Florida Water Resources Journal - October 2023

Editor’s Office and Advertiser Information: Florida Water Resources Journal 1402 Emerald Lakes Drive Clermont, FL 34711

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Editor: Rick Harmon

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Mailing Coordinator: Buena Vista Publishing

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

Moving?

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 symbol in every occurrence of a trademarked name, we state we are using the names only in an editorial fashion, and to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement of the trademark. None of the material in this publication necessarily reflects the opinions of the sponsoring organizations. All correspondence received is the property of the Florida Water Resources Journal and is subject to editing. Names are withheld in published letters only for extraordinary reasons. Authors agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the

Water Resources Journal Inc. (FWRJ), its officers, affiliates, directors, advisors, members, representatives, and agents from any and all losses, expenses, third-party claims, liability, damages and costs (including, but not limited to, attorneys’ fees) arising from authors’ infringement of any intellectual property, copyright or trademark, or other right of any person, as applicable under the laws of the State of Florida.

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Columns

16 FWEA Chapter Corner: From Laughter to Unity: The Legendary Rivalry that Sparked a Revolution for FWEA—Megan L. Nelson

25 Test Yourself—Charles Lee Martin Jr.

32 FSAWWA Speaking Out—Greg D. Taylor

36 Reader Profile—Nicole Cohen

44 C Factor—Patrick “Murf” Murphy

56 FWEA Focus—Suzanne Mechler

59

Departments

25

62

(photo: Matt Reimann)

Building Phosphorous Recovery From the Ground Up

Nicole Stephens, Cody Charnas, Rudy Maltos, and Dan Freedman

Increasingly stringent nutrient limits being promulgated across the United States have driven the development and implementation of various biological phosphorous removal (BPR) alternatives. While the resulting impacts to receiving streams are positive, unintended consequences within facilities and their solids handling practices have been realized from operating in BPR modes. Anaerobic digestion of waste solids from BPR processes and the recycling of dewatering sidestreams to the main plant have been associated with detrimental impacts to

BPR performance, increased nuisance struvite formation, and deterioration of digested sludge dewatering performance. Additionally, the recycling of phosphorus into the centrate stream will eventually lead to a breakthrough of phosphorus in the secondary effluent, leading to potential effluent violations.

These challenges, along with the industry trend toward a circular economy, have prompted the introduction of phosphorus sequestration and harvesting technologies that break phosphorus recycle loops and generate nutrient-dense biosolids and/or marketable fertilizer products.

The Metro Water Recovery (Metro) Robert W. Hite Treatment Facility (RWHTF) offers an informative case study for stringent effluent nutrient limitations. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Regulation 81 requires an effluent total phosphorus concentration of less than 1 mg/L-P, and the future Regulation 31 will reduce the effluent limit to 0.1 mg/L-P in 2037.

These requirements drove a comprehensive evaluation of phosphorus recovery technologies followed by the complex construction of the world’s largest MagPrexTM phosphorus recovery system at the RWHTF.

The RWHTF treats an average of 135 mil gal per day and has been continuously upgrading liquid stream treatment processes

Nicole Stephens is senior associate, process engineer and Cody Charnas is principal, practice leader at Stantec Consulting Services Inc. in Plano, Texas. Rudy Maltos is associate engineer and Dan Freedman is senior manager at Metro Water Recovery in Denver.

to meet aggressive nutrient limits enacted by the state of Colorado. While liquid stream improvements were largely successful at addressing effluent water quality goals, the facility experienced increased maintenance demands due to nuisance struvite formation (Figure 1), deterioration of dewatering performance, and an inability to achieve low effluent phosphorus levels due to recycled loads from nutrient-heavy centrate returning to the head of the plant.

Evaluation

As part of Metro’s phosphorus initiative, a series of studies were implemented to evaluate technologies that address detrimental operations and maintenance impacts from the back pressure regulator. Metro evaluated predewatering (MagPrex) and postdewatering (Ostara) recovery alternatives using process and thermodynamic modelling, pilot studies, comparable case studies, and a triple bottom

Continued on page 6

Figure 1. Nuisance struvite formation in solids handling piping.

Table 1. Key Pilot Testing Results From the Predewatering Pilot (MagPrex) and Postdewatering Pilot (Ostara)

Continued from page 4

line-based business case evaluation using a sustainable return on investment (SROI) model.

Pilot-scale testing was performed for both pre- and postdewatering phosphorus recovery technologies (Figure 2) and key results are provided in Table 1. The predewatering system operated for two months and achieved greater than 90 percent conversion, whereas the postdewatering system operated for one month and achieved an average of 82 percent. The postdewatering pilot was also supplemented with a phosphorus stripping bench and pilot study where waste activated sludge was held under anaerobic conditions to promote the maximum release of orthophosphate (OP). This process is primarily implemented by Ostara as WASSTRIP in conjunction with its postdewatering recovery system.

Both pre- and postdewatering pilots operated for a minimum of one month and received digester effluent or centrate, respectively, from the full-scale system, with the goal of achieving the maximum phosphorus removal possible. The predewatering pilot was able to achieve Metro’s OP conversion target of 90 percent, with the majority of the phosphorous being sequestered (bound within the biosolids) and a small fraction of the OP precipitated to a large enough crystal that settled to the bottle of the reactor. The crystal size and settleability is a function of the hydraulic retention time (HRT) of the reactor (five-hour minimum), which could be adjusted to create large crystals for harvesting. Additionally, the predewatering pilot observed larger benefits to dewatering polymer (15 percent) and final cake solids (2.5 percent) when compared to the postdewatering pilot.

Testing and modeling results were used to inform conceptual designs and life cycle cost estimates for four variations of pre- and postdewatering phosphorus recovery alternatives. Other maintenancebased chemical dosing alternatives were also assessed and eliminated early in economic evaluations due to high annual cost and limited effectiveness. The postdewatering alternatives considered incorporating phosphprus recovery, both upstream and downstream of the existing sidestream deammonification system. In addition to the financial costs and potential revenues, envirionemntal and social impacts were considered and monetized as follows to inform the SROI (Figure 3): S Environmental Impacts. Changes in phosphorus rock mining, fertilizer greenhouse gas emission offset based on

Continued on page 8

Figure 2. Pre- and postdewatering phosphorus recovery pilots.

Figure 3. Sustainable return on investment analysis results.

Figure 4. Robert W. Hite Treatment Facility phosphorus recovery facility model.

NOT

RECEIVING SYSTEM

Raptor Septage Acceptance Plant

Removes debris and inorganic solids from municipal and industrial septage, FOG, and sludge. This heavy-duty machine incorporates the Raptor Fine Screen for screening, dewatering and compaction. Accessories include security access and automated accounting systems.

Raptor Septage Complete Plant

With the addition of aerated grit removal, the Septage Acceptance Plant is offered as the Raptor Septage Complete Plant.

nitrogen (limited component), air and water quality impacts

S Social Impacts. Stakeholder acceptance, public acceptance, permitting

Results of this evaluation prompted the selection of a 1-reactor, predewatering phosphorus recovery using the CNP MagPrex system for implementation at the RWHTF. As shown in Figure 3, this alternative had the

lowest initial investment and a positive return within the planning period of 20 years.

Implementation

The project team selected an aggressive implementation schedule to get operational relief as soon as possible and allow the RWHTF to return to full BPR mode. As such, the project was divided into to three work packages:

S Work Package 0 included the procurement of all CNP equipment and allowed CNP to develop shop drawings and get a head start on long lead equipment.

S Work Package 1 focused on onsite civil improvements and preparation, including relocating over a dozen utilities and constructing a new utility tunnel.

S Work Package 2 featured all remaining construction and start-up work, such as installing manufacturer-supplied equipment, including the reactor and blowers, replacing digester effluent pumps, and a magnesium chloride storage and feed system.

The constructed reactor has an effective volume of 380,000 gal and is 40 ft in diameter and 74 ft tall (Figures 4 and 5). Currently the world’s largest MagPrex reactor, the vessel had to be constructed onsite in two separate sections adjacent to the new building. The two reactor sections were set into the new building utilizing a 600-ton crane. The bottom cone of the reactor was assembled upside down for constructability purposes, which required the cone to be flipped using two cranes prior to setting. The final reactor assembly was challenging because the main body of the reactor has an inner and outer shell with angled baffles between the shells. Complex scaffolding was erected between the inner and outer shells and throughout the inside of the reactor to allow access for welding and coating.

Collaboration among Metro, equipment manufacturers, contractors, and engineers was critical for successful project delivery. The phosphorus recovery system was commissioned in spring 2020 and is improving RWHTF operation and maintenance by managing nuisance struvite and improving dewaterability.

Current Operation

Metro’s MagPrex continues to operate, with an average OP conversion efficiency above 90 percent (Figure 6), resulting in an average final effluent total phosphorus concentration of 0.3 mg/L-P. Although the current effluent total phosphorus concentration is acceptable, future regulation will require a final concentration of 0.1 mg/L-P, which will be achieved through additional liquid stream improvements.

Metro continues to optimize phosphorus recovery chemical dosing and reactor pH to further increase OP conversion efficiency. S

Figure 5. Robert W. Hite Treatment Facility phosphorus recovery facility.

Figure 6. Metro MagPrex oxygen precipitates conversion efficiency.

Post-FSAWWA Chair Fun: Swimming the High Seas Around Key West and the Importance of Water Quality

Emilie Moore

With some new-found extra time after chairing FSAWWA in 2021-2022, what could be more fun than swimming 12.5 miles clockwise around Key West in mid-June?

As early as the 1990s, swimming around Key West was on my radar after talking with an architect in the water/wastewater industry who was swimming long-distance open water swims. At that time, I was thinking: Wow, that’s a crazyfar swim!

Fast forward through to the 2000s, when I was playing ultimate frisbee and participating in triathlons, and then transitioning to more open water swimming, which I fell in love with.

With the September 2022 Swim Around Charleston (12 miles) under my belt, I felt I could make the distance, though the tidal river flows around Charleston from the Cooper and Ashley

Swim Start

The 2023 Swim Around Key West, hosted by the College of the Florida Keys, started just offshore from Higgs Beach on Key West’s southwestern shore, with about 30 relay teams (two-people and up to six-people teams) beginning first, followed by about 50 solo swimmers. Thankfully, swimmers are aided on these long swims by a support kayaker, protecting you from speeding watercraft, giving out words of encouragement, helping with navigation, and toting and doling out drinking water and sustenance for the long swim ahead.

My kayak buddy, Julie, was already a pro as a support kayaker, having aided me for the 2022 Swim Around Charleston and mastering water and food delivery about every 25 minutes. The kayak was ready for anything as I bring at least twice the water and nutrition needed, though this results in a heavy, overloaded behemoth that my kayaker must paddle through the waves, wind, and current—while likely cursing

Early Good Vibes

With a water temperature of about 86°F in shallow areas, we headed west past the southernmost point of the Continental U.S. and toward Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park near Checkpoint No. 1, the first of three checkpoints. As the water became deeper, I saw tarpon swimming near the bottom and I began thinking: Where are the sharp-toothed creatures that might want to snack on them and maybe take an interest in me? Fortunately, the only sharks I spotted were nurse sharks in shallow water on the east side of Key West in Cow Key Channel.

I’ll leave any thoughts of creatures in the deep channel off Mallory Square and the cruise ship piers for another time.

Julie, with marine radio in one hand and propelling her pedal kayak forward with her feet, listened to the U.S. Coast Guard and race officials describing calamities impacting other teams (kayak sinking, swimmers can’t swim against the tide of Fleming Channel and need a pickup, kayaker overturned near the White Street Pier, etc.).

The swim awaits at Higgs Beach.

(photo: Tracie Mayo)

Early in the swim, somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean.

