Florida Water Resources Journal - January 2024 by Florida Water Resources Journal

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Websites Florida Water Resources Journal: www.fwrj.com FWPCOA: www.fwpcoa.org FSAWWA: www.fsawwa.org FWEA: www.fwea.org and www.fweauc.org Florida Water Resources Conference: www.fwrc.org Throughout this issue trademark names are used. Rather than place a trademark symbol in every occurrence of a trademarked name, we state we are using the names only in an editorial fashion, and to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement of the trademark. None of the material in this publication necessarily reflects the opinions of the sponsoring organizations. All correspondence received is the property of the Florida Water Resources Journal and is subject to editing. Names are withheld in published letters only for extraordinary reasons. Authors agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Florida Water Resources Journal Inc. (FWRJ), its officers, affiliates, directors, advisors, members, representatives, and agents from any and all losses, expenses, third-party claims, liability, damages and costs (including, but not limited to, attorneys’ fees) arising from authors’ infringement of any intellectual property, copyright or trademark, or other right of any person, as applicable under the laws of the State of Florida.

News and Features 4 National Groundwater Awareness Week is Coming! 14 2023-2024 FSAWWA Board of Governors 16 Utility Cites Heroism at Treatment Plant 18 2024 Florida Water Resources Conference: Water Warriors 22 Innovations in Biological Nutrient Removal Intensification—Stephanie Fevig and Megan Karklins

26 Coastal Utilities Vulnerable to Sea Level Rise in Florida—Steve Soltau

Technical Articles 8 Alternative Management Strategies to Prevent Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances From Entering Water Supplies—Laura Rodriguez Gonzalez, Kyle

Columns 16 Test Yourself—Charles Lee Martin Jr. 20 C Factor—Patrick “Murf” Murphy 36 FWEA Focus—Suzanne Mechler 50 Reader Profile—Manuel “Manny” E. Moncholi 52 FSAWWA Speaking Out—Marjorie G. Craig 56 FWEA Chapter Corner: FWEA Member Relations Committee: Strengthening Our Florida Water Environment Community Together—Melody Gonzalez

Departments

58 New Products 60 Classifieds 62 Display Advertiser Index

Thompson, and Eva Steinle-Darling

38 The Need to Produce Low Total Nitrogen Effluent at a New Facility Improved by Planning—Derek Bieber, Mark Ikeler, Ifetayo Venner, and Curtis Kunihiro

Education and Training 25 CEU Challenge 31 FWPCOA Training Calendar 34 Florida Water Resources Conference 44 FSAWWA Fall Conference Thank You to Attendees, Exhibitors, and Sponsors 45 FSAWWA Fall Conference Thank You to Premier Sponsors 46 FSAWWA Fall Conference Thank You to Platinum Sponsors 47 FSAWWA Fall Conference Thank You to Gold Sponsors 48 FSAWWA Fall Conference Thank You to Exhibitors 54 FSAWWA Membership Thank You 55 FSAWWA Drop Savers Contest 59 UF TREEO Center Training

Volume 75

ON THE COVER: In 2024 the Florida Water Resources Journal celebrates its 75th year of publication. The premier water industry magazine in the United States, it’s supported by the Florida Section American Water Works Association, Florida Water Environment Association, and Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association and covers all aspects of water.

January 2024

Number 1

Florida Water Resources Journal, USPS 069-770, ISSN 0896-1794, is published monthly by Florida Water Resources Journal, Inc., 1402 Emerald Lakes Drive, Clermont, FL 34711, on behalf of the Florida Water & Pollution Control Operator’s Association, Inc.; Florida Section, American Water Works Association; and the Florida Water Environment Association. Members of all three associations receive the publication as a service of their association; $6 of membership dues support the Journal. Subscriptions are otherwise available within the U.S. for $24 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Clermont, FL and additional offices.

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Florida Water Resources Journal • January 2024 3

National Groundwater Awareness Week is Coming!

An annual observance established in 1999 to highlight the responsible development, management, and use of groundwater, National Groundwater Awareness Week, being held March 10-16, 2024, is a platform to encourage yearly water well testing and well maintenance, and the promotion of policies impacting groundwater quality, safety, and supply. Groundwater advocates across the country also use the event to highlight local water issues in their communities. The partners in this effort will also be focusing on promoting professional opportunities in the groundwater industry. According to the American Geosciences Institute, in the United States there are more than 135,000 open positions in the industry now, which is far too high to keep up with consumer demand.

Groundwater Explained Water is one of the world’s most vital resources supporting life. Animals, plants, and humans all depend on water for their continued existence. Humans use water for myriad day-today activities like cooking, drinking, bathing, farming, manufacturing, medical uses, and more. Water covers 71 percent of the earth’s surface, in contrast to land mass. One might think that this would make water readily available for consumption, but 97 percent of that water is ocean water, which is salty and undrinkable. Only 3 percent of the earth’s water is fresh and suitable for drinking—and much of this water is groundwater. Groundwater is water found below the earth’s surface in spaces between rock and soil. Surface water is water that collects above the earth’s surface, such as in streams, rivers, lakes, or oceans. Thirty percent of all the fresh water on earth is groundwater, while the other 70 percent is surface water. Groundwater supplies water to wells and springs and is an important source of water for public water systems and private wells in the U.S. An estimated 145 million Americans get their tap water from a groundwater source.

Five Important Facts About Groundwater

the water, waterlogging and salinity, saltwater encroachment, and more.

1. Amount of groundwater available It’s estimated that there are about 2.8 trillion gallons of groundwater in the world, making up 30.1 percent of the world’s freshwater. 2. Cleanliness of groundwater More often than not, groundwater is clean and ready to drink because soil filters the water, holding chemicals, living organisms, and minerals and allowing only water through to the aquifers. 3. A major addition to surface water Hydrologists estimate that groundwater contributes about 40 to 50 percent of the water that flows into streams, lakes, and rivers. 4. Dependence on groundwater About half the world’s population depends on groundwater for drinking. In the U.S., it provides 44 percent of the drinking water supply. 5. The largest aquifer in the world The Great Artesian Basin in Australia is the largest and deepest aquifer holding groundwater, underlying 22 percent of the continent.

Why National Groundwater Awareness Week is Important

Frequently Asked Questions About Groundwater Why is groundwater so important? It provides the largest source of freshwater. As stated earlier, the largest percentage of water on earth is ocean water, which is practically undrinkable because of its saltiness. Is there an alternative to groundwater? Yes. The major alternative is rainwater, but since it doesn’t rain all year round, and in all places, the easy availability of groundwater makes it a better option. What problems can arise with groundwater? Several problems can arise with groundwater, including drying of wells, contamination of

4 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Water is Life Water is very important to the existence of life. Be it humans, animals, or the earth itself, nothing can live without water. This makes National Groundwater Awareness Week unique and necessary. It’s a Time for information and Advocacy This event is important to help in fighting against debilitating waterborne diseases that can be in water wells because of negligence. A yearly checkup would help to detect and prevent germs and bacteria that can be very harmful to the safety of the water. It’s Protection for the Future Because freshwater is readily available in most societies, it’s easy to forget its importance and why it must be guarded and protected. This event is a reminder of the need to protect groundwater, especially for the future. Protection of Well Water One of the ideas behind awareness week is to advocate for the safety of well water. Water customers who are private well water owners should schedule a professional to test their water yearly, and in the case of any problems, treat them immediately. Protect Wells From Harmful Substances This is the time to be security conscious about private wells. Make sure they’re free of every chemical and harmful substance that can find itself inside the wells and contaminate the water. Inform Others About Groundwater Many people know nothing about groundwater and its importance, which can be Continued on page 6

Continued from page 4 surprising. As someone in the water industry, share your knowledge with others and explain how to keep groundwater safe.

Groundwater Contamination All groundwater sources should be protected from contamination. Protecting the safety of groundwater is an important priority for countries throughout the world. Most of the time, U.S. groundwater is safe to use; however, groundwater sources can become contaminated with germs, such as bacteria, viruses and parasites, and chemicals, such as those used in fertilizers and pesticides. Contaminated groundwater can make people sick and harm the environment. Groundwater Infrastructure Requires Regular Maintenance Groundwater sometimes contains naturally present germs and harmful chemicals from the environment, such as arsenic and radon. More often, however, human activities contaminate groundwater. These causes can include incorrect use of fertilizers and pesticides; poorly situated, constructed, or maintained septic systems; improper removal or storage of wastes; mining and construction; and chemical spills at work sites. Contamination of groundwater systems can lead to outbreaks of disease. Outbreaks can occur either because the groundwater was untreated or because of problems with water treatment. The most common germs identified in groundwater outbreaks include: • Shigella • Hepatitis A

• • • •

Norovirus Giardia Campylobacter Salmonella

Other germs that cause outbreaks from groundwater include Cryptosporidium (a parasite), E. coli (a bacterium), and assorted viruses. From 2009 to 2017, 143 outbreaks linked to groundwater systems were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More information about some of the most common environmental chemicals that may be in community water supplies can be found at the CDC Environmental Public Health Tracking Network. The presence of germs and harmful chemicals in groundwater can lead to health problems, including diarrhea, reproductive problems, and nervous-system disorders. Infants, young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people whose immune systems are weakened, and chemotherapy or transplant patients may be more likely to get sick from certain germs and chemicals. Concerns for groundwater contaminants led the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and individual states to develop regulations to protect public water systems, such as the 2006 Groundwater Rule. An emerging concern in recent years is the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in water. Much research remains to be done to assess the health risks of trace amounts of these items, but careful and safe disposal strategies for these substances are increasingly being advocated.

Groundwater Sources Public Water Systems The EPA regulates drinking water quality in public water systems. Inform your customers that they can find out more about their drinking water quality and possible contaminants by viewing their Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), which most utility companies are required to provide to customers. Public water systems are required to treat drinking water to federal quality standards; however, it’s up to private well owners to make sure their water is safe. Private Wells An estimated 43 million Americans get their water from private groundwater wells, which are not subject to EPA regulations. Private groundwater wells can provide safe, clean water, but contamination that can cause sickness also can occur in well water. State and local health departments provide information to help well users protect their drinking water.

National Groundwater Monitoring Network The National Groundwater Monitoring Network (NGWMN) started as a product of the Subcommittee on Groundwater of the Federal Advisory Committee on Water Information (ACWI). The NGWMN is a compilation of selected groundwater monitoring wells from federal, state, and local groundwater monitoring networks across the U.S. The design for the network is presented in the document, “A National Framework for Groundwater Monitoring in the United States.” More information can be found at www.usgs.gov. The NGWMN data portal provides access to groundwater data from multiple, dispersed databases in a web-based mapping application. The portal contains current and historical data, including water levels, water quality, lithology, and well construction. The NGWMN is currently in the process of adding new data providers to the network. Agencies or organizations collecting groundwater data can find out more about becoming a data provider for the network. Funding to support data providers to the NGWMN is available through U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) cooperative agreements. Agencies can also find information about the status of the USGS cooperative agreements. For more information about National Groundwater Awareness Week, NGWMN funding, and groundwater in general go to www.ngwa.org. S

6 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

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Alternative Management Strategies to Prevent Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances From Entering Water Supplies Laura Rodriguez Gonzalez, Kyle Thompson, and Eva Steinle-Darling Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of manmade chemicals notorious for their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. They are widely detected in the environment, wastewater, and source waters. Two wellknown PFAS are perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorosulfonic acid (PFOS). Finished water samples collected for the third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) showed 66 water systems serving an estimated six million residents in the United States had PFOA and PFOS above the 2016 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) health advisory level of 70 ng/L combined (Hu et al., 2016). As of March 2023, EPA has proposed a legally enforceable maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 4 ng/L for both PFOA and PFOS. These MCLs are equal to their method reporting limits (MRLs) with methods developed after UCMR3. The UCMR5 is ongoing (2023-2025) with these lower MRLs. With around 30 percent of drinking water systems reporting some data as of October 2023, PFOA and PFOS detections have already exceeded UCMR3 and may continue to climb. The best available technologies for PFAS (ion exchange, activated carbon, and reverse osmosis) are expensive and they separate PFAS, but do not destroy it, leading to disposal concerns; therefore, it’s highly beneficial to characterize PFAS sources and minimize PFAS contamination of water resources in the first place.

This article will share some of the results from the Water Research Foundation (WRF) Project 5082: Investigation of Alternative Management Strategies to Prevent PFAS from Entering Drinking Water Supplies and Wastewater. The goal of this project was to develop actionable strategies for effective PFAS sources management for utilities. These strategies were developed by reviewing PFAS source databases, surveying utilities about their PFAS source control efforts, and conducting thorough PFAS mass balances in both watersheds and sewersheds. The data and insights from these efforts then informed a guidebook for how utilities can track down and eliminate PFAS sources.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Monitoring and Management: Utility Case Studies Multiple utilities were surveyed about their experiences in monitoring, source tracking, and mitigating PFAS sources. Survey responses were translated into concise, anonymous case studies that will be summarized in the WRF 5082 report (WRF, 2024a). The following sections include the common themes observed per type of utility. Wastewater Utilities Six wastewater utilities were surveyed regarding PFAS monitoring and

Table 1. Participating Water Resource Recovery Facility Details. (adapted from WRF 5082 Report [WRF, 2024a])

Facility 2019 Average Flow Rate (mgd) Advanced Treatment Combined Sewer Overflow

A 654 mgd No

B 12.8 mgd Yes

C 34.4 mgd Yes

308 mgd

26 mgd

Yes

8 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Laura Rodriguez Gonzalez, Ph.D., P.E., is an engineer with Carollo Engineers in Tampa. Kyle Thompson, Ph.D., P.E., is a lead technologist and Eva Steinle-Darling, Ph.D., P.E., is a chief technologist with Carollo Engineers in Austin, Texas.

management. Common themes across the utilities include the following: S Th ere are concerns about potential future PFAS regulations. Many utilities have sampled PFAS in their effluent, whether through state government investigations or participation in research projects, such as the WRF 5031 report (WRF, 2024b). S Th e utilities are already aware of the categories of industry that are present in their sewershed due to existing source control programs. They are also generally aware of which categories have been associated with PFAS. S F ew utilities have conducted sewershed sampling as a formal investigation into PFAS point sources within their own sewershed. Drinking Water Utilities Seven drinking water utilities participated in the survey. Some common themes in the responses include the following: S E ven utilities without detectable PFAS or with effective treatment already in place are continuing to monitor PFAS and closely follow this rapidly evolving issue. S P artnerships with universities, state governments, and regional groups can be highly beneficial for detecting emerging PFAS, identifying sources, and investigating treatment alternatives.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Monitoring in Wastewater One of the project’s goals was filling Continued on page 10

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Continued from page 8 existing data gaps concerning PFAS sources. The wastewater research included investigation of five sewersheds, sorption tests for industrial wastewater, and rapid small-scale column tests (RSSCTs) for PFAS removal from wastewater effluent with granular activated carbon (GAC). The following sections briefly summarize the results for the sewershed study and RSSCTs. Detailed results and discussion will be included in the WRF 5082 report (WRF, 2024a). PFAS and Point Source Study This study characterized point and nonpoint source contributions to water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). Samples from the influent, domestic

wastewater, and point sources in the sewershed were collected from five WRRFs. These results and the flow rate data provided by the participating facilities were used to calculate PFAS mass flow rates in collection systems, as well as PFAS signatures associated with point source dischargers. It was found that the WRRFs had influent PFAS on the same order of magnitude, which ranged from 165 to 383 ng/L, with an average of 261 ± 67 ng/L. The facilities represented a diverse range of sizes, with influent flow rates ranging from 13 to 650 mil gal per day (mgd), as shown in Table 1. Based on information available, domestic wastewater contributed 93.4 ± 4.7 percent of influent flow, while individual point sources sampled contributed 1.2 ± 0.9 percent of the influent flow (Table 2).

