the one- and two-day
records, according to the National Weather
Service. At the Columbia Metro Airport:
The one-day rainfall of 6.71 inches
on Oct. 4 broke the old record of 5.79
inches set on July 9, 1959.
The two-day rainfall of 10.28 inches
on Oct. 3-4 broke the old record of
7.69 inches set on Aug. 16-17, 1949.
October 2015 flooding in South Carolina
Reported rainfall amounts

RAINFALL
LOCATION AMOUNT
(inches)
Gills Creek 21.49
Millwood 20.75
Sumter 20.77
Wateree 20.36
Holly Hill 20.28
Shaw Air Force Base 19.81
Manning 19.25
Summerton 19.19
Leesburg 18.36
Eastover 18.35
Spring Valley 17.91
Fort Jackson 17.71
Chapin 17.21
Chestnut Oaks 17.14
Holly Hill Coop 16.61 James Foust unloads sodium bisulfite.
With the high flows, no ability to bring in supplies

or chemicals, and no way to remove biosolids, treatment
of the wastewater had to be adjusted. It took around-
the-clock attention, but we met our discharge permits,
says Foust. All team members worked together instead
of working in shifts: Wed have guys working in the
plant or a guy watching the SCADA, somebody would
take a break, and somebody would fill in. We just rotated
around and did it together. Nobody really slept.
That went on for two days straight before the staff
found a bit of somewhat dry ground where they could
access the nearby Interstate highway. Dove recalls, There
was a little ditch, and we borrowed some rock from a
neighbor so we could drive over it with our ATVs, climb
the embankment and use the emergency lane for our
vehicles to pick up and drop off people and get in sup-
plies. It gave us a chance to get fresh bodies in and a
chance to go home, get fresh clothes and a meal, and a
good nights sleep. Dove had about 12 hours off over
seven days: I think I worked 160-something hours dur- The plant experienced a 1,000-year flood from the remnants of Hurricane Joaquin, which brought
ing the whole event. as much as 25 inches of rain in the region and caused 19 deaths and $12 billion in damage.

Doves duties included coordinating the field staff protecting the citys had a problem, dont worry about it. You never know when youre going to
56 lift stations with capacities from 32 mgd to 200 gpm. I watched the need it.
SCADA and directed them to evaluate the stations, make them do things Even though the plant lost electrical power for just 30 minutes, Dove says
they werent built to do because they normally are in automatic operation, the event prompted the staff to look at adding a source of backup power for
and coordinate efforts if a station went down, he says. the dual-feed system from the local utility. We have a handful of lift sta-
Where we had a station with four pumps, it may be designed to have tions that have backup power, but as we rehab the stations were making it a
only three running. So we had somebody there to turn on the fourth pump. standard to put in backup power to keep them going.
We had five maintenance technicians at the largest lift stations. They stayed
until they felt it was unsafe, and theyd put it back in automatic and leave.
WHAT-IF SCENARIO 4 New & Used Equipment 4 Discussion Forum

So, what would they have done had the plant been flooded? We werent 4 Free Subscription 4 Article Reprints
thinking of that at the time, says Foust. Wed have to go to plan C. We
didnt have a plan B. We thought about it after we saw what was around us.
4 Digital Editions tpomag.com
The plant does have a few taller buildings where the staff could have taken
shelter from high water.
As it was, the plant suffered relatively minor dam-
age from external and internal flooding, though some
equipment was destroyed by the high flows and debris.
Problems continued for several months. Sand com-
ing in through the pipes ripped the guides off the
traveling screens and knocked them out because we
had a lot of washed-out lines, says Foust. Other
debris included bricks, PVC and pipe lining. Over-
flowing contact basins inside the plant also created
sinkholes and gullies.
Wed have guys working in

the plant or a guy watching
the SCADA, somebody would
take a break, and somebody
would fill in. We just rotated
around and did it together.
Nobody really slept.
JAMES FOUST
One of the issues weve been having since the

flood is a large amount of debris and sand passing
through the plant, says Dove. Were constantly hav-
ing to bypass collapsed lines and get stuff fixed. Infra-
structure was stressed before the flood, and its stressed
tremendously after the flood. The road into the plant
was damaged and was not repaired until September.
LESSONS LEARNED
While actions during the event werent thoroughly
planned, the staff did bring in a few provisions before
the flood in case the incoming weather would cause
problems getting people to and from the plant. We
purchased sandwich meat, popcorn, chips and stuff
like that to just get by a day or two, says Dove. We
lost potable drinking water at the plant, but we were
lucky because I had two cases of water sitting in my
office. We also had people reaching out to us after a
couple of days wanting to send meals to us.
He suggests plants with dike protection do reg-
ular inspections rather than assume that the struc-
ture will protect their plant: Dont say, We havent

PLANTSCAPES
A windscreen on the fence protects the

newly planted saplings from winds coming off
the Niagara River (seen in the background).
Productive Move
TREES TRANSFERRED FROM A NEW YORK COMMUNITYS BOTANICAL GARDEN TO THE
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO A MAJOR TREE RESTORATION PROJECT
By Jeff Smith
R
elocating more than 80 trees from the botanical gardens in North Davignon. I was a chemist here for 28 years before I became superinten-
Tonawanda to create a tree farm at the wastewater treatment plant dent, so I know the quality of the water and I know it will be ideal for the
has been a win-win for this city in western New York. replanted trees.
Bill Davignon, superintendent of water and wastewater, says the plant ben-
efits because the trees enhance the landscape and shield its view from the OPERATORS BRAINCHILD
pleasure boats passing on the Niagara River. Residents benefit because the tree The idea to locate the trees at the treatment plant came from David
farm helps extend the life of the citys nearly 10-year-old Re-Tree program. Conti, a plant operator and a member of the citys environmental commit-
Species of trees such as red oak, white oak, tulip poplar, crabapple and tee. He was the driving force for this project because hes the one who
sycamore planted in 2.5-gallon pots as saplings sat at the botanical gardens brought the idea from his committee meeting about the space problem,
for more than a year. The problem was they were growing too fast and over- Davignon says.
crowding the 20-acre site. They had a space problem out there and we had For years the city has kept inventory of affordable trees available to res-
some room, so were able to provide a solution that benefits everyone, says idents, but the trees became an even higher priority in early fall 2006, when
Davignon.

DONATED LABOR I was a chemist here for 28 years before I became
Volunteering on a Saturday, plant operators and superintendent, so I know the quality of the water and
staff joined other city workers, all of them members of
Civil Service Employee Association, to move the trees I know it will be ideal for the replanted trees.
nearly 3 miles to the treatment plant. The workers BILL DAVIGNON
transferred the saplings, now 3 feet tall, into 30-gallon
pots with topsoil and planted on the site of an unused ash pit, about the size a record-breaking lake-effect snow and ice storm did damage of historic
of two football fields. proportions in western New York. Downed power lines and the destruction
The original design of the 6 mgd (average) physical-chemical process plant caused by more than 57,000 fallen trees crippled the area for weeks.
included the ash pit, but the pit remained unused because biosolids were The loss of trees changed the landscape and marked the start of Re-Tree
never burned. The pit is now a 2-foot-deep depression to which loam and a Western New York, a citizens volunteer effort with a goal of replacing 30,000
layer of crushed stone for drainage were added to accommodate the trees. trees within 10 years across 18 communities. Now that goal is at hand, but
Another benefit is we can use our effluent to irrigate the trees, says other threats are looming, such as the spread of the emerald ash borer.

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Leaders and volunteers prepare the saplings for planting.
Leaders of the volunteer group include, from left, Glenn Axberg, operator;
COOPERATIVE EFFORT Bill Davignon, superintendent of water and wastewater; Brian Kosikowski,
Originally, trees for Re-Tree were purchased through donations and operator; Dave Conti, operator and
fundraisers and given to residents. The ongoing need will be met with the Environmental Committee member;
likes of the trees planted at the wastewater treatment plant, which were Patty Brosius, Parks and Recreation Share Your Ideas
Department supervisor; and
donated by Cornell University Extension and will be available to residents TPO welcomes news about
Paul Lehman, Environmental
for a nominal fee. Committee member. interesting features of your facilitys
Eventually a rotating stock of 150 trees will occupy the former ash pit. grounds, signage or buildings for
The plants security fence will protect them from deer damage. This is a future articles in the PlantScapes
great example of interdepartmental cooperation, says Davignon. They column. Send your ideas to editor
@tpomag.com or call 877/953-3301.
had a problem and we had a solution. Were glad we could help out.

top performer
wastewater: PLANT
Sharing Their
Knowledge

VIRGINIA PLANT RAISES THE BAR WITH INNOVATIVE WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM, LEADING TO NUMEROUS OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS
STORY: Trude Witham | PHOTOGRAPHY: James Robinson
The Noman M. Cole Jr.

Pollution Control Plant.
OPERATORS AT THE NOMAN M. COLE ated in the county. It is staffed with 48 operators (four shifts
JR. POLLUTION CONTROL PLANT ARE of 12) and 14 lab technicians.
deep thinkers. They ask: What could go wrong? And how will To help preserve local water resources and reduce nutri-
we handle it? ent discharges, the plant reclaims 400 million gallons per year
We do a lot of monitoring upstream so we can trouble- for sale to customers that include a waste-to-energy facility
shoot issues and make process adjustments in real time, says and the Fairfax County Park Authority. The plant uses 2 to
Mike McGrath, manager of the plant in Fairfax, Virginia. 3 mgd of reclaimed water for chemical makeup, seal water and
For example, we used to depend on day-old lab tests on the scrubbers. The wastewater program was named a Utility of
final effluent to monitor ammonia. Now we field-test upstream the Future Today by a partnership of water organizations that
at the activated sludge tanks twice during each shift. includes NACWA, the Water Environment Federation, the
They also monitor phosphorus, sampled upstream of the Water Environment & Reuse Foundation, and the WateReuse
outfall. We shoot for 0.1 mg/L, so if we see numbers above Association, with input from the U.S. EPA.
0.5 mg/L, we know we will have trouble upstream, McGrath Effluent discharged to Pohick Bay typically contains 2
says. The approach has worked out well. The facility has mg/L CBOD5, 1.15 mg/L TSS, 0.06 mg/L total phosphorus,
received the National Association of Clean Water Agencies 0.1 mg/L ammonia nitrogen, and 1.9 mg/L total nitrogen.
(NACWA) Peak Performance Award for 30 consecutive years.
The plant is part of the Fairfax County Wastewater Man- PEAK PERFORMANCE
agement Program, a division of the county Department of Eligibility for the Platinum Award is based on testing 365
Public Works and Environmental Services. The 67 mgd plant daily, 52 weekly and 12 monthly effluent sample results. The
treats about 40 percent of the 100 mgd of wastewater gener- operators perform field tests on ammonia, total phosphorus,

settling, spins (sludge concentration
analysis), chlorine residual, pH, dis-
solved oxygen and turbidity. Param-
eters subject to upstream testing with
online analyzers include phospho-
rus, nitrogen, ammonia, BOD, TSS
and pH.
The team meets at 3 p.m. every
day to review existing challenges and
to plan the night shift and next days
activities. Mak ing per mit is
ingrained in everyone, and our super-
visors have a lot of latitude and free-
dom in making decisions on the fly,
says McGrath. Our operations staff
size allows us to do more trouble-
shooting and optimization.
Because of the
plants size and
county human resources
requirements for class
specifications, the
wastewater professionals From left, Aleinis Brioso Zavala, Brandon Stevens, Ronald Palma and
Fredy Lopez perform pump maintenance.
here are more specialized
than in some other Recent upgrades have boosted
Noman M. Cole Jr. Pollution Control Plant,
treatment plants. the plants success. In 2013, to help
MIKE McGRATH meet nitrogen and phosphorus lim- Fairfax County, Virginia
its, the county began methanol addi- BUILT: | 1970
tion in the biological nutrient removal process, which is configured for POPULATION SERVED: | 380,000
nitrification and denitrification. The plant also added moving-bed bioreactors EMPLOYEES: | 130
(MBBRs) for tertiary nitrogen removal and a reuse water distribution system. FLOWS: | 67 mgd design, 40 mgd average
Raw sewage passes through bar screens (Vulcan) and is pumped to the TREATMENT LEVEL: | Tertiary
primary clarifiers (Evoqua Water Technologies). The flow then enters the
activated sludge tanks, followed by the secondary clarifiers. From there, it
flows to the tertiary treatment system: Kruger MBBR biological treatment,
|
TREATMENT PROCESS: Activated sludge, moving-bed bioreactors,
multimedia filtration
RECEIVING WATER: | Pohick Creek
carbon addition, clarification and coagulant addition.
BIOSOLIDS: | Landfilled
The chemical sludge is returned to the head of the plant to improve upstream
ANNUAL BUDGET: | $20 million (operations)
treatment. The flow continues to multimedia filters (Leopold - a Xylem
Brand), followed by sodium hypochlorite disinfection. The final effluent is WEBSITE: | www.fairfaxcounty.gov
dechlorinated with sodium bisulfite and discharged to Pohick Creek. Bio- GPS COORDINATES: | Latitude: 38426.04N; longitude: 771227.85W
solids are dewatered with centrifuges (Alfa Laval Ashbrook Simon-Hartley)
and then undergo thermal oxidation in multiple-hearth incinerators before
being landfilled. Natural gas from the landfill fires the afterburners on the a competency checklist at each duty station with a list of things people need
incinerators, reducing facility greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent. to know to operate the plant.
A SCADA system with GE Intellution HMI and Allen-Bradley PLCs The county helps operators maintain their certification. For uncertified
with ControlLogix software (Rockwell Automation) allow monitoring of the employees who are hired, We provide training and materials so they can
entire plant. The system monitors 25,000 points and includes more than 50 get their Class 1 operators license, which is the highest state certification
PLCs, 22 work stations and 10 servers, says McGrath. level. Training on new equipment is provided by vendors and consulting
engineers, but McGrath schedules more training after the operators have
UNINTENTIONAL LEARNING worked with the equipment for a while.
Many of the operators have been with the county for more than 10 years, and
some for more than 26 years. They know theyre going to be retiring at some point, HIGHLY SPECIALIZED
and are very generous in sharing their knowledge, says McGrath. So theres a Plant staff members are organized into administration, operations, lab-
lot of unintentional, or informal, learning going on by the newer operators. oratory and maintenance. Because of the plants size and county human
They also receive more formal training. In the old days, the staff would resources requirements for class specifications, the wastewater professionals
learn by looking over another operators shoulder, but they might not learn here are more specialized than in some other treatment plants, says McGrath.
everything, says McGrath. So now we have more structured training and Operators main duties are process monitoring, adjustment and trouble-

shooting, sample collection and some laboratory testing, data collection, gen-
eral housekeeping, and assisting in startup and fine-tuning of new facilities.
SEWER SCIENCE They also place facilities in and out of service as needed for process, mainte-
The operations staff members at the Noman M. Cole Jr. nance and construction requirements.
Pollution Control Plant give back by donating time to help McGrath has been with the plant for 14 years. Key operations staff mem-
bers include:
students learn about water quality under the Sewer Science
Trevor Austin, operations superintendent (19 years)
program.
Gulshan Gupta (14 years), Mark Makuta (26 years), Clinton Davis (26
Says Judy Fincham, outreach coordinator, This national years), Ronald Davis (27 years), operations supervisors
hands-on laboratory program was introduced to Fairfax County
high schools in 2006, and so far it has trained more than 17,500
students and 70 teachers on the importance of water quality,
how wastewater is treated, and the scientific principles that apply.
During two 90-minute classes in high school science class-
rooms, students learn about primary clarification, biological
secondary treatment, disinfection, filtration and ammonia
reduction. They get to produce simulated wastewater, take the
water through the treatment processes, and test for pH, ammo-
nia, turbidity and chemical oxygen demand, Fincham says.
Materials, supplies, and student and teacher workbooks are
provided by Fairfax County.
Mike McGrath, director,
Plant operators volunteer as mentors, assisting the teachers Wastewater Treatment
in the classrooms. They are very comfortable in this role Division, Department
because they are basically explaining what they do in their daily of Public Works and
jobs, says Fincham. Plant staff members also help high school Environmental Services
students with their water quality science projects. Laboratory

personnel provide mentoring and space to work in the plant lab.
Some recent projects have won state awards.
Educational outreach is a great way to encourage students to
choose clean-water professions once they graduate, says
Fincham: We developed a pilot program with a local high
school to recruit recent graduates for hard-to-fill positions.
Weve hired three full-time operators through that program.

