Florida Water Resources Journal - March 2024

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Florida Water Resources Journal

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Business Office: 1402 Emerald Lakes Drive, Clermont, FL 34711

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Published by BUENA VISTA PUBLISHING for Florida Water Resources Journal, Inc.

President: Richard Anderson (FSAWWA)

Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority

Vice President: Joe Paterniti (FWEA)

Clay County Utility Authority

Treasurer: Rim Bishop (FWPCOA)

Seacoast Utility Authority

Secretary: Mish Clark Mish Agency

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The Post Office will not forward your magazine. Do not count on getting the Journal unless you notify us directly of address changes by the 15th of the month preceding the month of issue. Please do not telephone address changes. Email changes to changes@fwrj.com or mail to Florida Water Resources Journal, 1402 Emerald Lakes Drive, Clermont, FL 34711

Membership Questions

FSAWWA: Casey Cumiskey – 407-979-4806 or fsawwa.casey@gmail.com

FWEA: Karen Wallace, Executive Manager – 407-574-3318

FWPCOA: Darin Bishop – 561-840-0340

Training Questions

FSAWWA: Donna Metherall – 407-979-4805 or fsawwa.donna@gmail.com

FWPCOA: Shirley Reaves – 321-383-9690

For Other Information

DEP Operator Certification: Ron McCulley – 850-245-7500

FSAWWA: Peggy Guingona – 407-979-4820

Florida Water Resources Conference: 407-363-7751

FWPCOA Operators Helping Operators:

John Lang – 772-559-0722, e-mail – oho@fwpcoa.org

FWEA: Karen Wallace, Executive Manager – 407-574-3318

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

we state we are using the names only

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

The water and wastewater sectors have been impacted by various cyber events, including unauthorized access and ransomware. Continued compromises or failures of the sectors to address this issue could cause cascading impacts across critical infrastructure. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently published a guide to assist water and wastewater industry owners, managers, and operators with best practices for cyber incident response and information about roles, resources, and responsibilities for each stage of the response lifecycle.

The guide outlines how water utilities can expect to work with federal partners as they prepare for, respond to, and mitigate the impact of a cyber incident. It aims to enhance water and wastewater cybersecurity by:

S Establishing clear guidance for reporting cyber incidents.

S Connecting utilities with available cybersecurity resources, services, and nocost trainings.

S Empowering utilities to build a strong cybersecurity baseline to improve cyber resilience and cyber hygiene.

S Encouraging utilities to coordinate with their local cyber communities.

Stages of Incident Response

Developed in collaboration with over 25 water and wastewater industry, nonprofit, and state and local government partners, this resource covers the four stages of the incident response lifecycle.

Federal Agencies Release Cyber Incident Response Guide for Water and Wastewater Systems

Preparation

Water and wastewater organizations should have an incident response plan in place, implement available services and resources to raise their cyber baseline, and engage with those in the cyber community.

Detection and Analysis

Accurate and timely reporting and rapid collective analysis are essential to understand the full scope and impact of a cyber incident. The guide provides information on validating an incident, reporting levels, and available technical analysis and support.

Containment, Eradication, and Recovery

While water and wastewater utilities are conducting their incident response plans, federal partners are focusing on coordinated messaging and information sharing, along with remediation and mitigation assistance.

Postincident Activities

Evidence retention, using collected incident data, and

lessons learned are the overarching elements for a proper analysis of an incident and how responders handled it.

Threats to the Industry Continue

“Water and wastewater systems are under constant threat from malicious cyber actors. This timely and actionable guide reflects an outstanding partnership among industry, nonprofit, and government partners that came together with EPA, FBI, and CISA to support this industry. We encourage every related entity to review this joint guide and implement its recommended actions,” says Eric Goldstein, CISA executive assistant director for cybersecurity. “This year, CISA will continue to focus on taking every action possible to support ‘target-rich, cyber-poor’ entities, like water and wastewater utilities, by providing actionable resources and encouraging all organizations to report cyber incidents. Our regional team

members across the Unites States will continue to engage with water and wastewater sector partners to provide access to CISA’s voluntary services, such as enrollment in our vulnerability scanning, and serve as a resource for continued improvement.”

“The water and wastewater systems sector is a vital part of our critical infrastructure, and the FBI will continue to combat cyber actors who threaten it,” says Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBI cyber division. “A key part of our cyber strategy is building strong partnerships and sharing threat information with the owners and operators of critical infrastructure before they are hit with an attack.”

Cyber threats to the water sector represent a real and urgent risk to safe drinking water and wastewater services that the U.S. relies on, according to Radhika Fox, EPA assistant administrator for water. “The incident response guide assists utilities with approaches for collaboration with federal entities on lowering cyber risk in our nation’s drinking water and wastewater systems. The EPA is committed to working with federal, state, and water sector partners to increase resilience and improve safeguarding practices.”

All water and wastewater utilities are encouraged to use the incident response guide to augment their cybersecurity planning and collaborate with federal partners before, during, and following a cyber incident.

For more information and resources, utilities are encouraged to visit CISA’s water and wastewater systems cybersecurity webpage at www.cisa.gov. S

Groundwater Recharge, Minimum Flow Levels, and Water Quality Compliance Via Nature-Based Design at Lake Eva

Ann Redmond

The Lake Eva and Lake Henry Restoration Project is being completed by the City of Haines City (city) and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and is being cooperatively funded by SWFWMD Project No. N830.

A series of technical memorandums addressing existing data collection; data acquisition, analysis, and modeling; analysis of existing watershed conditions; evaluation of feasible restoration alternatives; and conceptual design were completed to support project development.

This project evaluated concepts identified in SWFWMD’s Peace Creek Canal Watershed (PCW) work and other concepts developed by the team from Brown and Caldwell and the city to implement feasible solutions to connect Lake Henry and Lake Eva through

natural systems, such as wetlands, private canal systems through Morrison Ranch, and a drainage canal maintained by the Haines City Water Control District. The project focuses on how best to meet regional integrated water resources needs.

Through meeting regional integrated water resources needs, including restoring regional surface waters, improving water quality, optimizing water retention within the watershed, and alleviating flooding, the project has the potential to be a legacy project for the city. This project is consistent with local and national One Water strategic initiatives and aligns with the historical goal of restoring the PCW and retaining more water in the Polk County area. It also aligns with the goals of the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) and addresses integrated watershed

Ann Redmond, CEP, is southeastern US practice leader—water resources at Brown & Caldwell in Orlando.

management outlined in Florida’s legislative directive regarding the expansion of beneficial uses of stormwater and excess surface water.

The CFWI is a collaborative water supply planning effort among the state’s three largest water management districts, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), and water utilities, environmental groups, business organizations, agricultural communities, and other stakeholders.

The following priorities were identified for this project:

S Meet Lake Eva minimum level and low guidance level set by SWFWMD

S Improve water quality in Lake Eva

S Enhance and improve natural systems

S Improve groundwater recharge and potentially obtain water supply credits from SWFWMD

S Improve flood protection in the vicinity of Lake Henry while protecting recreational opportunities

Additionally, the city identified the following primary project objectives:

S Improve Lake Eva water quality to eliminate the need for a total maximum daily load (TMDL)

S Connect Lake Henry and Lake Eva through natural systems

S Increase the water supply to Lake Eva to meet SWFWMD guidance levels

S Improve flood protection for the Lake Henry subwatershed as needed while protecting water recreation opportunities

S Enhance natural systems/wetland areas between the two lakes

S Retain water in natural systems, increase

Figure 1. Lake Eva and Lake Henry study area proposed condition flow location map.

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Magna Rotor Aerators & Accessories

Sequencing Batch Reactors

Package Treatment Plants

Submersible Mixers & Recirculation Pumps

Continued from page 6

groundwater recharge, and receive water supply credits

The city also identified these key project issues:

S Land ownership: reduce need for easements or land acquisition

S Desired route for natural system connection between lakes: least resistance

S Locate areas suitable for groundwater recharge

S Select prime areas for natural systems protection and enhancement

S Cost-effectiveness and ease of operation and maintenance

S Achieve resource benefits and mitigate existing impacts as part of CFWI directive

S Stakeholder and community involvement: balance competing interests

S Integrated water resources planning: balance water between resources

S Achieve water quality treatment in conveyance and natural systems

Alternatives Considered and Analyzed

Five alternatives were developed for the project. For all of the alternatives, project elements included constructing a diversion weir on the Haines City Canal, diverting excess surface runoff to restored wetlands and Lake Eva, wetland restoration, aquifer recharge, stormwater best management practices (BMPs) retrofits for urban areas discharging to Lake Eva, and revegetation of Lake Eva. The alternatives varied primarily based on the location of the diversion and the location and extent of wetland restoration.

For any of the alternatives, the following could be added:

S Aesthetic channel improvements (create slough, meander/benches/vegetation)

S Channel plantings/vegetative stabilization

S Recreational trails and educational signage

Figure 1 provides an aerial view of the

project area with key hydrologic features and proposed condition surface water flow directions.

To create different options, the diversion weir was designed to be placed as follows:

S Just downstream of the intersection of the Haines City Canal and the canal leading to Lake Eva

S Downstream of the intersection of the Haines City Canal and the canal leading to Lake Henry

S On the Haines City Canal immediately upstream of CR 544

S On the Haines City Canal just upstream of SR 27

With each alternative, different historical wetland areas upstream of the diversion and adjacent to the channels were selected for restoration. With the diversion just downstream of the connection to the Lake Eva discharge channel, only surface water from the north and northwest could be diverted to Lake Eva. With the diversion weir downstream of the Lake Henry discharge channel, surface water from the north, northwest, and Lake Henry could be diverted to Lake Eva. This would provide a potentially more-reliable water source. The wetland restoration area for all alternatives used only existing historical wetlands with 100 percent hydric soils (Hontoon and Samsula mucks).

The five alternatives included stormwater BMPs retrofits for the major outfalls discharging into the northern, eastern, and western sides Lake Eva. This is to reduce the stormwater nutrient load to Lake Eva and improve surface water quality. The total contributing drainage area is approximately 540 acres. These areas contain Candler sands that are zero percent hydric, with low fines content, excessively drained, and with rapid permeability. At the request of the city, only subsurface practices were considered. Infiltration BMPs retrofits are planned to take advantage of the sandy soils in the area. Stormwater runoff flowing in existing storm pipes would be diverted into the proposed/

modified BMPs. Runoff in excess of the capacity of the BMPs will continue in the existing storm pipes and discharge to Lake Eva.

The project team, including staff from the city, SWFWMD, Brown and Caldwell, and Applied Sciences, met to review, discuss, and select two alternatives for more-in-depth analysis. The selected wetland restoration alternatives are shown in Figures 2 and 3 and the selected stormwater BMPs retrofits to accompany either wetland restoration option are shown in Figures 4 and 5. The BMPs retrofits include two gross pollutant removal structures and six underground infiltration systems.

The primary differences between the two selected wetland restoration options include the location of the diversion on the Haines City Canal and the proposed wetland restoration area. With Option 1, only excess surface discharge from the north and northwest will be retained in the restored wetland and available for aquifer recharge on land and in Lake Eva. Approximately 64 acres of existing wetland area will be restored. Option 2 will also capture excess surface water discharge from Lake Henry and therefore increase the potential for wetland rehydration and aquifer recharge. More than twice the wetland acreage (145 acres) will be restored. For these options, most of the project would be located on the Morrison Ranch property, with a portion also on the Sunset Chase Homeowners Association property. Access could be from US 27 and Peninsula Drive, which is located at the eastern edge of the proposed wetland restoration area just west of Lake Eva.

With both options, the boundary of wetland restoration will be at the existing 121 ft North American Vertical Datum (NAVD) 88 elevation contour and within the historical wetland and zone of muck soils. The top elevation of the earthen diversion weir will be at approximately 120.5 ft NAVD 88. Limited grading in the existing wetland is proposed since the existing grade is at approximately 120 ft NAVD 88. Some grading of the channels to create a slough is proposed, along with excavation of some deeper pools for sediment accumulation and wildlife habitat.

Filling in the proposed wetland restoration area is only anticipated to construct the diversion weir, the wooded hummock rise on the northern side of the restored wetland, and portions of an access trail around the restored wetland. The trail could also be used for recreation. An operable control structure is proposed as part of the diversion feature to provide more flexibility

Continued on page 10

Table 1 Lake Eva Restoration Project Wetland Target Communities and Acreages

Table 1. Lake Eva Restoration Project Wetland Target Communities and Acreages

Continued from page 8

in controlling upstream water levels and water release. A box culvert will connect to the operable control structure and extend through the weir to convey flow downstream in the Haines City Canal. The earthen weir for both options is wide enough to convey substantial flow downstream with minimal water depth over the weir. Cleaning and some regrading of the existing channel is needed from Peninsula Drive to Lake Eva to allow proper flow of the water into and out of the lake.

The wetland restoration plan will convert the onsite pastures, ditches, and degraded wetlands to freshwater marshes, wetland swamp forest, and sloughs. It will also enhance the conditions of existing freshwater marshes and wetland swamp forest. Table 1 depicts the types of restoration activities to be completed by acreage for each option. Acreages will be refined as the design progresses.

Analysis of Aquifer Recharge Potential

Lake Eva is located in the western portion of the Lake Wales Ridge. The hydrogeology of this area includes a sand surficial aquifer, a clay confining unit perforated by karst features (sinkholes), and the thick carbonate Floridan aquifer. The majority of lakes within the ridge, including Lake Eva, are sinkhole lakes that originated through collapse of solutionenlarged features in the underlying Floridan aquifer. These sinkhole lakes provide avenues for water from the lakes and the surficial aquifer to recharge the underlying Floridan aquifer. The amount of vertical leakage from the lakes depends on the downward head gradient between the lake and the surficial and Floridan aquifers and the presence of the intermediate confining unit. This unit consists of interbedded clay, silt, phosphate, and sand, and its composition and thickness can be highly variable across the ridge.

An important aspect of this project was to estimate the increase in recharge to the surficial and Floridan aquifers from lake augmentation resulting from the implementation of Options 1 and 2, which are predicted to provide an additional 615 acre ft and 628 acre ft of flow, respectively, into Lake Eva.