(photo: Julie Harn)

Pea soup visibility in the deeper water persisted until we passed the Key West Bight/ Historic Seaport and entered Fleming Key Cut, passing the city’s wastewater treatment plant. We passed under the Fleming Key Bridge and Checkpoint No. 2 was in site. Passing the checkpoint and turning northeast, we passed through the Garrison Bight Mooring Field and navigated between large sailboats, with up to 150 moorings. The mooring field behind us, we passed the U.S. Navy’s Sigsbee Campground and then headed to the east side of Key West and the north end of Cow Key Channel.

We passed Checkpoint No. 3, the final checkpoint, and entered Cow Key Channel. Thankfully, we timed it perfectly and were treated to a strong tide assist in the channel—it was liberating! It felt like swimming with the current in the Rainbow or Ichetucknee rivers. That feeling of speed met an abrupt end at the southeast end of Key West. Turning west to home and for the next approximately three miles, a strong headwind and choppy seas drastically decreased swim speed and it was nearly impossible to not swallow seawater. That was the longest three miles of swimming in my life—dog tired, shoulders screaming, and if you didn’t keep moving, you’d quickly lose whatever distance you swam. Water and sustenance breaks were reduced to mere seconds to not lose momentum.

Large, choppy waves threw off my swim stroke and breathing. Siting low-elevation landmarks, such as docks and piers, was nearly impossible unless I was at the crest of a wave, but timing wave crests in heavy chop proved to be very challenging. Fortunately, I pinpointed a tall communications tower just past the southernmost point to keep on track. Who wants to swim more than 12.5 miles when you’ve been out there for more than six hours?

Headwinds and choppy waves battered Julie, my kayak buddy, and she focused on not getting swamped like the kayaker she heard about on the marine radio. She saw another swimmer/support kayaker team ditching the race for the shore near Smathers Beach.

Nice sightings of a beautiful sea turtle and enormous conch shells brightened the drudgery of the swim. People have asked me what I think about while swimming, and although I’d like to say I’m thinking about a new, riveting solution to end a water crisis, I’m usually thinking about what I plan to eat and drink at the next water/sustenance break, how I’m doing with my swim stroke, is there any sea life, like jellyfish, etc., that I need to avoid. In this case, knowing I was struggling with the chop, I started repeating my mantra: “Be one with the waves.”

Made It!

With the yellow, triangular finish-line

buoy in sight, I put a little extra effort into my swim stroke and kick. I touched the buoy seven hours and four minutes after the start and felt totally spent and nauseous, perhaps from the combination of sustenance and ingested seawater—and maybe from swimming for seven hours! Recovery and celebration included a few hours of pool time, solid food, and Key West-style liquids.

This swim kicked my butt and is the most challenging one I’ve done. I’m so happy to have completed it and as one swimmer said to me after the finish, “You just swam around Key West—how crazy is that?” I extend my deepest gratitude to all my family and friends for supporting me in this half-crazed endeavor.

Like several of my open water swim buddies have learned, including fellow swimmers in FSAWWA, swimming in open water brings to light the importance of water quality and having access to surface waters that are safe to swim in. Ideally, I want all surface waters to have water of swimmable quality.

Next up this year is swimming in three open water events in August, September, and October in the Tennessee River. It’s called the Triple Crown of the Tennessee and is a total of 21.2 miles.

Be well my friends and I hope to see you in the water!

Emilie Moore is past chair of FSAWWA. S

The swim awaits at Higgs Beach.

(photo: Tracie Mayo)

At Higgs Beach—seven hours and four minutes later! (photos: Tracie Mayo)

Florida Water Utilities Among Those Recognized for Innovation in Their Operations and Communities

The forward-thinking initiatives of 35 water utilities are being recognized as they reimagine partnering and engagement, watershed stewardship, and recovery of resources, such as water, energy, and nutrients.

The Utility of the Future Today recognition program celebrates the achievements of water utilities that transform from a traditional wastewater treatment system to a resource recovery center and leader in the overall sustainability and

resilience of the communities they serve. Since its inception in 2016, the program has recognized 183 utilities across the United States.

A Network of Partners

Utility of the Future Today was launched by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), Water Environment Federation (WEF), Water Research Foundation (WRF) and

WateReuse Association, with input from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE).

The concept of the program is being promoted as water systems around the world are transforming operations through innovation and technology. The 35 utilities recognized this year are recovering resources from wastewater, leading community engagement, forming unique partnerships, and building an internal culture of innovation.

“The transformational approach to utility management that the Utility of the Future Today honorees have shown benefits communities and water in several significant ways,” said Lynn Broaddus, WEF past-president. “We are delighted to celebrate the impact of these utilities and proud to recognize their leadership in water-sector innovation.”

Eligibility

Public and private water-sector utilities of all sizes are eligible that can demonstrate achievement of the application requirements. Applicants must have had no major violations of their National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements for the previous year from the date of application.

2022 Honorees

Utilities recognized for the first time:

S City of Farmington Wastewater Treatment Plant – Farmington, Utah

S City of Memphis Stiles Wastewater Treatment Facility – Memphis, Tenn.

S City of Surprise – Surprise, Ariz.

S Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District –DeKalb, Ill.

S Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission – Springfield, Ore.

S North Hudson Sewerage Authority – Hoboken, N.J.

S Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission –Newark, N.J.

S Philadelphia Water Department – Philadelphia, Penn.

S San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District – San Bernardino, Calif.

Utilities recognized for a second year for a new area of performance:

S Alexandria Renew Enterprises (AlexRenew) –Alexandria, Va.

S Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department – Tucson, Ariz.

S City of Westminster Water Reclamation Facility – Reisterstown, Md.

S Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (Central San) – Martinez, Calif.

S Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) – Pittsburgh, Penn.

S City of Zeeland Clean Water Plant – Zeeland, Mich.

S Town of Cary Utilities – Cary, N.C.

Utilities recognized for a third year in a new area of performance:

S Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department – Miami, Fla.

S King County, Wastewater Treatment Division –Seattle, Wash.

S Knoxville Utilities Board – Knoxville, Tenn.

S LOTT Clean Water Alliance – Olympia, Wash.

S Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District – Sacramento, Calif.

S Trinity River Authority of Texas – Arlington, Texas

S City of Pompano Beach Utilities Department –Pompano Beach, Fla.

S Eastern Municipal Water District – Perris, Calif.

S Holland Board of Public Works (Holland Area Water Reclamation Facility) – Holland, Mich.

Utilities recognized for a fourth year in a new area of performance:

S City of Grand Rapids – Grand Rapids, Mich.

S Gwinnett County Water Resources –Lawrenceville, Ga.

S Broward County Water and Wastewater Operations – North Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant – Pompano Beach, Fla.

Utilities recognized for a fifth year in a new area of performance:

S DC Water – Washington, D.C.

S Charlotte Water – Charlotte, N.C.

S City of St. Cloud – St. Cloud, Minn.

S Toho Water – Kissimmee, Fla.

Utilities recognized for a sixth year in a new area of performance:

S City of Tucson Water Department – Tucson, Ariz.

S Clean Water Services – Hillsboro, Ore.

Honorees will be recognized during a ceremony at the 2023 Water Environment

Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) in October in Chicago.

To learn more about the program, visit www.wef.org/utility-of-the-future or UtilityRecognition@wef.org. S

2022 UTILITY OF THE FUTURE TODAY HONOREES

Utility Name State Activity Area 2022

Alexandria Renew Enterprises (AlexRenew)

Broward County Water and Wastewater Operations - North

Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant

Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (Central San)

Charlotte Water

City of Farmington Wastewater Treatment Plant

City of Grand Rapids

City of Memphis Stiles Wastewater Treatment Facility

City of Pompano Beach Utilities Department

City of St. Cloud Public Utilities

City of Surprise

City of Tucson Water Department

City of Westminster Water Reclamation Facility

Virginia Watershed Stewardship

Florida Energy Generation & Recovery

California Water Reuse

North Carolina Partnering & Engagement

New Mexico Beneficial Biosolids Use

Michigan Energy Generation & Recovery

Tennessee Energy Generation & Recovery

Florida Water Reuse

Minnesota Partnering & Engagement

Arizona Energy Efficiency

Arizona Partnering & Engagement

Maryland Water Reuse

Michigan Beneficial Biosolids Use Clean Water Services Oregon Partnering & Engagement

City of Zeeland Clean Water Plant

DC Water District of Columbia Partnering & Engagement

Eastern Municipal Water District

Gwinnett County Water Resources

Holland Board of Public Works (Holland Area Water Reclamation Facility)

King County Wastewater Treatment Division

California Partnering & Engagement

Georgia Watershed Stewardship

Michigan Water Reuse

Washington Energy Efficiency

Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District Illinois Energy Generation & Recovery

Knoxville Utilities Board

LOTT Clean Water Alliance

Tennessee Beneficial Biosolids Use

Washington Nutrient Reduction & Materials Recovery

Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission Oregon Energy Generation & Recovery

Miami-Dade County Water & Sewer Department

North Hudson Sewerage Authority

Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission

Philadelphia Water Department

Florida Energy Efficiency

New Jersey Watershed Stewardship

New Jersey Partnering & Engagement

2022 UTILITY OF THE FUTURE TODAY HONOREES

Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department

Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA)

Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District

San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District

Toho Water

Pennsylvania Energy Generation & Recovery

Arizona Energy Generation & Recovery

Pennsylvania Partnering & Engagement

California Nutrient Reduction & Materials Recovery

California Watershed Stewardship

Florida Water Reuse

Town of Cary Utilities North Carolina Beneficial Biosolids Use

Trinity River Authority of Texas

Texas Partnering & Engagement

FWPCOA Pat Flanagan Award Presented Posthumously to Teresa McVeigh

The Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association (FWPCOA) presented its 2022 Pat Flanagan Award posthumously to Teresa “Terry” McVeigh at a lunch at the 2023 Florida Water Resources Conference (FWRC), which was held in June in Kissimmee. Accepting the award for Terry was her husband, Tim McVeigh.

Award Background

The award is given annually by FWPCOA to an associate member. It was established in 1964 and is based on the associate member’s assistance to operators and their contribution to the association.

The criteria for the award are:

S Assistance to operators in training, maintenance, and/or repairs of water or wastewater facilities

S Assisting in regional or annual meetings or short schools

S Providing technical information and service to operators

The award is named after Pat Flanagan, in recognition for his many years of service to the industry, including as a district manager with Allis-Chalmers and a manufacturer’s representative for several companies. He was an early member of the Florida Engineering Society, Florida Pollution Control Association, and Florida Water and Pollution Control Association.

Terry’s Contributions to FWPCOA

Terry became a member of FWPCOA in February 2004, and at the time of her passing on March 8, 2022, she had been an associate member for 18 years. She didn’t have the technical expertise in the water utility industry to train operators or provide maintenance or repair services to water or wastewater facilities; what she did have was a dedication to Florida’s water utility industry, and to FWPCOA and its Region VII, her home region. She helped proctor some of the certification examination sessions conducted by FWPCOA Region VII at its Broward County short schools. She became involved in the management of

the region, serving alongside her husband. She was elected several times during the term of her membership as regional secretary and secretarytreasurer-elect, and appointed as a trustee of the region.

In her role as regional secretary, Terry would prepare meeting agendas, attend executive board and membership meetings, take the minutes, and distribute them once they were completed. As trustee, she was assigned the duty of event coordinator and would cook and/or serve food at membership meetings, arrange bus trips for the membership to the Florida Keys and to FWRC, arrange catering and entertainment for the annual regional picnic, and arrange the annual holiday/ awards meeting at a restaurant in the region.

In recognition of her service, the region awarded her the Marge Farrell Award as regional associate member of the year for 2005. Terry also received other awards from the region recognizing her service.

She would assist at the region’s short schools, registering and helping students during the first night of school, and serving pizza at the “Pizza Night” that was held during the earlier schools at Northeast High School.

Over the years, Terry and Tim would mail out hundreds of regional newsletters to the membership before the advent of emailed newsletters.

When Tim became regional director and later advanced in the association offices, Terry would attend state board of directors meetings and state short schools throughout Florida. She would always offer to assist at the meetings, and she

Teresa “Terry” McVeigh

Terry serving food at an FWPCOA event.