Making permit
is ingrained in
everyone, and our
supervisors have a lot
of latitude and freedom
in making decisions
on the fly.
MIKE McGRATH
Team members at the Noman M.

Cole Jr. plant include, front row,
from left, Joe Glean, operator; Roger
Silverio, operator in charge; Mike
Kelly, operator; and Sajana Chitra-
kar, process engineer operator. Back
row, Adam Haynes, Austin Long,
Mark Corry, Corey Reid, and
Lambert Kite, operators.

Mark Corry tests the final effluent at the
plant, which treats about 45 mgd.
Phosphorus removal is one example. Since 1978, the phosphorus permit

limit has been 0.18 mg/L. The plant started with two-stage lime treatment
but switched to multipoint ferric chloride addition within a few years. In
1990, our ferric chloride dose was around 25 mg/L, McGrath says. Since
then, weve tried numerous ways of reducing that by using ferrous sulfate or
alum, or using different feed point combinations and tertiary clarifier recy-
cles for dosing the head of the plant.
They have had some success with biological phosphorus removal in the
secondary process: Operator attention becomes really important because
we are operating much closer to the edge just enough to meet limits, but
not too much that chemicals are wasted. Lately, weve been able to achieve
our performance with a ferric chloride dose of about 10 mg/L.
Perhaps the biggest challenge is operating the incineration system. Not
only must we achieve permit limits, but we must document that we are oper-
ating according to best combustion practices, says McGrath. That includes
hourly operating ranges, daily instrumentation calibrations, maintenance,
training and emissions monitoring.
Recent regulations (Sewage Sludge Incineration Maximum Achievable
Control Technology, or SSI MACT) have increased compliance complexity:
For the operators, this means additional data collection, testing and report-
ing requirements, and more stringent operating parameters, increased oper-
ator training and certification.
Noman M. Cole Jr. Pollution Control Plant Tank rehabilitation poses another challenge. During rehabilitation con-
PERMIT AND PERFORMANCE (Annual Averages) struction, some tanks are unavailable, so we have to be much quicker about
PERMIT EFFLUENT responding to problems on the remaining tanks. This puts a lot of stress on
our operations and maintenance crews. When the rehabilitated tanks are
CBOD5 5 mg/L 2 mg/L
returned, there is extra troubleshooting as we work out the glitches.
TSS 6 mg/L 1.15 mg/L
Total phosphorus 0.18 mg/L 0.06 mg/L FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS
Ammonia nitrogen 1.0 mg/L (Apr.-Oct.) 0.1 mg/L The plant team is planning some major upgrades, including a switch to
2.2 mg/L (Nov.-Mar.) 0.1 mg/L UV disinfection within four years, and a biosolids improvement program.
Total nitrogen 3.0 mg/L 1.9 mg/L The biosolids program will rehabilitate existing multiple-hearth incinera-
tion air pollution control equipment to meet MACT regulatory standards,
says McGrath. It will also rehabilitate all solids process infrastructure to
Roger Silverio, operator in charge (27 years) operate for the next 15 years or so. Those processes include gravity thick-
Mike Rynders (14 years) and Roger Bailey (26 years), operations ening, dissolved air flotation thickening, storage, and centrifuge dewatering.
specialists The first phase is to be completed in 2017, and the last phase in about six years.
John Allen, lab quality control manager (11 years) The county would also like to generate electricity from biosolids: As
The team often goes above and beyond to solve problems. One of the part of our biosolids rehabilitation program, were designing an energy recov-
most memorable times was during Tropical Storm Lee in September 2011, ery system to use on our multiple-hearth incinerators. The county would
says McGrath. The town received over 7 inches of rain in three hours, which also like to find more customers for its reclaimed water and a beneficial use
according to NOAA was off the charts, above a 1,000-year rainfall. for its incinerator ash.
The plant fully treated all the wastewater during the first night (Thurs- For now, the plant is in great shape to keep doing what it does best: meet-
day). Some flow was stored and treated the next day. Some disinfected sec- ing permit for the benefit of its 380,000 customers. The plants 130 staff mem-
ondary treated liquid spilled out of a tank, McGrath says. The operators, bers deserve all the credit, says Judy Fincham, outreach coordinator: We
some staying over from a previous shift, sandbagged the tank to prevent it are like an extended family. Everyone takes ownership, and to me thats key.
from being worse. McGrath agrees: Its all about teamwork. If someone needs help, the
The storm flooded an empty storage pond and a number of basements others will step up. Im proud of this group.
and tunnels. The high-water mark for the flood was shoulder high in the
basement of the incinerator building. Staff and contractors dewatered these
spaces and did some clever work to dry out motors overnight and get equip- featured products from:
ment delivered on Saturday, McGrath recalls. The work was well coordi- Evoqua Water Rockwell Automation
nated with different shops working together to attack problems simultaneously. Technologies LLC 414/382-2000
Amazingly, maintenance turned over the incinerator to operations to start www.evoqua.com www.rockwellautomation.com/
warming up by Saturday night. industries/water
Kruger USA
919/677-8310 Vulcan Industries, Inc.
INCREASED EFFICIENCY www.krugerusa.com 712/642-2755
One of the plants goals is to increase efficiency. We feel like we get very www.vulcanindustries.com
good performance relative to our permit requirements, but we challenge our- Leopold - a Xylem Brand
selves to perform just as well with fewer resources, such as chemicals, elec- 855/995-4261
www.xylem.com/treatment
tricity and budget, McGrath says.

Booth 1643

IN MY WORDS
Sparking the Conversation

A MAJOR PUMP COMPANY LOOKS TO JUMP-START PUBLIC AWARENESS OF WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
CHALLENGES, CELEBRATE OPERATORS ROLES, AND HELP UTILITIES GAIN SUPPORT FOR THEIR INITIATIVES
By Ted J. Rulseh
T
he nations water and wastewater infrastructure needs huge invest- fee. They flush the toilet and stuff goes away
ment. The 2017 Infrastructure Report Card from the American somewhere. The fact is that utilities are under
Society of Civil Engineers gives wastewater systems a D-plus and pressure to keep these systems working as
drinking water systems a D. effectively as possible, as efficiently as pos-
The society estimates that wastewater systems will need $271 billion over sible, and at the lowest overall cost of
the next 20 years to meet current and future demands. Meanwhile, the Amer- operation.
ican Water Works Association has estimated that $1 trillion will be needed to
maintain and expand service over the next 25 years. At the same time, utilities : Why is it important for a manufac-
face resistance to rate increases that make system improvements possible. turer to lend a hand in this way?
Whats to be done? One thing thats essential, according to executives Montenegro: As a leader in sustain-
with pump manufacturer Grundfos, is for community residents to understand ability and energy efficiency in pumping sys-
Rob Montenegro
the problem and appreciate the roles of the people who operate the treatment tems, we feel well positioned to help bring
plants, wastewater collection systems and water distribution networks. these issues to light in the public conscious-
To that end, the company has launched the Who Runs the Water that ness. Were passionate about helping to make our country a better place. I
Runs America initiative. It aims to help water and wastewater utilities raise know that water industry operators share that passion and are looking for
public awareness of the challenges they face and to celebrate the profession- ways to share it with the communities they serve. We see it as our responsi-
als who keep water flowing for homes and businesses. bility to help make the case and create awareness of these issues.

By way of a website (us.grund-
fos.com/whorunsthewater.html), the I talked to an operator at a large wastewater treatment plant in Texas.
program provides tools to help utili-
ties communicate with their publics. I asked what his biggest challenges were. He said, People dont
These include a video template util-
ities can customize with their own understand the service were providing. I hear that from operators all
information and pictures. Also in the time, everywhere I go.
the package are posters and other
ROB MONTENEGRO
items for sharing on social media and
websites and in newsletters. Theres also information that helps consumers : What are you hearing from water and wastewater operators around
learn about the water cycle and water usage, an interactive water footprint these issues?
calculator, water-saving tips, and a map of water prices across the U.S. Montenegro: Ill give you a great example. I talked to an operator at
Rob Montenegro, executive vice president, and Andrew Hider, vice pres- a large wastewater treatment plant in Texas. I asked what his biggest chal-
ident of marketing, with Grundfos Water Utility, shared their thoughts on lenges were. He said, People dont understand the service were providing.
the initiative in an interview with Treatment Plant Operator. I hear that from operators all the time, everywhere I go. I went through our
whole program with this operator, and he said, This is great. Now I can use
: The problems with the nations water infrastructure are well- this as a way to explain to our community what were doing.
known. Why is a communications program like this necessary?
Montenegro: In my humble opinion, the problems with infrastruc- : How does your program enable utilities to communicate more
ture are not well-known to the general public. Ive been active in the water easily than they could on their own?
and wastewater business for close to 30 years, and while the numbers have Montenegro: Weve given them templates they can use. We offer a
changed over that time, the gap has been and remains substantial in terms great deal of information about how much water it takes to do basic things,
of funding thats needed not even to modernize our infrastructure, but to how much water the average American uses, and how their customers might
get it up to legitimate standards where were not wasting 11 percent of our be able to save some of that water. Weve provided a water usage test so that,
water, were not having sewage overflows, and were not having pipe bursts. based on their lifestyles, people can determine how much water they use and
steps they can take to reduce that amount. Weve created professional resources
: Whats the basic issue with public perceptions of water utilities that many smaller and midsize utilities dont have at the ready.
and their services?
Montenegro: Most people take these services for granted. They open : What specifically will you do to ensure that utilities are made
the tap at the kitchen sink, water comes out and they make their tea or cof- aware of these resources and use them?

WATER BY THE NUMBERS Flo
ws
on
ati
Here are some facts and figures included in the Grundfos ov
I nn
Who Runs the Water that Runs America initiative: Wh
ere
All You Need in
Many pipes, pumps, sewers and other water infrastructure Chemical Feed
components are more than 70 years old
78 percent of our water comes from surface sources (lakes,
rivers and reservoirs) and 22 percent from groundwater
It takes 634 gallons of water to produce a hamburger,
4,095 gallons to produce a steak, 2,900 gallons to make a
pair of jeans
Water leaks in an average household can account for more
than 10,000 gallons per year the amount it takes to wash
270 loads of laundry
Montenegro: Were asking our sales team and our network of inde- At Neptune, we make it all and
pendent representatives and distributors to go out and promote this program do it all. From pumps, tanks, mixers
to the municipalities, so they know about the tools we offer and how to use and controls to components such
them. Were doing outreach to quite a long list of municipalities directly. as relief valves, backpressure valves,
Were reaching out with one-on-one calls. Our representatives are adding calibration columns, corporation
links to the campaign on their websites. stops and injection quills, were
Hider: Were also doing a public communications campaign talking the single source for your entire
about these issues. Were using newswire services and public relations to dis- chemical feed system. All backed by
seminate the information. Among other things, well talk about the chal- unparalleled customer support.
lenges facing water professionals and about how Americans pay only a fraction
of what water is worth. Americans pay some of the lowest rates in the world Hydraulic & Mechanical Diaphragm
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Montenegro: Ours is an independent program, but certainly the basic
messages are the same. We have a funding gap, we have a group of dedicated
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: What would you say about the timing for launch of this initiative? duty design for reliable operation
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Neptune representative today. P: +1 (215) 699-8700
its about everyone pulling together. Collectively, across all the many orga- info@neptune1.com
nizations, we should be able to raise awareness and start addressing the neptune1.com
near-term and long-term issues that face our infrastructure.
A lot has changed in the last three to four years as people have realized FREE INFO SEE ADVERTISER INDEX
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Stop Odor Complaints!
17-NEPT-0484 Neptune - Plant Treatment Operator June 2017.indd 1 3/27/17 12:54 PM
have been moved more front and center, so that people are going to start pay-
ing attention to infrastructure and how water gets delivered to their homes.
: Ultimately, what would you like to see happen as a result of this

initiative?
Montenegro: We want conservation to happen. We want to see the
infrastructure investments made that are necessary to keep our water flow-
ing and our wastewater being treated. If we can convert one municipality to Easy, Effective, Economical Odor Control
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top performer
water: OPERATOR
WATER BY DESIGN
ERIC GONZALES AND HIS TEAM RUN PLANTS THAT PRODUCE WATER TREATED FOR
SPECIFIC PURPOSES, FROM IRRIGATION TO GROUNDWATER RECHARGE TO BOILER FEED
STORY: Trude Witham
PHOTOGRAPHY: Aron Eisenburg
ERIC GONZALES PLANNED DESIGNER WATER

TO FOLLOW IN HIS FATHERS The West Basin district provides
FOOT-STEPS AND GO TO drinking and recycled water to nearly
dental school. Instead, the clean a million people in a 185-square-mile
water profession chose him. area. It buys imported water from
A college major in biology and the Metropolitan Water District of
a minor in chemistry equip him Southern California and wholesales
well as operations supervisor with it to cities and private companies in
SUEZ North America at the West southwest Los Angeles County. The
Basin Municipal Water District in water recycling program produces
Carson, California. five types of designer water:
Since 2015, he has overseen the Tertiary water (Title 22) for
districts three satellite plants: the industrial and irrigation uses
Juanita Millender-McDonald Car- Nitrified water for industrial
son Regional Water Recycling cooling towers
Treatment Plant, the Chevron Secondary wastewater treated
Nitrification Treatment Plant, and by microfiltration (MF), ultra-
the Torrance Refinery Water Recy- filtration (UF), reverse osmosis
cling Plant. Eric Gonzales, operations supervisor with SUEZ North America at the West (RO), and UV and chlorine
Basin Municipal Water District in Carson, California.
Gonzales finds it challenging to disinfection, for groundwater
deal with reclaimed water as a feed recharge
source: Incoming water quality changes quite frequently, and because of Pure RO water for oil refinery low-pressure boiler feed
that, we are subjected to numerous operating challenges and process upsets. Ultrapure RO water for oil refinery high-pressure boiler feed
The plants were built in the 1990s, so its interesting to anticipate and react The Chevron Nitrification Treatment Plant in El Segundo receives 5
to the demands of running three facilities that are 20-plus years old. mgd of recycled water from the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility
He excels at understanding each process, interpreting its effectiveness, in El Segundo. All satellite plant feedwater comes from the Edward C. Lit-
and making appropriate changes. I evaluate information from daily rounds tle plant, where it is classified as Title 22 water.
and other recorded data and change chemical dosages or process flows This water has undergone media filtration and chlorine disinfection before
accordingly, he says. The goal of data interpretation is to stay within con- it is used at the satellites or by municipal, commercial and industrial custom-
tractual and environmental compliance and control chemical consumption ers for irrigation and other applications. The Title 22 recycled water is further
costs. His skill earned him a 2016 Outstanding Plant Operator Award from treated with four Biofor systems (Infilco Degremont, technology developed by
the Southwest Membrane Operator Association. SUEZ) to remove ammonia through nitrification for cooling tower applications.

The Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility
produces five types of water for specific purposes.
I dont like to ask anyone to do something I wouldnt do, and I try to be as understanding as
possible. Everyone learns differently, and I like to help them learn in a way that is best for them.
ERIC GONZALES
Eric Gonzales,
West Basin Municipal Water
District, Carson, California
POSITION: |Operations supervisor
EXPERIENCE: | 7 years
|
EDUCATION: Bachelors degree in biology,
Whittier College
|
AWARDS: 2016 Southwest Membrane Operators
Association Outstanding Plant Operator
CERTIFICATION: | Grade 5 Wastewater Operator
GOAL: | Earn a promotion to chief plant operator
|
GPS COORDINATES: Latitude: 335234.11N;
Longitude: 1181553.60W
The West Basin Municipal Water District

serves about one million people in a territory
that spans 185 square miles.