The increase in recharge to the surficial and Floridan aquifers related to augmentation was calculated using SWFWMD’s Lake Eva water budget model, which was developed to assist SWFWMD with the establishment of minimum and guidance levels for the lake. The model is a spreadsheet-based tool that includes natural hydrologic processes and engineered alterations acting on the control volume of the lake. The control volume consists of the free water surface within the lake extending down to the elevation of the greatest lake depth. Using light detection and ranging (LiDAR), which is an active remote sensing system, and bathymetry data, a stage-volume curve was derived for the lake that produced a unique

Figure 2. Option 1 wetland restoration element for Lake Eva.

Figure 3. Option 2 wetland restoration element for Lake Eva.

lake stage for any total water volume within the control volume.

The calculations for the increase in recharge to the surficial and Floridan aquifers resulting from augmenting the lake are provided. The model provides the increase in surface area of the lake for the two different augmentation volumes, and the increase in vertical leakage resulting from a greater head gradient produced by the higher lake level.

Option 1: 615 Acre Feet per Year

Augmentation

Surficial aquifer - The average lake surface area over the simulation period was 157 acres. Augmenting the lake with 615 acre ft of water per year increases the lake surface area to 169 acres and increases downward leakage from 7.7 in. per year to 34.6 in. per year. Multiplying the 169-acre surface area of the lake by total in. per year of leakage produces an additional 390 acre ft (127 mil gal) of recharge per year.

Floridan aquifer - The average lake surface area over the simulation period was 157 acres. Augmenting the lake with 615 acre ft of water per year increases the lake surface area to 169

acres and increases downward leakage from 15 in. per year to 19 in. per year. Multiplying the 169-acre surface area of the lake by 19.5 in. per year of leakage produces an additional 79 acre ft (26 mil gal) of recharge per year.

Option 2: 628 Acre Feet per Year

Augmentation

Surficial aquifer - The average lake surface area over the simulation period was 157 acres. Augmenting the lake with 628 acre ft per year of water increases the lake surface area to 170 acres and increases downward leakage from 7.7 in. per year to 35.2 in. per year. Multiplying the 170-acre surface area of the lake by 35.2 in. per year of leakage produces an additional 397 acre ft (129 mil gal) of recharge per year.

Floridan aquifer - The average lake surface area over the simulation period was 157 acres. Augmenting the lake with an additional 628 acre ft per year of water increases the lake surface area to 170 acres and increases downward leakage from 15 in. per year to 19.6 in. per year. Multiplying the 170-acre surface area of the lake by 19.6 in. per year of leakage

produces an additional 81 acre ft (26 mil gal) of recharge per year.

Estimated Nutrient Load Reductions

Reducing watershed nutrient loads is proposed to improve surface water quality. For this project, nutrient load reductions will be provided by the restored wetland and the stormwater BMPs retrofits. For the stormwater BMPs retrofits, subsurface storage in pipes and the surrounding sandy soils are expected to provide a total of about 8 acre ft of storage in six BMPs. Some of these are existing BMPs and others are located under existing green space. Approximately 0.25 in. of runoff retention will be provided when considering storage volume combined with infiltration occurring during storm events due to the extensive surface area and sandy soils. During final design, the stormwater BMPs retrofits will be refined. For some existing BMPs, it may be possible to increase the BMPs depth to increase the additional storage volume provided and reduce the required BMPs retrofit surface area. Continued on page 12

Figure 4. Proposed stormwater best management practices retrofits on the north end of Lake Eva.

Figure 5. Proposed stormwater best management practices retrofits on the south end of Lake Eva.

Pollutant removal efficiency for infiltration BMPs is a function of the runoff volume retained and the total average annual runoff volume. Based on retaining 0.25 in. in runoff for this specific contributing watershed area, 70 percent pollutant/nutrient removal efficiency is predicted. This is based on the contributing watershed characteristics: 11 percent directly connected impervious area (DCIA), a non-DCIA curve number of 61, and location in Zone 2. The existing and resulting proposed Lake Eva stormwater pollutant loads and estimated average annual load reductions are listed in Table 2.

These load reductions do not consider treatment and additional load reduction achieved by the proposed gross pollutant removal structures on three of the primary stormwater outfalls to Lake Eva. Because of the location of some of the BMPs in close proximity to Lake Eva, actual load reductions may be somewhat less than the predicted 70 percent. Regardless, retention of the first 0.25 in. of runoff from the urban watershed, in conjunction with the gross pollutant removal structures, is expected to produce measurable load reductions and water quality improvement.

As previously stated, performance efficiency of the restored wetland is largely a

Continued from page 11 3 Average

function of hydraulic loading rate combined with influent pollutant concentrations. Key information used to estimate pollutant load reductions for the constructed wetland are shown in Table 3. Influent concentrations of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) are based on actual measurements from Lake Henry. The total suspended solids (TSS) influent concentration is based on the primary land uses in the watershed and the assumption that 50 percent discharges into the canal surface water system. The water volumes are directly from the Interconnected Pond and Channel Routing Version 4 (ICPRv4) model results and the recharge analysis described earlier in this section. Estimated average annual load reductions are calculated as the annual water volume (2,588 acre ft) times the mean pollutant concentration reduction.

Lake Eva Water Quality

As discussed in the previous section, the stormwater BMPs retrofits will reduce pollutant loads to Lake Eva. Using the Vollenweider phosphorus limitation model (for the existing condition), the expected proposed condition was analyzed for in-lake TP concentration.

Because additional surface water from the watershed will be diverted to Lake Eva

with either option, the additional load from that volume has to be considered. The estimated additional TP load to Lake Eva is approximately 38 kilograms (kg) during an average rainfall year. Considering the TP load reduction because of the stormwater BMPs retrofits is 100 kg/yr, in conjunction with the additional 38 kg, the expected watershed TP load to Lake Eva is 156 kg/yr (original 218 kg/ yr – 100 kg/yr + 38 kg/yr).

Lake morphological characteristics, as well as results of the hydrologic and phosphorus budgets, are used as inputs to the lake nutrient model. Lake Eva morphological characteristics will change with either option, resulting in higher average lake water surface elevations. This in turn increases the lake water surface area, total water volume, and flushing rate. The new values include a lake surface area of 170 acres, normal water volume of 1,495 acre ft at elevation 118.8 ft NAVD 88, and mean depth of 8.8 ft, or 2.7 meters.

The predicted Lake Eva in-lake TP concentration of 17 μg/L is 37 percent lower than the calculated existing condition in-lake TP concentration of 27 μg/L. This is expected to improve lake trophic status from eutrophic to mesotrophic.

Stormwater BMPs retrofits are expected to reduce the average annual TN load to Lake Eva by approximately 667 kg. Considering the estimated average annual TN load of 619 kg from the additional 628 acre ft of surface water conveyed to Lake Eva, the net TN reduction to Lake Eva is approximately 48 kg/ yr. In addition to the TN load reduction, the project statistical analysis indicated a strong correlation between improved Lake Eva water quality and higher lake levels. The reduced nutrient loads, combined with sustaining a higher water surface elevation and water volume in Lake Eva, are expected to improve Lake Eva water quality. Planting additional desirable vegetation in Lake Eva is also proposed, which will increase nutrient uptake and the potential for surface water quality improvement.

Preferred Alternative

Both options were discussed in detail and Option 2 was selected by the city and SWFWMD as the preferred alternative for design. Option 2 provides more than twice the wetland restoration area, substantially more wetland functional gain, ranked higher using the prioritization methodology and the CFI cost-benefit analysis, and the estimated construction cost is only about 10 percent more than Option 1. S

Table 2. Estimated Average Annual Stormwater Best Management

Table 3. Estimated Average Annual Wetland Restoration Pollutant Concentration and Load

Table 3. Estimated Average Annual Wetland Restoration Pollutant Concentration and Load Reduction1

Proclamation (Name of county/city entity) (Location)

WHEREAS, water is a basic and essential need of every living creature; and

WHEREAS, the state of Florida, water management districts, and (your name) are working together to increase awareness about the importance of water conservation; and

WHEREAS, (your city or county name) and the state of Florida have designated April, typically a dry month when water demands are most acute, as Florida’s Water Conservation Month, to educate citizens about how they can help save Florida’s precious water resources; and

WHEREAS, (your name) has always encouraged and supported water conservation, through various educational programs and special events; and

WHEREAS, every business, industry, school, and citizen can make a difference when it comes to conserving water; and

WHEREAS, every business, industry, school, and citizen can help by saving water and thus promote a healthy economy and community; and

WHEREAS, outdoor irrigation comprises a large portion of water use, (your name) will encourage citizens and businesses to focus on improving outdoor irrigation efficiency;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that by virtue of the authority vested in me as (chair, mayor, etc.) of (your city or county name) and (commissioners or council members, etc.) do hereby proclaim the month of April as

Water Conservation Month

(your city or county name), Florida is calling upon each citizen and business to help protect our precious resource by practicing water saving measures and becoming more aware of the need to save water. For this, the 26th year of Water Conservation Month, there will be a special focus on improving outdoor irrigation efficiency.

Celebrate Water Conservation!

Cassidy Hampton

April is Water Conservation Month in Florida

2024 is the 26-year anniversary since April was first established as Water Conservation Month in Florida. During this time, we have made great strides toward understanding the impacts of water efficiency and water conservation programs. To recognize these efforts, the Florida Section AWWA (FSAWWA), in coordination with Florida’s water management districts (WMDs) and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), are once again asking local governments,

water utilities, and other organizations to adopt a resolution or proclamation declaring April as Water Conservation Month. Now, more than ever, water conservation is becoming extremely important across our great state, and what better way to spread the word than encouraging your organization to proclaim April as Water Conservation Month.

Make Your Voice Heard

It’s important that you add your Water Conservation Month proclamation to the statewide list. Each year, FSAWWA

Continued on page 14

Continued from page 13

works with the state governor and cabinet to proclaim “April as Water Conservation Month.” By adopting Water Conservation Month and adding your proclamation to the Florida list, you are letting our elected officials know just how important water efficiency and water conservation practices are to

local governments, water utilities, and other organizations in the state.

We are asking that utilities throughout Florida adopt this proclamation and get your efforts in water conservation recognized!

For this, the 26th year of bringing attention to water conservation, FSAWWA is again including a theme, which for 2024 is “Outdoor

Irrigation.” We are asking utilities and local governments to include an emphasis on improving outdoor irrigation efficiency as an important action for conserving this precious resource.

To add your proclamation to the statewide list of entities proclaiming Water Conservation Month this year, please email your proclamation and its adoption date to Jenny Arguello at jenny@fsawwa.org.

The due date for the proclamations is March 31, 2024.

Your continued support of water conservation and water use efficiency in Florida through participation in this 26th annual event is appreciated!

Other Florida Water Conservation Activities

Water Conservation Awards for Excellence

This annual awards program of the FSAWWA Water Use Efficiency Division (WUED) recognizes innovative and outstanding achievements in water efficiency throughout Florida.

Entries will be evaluated based on the following:

S Defined goal and objective(s)

S Identification and quantification of key result(s)

S Description of any “lessons learned”

S Future plans for results and “lessons learned”

S Innovation within the field of water efficiency or the population served

Water Use Efficiency Division

Belonging to a group of dedicated conservation professionals can assist public water supply utilities in implementing costeffective demand management programs. The WUED of FSAWWA offers that opportunity. Study after study has shown that properly planned implementation of water conservation best management practices can enhance a utility’s water supply at costs far below that of other alternative water supplies.

Water Means Everything!

For our future generations, we need to conserve today. Be a responsible steward of our water community: educate, empower, inform, and enlighten!

For more information go to the section website at www.fsawwa.org.

Cassidy Hampton is chair of the FSAWWA Water Use Efficiency Division. S

RECAP OF 2023 FSAWWA FALL CONFERENCE

2023 FSAWWA Fall Conference: Resiliency, Protecting Our Legacies

Peggy Guingona

The Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (FSAWWA) celebrated its 97th year of commitment and dedication to the world’s most important resource by hosting its 29th Fall Conference, with the theme, “Resiliency, Protecting Our Legacies,” from November 26 to 29 at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate.

The yearly event attracted 2450 attendees, including operators, water utility executives and managers, engineers, educators, manufacturers, consultants, students, and others from the water profession. A total of 165 exhibit booths and 17 tabletops were sold.

There were lots of opportunities to meet old colleagues and make new friends at the continental breakfasts, lunches, meet-and-greet receptions, committee meetings, Poker Night and Happy Hour, Duck Race, Par3 Golf event, and annual BBQ Challenge and reception to welcome the FSAWWA’s incoming chair for 2024, Marjorie Craig.

Opening General Session

The Opening General Session (OGS) on Monday afternoon is one of the conference’s must-attend events and has been a part of the conference since 2013. Greg Taylor, FSAWWA chair, welcomed the attendees to the OGS and introduced Brent Tippey, AWWA vice president and visiting officer. Tippey presented an update on association events and priorities.

Opening General Session Topic: The Water Workforce–What’s Working, What’s Not, And Who Do We Want to Be When We Grow Up?

The 2023 panel of speakers included:

Moderator:

S Marjorie Craig, FSAWWA chair-elect, Village of Tequesta

Panelists:

S Fred Bloetscher, Ph.D., P.E., associate dean of civil, environmental, and geomatics engineering, Florida Atlantic University

S Rob Williamson, senior project manager, Evergreen Solutions LLC

Topics:

S What does the next generation want?

S How do we separate ourselves as an industry to attract workers to the industry?

S Where are we, what do we need, and what do we want to be when we grow up? What is the vision?

BBQ Challenge and Incoming Chair’s Reception

On Monday evening, the conference held the ninth BBQ Challenge, open to all attendees. It was also an opportunity to introduce and welcome the incoming FSAWWA chair, Marjorie Craig (for more information, see page xx).

Technical Program

Each year, through the dedicated efforts of Dr. Fred Bloetscher, an excellent technical program is presented. Specialty workshops,

through the efforts of Dr. Bina Nayak, were offered on Mondays, as they have been in the past.

The nine Monday workshops were:

S Legislative and Regulatory Updates

S Water and Electricity Don’t Mix, but Water and Cybersecurity Do

S SCADA 101

S PFAS Experiences From Other States

S GIS/Asset Management

S Financial Resiliency

S SCADA Armor: Because Even PLCs Need a Good Hug!

S Communications: It’s Not One Size Fits All

S MAC’s Utility Systems Symposium: After the Tap - Wastewater Conveyance

The technical sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday focused on the conference’s theme.

The sessions included:

S Potable Reuse

S Asset Management

S Lead and Copper

OPENING GENERAL SESSION

Continued on page 16

Greg Taylor welcomes attendees to the opening general session.