Terry (right) at the annual Broward County Water Matters Day.

would help distribute shirts to students attending the short schools.

Terry rapidly gained knowledge of the importance of training and certifying Florida’s water utility workforce and of the programs offered by FWPCOA to accomplish these goals. She was happy to share this information with the industry when she helped at the association’s

booth in the exhibit hall at FWRC every year. She and Tim also helped “spread the word” about FWPCOA’s training programs at the annual Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials Conference. Her involvement with providing technical information didn’t stop at conferences and conventions. At the annual Broward County

Water Matters Day, she enjoyed sharing her knowledge with the public at large regarding career opportunities in the water utility industry and the importance of the industry workers in protecting the environment and the health of Florida’s citizens.

Terry truly had a profound love and appreciation for the industry and its workers. S

Terry (left) handing out shirts to attendees at a short school with Myrell Carter.

Terry (left) staffing the FWPCOA exhibit booth at the Florida Water Resources Conference with Al Monteleone.

FWEA CHAPTER CORNER

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

Melody Gonzalez

From Laughter to Unity: The Legendary Rivalry that Sparked a Revolution for FWEA

Megan L. Nelson

Amid the bustling exhibit hall at the 2022 Florida Water Resources Conference (FWRC), two men engaged in a fateful conversation that would go down in history. Little did they know that this seemingly ordinary chat would ignite a legendary rivalry filled with laughter, camaraderie, and an incredible surge of statewide enthusiasm.

Mike Demko and George Dick, the

that captured the hearts of our humbled organization. Leaders, volunteers, and members across the state were soon swept up in the excitement of their endeavors.

From that initial conversation, George and Mike orchestrated a series of engaging events, programs, and approaches to entice prospective members. They unleashed their creativity like a flood, greatly expanding the template of what FWEA has to offer. From socials and technical panels, to beach cleanups and roundtable discussions, they reshaped the typical FWEA event into a new experience that would draw in a wider and more-inclusive audience.

As the rivalry progressed, the friendly one-upmanship between George and Mike became the talk of the state. Their antics and good-natured humor were infectious, igniting motivation in volunteers old and new, and far and wide, to reinvent what we could bring to the

But beyond the laughs and jests, George and Mike were more than just rivals; they were two men on a mission to raise awareness, engagement, and excellence within our water industry.

As the year drew to a close, it soon became clear that the CFC’s nearly 5 percent lead was enough to call the winner. As George conceded the competition, he honored the bet by diligently providing high-class hospitality service to the attendees of the year-end chapter meeting for CFC. His professionalism and sincerity were a reminder to all that when we offer our best as humans the whole community truly benefits.

At this year’s FWRC in June it was announced that Mike had won the prestigious Ralph W. Baker Award for his outstanding work in membership recruitment. The accolade was well-deserved, but the true winners were the chapters and the greater membership of FWEA.

What began as friendly inspiration, George and Mike’s rivalry transformed FWEA into a vibrant hub of enthusiasm and laughter, proving that a little competition and a lot of camaraderie could spark an incredible revolution.

Megan L. Nelson, P.E., is FWEA director at large for the Central Florida Chapter and senior engineer at Orange County Utilities in Orlando. S

Mike Demko (left) receives the prestigious Ralph W. Baker Award for his outstanding work in membership recruitment.

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 New Facilities, Expansions, and Upgrades. 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. 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!

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

Sheldon Road Super Pump Station: A Self-Cleaning Trench Wet Well That Works

Benjamin Turnage, Dale Pearson, Justin Kise, and Christina Lacorazza (Article 1: CEU = 0.1 WW02015426)

1. The initial reason for constructing the pump station was to

a. prevent solids deposition.

b. control odor.

c. improve system hydraulics.

d. consolidate the utility’s wastewater treatment operations.

2. The ____________ is a function of the turbulence of the water and is determined from the geometries of the wet well.

a. Froud number

c. hydraulic gradient

b. Bernoulli’s constant

d. C-factor

3. A self-cleaning trench style wet well consists of a(n) _____________ entrance followed by long trench housing pumps or pump inlets.

a. turbulence suppressing

b. undersized

c. flumed

d. ogee ramp

4. One disadvantage of a trench style wet well is its

a. greater maintenance requirement.

b. higher installation cost.

c. limited ability to deal with widely varying diurnal flow.

d. reduced storage volume.

5. In this particular application, it was determined that ___________ provided the most reliable form of liquid level measurement.

a. floats

b. submersible pressure transducers

c. ultrasonic level sensors

d. sensor tape

If paying by credit card, fax to (561) 625-4858

providing the following information:

The Importance of Data Collection in Rehabbing Pump Stations

Daniel Vaca (Article 2: CEU = 0.1 WW02015427)

1. To collect hydrogen sulfide data, an analyzer is placed in the

a. wet well vent pipe.

b in the wet well, below the water level.

c in the wet well, above the water level.

d. at the lift station fence line.

2. The county’s inspection schedule calls for video inspection of

a ductile iron gravity sewer pipes every five years.

b. polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes every 10 years.

c cast iron pipes every five years.

d vitrified clay pipe (VCP) every 10 years.

3. To reduce future force main breaks, Orange County Utilities (OCU) has standardized the installation of _________ on all duplex and triplex pump stations.

a. hydropneumatics expansion tanks

b. variable frequency drives

c soft starts

d pneumatic piston check valves

4 The OCU’s preferred force main flow velocity range is _____ feet per second.

a. 2.5 - 4

c. 5 - 10

b. 4 - 7.5

d. 10 - 12.5

5 As part of OCU’s maintenance review, newly built pump stations using more-durable, standardized materials are photographed every _____ years.

a two

c five

b four

d 10

The Importance of Data Collection in Rehabilitating Pump Stations

Daniel Vaca

Orange County Utilities (OCU) maintains more than 850 wastewater pump stations within the six commissioner districts (Figure 1) that make up Orange County, which includes about 1,000 sq mi with approximately 150,000 sewer connection points served. The pump stations discharge approximately 55 mil gal per day (mgd) into the greater system to make it to OCU’s four water reclamation facilities.

The capital improvement program (CIP) within OCU is responsible for ensuring its existing stations are in formidable working condition for the residents that they serve. To do this, the OCU field services team performs a yearly inspection of each station and assigns a grade that signifies the priority level of components needing replacements or upgrades. For most stations, they are averaging a need for a

full rehabilitation after 25 years in service. Major components, such as supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, electrical control panels, submersible pumps, generators, and odor control systems, can have replacements sooner to prevent any failures. As a joint effort between the OCU engineering team and field services, a level of rehabilitation is determined.

To justify the rehabilitation for the pump station, OCU must also capture how the station is operating, which makes the data collection effort a key component to moving the project forward. It gives OCU vital information on how the station will be sized, improved, and connected to the greater system. This data gives insight into any future conditions OCU should plan for, such as new force mains coming online, force main route changes, and the construction of new developments connecting to any existing infrastructure.

Daniel Vaca, P.E., P.M.P, is senior engineer in the engineering division at Orange County Utilities in Orlando.

Figure 1. The six commissioner districts of Orange County Utilities.

Figure 2. Pump Station 3065, Gran Paseo. Dry pit (can station); not a standard layout. Originally built in 1972 prior to current standards where a standard submersible pump wet well and above grade discharge piping were designed.

Figure 3. Pump Station 3068, Gelm Court. Real estate acquisitions were unsuccessful. The station is at the end of a cul de sac within a 15-foot utility easement, with no other option for relocation and decommissioning. It was rehabilitated in-place in 2019 and now requires a minimum dedicated parcel or easement that is 35x45 feet large.

Revitalizing Capital Improvement Plan Stations: A Journey of Modernization

The OCU is proud of the progress and adaptability of its CIP program. Many of the stations under its purview were acquired from developers before a standardized design, akin to the advanced structures of today, was firmly established. These stations are often nestled in less-than-ideal locations and constrained by insufficient property limits. Many of these stations were constructed in the 1970s and ‘80s, meaning their components are nearing the end of their useful life.

The commitment of OCU to innovate extends far beyond just component replacement. It can also include righting some of the wrongs from the original designs, ranging from securing additional real estate to station relocation, or even the meticulous process of decommissioning a station to integrate seamlessly with another pump station subarea. These decisions, monumental in their impact, are at the forefront of OCU’s design process. Examples of pump stations that have undergone major changes and have been brought to current standards are shown in Figures 2 through 4.

Enhancing Pump Station Maintenance: A Proactive Approach

On a yearly basis the OCU field services team performs inspections at each pump station. This is especially important for stations

Priority 1 Excellent

Priority 2 Slight Visible Degradation

Components appear nearly new, with no visible wear or corrosion.

Starting to show the beginnings of deterioration.

Priority 3 Visible Degradation Wear and corrosion can be clearly observed although function does not appear to be affected.

Priority 4 Integrity of Components Moderately Compromised

Priority 5 Integrity of Components Severely Compromised

Extensive wear and corrosion is observed and may be impairing function.

Not functioning properly or failure is imminent. The integrity of components is either moderately or severely compromised.

that have been around for two decades or more, or those dealing with hydrogen sulfide issues. These not only receive their standard inspections, but photos are taken to assess the conditions. These photos allow the team to gain greater detail on the condition of the infrastructure and to review photos for a year-on-year comparison. This really gives an accurate insight into the aging infrastructure.

Newly built stations have components that are standardized with better material and construction practices, so they have photos taken every four years due to their increased durability. All the major components are inspected, but to develop the rating system, the pump station condition assessments are broken into five major functional areas (Figure 5).

With the components shown, these are:

S Mechanical - pumps, riser pipes, above grade valves, level floats, mixers, odor control unit, stationary backup pumps

S Electrical - pump control panel, SCADA panel, generators, disconnects, instrumentation

S Structural - wet well, terminal manhole, electrical building

S Site - access driveway, perimeter fencing or block wall, landscaping

S Health and safety - confined spaces, maintenance access, fall hazards, hydrogen sulfide exposure

Priority grades in each functional area are given a ranking of 1 to 5 (Table 1), with overall scores being rated from only 1 to 4. It was determined by OCU that the higher the priority rating, the worse the condition. These higher-rated stations have a tendency to have poor scores in multiple functional areas, which requires that the station go through a full and detailed review of the inspection

Continued on page 20

Figure 4. Pump Station 3354, Orange Tree 3. The decommissioned station is to be tied to another pump station subarea due to gravity systems being able to tie together.

Figure 5. Priority grade rankings.

Table 1. Functional Area Priority Grades

Continued from page 19

reports. This means that once field personnel assign a grade and take photos, a second set of eyes from the field services inspection team will review the report and photos and confirm the grades.

At completion, the OCU engineering and field services teams determine if it will be an inhouse field services project or an engineering CIP project; pump stations that are priority 4 or 3 generally become an engineering CIP project. Priority 2 stations are generally a field services project or become a work order to upgrade one of the functional areas that had a bad score. Priority 1 projects won’t have any projects, and are due for regularly scheduled inspection after another year (Figure 6).

Understanding Existing Infrastructure: Data Collection

After assigning a pump station to a project the next step is to gather the information needed to ensure a proper design. During the preliminary design stage, OCU staff will research the current conditions at the station. This research requires that OCU not only understand the needs of the pump station, but also an analysis of the subarea it serves and the connections from any upstream pump stations. This could include private pump stations or gravity systems where information can be sparse.

The following are some of the main data collecting practices used in determining the design of the station.

Closed-Circuit Television Videos

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) videos are reviewed to see if additional gravity segments or manholes upstream of the station should be included with the rehabilitation (Figure 7). When there is sagging in the pipe near the wet well, this can be a cause for concern. This is especially true if the existing wet well structure is to be reused, so the video is important to review. The CCTV is requested as needed in particular segments, but OCU is inspecting vitrified clay pipe (VCP) in five-year cycles and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe in 10year cycles. For pump station repair and replacement projects, OCU has standardized lining the terminal manhole and the sanitary sewer between that and the wet well.