The Juanita Millender-McDonald recycling plant in Carson treats 3.5 I was chatting with a customer one day, and when I told him I had a col-
mgd of Title 22 recycled water. Equipment includes nine Memcor MF sys- lege degree, he asked if I had applied at the water company, Gonzales says.
tems (Evoqua Water Technologies), four RO trains (Toray Membrane), one When I told him I had but never heard back, he suggested I send him my
portable UF system (H2O Innovation; Toray modules) and one Biofor sys- resume. It turned out he was maintenance manager at SUEZ, supporting
tem. The treated water is sent to the Tesoro Refinery for boiler feed and West Basin. He helped me get my foot in the door.
cooling tower applications. In 2009, Gonzales was hired as an operator in training at the 40 mgd
Edward C. Little plant, the largest
facility of its kind in the U.S. In six
months, he had his Grade 2 certifi-
cation, then received his Grade 3
Eric Gonzales with and was promoted to Operator II.
the recycling
At that point, I was also some-
facilitys submersible
times filling in as lead operator, but
microfiltration units.
since there was no lead operator
opening at the plant, the next step
was to move to a satellite facility.
The satellites are not manned
24 hours a day, but are remotely
accessed from the Edward C. Little
plant. I saw it as a challenge
because I would be at that facility
by myself, Gonzales says. I started
at the Chevron facility, then moved
to Carson, where I trained my three
direct reports. When I got my
Grade 5 license, I was promoted to
my current position.
There were so many who con-
tributed and continue to contribute
to my knowledge, growth and
OUTSTANDING OPERATOR career success. I was extremely
green in the wastewater field when
Eric Gonzales was proud and a little embarrassed when he I came to work for SUEZ. My fel-
won the 2016 Outstanding Plant Operator Award from the South- low operators, as well as our mechanics, electricians, engineers, lab techs
and administrative staff, showed me the ropes.
west Membrane Operator Association. I do not like to have all
Bill Brooks, who was operations supervisor at the time, and Mark
the attention on me, but it feels great to be acknowledged, he says.
Mertes, lead operator on Gonzales shift, helped him a great deal: They
He believes he was chosen for his quick grasp of complex took the time to answer every question I asked and walked me through the
membrane and nitrification processes and his ability to ask the different processes for real hands-on experience.
right questions in solving problems. As operators, we start out The biggest challenge was learning about the MF systems. MF mem-
doing our rounds in the facility, and it seems mindless at times, branes are the first step in the filtration process and are affected the most by
but I realize that we are doing it for a reason. If we ask questions harsh influent water quality, Gonzales says. Reviewing their perfor-
and understand why we do what we do, only then can we really mance, initiating the clean-in-place process and adjusting backwash inter-
understand the process and make changes accordingly. vals are essential steps.
Gonzales describes his supervisors job as interesting at
LEADING BY EXAMPLE
times. During my first month, there was an explosion at the
Today, Gonzales supervises three operators who handle the satellite
Torrance Refinery. I worked directly with our customers staff facilities: Edgar Giron (Grade 2 water treatment, Chevron plant); Joshua
around the clock to help get their process back online. Hoover (Carson plant); and Timothy Tyler (Torrance Refinery plant).
The upside? It didnt damage any of the water treatment Hoover and Tyler are Grade 3 wastewater treatment certified. Giron has
equipment. Plus, I got to know a good portion of their operations been with the company for seven years, Tyler for over 20 years, and Hoover
staff quite well. for four years.
Gonzales also evaluates system performance, schedules maintenance
and coordinates chemical orders. It is a close-knit group. Each satellite
The Torrance Refinery plant removes ammonia through nitrification operator is responsible for their designated facility and cross-trained for the
from over 6 mgd of recycled water. Equipment includes four Biofor systems, others, Gonzales says. The 16 shift operators at the Edward C. Little plant
six Memcor MF systems, and four RO systems (Toray Membrane). The provide coverage at night and other times as needed. We all act as a team and
treated water is used in the facilitys cooling towers and for boiler feed. respond as one, benefitting greatly from each others input and experience.
Gonzales leads by example: I dont like to ask anyone to do something
MOVING UP I wouldnt do, and I try to be as understanding as possible. Everyone learns
In running these facilities, Gonzales is a long way from his original differently, and I like to help them learn in a way that is best for them.
career path. After graduating from Whittier College in 2007, he worked as
a dental assistant to pay his student loans. He was laid off and ended up at MAKING IMPROVEMENTS
The Home Depot. His biggest overall challenge is dealing with older equipment and work-

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ing on facility upgrades. The MF systems are about 20 years old: valves, dosages and performing tests for fiber integrity. Fiber breakage in the MF/
valve timing and backwash pressures have to be frequently monitored and UF modules has occurred in the past when high iron levels enter the plants,
adjusted. At the Carson facility, we were using potable water to make up for and that can mean more solids loading to the RO systems.
the deficiency of the MF filtrate water, he says. In 2014, we installed new
MF modules and a temporary portable trailer UF system that can process 1 COMPANY MAN
mgd of our reclaimed water. Other recent upgrades include: Although Gonzales didnt plan on a career in water, he would do it all over
Biological tower rehabilitation to as-new condition, including new again: I love the people I work with and the daily challenges. Its very hands-
media, at all satellite facilities (completed March 2016). on, and I like working on the solution to a problem and seeing it through.
Alkalinity improvement at all satellite facilities (ongoing) to stabilize Each day, he carefully studies current and historical data recorded from
water quality by automating pH controls. It also includes a larger, per- the operators daily rounds. He looks for anomalies, and tries to get the
manent CO2 storage system. operators to do the same. The days can be long, since hes on call 24/7. I
RO module replacement at the Carson facility (2015-16). dont have time for hobbies, but I do find time to spend with my wife of 17
Any construction or new work years and our young son, he says.
requires the necessary contractor I really love everything SUEZ has done for me and my family. Ive just
As operators, we safety training as well as ensuring gained so much experience, I wouldnt have been so successful otherwise.
are helping to their compliance to our standards, He is especially grateful to his boss Bill Beam, chief plant operator: He is
Gonzales says. During these proj- my biggest mentor, and is responsible for my growth in my current role.
make the world more ects, I have to coordinate between As a next step, he looks toward a job with more responsibility at a bigger
operations, maintenance and con- facility, or as a chief plant operator. To me, success is not just financial, but is
sustainable. Its a tractor work among all three satel- measured by the impact we leave on the environment, the facilities were in
badge of honor that we lite facilities. His time is split charge of, and our co-workers. As operators, we are helping to make the world
between day-to-day operations, more sustainable. Its a badge of honor that we should wear proudly.
should wear proudly. data review and interpretation, and
ERIC GONZALES contractor activities. He also coor-
dinates with the district to sched-
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His greatest operating challenge is dealing with high iron levels in the Technologies LLC 800/446-1150
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feedwater. Iron is used as a coagulant by some of the treatment plants that
send us secondary effluent, he says. Too much iron affects the perfor- H2O Innovation Inc. Toray Membrane USA
mance of the MF and RO systems. The satellite plant operators solve this 888/688-0170 858/218-2390
with more frequent MF/UF/RO system cleanings, by adjusting chemical www.h2oinnovation.com www.toraywater.com

HEARTS
AND MINDS
Grass Heads and Water Wisdom

A WATERAMA FESTIVAL IN FORT WORTH TEACHES FOURTH-GRADERS
ABOUT WATER AND ITS VALUE IN RAPID-FIRE INTERACTIVE SESSIONS
By Craig Mandli
T
hey could no longer bring students to the plant, so they brought the
plant to the students. That was the idea behind the Waterama festi-
val, an educational event held each year in Fort Worth, Texas.
In 1999, a renovation to one of four water treatment plants kept the city
Water Department from holding its long-popular WaterFest Open House
on the plant grounds. So, Mary Gugliuzza, media relations and communi-
cations coordinator, turned to her staff for fresh ideas.
I challenged them to come up with an alternative idea to reach kids, she
says. I thought that if we could reach young kids, wed get their parents, as well.
Department personnel approached the Fort Worth Independent School
District, and soon Waterama was born. The first event, in May 2001, offered
eight interactive booths where a few hundred fifth-graders received lessons
on water use, treatment and reclamation. Since then, the event has expanded
to 28 booths. To accommodate more kids, it now covers two days. The 2016
Waterama drew a record 3,371 students.
MANY MINI-LESSONS
Waterama lasts four hours and hosts three groups of students each day. Each
group stays for an hour, visiting four booths and spending about 12 minutes
at each one. That rapid-fire activity helps keep them engaged. Each booth
has a theme having to do with water, but from all different perspectives,
says Hilda Zuniga, a public education specialist with the department.
The booths dont all focus on water treatment. They include presenta-
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH
tions from the Fire Department on the importance of water to fire safety.
The Public Works and Transportation Department has a lesson on storm-
water. The local fish and game department teaches about clean water and
fisheries. The Texas A&M AgriLife
Extension Service booth urges kids
Students design their own Grass to practice water efficiency.
Heads, which they fill with grass Its so much more than just
seed and soil. They take them home
conservation, though, says Zuniga.
and watch the grass grow.
Its really about how water is a
connective tissue for so many facets

of everyday life. The students learn that a ready supply of clean water is
We obviously cant teach everything in important to survival in many ways.
The event also includes mini-programs sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard,
12-minute intervals, but we work with the the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Cook Childrens Health Care System
teachers to offer follow-up lessons and related Safe Kids Tarrant County. The Water Departments meter service per-
sonnel teach students how to build a water meter, ending in a Meter Madness
materials to help learning continue. event where the kids race against the clock. The department also brings a pipe
HILDA ZUNIGA camera truck to let students experience an electronic sewer inspection.

Students learn how water can cause erosion with help from employees of the
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
Fourth-graders examine a watershed model during the 2016 Fort Worth Waterama.
BROADENING REACH
We try to practice a holistic approach to water education, says Gugli-
uzza. Most of the students dont realize how much of their everyday lives
are tied to water. The point is to get them to understand that connection.
While the initial Waterama focused on fifth-graders, fourth-graders are
now the audience. The state of Texas made a switch to its elementary sci-
ence requirements, and the school district determined that the lessons
learned at Waterama provided an ideal jumping-off point to water lessons
Cook Childrens Health Care System of Forth Worth helps students learn about
learned early in the fifth-grade science curriculum. water safety through a Jeopardy-style game.
What the students learn is a great head-start for the lessons theyll be
coming into at the beginning of their fifth-grade year, says Zuniga. Water staff
back in 2001 worked with the teachers and helped them actually design their 12-minute intervals, but we work with the teachers to offer follow-up lessons
curriculum around what the students learn at our event. Its a great partnership. and related materials to help learning continue.
The students leave with a bit of homework. They are asked to care for a The success hasnt been lost on the city decision-makers, either. The
Grass Head a sock the kids decorate with pipe cleaners and goggle eyes, program has received continued support over the years and has received the
then fill with a layer of grass seed, followed by soil. The students take the green light to expand. Weve been able to change up and expand to the
Grass Head home, water it carefully every day, and watch their creations point where the end of its useful life isnt yet in sight, says Gugliuzza. The
hair grow. lessons were teaching are going home to the parents, and thats who the
Thats a fun little lesson that the kids can leave with, says Zuniga. decision-makers hear from.
Hopefully when theyre watering their Grass Heads, theyre thinking Zuniga believes the success of
about where that water came from, and why its important. Waterama stems from its philosophy
to reach as many fourth-graders as
Whats Your Story?
SUCCESS AND SUPPORT possible: Many parents bring their TPO welcomes news about your
Water and Sewer Department personnel gauge success through surveys children to learning events, but public education and community
completed by fourth-grade teachers. The results indicate that students are Waterama is a special opportunity. outreach efforts for future articles
getting a lot out of Waterama and that teachers appreciate using it as a We believe that learning helps make in the Hearts and Minds column.
major part of water education in class. change happen. Send your ideas to editor@tpo
The majority of the surveys ask us to expand the program even more, mag.com or call 877/953-3301.
Zuniga says. So many kids at that age have high energy, and keeping them
moving and learning is important. We obviously cant teach everything in

TECH TALK
Jar Testing Plus

ADDING TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON ANALYSIS TO JAR TESTING CAN HELP WATER
TREATMENT PLANTS MORE RELIABLY MEET LIMITS FOR DISINFECTION BYPRODUCTS
By Amanda Scott
J ar testing is a useful tool that helps water plant operators determine the
most effective chemical source-water treatment. By simulating coagu-
lation and flocculation that occurs at full scale in the plant, jar testing
can inform quick and effective treatment process adjustments.
In jar testing, two common parameters used for making decisions are
turbidity and UV 254 absorbance. Both are effective, but when only these
measurements are applied, there is limited capacity to fully detect the effec-
tiveness of chemical dosing for removing organics.
The addition of total organic carbon (TOC) analysis can overcome this
limitation by telling operators exactly how much organic content is removed,
not only by chemical treatment but by each additional type of treatment or
during each treatment step. TOC analysis can also play an integral role in
helping water plants meet disinfection byproduct (DBP) regulations, since
organic material is a precursor to DBP formation.
WHY JAR TESTING?

Jar testing can help minimize operating costs by helping enhance chem- A flocculation simulator is designed to replicate water plant contactors.
ical dosing accuracy. Operators can use jar testing to adjust chemical addi- After flocculation and settling, the settled water is tested to determine the
tions, try different chemical types, or alter the dosing sequence to achieve best treatment chemical choices and doses.
optimal contaminant removal. This is much easier than experimenting with
entire plant processes. organic material in the water by testing the UV absorbance at 254 nm with
Jar testing enhanced by real-time monitoring also helps operators over- a spectrometer or UV probe. However, this test does not capture all organ-
come challenges related to overdosing or blindly dosing coagulant. Higher ics because some organics do not absorb at 254 nm. In addition, multiple
doses do not always translate to better TOC removal, and overdosing coagu- interferences, including ferrate compounds, nitrate and high turbidity, can
lant can lead to excess sludge production, increasing the cost of sludge removal. occur at that wavelength.
JAR TESTING METHODS ADDING TOC ANALYSIS

Jar testing is simple and should be conducted periodically throughout By adding TOC analysis to jar testing, operators can gain a more com-
the year to accommodate source water fluctuations. Useful times to run jar prehensive understanding of organics removal in each test jar and so better
tests include during seasonal changes, after large temperature swings, when determine the most effective chemical treatment to achieve compliance with
a new chemical is being added, or when new treatment equipment is intro- regulations.
duced to the system. Under the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBPR), all
To begin, jars are filled with raw water and dosed with varying amounts plants must comply with maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for several
of chemicals or different chemical sequences. Then the water is stirred with DBPs. To help meet those limits, the percent of influent TOC that must be
a flocculator to encourage floc formation. After settling, the quality of the removed during treatment is regulated in conventional water treatment plants
treated water is tested to determine the best coagulant and chemical dosages using surface water, or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water.
that can be applied to the full-scale treatment process. While most opera- While some plants struggle to meet TOC removal requirements from
tors will attest to the value of jar testing, the extent of actual application can source waters, other plants need to remove more TOC than is required to
vary significantly from plant to plant. achieve DBP limits. Each plants source water is different in terms the amount
and characteristics of the organics, which determine how easily the water
JAR TESTING LIMITATIONS can be treated.
While turbidity and UV 254 absorbance testing can prove effective, there
are inherent challenges to using only those indicators. Turbidity doesnt dis- CASE IN POINT
tinguish between inorganic matter, organic matter and particulates it only To investigate the value of adding TOC analysis to jar testing measure-
measures the amount of light passing through the sample. ments, GEs Analytical Instruments performed jar tests with several surface
Meanwhile, UV 254 absorbance measures the aromatic content of the waters from across the U.S. using two common coagulants: ferric chloride