Brent Tippey, AWWA vice president, updates attendees on association events.

Marjorie Craig introduces the panelists.

Rob Williamson in action.

Fred Bloetscher makes a point.

The opening general session attendees watch the presentations.

RECAP OF 2023 FSAWWA FALL CONFERENCE

TECHNICAL PROGRAM

EXHIBITS

MEETING IN SESSION

Continued from page 15

S SEDA/AMTA Membrane

S People

S Water Distribution/Water Quality

S PFAS/PFOS

S Climate and Resiliency

S Contractors Council: State of the Industry

S Navigating Unprecedented Challenges

S Utility Management

S PFAS 2

S Water Treatment

S Water Conservation Symposium: Adapting to Change in Water Use Efficiency

Exhibits

The exhibit hall, which had 165 booth spaces and 17 tabletops, allowed attendees to network and learn about the latest and most innovative products and services in the water industry. Company representatives were available daily to help attendees solve their problems and meet future challenges.

Meetings

2022-2023 FSAWWA Board of Directors

The FSAWWA Executive Committee held its meeting on Sunday morning, followed by the board of governors meeting in the afternoon, with 33 board members present and other active volunteers attending. This is where the real work of the section is planned for the following year.

Three special guests from AWWA were present:

S Brent Tippey, AWWA vice president

S Chi Ho Sham, AWWA past president

S Michelle Hektor, AWWA senior manager of development and donor relations

Other Section-Related Meetings

The FSAWWA’s councils and committees also held meetings. There’s a group for almost every water topic. Photos of one such meeting are shown.

Meetings are also held at other section events throughout the year.

High School Academy Students Learn About Careers in Water

For the eighth year, the FSAWWA High School Academy Initiative Committee invited high school students from Heritage High School Academy of Environmental Water in Palm Bay, Lake Brantley High School, Seminole High School in Pinellas County, and University High School in Orlando to attend the conference.

Marjorie Craig drawing the winning ticket.

This initiative supports an education program that will provide a career for a high school graduate—not just a job. The committee’s goal is to have “job-ready” high school graduates who may not be able to (or want to) go to college.

The goals of the initiative are to:

S Understand and communicate the need for operators.

S Support the development of new and existing operators.

As part of this initiative, FSAWWA supports three technical high schools in Florida that provide four years of coursework and training to prepare students to take the Class C license operator exam.

Around 100 students attended the conference on Tuesday, November 29, accompanied by school staff, and 24 section volunteers participated! As part of their schedule for the day, they attended a lunch with a roundtable discussion that included a panel of experienced and new operators to discuss their careers in operations and management. They also visited the exhibit hall.

The lunch sponsors were:

S Hydromax USA

S H20-KnowledgePro

S KMAC Consulting

S Orlando Utilities Commission

S Toho Water Authority

Wharton Smith provided students with safety vests. Atkins provided the posters.

RECAP OF 2023 FSAWWA FALL CONFERENCE

Middle School Full STEA2M Youth Program

Jackie Torbert, past AWWA vice president and past FSAWWA chair, introduced the middle school science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) program at the FSAWWA Fall Conference in 2018.

Students were welcomed to the conference to share the value of water and the rewarding opportunities to work in an industry that provides that water. When students study the STEA2M subjects (which now includes agriculture), they learn that the water industry finds better ways to provide this important resource, ensuring that it’s sustained for future generations. They enjoyed lunch, as well, sponsored by Toho Water.

At some point in the future, we hope they will consider a career in the water industry.

Awards

The section’s annual business luncheon and awards ceremony celebrated the current roster of statewide officers and inducted the new officers for 2023-2024. Awards were also given for the best papers and the outstanding volunteers in the water field. See pages xx-xx for award recipients.

Contests

Several contests, with both team and individual competitors, were held.

HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMY

“Best of the Best” Water Taste Test

A statewide tap water taste contest was held at the conference. The competition brings together all the regional state winners to compete for the “Best of the Best” Water Taste Test title. The judging is all subjective and is not scientific in any way.

The regional winners were:

S Region I – City of Tallahassee

S Region II – Clay County Utilities

S Region III – City of Winter Garden

S Region IV – City of Zephyrhills

S Region V – Ave Maria Utility Company

S Region VI – Seminole Tribe of Florida

Hollywood

S Region VII – North Miami Beach Water

S Region VIII – Seminole Tribe of Florida

Brighton

S Region IX – Regional Utilities of Walton County

S Region X – Sarasota County

S Region XI – City of Ocala

S Region XII – Bay County Utilities

The judges were:

S Brent Tippey, AWWA vice president

S Chi Ho Sham, AWWA past president

S Marjorie Craig, FSAWWA chair-elect

S Suzanne Mechler, FWEA president

All the judges based their scores on the taste, color, odor, and clarity of the 12 samples, one from each FSAWWA region.

Continued on page 18

RECAP OF 2023 FSAWWA FALL CONFERENCE

FULL STEA2M YOUTH PROGRAM

Continued from page 17

The event emcees were:

S Terri Holcomb, Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority

S Greg Taylor, Wright-Pierce Inc.

City of Zephyrhills was the declared winner, which will represent Florida Section AWWA at the taste test competition held at ACE24, AWWA’s annual conference and exposition, in Anaheim, Calif., in June 2024!

Water Bowl

Winner: University of Central Florida

The University of Central Florida (UCF) retained the champion title at the 2023 Young Professionals Water Bowl and has been the champion for the past eight years. Three UCF teams, one University of Florida (UF) team, and one team from the University of South Florida (USF) competed for the title in the singleelimination competition format.

The contest is modeled after the classic “College Bowl” television quiz. Team members

WATER TASTE TEST

The four judges (from left to right) are Chi Ho Sham, Marjorie Craig, Brent Tippey, and Suzanne Mechler.

Terri Holcomb doing her part as emcee of the contest.

Russell Ferlita (right) accepting the permanent trophy for Citrus County, with Greg Taylor (left) and the four judges sharing the limelight.

Greg Taylor (far right) presents the traveling trophy to representatives from City of Zephyrhills.

Attendees at the water taste contest.

RECAP OF 2023 FSAWWA FALL CONFERENCE

WATER BOWL

POSTER CONTEST

were asked questions about the water industry, encompassing water chemistry, operations, and the design of treatment systems.

Emma Johnson, Young Professionals Committee chair, with the help of other volunteers, facilitated the event.

Poster Contest

Winner: University of South Florida

Sheyla Chero-Osorio from USF was the 2023 Fresh Ideas poster competition winner. Her poster’s title: “Combining Ion Exchange and Deammonification for Sustainable Ammonium Removal from Mainstream Wastewater.”

By winning the competition, Sheyla receives a trip to ACE24, to be held in June in Anaheim, Calif. She will compete with contest winners from other AWWA sections across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.

Operator Events

Hydrant Hysteria

Hydrant Hysteria is a fast-paced two-person competition to determine who can assemble a fire hydrant in the fastest time. Two or more teams go head-to-head while assembling the hydrant to see who will be crowned Hydrant Hysteria champion. In 2023, there were two women’s teams from JEA that participated.

Event Winners for Men

First Place: JEA

Second Place: Toho Water

Third Place: Clay County Utility Authority

The first-place winner, JEA, qualified to compete at ACE24 in Anaheim, Calif., in June to compete in the AWWA competition.

Continued on page 20

METER CHALLENGE

First-place winners (left to right) are Gabriela Ford, Christopher Hagglund, and Nino Stea.

The UCF team members (left to right) are Emma Johnson, Gabriela Ford, Dr. Steve Duranceau, Nino Stea, Christopher Hagglund, and Meera McKie.

Sheyla Chero-Osorio with her winning poster.

HYDRANT HYSTERIA

Men’s first-place team from JEA.

Men’s second-place team from Toho Water.

Men’s third-place team from Clay County Utility Authority.

Women’s first-place team from JEA. JEA Hydrant Hysteria teams.

First-place winner Brian Rodriguez.

The top three winners are (left to right) Dante Wynds, City of West Palm Beach; Brian Rodriguez, FKAA; and Elijah Woods, FKAA.

RECAP OF 2023 FSAWWA FALL CONFERENCE

Continued from page 19

Event Winner for Women

First Place: JEA

Facilitators for this event were:

S Seth Daniel, Clow Valve

S Mike George, R&M Service Solutions

Meter Challenge

The Meter Challenge is a competition where participants receive a bucket of meter parts for a specific water meter to assemble against the clock. After assembly, the meter must work correctly

and not leak. Three to six miscellaneous parts are included in the bucket to make it more interesting.

Meter Challenge Winners

First Place: Brian Rodriguez, FKAA

Second Place: Elijah Woods, FKAA

Third Place: Dante Wynds, City of West Palm Beach

As the first-place winner, Fernandez qualified to attend ACE24 in Anaheim, Calif., to compete in the AWWA competition.

Helping to facilitate the event were:

S Erik Engram, JEA

S Mike George, R&M Service Solutions

S Todd Jernigan, R&M Service Solutions

Tapping Contests

Using skill, dexterity, and speed, teams of four compete for the fastest time as they perform a quality drill and tap of pipe under available pressure. Two taps are allowed per team. The Fun Tap is the simpler version of the two contests.

Ductile Iron Tap Winners

First Place: JEA Water Boys

Second Place: Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department

Third Place: City of West Melbourne

Fun Tap Winners

First Place: Toho Water Kowboys

Second Place: City of West Palm Beach Team #2

Third Place: City of West Palm Beach Team #3

The first-place winner, JEA, qualified to compete at ACE24 in Anaheim, Calif., in June in the AWWA competition.

The following helped in the success of the tapping competitions:

S Mike Spriggs, A.Y. McDonald

S Josh Anderson, Florida Pipeline Sales

Backhoe Rodeo

Backhoe operators show their expertise by executing challenging lifts and drops of various objects at the fastest time.

The judges for the event were:

S Josh Baur, Florida Pipeline Sales

S Nicholas Coster, City of Melbourne

Backhoe Rodeo Winners

First Place: Sammy Howard, JEA

Continued on page 22

DUCTILE IRON TAP

JEA Water Boys team members with their trophies.

The Miami-Dade Water and Sewer District team in action.

FUN TAP

First-place winner: Toho Water Kowboys.

City of West Palm Beach Team #2.

City of West Palm Beach Team #3.

Toho Water Kowboys in action.

RECAP OF 2023 FSAWWA FALL CONFERENCE

BACKHOE RODEO

ANNUAL BUSINESS LUNCHEON AND AWARDS CEREMONY

One of the backhoe rodeo tasks to win first place.

The top three winners are (left to right) Francisco Ortega, Toho Water; Sammy Howard, JEA; and Alex Burchfield, FKAA.

First-place winner: Sammy Howard with JEA.

Section staff (the four on the right side of table) with exceptional volunteers (from left to right) Nicole Thomas, Bina Nayak, Jessica Green, and Mike George.

Happy prelunch photo with section officers and conference attendees (from left to right) Terri Holcomb, Brent Tippey, Dr. Chi Ho Sham, Emilie Moore, Lisa Wilson-Davis, Kevin Carter, and Richard Anderson.

Greg Taylor gives opening remarks at the business meeting.

Section staff with the 2023-2024 chair Marjorie Craig.

Marjorie Craig receiving her crown from Greg Taylor.

RECAP OF 2023 FSAWWA FALL CONFERENCE

Continued from page 20

Second Place: Francisco Ortega, Toho Water

Third Place: Alex Burchfield, Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority

Operator Competitions Information

Operator competitions are always held at the annual FSAWWA Fall Conference. Everyone is

welcome to join the competitions, which are open to public and commercial field operators working in Florida. Contact Mike George at (352) 200-9631 for more information.

FSAWWA Annual Business Luncheon and Awards Ceremony

At the lunch, which is another networking opportunity for conference attendees, the

PASSING THE GAVEL

WATER FOR PEOPLE DUCK RACE

section held its yearly business meeting, honored and recognized FSAWWA members for their contributions in meeting its goals, and inducted Marjorie Craig as the incoming section chair.

Water For People Duck Race

A duck race was held on Tuesday, November 27, at the conference hotel’s lazy river as a fundraising event for Water For People (WFP) and AWWA Water Equation (WE). Tickets were sold at the conference before the event from two tables manned by Raul Alfaro, WFP Committee chair, and Michelle Hektor, AWWA senior manager of development and donor relations for WE.

A big thank you goes to Raul; despite the cold weather, he was game enough to take on the wrangling duties of the duckies through the lazy river. Additionally, Greg Taylor, the section chair, served as the emcee, adding an extra layer of entertainment to the event.

Tetra Tech: Event Sponsor

A shout-out goes to Tetra Tech, which was the beverage sponsor and donated the 200 rubber duckies.

Par3 Golf at the Omni

To wind down after the conference, our destination was the nine-hole, par 3 Champions 9 course. A venue to entertain colleagues and clients, with delicious food and drinks, it was a good time for all (although some preferred to have fun at the Omni’s miniature golf course).

The fundraising social benefited the three FSAWWA philanthropies:

S AWWA Water Equation

S Roy Likins Scholarship Fund

S Water For People

Peggy Guingona is executive director of Florida Section AWWA.

Marjorie Craig, incoming 2023-2024 section chair, receives the gavel from the outgoing chair, Greg Taylor.

PAR3 GOLF

Greg Taylor, (left) getting the crowd amped up before the duck launch, with Raul Alfaro (far left) waiting do his part.

Brent Tippey hoping his duckie is the lucky one.

Raul Alfaro getting ready to let the ducks loose.

Golfers waiting for team assignments. Beautiful sunset at the golf course.

It was cold night for section staff (left to right) Casey Cumiskey, Jenny Arguello, Peggy Guingona, Kim Kowalski, and Donna Metherall.

• AMERICAN

• Carollo Engineers Inc.

• Core and Main

• Data Flow Systems

• Ferguson Waterworks

• Fortiline Waterworks

• Freese and Nichols

• Garney Construction

• Hazen and Sawyer

• Infratech Group

• Jacobs

• Jones Edmunds & Associates Inc.

• Kiewit

RECAP OF 2023 FSAWWA

Conference Sponsors

The section thanks all the sponsors for their generous support of the conference.

Premier Sponsors

• Kimley-Horn

• National Metering Services Inc.

• Public Utility Management & Planning Services Inc.

• R&M Service Solutions

• Sensus, a Xylem brand

• SIGMA

• Spirit Group Inc.