Continued on page 22

Table 2. Reduced Sulfur Compund Analysis Summary (concentrations in parts per bil [ppb])

Figure 6. Project determination and assignment.

Figure 7. A still photo from a closed-circuit televsion video.

Figure 8. Collecting air samples inside a wet well using a vacuum chamber.

Hydrogen Sulfide Monitoring

For all stations, an analysis is done to evaluate the sulfide-type compounds in the wet well (Table 2). Hydrogen sulfide can not only corrode any ductile iron piping and appurtenances inside the wet well, but it can

also create corrosion in the control panels via the conduit connection in the wet well walls. Bag sampling analyses are being done (Figure 8), which test for 20 reduced sulfur compounds commonly found in wastewater. This information will allow OCU to properly design the odor control system needed at that particular station.

An Odalog is set up at the stations, which provides a measurement of hydrogen sulfide concentrations (Figure 9) every one to five minutes for a period of a week or longer. The Jerome 631-X Hydrogen Sulfide Analyzer is used, which can detect from .003 parts per mil (ppm) to 50 ppm. This device is hung inside the wet well above the water elevation. Like bag testing, the peak concentration is observed and the appropriate odor control unit can be selected.

Pressure Monitoring

Pressure monitoring is used to assist with the selection of the pumps and force main sizing. This has been done using the TELOG pressure monitoring device, which is set up for several days and gives OCU a reading every 30 seconds. This allows OCU to see how current pumps are running on their curves and assists with the selection of new pumps. The pressure monitoring program has set prioritization to stations that have experienced force main failures, but it can be set up on a case-bycase basis when a pump station rehabilitation project has started. The data show that many stations have high surges when the pumps kick on.

To reduce any future force main breaks, the installation of soft starts has been standardized at all duplex/triplex pump stations and variable frequency drives (VFDs)/soft starts for all of the master pump stations. Another key standardization is that of air release valves (ARVs) that are added at key elevation changes in the discharge piping. The data collected are used for pump selection and determining the head required on the new pumps. Figure 10 graphs the analysis done to show reduction of surges with the standardized components.

Flow Monitoring Device

The VolucalcTM hybrid pump station monitoring device is another tool used. The data collected are used to give approximate inflow and discharge flows into the station. It can read the stop/start signals and calculate inflow/outflow of each pump. The device is set up for a week or more and can identify where current pumps are running on their curves. With the inflows recorded and a peaking factor selected accordingly, the data are used to estimate the peak design flow. Parcel counts, the hydraulic model, and a drawdown test also assists in confirming the peak design flow. This data has become another helpful tool in the pump selection process, as well as supporting the need to upgrade a station to house more pumps or downgrade a station to house less pumps (Table 3).

Figure 10. The reduction of surges with standardized components.

Figure 9. Hydrogen sulfide concentrations.

Table 3. Required Number of Pumps Based on Peal Design Flow

Temporary Flowmeters

Flowmeter readings allow OCU to get real-time data on the gal per minute (gpm), as well as the velocity of the pipe at that corresponding time (Figure 11). A temporary flowmeter device can be set up at the triplex station (or larger) to collect data. This information is useful in determining discharge piping size. The standard at OCU is to have a minimum 2.5 ft per second (fps) scouring velocity through all pipes, with a preferred range of 5 to 10 fps to keep solids in suspension.

Water Billing Records

A major benefit of being a wastewater utility is that OCU has water services that

overlap in many of the same wastewater pump station areas. Its customer service division is able to pull billing records on water usage that can assist in predicting the water inflow expected per day, which can be especially useful for station subareas that contain private connections. If a residential area, business, or single parcel is connected to OCU water, the billing records are used to estimate the inflow received from them. Figure 12 shows an OCU pump station that receives private flows.

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Records

Historical SCADA records can be used to estimate inflow and discharge rates. The SCADA program records individual pump

station start/stops, runtimes, and flowmeter flows (triplex and larger stations). A large effort is being made to upgrade all of the SCADA systems so that OCU is able to receive reliable data at each station.

The OCU is working to generate a weekly report that shows estimated inflows and discharge rates and an indication on when those flows are running abnormally. This has become a key tool moving forward in getting real-time data from the stations (Figure 13).

Standard Duplex/Triplex Station Requirements

The data gathered by OCU has gone a long

Continued on page 24

Figure 11. Flowmeter readings provide real-time data.

Figure 12. A pump station receiving private flows.

Figure 13. Pump station weekly reports.

way in upgrading many components that make up the pump stations (Figure 14).

For full rehabilitations the following are the major items completed:

S Install new high-density polyethylene (HDPE)-lined wet well or fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) lining of the existing wet well

S Line the terminal manhole and sanitary sewer upstream of wet well

S Replace pumps and upgrade to stainless steel riser pipes, rails, and appurtenances

S Replace valve vaults with above grade discharge piping

S Install new concrete access drive and concrete yard

S Install new perimeter chain link fence or block wall (triplex and larger)

S Install new SCADA panel, pump control panels, and electrical panels

S Level monitoring instrument, discharge pressure monitor, and flowmeter (triplex and larger)

S Install odor control system (triplex and larger)

S Install standby generator or stationary backup pump (triplex and larger)

Conclusion: Wastewater System and Subarea Impacts

The aim of the rehabilitations is to make sure the OCU stations are able to handle both everyday and emergency conditions without any negative impacts to the community. Rehabilitation projects create safer working conditions for the field services team and can create the most efficient route to get wastewater to one of the water reclamation facilities. The data collected are key to ensuring that the stations are designed to work at maximum efficiency—until a future rehabilitation is needed in another 25 years.

The OCU project status, since 2012, is shown in Figure 15.

The engineering divison at OCU is working with five engineering consultants for a majority of its pump station repair and replacement projects. Consultant services include:

S Preliminary engineering

S Surveys

S Geotechnical analysis

S Construction design services

S Bidding assistance

S Construction administration services

These projects generally take three to five years, from scoping to construction completion, and OCU has been averaging the completion of 8.5 pump stations every year. The goal is to have all priority 3 and 4 stations rehabilitated and the average pump station rating continue to move down to 1 (Figure 16).

As OCU remains committed to enhancing the design and data collection processes at its pump station, these ongoing efforts are poised to bring about further advancements. The remarkable progress witnessed in the last decade is a testament to the dedication put into this program, and OCU anticipates even greater strides in the future. S

Figure 15. Rehabilitation project status.

Figure 16. Pump station rehabilitation priorities and condition ratings.

Figure 14. Triplex pump station site plan.

NEW PRODUCTS

Davit cranes from Patterson Manufacturing can service multiple locations with a single piece of equipment, minimizing upfront investment. The low-maintenance, easy-to-assemble crane can be used at the plant or on a truck for lifting pumps and other equipment in and out of pits and manholes. The cranes are now available with an optional magnet attachment that is perfect for lifting road eyes and other metal pieces weighing up to 2,000 pounds. Built with the company’s hallmark safety and durability, the crane and magnet attachment were developed with the highest quality materials. The crane features a brake that keeps loads in position without creeping and comes standard with a hot-dipped galvanized finish, steel sheaves, and stainless steel hardware to prevent rust and corrosion. Available in 1-ton capacities, the cranes are built for safety, minimal maintenance, and extended life, reducing cost and increasing efficiency. (www.pattersonmfg.com)

Easy, online analysis and accurate readings are available with the CLX Online Chlorine Analyzer from HF Scientific, a Watts brand. Colorimetric DPD chemistry precisely measures free or total residual chlorine. All-in-one construction offers an integrated controller and fewer moving parts, with easy access to reagents and service functions. Its flow-through cuvette flushes out debris during each cycle and utilizes a double-verified reagent injection process for maximum precision. The unit flushes the cuvette and takes a zero reading before injecting reagents for accurate readings, even as the glass becomes dirty. This means no more erratic trend graph readings, messy sample chambers that backflow into reagent bottles, or routine cleaning of the sample chamber. The latter, combined with low-volume reagent use and user-selectable features, allows for up to 30 days of unattended, uninterrupted operation, as well as low total operating and maintenance costs. (www.hfscientific.com)

R

ZZ Series blowers from Eurus Blower are drop-in replacements for competitor blowers. They have heavy-duty cast housings, machined impellers, alloy steel shafts with oversized bearings, hardened/precision machined steel forged gears, oil-lubricated gear, and/or grease- or oil-lubricated drive sides, plus keyless locking assemblies for easier timing gear maintenance. The blowers provide up to 15 psig pressure and 2,350 cfm flow. (www.eurusblower.com) S

Test Yourself

What Do You Know About

Waterborne Diseases?

6. Gastroenteritis is described as the inflammation of the

Charlie Lee Martin Jr., Ph.D.

1. The major cause of illness within the United States and the developing world is

a. drinking water.

b. contaminated food.

c. air pollution.

d. none of the above.

2. The majority of water-related diseases cause

a. hepatitis.

b. pancreatitis.

c. gastroenteritis.

d. arthritis.

3. The waterborne virus of most concern today is

a. HIV.

b. COVID-19.

c. hepatitis C.

d. hepatitis A.

4. E. coli 0157:H7, when in drinking water, causes an infection that may result in death due to

a. colon cancer.

b. bloody diarrhea.

c. inflammation of the liver.

d. kidney failure.

5. A major waterborne outbreak of infectious hepatitis that occurred in Delhi, India, in 1995 infected approximately

a. 500,000 people.

b. 1,000 people.

c. 30,000 people.

d. none of the above.

a. stomach and intestine.

b. liver.

c. pancreas.

d. none of the above.

7. Arguably, the most common and feared waterborne infectious disease(s) is/are a. swine flu.

b. COVID-19.

c. polio.

d. typhoid fever, dysentery, and cholera.

8. The bacteria whose presence is used as an indicator of fecal contamination is

a. legionella.

b. Vibrio cholerae.

c. E coli.

d. none of the above.

9. What is/are the most effective treatment method(s) in preventing a waterborne disease outbreak if the drinking water source is Lake Okeechobee?

a. filtration followed by disinfection. b. coagulation and filtration.

c. coagulation followed by disinfection. d. coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection.

10. A pathogen (beaver fever) with cysts and cells that may be found in seemingly pristine waters that causes diarrhea, intestinal cramps, and nausea is

a. E coli.

b. cholera.

c. Giardia

d. none of the above.

Answers on page 62

References used for this quiz:

• John Crittenden et al., Water Treatment:

Principles and Design Second Edition (Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) 2005, 868-869

Send Us Your Questions

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

Reaching a Crossroad, One More Time

Ron Trygar

I think I may have stepped upon an imaginary place, a time, or a crossroad of life, where some of us make an unconscious decision to take the path toward operations and others take the path toward engineering.

I’d like to share my perspectives and my path.

My Experiences in Water

I’ve been working in the wastewater treatment field for over 28 years, at a variety of treatment plants in various positions. One thing I’ve found in common at every one of these facilities is the negative opinions shared between operators and engineers about each other. I’ve always been fascinated (and sometimes disheartened) by the low opinion some operators have toward engineers and by the same low opinion toward operators from some engineers. Now don’t get me wrong, not every operator dislikes engineers and there are plenty of engineers who get along quite well with operators! It seems, however, that these folks are a minority of the engineer/operator population rather than a majority.

Personally, I never went to college, mostly because I didn’t really like math in high school. I didn’t do well in basic algebra, got sort of left behind the rest of the class, and ended up in

remedial math. I decided that I didn’t want to go to college anyway; I wanted to be an aircraft mechanic in the U.S. Air Force (USAF). I took automotive mechanics class in vocational and technical school in my junior and senior year, and in 1983 I went right into the blue-collar work force instead of joining USAF. I got a job at a large treatment plant in Virginia Beach, Va., later that same year.

I instantly became interested in the wastewater treatment field, and found that the algebra I couldn’t grasp in high school seemed to make sense when I could apply it to the world of biomass. Today I teach treatment plant operators and trainees all aspects of wastewater treatment (including math!) and I really enjoy helping operators “get it.”