Table 2. Point Source Percentage of Total Flow and Average Mass Flow (WRF, 2024a) Source Type ID

Point Source Percentage of Total Flow

Facility A Influent Wastewater Domestic 97% Wastewater Airports 0.01% Centralized Waste 0.05% Chemicals 0.002% Electronics Electroplating Food Processing Hospitals Landfill Leachates 0.004% Laundry and 0.006% Cleaning Metal Finishing 0.0001% Metal Plating 0.05% Military/Fire 0.2% Training Areas Paper and Plastics Solids Dewatering -

Total Average Mass Flow (ng/d)

1.38×1011

97%

87%

97%

90%

6.88×1010

0.4% 0.8% 0.2% 0.5%

3.5% 7% 0.03% -

0.01% 0.09% 0.0009% 0.02% 0.02%

0.5%

0.05%

0.1%

0.02% -

0.01% -

0.9%

2.87×109

0.2% 0.7%

2.88×109 8.11×109 6.58×108

Table 3. Rapid Small-Scale Column Tests Design Parameters (adapted from WRF 5082 [WRF, 2024a])

10 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Total quantifiable PFAS mass loading in domestic wastewater was lower than observed in the influent, but comprised the majority of the mass loadings to the facilities (Table 2). Centralized waste treatment and landfill leachate had significantly higher concentrations than domestic wastewater, but their average mass loadings represented 2.1 and 0.5 percent of average influent PFAS mass loading, respectively. Electronic, military, and fire training area sites had lower concentrations than centralized waste treatment or landfill leachate sites, but had higher flow rates, and thus, average mass loadings were higher, comprising 5.89 and 2.1 percent of the influent. Due to the high contribution of domestic wastewater to the WRRF influent, the total quantifiable PFAS mass loading was primarily driven by flow rate rather than the concentration. Removal of PFAS by Granular Activated Carbon Study The majority of the studies for PFAS removal have been historically focused on drinking water and groundwater contamination. This study presents information on the effectiveness and economics of applying GAC for the adsorption of PFAS from secondary-treated municipal wastewater effluents investigated through RSSCTs. This was included in the project as a point of contrast for the sorption tests with industrial waters. Detailed results and cost breakdowns are included in the WRF 5082 report (WRF, 2024a). Adsorbents used in this study were two types of bituminous coal granular activated carbon and a commercial granular biochar. The biochar and activated carbons were obtained directly from the manufacturers and were pulverized and sieved to give an average particle size of 0.2 millimeters (mm) for the RSSCT tests. The RSSCT design parameters are included in Table 3. Wastewater samples were collected from two municipal WRRFs in Ontario, Canada; only results for WRRF No. 1 are included here. The WRRF No. 1 has a capacity of 18,000 cu meter (m3)/day and employs conventional activated sludge, settling, ultrafiltration, and ultraviolet disinfection to treat wastewater. Results for WRRF No. 2 can be found in the WRF 5082 report (WRF, 2024a). The background concentrations of PFAS were very low, so the collected sample was spiked with 200 ng/L of each of four PFAS analytes: PFOA, PFOS, perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS). This water was fed to the

RSSCT apparatus, and the influent and effluent concentrations across the GAC were measured to calculate percent removals. Results show the biochar used was ineffective for PFAS removal at the equivalent of a full-scale 10-minute empty bed contact time (EBCT). It experienced almost 100 percent breakthrough from the earliest samples. Table 4 shows the approximate bed volume (BV) of 50 percent breakthrough in the GACs tested. Both GACs provided effective initial removal at a 10-minute EBCT for PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS, but PFHxA was poorly adsorbed. Both GACs showed the same affinity order, which follows as:

GAC No. 1

GAC No. 2

PFOA

~ 18,000 BV (125 days)

~ 11,000 BV (75 days)

PFOS

> 24,000 BV (> 170 days)

PFHxA

~ 8,000 BV (60 days)

~ 3,300 BV (23 days)

PFHxS

> 24,000 BV (> 170 days)

~ 11,000 BV (75 days)

Table 4. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances 50 Percent Breakthrough for Water Research Foundation Rapid Small-Scale Column Tests

(easiest) PFOS > PFHxS > PFOA > PFHxA (most difficult) Depending on the PFAS concentration present in wastewater and the treatment goals, these levels of treatment (50 percent) might or might not be considered adequate. Presently, no regulations or advisory levels have been established for PFAS in municipal or industrial wastewaters. Full breakthrough curves and model results will be included in the WRF 5082 report (WRF, 2024a). Preliminary cost estimates show the total 30-year amortized capital, and operation and maintenance cost, for implementing a GAC system at a municipal wastewater treatment facility for PFAS emission control, considering 50 percent breakthrough of PFOA as the treatment objective, was estimated at between $900 and $1400 per mil gal of water treated. For perspective, this represents as much as a 65 percent increase to the estimated current cost for the City of Toronto to handle its wastewater. Detailed cost breakdowns will be included in the WRF 5082 report (WRF, 2024a).

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Surface Water One of the project’s objectives was to provide surface-water-based drinking water utilities with a tool to estimate the range of PFAS concentrations they could expect due to de facto reuse. De facto reuse is the presence of some percentage treated wastewater in surface water at drinking water intakes. De facto reuse occurs at the intakes of around 50 percent of drinking water treatment plants in the U.S. (Rice and Westerhoff, 2015). This is especially important now, as PFAS concentrations in wastewater effluent sometimes exceed the proposed EPA MCL of 4 ng/L for PFOA and

Figure 1. Chapters in “Guidebook for Preventing PFAS from Entering Drinking Water Supplies and Wastewater.”

PFOS for drinking water. De facto reuse is expected to increase in some regions from climate change (Rice and Westerhoff, 2015), and is higher in dry months of the year (Rice et al., 2015). In WRF Project 5031, 40 PFAS analytes in the influent, biosolids, and effluents of 38 diverse WRRFs were used as a strategic national survey in fall 2020 (WRF, 2024b). The median effluent concentrations for PFOA and PFOS were 8 ng/L and 3.6 ng/L, respectively. This means that the proposed MCL for PFOA would be exceeded with approximately 50 percent de facto reuse. Meanwhile, a 75th percentile effluent PFOS concentration would cause exceedance of the proposed MCL at only 20 percent de facto reuse. The WRF 5082 report (WRF, 2024a) will include contour plots representing ranges of PFOA or PFOS concentrations at drinking water intake that would result from

different combinations of de facto reuse and effluent PFOA and PFOS concentrations.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Groundwater In this study, publicly available databases were mined for information regarding the extent or sources of PFAS contamination to groundwater or groundwater-derived drinking water. The Northeast University Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute (SSEHRI) maintains publicly available databases of PFAS contamination sites and drinking water detections in the U.S. (SSEHRI, 2021). The SSEHRI database for contamination sites had 1339 entries as of July 2021, of which 1124 listed groundwater as the sample matrix. Continued on page 12

Florida Water Resources Journal • January 2024 11

Continued from page 11 The PFAS sources listed included: S L andfill - 34 percent S I ndustry - 24 percent S M ilitary - 20 percent S U nknown - 10 percent S A irport - 4 percent S W astewater treatment plant (WWTP) - 2 percent S F ire department - 2 percent S W aste - 2 percent S S uperfund site - 2 percent In 2018, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) collected 2,286 PFAS samples from 1,741 facilities (EGLE, 2019). These included 64 municipalities with intakes in the Great Lakes, 1,058 community water systems with groundwater-based drinking water, 460 schools with wells, 152 daycare centers with wells, and 17 Native American tribal drinking water systems. This extensive sampling campaign covered approximately 75 percent of the state’s population. The PFAS sources listed included: S Landfill - 36 percent S Metal and electroplating - 12 percent S Automotive - 8 percent S Military - 8 percent S Other - 6 percent S Airport - 6 percent S Unknown - 4 percent S Other aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) - 4 percent S Chemical manufacturing - 4 percent S WWTP - 2 percent S Refinery - 2 percent S Paper manufacturing - 2 percent S Paint - 2 percent S Tannery (2 percent) S Dry cleaner (2 percent)

Findings and Implications for Guidance The goal of this project was to develop actionable strategies that would lead to effective PFAS source management by utilities. Some highlights from these studies include the following: S A theme across the utility case studies was the importance of collaboration. For example, universities can provide

cutting-edge PFAS analytical methods, and state governments can assist with upstream monitoring and enforcement. S Based on the sewershed analyses, the domestic wastewater baseload accounted for the majority of the targeted PFAS in wastewater influent, indicating that there could be a limit to PFAS reduction in wastewater through utility-driven source control. Nevertheless, certain point source categories accounted for the plurality of specific PFAS or groups. S Based on the WRF Project 5031 data, the median PFOA in wastewater effluent was 8 ng/L, suggesting that any more than 50 percent of de facto reuse could cause exceedance of the EPA-proposed MCL for PFOA (4 ng/L). The guidance informed by these studies will lay out a step-by-step process to find and mitigate PFAS sources as illustrated in Figure 1. A brief summary can be found at www.cwea.org/news/seven-habits-ofhighly-effective-pfas-source-trackers/.

Acknowledgments Carollo Engineers Inc. gratefully acknowledges that WRF funded certain technical information upon which this manuscript is based under Project 5082. Carollo thanks WRF for its financial, technical, and administrative assistance in funding the project through which this information was discovered. This material does not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the funders and any mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute funder endorsement or recommendation thereof. We also thank our collaborators: Dr. Charles Schaefer and Jennifer Smith of CDM Smith led the wastewater PFAS source study; Dr. Soroosh Mortazavian and Prof. Ron Hofmann of University of Toronto conducted the RSSCTs in wastewater effluent; Dr. Eric Dickenson of Southern Nevada Water Authority and Prof. Paul Westerhoff of Arizona State University led the surface water studies; and Dr. Dana Gonzalez of Hampton Roads Sanitation District contributed utility perspectives to the guidance.

12 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

References • EGLE, 2018. 2018 PFAS Sampling of Drinking Water Supplies in Michigan. Lansing, Mich., USA. https:// www.michigan.gov/documents/ pfasresponse/2018_PFAS_Sampling_ of_Drinking_Water_Supplies_in_ Michigan_663543_7.pdf. • Hu, X.C., Andrews, D.Q., Lindstrom, A.B., Bruton, T.A., Schaider, L.A., Grandjean, P., Lohmann, R., Carignan, C.C., Blum, A., Balan, S.A., Higgins, C.P., Sunderland, E.M., 2016. Detection of Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in U.S. Drinking Water Linked to Industrial Sites, Military Fire Training Areas, and Wastewater Treatment Plants. Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. 3, 344–350. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs. estlett.6b00260 • Rice, J., Via, S.H., Westerhoff, P., 2015. Extent and impacts of unplanned wastewater Reuse in US rivers. J. Am. Water Works Assoc. 107, E571–E581. https://doi.org/10.5942/ jawwa.2015.107.0178 • Rice, J., Westerhoff, P., 2015. Spatial and temporal variation in de facto wastewater reuse in drinking water systems across the U.S.A. Environ. Sci. Technol. 49, 982– 989. https://doi.org/10.1021/es5048057 • SSEHRI, 2021. PFAS Sites and Community Resources Map. Northeast University Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute. https:// pfasproject.com/pfas-sites-andcommunity-resources/. • WRF, 2024a, Forthcoming. Investigation of Alternative Management Strategies to Prevent PFAS From Entering Drinking Water Supplies and Wastewater. Project 5082. The Water Research Foundation, Denver, Colo. https://www.waterrf. org/research/projects/investigationalternative-management-strategiesprevent-pfas-entering-drinking. • WRF, 2024b. Forthcoming. Occurrence of PFAS Compounds in U.S. Wastewater Treatment Plants. Project 5031. The Water Research Foundation, Denver, Colo. https://www.waterrf.org/research/ projects/occurrence-pfas-compounds-usS wastewater-treatment-plants.

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2023-2024 FSAWWA BOARD OF GOVERNORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Florida Section AWWA by Region

Marjorie Craig, P.E. Chair Village of Tequesta 345 Tequesta Drive Tequesta, Florida 33469 E: mcraig@tequesta.org Lisa Wilson-Davis Chair-Elect City of Boca Raton, Utility Services Department 1401 Glades Road Boca Raton, Florida 33431 E: lwilsondavis@myboca.us

Florida Section AWWA by Region

Tyler Tedcastle, P.E. Vice Chair Carter & VerPlanck, a DXP Company 601 S.E. 10th Avenue Pompano Beach, Florida 33060 E: TTedcastle@cviwater.com E: lwilsondavis@myboca.us Greg Taylor, P.E. Past Chair Wright-Pierce 601 S. Lake Destiny Drive, Suite 290 Maitland, Florida 32751 E: greg.taylor@wright-pierce.com Terri Holcomb, P.E. Secretary Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority 9415 Town Center Parkway Lakewood Ranch, Florida 34202 E: tholcomb@regionalwater.org Kevin Carter Treasurer Broward County 2555 W. Copans Road Pompano Beach, Florida 33069 E: kcarter@broward.org Richard Anderson Section Director Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority 9415 Town Center Parkway Lakewood Ranch, Florida 34202 E: randerson@regionalwater.org

William Young General Policy Director Wright-Pierce 8647 Baypine Road Spring Lake Business Center, Bldg. #1, Suite 103 Jacksonville, Florida 32256 E: william.young@wright-pierce.com

COUNCIL CHAIRS Adam Corn Contractors Council Chair Garney Construction 370 E. Crown Point Road Winter Garden, Florida 34787 E: acorn@garney.com Mark McDowell Manufacturers and Associates Council Chair InfraTech Group 2920 Eunice Avenue Orlando, Florida 32808 E: mcdowell_mark@ymail.com

14 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Larry Miller Member Engagement and Development Council Chair St. Johns County Utility Dept. 1205 State Road 16 St. Augustine, Florida 32084 E: lmiller@sjcfl.us Duane A. Gilles Operators and Maintenance Council Chair Duane Gilles Consulting LLC E: duanegilles@gmail.com Shea Dunifon Public Affairs Council Chair JEA E: dunisn@jea.com Bina Nayak, Ph.D. Technical and Education Council Chair Pinellas County Utilities 1620 Ridge Road Largo, Florida 33778 E: bnayak@pinellascounty.org Monica Wallis, P.E. Water Utility Council Chair Destin Water Users Inc. P.O. Box 308 Destin, Florida 32540 E: mautrey@dwuinc.com

2023-2024 FSAWWA BOARD OF GOVERNORS REGION CHAIRS Felicity Appel, P.E. Region I Chair (North Central Florida) Kimley-Horn 2619 Centennial Boulevard, Suite 200 Tallahassee, Florida 32308 E: felicity.appel@kimley-horn.com Samantha O’Farrell, P.E. Region II Chair (Northeast Florida) Jacobs 200 W. Forsyth Street, Suite 1520 Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32202 E: samantha.ofarrell@jacobs.com Andrea Netcher, Ph.D., P.E. Region III Chair (Central Florida) Plummer 401 E. Jackson Street, Suite 110 Tampa, Florida 33602 E: anetcher@plummer.com Michael J. Condran, P.E. Region IV Chair (West Central Florida) Brown and Caldwell 4413 W. Paul Avenue Tampa, Florida 33611 E: mcondran@brwncald.com Diana Francois, P.E. Region V Chair (Southwest Florida) Jacobs 5801 Pelican Bay Boulevard, Suite 505 Naples, Florida 34108 E: Diana.Francois@jacobs.com Emeliz Torres, P.E. Region VI Chair (Southeast Florida) Black & Veatch 4226 N. Dixie Highway, Unit 97 Oakland Park, Florida 33334 E: TorresE@bv.com Elizabeth Page, P.E. Region VII Chair (South Florida) COMTECH Engineering 7900 S.W. 57th Avenue, Suite 11 Miami, Florida 33143 E: epage@comtecheng.com Luiza Yordanova, MChE Region VIII Chair (East Central Florida) City of Port St. Lucie 1001 S.E. Prineville Street City of Port St. Lucie, Florida 34983 E: lyordanova@CityofPSL.com

Heath Hardy, P.E. Region IX Chair (West Florida Panhandle) HDR Engineering Inc. 25 W. Cedar Street, Suite 200 Pensacola, Florida 32502-5945 E: heath.hardy@hdrinc.com Michael Acosta, P.E. Region X Chair (West Central Florida) City of North Port 4970 City Hall Boulevard North Port, Florida 34286 E: macosta@cityofnorthport.com Andrea Ditto Region XI Chair (North Florida) Gainesville Regional Utilities P.O. Box 147051 Gainesville, Florida 32614-7051 E: dittoal@gru.com Sean Lathrop Region XII Chair (Central Florida Panhandle) Bay County Utility Services 3410 Transmitter Road Panama City, Florida 32404 E: slathrop@baycountyfl.gov

TRUSTEES Pamela London-Exner Trustee P: (813) 781-0173 E: pamlondon2@gmail.com Jay Madigan Trustee Graham Inc. E: jmadigan@grahaminc.com Kenneth Broome, P.E. Trustee Stantec 777 S. Harbour Island Boulevard, Suite 600 Tampa, Florida 33602 E: kenneth.broome@stantec.com

SECTION STAFF Peggy Guingona Executive Director Florida Section AWWA 1320 Tennessee Avenue St. Cloud, Florida 34769 P: (407) 979-4820 F: (407) 593-0251 E: peggy@fsawwa.org Kim Kowalski Deputy Executive Director (effective Feb. 5, 2024) Florida Section AWWA 1320 Tennessee Avenue St. Cloud, Florida 34769 E: kim@fsawwa.org Casey Cumiskey Membership Specialist/Training Coordinator Florida Section AWWA 1320 Tennessee Avenue St. Cloud, Florida 34769 P: (407) 979-4806 F: (407) 593-0251 E: casey@fsawwa.org Donna Metherall Training Coordinator Florida Section AWWA 1320 Tennessee Avenue St. Cloud, Florida 34769 P: (407) 979-4805 F: (407) 593-0251 E: donna@fsawwa.org Jenny Arguello Administrative Assistant Florida Section AWWA 1320 Tennessee Avenue St. Cloud, Florida 34769 P: (407) 979-4804 F: (407) 593-0251 E: jenny@fsawwa.org

Andrew Greenbaum Trustee Black & Veatch E: greenbaumal@bv.com Ryan Popko, P.E. Trustee JEA 4215 Talleyrand Avenue Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32205-7633 E: popkrr@jea.com

Florida Water Resources Journal • January 2024 15

Test Yourself What Do You Know About Disinfection? Charlie Lee Martin Jr., Ph.D. 1. In 1902, the continuous use of chlorination for the disinfection of drinking water began within the city of a. Paris, France. b. Berlin Germany. c. Rome, Italy. d. Middelkerke, Belgium. 2. In 1908, the disinfection of drinking water with continuous chlorination in the United States began in the city of a. New York, N.Y. b. Philadelphia, Penn. c. Boston, Mass. d. Jersey City, N.J. 3. The form of chlorine first used in the application of continuous chlorination was a. sodium hypochlorite. b. liqiud chlorine. c. calcium hypochlorite. d. chlorine gas. 4. In 1913, the first city to use liquid chlorine gas on a permanent basis was a. New York, N.Y. b. Atlanta, Ga. c. Philadelphia, Penn. d. Newport, R.I. 5. The percentage of drinking water supplies that were chlorinated within the United States by 1941 was a. 85 percent. b. 100 percent. c. 60 percent. d. 70 percent.