• Stantec

• Sundt Construction Inc.

• Wager Company of Florida Inc.

• Wharton-Smith Inc.

• Wright-Pierce Inc.

Platinum Sponsors

• AECOM

• Archer Western Construction

• Ardurra

• Barge Design Solutions Inc.

• Barney’s Pumps

• Black & Veatch

• Blue Planet Environmental Systems Inc.

• Carter VerPlanck, A DXP Company

• CHA Consulting Inc.

• Consolidate Pipe & Supply

• Custom Pump & Controls

• Dewberry Engineering Inc.

• Empire Pipe & Supply

• England-Thims & Miller Inc.

• F J Nugent & Associates Inc.

• Ford Meter Box

• General Control Systems

• HDR

• ISCO Industries

• Mueller

• Operational Technical Services LLC

• PCL Construction Inc.

• Ring Power

• SIP Industries

• Star Pipe Products

• Tetra Tech

• Thames & Associates

• Univar Solutions

• VT Scada

Poker Sponsors - Royal Flush

• AMERICAN

• Carollo Engineers Inc.

• Core and Main

• Data Flow Systems

• Ferguson Waterworks

• Fortiline Waterworks

• Freese and Nichols

• Garney Construction

• Hazen and Sawyer

• Infratech Group

• Jacobs

• Jones Edmunds & Associates Inc.

• Kiewit

• Kimley-Horn

• National Metering Services Inc.

• Prinsco

• PSI Technologies

• Public Utility Management & Planning Services Inc.

• R&M Service Solutions

• Sensus, a Xylem brand

• SIGMA

• Spirit Group Inc.

• Stantec

• Sundt Construction Inc.

Gold Sponsors

• Fortiline HDPE

• H2M architects + engineers

• Harry Warren Inc.

• Landmark Structures

• McWane Ductile

• Woolpert

Column Wrap Branding Sponsors

• Archer Western

• Barge Design Solutions Inc.

• Bowman Consulting

• Sundt Construction

Carpet Floor Graphic Sponsors

• Archer Western

• Bowman Consulting

• Tnemec Protective Coatings

• Wager Company of Florida Inc.

• Wharton-Smith Inc.

• Wright-Pierce Inc.

Par3 Golf Sponsors

• AY McDonald & Cambridge Brass

• AMERICAN

• Barney’s Pumps Inc.

• Carollo Engineers Inc.

• Core and Main

• Data Flow Systems

• Ferguson Waterworks

• Fortiline Waterworks

• Freese and Nichols

• Garney Construction

• Hazen and Sawyer

• Infratech Group

• Jacobs

• Jones Edmunds & Associates Inc.

• Kiewit

• Kimley-Horn

• National Metering Services Inc.

• Public Utility Management & Planning Services Inc.

• R&M Service Solutions

• Sensus, a Xylem brand

• SIGMA

• Spirit Group Inc.

• Stantec

• Sundt Construction Inc.

• Wager Company of Florida Inc.

• Wharton-Smith Inc.

• Wright-Pierce Inc.

RECAP OF 2023 FSAWWA FALL CONFERENCE

Annual Section Awards

The Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (FSAWWA) recognized and honored outstanding individuals and organizations at the annual business and awards luncheon on November 29. It was a great way to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of those who have demonstrated excellence and dedication in the water industry.

Congratulations to all the recipients whose achievements contribute to the advancement and success of the water industry in Florida.

Landmark Awards

The FSAWWA gives this award to various facilities or structures serving as components of water systems that have historical significance and, as such, may be candidates as an AWWA Water Landmark or a Florida Section Water

Landmark. The facility or structure should have been in service and operational for 50 or more years to qualify for this important recognition. Wells, pumps, and piping may qualify if deemed to be of paramount significance.

City of Boca Raton Glades Road Water Treatment Plant

Dedicated 1973

Accepted by Ashtan Wydock, Justin Barrington, Lisa Wilson-Davis, and Kara Mills.

FSAWWA Service Awards

MAC Daddy Award

Tom Hogeland received the award this year. Tom’s instrumental role in organizing the annual Utilities Systems Symposium held on Mondays at the Fall Conference is highlighted as a key factor in receiving this honor. Additionally, he played a crucial role in the establishment and development of the New Technology and Training Symposium

(NTTS), which began in 2009. Over time, this has evolved into the New Technology and Training Committee (NTTC).

Tom Hogeland’s commitment and guiding force behind these initiatives demonstrate his dedication to advancing technology and training within the FSAWWA community.

City of Fort Lauderdale NW 2nd Avenue Water Tower

Dedicated 1952

No representation at the conference, but the plaque (left) was delivered to the city.

Russell Ferlita Region IV Chair 2021-2023

Kara Mills Region VI Chair 2021-2023

Pierre Vignier Region VIII Chair 2020-2023

Jonathan Fernald Contractors Council Chair 2021-2023

Coleman McClain Member Engagement/ Development Council Chair 2021-2023

The following were honored for their service to the Florida Section.

This award honors the Manufacturers/Associates Council (MAC) member or honorary member who has contributed the most to the success of the FSAWWA Fall Conference.

Tom Hogeland with the MAC Daddy Award.

RECAP OF 2023 FSAWWA FALL CONFERENCE

AWWA George Warren Fuller Award

Kim R. Kowalski, the Florida Section’s Fuller Award recipient, embodies the principles of the George Warren Fuller Award, especially demonstrating constructive leadership, research, and organizational skills in promoting the water profession.

Kim’s journey, as outlined, is truly impressive and reflects a deep commitment to the water industry, particularly within the context of FSAWWA. Here are some key points that stand out:

1. Education and entry into the family business. Kim’s background as a graduate of the University of Florida and her subsequent entry into the family business, which serves the waterworks, fire protection, and irrigation industries, highlights a dedication to the field from an early stage.

2. Mandatory involvement in FSAWWA.

The mandatory involvement in FSAWWA as part of her family’s business operation

This award was given to Pam London-Exner by the FSAWWA Executive Committee (EC) for dedicating her time and talents that exceeded her duties and obligations in her service to the FSAWWA and its board of governors.

The EC acknowledges her efforts in assisting the section staff in applying for a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)

indicates a strong tradition of community engagement and underscores the importance her late father, Kent Wager, placed on active participation in industry associations.

3. Longstanding volunteerism. Kim’s active involvement in FSAWWA as a volunteer since joining AWWA in 2003 showcases a longstanding commitment to service within the water industry.

4. Leadership roles. Her progression through various roles, including serving as an exhibit chair, conference chair, MAC chair, and positions on the Executive Committee (treasurer, vice chair, chairelect, and section chair in 2020), illustrates a track record of leadership and dedication to advancing the goals of AWWA and FSAWWA.

5. Impact on the Fall Conference. Kim’s significant role in driving the success of the Fall Conference is highlighted, emphasizing her contributions to the growth, quality, and increased revenues of the event over the years.

6. Recognition with Fuller Award Kim’s contributions have been widely acknowledged and celebrated within the water industry, recognizing her as a valued professional and AWWA member.

Congratulations to Kim on receiving her award! She will be honored at the AWWA ACE24 in June in Anaheim, Calif.

grant to fund the Florida Water Loss Program.

After successfully receiving the FDEP grant in 2022, Pam continued to assist the section launch and run the program. With section staff member Donna Metherall, 104 utilities have signed up to participate during the four stages of learning modules, both in-person and remotely, through 2024.

Allen B. Roberts Jr. Award

This award is named in honor of Allen B. Roberts Jr., who worked diligently as the Florida Section’s executive director to improve the status of the section by providing valuable leadership.

Dr. Bina Nayak received this year’s award for her outstanding service as an AWWA member. Bina has contributed most to FSAWWA by providing valuable support to its programs through outstanding leadership, creativity, and service in the water-related field, particularly in her work with the FSAWWA Technical and Education Council (TEC). Her involvement includes activities and initiatives that have positively influenced the technical and educational aspects of the organization.

Aside from leading the TEC, for the past several years she took on the responsibility of handling all the Monday workshops for the FSAWWA Fall Conference. Dr. Nayak’s collaboration with Dr. Fred Bloetscher emphasizes the importance of teamwork and partnership in ensuring quality workshops and sessions were delivered at the conference.

Dr. Nayak also volunteers as a trustee on the AWWA Water Quality and Technology Division. She was recognized with the prestigious Golden Spigot Award at the 2023 Water Quality Technology Conference in Dallas.

Congratulations to Dr. Nayak on these well-deserved honors and acknowledgments!

Additionally, Pam has taken on the responsibility of managing the technical program at the 2024 Florida Water Resources Conference (FWRC) at the request of the EC. This further highlights her commitment and expertise in the field.

Congratulations, Pam, on this well-deserved award.

Dr. Edward Singley Award of Excellence

Kim R. Kowalski

Kim and her husband, Scott.

Dr. Bina Nayak with the Allen B. Roberts trophy.

Pam London-Exner with the Dr. Edward Singley trophy.

This award is named in honor of Robert L. Claudy, who was a past chair of FSAWWA and is a big supporter of the fall conference and the Roy Likins Scholarship program. Claudy emphasizes the significance of continued support and volunteerism within the FSAWWA community. This year it was presented to Mark Lehigh.

The award acknowledges Mark’s consistent availability and willingness to assist in various capacities to support the section and the Fall Conference. His dedication extends to serving as a BBQ judge for several years, showcasing his commitment to volunteerism without expecting anything in return.

Additionally, his role as the FWRC treasurer since 2018, at the request of the FSAWWA EC, further highlights his valuable contributions to the organization.

Congratulations, Mark, on this welldeserved award. Thank you for your active involvement.

RECAP OF 2023 FSAWWA FALL CONFERENCE

Charles Hogue Award

Curt Hinson was honored by the Manufacturers/ Associates Council (MAC) with this award as its MAC member of the year in acknowledgment of his outstanding contributions and commitment.

Curt is an active committee volunteer of the MAC. He serves as the current chair of the New Technology and Training Committee Symposium Series (live events) and previously led the webinar series. Curt has played a crucial role in providing valuable training opportunities to the FSAWWA community.

Curt was responsible for the monthly webinars, ensuring a consistent and accessible stream of affordable training opportunities throughout the year.

This recognition reflects Curt Hinson’s significant impact and leadership within the MAC, contributing to the success of the organization and its mission.

Young Professional of the Year Award

Congratulations to Emma Johnson for receiving the award that honors individuals contributing their time and talent to the success of the FSAWWA Young Professionals Committee.

Emma’s leadership is particularly highlighted in her role in the Water Bowl competition. Under her guidance, the competition experienced great participation, with five teams competing for the 2023 Water Bowl Champions title. The teams represented three different universities: three from the University of Central Florida, one from the University of South Florida, and one from the University of Florida, showcasing a diverse and engaged participation.

Furthermore, Emma’s efforts resulted in a significant achievement for the poster contest, as there were seven posters for evaluation, which was a notable increase from previous years.

Council Awards of Excellence

This award honors distinguished service by a council or committee chair who has made the most significant contribution to the council.

Amanda Guillory Contractors Council

Larry Miller Member Engagement and Development Council

Vincent Domanico Operators and Maintenance Council

Yvonne Pickard Public Affairs Council

Julia Siemen Technical and Education Council

Kevin Carter Water Utility Council

Robert L. Claudy Award

Mark Lehigh with the Bob Claudy trophy.

Curt Hinson (center) with Mike George (left) and Kevin Stine (right).

Emma Johnson with the Young Professional of the Year trophy.

Regions Volunteer of the Year

This award honors individuals who contributed their time and talent to the success of their region.

Best Paper Awards

“Testing the Limits of Ceramic Ultrafiltration for the Port St. Lucie Prineville Water Treatment Plant”

Will Lovins, Ph.D., P.E.; Kunal Olimattel, EI; and Luiza Yordanova, MChE

Accepting the award is Will Lovins.

“Evaluating the Performance of a Reverse Osmosis Process That Blends Nanofiltration Concentrate With Brackish Feedwater Prior”

Christopher Hagglund and Steven J. Duranceau, Ph.D., P.E.

Accepting the award are Christopher Hagglund and Dr. Steve Duranceau.

“How Safe is Potable Reuse Based on A Comparative Assessment Municipal Wastewater Disposal Methods in Southeast Florida?”

Kelley Conboy, EI; Frederick Bloetscher, Ph.D., P.E.; Daniel E. Meeroff, Ph.D., EI; James D. Englehardt, Ph.D., P.E.; Chi Ho Sham, Ph.D.; Robert Fergen, P.E.; Richard Gallant, EI; James Hart, P.E.; Albert Muniz, P.E.; T. Shibata, Ph.D.; and Mary Ellen Tuccillo

Accepting the award (left to right) are Dr. Fred Bloetscher, Kelley Conboy, and Dr. Chi Ho Sham.

Barry Stewart Region II

Tatiana Konstantis Region III

Andy Franosz Region IV

Emeliz Torres Cabrera Region VI

Jonathan Moreno Region VII

Brittany Bassett Region VIII

Daniel Corliss Region IX

Heather Ripley Region X

Water Distribution System Awards

An award is given to a utility with outstanding performance during the preceding year that deserves special recognition by the section. The criteria for these awards shall be based on, but not limited to, the following:

S Must be a member of AWWA (organization or individual)

S Actively supports the activities of the Florida Section

S Has completed the questionnaire

S Demonstrates high standards and integrity

The following utilities earned the first-place award in their respective divisions.

RECAP OF 2023 FSAWWA FALL CONFERENCE

Accepted by A. Randolph

Accepted by Clive Haynes

Division 8 –Hillsborough County Water Resources Department

Accepted by (left to right) Martin Garces, Brian Williams, Leroy Hill, Chester Burton, Galvarino Osorio, and in front, Chris Greco.

Division 7 – Lee County Utilities Water Distribution

Accepted by Brian Gilman and Daniel LaBelle.

Division 6 – Broward County Water and Wastewater Services

and Brandon Spann.

Division 5 – Bonita Springs Utilities Inc.

Accepted by (left to right) James Morris, Michael Prescott, and Lance Reighter.

Division 4 – City of Ocala Water Resources

Accepted by Rusella Bowes-Johnson and Stacey Ferrante.

Division 3 – City of Pompano Beach Utilities

Brown.

Division 2 – Destin Water Users Inc.

Accepted by (left to right) Coleman Jacobs, Zach Hilton, and Andy Eisenzimer.