I can see the proverbial light bulb illuminate brightly above their heads at that “aha” moment when all of a sudden the math makes sense. I share my story with them and they feel reassured that they, too, can do the math that’s required of a treatment plant operator, and also be able to do the math they will encounter on state exams. We use real-world numbers and examples in my classes so they can picture the formula and the results.

Because I enjoy teaching and learning, I decided that I would like to be more efficient at my work as a trainer, especially with chemistry. My initial idea was to just sit in a chemistry class or two at the local college, since I did not want a

degree, but that’s not really allowed. So, with the encouragement of my wife, we both enrolled at the college and we began that semester’s class, but guess what? I have to take pre-algebra before I can go any further toward a degree! The same math that I feared in high school has come back to haunt me! I also realized that chemistry involves quite a bit of math, so I decided to bite the bullet.

Two nights per week I sit in class with only a few other adult learners, since the class is mostly young students just beginning their college careers. I find that the math is still somewhat difficult, and not always clear to me, but I’m managing so far. A few other students are having the same trouble as me; some of this stuff just doesn’t make sense.

During a discussion with our instructor, a student made an analogy using grapes in his example. What he stated made complete sense to me, but our teacher said no, he’s incorrect, because he’s not following some basic math rules. She stated, “You’re thinking about it logically. Math does not always follow logic.”

I was stunned. Instantly, I think I have happened upon the “breakpoint” between operators and engineers: operators see things logically and engineers see things mathematically, or theoretically.

I discussed this with my wife and she replied, “Yes, that’s right. Think about an ant. An ant can carry many times its own body weight; much, much more than a human can. It doesn’t seem logical that it could be, but it is. We can use math to explain the structure of the ant and its ability to carry so much weight. Same as if an ant falls off a desk. The desk is thousands of times taller than the ant, but when he lands on the ground, he still goes about his ant business. If a man falls the same proportional distance, he goes splat on the ground. We can explain this mathematically, even though it doesn’t seem logical.”

Different Ways of Thinking and Learning

At some random point in your life, you may reach a fork in the road on the path of education. I believe that when learning mathematics, a person sees things either logically or conceptually. A person who can think theoretically can see the equations and algebra as they’re taught, and it comes relatively easy for them. For instance, when my algebra

teacher said that x = a + b, and to substitute some number for a and b, I was immediately lost. Why not just put the numbers in the math, instead of using letters! Letters are letters and numbers are numbers, I thought! But most of the students in class followed along with little to no problem.

During automotive mechanics trade school, I learned to calculate miles per gallon. It was so easy—divide the miles driven by the gallons of fuel used and you get miles per gallon. No one explained to me that miles per gallon is algebra! Numerous people who grasp the basic algebra concepts early will go on to higher levels of education and earn bachelor’s, master’s, and even doctorate degrees. Quite a few people, however, who struggle with basic algebra principles, attend college; some will finish, but many drop out and begin their life in the working world. I think I may be experiencing this crossroad for the second time in my life, although this time it seems so much clearer.

Operator Versus Engineer

I believe that as engineers follow a higher educational path through life and operators gain

real-world experience, the division between these two fields becomes greater.

At some point, operators begin believing that engineers don’t know how to operate a treatment plant and don’t have any common sense; engineers begin believing that operators don’t have the level of higher education that they have and therefore are not qualified to design a treatment plant, suggest improvements, or make operational decisions. Operators think that engineers won’t listen to their ideas; engineers think that operators don’t have the knowledge level to understand why some of their ideas won’t work. These two philosophies and cultures exist today, and can even cause problems with the overall operation of a treatment plant.

A good friend of mine who is an engineer once told me that most engineers are very good at math, and can calculate almost anything. “Designing a treatment plant to handle a known amount of gallons with a known organic strength, to meet known effluent standards, and to continue to meet these standards at high flows comes easy to engineers since it’s all based in math,” she said. “When microbiology is added to this equation, the math gets a little fuzzy. Poor settling sludge due to bacteriological

bulking is difficult to calculate, and clarifiers might not work as designed.”

This is where operators seem to excel. Operators have a unique ability to make the plant work, no matter how it’s designed. Operators can literally make or break an engineer’s brilliant design. A professional engineer recently shared his view about this with me, saying that “an aerospace engineer can design a wonderful aircraft, but it takes trained pilots to make the plane fly.”

So what’s the point of all this? Whether you are an operator or an engineer, you are valuable! We are in this industry for the same purpose and need each other to get the job done. No one culture is better than the other; rather, we depend on one another to achieve the same goal—clean water.

Ron Trygar, CET, is senior training specialist in water and wastewater at the University of Florida TREEO Center in Gainesville and a certified environmental trainer. He can be reached at rtrygar@treeo.ufl.edu.

This article originally appeared in the January 2012 issue of Treatment Plant Operator. S

Removing Invasive Caimans From Florida Everglades

The introduction to Florida of spectacled caimans, a species native to Central and South America reported in the state as early as the 1950s, has impacted the biodiversity of native wildlife in some of the most sensitive areas of the Florida Everglades.

The pet trade and crocodilian farming industries, escapes, and deliberate releases made it possible for caimans to invade many parts of the state. They pose a threat to native wildlife occupying the same habitat, competing for food and other resources as they prey on birds, small mammals, fish, and other reptiles.

In a new University of Florida study, published in Management of Biological Invasions, wildlife biologists at the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) reveal how a series of efforts and strategies led to the successful control and removal of caimans in specific areas of the Everglades.

“This study demonstrates the effects that the combination of early detection, rapid response, and persistent removal efforts can have on an invasive species,” said Sidney Godfrey, a wildlife biologist at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research Education Center (FLREC) and lead author of the study.

Scientists consider the removal efforts and the results of the study as a significant milestone for invasion science, as its applications can be leveraged and expanded to other invasive species found statewide, nationally, and around the world.

“Managing invasive wildlife is not an in-and-out process, where we go in and remove wildlife and then think we’re done,” said Frank Mazzotti, a UF/IFAS professor of wildlife ecology at FLREC and principal investigator for the caiman removal project. “Even with early detection and rapid response, long-term removal efforts and multi-agency cooperation—bolstered by continued monitoring—will be the key to our success.”

The removal efforts of the UF/IFAS team were made possible by collaboration and funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Scientists at state and federal agencies see promise in the results and continued use of these strategies because they believe the caiman invasion has also impacted the restoration goals of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). At a cost of more than $24.5 billion, CERP is the largest ecosystem restoration project undertaken in the United States to restore, preserve, and protect the south Florida ecosystem, while providing for other needs of the region, including water supply and flood protection.

Caimans compete with Florida’s native alligators and crocodiles, which conflicts with CERP’s goal of improving native species populations. The UF/IFAS team aims to

remove caimans in and around specific CERP projects to minimize their impact.

“This project is a huge success because it shows that sustained control efforts make a difference and that eradication of spectacled caimans may be a real possibility. Controlling invasive species is a dynamic and everchanging endeavor; the team experimented with different strategies and found some that are very promising,” said Larry Williams, state supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Florida Ecological Services Field Office. “I give kudos to everyone who helped with the project. It would be great if we can continue to support this work.”

A critical outcome of the team’s efforts was successfully reducing caimans in the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands and C-111 Canal Project areas, important arteries in south Florida’s water management infrastructure. The projects serve as vital components of CERP because they’re designed to improve freshwater flow to Everglades National Park, Florida Bay, and Biscayne Bay.

“True Everglades restoration cannot be accomplished without invasive species management, so the results of these efforts are encouraging. We made a significant investment in two of our Everglades restoration projects. Everyone involved in providing support for them should be truly proud of what was accomplished—creating a science-based paradigm for successful species management

Continued on page 30

Bio-Denitro™ is a continuous-flow, activated sludge process with one or more reactors that alternate between oxic and anoxic phases, controlled by timed sequence or online nutrient monitoring. This allows for flexibility of treatment for flows, loads, and

criteria.

Bio-Denitro™ phased isolation technology offers a reduction in energy consumption and a smaller footprint that can be configured into rectangular tanks with deeper side water depth or retrofitted to your existing tanks.

Continued from page 28

in the Everglades,” said Col. James Booth, commander of USACE, Jacksonville District.

“This is great news for south Florida’s ecosystem. Invasive species are a major threat to ecological integrity and we continue to work to protect the biodiversity of the Everglades,” said Drew Bartlett, executive director of SFWMD. “Thank you to the University of Florida and our partner agencies for working on strategies to remove invasive species from the area.”

For the study, the team compiled data for approximately 10 years (from 2012 through 2021) of the project’s removal efforts. Strategies included conducting weekly surveys, initiating rapid responses when caiman sightings occurred, and performing necropsies (or autopsies) of captured caimans. The UF/IFAS team started surveying and removing caimans from the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands in December 2012, and its efforts increased with state and federal agency support in 2017.

The team leveraged support to expand its efforts into the C-111 project in 2018 as part of an early detection and rapid response plan for a second more-recently discovered caiman

population. The team also conducted targeted, on-foot surveys of possible caiman habitats that may have been overlooked around search routes to remove as many caimans as possible.

“We are thankful for our strong partnership with UF/IFAS as we continue to tackle invasive species issues in the state,” said Roger Young, executive director of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. “Collaborative and consistent efforts, such as what has been done to address the caiman invasion, are critical to conservation of Florida’s native wildlife and incredible ecosystems.”

Team members analyzed data they collected along 11 search routes within and adjacent to south Florida CERP projects and they removed 251 caimans during the nearly 10-year period. The rate of caiman removals per year increased from five in 2012 to a peak of 47 in 2020.

The team learned more about caiman nesting and hatching dates from the necropsies, which increased their removals by providing information on when and where to target the reproducing and hatchling caimans.

“Previous attempts to remove these invaders had failed, but they may have ended

too early to get the caimans under control,” said Godfrey. “The only previous peer-reviewed study on the removal efforts was conducted over 40 years ago. That study lasted about one year in a relatively small area of south Florida. It’s unclear whether the previous attempts used information collected during the removals.”

“Our study is a much-needed update on the status of spectacled caimans in south Florida,” said Godfrey. “Based on our results, we are cautiously optimistic that our removal efforts may be impacting the overall caiman population in the Everglades restoration areas.”

The next steps for the team’s removal project include developing and using new tools, such as thermal imaging cameras to find caiman nests. The team also plans to publish dietary and genetic information about caimans to increase public awareness of their origins and impact on native wildlife.

“We need to continue our efforts to minimize the impact of caimans on south Florida’s native wildlife,” said Godfrey. “The fact that we are seeing a relatively rapid reduction, over 60 years after they were introduced, gives us hope that our continued efforts may be successful.” S

April 2-6, 2024 @ Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, FL

Exhibit Hall open April 2-4, 2024

RESERVE YOUR BOOTH

Over 50% of the booths are already sold, book your 10' x 10' booth today! Corner booths are $1,700 each, Inside booths are $1,400 each.

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

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The link to book a hotel room, at our negotiated rate, at the Gaylord Palms is at the bottom of our home page, www.fwrc.org.

REGISTER ATTENDEES

Mark your calendars... All tickets, lunches and special events will go on sale on December 1, 2023.

www.fwrc.org

Celebrate Our Water Operators

Greg D. Taylor, P.E.

Water! It’s such an important resource that allows life to happen on our planet. In our homes we use it to drink, bathe, wash clothes, cook, and irrigate. Our industries use water to produce medicine and goods, and grow crops and livestock, and even the simplest item we use during the day is impacted by water.

resource. In the not so distant past, roadway and drainage systems were designed to take rainwater and push it out to rivers, lakes, and streams that eventually took it to the ocean (or gulf). In the past 20 years, we’ve seen how stormwater capture and management not only protects the waterways, but helps replenish the aquifers that we prioritize for water supply. We have expanded the use of reclaimed water throughout the state for irrigation, gray water use, and now, thanks to the Potable Reuse Commission and other partners, we are getting rulemaking for potable reuse. These rules will give each community additional flexibility to identify, treat, and manage their water supply sources. Whether our drinking water starts from a surface waterbody, an underground well, or from reuse water, our main goal is to safeguard the environment and treat the water to protect public health.