6. The preferred primary disinfectant in the majority of mainland Europe by the 1970s was a. ultraviolet light. b. ozone. c. chlorine dioxide. d. free chlorine. 7. The protozoan that is an important source of waterborne disease that has not been proven to be disinfected by chlorine is a. Cryptosporidium parvum. b. Entamoeba histolytica. c. Giardia lamblia. d. none of the above. 8. The process within a surface water treatment plant that is essential to the overall effectiveness of the removal of pathogenic bacteria is a. complete coagulation. b. filtration. c. sedimentation. d. disinfection. 9. In the 19070s it was discovered that free chlorine reacts with natural organic matter to form a. hydrochloric acid. b. settable solids. c. t rihalomethanes. d. none of the above.

Utility Cites Heroism at Treatment Plant On Oct. 30, 2023, an unauthorized individual entered the Hood Road Water Treatment Plant site, a facility of Seacoast Utility Authority (SUA) in Palm Beach Gardens, in an extremely troubled state, apparently intending to harm himself and possibly others. After being prevented from accessing the elevated water storage tank, he frantically attempted to open a nearby electrical panel door. Acting without hesitation, David Richards, an employee of Globaltech Inc., an SUA contractor, engaged the intruder—first verbally, then restraining him physically, pulling him away from the panel, wrestling him to the ground, and subduing him until law enforcement arrived. On Nov. 15, 2023, the SUA board of directors presented Richards with a proclamation, expressing its appreciation, not only for his selfless and courageous act, but for the compassion that he has since expressed for this clearly troubled individual. Courage and character often go hand in hand, and SUA thanks David Richards for being a living example of both. S

10. The disinfectant that produces the greatest number of byproducts is a. combined chlorine. b. free chlorine. c. chlorine. d. ozone. Answers on page 62 References used for this quiz: • John Crittenden et al., Water Treatment: Principles and Design, Second Edition

Send Us Your Questions Readers are welcome to submit questions or exercises on water or wastewater treatment plant operations for publication in Test Yourself. Send your question (with the answer) or your exercise (with the solution) by email to: charmartin@msn.com

16 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Ron Ferris, Seacoast Utility Authority board chair (left), presents the proclamation to David Richards of Globaltech Inc.

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2024 Florida Water Resources Conference: Water Warriors Mish Clark It’s going to be a great Florida Water Resources Conference (FWRC) at Gaylord Palms, April 2-6, 2024, in Kissimmee. The 2024 conference is all about YOU, the Water Warriors, making a difference in the water industry! Attendee registration opened on Dec. 1, 2023. As of early December, more than 65 percent of the exhibit floor is booked, plus many sponsorships are spoken for. Don’t worry though—there are still great sponsorships and booths available.

Who Should Attend the 2024 Florida Water Resources Conference? S Academics - Communicate your research results and learn about other research being conducted in your area of interest. S Consultants - Demonstrate the power and

dynamics in your client work and continue to learn from others in the industry. S M anagers, Directors, and Policy Makers Discover new technologies and innovations for your utility/organization. S Operations, Maintenance, and Compliance Professionals - Discover new technologies and what’s happening in the water industry. S Practitioners - Show what is being done in your organization and learn what’s happening in the water industry. S Public Officials and Regulatory Members - Meet water professionals who provide comprehensive information on every aspect of water usage. S Educators - Introduce your students to the water industry and share your efforts for the future of water. S Students - Share your research, get feedback, and network with the professionals.

Why Attend? S Network with thousands of other consultants and professionals onsite.

18 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

S Explore the latest updates on innovative topics from industry leaders, researchers, and expert practitioners. S Learn about the benefits of industry-leading products. S B e inspired by practical applications and technologies from colleagues. S E nhance your knowledge on the latest work and research to apply to your organization. S E xpand and strengthen your skill set and framework with hands-on workshops. S E arn educational credits at hot-topic technical sessions. S Present your research, project, and/or new product or technology to receive valuable feedback.

Why Exhibit? It’s One of the Best Opportunities to Reach Your Target Market With approximately 400 exhibitors presenting new products and technical processes, there are more opportunities here than ever. The

2024 FWRC can help you grow your market share, develop leads, connect with existing customers and prospects, and market-test new ideas. Get ready to be impressed with the latest and greatest from the best and brightest. Whatever your motivation or sales strategies, your bottom line will thank you for getting to the largest joint water/wastewater/stormwater event in the Southeast. It’s all here.

What’s Included With Your Booth Reservation? S Exhibit space is a 10-foot x 10-foot unit that includes: - booth carpet - 6-foot table - 3-foot side drape dividers - 8-foot back drape - 1 chair - 1 trash bin S Single line of one exhibitor company identification sign S Up to four free booth staff (exhibit-hall-only) registrations per booth

S Company listing in the official conference program issue S Discounted advertising rates in the conference issue of the Florida Water Resources Journal

Have You Booked Your Attendee Registrations? As we return to the Gaylord Palms, central Florida provides an excellent opportunity to reach those potential clients and workers who manage, design, and operate the water environment industry. There is access to technical papers being presented at sessions and workshops, and

involvement in the Operations Challenge Competition, Top Ops Competition, and Best Tasting Drinking Water Contest. University students can participate in the Student Design Competition and the Student Poster Competition. With the popular “Women of Water” forum, young professionals sessions and activities, a facility tour, and more—there is something for everyone at every level at the 2024 FWRC. Register today!

Where to Register for a Booth, Sponsorship, or Book Your Attendee Registrations? For all of the information you need, go to www.fwrc.org. See you in Kissimmee in April at the Gaylord Palms! Mish Clark is the executive director of the Florida Water Resources Conference. Please do not hesitate to reach out at 267.884.6292. S

Florida Water Resources Journal • January 2024 19

C FACTOR

FWPCOA: Your Association is a Key to Success Thank you for your dedication and for being willing and able to support the association.

Patrick “Murf ” Murphy

President, FWPCOA

t has been one of my greatest honors to have served as president of the Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association (FWPCOA)! Being a member of FWPCOA has been the best investment in my career as an operator. One might ask how a redneck cracker from central Florida ever got into the position of president. Was it just out of desperation and poor decision making by the previous past three presidents who made the nomination to put me on the executive board? Or was it simply because someone saw that I not only have loved all of my jobs, this industry, and most importantly, this association, but wanted to see others succeed through FWPCOA!

Hearts, Backbones, Hands, Feet, Etc. The FWPCOA has been advancing the professional status of water and wastewater operators for 82 years now, with volunteers who spend countless hours to cover all disciplines in the One Water realm, which includes water distribution, wastewater collection, stormwater, reclaimed water distribution, backflow repair and testing, management, utility customer relations, utilities maintenance, and very soon, potable reuse—both indirect and direct.

Training and Professional Development Besides being the least expensive association to be a member of, FWPCOA is constantly working on providing diverse and vetted training, fantastic networking, and professional development opportunities. For those disciplines that do not have mandatory Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) licensing requirements (and we have the prerequisite courses for drinking water, wastewater, and distribution system operators), a tiered voluntary licensing program is available for almost all of the other disciplines: wastewater collection, stormwater, and reclaimed water distribution each have the C, B, and A levels; utility customer relations has levels I, II, and III; and utilities maintenance has levels III and II currently. Our backflow tester and backflow repair classes are certification programs for the backflow prevention assembly testers and repairers, with a backflow tester recertification exam to provide recertifications. Continuing education units (CEUs) are provided for the appropriate disciplines based on the course you select. The FWPCOA Online Institute offers more than 100 CEU courses, and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to meet your training needs. It also includes the prerequisite courses for the FDEP licensing exams for Class C and B drinking

Volunteer Appreciation I want to thank all of the volunteers, who just give and give, for their service, including: S The regional board members and general membership who support the separate regions, the instructors from the regions, and those who instruct at the State Short School weeklong classes that are held twice a year in March and August. S The board of directors from each region who serve a three-year term. S The executive board members for the state who serve to facilitate the decisions of the board of directors. S The committee chairs and members of each committee.

20 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

water treatment plant operators, Class C and B wastewater treatment plant operators, and the Level 3 water distribution (new) and Level 2 qualifying course work. The association has been diligently working on the course books for each discipline, creating a fairly extensive library of books to aid in your continued effectiveness in the field. The voluntary licensing courses offered on the Online Institute that include the course book, certification exam, and 12-month FWPCOA membership are stormwater C and B courses, utilities customer relations Levels I and II, and wastewater collection C and B courses (both new). The FWPCOA Online Institute is a great opportunity for those who just can’t get away to attend the March or August State Short Schools, but as far as I’m concerned, there is no substitute for the interaction with an in-person instructor and the other members attending the courses from around the state of Florida. There are many favorite classes, and often favorite instructors. The facility management module is always well-attended, and it’s not just because it’s a prerequisite course for the Florida Class A water and wastewater treatment plant operator exam. Regardless, if you don’t eat your meat, you can’t have your pudding, so study!

Florida Water Resources Journal This Florida Water Resources Journal (FWRJ) is the premier water industry magazine in the United States and the official publication of the three Florida associations: FWPCOA, Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA), and Florida Section American Water Works Association (FSAWWA). As a member of any of the associations, you receive the monthly publication. It’s oriented toward all aspects of water use, including water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, and stormwater control. It’s really the only magazine that I receive that doesn’t end up in the round file. I was hooked on it when it was called The Overflow (changing to FWRJ at some point in 1985, I believe) and as a new operator in training, I anxiously awaited the arrival of the magazine, hoping that Hardy Croom would live forever and keep writing his columns, and reading technical articles that would help me in any way to get my first state license in wastewater (and a pay increase so desperately needed!). Of course there were the job placement classifieds, business news, and color pictures, some of which showed award recipients from the various organizations and conferences, people

I never thought I would get to meet or see in my routine, seemingly isolated position. These were the people who would motivate me to get engaged, be active, and volunteer. It’s the 75th anniversary of FWRJ in 2024, and the staff wants your help in supporting a yearlong celebration! They will be looking for technical articles that keep us up to date on the latest technologies and innovations that help us all in the advancement in our careers. Yes, articles usually must be sent 60 days prior to the publication deadline, so timing is an important factor (not a problem for some people), but when they must work with someone’s article or column who’s a “hickabilly” like me, they might need all that time. Saying that, I urge you operators to take that step and reach out with your stories, bootson-the-ground activities, and lessons learned— they’re worth sharing. Articles on engineering and management topics will give you added insight on the authors’ firms and personnel, and their qualifications, besides the technical and professional content. Vendor and consultant advertising in the Journal provides us much-needed contact information for potential equipment and services that keep our facilities and utilities top-notch. I always search out at the sponsors for various events and functions at conferences, simply because if a sponsor is supporting our industry and organizations, to me it says they’re vested in the advancements so needed for all our educational and work needs.

Florida Water Resources Conference The Florida Water Resources Conference (FWRC) is a joint conference of FWPCOA, FWEA, and FSAWWA. It’s an annual educational and technical multiday conference serving individuals in the water and wastewater industry. I wrote an article about it, “An Operator’s Viewpoint of the Florida Water Resources Conference,” and it was published in the August 2016 issue. I likened the FWRC to being the Disney World/Epcot Center for water professionals, and that is truly how I felt after decades of not being able to afford to go on my own (or having to use my days off). It wasn’t until I was in my current job that management deemed it valuable to send personnel to this event filled with amazing technical programs, an exhibit hall teeming with vendors (or as I like to call them, peddlers), and consultants showing off their products (new and reliable technologies), meetings, contests and competitions, networking, award luncheons, and more. This event allows employees to interact with scientists, engineers, vendors, operators, technicians, and managers from a broad range of water-related professional industries. Shame on you, if you’re in a managerial position and able

to promote the improvement of your personnel and your organization by funding and sending your operators and technicians to this event, and you aren’t doing it! In 2024, FWRC is going to open the exhibit hall for free attendance for utilities, government workers, and operators. You’ll still need to get a badge, but you can simply register at www.fwrc. org. That’s not going to get you tickets to the award luncheons, admittance to the technical sessions, or certain special events, but you’ll be able to have some one-on-one discussions with vendors that you might never see locked away behind your facility’s security gates, see new technologies and equipment that could improve your success and reliability in your operations, and there is usually bling at most of the 300-plus booths. I’m not encouraging you to walk through with a shopping bag to fill, but sometimes when you’re learning about these services and getting engineering contact information, a little bling and even some drawings for some awesome prizes are a nice way to end the day. There will also be presentations from numerous vendors in the showcase area on the exhibit hall floor—plus, don’t miss the Operations Challenge!

FWPCOA Operators Showcase The second Operators Showcase was presented at the 2016 FWRC. With the pandemic, we lost two years as I recall, so that would make the showcase we’re presenting at this year’s conference the seventh one. Last year’s showcase was a huge success; it was well-attended and had some great presentations. We plan to continue with another very enlightening showcase at FWRC 2024, being held April 2-4 at the Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee. The showcase is on Tuesday, April 2, from 2 to 4 p.m., and will touch on several pressing issues for operators. There are plenty of hot topics going on, so locking down

the most important ones to cover quickly in just two hours seems daunting, but we’ll focus on perand polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, reciprocity, first responder status, and more. We’re looking at joining hands with FWEA for this event, in particular its Wastewater Process Control Committee, so a presentation on Biowin, which is a wastewater treatment process simulator that ties together biological, chemical, and physical process models, is being looked at. And as usual, there will be free beer! Hopefully we will have worked out being able to scan the badges, for those who attend the full session, for CEUs. For most of the conferences, we have invited students and young professionals, who are participating in the FWRC poster design competitions and student design competitions for the environmental and wastewater categories, to the showcase. This year the bulk of the students will be there on Friday and Saturday for those competitions. If you’re attending the conference and can stay for those events, you will be so impressed by the quality and excellence that is coming up through the ranks.

To All a Goodbye If I had the elephant-like memory like Tim Lokken, one of my old bosses and mentors, I would be able to call you all out by name when I see you; unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Over my last two years as president, I’ve met so many amazing and wonderful folks working in this industry—more in that time than the 36 years prior to that in my career. Thank you to all the hard-working people in our industry. I hope you consider getting involved, volunteering for some things, and sharing your experiences—it benefits us all. Keep on keepin’ that water clean!

It’s possible that this was the last spotting of the big, old, fat leprechaun at the 2023 Spring State Short School!