RECAP OF 2023 FSAWWA FALL CONFERENCE

Roy W. Likins Scholarship

The scholarships are awarded each year by the section to outstanding graduate or undergraduate college students enrolled in an accredited Florida institution who are pursuing a degree related to the drinking water industry. The scholarship is named for the late Roy Likins, former president of Palm Coast Utility Corporation and a lifelong member of AWWA, who served as section chair and secretary-treasurer, as well as Region IX chair with the Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association.

The total for scholarships awarded was $45,500.

S Starr Alfonso, Florida International University

S Sophia Brecko, University of Florida

S Monica Castro Carias, University of South Florida

S Benjamin Farquhar, University of Central Florida

S Thydaleaph “June” Koeut, University of North Florida

S Janise Jones, University of Central Florida

S Garrett Leath, University of Florida

S Diego Piazza, Florida International University

S Annabel Rose Schreiber, University of Florida

S Elizabeth Vicario, University of South Florida

Water Conservation Awards for Excellence

Program Element: Single Program Best in Class Citrus County

“Water Sense Labeled Irrigation Controller Install Initiative”

Accepted by Debra Burden.

Program Element: Comprehensive Programs Best in Class

City of Lakeland

“Water Conservation Program Highlights”

Accepted by Brittany Thornton.

Program Element: Comprehensive Programs Meritorious FGUA

“FGUA Water Conservation Programs”

Accepted by Matt Rihs.

Program Element: Comprehensive Programs Show of Excellence

City of Pompano Beach

“Comprehensive Water Conservation Program”

Accepted by Lawrence Teich.

Program ElementSingle Program Meritorious FGUA/Pasco County

“Water Awareness Poster Contest”

Accepted by Matt Rihs and Phoenix McKinney.

Left to right are Thydaleaph “June” Koeut, Starr Alfonso, Benjamin Farquhar, and Sophia Brecko.

Life Member Awards

AWWA honors significant membership tenure with the following awards. The recognition received is built on years with the association (30 cumulative years of membership) and reaching a certain age.

Life Member

David Bracciano A. Randolph Brown Mark Burgess

Ron Cavalieri

Duane Gilles

Kim Kunihiro

Rob Teegarden

Dennis Westrick

Savor and Celebrate: Incoming Chair’s Reception and BBQ Challenge Extravaganza!

The ninth annual BBQ Challenge and the incoming chair’s reception at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate were a resounding success! The outdoor space at the hotel provided a wonderful backdrop for the evening, creating an atmosphere that combined music, networking, and delicious food and drinks for over 600 attendees. The beautiful night and the hotel patio created a perfect setting to conclude the day’s events.

The occasion also served as a celebration for Marjorie Craig, the incoming FSAWWA chair, who will be leading the section in 2024. Greg Taylor, the outgoing FSAWWA chair, took the opportunity to express his gratitude to everyone for attending and extend his congratulations to Marjorie. It was a memorable and enjoyable event that brought together members of the water community in a festive and supportive atmosphere.

Musical entertainment from Rick Hutton, Carly Jackson, and Nicole Thomas enhanced the 2023 BBQ. Having talented individuals like Rick and Carly showcasing their skills as guitarists and vocalists, along with Nicole adding rhythm with her bongos, tambourine, and other percussion instruments, added a vibrant and entertaining element to the evening.

Event Sponsors

The FSAWWA Contractors Council and the following companies sponsored the complimentary beverages:

S Environmental Equipment Services LLC

S Infratech Group

S McKim Creed

S North Lake Electric Inc.

S Petticoat-Schmitt Civil Contractors Inc.

S VMG Construction Inc.

The FSAWWA Contractors Council and the following companies sponsored the barbecue sides:

S Archer Western/The Walsh Group

S C&B Piping

S Cogburn Bros. Electric

S Electric Services Inc.

S Environmental Equipment Services LLC

S Infratech Group

S Isco Industries

S McKim Creed

S Petticoat-Schmitt Civil Contractors Inc.

S REVERE Control System Inc.

S Ric-Man Construction Florida

S SediVision

S Sundt Construction Inc.

S TSC Jacobs North

S VMG Construction Inc.

S Wade Trim

The sponsors played a crucial role in making the 2023 BBQ event a resounding success. Their support contributed to the overall positive experience for attendees. An ice-cold drink and delicious sides complementing a great barbecue certainly added to the enjoyment of the attendees.

Continued on page 34

Networking at the barbecue.

The hotel patio provides a welcoming setting for the event.

Marjorie Craig, incoming FSAWWA chair, addresses the crowd.

Rick Hutton, Carly Jackson, and Nicole Thomas provide the entertainment.

RECAP OF 2023 FSAWWA FALL CONFERENCE

Continued from page 33

Event Chairs and BBQ Teams

With cochairs Drew Gumieny, Mike George, and Richard Anderson leading the way, the event was in capable hands. Fifteen teams participated in this year’s contest with the aim of earning the title of “grand champion.” All of the teams brought their best skills, recipes, and techniques to the table.

They all competed for top honors in chicken, pork butt, pork ribs, beef brisket, people’s choice, and overall champion, and the companies that sponsored the teams were:

S Aegion/Insituform

S Bonita Springs Utilities

S Burnett Inc. and The Water Buffalos

S Charlotte County Utilities and Jones Edmunds

S Core and Main

S Ferguson Waterworks

S FJ Nugent & Associates Inc. and AECOM

S Freese and Nichols Inc.

S Garney Construction

S Kimley-Horn and Mead & Hunt

S PCL Construction

S Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority

S Pinellas County Utilities

S Seminole Tribe of Florida and Wade Trim

S Wharton-Smith

Judging of all the meat entries was conducted before the official opening to ensure that the best in each category and the grand champion were accurately determined.

Thank you to the volunteer judges:

S Nick Coaster, City of Melbourne

S Russell Ferlita, Mead & Hunt

S Elbert Hale, Hillsborough County

S Michelle Hektor, AWWA

S Kim Kowalski, FSAWWA

S Mark Lehigh, Hillsborough County

S Jason Parrillo, Hillsborough County

S Pedro Stiassni, City of Margate

BBQ Winners

Richard Anderson and Drew Gumieny announced the results at the end of the evening. Honors went to the following teams:

Top Honors

S People’s Choice Award: Charlotte County Utilities and Jones Edmunds

S 2023 BBQ Grand Champion: Kimley-Horn/ Mead & Hunt

First-Place Honors

S Chicken: Wharton-Smith

S Pork Ribs: Kimley-Horn/Mead & Hunt

S Pork Butt: Garney Construction

S Beef Brisket: Kimley-Horn/Mead & Hunt

Congratulations to all and kudos to the teams competing this year!

The collaboration and friendly rivalry among these culinary experts contributed to the overall success and enjoyment of the 2023 BBQ contest. The combination of great food, fun, and a fantastic locale contributed to its success.

The tenth annual BBQ Challenge to be held during the FSAWWA Fall Conference in 2024, again at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate, is something to look forward to. Attendees can anticipate another round of delicious food and enjoyable experiences.

Make sure and stay tuned for news and updates so you don’t miss out on the excitement!

2023 BBQ Grand Champion: Teams Kimley-Horn/Mead & Hunt

People’s Choice Award: Team Aegion/Insituform

First-Place Beef Brisket: Teams Kimley-Horn/Mead & Hunt

First-Place Pork Ribs: Teams Kimley-Horn/Mead & Hunt

First-Place Pork Butt: Team Garney

First-Place Chicken: Team Wharton-Smith Drew Gumieny (left), with Marjorie Craig and Greg Taylor.

New FWPCOA Training is Available! Direct Potable Reuse Certification Course

HAthena Tipaldos President, FWPCOA

ow exciting are new training courses?

The FWPCOA has developed a voluntary training and certification program in direct potable reuse. The class is open to all licensed Florida operators. After hours of research to include regulatory, safety, and maintenance disciplines the certification program is ready to go!

Thank you to the FWPCOA Direct Potable Reuse Operator Training Committee for the development of the course. The members include:

S John O’Brien (chair), treatment plant operator with Seacoast Utility Authority

S Fred Greiner, purification manager with Jacksonville Electric Authority

S Scott Ruland, consultant and operator with Woodard and Curran

Students can register via the Online Institute at the FWPCOA website. In-person

classes are planned to be held at future 2025 state short schools.

Direct Potable Reuse

Certification Course

Thank you to Darin Bishop for providing the following course information.

Course Specifics

The tuition for the class is $355, which includes the online course, FWPCOA course book, and one proctored certification exam.

The course is self-paced, and each lesson consists of a slide presentation without a narrative. The course subscription period is six months from the date of enrollment. The student observes the presentation and reads the corresponding chapter in the FWPCOA course book. There is a test after the lesson to evaluate the student’s knowledge of the lesson content.

Course Curriculum

The course agenda is as follows:

S Introduction

S Lesson 1 - Introduction to Potable Reuse

S Lesson 2 - Advanced Water Treatment Processes

S Lesson 3 - Risk Assessment and Management

S Lesson 4 - Regulatory Considerations for Potable Reuse

S Lesson 5 - Operations and Maintenance

S Lesson 6 - Potable Reuse and Public Health

S Lesson 7 - Workplace Safety

S Request Exam Proctor

The association recommends the use of a large-screen device, such as a desktop computer, laptop computer, or large tablet. The use of mobile devices, such as a cell phone, is discouraged due to lack of detail.

Course Exam

The FWPCOA provides the certification exam in a live proctored setting after the student successfully completes all of the course lessons. Students can return the exam proctor request form provided after completing the course and the FWPCOA training office will make the arrangements for the proctored exam.

After the student passes the exam with a score of 70 percent or higher, he or she will receive the FWPCOA direct potable reuse certificate. If they do not pass the exam on the first attempt, they will have two additional attempts to pass it. There is a $100 exam fee associated with each additional attempt and the student must arrange an exam proctor through the FWPCOA training office. If the student fails all three attempts at the exam, the course must be repeated for an additional fee.

Other Training Available

Potable reuse is the newest training class that is offered by FWPCOA; however, we are always here to help with training in water, wastewater, and stormwater operations. Training is available throughout the association’s 13 regions across the state, twice a year at state short schools, and 24/7 at the online institute.

To learn more about new and current training and how to earn continuing education unit (CEU) credits please go to www.fwpcoa.org. S

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

REGISTER ATTENDEES

Prices increase March 1, 2024. Don’t forget to register your free booth staff by 2 29 24 before the price increases to $15 each. 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 by March 6th!

BOOK SPONSORSHIPS

Numerous sponsorship packages from $800 to $9,250 are still available. Reserve before March 6th!

BOOK HOTEL ROOMS

Links to book Gaylord Palms AND Courtyard by Marriott are on www fwrc org

GET A PROGRAM AD

Visit www.fwrc.org to reserve your ad by March 6th!

www.fwrc.org

Title Sponsor: $13,000

SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE

Platinum Plus Sponsor(s): $9,250 each

Registration Area

Conference Bags App

Conference Badges

Platinum Sponsor(s): $7,750 each

Hotel Room Keys

Staircase

Overall Meal Events

Conference Lanyards Night Social Events

Gold Sponsor(s): $5,500 each

FSSSSS Breakfast

FWEA Utility Council Breakfast

Overall Technical Sessions

Silver Sponsor(s): $3,750 each

Network Lounge

Charging Tables

Bronze Sponsor(s): $1,750 each

Tour bus

Water Stations

Supporting Sponsor(s): $1,250 each

FWRC Awards Luncheon

FWEA Awards Luncheon

Escalators

Operations Challenge

Coffee Area

Snack Area

Overall Scavenger Hunt

Special Events

Individual Technical Session(s): $750 each

Scavenger Hunt Stop: $300 each

Book by March 6, 2024 at www.fwrc.org

Are Your Wastewater Tanks Consuming Excess Energy Due to Sand and Grit?

Emerging Technology Can Help You Find Out

Megan Ross

Wastewater treatment facilities face significant challenges in maintaining operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness, particularly when dealing with grit accumulation within tanks. Grit accumulation in biological nutrient removal (BNR) tanks creates lost treatment capacity for wastewater facilities, which can inhibit operational performance. Many utilities lack an effective tank cleaning maintenance program, resulting in higher energy demands, particularly when grit accumulates on diffusers in aeration tanks. Although a grit removal system may be in place, no system is 100 percent effective, and utilities often bypass systems during wet weather events and storms as a result of hydraulic limitations. Typical strategies for assessing the amount of grit have included probes, divers, and drain downs. All these strategies have challenges, including significant inaccuracies and safety risks.

This issue is compounded by the projected growth expectations in the water sector, where energy demands are projected to double by 2040. Currently, the water sector accounts for almost 44 percent of municipal energy demands, making it an extremely energy-intensive process. It’s important to focus on strategies that not only build new energy-efficient facilities, but develop enhanced optimization programs that

can reduce the current excessive consumption of energy.

Aeration accounts for anywhere between 30 and 70 percent of the total energy demands within a wastewater treatment facility, making it a primary focus of optimization to achieve a lower carbon footprint. Grit accumulation in aeration basins is a common problem and can drive up energy demands due to clogging and blocking diffusers, or reduced detention time for treatment, necessitating blowers to work harder to achieve optimal dissolved oxygen demands. Simply implementing a proactive method to identify areas of grit buildup and incorporating strategies for cleaning can greatly reduce a wastewater treatment plant’s carbon footprint without any capital investment. Conversely, not all systems have a grit accumulation problem and therefore can defer both operating and possibly capital expenditures by evaluating the level and impact of grit deposition in treatment tanks.

Tank Cleaning Challenges

Many utilities do not know how much grit has accumulated in their wastewater tanks or where it’s located, and they can’t drain their tanks due to limited redundancies and capacity issues from wet weather. Developing a tank cleaning

Megan Ross, P.E., MPA, ENV SP, is vice president at SediVision LLC in Sarasota.

strategy, therefore, is difficult because quantities and locations of accumulated grit and debris are challenging to estimate.

Traditional methods, such as probing, can be extremely unreliable for several reasons, including lack of access to all portions of the tank. Grit particles in wastewater do not accumulate uniformly across the tank and typically accumulate in piles based on the velocity profile within the tank. Inaccurate grit profiling can lead to either unnecessary tank drain downs or costly change orders. Divers have also been used to assess grit accumulation; however, the level of accuracy of divers is not well-documented and using divers poses a significant safety risk with confined space entry.