(ferric) and aluminum sulfate (alum). Investigators took samples indepen-
dently from the source water but not from the water plant intakes.
Central Arizona Project Canal

The Central Arizona Project (CAP) canal is a 336-mile open conveyance
that transports Colorado River water to central and southern Arizona from
Lake Havasu. Phoenix-area water treatment plants regularly use CAP water,
which can experience wide swings in quality.
Jar testing of CAP canal water was conducted using turbidity, TOC, and
UV 254 measurements under increasing alum and ferric dosages. Based on
raw water TOC and alkalinity, a treated water quality target below 3 ppm
TOC was used for the water samples collected. Results demonstrated that
TOC removal only met this requirement at 30 ppm alum dosing. The test
also suggested that using turbidity alone to optimize chemical treatment
could have led the plant to choose a chemical dosage with very little TOC
removal, since turbidity dropped at a lower alum dose than did TOC.
The UV 254 data and TOC data were also decoupled: UV 254 went up at
30 ppm alum where TOC went down. This demonstrates that UV 254 data
is not always consistent with TOC results. Compared to 30 ppm ferric dos-
ing, which achieved only 21 percent TOC removal, a 30 ppm alum dose
achieved 27 percent TOC removal. These results show that alum alone is suf-
ficient to meet TOC removal requirements of 15 percent, but might not be
reliable enough throughout the year or to meet all DBP limits.
Horsetooth Reservoir
Horsetooth Reservoir is a water source for cities in Northern Colorado,
including Fort Collins, Greeley and Loveland. The reservoir receives water
from the Colorado-Big Thompson and Windy Gap projects through a com-
plex system of pipelines, tunnels and canals. In the last several years, popu-
lation and industrial growth, natural sources and the occurrence of wildfires
have led to an increase in TOC.
Results from jar testing with Horsetooth Reservoir water under increas-
ing alum dosages demonstrated a reduction in turbidity, TOC and UV 254.
While lower turbidity results were achieved with ferric dosing, alum treat-
ment demonstrated higher TOC removal. This reveals that basing treatment
off turbidity results would not lead to the best compliance under the DBPR.
Furthermore, jar testing results showed very little difference in TOC
removal between 20 ppm and 30 ppm alum additions. As such, adding more
chemical dosing above 20 ppm alum does not bring additional treatment
benefits. Armed with this knowledge, water plants can realize more cost-
effective chemical treatment.
San Gabriel River

The San Gabriel River in Texas feeds into Lake Georgetown and serves
the city of Georgetown, just outside Austin. Jar testing results for San Gabriel
River water revealed better treatment performance with ferric dosing than with
alum. With a required TOC removal of 25 percent based on raw TOC and Booth 1733
alkalinity, a ferric dose at 30 ppm removed over 40 percent of influent TOC,
while alum dosing at the same concentration removed only 28 percent. FREE INFO SEE ADVERTISER INDEX
Pine Brook Reservoir PROVING VALUE

Pine Brook Reservoir serves a small water treatment plant in the hills These examples demonstrate that adding TOC analysis to jar testing can
just west of Boulder, Colorado. In recent years, the area faced drought, flood- help operators more easily optimize water treatment processes. The results
ing, wildfires and extreme seasonal temperature changes, which together provide insights into treatment recommendations based on raw-water qual-
have created significant water treatment challenges. ity and the effects of different chemicals at varying doses. By incorporating
Jar testing with Pine Brook Reservoir water showed a decline in turbid- TOC analysis with jar testing, plants can better determine the most effective
ity, TOC and UV 254 at 10 ppm alum dosing. With increasing alum dosing, and cost-efficient chemical treatment solution for meeting DBP limits and
TOC continued to decrease. A 30 ppm alum dosing achieved 42 percent TOC TOC removal requirements.
removal, well above the 25 percent TOC removal requirement.
However, operators learned that even at 42 percent TOC removal they ABOUT THE AUTHOR
had not removed enough organics to meet DBP limits. As such, the plant now Amanda Scott is municipal applications manager with GEs Analytical Instru-
uses a chemical blend and ultrafiltration membranes to remove additional ments. She can be reached at amanda.scott@ge.com.
organics. Recent plant upgrades have increased the size of chemical coagu-
lation and flocculation to optimize pretreatment before the membranes.

top performer
water: PLANT
The Row River Water Treatment Plant sits between a small wetland and a field. The plant produces
about 4 mgd for the city of Cottage Grove.
Starting
Fresh
A SMALL BUT DEDICATED OPERATIONS TEAM MEETS THE CHALLENGES OF LEARNING
TO OPERATE A NEW MEMBRANE PLANT TREATING SEASONALLY VARIABLE SOURCE WATER
STORY: Jim Force | PHOTOGRAPHY: August Frank
WHEN RAY PARDEE SEES THE AWARD PLAQUES adjustments in oxidizers and coagulants pretty much every-
on the walls at the Row River Water Treatment Plant, he feels thing. We have our hands full in the winter.
pretty good. Theyve handled it well. The plant was recently named Small
Thats because the awards dont just represent quality finished Facility Membrane Plant of the Year by the Northwest Membrane
water, they document how far he and his staff Steve Norman Operators Association. The operators have been recognized as out-
and Sam Haynes have come in just a few years learning to oper- standing performers by the Oregon Health Authority, and water
ate what is essentially a brand-new facility, drawing from Oregons from the system has earned second and third place finishes in Best
Row River. Tasting Water Contests held by the Pacific North West Section
Its not just the new strainers and membranes, SCADA system AWWA, Cascade to Coast subsection.
and chemical feed apparatus. This plant used to be seasonal, oper-
ating in support of the Layng Creek Water Plant, says Pardee, SERIAL EXPANSION
plant superintendent. But in 2006, the city council decided to shut The original Row River facility was built in 1993 as a 2 mgd
down the Layng Creek plant, rather than bear the expense of multimedia filtration plant, supplementing the Layng Creek plant
expanding it. That made the Row River plant the sole source of to meet system demand during the peak summer months. A static
clean water for the community (population 9,900). mixer was installed just after the chemical injection points for alu-
The decision meant Pardees team had to operate around the minum sulfate and a cationic polymer, but the process included
clock. That was a big challenge for us, he says. Before, we were an no flocculation or sedimentation.
on-demand plant used only in the summertime. There were hardly Seasonal potassium permanganate was used to oxidize man-
any changes in the quality of the raw water. It was very steady. ganese. Pre and post alkalinity and pH were adjusted using hydrated
But operating year-round has meant dealing with significant lime; gas chlorine provided disinfection. The plant was designed
changes in the quality of the raw water. That in turn requires care- for expansion to 4 mgd and then to 6 mgd with little additional
ful adjustments in the treatment processes. infrastructure.
In the winter, we get a lot of rain, Pardee says. The river The 2008 plant expansion was the result of a joint-venture
runs through steep slopes, and the runoff increases the turbidity design-build contract with Black & Veatch and Slayden Construc-
and organic content of our source water. The quality of our incom- tion Group. The arrangement guaranteed a maximum price for
ing water can change by the hour, even by the minute, calling for the project, which expanded production capacity to 4 mgd. The

We had cut our teeth on manual plants. In the old days,
operators could see the treatment effects in the basins,
and manually start and stop the system each day as needed.
RAY PARDEE
A bacteriological sample is collected daily. Water is tested at several locations around

original plant was designed for easy expansion by removing just one Cottage Grove for coliform and fecal bacteria.
wall and widening the building by 35 feet, enough space for the new
membrane system with extra room for additional membranes down filter any coarse debris out of the treated water before it enters the
the road. microfiltration membrane modules. As the filtrate leaves the mod-
ules, a 12.5 percent solution of sodium hypochlorite is added for
FILTRATION PROCESS disinfection. The last step is the addition of hydrated lime for cor-
To start the process, raw water is diverted from the river by rosion control treatment.
gravity about 1,000 feet to the treatment plants hydraulic chemi- Treated water is then pumped to two side-by-side finished-
cal mixing tank. Potassium permanganate and aluminum chloro- water storage tanks (total 4.3 million gallons) at a high elevation
hydrate are added to the raw water to oxidize and coagulate turbidity, in the city. These tanks provide the chlorine contact time needed
manganese, dissolved organics and color. to complete disinfection. The water then gravity-feeds out of the
The plants 100 hp Floway vertical turbine pumps (Weir Spe- tanks to meet distribution system demands, Pardee says.
cialty Pumps (WEMCO)) then boost the treated water to the mem- The old diaphragm chemical feed pumps were replaced with
brane system. Next, 300-micron self-cleaning pre-strainers (Amiad) peristaltic feed pumps. Additionally, new chemical feed injection

Row River Water Treatment Plant,
Cottage Grove, Oregon
BUILT: |
1993 (expanded 2006-2008)
AREA SERVED: | 4 square miles
POPULATION SERVED: | 9,900 (3,900 connections)
PRODUCTION: | 4 mgd
SOURCE WATER: | Row River
PROCESS: | Pressurized microfiltration
DISTRIBUTION: | 49 miles of water main
SYSTEM STORAGE: | 4.3 million gallons
ANNUAL BUDGET: | $623,000 (operations)
WEBSITE: | www.cottagegrove.org
|
GPS COORDINATES: Latitude: 434730.85N;
Longitude: 123137.32W
says Pardee. The old system was

manually started and stopped each
day by the operators and used on-
site sensors, circular chart recorders
and telephone auto dialers for alarm
notifications.
A new 8 mgd raw water river-
bank diversion structure was also
part of the renewal; the old one dated
back to 1993. A new controls build-
ing at the river intake site houses an
air compressor, air receiver storage
tank, programmable logic control-
ler and radio equipment. Security
fencing protects the intake and build-
ing from vandalism.
The improvements took just under
one year to construct. A major chal-
lenge was to keep the existing treat-
ment plant in operation while the
improvements were under construc-
Steven Norman, left, plant operator, tion. Once the expanded Row River
and Ray Pardee, superintendent. plant was operational, Cottage Grove
donated the Layng Creek plant and
its transmission line to a newly formed
water district nearby.
LEARNING ANEW
The quality of our incoming water can change by the hour, even by So how did the Row River team
figure out the new processes and new
the minute, calling for adjustments in oxidizers and coagulants pretty operational procedures?
much everything. We have our hands full in the winter. We had cut our teeth on manual
plants, says Pardee. In the old days,
RAY PARDEE
operators could see the treatment effects
points were installed to take advantage of available hydraulic mixing of the in the basins, and manually start and stop the system each day as needed.
chemicals before the filtration process. We still have no need for flocculation This plant was different. There was no standing over the basin to see
or sedimentation. what the water was doing. We had to use computer technology to see what
was happening in the membrane modules. There were new chemicals and
PACKAGED PROCESS chemical addition. We had to learn the cleaning cycles for the strainers and
The new 4 mgd pressurized microfiltration membrane system (Pall Water) membranes. Much of our training was simply hands-on and trial and error.
consists of two filtration racks, each containing 89 low-pressure filtration It was a lot of supporting one another.
modules. Each rack can produce 2 mgd of finished drinking water at all While the staff received training from the manufacturers and had some
times regardless of the operating conditions, reports Pardee. help from local tech and engineering sources, most of the new know-how
The improvements added SCADA and radio communications to satel- came from jar tests and observation. We optimized treatment through jar
lite sites. These two items were a first ever for our water treatment plant, tests, says operator Norman. We use potassium permanganate as an oxi-

dizer of manganese and dissolved organics because it doesnt form a disin-
fection byproduct later on. We rely on our streaming current monitor
(Chemtrac) to keep track of the residual in the feedwater and let us know if PROTECTING THE FISH
were overdosing. The Row River is a favorite among sport anglers, especially for
When the plant was first proposed, the staff was told coagulant chemi- salmon and trout. The new diversion structure for the Row River
cals werent needed for the membrane to produce good-quality finished water.
Water Treatment Plant includes screens designed to keep fish from
The thinking was that turbidity couldnt pass through the membrane, but
swimming into or being sucked into the intake pipe. The previous
we neglected to realize that anything that was dissolved might pass through,
intake, built in 1993, also had fish screens.
operator Haynes says.
The flat-panel intake screens (Hendrick Screens) have two
When the membranes started up in summer, the finished water had very
low turbidity. But in the fall, with leaves and organics in the raw water, we side-by-side panels, each 8 feet wide (16 feet combined width) by
couldnt maintain a chlorine resid- 3.5 feet tall, installed at a 30-degree angle. While the screens are
ual, Haynes says. Even with a high engineered so that the velocity of the water across them provides
A sample is drawn from the finished
water storage tanks. chlorine demand, we werent remov- self-cleaning, the system also has an air-burst system.
ing dissolved organics and metals. In the event that snails, algae blooms, sticks or leaves plug up
The team had to add coagulants the flow, the air-burst system is activated and clears the screen,
in fall and winter, and now adds says Ray Pardee, plant superintendent. A control building at the
coagulants year-round. Originally, intake site houses an air compressor that fills a 620-gallon air
aluminum sulfate was used for coag- receiver tank, storing the compressed air. It takes about 30 minutes
ulation, but this was later changed for the air compressor to recharge the air receiver tank to the 150 psi
to aluminum chlorohydrate, which setpoint to be ready for another air-burst process.
reacts much faster in colder water,
Controlled by a PLC, the air-burst cycle can be initiated by a
Haynes says.
timer setting, water level differential, or manually by the operator.
There are external and internal level sensors that simultaneously
DILIGENT MAINTENANCE
monitor water levels on either side of the screen, Pardee says. A
The teams other challenges
included dealing with mechanical level differential operator programmable setpoint in the PLC activates
issues like shear pin breaks on the the air-burst system if the screen is becoming blocked by debris.
strainers, controlling algae in sum-
Ray Pardee measures the

temperature of one of the
Microza modules used to filter
water (Pall Water).

We use potassium permanganate as an
oxidizer of manganese and dissolved organics
because it doesnt form a disinfection byproduct
later on.
STEVE NORMAN
About every two months, contaminants that could cause fouling are
removed from the membranes by circulating a heated chlorine-caustic solu-
tion for two hours, followed by a heated citric acid solution for one hour.
The operators perform a special lower header feed pipe manual flushing
procedure before each clean-in-place. This is to help keep the membrane
modules from becoming plugged with fine silt, which occurs at times, Pardee
says. We gently thump the module casing and listen to the sound it makes
to determine if plugging is occurring. Another useful tool is to use a tem-
perature gun during the circulation of the heated cleaning chemicals to
ensure that no plugging is occurring anywhere within the modules.
The new SCADA system created another learning curve, says Pardee.
Were a little older and are just really getting into computers, says Pardee.
It has taken a while for the staff to master the different computer programs,
the individual components of the system, and how to use trend charts to the
best advantage.
Weve received some help from the citys automation team, and weve
Steve Norman performs an alkalinity test on a grab sample of water.
used The Automation Group (TAG) out of Eugene on occasion as an outside
contractor, Pardee says.
The modernized plant went online in July 2008, and it took a more than
mer and high turbidity in winter, and keeping the screens from plugging two years for the staff to get up to speed on all the improvements and sea-
before the scheduled wash cycle. sonal treatment challenges.
The operators use various procedures to maintain the strainers and mem- When I first started, I had a full head of black hair. Pardee says. Now
brane modules. The pre-strainers complete a self-cleaning function about I have a few gray ones. But the hard work and experimentation have paid
every half-hour and an air scrub backwash hourly. The membranes receive off handsomely. The Row River plant is producing excellent-quality water
an enhanced flux maintenance procedure once a week, using a heated chlo- regardless of the season or the weather.
rine solution.
featured
products from:
Amiad USA
704/662-3133
www.amiadusa.com
Black & Veatch

913/458-2000
www.bv.com
Chemtrac, Inc.
800/442-8722
www.chemtrac.com
Hendrick Screen Co.