Florida Water Resources Journal • January 2024 21

Innovations in Biological Nutrient Removal Intensification

Stephanie Fevig and Megan Karklins

Nutrients occur naturally in the environment and play a key role in a healthy aquatic system, but excess amounts can throw off the natural balance, prompting excessive algal growth, hypoxia, and other negative effects on water resources (Figure 1). While regulations designed to maintain this natural balance are set using the best available knowledge, as new health data, analytical methods, and treatment technologies become available, these regulations can become more stringent and challenging to achieve.

Over a third of wastewater reclamation facilities (WWRFs) in the United States currently have nutrient effluent limits or monitoring requirements, with the future expectation that more facilities will be regulated and their effluent limits will become more stringent. This results in heavy resource consumption and cost burdens on utilities, as many existing water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) do not have the infrastructure or resources in place to achieve those effluent limits. In turn, utilities are looking for cost-effective options to intensify treatment—gaining the most out of their existing infrastructure and biological

systems to remove nitrogen and phosphorus, all while improving resource and energy efficiencies. To achieve biological nutrient removal (BNR), the microorganisms need air, carbon, and enough tank volume to grow and thrive. Aeration is the major energy consumption cost item for WRRFs. In addition, many WRRFs do not have enough carbon coming into the facility to remove both nitrogen and phosphorus, so they must add supplemental carbon from sources like methanol or glycerol for denitrification, and/or add chemicals like ferric or alum to precipitate phosphorus. Some facilities spend millions of dollars a year on these external chemical resources to meet stringent nutrient effluent limits. These challenges are driving innovation to optimize biological processes and reduce costs, while meeting nutrient removal goals. The Water Research Foundation (WRF) has been at the forefront of advancing the most promising, intensive, and efficient BNR processes and innovative process control approaches.

Research Reports on Biological Nutrient Removal

Figure 1. Tracking nutrients in water: sources, treatment, and recovery. (source: Water Research Foundation, 2022)

Figure 2. Path to a nutrient removal optimization web tool. (source: Neethling et al., 2023)

22 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

For utilities interested in learning about new BNR processes and innovative technologies, or strategies for optimizing their current treatment systems, WRF has numerous valuable research reports and resources. “Characterizing, Categorizing, and Communicating Next-Generation Nutrient Removal Processes for Resource Efficiency” (Kogler et al., 2021) expanded the understanding of treatment options, synthesizing information on newly developed nutrient management technologies (both removal and recovery) and benchmarking them against established processes. Taking this further, “Guidelines for Optimizing Nutrient Removal Plant Performance” (Neethling et al., 2023) developed a road map to help WRRFs optimize nutrient removal to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and reduce nutrient discharges. This project developed a comprehensive guidance tool that WRRF staff can use to meet one or more fundamental objectives: S Reduce nutrient discharge levels S Increase reliability S Reduce costs The guidance tool provides a stepwise

progression, starting with the current treatment processes and advancing to a list of nutrient removal optimization strategies. The guidance documents have also been summarized into a standalone, user-friendly web tool (Figure 2). In addition to these resources, the research team hosted a 13-part webcast series covering all facets of nutrient management. As mentioned, the two main expenditures associated with BNR are aeration and carbon. Aeration can be a major energy consumer and operational cost for WRRFs, but there are strategies to reduce aeration (e.g., by lowering the dissolved oxygen [DO] concentration), while maintaining reliable treatment and achieving nutrient removal goals. Adoption of low-DO BNR has been slow due to the lack of understanding of fundamental mechanisms, concerns with sludge settleability, and lack of design and operational guidelines. “Advancing Low Energy Biological Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal” (Jimenez et al., forthcoming) is exploring the reasons why some WRRFs have better performance than others operating at low DO. This project will improve the fundamental understanding of low-DO BNR to develop specific design guidelines that have significant benefits for WRRF operations. The work will be completed in 2024. Availability and transformation of organic carbon at different stages in the activated sludge process impacts biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiency. With a few process and operational changes (i.e., low-DO operation with ammonia-based aeration control and internal mixed liquor recycle reduction), WSSC Water, one of the largest water and wastewater utilities in the U.S., successfully removed both nitrogen and phosphorus with reduced energy and chemical use, all while achieving stringent effluent limits. For this project, WSSC Water tapped into the WRF report, “Tailored Collaboration Program to Fund Demonstration of Progressive Carbon-Efficient Nitrogen With Biological Phosphorus Removal in a Conventional BNR Facility” (Regmi et al., 2023). This project won the Water Environment Federation (WEF) Project Excellence Award in 2022 and WSSC Water is currently in the process of applying the operational strategies tested in the study to the rest of its BNR trains, with anticipated operational cost savings greater than $500,000 per year. Another strategy for biological phosphorus removal is to generate internal carbon via fermentation. “Practices to Enhance Internal Fermentation of Side-Stream Secondary Sludge and Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids for Biological Phosphorus Removal” (Downing et al., 2023) explored ways to improve the

Figure 3. Shortcut nitrogen removal pathways. The size of the circles and arrows represent the quantities, and the savings percentages are theoretical values. (source: De Clippeleir et al., 2023)

traditional enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) process, strengthening the understanding of sidestream EBPR (S2EBPR), which can improve stability and minimize chemical and energy costs. This research proved that the benefits of this process are due to accessing carbon from biomass via fermentation and improved efficiency of carbon direction toward polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) in sidestream return activated sludge (RAS) fermentation. With this knowledge, the research team developed design and operation guidance to incorporate S2EBPR concepts into mainstream anaerobic zones for improved carbon utilization, which provides widespread benefits to WRRFs. The WRF is also advancing shortcut nitrogen removal solutions (Figure 3), like mainstream anammox processes that do not rely on external carbon and reduce chemical demand and aeration, which translates to less power consumption and additional treatment capacity. These are to be a game changer for WRRFs. Anammox is no longer just a sidestreamfocused process technology—it has been proven at full scale in the mainstream process, opening the door for implementation opportunities in existing process configurations. Pioneering utilities HRSD, in Virginia Beach, Va., and DC Water, in Washington, D.C., paved the way for others to implement this exciting process in “When a Detour Becomes a Shortcut: Going Full Scale with PdNA Strategy for Mainstream Deammonification and Incorporating Biological Phosphorus Removal” (De Clippeleir

et al., 2023), part of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science to Achieve Results grant. The goal of this project is to develop a proof of principle for different partial denitrification anammox (PdNA) configurations, with the integration of biological phosphorus removal, moving PdNA into full-scale application. This project demonstrated that PdNA can be successful in different mainstream process configurations and with different carbon sources, providing significant cost savings and treatment capacity gains. The project deliverable, “Practitioner’s Blueprint/Guidance Document,” provides a deeper understanding of PdNA, including the fundamentals, benefits, case studies, and modeling and design considerations for full-scale implementation. The project work will be completed in 2024. Another piece of the BNR intensification puzzle is the treatment footprint. For those WRRFs that do not have the space to build new treatment infrastructure and are looking for ways to gain treatment capacity within their existing footprint, densification may be a great option. Densification not only has the potential to improve capacity in existing systems, but it can also result in energy efficiency with limited operating costs. Densification is a form of intensification that introduces biofilm aggregates and improves settling characteristics, resulting in capacity gains within existing reactors and settling tanks. Aerobic granular sludge has demonstrated space and energy savings in full-scale sequencing batch Continued on page 24

Florida Water Resources Journal • January 2024 23

Continued from page 23 reactor (SBR) configurations with the Nereda® process, which consists of a cyclical process with three main cycle components or phases: simultaneous fill and draw, aeration/reaction, and settling. Only recently has densification, including granules, been successfully demonstrated in continuous flow (CF) systems, with and without using a physical selector, increasing treatment capacity. “Advancement of Densification to Implement and Achieve MoreEfficient BNR Processes: Granule Generation, Retention, and Management” (Regmi et al., forthcoming) is developing a comprehensive understanding of densification, specifically in CF systems, and ultimately will identify full-scale implementation strategies. In 2023, the research team published an initial deliverable, “A State of Knowledge: Exploring the Densification Continuum” (Regmi et al., 2023), that includes a literature review and the state of current full-scale installations with densification and activated granular sludge. The project will be completed in 2024. Sensors, new process control systems, predictive controls, and machine learning all play a vital role in providing the ideal conditions for efficient BNR and maintaining reliable operations. An ongoing suite of WRF projects is investigating whether various innovative technologies and approaches could improve cost savings and lower energy use for BNR systems. “Transforming Aeration Energy in WRRFs Through Suboxic Nitrogen Removal” (Rauch-Williams, forthcoming) is exploring model-predictive aeration control and machine learning to lower WRRF energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “Development of Innovative Predictive Control Strategies for Nutrient Removal” (Johnson, forthcoming) is testing a hybrid (machine learning + mechanistic model) nutrient management controller at three different WRRFs. The controller offers both short-term optimization functions and long-term predictive capabilities. The design of the controller, its performance at the WRRFs, and a description of future improvements will be documented. Finally, “Implementation of Innovative Biological Nutrient Removal Processes Through Improvement of Control Systems and Online Analytical Measurement Reliability and Accuracy” (Guswa et al., forthcoming) is evaluating technologies, configurations, performance, operation and maintenance requirements, and costs of BNR control systems and online sensors to expedite the adoption of BNR control system innovation and maximize the value across the sector. These three projects will be completed in 2024.

Reports and Other Resources Available Nutrient removal and recovery continues to be an important research topic, as many utilities are required to meet nutrient limits. or those limits become more stringent. Research by WRF advances innovative process technologies, tools, and operational control strategies for reliably removing and recovering nutrients, while meeting regulatory requirements. The goal is to provide cost-effective and manageable levels of tools and approaches that maximize use of existing infrastructure or invest in sustainable installations that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Details on these projects, including reports, webcast recordings, and other resources, can be accessed on the WRF website (www.waterrf. org).

About The Water Research Foundation The WRF is the leading research organization advancing the science of all water to meet the evolving needs of its subscribers and the water sector. The WRF is a nonprofit, educational organization that funds, manages, and publishes research on the technology, operation, and management of drinking water, wastewater, reuse, and stormwater systems— all in pursuit of ensuring water quality and improving water services to the public.

References • De Clippeleir, H., G. Wells, Z. Jia, R. Riffat, M. Ladipo-Obasa, S. Klaus, C. Bott, K. Chandran, C. deBarbadillo, A. Al-Omari, and S. Fevig. 2023. When a Detour Becomes a Shortcut: Going Full-Scale with PdNA Strategy for Mainstream Deammonification and Incorporating Biological Phosphorus Removal. Project 5095. Denver, Colo.: The Water Research Foundation. • Downing, L., P. Dunlap, Y. Tse, F. Sabba, J. Loconsole, I. Avila, J. Barnard, and A. Gu. 2023. Practical Considerations for the Incorporation of Biomass Fermentation into Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal. Project 4975. Denver, Colo.: The Water Research Foundation. • Guswa, S., P. Dombrowski, M. Neville, N. Tooker, A. Mueller, and S. Snowling. Forthcoming. Implementation of Innovative Biological Nutrient Removal Processes through Improvement of Control Systems and Online Analytical Measurement Reliability and Accuracy. Project 5087. Denver, Colo.: The Water Research Foundation.

24 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

• Jimenez, J. A., B. Sturm, and L. Downing. Forthcoming. Advancing Low-Energy Biological Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal. Project 5083. Denver, Colo.: The Water Research Foundation. • Johnson, B. R. Forthcoming. Development of Innovative Predictive Control Strategies for Nutrient Removal. Project 5121. Denver, Colo.: The Water Research Foundation. • Kogler, A., M. Farmer, J. Simon, Z. Cheng, A. Shao, T. Panayiotou, D. Katehis, S. Tilmans, G. Wells, and W. Tarpeh. 2021. Characterizing, Categorizing, and Communicating NextGeneration Nutrient Removal Processes for Resource Efficiency. Project 4976. Denver, Colo.: The Water Research Foundation. • Neethling, J. B., M. Falk, and E. Evans. 2023. Guidelines for Optimizing Nutrient Removal Plant Performance. Project 4973. Denver, Colo.: The Water Research Foundation. • Rauch-Williams, T. Forthcoming. Transforming Aeration Energy in Water Resource Recovery Facilities through Suboxic Nitrogen Removal. Project 5148. Denver, Colo.: The Water Research Foundation. • Regmi, P., M. Armenta, and K. Bauhs. 2023. A State of Knowledge: Exploring the Densification Continuum. Project 5130 (Interim deliverable). Denver, Colo.: The Water Research Foundation. • Regmi, P., M. Armenta, and K. Bauhs. Forthcoming. Advancement of Densification to Implement and Achieve More Efficient BNR Processes: Granule Generation, Retention, and Management. Project 5130. Denver, Colo.: The Water Research Foundation. • Regmi, P., M. Johnson, C. Nguyen, G. Wells, and A. Al-Omari. 2023. Demonstration of Progressive Carbon Efficient Nitrogen with Biological Phosphorus Removal in a Conventional BNR Facility. Project 5071. Denver, Colo.: The Water Research Foundation. • WRF (The Water Research Foundation). 2022. Nutrients Topic Overview. Denver, Colo.: The Water Research Foundation. Stephanie Fevig is research program manager and Megan Karklins is lead content manager at the Water Research Foundation in Denver. S

Operators: Take the CEU Challenge!

___________________________________ SUBSCRIBER NAME (please print)

Members of the Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association (FWPCOA) may earn continuing education units through the CEU Challenge! Answer the questions published on this page, based on the technical articles in this month’s issue. Circle the letter of each correct answer. There is only one correct answer to each question! Answer 80 percent of the questions on any article correctly to earn 0.1 CEU for your license. Retests are available. This month’s editorial theme is Wastewater Treatment. Look above each set of questions to see if it is for water operators (DW), distribution system operators (DS), or wastewater operators (WW). Mail the completed page (or a photocopy) to: Florida Environmental Professionals Training, P.O. Box 33119, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. 33420-3119, or scan and email a copy to memfwpcoa@gmail.com. Enclose $15 for each set of questions you choose to answer (make checks payable to FWPCOA). You MUST be an FWPCOA member before you can submit your answers!

Article 1 ____________________________________ LICENSE NUMBER for Which CEUs Should Be Awarded

Article 2 ____________________________________ LICENSE NUMBER for Which CEUs Should Be Awarded

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EARN CEUS BY ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM PREVIOUS JOURNAL ISSUES! Contact FWPCOA at membership@fwpcoa.org or at 561-840-0340. Articles from past issues can be viewed on the Journal website, www.fwrj.com.

The Need to Produce Low Total Nitrogen Effluent at a New Facility Improved by Planning Derek Bieber, Mark Ikeler, Ifetayo Venner, and Curtis Kunihiro (Article 1: CEU = 0.1 WW02015430)

1. When higher-than-anticipated effluent nitrate was detected during the seeding process, operators a. increased oxygen application to the entire process. b. decreased oxygen application to the aeration zone. c. changed the initial swing zone from anaerobic to anoxic. d. changed the second swing zone from anoxic to anaerobic. 2. A preliminary target for start-up of the trains was a. mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) of 3,500. b. a food-to-mass (F/M) ratio of approximately 0.11. c. an aerobic zone dissolved oxygen concentration of 3 to 3.5 mg/l. d. effluent carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD5) not exceeding 3 mg/l. 3. Th e need to meet the goal of low total nitrogen effluent concentration for this facility was originally driven by a. t he federal Clean Water Act. b. Safe Drinking Water Act amendments. c. Chapter 62-602, Florida Statutes. d. the Wekiva Wastewater Rule. 4. Th e plant’s design includes return of nitrified recycle of mixed liquor directly to the ________ treatment stage. a. fi rst anoxic b. anaerobic c. aerobic d. aerobic digestion 5. Which of the following is not listed as an advanced wastewater treatment (AWT) facility effluent concentration limitation? a. 5 mg/l five-day CBOD5 b. 5 mg/l total suspended solids c. 3 mg/l total nitrate d. 1 mg/l total phosphorus

___________________________________ Expiration Date

Alternative Management Strategies to Prevent Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances From Entering Water Supplies Laura Rodriguez, Kyle Thompson, and Eva Steinle-Darling (Article 2: CEU = 0.1 DS/DW02015424)

1. Of the five wastewater utilities surveyed, all had influent per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) concentrations exceeding __ ng/L. a. 150 b. 200 c. 250 d. 300 2. The granular activated carbon (GAC) PFAS removal study revealed that _________ was ineffective, indicating a 100 percent breakthrough at a 10-minute empty bed contact time. a. bituminous coal b. pulverized media c. granular biochar d. mixed media beds 3. A 2020 Water Research Foundation (WRF) study of 38 diverse water reclamation facilities revealed an average effluent perfluorosulfonic acid (PFOS) concentration of ________ng/L a. 3.6 b. 4.8 c. 8 d. 73 4. The sewershed analysis showed that certain _________ source categories accounted for the plurality of specific PFAS or groups. a. groundwater b. surface water c. point source d. nonpoint source 5. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a legally enforceable drinking water maximum contaminant level for PFAS and PFOS of ___ ng/L. a. 2 b. 4 c. 10 d. 70

Florida Water Resources Journal • January 2024 25

Coastal Utilities Vulnerable to Sea Level Rise in Florida Steve Soltau The purpose of this article is to raise awareness about Florida’s coastal treatment plants and their vulnerability to sea level rise (SLR). You are encouraged to carry

this information back to your workplaces and talk about this in your many staff meetings.