Inflow analysis is used to estimate the average amount of grit in the influent of a wastewater plant or to measure the performance of a grit removal system, but this analysis will not evaluate deposition of grit within the treatment tanks, and thus still leaves a gap in the ability to assess current conditions within the treatment facility.

Tank Cleaning Costs

The difference of 1 ft of grit can mean well over $100,000 in cleaning costs. This creates risk and uncertainty for utility owners and operators, as well as consultants and contractors attempting to bid on wastewater projects that include tank cleaning as a bid item. Table 1 outlines estimated cleaning costs for a 1,250-sq-ft tank versus a 20,000-sq-ft tank; however, restoring wastewater treatment capacity is still much more costeffective than building new capacity.

Using Advanced Imaging and Mapping Technology

An emerging technology called SediVision was developed in 2018 and has since been deployed to over 150 tanks at more than 85

Table 1. Approximate Tank Cleaning Costs

wastewater treatment facilities in Florida and other states. The technology is an advanced imaging and mapping system that can provide a valuable solution to determine loss of capacity within wastewater tanks. By using this tool, utilities can easily see where grit accumulation may be inhibiting performance, thus empowering facility managers to make datadriven decisions, effectively optimizing their asset management strategies and reducing cost uncertainty.

Case Studies

Lee County Water Reclamation Facility

One of the early breakthrough case studies using this technology was in Lee County at the Fiesta Village Wastewater Treatment Plant, a 5-mil-gal-per-day (mgd) facility. The county utilized this advanced technique to scan its oxidation ditch, revealing a substantial 1,769.3 cu yds of grit accumulation, resulting in 11.9 percent of lost treatment capacity. These findings were pivotal in justifying and developing a precise budget for cleaning and maintenance. Figure 1 shows the imagery and mapping collected on the full tanks compared to the drained down image, pointing out the accuracy of key indentations of the accumulated grit.

This study was instrumental in calibrating the quantification techniques of this technology. Through verifying disposal weight tickets of the debris, data processing calculations were able to be modified to estimate the weight of the material to an accuracy within 1 percent.

Clewiston Water Reclamation Facility

A small rural facility in Clewiston, with a capacity of 1.5 mgd, realized tangible financial benefits from adopting this innovative technology. Prior to the assessment and tank cleaning, the facility was running aeration blowers 24 hours a day. After removing 400 tons of sand and grit from the tanks, it only required aeration blowers to run eight hours a day. The result yielded remarkable monthly energy cost savings, ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 as a direct result of effective tank cleaning and management. Figure 2 shows a graph comparing energy costs pre- and postcleaning.

JEA Blacks Ford Water Reclamation Facility

Ardurra was hired by JEA to expand the Blacks Ford Water Reclamation Facility in St. Johns County from 6 to 12 mgd. The project included an evaluation of multiple tanks totaling 56,000 sq ft of surface area to determine if a grit removal system should be implemented as part of the expansion. The current facility does not have a grit removal system and Ardurra

Continued on page 46

Figure 1. Fiesta Village oxidation ditch with drain down comparisons to advanced imaging technology.

Figure 2. Electrical cost comparisons before and after tank cleaning in Clewiston.

Figure 3. JEA Blacks Ford Facility grit mapping results.

Continued from page 45

was interested to find out how much grit had accumulated in the existing BNR trains.

By analyzing the grit accumulation using advanced imaging and mapping technology, Ardurra was able to assess that the entire system had an in-tank grit accumulation volume estimate of 815 cu yds. This was calculated to be approximately 2.4 percent of overall lost treatment capacity, which justified the decision to not install a grit removal system as part of the project. This resulted in an estimated capital cost savings of anywhere from $6 million to $8 million and saved space on a constrained site.

Pinellas County South Cross Bayou Advanced Water Reclamation Facility

The South Cross Bayou Advanced Water Reclamation Facility, a 33-mgd facility in Pinellas County, took the proactive step of scanning all of its aeration basins in the north train of the system. In addition to the tanks not being cleaned in several years, the facility had also recently undergone a capital project that completely upgraded and replaced the old grit removal system. As part of the construction, this required a prolonged bypass of the old system. In addition, prior to the upgrade, the old system was found to only have 50 percent removal efficiency at normal conditions and was also hydraulically limited, which necessitated a complete bypass during intense wet weather events.

Using the advancing imaging and mapping technology, the resulting assessment of multiple

tanks totaling 70,000 sq ft of surface area identified accumulation that was likely responsible for excessive energy consumption, and the data served as a method to prioritize and budget for necessary tank cleaning, starting with tanks containing the most accumulated grit. Results indicated a total amount of 3,685.4 cu yds of accumulated debris, resulting in a total lost treatment capacity of 10.2 percent. Figures 4 and 5 depict the mapping images of the aeration basins.

Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District Cedar Creek Water Quality Treatment Center

The Cedar Creek Water Quality Treatment Center at the Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District is a 7.5-mgd facility. The treatment facility’s concentric channel oxidation ditch had not been cleaned in over 10 years. The use of advanced imaging and mapping of the tank revealed that it contained 73.9 cu yds, with a 0.6 percent loss of treatment capacity overall. This was deemed negligible and cleaning the tank was not recommended. The facility was able to reallocate the tank-cleaning funds to other higher-priority operational needs. Figure 6 depicts the 3-D imagery of the tank.

Conclusion

Implementing an improved methodology for assessing lost capacity in wastewater tanks can provide an effective and practical solution for wastewater tank asset management. The featured case studies illustrate how this

approach can lead to improved operational efficiency, cost savings, reduced carbon footprint, and the sustainable functionality of wastewater facilities.

It should be noted there is a lack of research surrounding the impacts of grit and debris accumulation on wastewater facility operational performance, including impacts on energy efficiency. More research should be done to expand the body of knowledge within the wastewater sector so that this issue can be evaluated and addressed by utility managers.

With energy and chemical costs increasing dramatically for utilities over the past several years, every opportunity to identify operational efficiencies in wastewater plant performance should be evaluated and implemented where possible.

References

• Cardoso, B.J., Gaspar, A.R, Gomez, A., Rodrigues, E. 2021 Energy Performance Factors in Wastewater Treatment Plants: A Review. Journal of Cleaner Production. 322, 129107. Retrieved from https://doi. org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129107.

• EPA, 2003, Wastewater Technology Fact Sheet: Screening and Grit Removal. EPA 832F-03-011, Office of Water.

• WEF 2017 Liquid Stream Fundamentals: Grit Removal. Fact Sheet WSEC-2017-FS-021— Municipal Resource Recovery Design Committee. S

Figure 4. South Cross Bayou Advanced Water Reclamation Facility aeration basins advanced imaging results, two-dimensional view.

Figure 5. South Cross Bayou Advanced Water Reclamation Facility aeration basins advanced imaging results, threedimensional view.

Figure 6. Cedar Creek Water Quality Treatment Center concentric channel oxidation ditch advanced imaging results.

Celebrate 2024 National Drinking Water Week!

For nearly 40 years, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) has celebrated Drinking Water Week with its members. This year, it will be held May 5-11.

In 1988, AWWA brought the event to the attention of the United States government and formed a coalition with the League of Women Voters, Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. That year, Rep. Robert Roe of New Jersey and Sen. Dennis DeConcini of Arizona sponsored a resolution to name the first week of May as National Drinking Water Week, and an information kit was distributed to the media and to more than 10,000 utilities across the U.S. Willard Scott, the popular NBC “Today” show weatherman at the time, was featured in public service announcements that aired between May 2 and 8. The weeklong observance was declared in a joint congressional resolution and signed by thenPresident Ronald Reagan.

The following year AWWA approached several other organizations to participate. Through that effort, the National Drinking Water Alliance was formed, consisting of 15 nonprofit educational, professional, and publicinterest organizations. The alliance dedicated itself to public awareness and involvement in public and private drinking water issues and continued its work to organize a major annual

educational campaign built around Drinking Water Week.

The power of the multiorganization alliance enabled Drinking Water Week to grow into widespread and committed participation throughout the U.S. and Canada. In 1991, the alliance launched a national campaign to inform the public about America’s drinking water. The group distributed a kit containing ideas for celebrating the event, conservation facts and tip sheets, news releases, and posters. The theme was “There’s a lot more to drinking water than meets the eye.” That same year, actor Robert Redford recorded a public service announcement on behalf of Drinking Water Week.

Celebrating Drinking Water Week is an

easy way to educate the public, connect with the community, and promote employee morale. Too often, water utilities receive publicity only when something bad happens; Drinking Water Week celebrations give utilities an opportunity for positive communication and a way to connect with their customers.

Public Communication

Communicating to the public during Drinking Water Week is integral to any successful celebration. Some options and ideas are:

S Advertise in local newspapers (hard copy and online)

S Send bill stuffers to customers

S Work with local libraries, and senior and community centers, to set up displays

S Use mall kiosks to reach a broad audience

S Coordinate distribution of AWWA and local utility news releases

S Publicize the release of water utility consumer confidence reports

S Send public service announcements to local radio, television, and cable stations

S Set up a Facebook page and use other social media outlets like YouTube, Instragram, and TikTok

Community Events

Communitywide events are fun and festive ways to make sure that customers know about their drinking water—where it comes from, how they get it, and what they can do to help ensure their drinking water quality. Events could include the following:

S Invite your community members to an open house

S Inaugurate an adopt-a-hydrant program

S Plant a tree

S Conduct plant tours

S Hold a landmark dedication/anniversary celebration

S Bury a time capsule

S Partner with local botanic gardens and environmental groups

S Plan a community cleanup

Youth and Student Focus

Drinking Water Week is a perfect time to educate children and youth about their water supply in an atmosphere of fun. Here are some ideas:

S Feature a children’s coloring contest or essay contest

S Hold a poster contest

S Have utility employees make presentations at local schools

S Partner with a local school district and hold an artwork contest that encourages students to draw or color pictures showing how water is essential to their daily lives

Internal Communications and Events

Don’t forget your employees! Drinking Water Week can help reaffirm to employees the importance of what they do—provide clean, safe drinking water for the public. Consider these:

S Hold an annual employee picnic during Drinking Water Week

S Create a utility or company newsletter feature on Drinking Water Week

S Video employees talking about their jobs and what they do to make the public’s water safe and post the information on social media

Plan Ahead for Future Celebrations

Drinking Water Week is celebrated during the first full week of May each year. Future dates are:

S 2025 – May 4-10

S 2026 – May 3-9

S 2027 – May 2-8

S 2028 – May 7-13

S 2029 – May 6-12

For questions about Drinking Water Week contact Megan McDowell at AWWA at mmcdowell@awwa.org or 920.493.0532. S

Environmental Stewardship and Energy Efficiency: Both are Essential to the Water Industry

Marjorie G. Craig, P.E. Chair, FSAWWA

City of Tampa

From my very first day with the City of Tampa, many years ago, our utilities director, the iconic Dave Tippin, instilled in us the importance of stewardship—for public health

and safety, public funds, and historical archives— and of course, environmental stewardship. A devout Methodist, Dave was equally committed to Tampa’s water customers, with about onethird of them located outside the city limits. He was dedicated to utilities and preserving nature and history, while always seeking to enhance and optimize our processes and treatment.

At the time, we had two water treatment plants with two primary sources of water: surface water from the Hillsborough River, and groundwater from the Floridan aquifer pumped from wells within the Morris Bridge Wellfield. The wellfield is situated on land owned by the Southwest Florida Water Management District

(SWFWMD), a beautiful, vast piece of public property with bike trails, parks, and natural areas.

In my role as a planning engineer, and later as a long-serving deputy director, I collaborated with a team of biologists and scientists on wellfield monitoring with transects, pumping analyses, and comprehensive reporting. Of course, our friends at SWFWMD were monitoring our operations as a part of our water use permit, but we were equally interested in preserving the wellfield wetlands and uplands and, where possible, optimizing pumping to minimize or eliminate impacts.

I’ll never forget the trip I took with Dr. Shirley Denton, then with Biological Research Associates, who is not only an amazing scientist and statistician, but also a skilled pilot. We took a trip in her plane on our own time to view the wellfield from the air to see the cypress stands, uplands, and well houses, and the river snaking its way through Tampa. My propensity for motion sickness was balanced with the awe of the view from the plane. This was back before drones were readily available and aerial photography was scarcer to find. It was a great way to view Tampa!

Setting minimum flows in the Hillsborough River and minimum flows and levels (MFLs) in wellfields was initiated in the region at some point, and I spent endless hours learning as much as I could about the wellfields, hydroperiods, and minimum levels. I also learned about the Hillsborough River and what would provide the most environmental benefit since most of the banks of the river have been hardened downstream of the dam over time. The dam provides flood protection and a 2-billion-gallon reservoir source for drinking water.

The Tampa Bay Estuary Program hosted many of the minimum flow meetings with local and world-renowned scientists. I hired Jeff Vilagos as an engineer, and what a great hire he was! He had come from Tampa’s water treatment operations, and was working the midnight shift as a water treatment plant operator. I actually met him in graduate school, not at work, as we were getting our master’s degrees in civil engineering. He also had a degree in biology, which became very helpful in our discussions about MFLs, the wellfield, and the river. (He has

David L. Tippin Water Treatment Plant, circa 2008. (courtesy of City of Tampa)

The Morris Bridge Water Treatment Plant (upper left), now a repump station, and the Morris Bridge Wellfield. (photo: Google Earth)

another degree in psychology, which I’m sure he’s put to use quite often!)

A minimum flow was about to be set for the river, but I had learned that the bigger benefit could come from increasing the dissolved oxygen in the river, particularly right below the dam. I had several different diffusers in my office and we discussed how we could aerate the water. The discussion evolved from diffusers and aerators into designing a flume from the upstream portion of the river near Sulphur Springs. If the flume was shaped kind of like a giant egg carton, air would be introduced into the water as it flowed through the flume to the downstream side of the dam. Jeff fondly referred to the flume as “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride,” named after the Disneyland attraction.

Sometimes the most brilliant solutions are so simple, right? We didn’t have to introduce air into the water, we didn’t have to build a flume in that way, but we wanted to do that, as professionals and as environmental stewards of our water resources. This simple method was also very energy-efficient, much more so than installing diffusers.

South Florida Water Management District

When I later took a position with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), I was very proud to be a part of the professionals working there who dedicate their careers (and often personal time) to environmental stewardship. The SFWMD motto, “We do the coolest work on the planet,” resonated with us on a profound level, and we all felt and lived that motto! Restoration of the Everglades and the Kissimmee River, along with water supply and flood control, is all part of a mission we all took pride in supporting.