One critical step to successfully managing our water supply is effective treatment. Florida’s water and wastewater operators are second to none, and as first responders, are always there for us—day in and day out. We will rely on operators more and more with the increased treatment requirements for wastewater and effluent management, and for water operations as potable water standards evolve. They are expected to know what to look for when treating water and manage the treatment

One way we can celebrate operators and let them “strut their stuff” is during Top Ops! We have a statewide Top Ops competition and the winning team gets to head to the AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE) and compete against water operators

Continued on page 34

Karen Lewis and Vinny Domonica, water plant operators from the Little Road Water Treatment Plant, and Kendra Phillips, lead water quality specialist, with their FSAWWA 2023 Top Ops championship trophy. They’re already planning their trip to Toronto.

Top Ops!

The reigning 2023 FSAWWA Top Ops champions, the Pasco County Utilities Mono Rays, were awarded a trip to the AWWA ACE this past June to compete against other AWWA sections representing all areas of the United States.

Team members Karen Lewis and Vinny Domonica, water plant operators from the Little Road Water Treatment Plant, and Kendra Phillips, lead water quality specialist, and their families grabbed their passports and prepared for an exciting trip to Toronto, Ontario.

“Competition from the other sections was extreme,” said Domonica. The Mono Rays did not win first place in Toronto, but the experience provided them with a glimpse of the amount of practice necessary to triumph over the “best of the best.”

This was “a great team-building experience for coworkers and taught us how to all pull in the same direction and work together to win,” said Phillips. “We also appreciate all the support we got from our utility and other utilities in the region.”

Lewis agreed. “I believe the most rewarding thing for me was that after all the studying we did, it felt good to have our families and coworkers be proud of us. Every year we go to the Florida Section Top Ops competition we bring back more knowledge for the following year and pass that knowledge on to our younger operators for future competitions.”

The ACE Top Ops competition is a highly competitive, fast-paced, College Bowl-type tournament with a moderator asking a broad range of technical questions. Strategy and practice are required since teams have limited time to answer them.

Congratulations to the Pasco County Utilities Mono Rays. See you next year!

If you’re ready to showcase your organization’s water treatment and process control knowledge and skills, then Top Ops is for you. Start preparing a team now and you could represent the Florida Section at ACE in Anaheim, Calif., in 2024!

If you would like more information, please contact Rick Pfleiderer, Top Ops chair, at dcerp1982@gmail.com, or Andrew Greenbaum, FSAWWA Operators Council past chair, at GreenbaumAL@bv.com.

Final Thoughts

The FSAWWA Fall Conference will be at the Omni Champions Gate, Nov. 26-29, 2023. I recommend that you visit www.fsawwa.org soon to register and see what we’re offering for another amazing conference! S

Views of downtown Toronto.

Work title and years of service.

I’m a lead engineer and I’ve been with Carollo for five years.

What does your job entail?

I work on many projects around Florida, primarily in the southwest focusing on projects related to utility management. Some of the projects I’ve worked on include creating a biosolids master plan, preparing bond reports, and conducting source water system modeling.

What education and training have you had?

I have bachelor’s and master’s degrees in environmental engineering from Johns

Hopkins University. Additionally, I’m an Envision Sustainability Professional.

What do you like best about your job?

My favorite part of the job is the variety of projects and challenges there are to solve, and how it benefits both the public and the environment. The dynamic nature of the current industry, characterized by evolving regulations, the impact of climate change, and aging infrastructure, presents a landscape filled with uncertainties and potential solutions. It takes a mixture of creative problem-solving and technical expertise to find innovative and feasible solutions.

What professional organizations do you belong to?

I’m a member of FWEA, FSAWWA, Engineers Without Borders, Society of Women Engineers, and my local Toastmasters.

How have the organizations helped your career?

Engaging with different professional organizations has offered excellent opportunities for networking and connecting with individuals in our industry. Assuming a leadership role as chair of the FWEA Students and Young Professionals Committee (SYPC) has allowed me to improve my leaderships skills, including delegation and empowerment of my committee members. Moreover, being involved in professional organizations has enabled me to stay updated on crucial

Carollo Engineers, Sarasota

Sarasota Evening Toastmasters meeting on Zoom.

2023 Florida Water Resources Conference Young Professionals reception group.

What do you like best about the industry?

What truly resonates with me in this industry is the people. Their unwavering dedication to water and their communities is a constant source of inspiration and motivation for me.

What do you do when you’re not working?

When I’m not working, I like to spend my time doing various hobbies and volunteer activities. I spend my time organizing events and initiatives as chair of the FWEA SYPC, secretary of the FWEA Manasota Chapter, and secretary of the Society of Women

Engineers’ members-at-large. I’m also the treasurer of Sarasota Evening Toastmasters and I attend the meet every Wednesday to practice my public speaking skills. Additionally, I enjoy baking and trying my best to keep my Spanish Duolingo streak alive. S

Johns Hopkins University graduation (Go Blue Jays!).

Carollo Engineers Sarasota office Water For People poker tournament.

Direct Potable Reuse “Hoppy Hour” at Keel Farms

remarks and thanked all the supporters who came, then introduced these dignitaries who spoke at the event:

S Nat Kilton – mayor of Plant City

S Bill McDaniel – city manager of Plant City

S Jay Hoecker – manager—water section at SWFWMD

that the DPR beer was in. After hearing from Keel about the quality of the water that was produced—how he had to add minerals back into it because everything was stripped out— and how he brewed the beer using a special German hop, giving it a grapefruit flavor, she was ready to try the beer—and she loved it!

he “Hoppy Hour: The Brew-tiful Future of Florida’s Water” beer event that was held September 7 at Keel Farms (5202 Thonotosasassa Road, Plant City, Fla. 33565) was a huge success! There were a lot of sponsors that helped make this event happen; some groups brought informational material and bling for visitors, and then there was the delicious beer that was made from Plant City’s direct potable reuse (DPR) pilot.

Event Day

The event was scheduled for guests to arrive at 3 p.m., have a chance to look around and do some networking, then go over to the Overlook Pavilion for some presentations. Finger food and drinks were set up at two pavilions adjoined by a short sidewalk and the Veranda Pavilion was where utilities and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) set up displays. Some folks from Hazen were running sign-in and ticket sales, and a voting chip for the beer names was set up on another table.

A little before 4 p.m., Lynn Spivey, director of utilities at Plant City, gave opening

S Clay Keel – farmer, restaurateur, brew master, and president of Keel Farms

Keel had been one of the 250 folks who came to tour the advanced wastewater treatment plant and see the DPR pilot presentation and units in action. Keel Farms is a local farm, winery, brewery, dining, and events location, just seven minutes away from the Plant City Water Reclamation Facility (WRF). Its mission statement is: “Handcrafting high-quality, locally grown, and self-sustaining food and beverages for our neighbors far and wide.”

Keel Farms exists to share its mission and grow the family business through remarkable products and experiences and that fits right into the One Water cycle!

At this point, there was a break in the presentations to allow for networking, beer tasting, and brew name voting. There were four growlers (containers for beer) available for possible names, and a suggestion box for participants to win a growler based on their suggestion’s response from the crowd.

My wife, Casey, the toughest customer that anyone might have to deal with, was adamant that she wasn’t even going to touch the glass

So, there you have it. Even though politicians, engineers, and operators try to convince the public about the safety of advanced water treatment technologies, it sometimes sounds more convincing from someone in the public realm who might be viewed as just a farmer. Of course, Keel is far more than that; as far as I’m concerned he’s a scientist right there with us in the One Water cycle, adhering to the company’s mission statement of producing self-sustaining beverages.

At approximately 5:30 p.m., Ifetayo Venner, president of the Water Environment Federation and vice president at Arcadis, spoke and gave an update on the circular water economy. This was a double bonus for us as Venner was also the design engineer for our Plant City WRF activated sludge process plant expansion that went online in 2008, which has subsequently won numerous awards over the years.

I have the greatest admiration for Venner; over my 38 years in the business, she was one of the most diligent, interactive engineers that

Patrick “Murf” Murphy President, FWPCOA

Plant City’s direct potable reuse water on the menu and on tap at Keel Farms (unnamed at the time).

The four overall names of the beer in the running (voting chips went into the growlers), and suggestion box to the left.

Sponsor board at the event.

to an ever-changing landscape in Plant City.

By utilizing approximately 360 acres at the McIntosh Preserve, we will be able to restore hydrologically impacted wetlands, improve flooding conditions, beneficially reuse highquality reclaimed water, expand the wetlands to increase storage capacity, and provide additional water quality improvements to downstream receiving systems. It will be a multi-year effort on behalf of the city and its funding partners to provide environmental and water supply improvements, which is critical within the Dover/Plant City Water Use Caution Area and the Southern Water Use Caution Area, as designated by SWFWMD. As part of this project, evaluating alternatives to develop a potable reuse project concept to utilize up to 3.5 million gallons per day of reclaimed water as a new source of potable water supply is in the feasibility phase.

Hazen was absolutely magnificent in

be considered the 30 percent design and preliminary design for a full-scale advanced treatment water facility, confirming capital and operating costs to obtain funding for the project and facilitating the decision making for moving forward with the project.

This whole suite of lumped-together projects started in 2018 with numerous engineers at Arcadis, Dewberry (formally Hydro Solutions), Hazen, and Wetland Solutions collaborating in multiple aspects.

Yes, I said 2018, but thinking and planning was probably earlier than that: starting scopes of work, providing tons of influent and effluent data to different engineers, reviewing numerous preliminary design reports, meeting with SWFWMD and Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Lynn championing for funding and support, etc.

I said at the beginning of this section that it’s a long track; even if I just go from 2018 to

see in some recent news briefs that other states are looking at potable reuse for potential water resiliency, but referencing to it as the “Toilet to Tap” scheme, is something that, to me, hangs on improper seeding.

There were a couple of suggestions in the brew name box that I didn’t even want to repeat to the crowd. Our employees need to be involved and aware of the messaging. Cost for messaging needs to be allocated, budgeted for, and presented in a way that is carefully vetted. With the gaps in designing, permitting, and building, the only way to keep the momentum going is to do public outreach to keep the enthusiasm up and the public engaged with the ultimate goal of providing water sustainability and independence!

Thank you to all the hard-working people in our industry. Let’s keep that water clean and our citizens safe! S

Lynn Spivey giving opening remarks.

Ifetayo Venner making her presentation.

Sheldon Road Super Pump Station: A Self-Cleaning Trench Wet Well That Works

Benjamin

The Sheldon Road Super Pump Station was constructed as a 24-mil-gal-perday (mgd) wastewater pump station to replace the 10-mgd River Oaks Advanced Wastewater Reclamation Facility (AWRF) in Hillsborough County (county) as part of a program to consolidate wastewater treatment in the north part of the county to the expanded Northwest Regional AWRF (Figure 1). Because odors were a significant factor in the decision to decommission the River Oaks AWRF, the site selected for the pump station was located approximately a half-mile to the northeast, within the county’s existing west service unit maintenance facility.

The county’s water resources division elected to use the design-build platform to

Dale Pearson, Justin Kise, and Cristina Lacorazza

complete the project, which included the following primary elements:

S Decommissioning of the River Oaks AWRF

S Construction of a 24-mgd self-cleaning-type pumping station

S Construction of 3.5 mi of 30- and 36-in.diameter sanitary force main from the decommissioned River Oaks AWRF site to an expanded Northwest Regional AWRF via the new pump station

S Construction of 2.5 mi of 20-in.-diameter reclaimed water main to send treated effluent flows from the Northwest Regional AWRF back to the existing River Oaks AWRF outfall and interconnect with the existing reclaimed water system

Benjamin Turnage, P.E., is design manager, engineer of record and Cristina Lacorazza is a project design engineer, with Ardurra Group Inc. in Tampa. At the time of this project, Dale Pearson, P.E. was a project design engineer with Ardurra, and Justin Kise, P.E. was a construction manager with Garney Construction.