Background Gravity dictates that it’s easier and cheaper to pump sewage downhill. This simple fact means that most wastewater treatment plants are built at low elevation. It’s also easier and cheaper

Figure 1. Wastewater exposure summarized by state. The number of wastewater treatment plants exposed to various sea level rise scenarios and the number of residents served by those plants are included. Colors indicate the relative level of exposure for each state and sea level rise scenario, with green signifying low exposure and red high exposure. (credit: Michelle A. Hummel, Mathew S. Berry, and Mark T. Stacey)

Figure 2. Coastal counties of Florida.

26 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

to get rid of treated water if a large body of water is nearby, and on the coast, this typically means the oceans. Many of the over 2,000 domestic wastewater treatment facilities in Florida are designed and built in this manner, which makes these facilities, and the vital services they provide, vulnerable to SLR. Figure 1 summarizes the number of wastewater treatment plants by state and the associated service populations that are exposed to SLR scenarios from 1 to 6 feet. There are 35 coastal counties in Florida (Figure 2) with approximately 8,436 shoreline mileage (3,341 miles on the Atlantic; 5,095 miles on the Gulf of Mexico). “Shoreline” is the term used to describe a detailed measure of the seacoast. Shorelines of the outer coast, offshore islands, sounds, and bays are included, as well as the tidal portion of rivers and creeks. Communities along Florida’s coastline, including Miami (Figure 3), have firsthand experience with frequent and persistent nuisance flooding due to rising tides filling stormwater pipes, leaving no space in the pipe to drain away excess water. Stormwater overflows into low-lying neighborhoods are an unfortunately common occurrence. Tropical storms and hurricanes bring higher and higher surges, increasing water levels to points not experienced before. The devastation left behind in the aftermath of a storm surge and its slow receding wake is heartbreaking. Currently, there are many successful methods of protection from SLR and new, innovative techniques continue to be explored throughout Florida and other states bordering

Figure 3. Part of Miami’s shoreline. (credit: Joe Raedle, Getty Images)

Figure 5. During the 2010 flooding of the Cranston treatment plant, a small wall holds back floodwaters from entering an access hatch to an underground tunnel. (credit: Cranston WPCF/ Veolia North America)

Figure 4. Potomac River, with the Washington Monument in the background.

a coast. Florida’s coastal communities can adapt some of these technologies to meet their local needs utilizing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding and guidance. A list of links is included at the end of the article.

Constructing New Infrastructure Build Flood Barriers to Protect Infrastructure Flood barriers to protect critical infrastructure include levees, dikes, and seawalls. A related strategy is floodproofing, which involves elevating critical equipment or placing it within waterproof containers or foundation systems. In Washington, D.C., along the Potomac River (Figure 4), rather than moving the facility to higher ground, the Blue Plains wastewater treatment facility is building a 17.2-foot high sea wall that will surpass the recommended 1-to-500-year storm level by including three feet of freeboard to protect against higher river elevation or wave action. “You don’t just move the world’s largest advanced treatment plant up 500 feet. That’s not happening,” said Barry Liner, Ph.D., a local civil and environmental engineer. Continued on page 28

Figure 6. Iowa City, Iowa, North Wastewater Treatment Plant in 2008. (credit: Mitchell Schmidt, The Gazette)

Figure 7. Monitoring and recording sea level rise and storm surge dynamics.

Florida Water Resources Journal • January 2024 27

Continued from page 27 A proven example of a flood barrier is shown in Figure 5 at the Cranston, R.I., treatment plant after a major flood in 2010. A simple wall built around an underground access point protected critical underground equipment from flooding. Elevate or Relocate Facilities Relocating critical water and sewer utility infrastructure to higher elevations can reduce risks from coastal flooding, undermining, and exposure as a result of coastal erosion or wetland loss. Officials at Boston’s Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant decided to raise key portions of the plant by 1.9 feet. They decided to avoid projected high costs associated with building a seawall, encompassing the projected vulnerability over the planned life of the facility (through 2050). Iowa City, Iowa, was among the hardest hit

communities from the 2008 Iowa River floods. Extensive flooding including inundation of a major wastewater treatment plant located along the riverfront prompted the community to take action. Rather than restoring the vulnerable North Wastewater Treatment Plant (Figure 6), Iowa City decided to decommission the plant and expand service at a facility located outside the floodplain. By decommissioning the vulnerable wastewater treatment plant and converting the surrounding area into a public greenspace to divert future flood waters, the city adapted to reduce the threat and impact of continued flooding events on the community’s public health and safety.

Understand Localized Climate Risk Conduct Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge Monitoring Monitoring and recording localized SLR

Figure 8. Sea level trend in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Figure 9. Monitoring groundwater levels.

28 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

and storm surge dynamics (Figures 7 and 8) can provide specific details for a community to better understand the placement of its critical infrastructure protections. Similar impacts, such as anticipated changes to local receiving waters or changes to zoning and construction trends, can be investigated and recorded. Many communities that on a map might look safely ensconced from SLR have built their facilities away from town and close to the water. Loss of their treatment plants due to flooding can result in loss of service to an entire metropolitan area, affecting tens of thousands of people who are not experiencing flooding where they live, but can still have service disruption; for instance, no longer being able to flush their toilets. Collection of data limited to a small geographic locale can generate a valuable understanding of a community’s vulnerabilities. Stakeholders’ concerns can be addressed by researching these local records of conditions, both past and present. Monitor and Protect Groundwater Conditions The same can be said about groundwater; the threat to infrastructure may come not only from waves crashing over seawalls, but from water bubbling up from below. As sea level rises, the groundwater table in Florida’s aquifers that underlie much of the state can also be expected to rise, impacting water quality, specifically increased saltwater concentrations further and further inland, miles away from the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic coast. Monitoring localized groundwater levels (Figure 9) and quality can help prepare a community to secure its future water supply. One method used to protect local groundwater supplies includes diversification of drinking water sources utilizing a blend of groundwater, desalinated water, and surface water. Many utilities are exploring using Continued on page 30

Continued from page 28 potable reuse as an alternate source for their drinking water supply. Underground injection of reclaimed water along the coastline is another proven method used to form an underground density barrier, preventing saltwater from intruding inland and contaminating fresh water supplies. Understanding and monitoring groundwater conditions will inform decision makers of projected water quantity and quality changes. Collecting data for aquifer water levels, changes in chemistry, and detection of saltwater intrusion can be incorporated into the tasks of a utility staff, and monthly localized reports can be developed to build a baseline and help predict and fund future supplies. Monitor and Reduce Inflow and Infiltration Increases in the number and intensity of coastal storm events also increases the amount of wet weather infiltration and inflow of rainwater into the network of pipes, manholes, and sanitary sewers that transport fluids to and from the treatment plants. Monitoring and recording existing data from collection system operations during both normal and extreme wet weather conditions can help estimate any future effect of increasing groundwater levels on wastewater collection system, treatment plant capacity, and process control. Collection system modifications to reduce those impacts combine pipeline infiltration reduction measures, such as lining the pipe, adding additional collection system capacity, changing offline water storage facilities, or

adding peak wet weather treatment capacity at the plant. Pinellas County Utilities (PCU), in the Tampa Bay area, took action with an innovative approach by focusing on homeowners’ private sewer laterals (PSLs). After years of monitoring, testing, and collecting data, staff discovered that, even during normal afternoon thunderstorms, PSLs contributed significant quantities of groundwater to the collection system, increasing the potential to create sanitary sewer overflows during wet weather events. In an effort to reduce this wet weather infiltration caused by leaky pipes on private property, PCU leaders created a sewer lateral rebate program, offering rebates to eligible single-family homeowners who were PCU sewer customers of up to $350 for the initial private sewer lateral inspection that must be performed by a licensed plumber, and an additional rebate of up to 50 percent of the cost, with a maximum amount of $3,500 for rehabilitation work. For more information, go to www. privatesewer.pinellas.gov.

Monitor Operational Capabilities Monitor Flood Events and Flood Drivers Understanding the conditions that result in flooding is an important part of projecting how SLR can drive change during future flood occurrences. Monitoring and collecting data for current flood magnitudes and frequency, localized water levels, precipitation, temperature, and runoff can all be incorporated to represent a baseline for considering potential future flooding conditions and response.

Figure 10. A moat being built to divert flood waters.

30 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Modify Land Use Monitor Local Wetlands Response to Storm Surge Events Coastal wetlands act as buffers to storm surge. Protecting and understanding the ability of existing wetlands to protect coastal infrastructure is important for leaders to prepare their communities for projected SLR and possible changes in storm severity. Rather than sell that golf course or mobile home park and build condominiums, some communities have engaged their stakeholders in difficult discussions about alteration of that land into wetlands that can provide flood water diversion.

Plan for Climate Change Develop Coastal Restoration Plans Coastal restoration plans can protect water utility infrastructure by increasing protective habitat of coastal ecosystems, such as mangroves and wetlands, and drawing damaging storm surge water away from the community’s facilities. Restoration plans should consider the impacts of SLR on future ecosystem distribution. Successful strategies consider setbacks, rolling easements, and other measures identified by EPA’s Climate Ready Estuaries program. Integrate Climate-Related Risks Into Capital Improvement Plans Capital improvement planning to build and/or expand infrastructure should consider vulnerability to inland flooding, storm surge, and other impacts associated with SLR. While developing five-year budgets and capital expenditures, extensive research into the many construction costs and innovative opportunities should be used to appropriately fund and defend the projects. Many of these requests will be unpopular because public infrastructure to address local SLR is expensive, usually requiring more money than anticipated. Budget developers will have to be persuasive and unwavering, while convincing the decision makers of the significant need to protect their community from SLR. One thing to keep in mind is that innovation is not only for the well-funded. Small systems have utilized simpler ideas, such as moat systems to divert flood waters around the plant. Just like sand castles on the beach are protected from incoming waves with a moat to draw away the rising tide, the same is being done to protect smaller treatment plants (Figure 10) Collaboration and Regionalization A community does not always have to Continued on page 32

January

8-11........... Backflow Tester.............................................................Bonita Springs...... $425 11........... Backflow Tesser recert................................................Bonita Springs...... $115 8-12........... Water Distribution 3....................................................Deltona................. $375 16-18........... Backflow Repair...........................................................Gulfport................ $355 18........... Backflow Tesser recert................................................Gulfport................ $115 22-25.......... Backflow Tester.............................................................Deltona................. $425 25........... Backflow Tesser recert................................................Deltona................. $115

February

5-8........... Backflow Tester.............................................................Gulfport................ $425 8........... Backflow Tester recert.................................................Gulfport................ $115 5-8........... Wastewater Collection C............................................Deltona................. $375 19-21........... Backflow Repair...........................................................Deltona................. $355 21........... Backflow Tester recert.................................................Deltona................. $115

Florida Water Resources Journal • January 2024 31

Continued from page 30 develop new information. Southeast Florida, with a large population located at low elevations, is among the most vulnerable regions of the state to SLR. The area is comprised of four counties (Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach) that share similar coastal vulnerabilities and geographic traits. Rather than separately attempting to identify climate projections and vulnerabilities, leaders of

these counties recognized an opportunity to collaborate, creating the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact. The purpose of the compact is as follows: S Develop a unified SLR projection for the region for planning purposes. S Aid in understanding of potential vulnerabilities S Provide a basis for outlining adaptation strategies for the entire four-county region.

Sea Level Rise Tools

Figure 11. Sea level rise impact planning tool for City of Coral Gables. (source: wwwfiu.edu)

Conclusion Utility directors, owners, engineers, financial staff, plant operators, and even customer service personnel have valuable experience concerning their individual plant’s vulnerabilities. They are an excellent source of intrinsic information. Examples of tools used by these professionals are included as Figures 11 through 15. Educating rate payers about the expected financial increases necessary to pay for converting coastal treatment plants to climate-ready facilities is another challenge. These same rate payers are also voters who do not like increased fees and taxes. Regrettably, they take out their frustrations at the voting booth, making these costly decisions by commissioners and council members even more politically sensitive. Many decision makers are left to struggle with questions like this: Are we going to push off the responsibility—and costs—to our grandchildren and their children, or find the willingness to fund long-term, innovative renovations that can provide sustainable, climate-ready water and wastewater services that secure the future public health and safety of the community? When answering this question, remember Benjamin Franklin’s famous quote: “Organizations that fail to plan are planning to fail.” This article in not meant to debate SLR; that can be left to the scientists. If you are unsure, however, ask anyone living in Miami Beach or St. Pete Beach about sunny day flooding. Ask anyone in the beaches of Ft. Myers, Daytona, or Pensacola about storm surge levels. Do your research. Decide for yourself.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Financing Guidance Links Figure 14. Elevated pumping station. Figure 12. Sea level rise and coastal flooding impacts screenshot (source: www.noaa.gov)

Figure 15. Installation of a flood wall. Figure 13. Public outreach and awareness.

32 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Clearinghouse for Environmental Finance (www.epa.gov) S Infrastructure financing Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center S Financing information to help inform local decision makers Prepare for Funding S Pre-disaster funding Environmental Finance Centers S Innovative solutions to manage costs Water Infrastructure Financial Leadership S Local infrastructure investment decisions Steve Soltau is owner of H2O-KnowledgePro providing workforce coaching and process control troubleshooting and is an instructor for the Florida Rural Water Association drinking water apprenticeship program. He can be reached at ssoltau55@gmail.com. S

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Florida Water Resources Journal • January 2024 33

April 2-6, 2024 @ Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, FL Exhibit Hall open April 2-4, 2024

ATTENDEE REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

All tickets are available including Full and One-day tickets, Exhibit Hall only, Booth staff, Speakers, Students, Retired and all add-on options such as b'fast and lunches. This year, all Government Utility Employees / Operators receive a FREE Exhibit Hall only pass, but must still register!

RESERVE YOUR BOOTH Book you 10' x 10' booth today!

BOOK SPONSORSHIPS

Numerous sponsorship packages from $800 to $9,250 are still available. Reserve today!

BOOK HOTEL ROOMS

Link to book Gaylord Palms is on www.fwrc.org

www.fwrc.org 34 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

All Gov’t All Gov’t UtilityUtility Employees / Employees / Operators receive Operators receive a Exhibit FREE Exhibit a FREE Hall Hall Only Pass! Only Pass! Must Must register. register.

2-6, 2024 @ Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, April April 2-6, 2024 @ Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, FL FL Exhibit Hall open 2-4, 2024 Exhibit Hall open April April 2-4, 2024

ATTENDEE REGISTRATION IS OPEN ATTENDEE REGISTRATION IS OPEN validFebruary until February 29, 2024 PricesPrices valid until 29, 2024

Includes IncludesIncludes Includes FWRCFWRC Price Price Includes Includes &/or FWEA Technical &/or FWEA Technical (valid (valid thru thru TicketTicket Type Type Exhibit Exhibit Hall Hall 2.29.24) Lunch(s) Sessions Lunch(s) Sessions 2.29.24) MEMBER: MEMBER: $450 $450 NONMEMBER: NONMEMBER: $525 $525 RETIRED: RETIRED: $125 $125 SPOUSE: SPOUSE: $100 $100

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Wednesday: MEMBER: Wednesday: FWRC FWRC MEMBER: $300 $300 Thursday: FWEA NONMEMBER: Thursday: FWEA NONMEMBER: $350 $350

FREE FREE $15 EACHTIX. ADD'L TIX. $15 EACH ADD'L FREE

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www.fwrc.org www.fwrc.org Florida Water Resources Journal • January 2024 35

FWEA FOCUS

A New Year Brings Hope and Faith That This Community Will Endure and Continue to Drive the Industry Forward Suzanne Mechler President, FWEA

s we kick off a brand new year, I’ve looked back on 2023 with gratitude for the amazing people I work with every day. I may be the president of FWEA, but the people who make this organization work are young and old, spread throughout the state, and cover all sectors of jobs in this industry—and, in their spare time, they’re our volunteers! These volunteers put on the holiday parties to raise money for local charities; develop and present at technical seminars and other educational events that expand our knowledge and reach out to so many; and execute the various activities we have, such as the Video Contest, Student Design Competition, and Operations Challenge.