570/267-1974
www.hendrickscreenco.com
Pall Water
866/475-0115
www.pallwater.com
Weir Specialty Pumps

(WEMCO)
800/716-5050
www.global.weir
Pardee and Norman track plant operations on the SCADA system.


SUSTAINABLE
OPERATIONS
Power Diet
A NEW YORK CITY TREATMENT PLANT
IS SLOWLY INCREASING ITS APPETITE
FOR FOOD WASTE TO BE CONVERTED
TO BIOGAS FOR DELIVERY TO THE
NATURAL GAS GRID
By Doug Day
T
hree years into a pilot program aimed at keep-
ing food out of landfills, New York City is mak-
ing slow but steady progress.
From 1.5 tons of food waste per day when the initia-
tive began in 2013, the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treat-
ment Plant now accepts some 20 tons per day, turning it
into biogas and, ultimately, energy.
Within a few years, the plant plans to accept 250 tons
per day, and it has potential for up to 500 tons, accord-
ing to Pam Elardo, deputy commissioner of the Bureau
of Wastewater Treatment in the citys Department of
Environmental Protection.
INCREASING DIVERSION
With 8.4 million people, New York City sends about
The Newtown Creek plants egg-shaped digesters produce more biogas than ever with
1.3 million tons of food waste to landfills every year.
the addition of 20 tons of food waste per day. The food waste boosts gas and energy
About 500,000 tons come from restaurants, which, while
output substantially.
encouraged to reduce and recycle waste food, are not yet
subject to the citys food waste sep-

aration regulations. Those regula-
tions do apply to: Were working with the Department of Sanitation and Waste Management
Food service establishments in to come up with ways to increase the purity of the food waste, and theyve
hotels with 150 or more rooms
Food vendors in arenas and been doing a lot of work closing that gap.
stadiums that seat at least PAM ELARDO
15,000 people
Food manufacturers with a floor area of at least 25,000 square feet Garbage haulers collect the food waste from establishments in Brooklyn
Food wholesalers with a floor area of at least 20,000 square feet and take it to a Waste Management transfer facility a few blocks from the
Overall, the city sends over 3 million tons of waste to landfills every year plant. There, a proprietary process converts the waste into a slurry that is
and aims to divert 100 percent of the food waste by 2030. Theres a lot of introduced to the digesters.
interest in DEP, the city, and the mayors office to increase our sustainabil- One impediment to progress is the presence of forks, plates and plastics
ity and strive for a zero carbon footprint, and this is an important compo- in the food waste. Were working with the Department of Sanitation and
nent of trying to get to that, says Elardo. Waste Management to come up with ways to increase the purity of the food
waste, and theyve been doing a lot of work closing that gap, Elardo says.
RAMPING UP Its a bigger problem than I thought it would be.
Newtown Creek is slowly increasing the amount of food waste it accepts. Thats why Newtown Creek started with a pilot project. The city has
To prevent plant upsets, just three of the plants eight 145-foot-high egg- people doing outreach to broaden the amount of food waste that is diverted
shaped anaerobic digesters are used in the three-year pilot project. The food from the solid waste stream, Elardo says. There are educators working with
waste is mixed with wastewater treatment solids. schools and cafeterias, and people interacting with the private sector and

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save you time and make
your job easier!
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Three of the plants eight anaerobic digesters are being used in the three-year
find out how.
food waste pilot project.
So far, gas production at Newtown Creek has increased by 23 percent with the
addition of food waste.
food processing plants. Its changing the way of thinking for millions of peo-
ple that will make this successful. It will take a lot of persistence and a change
in culture for us as a society in how we view waste.
BETTER GAS USAGE

www.allmaxsoftware.com
The largest of the citys 14 wastewater treatment plants, the 310 mgd
(average) Newtown Creek facility was built in the 1960s and added the egg- 800-670-1867 sales@allmaxsoftware.com
shaped digesters in 2010. The digesters generate about 1.8 million cubic feet
of biogas per day, and 40 to 50 percent of it feeds the boilers that heat the FREE INFO SEE ADVERTISER INDEX
digesters and plant buildings.
Socially Accepted
In those digesters processing food waste, gas production has increased
about 23 percent, and that will increase as more food waste is added. At pres-
ent, excess gas is flared. Ultimately, we take that gas and put it through a
scrubbing system, and National Grid will introduce it into their pipeline,
says Elardo. National Grid delivers natural gas to Brooklyn, Queens and
Staten Island. Within a couple of years, Newtown Creek could provide enough
gas to heat 5,200 homes.
Were still figuring out the economics, says Elardo. Because its a pilot, facebook.com/TPOmag
were not charging a tipping fee. Ultimately, it would make sense to have a twitter.com/TPOmag
tipping fee less than the cost of taking it to a landfill. We need to find a bal-
ance between how much gas we use in our boilers and how much goes to plus.google.com
National Grid. youtube.com/TPOmagazine
Elardo is cautiously optimistic about the food waste programs long-term linkedin.com/company/treatment-plant-operator-magazine
potential: There is nothing negative happening and were taking it slowly.

water:
HOW WE DO IT
Better Water. Little Cost.

A CREATIVE STORAGE TANK AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM PUMPING STRATEGY
HELPS A MASSACHUSETTS UTILITY REDUCE WATER AGE AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY
By Jeffery Fournier
N
ew Englanders look forward to summer for a variety of reasons, but
for water utilities, the rising temperatures can be problematic, lead-
ing to issues of water age and water quality.
The Ashland (Massachusetts) Water Department is now an exception to
the rule. Until recently, while plant operators spent significant time, effort
and money throughout the year treating water to strict compliance param-
eters, that water was pumped into a distribution system that historically
hadnt received this same level of oversight.
With the distribution system lacking the pump strategies needed to main-
tain high water quality and suitable water age, operators had to shock one of
the water tanks frequently with sodium hypochlorite, a major task that
required someone to climb the tank and pour in the chemical with support
from the fire department and safety officials.
This protocol was technically working, but the need to do it indicated
that the distribution system and storage tanks were not in a condition that
would allow the utility to see the desired return on its year-round investment
in treating water to high regulatory standards.
To address the problem, the staff at the treatment plant, contract-oper- The critical piece of the strategy is treating the distribution systems combined
ated by Woodard & Curran, implemented strategic pump operating proce- water volume as another aspect of the storage system, specifically as a third
dures to restore the systems hydraulic storage tank.
integrity and effectively manage
water age and monochloramine dis-
infectant residuals in the tanks and
all distribution piping. The result
has been improved water quality at
minimal capital investment and oper-
ating expense.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF WOODARD & CURRAN
REAL-TIME MODELING
The central components of this
approach include using real-time
water modeling and treating the
whole distribution system as a sepa-
rate water tank. Years before devel-
oping the real-time modeling strategy,
the town of Ashland had installed a
passive hydraulic mixing system in
one tank, intending to stabilize the
Although the plant is in production
mode and water is flowing into the degradation of chlorine. Operators developed a system for using variable-frequency drives to change
distribution system, this manage- That set the stage for more effec- the directional flow from the plant based on water demand.
ment strategy ensures that the tive management. However, the mix-
towers are flatlining, allowing the ing system on its own would not have operational changes. The mixing helped by dispersing freshwater uniformly
water to be completely turned over. had a significant effect without the throughout the tank, eliminating stratification. However, this only enabled

AOB > 150 Start growing rapidly
third storage tank. In addition, operators carefully
30 2.50 monitor levels in the water towers so that water isnt
forced into the towers until the distribution system has
TRADITIONAL WATER MODELING been recharged with freshwater.
25 TOTAL Cl2 2.00 Therefore, although the plant is in production mode
and water is flowing into the distribution system, the
towers are flatlining, allowing the water to be completely
20
turned over. This requires operators at the treatment
1.50
plant to be aware of the water volume in the distribution
15 service areas and to account for it in water turnover cal-
culations and in monochloramine disinfection water
1.00 quality analysis.
10
INCREASING EFFICIENCY
The real-time computerized water modeling system
0.50
5
was a big step in the right direction, but other opera-
CREATIVE PUMP STRATEGY tional changes were also needed to realize the full ben-
TOTAL Cl2 efits the water department desired.
0 0.00
For instance, optimizing the flow into the distribu-
1/8/13
4/8/13
7/8/13
10/8/13
1/8/14
4/8/14
7/8/14
10/8/14
1/8/15
4/8/15
7/8/15
10/8/15
1/8/16
4/8/16
7/8/16
10/8/16
tion system by using VFDs based on water demand also
allows water production to match demand to within 1,000
TEMP Total Cl2
gallons. With the aid of automated storage tank altitude
Before this strategy was implemented, much greater fluctuations were seen in HPC and chlorine valves, monitored and controlled at the treatment plant
levels. Afterward, levels of both became much more stable. via the SCADA and wireless communications network,
operators also routinely take one tank offline during peak
demand and force freshwater into the tank and service
reactive management of the distribution system, responding to issues after areas farthest from the plant.
they occurred with relatively limited data. These changes have significantly increased water turnover in the stand-
Real-time modeling now enables operators to assess changes in the sys- pipes by ensuring that the distribution system is fully recharged with fresh-
tem, such as those caused by hydrant flushing, main breaks or pipe mainte- water. As a result, the staff achieves quality levels that once seemed far-fetched
nance as they occur. This allows the staff to quickly assess potential negative without major capital investments.
For the past four years, the town has consistently
A
maintained its chlorine residuals above the state Depart-
ddressing substantial issues does not always require large ment of Environmental Protections recommended stan-
capital investments. In this case, there was no need to dards for total chlorine without having to shock the
storage tanks. In addition, all sampling data surround-
acquire new assets or disrupt service areas with modifications ing the monochloramine disinfection program has con-
firmed improved water quality as measured by
to distribution or valve appurtenances. monochloramine, ammonia, phosphorus and pH.
effects from system changes, analyze the most reasonable approach for COST-EFFECTIVE CHANGE
addressing those effects, and implement changes before larger problems The towns experience is a good reminder that addressing substantial
develop. This proactive approach keeps small issues from disrupting service issues does not always require large capital investments. In this case, there
and maintains a consistently higher level of overall system health. was no need to acquire new assets or disrupt service areas with modifications
The staff first implemented real-time modeling by evaluating chlorine to distribution or valve appurtenances.
and monochloramine residuals, the heterotrophic plate count (HPC) in the By leveraging earlier investments in plant equipment, SCADA and com-
plants two storage tanks, and the water pressure across the system. munications, and through aggressive maintenance, Ashland significantly
This evaluation revealed that the height of the two standpipes and their reduced water age and improved water quality in the distribution system, at
location played a significant role in ever-changing water quality. Simply put, little added expense. The adjustments are based on creative distribution sys-
the tank closest to the plant had no challenges maintaining a disinfection tem management, using modern technologies and industry-approved prac-
residual, while the tank farthest from it did, largely because of distance and tices to make the system work to suit utility needs.
the simple fact that water flowed to the place of least resistance due to the
systems hydraulic design. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeffery Fournier of Woodard & Share Your Ideas
DIRECTING FLOWS Curran (www.woodardcurran.com) is TPO welcomes news about interesting
Operators then developed a way to strategically manipulate the altitude a plant manager at the Howe Street methods or uses of technology at
your facility for future articles in the
valves and use variable-frequency drives (VFDs) on the raw-water wells and Water Treatment Facility in Ashland, How We Do It column.
finished-water pumps to force water in certain directions, changing the direc- Massachusetts.
tional flow from the plant based on water demand. This helped manage water Send your ideas to editor@
tpomag.com or call 877/953-3301
age by recharging the distribution piping with freshwater, and by not push-
ing old water back into the farthest tank, which has common inlet/outlet pip-
ing, when the plants finished water pumps are in production mode.
The critical piece of this strategy is to treat the distribution systems com-
bined water volume as another aspect of the storage system, specifically as a

TECHNOLOGY
DEEP DIVE
1 2
1. An AerSupply system controls odors at a septage receiving station in 3

Saskatchewan, one of many possible applications.
2. Two or more units can be combined to deliver the needed capacity to a facility.
3. The technology discharges ionized air into building spaces where it destroys odor-causing substances.
4. Ionization tubes are the technologys only major replacement part; a slide-pour rack system
simplifies maintenance. 4
From Inside Out

ODOR CONTROL USING IONIZATION DESTROYS ODOROUS GASES WITHIN BUILDING SPACES,
CREATING HEALTHFUL WORKPLACES AND DISCHARGING INNOCUOUS AIR
By Ted J. Rulseh
T
here are various ways to control wastewater treatment plant odors : How does this technology help improve indoor environments?
chemical scrubbers, biofilters, carbon adsorption systems and others. Weiller: An aspect on odor control that has always been muted in the
They involve varying levels of capital, operation and maintenance costs. industry is protecting the workers inside the buildings. In headworks and
Aerisa has developed an alternate approach that it says can deliver effec- dewatering buildings, for example, people have to go inside and change
tive odor control at lower total cost of ownership while creating healthier pumps and valves and do maintenance. Theyre in atmospheres that may
work environments. The system is engineered to address a wide range of air- have 5, 10 or 15 ppm or higher hydrogen sulfide and other gases. Legacy odor
flows and to suit applications that include headworks

buildings, dewatering rooms, truck loading facilities, pro-
cess tank headspaces and pump stations. Our technology ... offers lower cost of ownership, uses
The Aerisa technology pushes ionized air contain-
ing positively and negatively charged oxygen molecules significantly less energy, and has a much smaller footprint.
(O2+ and O2 -) into the spaces where the odors are released.
These ions attack contaminants there and odorless air
And there are no hazardous chemicals or spent carbon to
is then discharged to the outside. replace and dispose of.
The company says the technology can be easily retrofit- ANDREW WEILLER
ted in most municipal wastewater treatment facilities. Andrew
Weiller, director of sales and marketing, talked about the technology in an systems treat the air after it is exhausted from the building. Our technology
interview with Treatment Plant Operator. creates a highly ionized airflow, delivers that to the space, and removes the
gases as theyre produced.
: Why is this technology a good fit for the municipal wastewater
sector? : Are there other advantages to the ionization technology?
Weiller: The legacy types of odor control equipment work quite well, Weiller: These buildings have process equipment, pipes, valves and
whether thats chemical scrubbers or biofilters. Our technology is equally corrugated metal roofs. The gases removed in the exhaust stream typically
effective but offers lower cost of ownership, uses significantly less energy contain airborne acids that can cause corrosion and deterioration of the build-
and has a much smaller footprint. And there are no hazardous chemicals or ing and the process within. Our technology creates an acid-free environment
spent carbon to replace and dispose of. so that corrosion is under control and building life is extended.

: What kind of regular maintenance does this system require?
Weiller: The only replacement parts are the ionization tubes, and they
need replacing every 12 to 18 months.
: Was this technology used in other industries before being intro-

duced to the municipal market?
Weiller: Yes. Ionization has been around since the early 1900s. In the
commercial sector, its used in facilities such as schools to clean the air where
there are large occupancies. Its used in commercial buildings for indoor air
quality and the reduction of outside air requirements. Another application
is in casinos to counteract cigarette smoke and bar odors.
The only replacement parts are the

ionization tubes, and they need replacing
every 12 to 18 months.
ANDREW WEILLER
: Please briefly describe how this odor control process works.

Weiller: The equipment consists of an air-handling unit containing a
blower, a bank of ion generators, and a particulate filter to protect the ion
generators. We take ambient outside air and blow it across the ion genera-
tors, which strip electrons from oxygen (O2 ) molecules to produce clusters
of positive and negative oxygen ions. These clusters are delivered to the space
through specialized ductwork, and there they react with the odorous gases
produced inside the building.
: How are the odorous gases destroyed?

Weiller: To take one example, when the ion clusters come in contact
with ammonia, which is NH3 , the ammonia molecule is converted to the
byproducts of nitrogen gas (N2) and water. In the case of hydrogen sulfide FREE INFO SEE ADVERTISER INDEX
(H2S) the byproducts are hydrogen, oxygen, water vapor and elemental sul-
fur, which is a non-odorous physical particle that falls out of the air.
: How do you go about designing and sizing systems to suit a facility?