Garney Construction was awarded the contract, with Ardurra Group (formerly King Engineering Associates) as the design engineer. Design began in March 2017 and construction began in January 2018. The pump station went into service in October 2019, allowing decommissioning and demolition of the River Oaks AWRF. Final completion of the project was achieved in July 2020. The project was selected for the 2021 Design Build Institute of America Florida Project of the Year in the water/ wastewater category.

The county provided a design criteria package (DCP) with the project bid advertisement that outlined the pump station requirements, as well as desired features and preferences to be incorporated into the final design. Subsequent to the award of the project, the county presented additional design features to be incorporated, which effectively served as an addendum to the DCP. The DCP provided minimum requirements and served as a guide for the design, but also gave the design-build team the flexibility to incorporate creative design alternatives and features that met those criteria, while also improving functionality.

The requirements and requested features specified for the pump station design are shown in Table 1.

Pump Station Design

Site Design

Inclusive of two tandem wet wells, electric pumps, diesel-engine pumps, separate fuel tank, odor control, effluent meter piping, electrical controls building, and site drainage pond, the overall site required significantly more footprint than the typical county wastewater pump station standard. To improve access to all the

Table 1. Owner-Specified Pump Station Design Features

Figure 1. Location map of the pump station and reclamation facility.

equipment—some of which would occasionally require large trucks, cranes, or tankers for maintenance or removal—a looped access driveway was included with sufficient turning radius for longer vehicles around the equipment and structures in the center of the loop.

Dry Pit Design

To improve direct access to the pumps for maintenance, while considering the pressure limitations of the upstream force main collection system, the pump station was designed partially below ground and partially above ground (Figure 2a), such that the dry pit pump area could be completely open (Figure 2b). The submersibleduty pumps were mounted vertically, with suction piping entering the side of the wet well. Discharge piping was arranged to allow walkaround access to all pumps without stairs or ladders. To avoid the necessity of hiring a crane for removal of the 6,300-lb pumps and 1,600-lb check valves, the design included dual overhead rail hoists positioned to allow lifting the pumps and valves out of the dry pit and setting them onto a truck waiting on the driveway loop.

Wet Well Redundancy

To satisfy the county’s requirement for full wet well and pump redundancy, the pump station design incorporated two side-by-side wet wells of equal size; however, the county noted in the early design phase that another recently constructed station that had been designed for full redundancy was experiencing flow issues. Operating both tandem wet wells during normal flows led to pumping issues typical to oversized stations, whereas alternating between a single active wet well led to increased odors and solids deposition.

The final design therefore approached the redundant wet well as backup for emergency and maintenance use only, shifting all of the electric pumps to the “primary” wet well and the diesel pumps to the “secondary” wet well. This met both design requirements, using significantly less pumping equipment than to treat the requirements separately. Influent valving was provided to isolate either of the wet wells, directly flowing to the other side for maintenance. No other valve operation was required; both the electric and diesel pumps discharged into a common force main header pipe. During normal operation, the inlet valve to the secondary wet well would remain closed.

To allow for automatic operation of the diesel pumps in the event of a power failure or high-level event, passive spillover weirs were incorporated into the wall separating the wet wells, sized for the full pump station flow. Construction of the weirs included stop logs

to allow for safe isolation of either side for maintenance.

Wet Well Covers

A feature proposed by the builder— substituting the standard cast-in-place wet well top slab with a lightweight structural fiberglass panel cover system—was incorporated into the design, both for easier construction and improved maintenance. The covers, which are comprised of 2-ft-wide panel sections and each spanning the 8-ft x 6-in. wet wells, can be easily removed by two operators. By removing all the panel sections, the entire top of each wet well can be opened and exposed for any future repair work.

Hinged hatches were also incorporated into

the fiberglass covers to easily inspect or access the wet well: a 30-in. x 30-in. hatch at the inlet to observe flows and levels with respect to the influent pipe; a second 30-in. x 30-in. hatch above the rear sump area to observe pump suctions and access level sensors and floats; and 20-in. x 48-in. hatches over each of the weirs to observe overflow and install stop logs.

Self-Cleaning Trench Design

A self-cleaning trench-style wet well consists of an ogee ramp entrance followed by a long trench housing pumps or pump inlets. Both the primary and emergency wet wells were designed with self-cleaning trench-style wet wells that, with a properly controlled drawdown

Figure 2b. Influent piping, wet well, and dry pit.

Figure 2a. Pump station site.

Figure 3. Self-cleaning trench wet well design (source: American National Standards Institute/Hydraulic Institute [ANSI/HI 9.8]).

Continued on page 48

cycle, will generate a scouring hydraulic jump that proceeds the length of the wet well. In general, the wet well was designed in accordance with American National Standards Institute/ Hydraulic Institute (ANSI/HI) standards (Figure 3) to produce the cleaning cycle hydraulic jump with incoming wastewater at average day flowrates.

The proportional width and depth dimensions of the wet well trench and sump, as well as the ogee ramp radii, conformed to the design in the figure. Additionally, a concrete flow splitter fin was formed from the top of the ogee ramp to the end of the trench, and an antirotational baffle was installed below the intakes of the rear pumps in the sump, as recommended in the HI standards.

Due to the wide range of flow to the pump station, and the size and number of pumps required, it was necessary that the pump suction designs and layout deviated from the HI design. (These details are further explained in the next section.) Ultimately, the number of pumps resulted in a wet well trench 50 ft long housing six pumps, whereas the HI standard is generally based on a 32-ft triplex wet well.

With such a lengthy wet well, it was necessary to confirm that a hydraulic jump could be maintained throughout the full length of the trench by calculating the Froude number (a function of the turbulence of the water determined from the geometries of the wet well defined in the HI standards) at several points along the trench under various flow scenarios. Based on HI standards and available design manuals, Froude numbers less than 2 represent a weak hydraulic jump, Froude numbers between 2.5 and 4.5 represent an oscillating/unstable jump, values between 4.5 and 9 represent a stable hydraulic jump, and values above 9 represent a strong jump.

Strong hydraulic jumps, however, may generate excessive turbulence that entrains more air into the flow stream, which is detrimental to pump performance. Froude numbers for the project wet well were calculated to be between 3.5 and 6.5 along the length of the trench. The progression of the hydraulic jump along the trench during project commissioning corroborated the design basis.

With inflows approximately 5 to 6 mgd, one jockey pump completed the cleaning cycle (Figures 4a and 4b) in approximately five minutes, progressing the hydraulic jump to the edge of the sump. At that time, vibration and pump noise became dramatic as the pump pulled in significant air just prior to the shutoff of the pumps based on level. (Pump controls are discussed later.)

Figure 4b. End of the cleaning cycle, with a hydraulic jump at the rear of the trench and larger pump intakes exposed.

Figure 4a. Start of the cleaning cycle, with a hydraulic jump forming at the top of the ogee ramp.

Figure 5. Jockey pump suction bell.

Figure 6. Larger suction pump fitting. Continued on page 50

Continued from page 48

Pump Layout and Intake Design

Typically, the largest and most robust pump is located at the end of the trench in a slightly lower sump area, toward which solids and debris are pushed.

In this case, because the two jockey pumps would be operating far more frequently than the larger pumps, both jockey pumps were placed in the sump at the end of the trench. This promoted solids to progress to the sump area and be removed during normal operation of the jockeys—not only during the flushing cycle, as is the case in many trench style wet wells.

Placement of the jockey pumps in the rear position in the wet well was recommended due to the following:

S The wide flow range of the jockeys allowed service during flow rates between the offpeak minimum (2 mgd) and average daily flow rates (8 mgd). This kept the solids that were pushed to the rear of the trench in constant motion.

S Inlets to the jockey pumps were designed to maximize suction from the floor. The intakes to each pump were fitted with flaredend 90-degree suction bells (Figure 5), the bottom of which was positioned 4 to 6 in. off of the sump floor. A fabricated stainless steel antivortex plate, shaped like a raised “X” and mounted to the floor beneath the bell, prevented cavitation.

S Each jockey was provided with an ASTM International A-532 hardened steel impeller (RC hardness = 60) to maximize the life of the impeller in such abrasive conditions.

With the jockey pumps handling normal operation during all daily flows outside of

the peak flow periods, it was necessary that the intakes of the larger pumps not present obstructions to flow or debris in the wet well trench. While it would be preferred that the suction pipe (Figure 6) include no protrusion at all into the wet well, it was decided that the pumps would provide improved intake flow characteristics, solids removal, and minimum submergence by directing the intake downward as much as possible. Ultimately the design was comprised of a straight plain end pipe cut at 45 degrees, open face toward the floor, extending half of the width of the trench. To allow flow to pass freely under the pipe intakes during the cleaning cycle, these larger pump intakes were raised to 6 in. off the floor.

Operation of the pump station (Figure 7) has not indicated hydraulic issues, such as cavitation or significant vibration, during normal operation, and has not shown to collect significant debris on the pump intakes. It’s important to note that maintaining the manufacturer’s minimum-recommended intake submergence in all modes of normal operation proved to be critical in minimizing vibrations. This fact was most evident during testing of emergency functionality and cleaning cycles, when minimum submergence levels are overridden. During these events, vibration is significantly increased, but not so much as to damage equipment.

Wet Well Design and Capacity

By design, a trench-style wet well does not generally provide significant volume beyond that required for regular operation. The reduced maintenance requirements may often be a tradeoff with reduced storage volumes and “reaction times” between alarm and overflow. To maximize the volume in the wet well, the width

of the wet well structure above the top level of the 3-ft-6-in.-wide trench was increased on the opposite side from the pump intakes. Due to the position of the electric and diesel pumps on either side of the wet well in this dry pit design, this generally required that the additional volume and width be achieve at the middle of the structure.

To avoid creation of dead spaces and/or surfaces above the top elevation of the intake trench that would collect debris, the area above the trench was constructed with a large concrete fillet between the edge of the trench and the opposite wall of the wet well, for a total width of 8 ft, 6 in. During normal operation, wet well levels would remain near the bottom of this fillet, above the top of the trench.

Pump Selection

To achieve the peak design flow of 24 mgd (16,800 gal per minute [gpm]) three primary 385-HP Xylem Flygt NT3312 nonclog centrifugal pumps with “N” style impellers were selected, with a fourth backup pump included for redundancy. These pumps, however, would not accommodate the low range of flows to be observed. For these flows (between 2 and 8 mgd) a single jockey pump was selected: the 140-HP Xylem Flygt NT3315, also with an N-style impeller. Because this lower flow range represented the majority of flows to the station (i.e., between minimum flow, to just above ADF), a backup jockey pump was also included in the design, for a total of six electric-driven pumps.

Multiple hydraulic model scenarios were completed using Bentley WaterCAD 8.0, to fully understand the range of pump operation and flexibility of the proposed pump station.

Continued on page 52

Figure 7. Pump station cross section.

Plugged impeller.

This is the pump you have been waiting for to replace the throw away grinder pump that become boat anchors The right material, the right selection near BEP, and built for long term durable service.

“THE BEAST IS HERE”

Continued from page 50

A summary of the pump performances under three design scenarios is as follows:

Single jockey pump active at 100 percent speed: 7.5 mgd at 71 ft total dynamic head (TDH)

Three primary pumps active at 100 percent speed: 9 mgd (27 mgd total) at 158 ft TDH

Two diesel emergency backup pumps active at 100 percent speed: 13.3 mgd (26.6 mgd total) at 145 ft TDH

Because each pump type would only operate under certain conditions in normal operation (i.e., jockey pumps called to stop when a larger pump starts) and the VFD and programmable logic control (PLC) would limit operation outside preset speed/frequency limits (i.e., no operation below 60 percent), the overall operation and interaction of the pumps are generally described in Figure 8.