This is another example of environmental stewardship—not only the project itself, but in helping pioneer and build a collaborative effort to further the One Water concept throughout the state.

Winter Haven is an example of a city that has long had a project to optimize all the water resources in that area for water supply and environmental stewardship. The project was originally called the “Sapphire Necklace.” Being an admirer of jewelry, that name appealed to me from several aspects. The project envisions restoring 5,000 acres of historic wetlands, creating nature parks with open water for recreation and a 30-mile trail loop, improving flood protection, providing additional wildlife habitat, and recharging the aquifer to improve water supply resiliency.

I continue to consider myself an environmental steward, along with being a water industry professional and a supporter of One Water. I think they all go hand in hand.

Section Events Abound!

Please consider joining a regional or statewide FSAWWA event this month! I’ve included a photo from a recent event. Who knows? You could also win a drawing, as did Kassandra Myers from the City of Hollywood, and support one of our worthy causes, like the Likins Scholarship Fund, Water For People, and Water Equation. S

Winter Haven’s Sapphire Necklace.

Kassandra Myers poses with her prize.

Operators: Take the CEU Challenge!

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 Energy Efficiency and Environmental Stewardship. 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!

1. The water sector

a. the majority

b. 50 percent

c. 44 percent

d. 23 percent

2. The estimated cost to clean a 20,000-gallon tank filled with solids to a depth of 1 foot is

a. $21,701.

b. $173,611.

c. $43,403.

d. $347,222.

3. After removing sand and grit from its tanks, which of the following facilities was able to reduce blower run time from 24 hours/day to eight hours/day?

a. South Cross Bayou

b. Black Fords

c. Cedar Creek

d. Clewiston

4. Which of the following is not listed as a traditional method of determining depth of settled material in a tank?

a. Transparent sight tube

b. Drain down

c. Probe

d. Diver

5. Grit particles settle and accumulate in a nonuniform manner in tanks based primarily on

a. side water depth.

b. velocity.

c. distance from the point of tank entry.

d. particle size.

Co-hosted by

SAVE the DATE

June 10–13, 2024

Monday–Thursday

Workshops are on Monday, and Open General Session is on Tuesday.

Charting the Course to Water 2050

10,000 Attendees

80 Countries

1,000 Utilities

6 Competitions

440 Premier Presenters

450 Exhibitors

4 Days of Professional Tracks, Sessions, and Continuing Education Opportunities

Addressing Environmental Issues With Nature-Based Solutions and Robust Public Engagement

Amanda Ludlow and Tim Hancock

On Jan. 10, 2019, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order 19-12, calling for greater protection of Florida’s environment and water quality. The Executive Order directed state agencies to take a more-aggressive approach to address environmental issues plaguing the state, with a significant emphasis on water quality in south Florida.

The Picayune Strand Restoration Project (PSRP) is a part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) project. The objective of the PSRP is to restore the hydrological and ecological function of 55,247 acres (approximately 94 sq mi) of a previously drained wetland located in southwestern Collier County.

Implementation of this project will increase discharges to downstream Outstanding Florida Waters (OFWs), including Collier-Seminole State Park and the Cape Romano Ten Thousand Islands Aquatic Preserve, through existing and proposed culverts under US 41. These areas are not only critical to the environmental health of the estuarine ecology, but to the economy of southwest Florida as well.

Stantec was engaged in a two-part effort, first by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and subsequently by the Big Cypress Basin, to perform the following:

S Prepare a water quality feasibility study (WQFS) that identifies the challenges, opportunities, and constraints associated with increased flows and additional nutrient loading, and identify potential water quality treatment solutions to reduce impacts to downstream OFWs.

S Building on the feasibility study, develop a water quality site analysis (WQSA) to identify candidate parcels or parcel areas within the study area limits, based on location, size, and availability, that are suitable for the proposed project(s), recognizing that more than one site may be identified for implementation, at which time a ranking of parcels based on identified evaluative criteria would be applied to provide a ranked recommendation.

Step 1: Conduct a Water Quality Feasibility Study

The flow changes that will result from

Amanda Ludlow is a principal at Stantec in Burlington, Vt., and Tim Hancock, AICP, is a senior principal at Stantec in Chattanooga, Tenn.

the PSRP are shown in Figure 1. The left image reflects the existing flow pattern; the BR36 and BR37 are existing culverts that convey flow from the Tamiami Canal, as well as existing permitted discharges, under US 41 to various natural areas.

The image on the right in Figure 1 is intended to reflect the alteration in flows from the PSRP, which will result in increased flow from the north and east. Additionally, the southwest protection feature (shown in orange), required to protect the existing significant agricultural operations in the area, will result in channelization of upstream discharges. In addition to BR36 and BR37, a new set of culverts will be installed (where shown) to accommodate the additional flows.

Development of treatment options and appropriately placed solutions to intercept flows upstream of OFWs can result in a net overall improvement of freshwater flows, particularly to the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, which has indicated a need for additional freshwater inflows. Such measures could partially restore historic freshwater flows to receiving areas south of US 41 that were interrupted with the construction of Tamiami Trail in 1928.

The purpose of the feasibility study was to identify a suite of alternatives that, when applied, would result in water quality improvement for downstream OFWs. Development of potential water quality solutions required consideration of the various challenges, opportunities, and constraints associated with the increased flows and new nutrient loads associated with the PSRP. These include:

Water Quality. The water at BR36 and BR37 is above water quality standards for nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, and copper.

Figure 1. Existing and future flow patterns.

Any chosen treatment system will need to address these elevated constituents.

S Water Quantity. While the total volume of water discharged through BR36 is expected to decrease with the construction of the new culverts, total water flow in the Tamiami Canal is expected to increase with implementation of the PSRP. Quantifying the anticipated design flow for any solution is necessary to determine the ultimate system sizing and the land required.

S Land Availability/Suitability. The primary constraint to building a solution is land availability. Both public and private lands are located to the south of US 41 in the project vicinity and availability of the land for the project was unknown. In addition, some of the land contains wetlands and/ or upland habitat, which would limit sizing and configuration of any treatment solution.

S Technology. Each potential solution has challenges and constraints. For example, some systems are more efficient at treating one constituent over another. A solution may also require a larger footprint than feasible based on the land available, and therefore, would not be capable of treating the full volume of water.

S Potential Permitting Constraints. Wetlands and other habitat are located throughout the potential siting locations, and therefore, construction in or around these resources would require additional analysis and potential permitting delays.

S Funding. Potential constraints related to funding include:

• Restrictions on use of funding sources to only public or private lands.

• Timing, as some locations may require a year or more in advance to obtain funding for any project, particularly when funding must be approved through government budget cycles.

• Potential cost sharing.

• If limited funding is available, implementation may need to occur in stages.

The first step was to review background materials totaling more than 150 sources, including baseline water quality and modeling efforts, many of which were recommended or provided by the project’s technical working group (TWG). The data helped inform the study methodology and the evaluation of more than 20 treatment options for potential application.

During the information collection stage, various treatment technologies were

identified for project applicability. Concepts included conventional and innovative water treatment resources, such as treatment wetlands, spreader berms and canals, sedimentation basins, polishing ponds, and biofilters. All options were required to be scalable and provide improvements in overall water quality. Each technology, as well as its pros and cons, were evaluated for consideration.

To maximize treatment potential, recommended technologies were combined into treatment sequences and a preferred sequence was selected, as shown in Figure 2.

One of the major benefits of this treatment sequence is the focus of intercepting and capturing the most concentrated water within the Tamiami Canal at or near BR36. This is also upgradient of where the additional flows from the PSRP are expected to enter the canal; therefore, interception of flow at BR36 prior to dilution would reduce the total volume of water requiring treatment.

Water could passively enter, or be pumped to, an initial sedimentation basin for removal of suspended solids, as well as those contaminants adsorbed to those particles. It’s known from the historic surface water sampling that more than half of the nutrient concentrations within the canal are associated with these suspended particles.

Effluent from the sedimentation basin would then flow into a series of treatment wetlands with a combination of open water ponds and shallow marshes. Fine sediment and dissolved contaminants would be removed in the shallow marshes through filtration, sedimentation, adsorption, burial, and biodegradation processes. Effluent from the treatment wetlands would then be diverted into a spreader swale for conveyance

and dispersion of flow to an area of existing wetlands, helping to restore freshwater flows. This sequence would alleviate the migration of contaminant loads to downgradient resources, both within the canal and those lands south of US 41, which receives flow from the canal via existing and planned culverts.

The feasibility study yielded several key recommendations:

S The most cost-effective solution to improve water quality is to treat the highest concentration with the lowest flow.

S Existing data show that the highest concentrations are located at BR36, and therefore, the project should intercept at or near BR36 pending any new sampling results.

S The project should utilize a passive sequence of nature-based solutions.

S The project should be sited within an approximate 20- to 55-acre area of land ideally near BR36.

S Both state-owned and publicly owned lands should be considered for implementation.

Public involvement during the WQFS, which was performed during COVID-19, was critically important. Throughout the course of the study, 17 meetings were conducted with the TWG, with each meeting building on the last, providing project updates, case studies, and proposed treatment technologies, including process schematics.

The meetings provided a free-flowing opportunity for an exchange of ideas and information, and the collective input that resulted from the time and commitment of

Continued on page 62

Figure 2. Treatment sequence.

Continued from page 61

each member of the TWG was valuable. In addition to the TWG meetings, three virtual public meetings were held, garnering more than 250 attendees.

These engagement efforts were channeled into the WQFS, which helped to inform decisions moving forward, provided flexible and adaptable treatment options, and allowed for multiple implementation scenarios going forward.

Step 2: Perform a Water Quality Site Analysis

Once the most desirable treatment technologies were identified and a minimum effective project size established, it was time to find a “home” for the project. In an area dominated by sensitive wetlands and ecology, as well as significant farmland interests, this was no easy task.

The WQSA involved an intentionally expansive study area encompassing 1,935 separate parcels of land. Each was to be evaluated to determine the best location(s) for the project. Building on an

expanded public engagement strategy as that employed in the WQFS, Stantec worked closely with the Big Cypress Basin and SFWMD staff, as well as the public stakeholders, to review, evaluate, and recommend a short list of parcels most suitable for the project.

The assessment methodology for establishing preferred sites for project implementation involved establishing initial exclusionary criteria for parcels that could not accommodate the project, followed by several applications of further exclusionary criteria that narrowed the list of nearly 2,000 parcels to a list of just 10 parcels.

These remaining parcels were then ranked utilizing an initial set of evaluative criteria and these results were shared with the TWG. Following the TWG input, additional evaluative criteria were applied, resulting in five remaining candidate parcels that were subjected to further evaluation, which included field-level investigation, to produce a final ranking (Figure 3). This set of criteria included:

S Ecological Factors

S Water Quality Benefit

S Capital Project Costs

S Potential Public Use/Public Asset

S Willing Seller/Ease of Acquisition

The final report identified only three parcels with significant potential to meet the goals and intent of the project. Of those three parcels, one owner indicating no willingness to participate, and of the remaining two parcels, one is publicly owned and one is privately owned.

Similar to the WQFS, public participation was a hallmark of the WQSA, resulting in more than 200 individual comments from 10 different organizations and interests in creating the final WQSA. At the final presentation, few individuals or organization weighed in, and most comments were technical in nature and would be better addressed through future efforts once a final site is secured and the project moves into design.

As of this writing, a final site has yet to be selected, but it’s the hope of all involved that these studies have collectively identified a successful pathway for efficiently and economically addressing the potential downstream impacts to OFWs in southwest Florida from the full and final implementation of the PSRP and the CERP project. S

Figure 3. Treatment schematics.

AEROBIC GRANULAR SLUDGE TECHNOLOGY

Following its introduction to North America in 2016, AquaNereda® Aerobic Granular Sludge Technology is quickly becoming the most sought-after wastewater treatment system in the U.S. and Canada with many plants in design and several plants currently under construction.

Consultants and end-users have realized the process and cost saving benefits associated with AquaNereda technology through on-site pilot testing, installation visits and technical seminars. The result is complete confidence in a progressive technology that ensures full plant compliance and peace of mind. Florida is no exception with plants currently pre-selected, under construction, or operational in 2024.

• Exceptional effluent without chemical addition

• Designed to meet or exceed nutrient removal demands

• Small footprint that easily retrofits into existing basins

Represented

• Reduced cost due to minimal civil site construction

• Low total cost of ownership

According to an American Water Works Association study, more than 350 significant distribution system electric shock incidents occur annually to water utility workers. A much larger number of minor shock incidents occur each year, many of which go unreported.

Electric shock is a danger water utility workers face during the installation and repair of water pipes and meters. Water pipes are often used to ground electricity in homes, and if there is a fault in the electric system, the pipe or meter can be energized with electricity. A severe or even fatal shock can occur if enough electricity is present in the pipe or meter.

Some utilities insulate the water service at the corporation stop or meter. Electrical insulation of water services has proven to be very effective in reducing the number of shock incidents; however, many uninsulated services remain.

What steps should utility workers take to avoid being shocked on the job?

Understand the Hazard

Electricity always wants to return to its

source to complete a continuous circuit. A typical circuit has two conductors: one that flows from a service panel to an appliance and one that returns the current to the panel. A neutral wire and ground wire are both connected to electrical ground. The neutral wire completes the electric circuit by conducting current away from the plugged-in electrical device, while the ground wire is a safety device that carries electric current away from a device when the circuit or plugged-in device malfunctions.

Grounding wires are connected to all outlets and metal boxes and then down to the earth by attaching them to either a metallic rod or a water pipe. The shock to utility workers occurs when they install or remove a water meter or cut through metallic pipes connected to a faulty system.

Because electricity may take multiple paths to ground, the worker may get shocked when first touching a pipe or service meter. A worker may not get shocked when removing a meter or pipe because it breaks the circuit, but he or she may be shocked when reinstalling that meter or service line because that action completes the ground circuit.

Use Proper Procedures and Safety Equipment

Every case will be a little different, but here are some general guidelines to consider when approaching meters or pipes that are part of a home or building’s ground system.

S Identify the composition of the service line to be worked on and that of nearby properties. This will help determine the likelihood of a shock hazard because metallic water lines allow an electrical current to travel from a neighboring property. The pipes most likely to act as an electrical conductor are ductile iron, copper, cast iron, steel, and galvanized.