Weiller: The first step in sizing the equipment is to determine the vol-
ume of the room. Our approach is to produce 12 air changes per hour. Then
we size the ion generators based on the contamination load: How many ions
do we need in order to remove, say, 10 ppm of H2S?
: How do you mitigate the impact of cold outside air on the

indoor spaces?
Weiller: We can combine heating with the odor control. In colder climates,
we can put a gas-fired heater into the air handler, so were not blowing zero-
degree air into a building. On the other side, we can have a heat recovery system
on the exhaust and reclaim some of that heat and put it back into the building.
: How widely is this technology used in the municipal wastewater

sector?
Weiller: It has been in the market for about 10 years. We have several
installations throughout the United States and Canada. We recently closed
a project in Knoxville, Tennessee, that is the largest ionization odor control
project in North American history. Its two systems, each with in excess of
40,000 cfm airflow, with heaters, automated dampers and controls that com-
municate with an on-site SCADA system.
: How would you characterize this technologys effectiveness?

Weiller: The proof of the pudding is the human being its the nose.
If you walk into one of our installations and ask the operators if the system
is working, youll get the same reply: They never notice when its working, but
they definitely know when its not working. If the system is turned off or there
is a power failure, the odor will increase quickly and dramatically so that they
know immediately that its offline. Thats the best proof we can provide.

product focus The heavy-gauge stainless steel cover, anodized aluminum end blocks
and polymeric tensioning clamps provide transducer protection for years
of service in tough environments. The meter can be equipped with a com-
munication package for PC remote access, allowing for program editing
Odor Control and and downloading of data logs. A relay package is available for process
control and alarm functions. 714/893-8529; blue-white.com
Disinfection EVOQUA WATER

TECHNOLOGIES BIOXIDE
By Craig Mandli PLUS 71 SOLUTION
Bioxide Plus 71 Solution from Evoqua
Water Technologies is an advanced cal-
Activated Carbon Systems cium nitrate solution that eliminates odor,
prevents corrosion and reduces the accu-
JACOBI CARBONS ECOSORB CX mulation of FOG in wastewater collec-
Bioxide Plus 71 Solution from
EcoSorb CX from Jacobi Carbons is coconut- tion systems. It provides a source of
Evoqua Water Technologies
based and is ideal for VOC removal applications bound nitrate oxygen that is consumed
with trace hydrogen sulfide. It has a high activa- through microbial respiration to safely and naturally remove odorous
tion level and is ideally suited to the removal of hydrogen sulfide. The addition of a blend component allows the solution
gaseous pollutants. Activated carbon can be a to mitigate point source odors and reduce the accumulation of FOG. It
reliable, cost-effective technology for is typically applied to lift station wet wells, force mains and gravity inter-
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from Jacobi Carbons
pounds, including hydrogen sulfide, CLA list of reportable quantities and the OSHA Hazard Communication
mercaptans, methyl sulfide compounds, and other VOCs at municipal Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). 800/345-3982; www.evoqua.com
wastewater treatment plants. 215/546-3900; www.jacobi.net
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SEEPEX ALPHA Systems can be used in a vari-
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TECHNOLOGIES BIOTTTA installing a flow control solution with these plug-
The Biottta biological filtration system and-play systems, which come in simplex, duplex
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from AdEdge Water wellhead treatment of inorganic and organic chemical resistant, including the NSF/ANSI
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els, intermittent or fixed operation, and the dual bed assimilates a 600 rpm and use a single-phase 60 Hz 115-volt AC power source. Sys-
complete packaged biotreatment plant. It has regulatory approval for tems are available with SEEPEX TOUCH user-customized touch-screen
the reduction of nitrate and perchlorate, and demonstrates hexavalent controls for optimized process control. 937/864-7150; www.seepex.com
chromium, VOCs, iron, manganese and sulfide elimination in a single
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applications where harsh chemicals or abrasive fluids are being used, side by side with tank-mounted vacuum regulators. Its Gemini control-
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amperometric sensor technology, and spillage control. The cassette bag is easy
resulting in a reagent-free online Chlorine Analyzers and Controllers to seal, and the material and odors are
from ProMinent Fluid Controls
analysis with no colorometric con- trapped inside, cutting down develop-
cerns or reagents. Packages are fully plumbed, wired and assembled on ment of bacteria and fungus spores. Longofill continuous bag
a back panel for easy wall mounting. Choose one of three packages by 770/502-0055; www.paxxo.us system from Paxxo
selecting one part number that includes a microprocessor analyzer, flow
cell, flow sensor and a (2 or 10 ppm) free or total chlorine sensor. They TANK CONNECTION
have a reagent-free sensor design, are EPA Method 334.0 compliant and APEX DOMES
no service contract is required. 412/787-2484; www.prominent.us APEX Domes from Tank Connec-
tion are built with watertight construc-
tion by direct-factory crews. These
Covers/Domes all-aluminum domes reduce emissions,
are corrosion resistant and are virtu-
ENVIRONETICS DEFENDER APEX Domes from ally maintenance free. The aluminum geodesic
Tank Connection
TANK COVERS domes can be used in water and wastewater
Defender Tank Covers from Envi- tanks worldwide. Engineers create custom designs for both new con-
ronetics are custom manufactured from struction and retrofit applications that span 12 to 1,000 feet in diam-
Defender Tank Covers industrial-grade materials to fit the eter. 620/423-3010; www.aluminumdomes.com
from Environetics profile of new or existing wastewater treatment
or potable water tanks. The covers contain vola-
tile organic compounds at their source. Low-profile structurally sup- Detection Equipment
ported covers minimize emission treatment volume to reduce the cost
of air filtration equipment. They can help eliminate the ongoing expense ARIZONA INSTRUMENT
of applying odor control chemicals through atomizers and misters. JEROME 651
815/838-8331; www.environeticsinc.com The Jerome 651 hydrogen sulfide moni-
toring system from Arizona Instrument is
INDUSTRIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL CONCEPTS (IEC) designed to provide long-term odor moni-
ODOR CONTROL COVERS toring even in rough weather con-
Odor Control Covers from Indus- ditions. Stationed on a pole, fence Jerome 651 hydrogen sulfide
monitoring system from
trial & Environmental Concepts can or wall, multiple units can be linked
Arizona Instrument
help achieve a high containment of odors to form a perimeter monitoring sys-
from biosolids tanks and wastewater tem. The detachable, hand-held analyzer within the unit can be used
ponds where hydrogen sulfide is a prob- to sweep an area and help pinpoint the source of a hydrogen sulfide
lem. The covers are designed with an leak or hot-spot. 602/529-3926; www.azic.com
impermeable flexible membrane that Odor Control Covers
keeps odors contained, but still allows from Industrial & ASA ANALYTICS CHEMSCAN
Environmental Concepts
access for routine operations and main- ALKALINITY ANALYZER
tenance activities by the operator. They are built with stainless steel The ChemScan Alkalinity Analyzer from ASA Ana-
hardware and a UV-resistant membrane, and are designed for aerobic lytics provides consistent chemical analysis for process
and anaerobic systems with tanks or earthen basins. They accommo- control and optimization in multiple stream process mon-
date mixers, piping and virtually any in-basin equipment. 952/829-0731; itoring of difficult or dirty samples. It requires minimal
www.ieccovers.com training and provides continuous real-time online anal-
ysis, enabling chemical composition measurement of liq-
JDV EQUIPMENT uid water or wastewater processes. It can monitor plant
CORPORATION LEVEL LODOR samples from raw water after influent
ChemScan Alkalinity Analyzer
The LEVEL LODOR cover system from screening, settled water after sedimen-
from ASA Analytics
JDV Equipment Corporation helps contain tation basins, filtered water after mixed-
odors by covering standard dump containers media and biological filter cells, as well as finished water. It can also
used for hauling processed material. The monitor wastewater for alkalinity deficiencies in plant influent or
design allows for even distribution, for alkalinity changes related to nutrient removal processes. It has a
LEVEL LODOR cover system from
increasing the fill percentage without fully automatic mode for routine monitoring of process streams, filtra-
JDV Equipment Corporation
having to manually even out material. tion system, Modbus communication and digital input control for remote
Enclosing containers allows outdoor installation without exposing mate- control operation. Internal fast sample loop and rapid reaction electrodes
rial to the environment or pests. 973/366-6556; www.jdvequipment.com provide fast analyzer response. 262/717-9500; www.asaanalytics.com

product focus Odor Control and Disinfection
Ozonation Equipment/Systems
HACH SL1000 ANUE WATER TECHNOLOGIES
The Hach SL1000 consolidates tools and offers PHANTOM SERIES
rapid, real-time results as well as tools for data log- The Phantom Series from Anue Water
ging in a single hand-held device. It allows person- Technologies offers a cost-effective solu-
nel to run four colorimetric and two probe-based tion for wet well and force main FOG,
measurements at the same time using the same odor and corrosion control problems, and
water sample without special preparation. To con- for market applications where ozone and
duct a test, the user simply inserts the Chemkey oxygen provide the best and environmen-
Phantom Series from
reagents and probes into the device, which detects tally proven answer for effective water Anue Water Technologies
the Chemkey and probe types. The user then dips treatment. It uses side-stream wastewa-
the Chemkeys into the sample cup and ter to draw in concentrated oxygen and ozone. The aerated/ozonated side
shortly thereafter the unit will display SL1000 analyzer from Hach stream is delivered back to the wastewater force main, or wet well/lift
the reading for each test. 800/227-4224; station through EP or HS well washing systems, uniformly transferring
www.hach.com the oxygen and ozone for both FOG and odor/corrosion control. Instal-
lation generally takes a half-day, and has adaptive power requirements
(440/220 VAC single or three phase). 760/727-2683; www.anuewater.com
Distillation/Fluoridation Equipment
and Microbiological Control MAZZEI INJECTOR COMPANY GDT SYSTEM
Disinfection using ozone can be performed efficiently with
ELECTRO-CHEMICAL DEVICES the GDT System from Mazzei Injector Company.
S80-T80 FLUORIDE It eliminates the need for storage and handling of
MONITORING SYSTEM large quantities of chemicals, and unlike chlorine,
The S80-T80 Fluoride Monitoring System from ozone does not yield disinfection byproducts such
Electro-Chemical Devices supports efficient waste- as trihalomethanes or haloacetic acids; although if
water treatment processes to reduce consumable ozone has a long contact time with bromine in water,
costs and ensure discharge effluent fluoride levels the reaction can yield bromate. To prevent this, and
are compliant with local, state and federal reg- simultaneously improve energy efficiency while max-
S80-T80 Fluoride ulations. The monitoring system has an S80 imizing taste, odor and color control of the water,
Monitoring System from GDT System from Mazzei
Electro-Chemical Devices pIon fluoride sensor, an S80 pH sensor and a the mass transfer of ozone into the water must
Injector Company
dual-channel T80 transmitter, helping plants be optimized and the contact time minimized.
achieve a cost-effective fluoride removal water treatment system, which The system has a small footprint and the ability to rapidly achieve a mass
doesnt overuse consumable chemicals while ensuring the wastewater transfer of 90 percent or greater, shortening the necessary contact period.
is treated sufficiently to meet regulatory requirements prior to effluent 661/363-6500; www.mazzei.net
discharge. Its pIon electrode cartridge measures the activity of free flu-
oride ions in solution concentrations from 0.02 to 2,000 ppm over a pH SUEZ OZONIA
range from 5 to 8 pH. Sensors come in immersion or insertion package In addition to emerging contami-
configurations that are designed with a 0.75-inch MNPT compression nants, Ozonia ozone technology from
fitting as the process connection. 800/729-1333; www.ecdi.com SUEZ can treat even the most formida-
ble compounds, including recalcitrant
USP TECHNOLOGIES CLOEVIS chemical oxygen demand (hard COD),
BIOFILM REMOVAL SERVICE trace micropollutants, and those pro-
The Cloevis Biofilm Removal Service from ducing hard-to-treat color and odor. Ozonia ozone technology
from SUEZ
USP Technologies can be used to remove the bio- 201/676-2525; www.suez-na.com
films that adhere to the inner surfaces of sewer
main walls, including the underlying sulfate-reduc-
ing bacteria that produce hydrogen sulfide. As a UV Disinfection Equipment
result, gaseous hydrogen sulfide is eliminated, and
odor and corrosion issues are under control. The SALCOR 3G UV WASTEWATER
technology is delivered as a turn- DISINFECTION UNIT
key, fixed-cost, full-service pro- Cloevis Biofilm Removal Service The 3G UV Wastewater Disinfection Unit
from USP Technologies
gram and provides avoidance or from Salcor protects health, environment and
minimization of on-site chemical storage; independence from sulfide property by inactivating pathogens, including
loading, retention time or oxygen uptake; no labor/maintenance require- deadly superbugs such as MRSA and Ebola. It
ment; removal of sulfide odors for up to three weeks after a treatment can be used in residential, commercial and munic-
cycle; elimination of methane production within the treated segment; ipal environments, and is UL-certified NEMA
and no downstream adverse impacts due to residual treatment chemi- 6P flood-proof (30 days underwater) and
cals. 877/346-4262; www.usptechnologies.com 3G UV Wastewater Disinfection NSF Standard 40/Washington State Fecal
Unit from Salcor Coliform Reduction Protocol six-month

tested (with 21 upstream treatment systems). Rated at 9,000 gpd grav- WEDECO LBX E SERIES UV SYSTEM
ity flow, it is being used as a building block for large water recovery/ The WEDECO LBX e Series UV
reuse systems. When installed in 12-unit parallel/series arrays with ABS System is a compact closed-vessel UV
pipe fittings, systems are disinfecting over 100,000 gpd. Gravity flow reactor for drinking water, wastewater,
equalizes without distribution boxes. Identical modular units increase water reuse and MiPRO Advanced Oxi-
plant reliability, reducing the need for spare parts and facilitating plant dation Process applications. Equipped
expansion. Units include a foul-resistant Teflon lamp covering, two-year with low-pressure, high-output amal-
long-life lamp, easy installation, minimal annual maintenance, and use gam Ecoray UV lamps and OptiDose
less than 30 watts of power. 760/731-0745 sensor-based control, it provides oper-
WEDECO LBX e Series
ating efficiency with low life-cycle costs. UV System
TROJANUVSIGNA Its validation envelope ensures disinfec-
The TrojanUVSigna UV sys- tion performance over a range of UV transmittance values, flow rates
tem is energy-efficient and easy and a variety of target organisms. OptiDose control provides con-
to operate, has low operation and tinuous system monitoring using a selective, calibrated UV sensor.
maintenance costs and, with proper An OptiCone flow diverter ensures even dosing. Its low-pressure
design and maintenance, provides high-output Ecoray UV lamp and ballast provides high efficiency,
effective disinfection performance. short warm-up time, and 50 to 100 percent turndown capabilities
Benefits include low lamp count, optimized power TrojanUVSigna with 14,000 operational hours of lamp life. It is easy to integrate into
use, simple water level control, dual-action Acti- UV system existing pipe work with flexible, compact designs available in U or
Clean sleeve cleaning and automated bank removal. Z shapes. The LBXe 850 offers up to 4.5 mgd and the LBXe 1500
The system is designed to enable simple retrofitting into either chlorine offers up to 8.5 mgd. 855/995-4261; www.xylem.com
contact chambers or existing UV channels, making it ideal for a disin-
fection upgrade. UV lamp banks are available in two-, four- and six-row
lamp configurations, making the system suitable for a wide range of
plant sizes, effluent quality and disinfection levels, from primary efflu-
ent to high-level reuse disinfection. 519/457-3400; www.trojanuv.com
For FREE information on these products, check the box(es) below:

Activated Carbon Systems Distillation/Fluoridation Equipment UV Disinfection Equipment
Jacobi Carbons EcoSorb CX activated carbon and Microbiological Control Salcor 3G UV Wastewater Disinfection Unit
Electro-Chemical Devices S80-T80 Fluoride TrojanUVSigna UV system
Biofiltration Monitoring System WEDECO LBX e Series UV System
AdEdge Water Technologies Biottta filtration system USP Technologies Cloevis Biofilm Removal Service
Chemicals/Chemical Metering Ozonation Equipment/Systems FREE subscription to TPO magazine
Blue-White Industries Sonic-Pro flowmeters Anue Water Technologies Phantom Series
Evoqua Water Technologies Bioxide Plus 71 Solution Mazzei Injector Company GDT System
SEEPEX ALPHA Systems SUEZ Ozonia ozone technology
Chlorination/Dechlorination
Halogen Valve Systems Terminator Actuator
ProMinent Fluid Controls Chlorine Analyzer and PRINT NAME: TITLE:
Controller
FACILITY NAME:
Covers/Domes
Environetics Defender Tank Covers MAILING ADDRESS:
Industrial & Environmental Concepts Odor Control Covers
JDV Equipment Corporation LEVEL LODER cover system CITY: STATE: ZIP:
Paxxo Longofill continuous bag system
Tank Connection APEX Domes PHONE: CELL PHONE:
Detection Equipment FAX: EMAIL:

Arizona Instrument Jerome 651 O0617
ASA Analytics ChemScan Alkalinity Analyzer Scan and email to: nicole.labeau@colepublishing.com / Fax to: 715-546-3786
Hach SL1000 analyzer Mail to: COLE Publishing Inc., P.O. Box 220, Three Lakes WI 54562
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case studies ODOR CONTROL AND DISINFECTION By Craig Mandli
Software allows for prediction of odorous compound Solution

adsorption capacity in activated carbon Metawater proposed a sys-
tem incorporating high-efficiency
Problem ElectrOzone ozone gener-
The Philips Research facility in Eindhoven, Netherlands, needed a sys- ators from Aqua-Aerobic
tem to estimate volatile organic compounds (VOC) on the activated carbon Systems into a multiplant
air filters it manufactures to remove taste and odor from drinking water. approach, with recommendations
The facility wanted software to predict the capacity of activated carbon to for a 550 kg/day system at the Bur-
adsorb odorous compounds. lington plant, a 480 kg/day sys-
tem at the Oakville plant, and a
Solution 180 kg/day system at the Bur-
VOC AC Adsorption with Relative Humidity Effects soft- loak purification facility. After
ware from Activated Carbon Services PACS gave plant manage- securing the contract, the construction process proceeded quickly, with the
ment an easy way to predict VOC adsorption performance. The software Burlington plant coming online in 2004, and the Oakville and Burloak sys-
has 888 VOCs in its database and is easy to use. The operator enters the tems started up in 2008.
adsorbate to get a two-page report with activated carbon influent concentra-
tion versus activated carbon capacity in grams per 100 grams of carbon. RESULT:
VOC concentrations from parts per trillion to parts per million are con- The ozone treatment system was able to eliminate foul tastes and odors,
verted to activated carbon loading capacities. resulting in a 50 percent reduction in the number of complaints about
the taste of the water. The flocculation and separation of particulate
RESULT: matter earlier in the treatment process reduced the load on the plant
This software has consistently predicted VOC adsorption. 800/367- filtration systems, nearly doubling the runtimes of the filters between
2587; www.pacslabs.com backwashing. Disinfection byproducts such as THMs and HAAs were
reduced by 30 to 40 percent on average, due to precursor elimination
by way of ozone oxidation. 815/654-2501; www.aqua-aerobic.com
Biotrickling system provides odor treatment

for upscale neighborhood
Biofilter helps eliminate lift station odors
Problem Problem
Constant odor complaints led the town of Mooresville, North Carolina, to
The city of Denver, Colorado, was concerned about a foul odor from a
seek a solution. A 3 mgd pump station between an upscale housing community
new wastewater lift station being built in a rapidly developing residential
and the Mooresville Golf Club was causing
and commercial area. The city sought a reliable odor control system that
issues for golfers and residents.
would need minimal maintenance and could accommodate substantial
Solution future development.
The town chose the Airashell Odor
Treatment System from Anua for its
Solution
The city chose a Bohn
effectiveness in treating high-strength odor,
Biofilter to eliminate 1,700
ease of operation and low life-cycle cost. The
cfm of foul air from the lift
biotrickling system uses recycled seashells to
stations wet well. The sys-
break down odor compounds and buffer pH.
tem biologically oxides the
odor without regular nutri-
RESULT:
ent addition.
The installation has ended odor complaints. This system works
well with very little maintenance, says Doye Baker, field operator.
Our field operations team is very busy and this saves us a lot of time
RESULT:
The city has a natural and effective odor-control solution that met
and energy. 336/547-9338; www.anuainternational.com
its key objectives. 520/624-4644; www.bohnbiofilter.com
Ozone treatment eliminates musty water taste Carbon helps drinking water provider
Problem achieve compliance
The Regional Municipality of Halton in Ontario supplies more than 1.3
mgd of drinking water sourced from Lake Ontario. Algal blooms on the sur- Problem
face of the lake between July and November transfer organic compounds like Shelby County Water Services in Westover, Alabama, needed help com-
geosmin and 2-MIB into the water, creating a musty or earthy taste. plying with the U.S. EPAs Stage 2 Disinfection Byproduct Rule.

Solution
The plant installed four of Calgon Carbons 14-foot-diameter
Model-14 pressure vessels containing granular activated carbon, Do It Once!
which adsorbs the naturally
organic matter, measured as
TOC, leaving less material in
Do It Bright!
the water for reaction with the
disinfectant chemical, reduc-
ing disinfection byproduct
formation potential.
RESULT:
Since the installation,
disinfection byproduct levels throughout the distribution system Mobile Belt Filter Press with
remain in compliance. Installation of the system preempted the impact Operator Room
Dewatering Solutions for
of the Stage 2 Rule, ensuring Shelby Countys water was in continuous
Bio Solids, Sludge & Slurries
compliance during the transition from Stage 1 to the more stringent
Stage 2. 800/422-7266; www.calgoncarbon.com
Sales, Rentals,
& Leasing Options
Biofiltration unit helps eliminate

hydrogen sulfide odors at lift station
Problem
The city of Hot Springs, Arkansas, had a long-standing problem with Phone: 269-793-7183 Fax: 269-793-4022
hydrogen sulfide and other odors at a lift station. The city asked odor-con-
trol consultant Webster Environmental
127 N. Water St., Hopkins, MI 49328
Associates (WEA) to recommend a per- www.brightbeltpress.com
manent solution.
Solution
WEA chose EcoVerde after a 90-

day trial and monitoring to confirm suc-
cessful H2S removal. The company installed
its biofiltration unit in May 2016 and
ran the 90-day trial. An EcoVerde techni-
cian and a WEA representative ran the
performance test.
RESULT:
The successful trial convinced the city to make the installation
permanent. The results were so definitive that the city purchased two
more units for lift stations that had similar odor issues. 888/330-0772;
www.ecoverdetechnologies.com
Treatment plant controls odors

with modular covers
Problem
The Town Branch Wastewater
Treatment Plant in Lexington,
Kentucky, serves a population of
130,000 and treats almost 11 billion
gallons of wastewater annually. The
plant needed to replace failing
steel-dome gas-collecting tank cov-
ers with odor control to help main-
tain a more consistent temperature
in the tanks throughout the year. (continued)

case studies ODOR CONTROL AND DISINFECTION
Solution project manager with McMillen LLC. He chose the E-Z Tray from QED
Environmental Systems. Four six-level, 1,000 gpm E-Z Tray Air Strip-
The plant team chose insulated modular covers from Geomem- pers meet the TCE treatment goal of less than 2 ppb without pretreatment.
brane Technologies to cover a blending tank, two secondary digesters The units do not require off-
and a sidestream holding tank. The covers were tailored to fit around cen- gas treatment or sequestering
tral floating mixers in each tank, so there is no upwelling. agents. Turbulent mixing in
the units creates a high air-to-
RESULT: water ratio and large mass
The customized covers effectively control odors and so maintain transfer surface area, enabling
community relations and worker satisfaction. The durable covers can efficient contaminant removal.
be walked on, and allow individual panels to be removed and replaced
to accommodate routine maintenance. The covers were installed with- RESULT:
out interfering with plant operation. 855/484-4630; www.gticovers.com The water goes straight
from the Cheyenne wells into the E-Z Trays, and the air strippers have
been in constant operation since July 2011 with no need to clean the
trays because of buildup or fouling, says Moughamian. The units han-
Biological control system eliminates severe odors dle the contamination load, and there have been no issues so far.
800/624-2026; www.qedenv.com
Problem
The Palomar Commons Shopping Center in Carlsbad, California,
stands next to a sewer main along the Buena Outfall Interceptor, which
routes sewage to the Encina Wastewater Authority Water Pollution Control Hose pumps a fit for extreme-duty
Facility. The city needed a sustainable, environmentally friendly odor con- carbon slurry application
trol solution.
Solution Problem
The Coddle Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant near Charlotte, North
The city chose a hybrid bio- Carolina, had been dosing polyaluminum chloride from a wet well with
logical odor control system mixed results for several years. When a submersible pump failed three
from Integrity Municipal times in a year, maintenance and operations management sought an alter-
Systems. The packaged I-BOx nate solution.
6000 biological system consists
of a fiberglass-reinforced plastic
(FRP) air exhaust fan, an FRP
Solution
Plant management installed Verderflex Dura-series hose pumps
dual-stage odor-control vessel, from Verder. The pumps deliver a 31-foot dry suction lift, and the bottom
water and nutrient feed panel, of the wet well is 27 feet from the
nutrient tank and electrical control floor of the pump room. Using a flow-
panel. The system was installed paced controller, the pump transfers
and started up in a few hours. from the wet well and doses accord-
ing to plant demand. Peristaltic
RESULT: pumps are abrasion resistant, allow-
With inlet H2S concentrations from 150 to 250 ppm, the system has ing slurry to gently pass through the
maintained more than 99 percent removal efficiency. Community odor hose without using check valves. The
complaints have been eliminated. Minimal maintenance keeps operat- pumps include a vertical motor, one-
ing cost low. 858/486-1620; www.integrityms.net piece flange assembly and extended
hose life.
RESULT:
Air strippers remove volatile compounds The pumps help the plant save money and energy by reducing
in citys drinking water downtime. 877/783-7337; www.verder-us.com
Problem
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers funded the design and construction
of a new plant in Cheyenne, Wyoming, to treat groundwater from the citys
Borie wellfield. The water was apparently contaminated with tricholoreth-
ene (TCE) in the late 1960s.
An online exclusive.
Solution Visit tpomag.com
For the given application, the most logical and cost-effective ground-
water treatment choice was low-profile air strippers, says Matt Moughamian,
exam study guide

CONTROL FOG,
Anue Water Technologies is the leader
in highly-effective and sustainable
engineered technologies designed
with full telemetry capabilities for
remote programming and control.
ODOR AND
Patented FOG removal and prevention
products and integrated ozone and
oxygen generation systems are proven
solutions for point source odor and
force main corrosion control.
With the aging of Americas municipal
waste water facilities, ANUEs patented
solutions provide safe, non-hazardous,
CORROSION
and cost-effective methods for the
elimination and prevention of FOG,
odor and corrosion. ANUEs systems are
used successfully by municipalities
across North America as well as several
countries worldwide.
www.anuewater.com 760-727-2683 sales@anuewater.com
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product news
3
7
1
6
1. FCI FLEXSWITCH FLT93 FLOW SWITCH 3. PROCOMSOL HART COMMUNICATORS

The FlexSwitch FLT93 Flow Switch from Fluid Components Inter- ProComSols hand-held HART communicators for hazardous areas
national reduces pump repair and extends pump life by detecting dry offer internet access, email and other tools on one device. Devices already
running conditions. The dual-alarm switch monitors the flow and tem- designed are available, or existing devices can be hazardous-area ready
perature of liquids, gases and slurries, and is ideal where sudden, unex- with the addition of a certified enclosure. The DevComDroid app for
pected reductions in media flow rates may leave pumps vulnerable to Android phones and tablets is available and existing general-purpose
overheating. Alarm one will detect low flow from .01 and 3 feet per sec- Android and Samsung phones can be enclosed in a hazardous-area-
ond and is a prewarning signal for the control system operator. Alarm rated case. PC, tablets and smartphones can be converted to a full
two will detect when the feed line to the pump is running dry, serving HART communicator via a USB, RS232 or Bluetooth HART modem.
as an emergency signal to shut down the pump. The switch can be spec- 877/221-1551; www.procomsol.com
ified in either insertion or inline styles for pipe or tube installation.
800/854-1993; www.fluidcomponents.com 4. HANSFORD SENSORS THREE-AXIS ACCELEROMETER
The HS-173R high-performance triaxial vibration sensor from
2. QED ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS LANDTEC Hansford Sensors is capable of providing simultaneous measurement in
BIOGAS 3000 FIXED GAS ANALYZER three axes, and is designed for use with the latest generation of route-
The LANDTEC BIOGAS 3000 from QED Environmental Systems based and stand-alone data collectors. The HS-173R uses technology
offers optimal continuous monitoring of the complete gas production based on an electromechanically coupled piezoelectric sensor mecha-
process. It can use up to four sample ports to monitor methane, carbon nism, protected in a stainless steel capsule. It has an AC output via a
dioxide and oxygen, with optional monitoring of hydrogen sulfide, standard M12 connector, is sealed to IP67 and can be used in a wide
hydrogen and carbon monoxide levels. Operators can choose up to five range of applications within an operating temperature range from -67 to
gases to monitor. It is calibrated to ISO/IEC 17025 standards and pro- 266 degrees F. 888/450-8490; www.hansfordsensors.com
vides a temporary replacement unit for zero downtime when servicing.
It offers a built-in liquid level monitoring feature equipped with a dedi- 5. CCI PIPELINE SYSTEMS PIPE STANDS
cated alarm and moisture removal drain, or an automatic drain option Pipe stands from CCI Pipeline Systems are designed to accommo-
that empties the catchpot without manual intervention. 800/810-9908; date multiple pipe sizes, allow for 6 inches of grade height adjustment,
www.qedenv.com and offer a standard base height of 30 inches tall. They can be cut to a

wastewater:
product spotlight
Popular belt filter press shrunken
for smaller communities
By Craig Mandli
For small communities, wastewater treatment