A Success Story of Our 11th Annual Wastewater Seminar We had some incredibly successful seminars in 2023. Most recently, we conducted a Wastewater Seminar in Jacksonville. The event was very wellattended by a mix of consultants, operators, manufacturers, and owners. The topics were selected based on variety and relevancy that would appeal to everyone. Presentations included timely topics, such as technologies/ process highlights, regulatory compliance, and funding techniques, and there was also an operator-centric session. As we go through 2024, FWEA is looking to constantly identify ways to improve your member experience. Here are some initial thoughts where we would love your feedback: • We were able to get a good group of operators in attendance at various events. Thanks to Pat “Murf ” Murphy (@PatrickMurphy) for all your help! A goal of FWEA is to create content that applies to operators, as well

as to support professional development hour/continuing education unit (PDH/ CEU) training, supplementing the great work already being done by the Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association. • We recognize that we now serve our industry and our members both virtually and in person. Although we received a record number of attendees this past year, FWEA is open to trying to record in-person events to offer virtual training live or for purchase after the event to get PDHs. Feedback from our members on the interest and value of this would be appreciated. Overall, this event epitomizes what our technical committees do. Thank you to the Wastewater Process Committee, and specifically Bartt, Tanya, Manasi, and Yanni who were very important to the event preparation. Overall, this event epitomizes what our technical committees do. Thank you to the

Jay Stowe, chief executive officer of JEA, as keynote speaker of the Wastewater Seminar. (photo credit: Bartt Booz) Speakers at the Wastewater Seminar, pictured from left to right, are Carlyn Higgins, Hazen and Sawyer; Jay Stowe, JEA; Ryan Popko, JEA; Don Lee, Wright-Pierce; Olga Mikhalchishina, Woodard & Curran; Danny Nelson, Tetra Tech; Viraj deSilva, Freese and Nichols; Bradley Hayes, Woodard & Curran; Arthur “Casey” Nettles, JEA; Jocelyn Granger, JEA; and Sudhan, Paranjape, Carollo. Speakers not shown: Matt Tebow, Kimley-Horn; and Pranjali Kumer and Melanie Pickett, Carollo. (photo credit: Bartt Booz)

36 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Wastewater Process Committee members from left to right are Maraida Balaguer-Barbosa, Arcadis; Manny Moncholi, Stantec; Bartt Booz, Wright-Pierce; Viraj deSilva, Freese and Nichols; Felicity Appel, Kimley-Horn; Lina Payne, City of Tallahassee; Manasi Parekh, Ardurra; Claes Westring, Jacobs; Samantha Hanzel, Jacobs; Yanni Polematidis, CDM Smith; Tom Meyers, FJ Nugent; Aljosa Mitrovic, Wade Trim; Dawn Barnard, Hole Montes/Bowman; and Alex Gex, Ardurra. (photo credit: Dennis Davis)

Wastewater Process Committee members for their hard work and commitment to the organization.

A New Year’s Resolution for You: Volunteer With FWEA— Your Contributions Make a World of Difference! As you know from many of my articles, I got “suckered,” “sucked into,” and “voluntold” into FWEA volunteerism. From my time at the University of Florida and participating in the Student Design Competition, to the support from people like Brandon Selle (who was then chair of the Students and Young Professionals Committee) and Dave Holtz (who was my mentor in wastewater design at the time), it was just something I did. I stayed, however, because of the community that I became a part of. I wasn’t sure how to run a golf tournament, but I appreciated the group of people that surrounded me in the Southeast Chapter and we supported each other. Once I realized that I could do it (as well as play golf—who knew?), I was hooked on volunteering for FWEA and I haven’t looked back since. So, what does this mean for you? How can you get involved and take your next right step? If you are committed to helping FWEA further our mission, then consider taking a more active role today. With over 20 committees and chapters, we have a wide array of important tasks that need your contributions, voice, and expertise. Consider whether you want to contribute locally (in the chapters) or connect to a statewide committee that focuses on a specific aspect of water

reclamation management. Start small and commit to something that inspires you. Whether you want to participate in water quality, be involved in policy making, or help with planning seminars and programs, there is a position for you. For 2024, we’re actively looking for volunteers for leadership roles in the following committees and chapters: • Big Bend Chapter • Contractors Committee • Manufacturers and Representatives Committee • Member Relations Committee (support) • Safety and Security Committee • Utility Management Committee • Wastewater Process Committee

Scan here to express your interest as a chapter or committee leader or volunteer!

Cheers! Here’s to Another Amazing Year for FWEA and Another 75 Years of the Florida Water Resources Journal!

already started talking to some of the utilities and operators about how we can demonstrate the growth of this industry—while keeping the stories PG-rated! As we talk about history and wastewater, I can’t help but think of the start of FWEA in 1941. It’s members and volunteers have helped us achieve our goals from the start and they give us a desire to continuously improve. You will also see that we’ll use 2024 to continue to gather feedback from our members to constantly improve and support our members. I will leave you with our vision and our mission. • Vision: A Clean and Sustainable Water Environment for Florida’s Future Generations • Mission: The Florida Water Environment Association is dedicated to promoting a clean and sustainable water environment by supporting and uniting our members with the public through public awareness and outreach, providing professional development and networking opportunities for our members, and creating alliances to promote sound science-based public policy. Here’s to a happy and productive year and I look forward to your involvement! S

In addition, as you probably have already seen, it’s the 75th anniversary of the Florida Water Resources Journal. I for one am looking forward to celebrating that milestone this year with stories and memories. I have

Florida Water Resources Journal • January 2024 37

F W R J

The Need to Produce Low Total Nitrogen Effluent at a New Facility Improved by Planning Derek Bieber, Mark Ikeler, Ifetayo Venner, and Curtis Kunihiro Orange County Utilities owns, operates, and maintains three existing water reclamation facilities (WRF). A fourth WRF, called the Hamlin Water Reclamation Facility (HWRF), was recently constructed and start-up of the facility occurred in October 2022. The facility is located in a rapid growth area of western Orange County and is intended to treat wastewater from the Horizon West community. This community is one of the fastest growing master-planned communities in the United States, with an expected buildout population of approximately 180,000 people. The design goal for the new HWRF was to provide Orange County with an advanced wastewater treatment (AWT) facility capable of treating influent wastewater flows ranging from two mil gal per day (mgd) annual average daily flow (AADF) during start-up to the Phase 1 design capacity of 5 mgd. Diligent planning before and during construction facilitated production of low total nitrogen (TN) effluent at a new facility shortly after start-up. Full buildout of the HWRF is expected to occur after two subsequent 5-mgd expansion phases for a final permitted capacity of 15 mgd AADF.

Effluent and Permitting Requirements The need to meet this goal of producing

low TN effluent shortly after start-up is driven by expected future permit requirements and limited effluent discharge locations. The Wekiva Springs basin management action plan (BMAP) applies to portions of the HWRF reuse service area and rapid infiltration basin (RIB) site 6. The Wekiva Wastewater Rule (62-600.550, Florida Administrative Code) states that when land application systems are located in two or more protection zones, the more-stringent protection zone control measures shall apply to the entire application system. The facility obtained an exemption from the Wekiva Wastewater Rule effluent requirements; however, in anticipation of more-stringent future effluent limits, the facility was designed as an AWT facility with annual average concentration (mg/L) effluent quality goals of: S 5 mg/L five-day carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD5) S 5 mg/L total suspended solids (TSS) S 3 mg/L total nitrogen (TN) S 1 mg/L total phosphorus (TP) These effluent standards for AWT are commonly known as “5-5-3-1.” The facility permit issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is based on two offsite effluent discharge locations:

Figure 1. Hamlin Water Reclamation Facility effluent disposal options and total nitrogen limits.

38 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Derek Bieber, P.E., is an associate, and Curtis Kunihiro, P.E., is a senior associate, with Hazen and Sawyer in Orlando. Mark Ikeler, P.E., is division manager with Orange County Utilities in Orlando. Ifetayo Venner, P.E., is senior vice president with Arcadis in Tampa.

S Th e RIB system, which requires an effluent annual average TN limit of 10 mg/L. S Th e public access reuse (PAR) system, which requires an effluent annual average TN limit of 3 mg/L. The HWRF also includes an onsite reject storage pond that can be used to store effluent; however, the stored effluent eventually needs to be pumped back through the facility. In practice, each day that the reject storage pond is filled, the goal is to pump the storage volume back through the plant that night during low flow to provide an effluent storage location in an emergency.The need for creating low TN effluent was necessitated by the limited volume of the reject pond and the RIB TN limit of 10 mg/L. Figure 1 presents the effluent disposal options and TN limits for the HWRF.

Process Design Challenges and Solutions When the preliminary design for HWRF Phase 1 began in 2013, there was little wastewater generated in the sewershed. As a result, “true” HWRF influent wastewater could not be sampled and characterized to develop the design criteria. As an alternative, influent wastewater characteristics from the Northwest Water Reclamation Facility (NWRF) were used as the basis of design and refined to produce the HWRF Phase 1 design criteria presented in Table 1. Alternatives were evaluated during preliminary design for process configuration with a five-stage BardenphoTM process chosen over a step-feed system due to ease of operation, process resiliency, and lower capital cost. The likelihood of rapid development in the Horizon West community during the design phase and possibility of design criteria

uncertainty prompted the inclusion of design features to help mitigate changes in influent quantity and quality to dial in the process during start-up of the HWRF. The five-stage Bardenpho process consists of anaerobic, first anoxic, aerobic, second anoxic, and reaeration stages for phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon removal. Nitrified Recycle (NRCY) of mixed liquor from the aerobic stage is returned to the first anoxic stage and return activated sludge (RAS) from the clarifier underflow is introduced upstream of the anaerobic stage. To provide design flexibility to handle variations in influent quality, the HWRF process is designed as a three-pass serpentine design and included swing zones that can switch between aerated and unaerated with mixing and NRCY pumping that can withdraw and discharge to variable zones within the train. Specifically, the following swing zones were included in the train design: S Swing 1 has the ability to switch between an anaerobic and anoxic zone based on where NRCY flow is being returned. S Swing 2 has the ability to switch between an anoxic zone and an aerobic zone. The anoxic zone is unaerated and has mechanical mixers in service. The aerobic zone is aerated and mechanical mixers are not in service. S Swing 3 has the ability to switch between aerobic zones and anoxic zones similar to Swing 2. Swing 3 is subdivided into three zones to allow for additional flexibility for tapered aeration. The NRCY system can pump from either the end of the aerobic zone or the end of the swing 3 zone if it’s being operated as an aerobic zone and pump to either the swing 1 zone or the first anoxic zone. Typically, the swing zones and NRCY system are operated based on whether additional volume is required for phosphorus removal (maximize anaerobic volume) or nitrogen removal (maximize anoxic volume). For the HWRF, it allows variability in the influent design criteria from the 2013 design. Figure 2 presents the HWRF process train zones for half of the system. The second process train is a mirror of this example. The train influent and NRCY pump station are located on the left side of the train. The train effluent is located on the right side of the train. Dedicated zones are depicted as solid colors and swing zones are depicted with a striped pattern.

Table 1. Hamlin Water Reclamation Facility Phase 1 Design Criteria Influent Parameter Flow (MGD) Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) Total Suspended Solids (TSS) Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS) Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) Total Phosphorus (TP)

Concentration (mg/L) 5 585 259 233 52 6.0

Average Load (ppd) -24,400 10,800 9,720 2,170 250

Figure 2. Hamlin Water Reclamation Facility process train zones.

Facility and Biological Nutrient Removal Start-Up Considerations Because the project team determined early in the design process that the HWRF would need to produce low TN effluent shortly after being brought online, planning for facility start-up began before the end of final design task. The first step was development of a preliminary seeding (introduction of waste activated sludge from Orange County’s NWRF) and raw sewage flow plan. The preliminary plan resulted in an estimation of phased raw sewage flow per day and an estimated volume of seed to be transported from the NWRF. These early planning requirements for the HWRF start-up led to the second step of incorporating this information into the bid documents for start-up requirements. This information was provided to the contractors with an expectation for bidding, planning, and pricing. The bid documents included: S Requirements for which unit operations and processes would need to be online for seeding. S Estimation of the number of days of seeding and volume of seed that would be

required per day and location from where the seed would be hauled. S Estimation of the size and number of days that recirculation pumping would be required. S Requirements for which unit processes should be prefilled with reclaimed water. By including these requirements in the bid documents, it also prompted early discussion by the contractor to determine the best way of implementing the start-up and seeding plan for the facility. The biological seed source was chosen based on the existing NWRF already producing low TN effluent (meaning the denitrifying bacteria was already present); the travel route, including a higher portion of highway travel (likely reducing the travel time); and the expectation of minimal disruption of the current NWRF biological process. The seed was trucked by tanker to the HWRF and unloaded into the in-plant lift station. The station pumped the seed to the preliminary treatment structure, where it was mixed with raw sewage. The phased raw sewage introduction was based on the limited volume of seed that could be transported per day and coordinated by calculating a daily food-to-mass (F/M) ratio. Continued on page 40

Florida Water Resources Journal • January 2024 39

Table 2. Hamlin Water Reclamation Facility Seeding Plan

Train 1 Day of the Week

Date

Day

RAW (gal)

Sunday 9/11/2022 Monday 9/12/2022 Tuesday 9/13/2022 Wednesday 9/14/2022 Thursday 9/15/2022 Friday 9/16/2022 Saturday 9/17/2022 Sunday 9/18/2022 Monday 9/19/2022 Tuesday 9/20/2022 Wednesday 9/21/2022 Thursday 9/22/2022 Friday 9/23/2022 Saturday 9/24/2022 Sunday 9/25/2022

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

0 0 500,000 500,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,000,000 1,250,000 1,250,000 1,250,000 1,250,000 1,250,000 1,250,000

Seed (gal) 0 105,000 105,000 105,000 105,000 0 0 84,000 0 0 0 0 0 0

Total (gal)

Wasting Biomass (lbs) (lb)

F:M

500,000 500,000 1,105,000 1,710,000 2,100,000 2,100,000 2,100,000 2,100,000 2,100,000 2,100,000 2,100,000 2,100,000 2,100,000 2,100,000 2,100,000

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 600 3,100 3,100 3,100 3,100

0 0 10,008 18,265 27,772 38,531 42,284 46,037 28,323 31,450 33,978 34,005 34,033 34,060 34,088

0.00 0.00 0.15 0.08 0.11 0.12 0.11 0.10 0.11 0.12 0.11 0.11 0.11 0.11 0.11

Total (gal)

Wasting Biomass (lbs) (lb)

F:M

500,000 1,100,000 1,100,000 1,100,000 1,100,000 1,100,000 1,100,000 1,100,000 2,100,000 2,100,000 2,100,000 2,100,000 2,100,000 2,100,000 2,100,000

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 600 3,100 3,100 3,100 3,100

Average MLSS (mg/L) 0 1,086 1,281 1,586 2,200 2,414 2,629 1,617 1,796 1,940 1,942 1,943 1,945 1,946

Train 2 Day of the Week

Date

Day

RAW (gal)

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,000,000 1,250,000 1,250,000 1,250,000 1,250,000 1,250,000 1,250,000

Seed (gal) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 28,323 31,450 33,978 34,005 34,033 34,060 34,088

Figure 3. Hamlin Water Reclamation Facility start-up plan, visual guide, day 2.