S Voltage-rated rubber gloves with leather “glove keepers” worn over them provide the best protection for workers and should be worn when inspecting, installing, or removing a meter, or when cutting and repairing a service line. Class 00 rubber electrical gloves are rated for maximum use voltage of 500 volts alternating current (AC) and protect against most common shock

hazards associated with residential electrical systems. Consult with a voltage-rated glove manufacturer to determine the appropriate class of gloves for your utility’s situation. All gloves should be inspected prior to use and need to be tested and recertified periodically.

S Use voltage-rated gloves to check for a current with a clamp-on ampere meter. The presence of amperage indicates a potential electrical problem and shock hazard. If there is evidence of an electrical problem, notify the homeowner, building occupant, and/or local power company representative so they can determine the source and eliminate the hazard. Be aware that a zero reading does not guarantee safety, as the source of the current may not be constant (i.e., a garage door opener) and safety equipment should still be used.

S A voltage-rated jumper or bridging conductor can be used to maintain grounding or bonding capability of a pipe during repairs by connecting around it during the repair. While wearing voltage-rated gloves, use an emery cloth or another method to clean the pipe to bare metal. Connect the jumper—mainline side first—securely to the pipe. Jumpers with alligator clips should not be used. If a current is present, the amp meter should be used to measure that the current is passing through the jumper prior to removing the meter or cutting a service line. When removing the jumper, disconnect the customer side first. Voltage-rated jumpers must be inspected prior to use and need to be tested and recertified periodically.

S If a worker is shocked, he or she should seek immediate medical attention. Be aware that an electrical injury can cause arrhythmia (a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat), which can be fatal hours after contact. Some local codes now prohibit the use of water pipe grounding, but many do not, so the practice and associated hazard are still widespread.

Resources

For more information, contact the following organizations:

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration www.osha.gov

• Electrical Safety Foundation www.esfi.org

• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health www.cdc.gov/noish

Don’t take chances—take charge and follow these safety tips when working with metal pipe and meters! S

Test Yourself

Charlie Lee Martin Jr., Ph.D.

1. The first piped water supply from springs and wells, designed and constructed in 1652, was located within the city of

a. Philadelphia. b. Boston.

c. New York. d. Baltimore.

2. The first designed and constructed distribution system for an entire community was installed in 1746 in which Pennsylvania city?

a. Schaefferstown.

b. Hershey.

c. Philadelphia.

d. Pittsburgh.

3. The first designed and constructed pressurized distribution system via steamdriven pumps was installed in 1764 in which Pennsylvania city?

a. Reading.

b. Erie.

c. Bethlehem.

d. Schaefferstown.

4. The first cast iron water main was laid in 1664 in France in the city of

a. Dijon. b. Montpellier.

c. Paris. d. Versailles.

5. The first cast iron water main in America was laid in 1817 in which Pennsylvania city?

a. Reading.

b. Erie.

c. Bethlehem.

d. Philadelphia.

6. Ductile iron pipe, used for its strength, flexibility, and impact resistance, was first installed in 1968 in

a. Philadelphia. b. New York.

c. Baltimore. d. Boston.

7. The method(s) used to determine the location of leaks within the distribution system include

a. listening devices.

b. leak surveys.

c. water audits.

d. all of the above.

8. The minimum pressure at ground level under all demand conditions required at all points is

a. 20 pounds per square inch (psi).

b. 25 psi.

c. 15 psi.

d. none of the above.

9. The measure of the smoothness of a pipe is given by the

a. C Factor. b. A Factor.

c. B Factor. d. D Factor.

10. The most common method used to make a connection to a water main is a

a. hot tap.

b. dry tap.

c. wet tap.

d. none of the above.

Answers on page 70

References used for this quiz:

• Larry Mays, Water Distribution Systems Handbook, AWWA

• Water Distribution System Operation and Maintenance, CSUS 6th edition

• Water Distribution Operator Training Handbook, 3rd edition, AWWA

Orange County Utilities, Orlando

Work title and years of service.

Currently, I serve as the education program manager of the water division at

FWRJ READER PROFILE

Orange County Utilities. I have been with the utility for nearly seven years.

What does your job entail?

My key roles include developing and administering water use and conservation education programs, serving as a liaison with internal teams and external agencies, and completing research to determine community need and program effectiveness. I also serve as project manager for special assignments, including assisting with executing employee engagement activities, and overseeing the H20 Pipeline Program, a vocational initiative designed to train high school seniors to become Class C water or wastewater treatment operators.

What education and training have you had?

atre arts, with a concentration in event management, as well as a master’s degree in nonprofit management, both from the University of Central Florida. Additionally, I have a graduate certificate in hospitality and tourism management from Florida Atlantic University.

What do you like best about your job?

The favorite part of my role is the opportunity to interact with a broad spectrum of people; from serving my utility’s customers, collaborating with colleagues in different associations, and performing outreach in an assortment of capacities, there is something incredibly special about human interaction that is an unbelievably fulfilling component of my job.

What professional organizations do you belong to?

I am the events coordinator for Region III of FSAWWA, as well as serve on the Public Affairs Council for AWWA. Additionally, I am the technical chair/program coordinator for the Central Florida Chapter of FWEA.

How have the organizations helped your career?

Both FSAWWA and FWEA have provided me with tremendous opportunity to learn about water and wastewater operations, executing small- and large-scale professional meetings, and best management practices for conservation outreach. It would be an impossible task calculating the value of the knowledge I’ve received from collaborating with the industry colleagues I’ve interacted with as part of my association involvement.

What do you like best about the industry?

I enjoy the holistic nature of the industry most; the operators, engineers, administrative staff, managerial leaders, communication professionals and beyond are integral to one another being successful. I feel an immense amount of pride being part of this industry.

What do you do when you’re not working?

I am an avid Texas Hold‘em player, as well as enjoy a variety of card and board games. I volunteer for Heart of Florida, United Way, Water For People, Water Equation, and a few local organizations that focus on youth outreach. I am a travel fanatic and am determined to see as much of the world as possible! S

Volunteering at an annual Wine for Water event.

With H20 Pipeline students at the 2023 FSAWWA Fall Conference.

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.

FWEA South Chapter: Fostering a Strong Water Community in South Florida

In the past year the South Florida Chapter of FWEA has successfully solidified its position within the water community in the south Florida area with a series of well-received events with consistent sellout attendance. Serving FWEA members in Miami-Dade and Monroe County, the chapter and its steering committee, under the leadership of the current chair, Arturo Burbano, have actively organized events focused on enhancing member engagement, fostering public awareness and outreach, and advancing professional development. These initiatives align with FWEA’s overarching vision of ensuring a clean and sustainable water environment for future generations.

Moreover, the chapter has excelled in uniting the industry, which is particularly noteworthy in a year marked by a strong interest in reconnecting and fostering increased collaboration with clients and partners.

The events organized by the steering committee have not only contributed to the professional development of FWEA members, but they have also served as key platforms for facilitating meaningful connections and synergies within the broader water community. These successful endeavors underscore the chapter’s commitment to promoting unity and collaboration in the pursuit of a sustainable and resilient water environment.

Speaker Series Dinner Events

The chapter has hosted several in-person gatherings as part of its “Speaker Series Dinner Events” where local leaders from public utilities are invited to discuss current issues related to our industry. The overwhelmingly positive response from the membership is a testament to the quality of the personalities at the podium, as well as the success of the organizing team in capturing the major concerns of our water community. The presentations always include

A full house at the “Dinner With Speakers” event held on Nov. 14, 2023.

an additional happy hour that allows time for follow-up discussions, one-on-one questions, and networking among members.

The chapter events are typically attended by many different workers in the water sector, including government employees, students, consultants, and vendors. These events provide valuable insights into pressing industry matters and also foster a sense of community engagement and awareness.

Get Involved!

The chapter is planning more events for the near future. If you would like to get involved and volunteer, please feel free to reach out to Arturo Burbano, 2023-2024 South Florida Chapter chair at BurbanoA@bv.com.

Melody Gonzalez, E.I., is a project engineer with Black & Veatch. She serves as the FWEA Member Relationships Committee chair and treasurer/ contact for the FWEA South Florida Chapter. S

Melody Gonzalez

Melody Gonzalez

Steve Williamson (center), manager for the Village of Key Biscayne, presents future plans at a chapter event on Feb. 23, 2023.

Members enjoy the networking during a chapter event happy hour.

Billie Jo McCarley, P.E., deputy director of operations at the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (center), receives a plaque of appreciation for speaking at the dinner event on Jan. 24, 2024.

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

SCADA Operations System Administrator

The Broward County Water and Wastewater Services – Operations Division (WWOD) is seeking highly qualified candidates for:

SALARY: $50.6462 - $80.8312 / $105,344.10 - $168,128.90

LOCATION: Water and Wastewater Operations Division, 2555 Copans Road, Pompano Beach, FL 33069

DEPARTMENT: Public Works

To view and apply for this position, please visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/broward

Treatment Plant Operator (Water)

The Broward County Water and Wastewater Services – Operations Division (WWOD) is seeking highly qualified candidates for:

SALARY: $24.5733 - $39.2189 / $51,112.46 - $81,575.31

LOCATION: Pompano Beach, FL and Lauderdale Lakes, FL

DEPARTMENT: Public Works

To view and apply for this position, please visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/broward

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 954-753-6329 or Email to Jzilmer@csidfl.org Attention Jan Zilmer, Director of Human Resources.

The Coral Springs Improvement District – A GREAT place to further your career and enhance your life!

Water Plant Operator

Applicants must have a valid Class C or higher Drinking water license and experience in Reverse Osmosis/Nano Filtration treatment processes preferred however not required. Position requirements include knowledge of methods, tools and materials used in the controlling, servicing, and minor repairs of all related R.O. water treatment facilities machinery and equipment.

Salary range for C license or greater - $54,059. - $86,112. Salary to commensurate relative to level of license and experience in this field. Trainees who have passed the state exam and only need actual hours worked to obtain the license may be considered.

Water Plant Trainee

Responsible to learn, understand, and apply the daily training instructions for the operations of the treatment of water. Operate treatment plant processes and equipment to produce safe and pleasant drinking water for human consumption.

Must be a good problem solver and decision maker.

Reports to Chief Water Operator or Lead Operator or any licensed operator designate.

Education and experience require a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Must have knowledge and level of competency commonly associated with the completion of specialized training in the field of work.

Trainees who have passed the state exam and only need actual hours worked to obtain the license are strongly encouraged to apply.

Salary range for this position: $48,294.48 - $56,355.52. Salary to commensurate relative to level of experience.

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 and must pass a pre-employment drug screen test.

Please send resume to jzilmer@csidfl.org or fax resume to 954-7536328, attention Jan Zilmer, Director of Human Resources.

Water Plant Lead Operator

Salary Range $65,592 - $81,990

The City of Tamarac is accepting applications for a Water Plant Lead Operator.

Work involves coordinating and conducting standard plant operations and maintenance and repair work and providing guidance and daily direction to plant operators regarding assigned activities and work orders. Ensures adherence to all regulatory agencies and local, state, and federal statutes for the safe provision of water to the public.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

High School diploma or GED required; supplemented by four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in municipal water treatment operations; or an equivalent combination of education, certification, training and/or experience.

Required Certifications and Licenses

Must possess a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Class “A” Drinking Water Plant Operator License. Must possess and maintain a valid State of Florida Driver License and the ability to drive a city owned vehicle per established policies, procedures, and safety guidelines.

Apply online at

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/tamaracfl/jobs/4388065/ water-plant-lead-operator?page=3&pagetype=jobOpportunities

Jobs

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:

♦ 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” License.

♦ Must be able to perform shift work.

♦ Acknowledge this position is designated as Emergency Critical (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

http://www.stpete.org/jobs

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: Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering; Six (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.

Engineer I - Performs routine professional and technical engineering work reviewing and evaluating plans for the design of new water/ wastewater infrastructure and provides general professional engineering services for departmental capital improvement projects. Must be a Registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the State of Florida.

To learn more about the positions and to apply please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/citrusfl

City of Orlando Public Works - Construction Manager Capital Improvement

Perform professional-level work involving the management of construction and design scheduling within the Capital Improvements Plan Division for the City of Orlando. Manage the timely completion of pre-construction and construction activities such as assistance with procurement and schedule development & manage complex special projects for the Department and Division.

Industrial Electrician

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

Salary: $54,945.70 - $87,693.84

Job Type: Full-time

Location: Water and Wastewater Operations Division, 2555 W. Copans Road, Pompano Beach, FL 33069

Department: Public Works

To view and apply for this position, please visit: www.broward.org/careers

Classifieds continued on page 70

Editorial Calendar

January .......

February ...... Water Supply; Alternative Sources

March ........... Energy Efficiency; Environmental Stewardship

April ............. Conservation and Reuse

May

June ............. Biosolids Management and

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.

Classifieds continued from page 69

Stormwater Utility Manager Cocoa Beach, FL, 32931

Seeking Stormwater Utility Manager with experienced knowledge of stormwater systems for lagoon protection and flood abatement.

Salary range starts at $59,629 ($28.67/hour) plus a generous benefit package including PTO, 11 paid holidays, Pension, Insurance & more.

Apply for this position and view other opportunities at: http://www.cityofcocoabeach.com/

Test Yourself Answer Key

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1. B) Boston.

The first piped water supply brought from springs and wells, designed and constructed in 1652, was located within the city of Boston.

2. A) Schaefferstown.

The first designed and constructed distribution system for an entire community was installed in 1746 in Schaefferstown, Penn.

3. C) Bethlehem.

The first designed and constructed pressurized distribution system via steam-driven pumps was installed in 1764 in Bethlehem, Penn.

4. D) Versailles.

The first cast iron water main was laid in 1664 in the city of Versailles, France.

5. D) Philadelphia.

The first cast iron water main in America was laid in 1817 in Philadelphia.

6. D) Boston.

Ductile iron pipe, used for its strength, flexibility, and impact resistance, was first installed in 1968 in Boston.

7. D) all of the above.

The method(s) used to determine the location of leaks within the distribution system include all of the above.

8. A) 20 pounds per square inch (psi).

The minimum pressure at ground level under all demand conditions required at all points is 20 psi.

9. A) C Factor.

The measure of the smoothness of a pipe is given by the C Factor.

10. C) wet tap.

The most common method used to make a connection to a water main is a wet tap.