plant space is often at a premium. For those commu-
nities, solids hauling and disposal costs can also be a
detriment to the bottom line. Thankfully, Bright Tech-
nologies has taken the science behind its popular belt
filter press and shrunk it, making it an ideal fit for
tight areas and small communities.
The Bright Technologies 0.6-meter skid-mounted
belt filter press features stainless steel frame and roller
construction, and radius wedge zone and wing roller 0.6-meter skid-mounted belt filter press
for high-end sludge dewatering performance. Accord- from Bright Technologies
ing to Stuart Sebright, general manager for Bright
Technologies, the unit is a fit for companies looking
to save space and money.
This unit is meant to provide sludge dewatering for small water and as composting or land application, and is a viable all-weather dewatering
wastewater treatment plants that are transitioning away from drying beds alternative to drying beds, which are time-consuming, labor-intensive,
or land application, he says. It can be used to dewater a wastewater plants and take a lot of space in small plants.
aerobic or anaerobic sludge, or a water plants alum or sediment (filter The units Boerger rotary lobe sludge pump has a maintain-in-place
backwash) slurries. design, offering ease of maintenance. A Goulds Water Technology belt
Fully integrated components include a sludge pump, polymer system wash booster pump can handle small solids and operate with recycled
and wash water booster pump. Options include a biosolids flowmeter, air water from the process. Allen Bradley controls and a 10-inch touch screen
compressor and discharge conveyors. Its stainless steel frame and roller and PLC with Ethernet integrate the components to make an operator-
construction is designed to be more durable than galvanized frames and friendly design that is intuitive to operate. Cake solids of up to 35 percent
coated steel rollers. The compact walk-around skid design can be utilized solids can be achieved with septage and grease trap slurries. Production
in as little as a 20- by 10-foot floor area, a feature Sebright says customers rates of 25 to 50 gpm (depending on sludge type) make it ideal for small
were asking for. applications or when a processor has outgrown dewatering containers.
We identified a need for a small, quality-manufactured but inexpen- Design work began in May 2016, with the first complete skid system dis-
sive-design belt filter press with a small footprint, he says. It can be used played at the 2017 Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Trans-
for sludge disposal or beneficial reuse of biosolids or mineral slurries such port Show. 800/253-0532; www.brightbeltpress.com
preferred length in the field and the base plates are predrilled for anchor 7. YASKAWA U1000 IQPUMP DRIVE
bolts. The stands are available with HDG or thermoplastic powder-coat The U1000 iQpump drive from Yaskawa America provides low
finish for corrosion resistance. ArmorCote U-bolts and ArmorPad pipe harmonic distortion in a space-saving design, with the same onboard
supports are used to secure pipe onto the pipe stand, and custom designs intelligent pump-specific features and protection as the standard
are available. 800/867-2772; ccipipe.com iQpump1000. It allows for seamless user transition and achieves low
distortion levels without additional countermeasures. The pump drives
6. SINGER VALVE BATTERY-OPERATED matrix technology uses a system of nine bidirectional switches that
ELECTROMAGNETIC FLOWMETER convert a three-phase AC input directly into a three-phase AC output,
The battery-operated SPI-MV converter from Singer Valve can run reducing total harmonic distortion levels to less than the IEEE com-
independent of an external power source for an estimated three to five pliance standard of 5 percent. The U1000 iQPump is offered as a stand-
years. It can also be paired with an external AC or DC power source so alone drive, and also in NEMA 3R configured package solutions.
the battery acts a power backup. A small solar panel can also be added 800/927-5292; www.yaskawa.com
to extend battery life 10 to 15 years. The flowmeter comes in the stan- (continued)
dard three-key-touch local converter with die-cast aluminum IP67
housing and has variable sampling frequencies that can be adapted to fit
installation needs. The unit offers dual totalizer pulse output and inter-
nal data logging options that can be used for SCADA integration and
flow analysis. 888/764-7858; www.singervalve.com

water:
product spotlight
Turbidimeter puts power in the
hands of operators smartphone
By Craig Mandli
Turbidity is the key measurement parameter for

determining drinking water quality. Thats why an
accurate and user-friendly turbidimeter can make
life easier for water quality technicians.
The PTV 1000 process turbidimeter from Lovi-
bond Tintometer replaces a traditional controller
with a mobile device app, allowing quick and easy
data viewing, calculation of statistics, access to oper-
ator instructions and useful tips. A maximum of three
clicks on a mobile device will take the user anywhere
they need to be. The sensors also have a touch-screen
display that allows users to set testing parameters
PTV 1000 process turbidimeter from Lovibond Tintometer
and to perform all major operations.
The sensor can also be configured to have a Bluetooth interface,
which allows for bidirectional communication between the PTV sensor over the lifetime of the instrument, translates to over 1 million gallons
and the AquaLXP app, says Mike Sadar, research and development man- of water saved.
ager for Lovibond Tintometer. The app is a secondary interface, but it We kept the scope of the application narrow because we really wanted
gives operators the ability to not only control every aspect of the sensor, to focus on giving operators a solution that addressed every aspect of their
but quick and easy access to view data, calculate statistics, access to ani- daily measurement and control needs, says Sadar. This is the first pro-
mated instructions and other useful tips. cess product from our company, and it will serve as the foundation for
The unit is optimized for drinking water applications with low range other parameters to follow.
accuracy below 1 NTU. It has a long-lasting LED light source and bub- The secure system reduces complexity, allowing users to interact with
ble exclusion system, which deliver accurate and ultra-stable measure- an unlimited number of turbidimeters using a single mobile device app.
ments. Combined with the heated optical assembly, condensation and This approach eliminates the need for dedicated controllers for each
fogging is eliminated, with no desiccants needed. The body can be easily instrument and allows for maximum flexibility. All along the develop-
drained for cleanings and calibration with quick-connect fixtures. ment process, we worked closely with customers to make sure the entire
Collecting a grab sample for verification is easy, too, with no need to dis- product design would provide them with accurate, reliable and respon-
connect tubing. The low-volume flow body provides fast response to tur- sive measurements that are essential in optimization of their filtration
bidity spikes. The optimal flow rate is 50 to 80 mL per minute, which, processes, says Sadar. 800/922-5242; www.lovibond.us
FREE INFO ON THIS PRODUCT RETURN FOLLOWING FORM
For FREE information on these products, check the box(es)

O0617
1. Fluid Components International FlexSwitch FLT93 Flow Switch
2. QED Environmental Systems LANDTEC BIOGAS 3000 PRINT NAME: TITLE:
3. ProComSols hand-held HART communicators
4. Hansford Sensors HS-173R triaxial vibration sensor FACILITY NAME:
5. CCI Pipeline Systems pipe stands

MAILING ADDRESS:
6. Singer Valve SPI-MV converter
7. Yaskawa America U1000 iQpump drive CITY: STATE: ZIP:
Bright Technologies 0.6-meter skid-mounted belt filter press
Lovibond Tintometer PTV 1000 process turbidimeter PHONE: CELL PHONE:
FREE subscription to TPO magazine FAX: EMAIL:
Scan and email to: nicole.labeau@colepublishing.com / Fax to: 715-546-3786 / Mail to: COLE Publishing Inc., P.O. Box 220, Three Lakes WI 54562

industry news
Blue-White Industries elects
VP of operations ENGINEERING
CLEAN COMMUNITIES
Blue-White Industries board of directors announced
the election of Bill McDowell to the position of vice pres-
ident of operations. With the company for 32 years, he
has held the positions of plant maintenance supervisor,
engineer and sales engineer.
Bill McDowell
Polston Applied Technologies now
U.S. Submergent Technologies
U.S. Submergent Technologies is the new name of the wastewater system
maintenance company previously known as Polston Applied Technologies.
All company phone numbers will remain the same, emails will reach corre-
sponding staff and the new website is ussubmergent.com.
Stenner Pump Co.s 60th anniversary

The Stenner Pump Co. marks its 60th year as a manufacturer of peri- WATER | ENVIRONMENT | OPERATIONS
staltic metering pumps for the water industry. Founded by Gustav Stenner
in 1957 as a post-retirement interest, the company has been privately owned
by Tim Ware since 1995. You worry about water quality so they dont have to.
We can help.
Legacy Building
Solutions COMMITMENT & INTEGRITY DRIVE RESULTS
receives Merit woodardcurran.com
Award
Legacy Building
Solutions received the
Merit Award from the
Design-Build Associa- FREE INFO SEE ADVERTISER INDEX
tion Upper Midwest Region for the IEI Barge Services project. The build-
ing measures 63,020 square feet and is located on the banks of the Mississippi
River in East Dubuque, Illinois. The Merit Award is given for following the
Extra! Extra!
principles of design/build construction and finding innovative solutions for
Extra! Extra!
project challenges.
Endress+Hauser acquires SensAction

Endress+Hauser has acquired SensAction AG, a manufacturer of sys-
Want More Stories?

tems for measuring the concentration of liquids. SensAction will remain
headquartered in Coburg, Germany, and keep the current staff of 13.
PIP adds to sales team

Protective Industrial Products announced that Matt Mosely joined the
team as a national account manager and will be responsible for Airgas, Anix- Get extra news,
ter, DGI/DoAll, Staples and Veritiv. PIP also announced the appointment
of Carlos Melo as regional sales manager for New York and New England.
extra information,
extra features with
EAT. Check out the TPO
operator wear at Online Exclusives
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SAVE THE Exclusive online content for
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worth noting events
June 4-7
people/awards Pennsylvania Water Environment Association Annual Conference,

Kalahari Resort and Convention Center, Pocono Manor. Visit www.
pwea.org.
Two Spartanburg Water employees were recognized by the Water Envi-
June 5-7
ronment Association of South Carolina. Sean Henderson was named Blue
New York Water Environment Association Spring Technical
Ridge Foothills District Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator of the Year, Conference and Exhibition, Hyatt Regency, Rochester. Visit www.
and Karen Pearson was named Blue Ridge Foothills District Laboratory nywea.org.
Analyst of the Year.
June 11-14
Frank Tozzi wastewater operator for the University of Connecticut, Instrumentation, Control and Automation 2017, presented by the
Water Environment Federation and the International Water Associa-
received his state Class III Wastewater Operator license.
tion, Quebec City Congress Center, Canada. Visit www.wef.org.
The city of Tarpon Springs Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility June 11-14
received a 2016 Domestic Wastewater Plant Operations Excellence Award AWWA ACE17: Annual Conference and Exposition, Pennsylvania
from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for out- Convention Center, Philadelphia. Visit www.awwa.org.
standing operation, maintenance and compliance. June 12-14
Nutrient Symposium 2017, presented by the Water Environment
The city of Jackson, Mississippi, signed a 10-year operations and man- Federation with the Florida Water Environment Association and the
agement agreement with Veolia Water North America-South to operate waste- Water Environment and Reuse Foundation, Hyatt Regency, Fort
water treatment facilities in Savanna, Trahon and Presidential Hills, manage Lauderdale. Visit www.wef.org.
98 pumping stations and handle biosolids.
June 15-16
Water Environment Federation Stormwater Seminar 2017, Quebec
The city of Dryden (Ontario) Wastewater Treatment Plant received a City Congress Center. Visit www.wef.org.
LEED Silver green building certification.
June 18-21
The city of Powers, Oregon, selected Century West Engineering to help Michigan Water Environment Association Annual Conference,
construct its new wastewater treatment plant. Boyne Mountain Resort, Boyne Falls. Visit www.mi-wea.org.
June 22
Symbios received a $500,000 Small Business Research Phase IIB supplement Collection Systems Conference, presented by the Illinois Section
from the National Science Foundation to help commercialize the Symbios of the Central States Water Environment Association, Perry Theatre,
Tubular Plasma Reactor for treating industrial process water and wastewater. Aurora. Visit www.cswea.org.
June 26-29
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection awarded $5.6 million
Ohio Water Environment Association Technical Conference, Hyatt
to the city of Springfield to rehabilitate its wastewater collection system. The Regency, Cincinnati. Visit www.ohiowea.org.
project is funded through the state Clean Water Revolving Fund loan program.
The general manager duties of the Key Largo (Florida) Wastewater nia, was recognized for 30 years of service with the city. He operates the Kim-
Treatment District are being carried out by the Bishop Rosasco & Co. ball Water Treatment Plant and the Dunaweal Wastewater Treatment Plant.
accounting firm.
The U.S. EPA recognized six 2016 Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant
The wastewater treatment facility in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, was renamed Excellence Award winners in New England:
the Fond du Lac Regional Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recov- Belchertown (Massachusetts) Wastewater Treatment Facility, Roland
ery Facility. DeWitt, operations superintendent
Athol (Massachusetts) Wastewater Treatment Plant, Robert Sex-
Nathaniel Clayton joined the city of Milford, Ohio, as Public Works ton, chief operator
director and city engineer. He had been vice president of engineering ser- Great Barrington (Massachusetts) Wastewater Treatment Facility,
vices for Browne Engineering & Construction. Timothy Drumm, superintendent
Quonset Development Corp. Wastewater Treatment Facility,
The South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems named the town North Kingstown, Rhode Island, Dennis Colberg, superintendent
of Oelrichs as Water/Wastewater System of the Year. South Kingstown (Rhode Island) Wastewater Treatment Plant,
Kathy Perez, superintendent, and John Mackenzie, chief operator
The Bay County (Florida) Water System received the Department of Seabrook (New Hampshire) Wastewater Treatment Facility, Philippe
Environmental Protection Plant Operations Excellence Award for the sixth Maltais, superintendent, and Dustin Price, chief operator. Price received
year in a row. a 2016 Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator of the Year
Excellence Award.
Mike Norris, city of Tyler manager of water quality, received the Dan-
iel C. Allen Memorial Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Water Duane Gilles, a 44-year veteran of the Evansville Water and Sewer Util-
Utilities Association. ity, received the Indiana Section AWWA 2017 George Warren Fuller Award.
He also received the Reggie Baker Award from the Indiana Water/Wastewa-
David Ladrigan, water and wastewater operator in Calistoga, Califor- ter Agency Response Network.

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The Roaring Creek Division Water Treatment Plant in Elysburg, Penn-
sylvania, received the Phase IV Presidents Award from the Partnership for
Safe Water.
Clemson University professor Gary Amy received the A.P. Black Research
Award from the AWWA for outstanding research contributions to water sci-
ence and water supply.
Mark LeClair, Public Works director for Paxton, Illinois, was named
Wastewater System Operations Specialist of the Year by the Illinois Rural Redistribute Waste Water
Water Association. with Superior Uniformity
Jerry Walters was hired as utilities director in Fort Smith, Arkansas,

succeeding Steve Parke.
The UV disinfection project at the OBrien Water Reclamation Plant,

operated by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chi-
cago received the ACEC-IL Honor Award from the American Council of
Engineering Companies Illinois Chapter. www.kifco.com
800.452.7017 sales@kifco.com
Mark Norris, general manager of the Triunfo Sanitation District in Cal-
ifornia, was named General Manager of the Year by the Ventura County Spe-
cial Districts Association.
TPO welcomes your contributions to Worth Noting. To recognize members of

your team, please send notices of new hires, promotions, service milestones, certifi-
cations or achievements as well as event notices to editor@tpomag.com.
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TECH TALK:

OF A NEW MEMBRANE PLANT

TECHNOLOGY DEEP DIVE:

Only Hach provides a solution of connected instruments and

hach.com/clarity FREE INFO SEE ADVERTISER INDEX

Kifco, Inc. ................................... 61 T

Trims to: 9 x 10.875

Blue-White Industries ............ 2

Bright Technologies, Division

Calgon Carbon Corporation .. 41

Carbtrol Corporation .............. 27

Hach ........................................... 3 Vaughan Company, Inc. ......... 13

Howden Roots ......................... 31

Woodard & Curran .................. 59

JDV Equipment Corporation 47 CLASSIFIEDS ........................... 61

PRINT NAME: TITLE:

CITY: STATE: ZIP:

PHONE: CELL PHONE:

Scan and email to: nicole.labeau@colepublishing.com / Fax to: 715-546-3786

Its your magazine. Tell your story.

4 TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR

Just one wearing part - the hose

Flows to 300 GPM

Suction lift to 30 feet,

Eliminate ancillary equipment

Ideal for centrifuge and belt

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WATER OPERATOR Page 28

WASTEWATER PLANT Page 20

6 TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR

The closed bag system

8 TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR

The Low-Income Sewer and Water

SUPPORTIVE INDUSTRY Cost effective volume reduction

FREE INFO SEE ADVERTISER INDEX

tpomag.com June 2017 9

Our water and wastewater

SEATTLE PLANT FLOOD

Workers at Risk delivered right to your inbox,

10 TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR

A RELIABLE SOLUTION WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD

FREE INFO SEE ADVERTISER INDEX

tpomag.com June 2017 11

ElectrOzoneAd_2017_9x10.875.indd 1 1/24/17 10:09 AM

Jeff Cope Mahagan

Like something? Hate something? Agree? Disagree?

12 TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR

The team at the Columbia Metro Wastewater

14 TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR

HUGE INFLUENT FLOW

tpomag.com June 2017 15

October 2015 flooding in South Carolina

Reported rainfall amounts

With the high flows, no ability to bring in supplies

16 TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR

WHAT-IF SCENARIO 4 New & Used Equipment 4 Discussion Forum

Wed have guys working in

One of the issues weve been having since the

tpomag.com June 2017 17

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18 TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR

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