40 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

0.11 0.12 0.11 0.11 0.11 0.11 0.11

Average MLSS (mg/L) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,617 1,796 1,940 1,942 1,943 1,945 1,946

Continued from page 39 Raw sewage from the sewershed previously flowed to the Reedy Creek WRF. Orange County can divert flow from three areas within the sewershed in a controlled manner to send increasing volumes of flow per day to the HWRF. Monthly meetings were set up to start the discussion among the contractor and Orange County Utilities field services personnel (who would regulate and determine the raw sewage flow), WRF operators, and engineers. The meetings prompted open dialogue regarding operational constraints and requirements from the HWRF and engineering side and logistical constraints from the contractor side. Working together as a team, the seeding plan was revised based on the ability to send flow to the HWRF. The goal of the train start-up was to simulate normal train operation as closely as possible while the trains were being filled. This would allow for biomass acclimation promoting specific bacteria growth for carbon and nitrogen removal. Considerations were made for other unit operations and processes: S All liquid train systems online S Aeration system with blowers and fine bubble diffusers turned on prior to the introduction of raw sewage S Mechanical mixers turned on after train halfway filled ( 9-ft depth) S NRCY pump system turned on after suction pipe submerged by at least 1 ft S Secondary clarifier prefilled with reuse water While the trains were filling, the water level would be below the effluent weir and the volume would be stagnant within the train. This was remedied by requiring a recirculation pump system that pumped from the reaeration zone to the anaerobic zone. The recirculation pumping allowed the biomass to move through each zone and experience aerated and unaerated environments. The three days of internal recirculation allowed for continued biomass acclimation promoting specific bacteria growth. The preliminary seeding planned for the train to be filled over three days and begin overtopping the effluent weir on the fourth day. After flow began to overtop the weir, mixed liquor was conveyed by gravity to one secondary clarifier. The RAS pumps were turned on after a sludge blanket was detected in the clarifier. The RAS flow at the HWRF is returned to the headworks where flow is split proportionally between online trains and mixed with raw sewage. After the RAS pumps and NRCY pumps were online, the recirculation pump was removed from service.

Table 2 represents the final seeding plan for the HWRF. Both process trains started with 500,000 gal of reclaimed water and the aeration systems online. The preliminary targets for start-up of the trains were to maintain an F/M ratio of approximately 0.11 and to achieve an average mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) concentration of 2,000 mg/L. Though 2,000 mg/L is lower than the design MLSS concentration of 3,500 mg/L, the lower target value is required to have both trains online for testing and check-out. The flows in the table were suggested to Orange County Utilities field operation staff and contractors as targets and not requirements. The seeding table originally expected 10 tanker trucks of seed to be delivered per day (70,000 gal of seed) and was modified after the contractor was able to achieve 15 tanker round trips per day (105,000 gal of seed). To keep the same F/M ratio, additional raw sewage flow was required from the original calculation and subsequently allowed for acceleration of the seeding process from seven original days of seeding to the five days shown in the seeding plan.

In the table, the days where seed was introduced are boxed in red. To help Orange County Utilities personnel and the contractor understand the seeding plan and what needed to be done on

each day, a visual guide was compiled. Figure 3 shows what happened on Day 2 of the seeding process, which is the first day where raw sewage and seed were introduced to the Continued on page 42

Figure 4. Hamlin Water Reclamation Facility start-up plan, visual guide, day 8.

Florida Water Resources Journal • January 2024 41

Continued from page 41 activated sludge train (AST) 1. The figure shows the basin being approximately half full after addition of the raw sewage and seed and the recirculation pump online. The visual guide was extremely useful when discussing the daily requirements and goals. Figure 4 shows the visual guide for Day 8 of the seeding process, which is the first day that flow is introduced to AST 2. Onsite engineers from the project team assisted the contractor and Orange County Utilities facility operators with process recommendations prior to analyzers being online and fully calibrated. Early effluent samples analyzed by operators showed higher-than-expected nitrate concentration, so the initial swing zone was changed from anaerobic (for phosphorus removal) to first

anoxic (for nitrogen removal). The reduction in effluent nitrate and TN allowed for the facility to discharge to the RIBs and reserve the reject pond for typical as-needed use. Figure 5 presents effluent TN and TP concentrations for the facility after the first month of operation. The facility is able to meet effluent discharge TN requirements to discharge to the RIBs continuously and could mostly meet TN requirements to discharge to PAR. After the facility was online for approximately seven months, Hazen performed onsite profiles of AST 1 to troubleshoot slime buildup on the dissolved oxygen (DO) probes within the aerobic zones of the trains. The slime resulted in the probes reading low, and that zone of the process could not run automatically. The process profiling consisted of three profiles performed over

two days, with analysis performed onsite. The profiles included chemical oxygen demand (COD) and nutrient (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, orthophosphate, and DO) profiles. Figure 6 shows the nutrient profile from samples taken at 12 p.m., on April 17, 2023. The profile is typical for a five-stage AWT process and suggests ammonia being completely converted to nitrate in the aerobic zones, nitrate being converted to nitrogen gas in the anoxic zones, and orthophosphate being released in the anaerobic zones. The anomaly is the apparent orthophosphate release in the secondary clarifiers as evidenced by the concentration in the secondary effluent. Upon further discussion with the facility operators, all three of the clarifiers are online, which may result in a long sludge detention time within the secondary clarifiers and subsequent orthophosphate release. If required to meet a TP concentration of 1 mg/L, facility operators may consider increasing RAS flow or taking one clarifier offline.

Conclusions

Figure 5. Hamlin Water Reclamation Facility effluent total nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations.

Figure 6. Hamlin Water Reclamation Facility process train profile.

42 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Overall, the start-up of the facility has gone smoothly with the help of the contractor, and Orange County Utilities facility operators, staff, and engineers. This may not have been the case without the planning, meetings, and discussions well in advance of start-up. The recommendation for other facilities would be to start the process early and recognize the constraints to plan around: S What are the permit limits? S How will recirculation be achieved? S How will seed be introduced and from where? Early awareness that a seeding plan was needed was instrumental in planning for the HWRF start-up process. Start-up requirements were put in the bid documents to provide the contractor with upfront expectations of what would be necessary to bring the facility online and were a starting point for the contractor being able to price out the necessities. From a process engineering standpoint, they were also used to determine the volumes and flow required to have the process be self-sustaining and not risk going septic. By scheduling monthly start-up meetings a year before they were required, it prompted the team members to begin their planning early and engage in the task before it was necessary, instead of scrambling at the end of the project. Proper planning was key to making the start-up a success for Orange County Utilities. S

Florida Water Resources Journal • January 2024 43

FWRJ READER PROFILE

Manuel “Manny” E. Moncholi Stantec, Miami

Work title and years of service. I am the U.S. Gulf Region wastewater sector leader. I have 21 years of experience in the environmental engineering/water sector: one year in academia/research, 18 years in public utilities, and now two years as a senior process engineer with Stantec.

What does your job entail? My role as process engineer makes up a large part of my work with Stantec. I help in developing solutions for drinking water, wastewater, and biosolids challenges, mainly for municipalities and utilities. Based on my years of service in public utilities in planning, design execution, and operations and maintenance, how I assist can vary greatly from project to project. Often my involvement has more to do with understanding a utility’s existing challenges: maintaining aging infrastructure, changes in regulations, changes in water sources, receiving waters, or land application sites and how to advise or guide a utility in adapting to those changes. The solutions can be as unintrusive as better understanding a wastewater plant’s chemistry and biology to modify the operation to better operate under current or changing conditions. At times my role is to perform condition assessments of plant processes, help identify deficiencies, prioritize replacement of equipment or upgrades to a process, evaluate options, and facilitate planning of a capital budget to execute needed improvements. Many times it’s working

with a specific project design team providing water/wastewater process guidance and advising on design choices from an operations, maintenance, and construction point of view to ensure that what the team is designing not only meets the end goal of creating a process that enables a utility to meeting its effluent limit and process its water, but also that it’s not unnecessarily difficult for the utility staff to monitor performance and make decisions to run and maintain operations on a day-to-day basis, under adverse weather emergencies, or partial shutdowns. What education and training have you had? I have been trained on the job in water, wastewater, and biosolids treatment plant operations by the operations and maintenance staff at Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department and City of Houston Wastewater Operations. I also received project management professional training while at Miami-Dade. I have earned degrees in chemical, civil, and environmental engineering, prior to and while working in the public sector, culminating in achieving my Ph.D. and P.E. in 2019.

800–826-7699 watertc@watertc.com

watertc.com Serving the Southeast since 1976

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Factory Trained Technicians - Emergency Repair Services - PM Service/Plans 50 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

What do you like best about your job? Getting to interact with water and wastewater utilities across the United States, trading stories and experiences with operations and maintenance professionals, and learning about their plants and challenges is what most motivates me about my current role as a consultant engineer. Sometimes, what strikes me is the uniqueness of plants in different areas, the differences in their biosolids applications or treatment goals, or just the difficulties they have keeping their old equipment running and the tricks they have learned along the way to meet their needs.

the sanctity of the natural environment. This is an industry where my alignment to a reverence of the natural world syncs perfectly with the ability to serve my community and protect and hopefully improve our environment; not just in the immediate present, but for future generations to come. What do you do when you’re not working? At home I play with my husky, North Star, and enjoy cooking and gardening as a means of meditative contemplation and stress relief.

I enjoy spending time with my parents, sister, brother-in-law, niece, and nephew and golfing when I’m not traveling. I enjoy hiking when I’m traveling, as I find I like Miami’s mosquitos, heat, and humidity less and less with every passing year. Lastly, I always enjoy participating in my local roller derby league, Maimi Vice City Rollers, as a nonskating official and jam timer on account of my knees, ankles, and ribs not appreciating me being tackled on skates anymore. S

What professional organizations do you belong to? Throughout my career I have been an active member of the Boy Scouts of America, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, National Society of Black Engineers, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, WEF and FWEA, and Engineers Without Borders. Currently, I am most active with WEF’s Biosolids Conference Committee and FWEA’s Biosolids Committee, Wastewater Process Committee, and its local Southeast and South chapters. How have the organizations helped your career? Starting with FWEA’s Southeast Chapter Steering Committee and making my way to chair over a decade ago, while still relatively early in my career, gave me the confidence and training in leadership, organizational administration, and public speaking before I was exposed to similar roles and responsibilities in my day job as a utility engineer. There have been many opportunities since that time that I would not have had the courage to attempt had it not been for the positive experiences I first had in FWEA. What do you like best about the industry? I didn’t necessarily choose the water industry, but looking back on my career I feel it chose me. Even as a chemical engineer in the petrochemical industry I had assignments with water systems at refineries and chemical plants. I was more fond of those tasks than I was of the rest of my assignments in petroleum refining and air quality monitoring. When I finally came fully into the water industry, I accepted the position more for the stability of a job in local government, as the economy had been very rocky when I finished my undergraduate degree. I have always had a profound love of nature, and through scouting was educated to respect

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Florida Water Resources Journal • January 2024 51

FSAWWA SPEAKING OUT

Navigating the Industry Challenges Ahead: We Need You in Our Volunteer Family! Marjorie G. Craig, P.E. Chair, FSAWWA

Section members visit Florida state representatives at the AWWA 2023 Fly-In held at the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

52 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

appy 2024! As the new year unfolds, it’s a time for both reflection and anticipation of the exciting opportunities ahead. I’m honored to serve as your FSAWWA chair, and I look forward to an incredible year. Our section’s commitment to enhancing membership value is unwavering, and we continuously seek ways to elevate our impact. The lifeblood of that impact is our volunteers, staff, and sponsors. Are you looking for an opportunity to volunteer? Don’t have much time? There are many what in Junior League we call “done in a day” (or two) opportunities, which range from volunteering for a Model Water Tower Competition event, helping out with a regional or the statewide Best Tasting Drinking Water event, or serving as a judge. Visit our www.fsawwa. org website for a comprehensive list of councils, committees, and a dedicated “volunteer preferences” form under the Member Engagement and Development Council tab, right above a list of committees (it says “CLICK HERE”). Stay connected with the section’s activities across the state by checking the “Calendar of Events” on our homepage. There you can find out more information about an event, register, and seamlessly add it to your calendar. Please consider volunteering with our FSAWWA family. There’s nothing like it!

What a Great Year 2023 Was for the Section! Reflecting on the achievements of 2023, our Fall Conference witnessed remarkable growth, with record attendance overall, as well as technical session participation, which was particularly impressive because it’s not a license renewal year. We also had a waiting list for booths! Venues for future conferences have been under evaluation by Kim Kowalski, our conference chair. I’m thrilled to share that Kim will transition to deputy executive director of the section in February, reinforcing our dedicated and capable headquarters team! Greg Taylor, our past chair, spoke about the other impressive accomplishments of the section staff and volunteers in his December column, so if you missed it, it’s worth reading. I want to extend heartfelt gratitude to our supporters because without the support of our manufacturers, consulting firms, and contractors, and the public agencies that support volunteerism, much of what we’ve accomplished over the years just would not be possible. The section headquarters team also does an amazing job channeling and leveraging all of our energy and efforts!

Navigating the Future: Building Our Brand, Public Relations, Enhancing Communication, and Developing Resiliency in the Water Workforce Looking to the future, 2023 marked the initiation of a significant section contract entitled,

“Public Relations, Branding, and Communications.” This year we’ll start to see the fruits of our commitment to enhance our industry’s visibility. Historically, our industry has always been the “silent service.” If water is coming out of the tap and wastewater is flowing to the plant and the pipes are safely underground, our industry has tended to be more behind the scenes and invisible. With our aging infrastructure, the rapid pace of development, scarcity of new water resources, and regulatory requirements necessitating enhanced treatment, there are huge infrastructure investments, rate implications, and funding/ grant needs. Some specific added value the contract will provide includes enhancing the section website, developing tools and templates for members, making sure our terminology is consistent, and putting together informational pieces to use locally, in Tallahassee, and in Washington, D.C. Most importantly, we’ll collaboratively develop and promote our brand. Our “water workforce” development efforts to attract

people to our industry remain a priority. Water workforce means across the entire utilities industry and all related employers, and all water resources, whether it’s drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, or reuse/reclaimed water, both public sector or private. Although the population is growing, workers in the industry are retiring and sometimes leaving the industry to start another career, and worse, younger workers aren’t entering or considering the industry at all. We are starting to see the effects. Typical teenagers are not even thinking about traditional jobs; many have a great entrepreneurial spirit, and some even make money through YouTube, TikTok, or other avenues. Automation and artificial intelligence continue to evolve and will continue to affect our industry. We must look at the way our work gets accomplished now to develop and execute a plan that includes what we must modify, change, or completely pivot to in the future to provide our services and attract new workers.

Entries in a Region IV Water Tower Competition.

I started my career in another industry, but I truly found a passion for our industry and in serving the public. Many I know in the industry share that passion, so how do we ignite it in others and inspire them to join us? We’ve been working on it through the High School Academies, the Water Tower Competitions, veterans training, and water conservation programs. We’re actively working on developing other potential actions through the Florida 2051 committee, led by Lisa WilsonDavis, with Courtney Dantone as the new vice-chair. But we need your ideas, perspective, and help, no matter your experience level.

Wastewater Treatment This issue of the magazine is dedicated to wastewater treatment. There are many expert articles on this subject so I’ll offer a conversation I had on it with my husband, Karl. Before graduate school, most of my experience was in other areas of the industry or public works. I was hooked on wastewater treatment when I took my first class so I took

three more. I found it fascinating, which probably makes me usual; it certainly was not a topic I broached at my Junior League meetings. When I explained my interest to Karl, he was able to easily follow along and almost anticipate what I was going to say. I asked him how he knew the concepts, and he put it all into perspective in a general sense, saying, “Oh, parts of the treatment process are much like my aquarium.” He was right. And I was glad he humored me by listening to my explanation. As we embark on the new year, please consider volunteering, asking someone to help you in your volunteer efforts, or support someone who wants to volunteer. Think about who and how you can inspire someone to enter the water industry. Looking back at how much we’ve accomplished in the section over the last 25 to 30 years, I’m amazed and awed. We’ve done stellar work and based on that body of work, I know if we work together, we can meet the industry challenges ahead. Here’s to a collaborative and S impactful 2024!

Members of FSAWWA Region VI take in a baseball game.

Florida Water Resources Journal • January 2024 53

FWEA CH A P TE R CO R N E R Welcome to the FWEA Chapter Corner! The Member Relations Committee of the Florida Water EnvironmentvAssociation hosts this article to celebrate the success of recent association chapter activities and inform members of upcoming events. To have information included for your chapter, send details to Melody Gonzalez at gonzalezm@bv.com.

Melody Gonzalez

FWEA Member Relations Committee: Strengthening Our Florida Water Environment Community Together Melody Gonzalez The Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA) stands as a beacon of progress and innovation in the field of water and environmental management. The Member Relations Committee works to promote FWEA as the preeminent water quality authority in Florida. The committee plays a pivotal role in providing a link between the organization and its members, uniting our professionals; fostering and encouraging collaboration; and ensuring that every member feels welcome and appreciated.

Our Mission The committee facilitates information exchange between our members and the

industry. It’s a resource for FWEA members to advertise their activities and provides support using different avenues, including the Florida Water Resources Journal, the FWEA website, and our several social media channels. Our committee supports chapters and other FWEA committees to promote their activities statewide, boost FWEA membership, and assist the board of directors in accomplishing the objectives set by the Membership Action Team.

The Role of the Member Relations Committee Some of the responsibilities of our committee are: S Ensuring a welcoming environment to new members.

FWEA members at the 2022 Leadership Workshop.

56 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

S Maintaining open communication with the members and engaging our community across the state. S K eep our members informed about upcoming events, luncheons, workshops, conferences, and opportunities for networking.

Calling for Volunteers We invite dedicated and enthusiastic professionals to join the FWEA Member Relations Committee and play a vital role in strengthening our water environment community. Joining the committee allows you to make a positive impact in our water community, develop valuable skills, connect with peers in the sector, and most importantly, gives you the opportunity to shape FWEA’s future.

Melody Gonzalez, Member Relations Committee chair.

Volunteering on the committee allows you to directly influence the experience of fellow FWEA members. Your ideas and initiatives can shape the future direction of our organization. Volunteering offers you a voice in enhancing and expanding FWEA’s contributions to the water environment sector. Your efforts will also contribute to a more-inclusive, engaged, and supportive community. Additonally, serving on the committee offers an opportunity to hone critical skills in communication, teamwork, and community management—skills that can be valuable in your career and personal growth.

FWEA leaders networking at the 2022 FWEA Workshop.

How to Get Involved Become a part of the FWEA Member Relations Committee. If you’re eager to contribute and make a difference in our water environment community, please send an email to me at GonzalezM@BV.com expressing your interest in joining the committee. It’s the driving force behind a cohesive and dynamic water environment community.

I personally extend an invitation to professionals who are passionate about connecting peers, supporting environmental innovation, and making a positive impact within FWEA to join. Together, we aim to create a welcoming and vibrant space for water

and environmental management professionals to thrive and make a difference! Melody Gonzalez is a project engineer with Black & Veatch, Member Relations Committee chair, and FWEA South Chapter treasurer. S

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Florida Water Resources Journal • January 2024 57

NEW PRODUCTS OZ Lifting Products has launched its XR Series of davit cranes for wastewater and water operators. The Winona, Minn.based manufacturer has released the model in 500 and 1,000 pound capacities, but the long reach of the range is a standout benefit for operators. Where other davit cranes typically have reduced capacity when they’re in the longest-reaching position, this series maintains its maximum capacity rating in all configurations. This means wastewater and water professionals can lift more weight and lift it further out, which presents many benefits for numerous lifting and material handling applications. The smaller crane weighs only 57 pounds and the larger crane weighs 95 pounds. Both have a maximum 62in. reach and maximum hook height of 87 in. (www.ozliftingproducts.com)

The new Aquaray S horizontal UV disinfection equipment from Veolia Water Technologies and Solutions incorporates the latest electronic ballast and communication technology with powerful long-lasting, lowpressure, and high-output UV lamps. The power supplies for the lamps are located inside

a sealed aluminum extrusion directly on top of the module. This power bar also handles all the lamp controls and data exchange with the power distribution and data center. The selfsupporting modular units are placed into a flowing channel (concrete or stainless steel) in multiple combinations to provide the required level of disinfection. Quartz sleeves protect the lamps, and as with any UV system can gradually accumulate a coating operating in challenging water quality. The system offers a fully automatic, in-channel cleaning system to remove fouling. (www.watertechnologies.com)

The Terminator Actuator from Halogen Valve Systems can be used on chlorine ton containers, as well 150-pound cylinders to instantly stop the flow of chlorine in case of an emergency. The clamp mount version incorporates the same mounting clamp design as the Eclipse Actuator, allowing it to quickly and securely be installed on ton container valves without the use of any tools. It can be used on containers feeding through a pressure manifold or can be installed side by side with tank-mounted vacuum regulators. The Gemini controller provides DC power and control to

58 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

one or two terminators and can be combined for systems with larger quantities of containers. Emergency chlorine shutoff is initiated when the controller receives a close contact signal from a leak detector or included emergency shutoff switch and a relay output provides remote indication that an emergency close sequence has been performed. (www.halogenvalve.com)

Ideal for field and environmental testing, the TB350 turbidimeter from Lovibond delivers reliable measurements for low-range to high-range samples without sacrificing accuracy. It’s designed to eliminate the complexities of turbidity measurement and provide users with an opportunity for operational and regulatory efficiencies, no matter one’s experience level. On the surface, turbidity analysis is a simple measurement; however, there are many factors that can affect the accuracy of readings or the dependability of an instrument. Lovibond obsesses about turbidity measurement so you don’t have to and its team of globally recognized turbidity experts works to anticipate and solve any operator’s struggles with turbidity measurement. (www.lovibond.com) S

EXCELLENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

16-19 JAN

Water Distribution Systems Operator Level 2 & 3 Training

30 JAN

Unidirectional Flushing Workshop

31-1 JAN-FEB

Virtual | $699 CEUs 3.2 DS DW WW Level 2 & 3

TOHO - Kissimmee, FL | $385 CEUs 0.8 DS DW

Wastewater Process Control Testing Gainesville, FL| $595 CEUs 1.2 WW

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Introduction to Lift Station Maintenance

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Microbiology of Activated Sludge

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19-23 FEB 27-1 FEB-MAR

Wastewater Class C Certification Review Virtual | $730

Activated Sludge Process Control & Troubleshooting Gainesville, FL | $710 CEUs 2.5 WW

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Wastewater Class A Certification Review

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FDEP SOPs for Water and Groundwater Sampling & Meter Testing

Gainesville, FL | $625 CEUs 2.0 DS DW WW

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Gainesville, FL | $310 CEUs 1.2 DW DS WW

Florida Water Resources Journal • January 2024 59

CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES - Classified ads are $22 per line for a 60 character line (including spaces and punctuation), $60 minimum. The price includes publication in both the magazine and our Web site. Short positions wanted ads are run one time for no charge and are subject to editing. ads@fwrj.com

POSITIONS AVAILABLE Water Reclamation Facility Operator III This is skilled technical work, with supervisory responsibilities, in the inspection and operation of a water reclamation plant. The person in this position fills the role as the shift leader. Work involves responsibility for the safe and efficient operation of a water reclamation facility, routine adjustments to equipment and machinery operating controls, inspection of equipment inside and outside the plant site. An employee in this class exercises considerable independent judgment in adjusting machinery, equipment, and related control apparatus in accordance with established procedures and standards to produce a high-quality reclaimed water product. An employee in this class must be able to report to work outside of normally scheduled work hours at the discretion of management. Required Qualifications:

Citrus County BOCC - Water Resources Vacancies Utility Planning & Engineering Division Director - Performs professional administrative and managerial work assisting the Water Resources Director in the implementation and successful delivery, startup, and commissioning of Capital Improvement Projects for Citrus County Utilities. Must meet the following minimum requirements: ~ B achelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. ~S ix (6) years’ experience of a highly responsible nature in Civil Engineering dealing directly with design, construction, and operation of water, wastewater, and reclaimed utilities. ~ Registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the State of Florida.

♦ Possess a valid high school diploma or GED equivalency. ♦ Possess and maintain a valid Driver License. ♦ Possess and maintain a State of Florida Wastewater Operator “B” Engineer I - Performs routine professional and technical engineering License. work reviewing and evaluating plans for the design of new water/ ♦ Must be able to perform shift work. infrastructure and provides general professional engi♦ Acknowledge this position is designated as Emergency Critical wastewater neering services for departmental capital improvement projects. Must (EC) and if hired into the position, you must be immediately available to the department before, during, and after a declared emergency and/or disaster.

Salary: $31.02 - $41.30 hourly

be a Registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the State of Florida. To learn more about the positions and to apply please visit www.citrusbocc.com

http://www.stpete.org/jobs

Water Distribution Manager FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT:

https://www.casselberry.org/145/Human-Resources Job Title: Utility Divisions Director Annual Salary: $93,754 - $140,630 We offer a competitive compensation package and affordable health benefits. The City of Casselberry is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For additional information regarding responsibilities or qualifications and to apply, please visit our website.

$78,949 - $122,198/yr.

Utilities Program Coordinator $61,859 - $95,744/yr.

Utilities Electrician $61,234 - $86,163/yr. Utilities Treatment Plant Operator I or Trainee $55,542 - $78,152/yr. or $50,378 - $70,885/yr.

Utilities Mechanical Specialist $47,979 - $67,511/yr. Utilities System Trainee or Operators II & III $41,446, $45,693 - $64,297, $50,378 - $70,885/yr.

Apply Online At: http://pompanobeachfl.gov Open until filled.

60 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Executive Director

Florida Rural Water Association (FRWA) is seeking an applicant to replace the existing Executive Director who is retiring after 35 years. FRWA is a non-profit organization that represents water and wastewater systems throughout the State of Florida. For more information, questions, job description, or to submit your resumé please contact FRWA Attention: Search Committee, 2970 Wellington Circle, Tallahassee, Florida 32309 or Search@FRWA.net, or visit https://www. frwa.net/executive-director-advertisement.

Calling all Wastewater Operators – Join Our Team!

Join one of the fastest growing cities in Central Florida – with a NEW RATE OF PAY! Applicants must hold at least a Class “C” license and a valid driver’s license. Starting Pay Range: $41,810.98 - $45,992.08yr – 10% more if you have a dual license or a Class A or B. Applications online www.wildwood-fl.gov or City Hall, 100 N. Main St, Wildwood, FL 34785 Attn: Marc Correnti EEO/AA/V/H/MF/DFWP.

The Department of Environmental & Engineering Services (DEES) is currently accepting job applications at: https://www.margatefl.com/207/Job-Opportunities

The Coral Springs Improvement District is seeking qualified employees in the following field: Water and Waster Plant Maintenance Manager This individual is expected to have knowledge of electrical, mechanical, building and landscape maintenance. Responsible for overseeing all installation, repair and upkeep operations of the District’s facilities. Has a solid understanding of plumbing and electrical systems as well as carpentry and other crafts. Purchases equipment, materials, and supplies performs cost comparisons for services, equipment, and supplies; performs inventory duties; operates a variety of hand and power tools; operates heavy equipment. Trains and supervises employees of the maintenance department. Salary range: $75,000. - $108,000. Salary to commensurate relative to level of experience in this field. Bachelors degree in engineering or the successful completion from a vocational school is desirable. The completion of a Journeyman’s electrical license is preferred. Experience in a maintenance management roll. Benefits: Excellent benefits which include health, life, disability, dental, vison and a retirement plan which includes a 6% non-contributory defined benefit and matching 457b plan with a 100% match up to 6%. EOE. All positions require a valid Florida Drivers license, high school diploma or GED equivalent, v a satisfactory background check, and must pass a pre-employment drug screen test. Please send resume to jzilmer@csidfl.org or fax resume to 954-753-6328, attention Jan Zilmer, Director of Human Resources.

Village of Tequesta SERVICE TECHNICIAN

Service Technician II: $38,713 - $61,941 Service Technician I: $36,711 - $55,302 The Water Distribution Department seeks a Service Technician. The position requires semi-skilled work in the construction, operation, repair, maintenance & replacement of Village water facilities, distribution & stormwater systems, & water meter reading. Applicants without the required experience and licenses may be considered for a Trainee position. Please visit: https://tequesta.bamboohr.com/careers/131

City of Naples Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent Salary: $74,592 - $112,627 annually

Minimum Training & Experience: High School diploma or GED with some college coursework; three years of progressively responsible management experience in treatment plant operations; possession of a valid Florida Class E driver’s license and Class A Wastewater license. https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/naplesfl

Journeyman Electrician The Coral Springs Improvement District is currently accepting applications for the position of Journeyman Electrician. The qualified applicant must have a high school diploma or equivalent and have a Journeyman Electrical certificate of competency issued by Broward County. Must have a valid Florida Driver’s License, be able to pass a background check and pre-employment drug screening. What The Job Involves: Electricians, under direction, perform work on the installation, repair, and maintenance of high- or low-tension electrical systems for light, power, and communications throughout the facility. They install, repair, replace and maintain electric wiring systems and components, equipment and apparatus within district offices, water, and wastewater facilities. Electrical troubleshooting of motors, VFD’S, PLC, 3-Phase systems, Circuit breakers, etc. Knowledge of electrical tools and equipment, safety precautions used in electrical repair and maintenance including but not limited to Arc Flash & LOTO. CSID Offers: Salary Levels are at the top of the industry. The district has excellent company paid benefits including a 6% noncontributory investment money purchase plan, and voluntary 457 plan with match up to 6%. EOE. Salary: The salary range for this position is $30.94/Hr.- $38.23/Hr. Salaries to commensurate relative to level of licensure and years of experience. Applications may be obtained by visiting our website at www. csidfl.org/resources/employment.html and fax resume to 954-7536329 or Email to Jzilmer@csidfl.org Attention Jan Zilmer, Director of Human Resources.

Florida Water Resources Journal • January 2024 61

SERVING FLORIDA’S WATER AND WASTEWATER INDUSTRY SINCE 1949

Test Yourself Answer Key January 2016

Editorial Calendar January........Wastewater Treatment February.......Water Supply; Alternative Sources March............ Energy Efficiency; Environmental Stewardship April..............Conservation and Reuse May ...............Operations and Utilities Management June.............. Biosolids Management and Bioenergy Production July ...............Stormwater Management; Emerging Technologies August..........Disinfection; Water Quality September... Emerging Issues; Water Resources Management October........ New Facilities, Expansions, and Upgrades November....Water Treatment December.....Distribution and Collection Technical articles are usually scheduled several months in advance and are due 60 days before the issue month (for example, January 1 for the March issue). The closing date for display ad and directory card reservations, notices, announcements, upcoming events, and everything else including classified ads, is 30 days before the issue month (for example, September 1 for the October issue). For further information on submittal requirements, guidelines for writers, advertising rates and conditions, and ad dimensions, as well as the most recent notices, announcements, and classified advertisements, go to www.fwrj.com or call 352-241-6006.

Display Advertiser Index Anue �� 57 Aqua Aerobics �� 17 Blue Planet Environmental Systems 63 CEU Challenge �� 25 Data Flow Systems �� 61 Engineered Pumps �� 13 FJ Nugent �� 29 FSAWWA Drop Savers Contest �� 55 FSAWWA Fall Conference Thank You to Attendees, Exhibitors, and Sponsors �� 44 FSAWWA Fall Conference Thank You to Exhibitors �� 48 FSAWWA Fall Conference Thank You to Gold Sponsors �� 47 FSAWWA Fall Conference Thank You to Platinum Sponsors � 46 FSAWWA Fall Conference Thank You to Premier Sponsors �� 45

FSAWWA Membership Thank You �� 54 FWPCOA Training Calendar �� 31 Florida Water Resources Conference ��34-35 Gerber Pumps �� 9 Grant and Funding Solutions �� 51 Heyward �� 2 Hudson Pump & Equipment �� 49 Hydro International �� 5 Lakeside �� 7 PolyProcessing �� 41 Smith & Loveless �� 43 UF TREEO Center �� 59 US Submergent �� 33 Water Treatment & Controls �� 50 Xylem �� 64

62 January 2024 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Continued from page 16 1. D ) Middelkerke, Belgium. In 1902, the city of Middelkerke, Belgium, began the continuous use of chlorination for the disinfection of drinking water. 2. D ) Jersey City, N.J. In 1908 the first city within the United Staes to disinfect drinking water with continuous chlorination was Jersey City, N.J. 3. C) calcium hypochlorite. The form of chlorine first used in the application of continuous chlorination was calcium hypochlorite. 4. C ) Philadelphia, Penn. In 1913 the first city to use liquid chlorine gas on a permanent basis was Philadelphia, Penn. 5. A) 85 percent. By 1941 85 percent of the drinking water supplies within the United States were chlorinated. 6. B ) ozone. By the 1970s ozone was the preferred primary disinfectant in the majority of mainland Europe. 7. A ) Cryptosporidium parvum. Cryptosporidium parvum is the source of a waterborne disease that has not been proven to be deactivated or disinfected by chlorine. 8. D ) disinfection. Disinfection is essential to the overall effectiveness of the removal or deactivation of pathogenic bacteria. 9. C) trihalomethanes. In the 1970s it was discovered that free chlorine reacts with natural organic matter to form trihalomethanes. 10. B) free chlorine. The disinfectant that produces the greatest number of known byproducts is free chlorine.

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