Pump Controls and Programmable Logic Controls

While this self-cleaning design met the needs and requests of the county, the reduced wet well capacity resulted in quicker variations in water levels during fluctuations of influent flow rates. Control set points for the pumps needed to take into account these fluctuations in levels to ensure the pumps would not short cycle or exceed the pump manufacturer’s minimum starts per hour recommendations. The PLC programming included delay timers on starting

Figure 8. Pump operating envelopes (note the minimal overlap between the single jockey NP3315 pumps and the larger NP3312 pumps).

Figure 9. Programmable logic control screens showing pump operational status and set points.

Table 2. Sheldon Road Super Pump Station Operating Levels

and stopping pumps to avoid “fluttering” at the set point levels; however, the delay timers, which primarily ranged from 5 to 20 seconds, could not be set so long as to allow the level to rise too quickly during the delay. Additionally, the pump controls included multiple backup floats that would operate the pumps in the event the ultrasonic level sensor or the PLC failed. These floats, hardwired directly to the VFDs and bypassing the PLC controls, needed to be set at levels that would not be triggered during normal operation.

All six pumps operate on VFDs and are controlled based on the water level in the wet well, as reported by the selected ultrasonic level sensor. Two level sensors are installed in each wet well to allow a quick switchover in the event of faulty readings. The PLC programming controls the VFDs to modulate the speed of the pumps to maintain a set level inside the wet well. Since the jockey pumps would not be able to compete with an active primary pump, the programming calls for the jockey to shut down after a primary/ larger pump has ramped up to service.

The self-cleaning “flush mode” was programmed to override the normal operation set points. At the press of a button on the PLC screen (Figure 9), the pump station enters the flush mode using one or two jockey pumps, as selected by the operator, and automatically controls the pump speed to maintain an output flow (as measured by the downstream flow meter) equal to a set point multiplier (typically 200 to 300 percent) of the average maintained flow rate over the previous hour. The drawdown continues at this rate until the flush mode lowlevel set point is reached, based on the signal from the ultrasonic level sensor. Depending on the multiplier selected, this typically takes about five minutes.

Through operational testing, the designbuild team found that the levels and set points (Table 2) provided a smooth operation in normal/automatic mode and problem-free transitions to emergency mode and the selfcleaning “flush cycle.”

Diesel Emergency Backup Pumping System

`The secondary/emergency wet well is served by two Godwin Dri-Prime CM500M diesel pumps equipped with 700-horspower motors. The pumps are capable of automatically priming to 28 ft of suction lift from a dry start. Similar to the high-service electric pumps, the suction piping for the diesel pumps was also cut at a 45-degree angle; however, rather than facing downwards, the diesel pump suction piping was oriented vertically, with the open face of the suction piping toward the ogee ramp and the bottom-most portion of the piping 4 in. from the

wet well floor. The diesel pumps were selected to operate at a flow of approximately 12 mgd (each) at 170 ft TDH. The 6,000-gal fuel tank was sized to provide for 72 hours of continuous operation at maximum load, per the county requirement.

Passive weirs were incorporated into the wall separating the two wet wells so that in the event of a power outage, incoming flow could enter the secondary wet well without relying on any valve operation. The weirs were designed to accommodate the maximum design flow with 1.5 ft of freeboard to the top of the structure. Additionally, the pump station piping was configured so that both the primary and secondary/emergency wet wells could be valved open or closed to allow direction of flow to either wet well, allowing for interior maintenance of the other one.

Due to minimum submergence requirements and the higher operating flow of a single diesel pump (in comparison to the electric jockey pumps), the operating levels of the secondary wet well were set higher than those of the primary wet well. Also, because the diesel pump systems are independent of the

electric system and each other, they each have their own set of level sensors and set points and the lead-lag status must be changed manually by adjusting level set points.

The secondary wet well (Figure 10a) was also constructed with an ogee ramp, and thus, with flow directed through the inlet pipe, it’s also capable of the self-cleaning functionality. This is an entirely manual process; however, it requires adjustment of flow from the rear diesel pump based on the manual speed set point and would require experience with the system to be able to achieve the hydraulic jump. The ogee ramp, trench, and sump arrangement alone, though, should significantly increase removal of solids during operation of the diesel pumps (Figure 10b.).

Challenges and Lessons Learned

Successful completion of the pump station was not without its challenges. Some design elements required resolution during construction and start-up; others could not

Continued on page 54

Figure 10b. Two diesel backup pumps and 6,000-gallon fuel storage tank.

Figure 10a. Secondary wet well interior.

Figure 11. Off-centered influent pipe creates eddies at the wet well entrance.

Continued

page

be addressed, but may continue to require additional maintenance efforts into the future.

Some of these included the following:

Reliable Water Level Measurement and Pump Control in a Turbulent Environment

Due to the extreme turbulence in the trench during the self-cleaning flush, the county’s standard level sensor, a submersible pressure transducer, was not recommended; rather, ultrasonic level sensors were installed and proved to measure the levels reliably well, even when suction piping became exposed in the field of the reflecting signal. To accommodate the county’s backup control protocols, however, additional float switches were necessary.

While no known entanglement issues have occurred thus far, a method of anchoring any floats in the wet well is highly recommended. Various anchoring methods that are retrievable from the surface are available, but no such anchoring was installed in this wet well..

Pump Air Release

Pumps selected for the project were submersible-rated nonclog centrifugal pumps

mounted in the vertical position. Due to the periodic low levels experienced in the trench wet well during normal operation and cleaning cycles, sufficient air would become entrapped in the pump bowls to prevent them from overcoming the force behind the discharge check valves. An additional air release valve on each pump discharge, prior to the check valve, was installed to exhaust the air buildup, which resolved the issue.

Piping at the Rear of the Wet Well

The pump station design included emergency pump-out piping and return drain lines from an adjacent emergency wastewater overflow tank, both entering the wet well at the rear of the trench sump. These pipes, normally empty, provided a quiescent space for buildup of solids at the back of the wet well and require additional operator maintenance while at low level during the cleaning cycle.

Influent Hydraulics

It was noted during construction that the influent pipe in the primary wet well was installed off-center, creating an eddy at the entrance to the wet well (Figure 11). This appears to have no

negligible impact during normal operations, and may actually help in creating surface circulation to bring debris and grease back to the front of the wet well to become re-entrained. Because the flow splitter fin is centered in the ramp and trench, the off-center influent pipe does have a marked effect on the drawdown/flushing cycle— though the operation still functioned acceptably well.

Despite these minor issues, the station is nevertheless functioning even better than expected, and the county indicates that the station requires only 25 percent of the maintenance required by its high-flow stations:

Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced the reappointment of Chauncey Goss, John Steinle, and Scott Wagner to the South Florida Water Management District.

Goss is a managing partner of Goss Practical Solutions LLC. He was previously a deputy staff director for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Budget and a program examiner for the Executive Office of the President. He currently serves on the board of directors of United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades. Goss earned his bachelor’s degree in area studies from Rollins College and his master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University.

Steinle is a partner at Atlantic Street Capital. He was previously the managing director at Lighthouse Investment Partners. He earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from the University of Vermont.

R

Gov. DeSantis also appointed Nancy Watkins and reappointed Ashley Bell Barnett,

Kelly Rice, and Joel Schleicher to the Southwest Florida Water Management District governing board.

Watkins represents Hillsborough and Pinellas counties; Bell Barnett represents Polk County; Rice represents Citrus, Lake, Levy and Sumter counties; and Schleicher represents Charlotte and Sarasota counties.

Watkins, of Tampa, is a certified public accountant at Robert Watkins & Company P.A. She earned her associate degree from Hillsborough Community College and her bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida. Watkins is appointed to a term ending March 1, 2025.

Bell Barnett, of Winter Haven, was appointed to the governing board in December 2020. She is a former educator and a community advocate. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Florida Southern College and her master of public administration degree from the University of South Florida. Bell Barnett is reappointed to a four-year term ending March 1, 2027.

Rice, of Webster, was appointed to the governing board in September 2015 and reappointed in September 2019. He is the president of Prime Property Resources Inc., Rice Cattle Company, and Physical Therapy Services

of Brooksville Inc. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of South Florida. Rice is reappointed to a four-year term ending March 1, 2027.

Schleicher, of Sarasota, was appointed to the governing board in May 2017 and reappointed in July 2019. He is an experienced entrepreneur and is the founder and executive chair of Focal Point Data Risk LLC. Schleicher earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Minnesota. He is reappointed to a four-year term ending March 1, 2027.

Governing board members are unpaid, citizen volunteers who are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. The board sets policy for the district, with the mission to manage the water and related resources of west central Florida to meet the needs of current and future water users, while protecting the environment. R

AqueoUS Vets®, a vertically integrated solutions provider of water treatment and delivery systems, announced the strategic acquisition of Dixie Tank Company, a manufacturer of carbon and stainless-steel tanks, pressure vessels, water heaters, filters, Continued on page 58

The Expansions and Upgrades of Our Industry

Suzanne Mechler President, FWEA

Ibegan my career in January 2002 at Camp Dresser & McKee in south Florida (yes, I had to confirm my start date from LinkedIn). At that time, we were working on many hot topics:

S Expanding water treatment plants to meet the growing population demands. I was conducting water tasting studies as many plants were switching from lime softening to membranes and worried about what the customers would think of the water taste. In addition, utilities were facing compliance with the Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproduct Rule.

S Upgrading wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), which is what they were called then, that had reached the end of their useful life for many components, including control inflow/infiltration of stormwater and seawater to extend the capacity of WWTPs and implement centralized biosolids facilities to

S Incorporating aquifer storage recovery (ASR) for storing large volumes of water deep underground in fresh and brackish aquifers. At this time, permitting and technical issues with construction developed, but many municipalities faced challenges at the wellhead and with water quality standard requirements.

S For water resources, the driving implementation was the Bush Administration’s 30-year, $7.8 billion Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). This plan has been driving more than 68 projects, shared equally by the federal government and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), for over 20 years.

Meeting Florida’s Water Needs

In 2002, Florida’s population rose to a then record high of 16,706,027. This represented a 1.8 percent increase from the 2021 population, with south Florida having the top three spots by county. We were growing and our infrastructure needed support keeping up. If you want to go to a time capsule, just search articles from the Florida Water Resources Journal from 2002; they are interesting and still applicable.

The population growth in the 2000s help set up capital planning and expansions/upgrades in facilities in ways we had not seen in prior decades. As most of us remember, that population growth came to a halt with the housing crash that started in 2006 and lasted until the end of that decade. The good news is that most capital improvement projects were already underway. As a result, we are better-positioned in capacity and quality that we may have been without the population growth explosion of that time.

Florida’s current population is 21.78 million, up over 30 percent from 20 years ago. Did anyone think we could fit 30 percent more people in this state?! Our infrastructure is still trying to keep up and we’ve made great strides. So many of the issues we faced as an industry 20 years ago are back and facilitating a need for new facilities, expansions, and upgrades.

Today’s hot topics sound eerily similar to the hot topics of 20 years ago.

Expanding (or Demolishing and Completely Replacing) Water Treatment Plants

Today we are facing a new influx of growing downtown areas and a variation of sprawling development. Due to draft per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) regulations, compliance is requiring more innovative and

Continued on page 58

City of Riviera Beach and the utility special district conducts community meetings throughout August and September 2023 to highlight the state of the utility and the new water treatment facility to be constructed. (photo: Suzanne Mechler)

City of Tallahassee is working on a large rehabilitation project, including replacement of the headworks and digester components, both integral parts of the water reclamation facility. These projects require coordinated shutdowns. (photo: Sondra Lee)

intensive treatment technologies and management of optimal corrosion control treatment. Many municipalities are looking for public support and long-term funding for these critical projects.

Upgrading Water Reclamation Facilities

Many water reclamation facilities—as they are called now—in Florida were constructed in the 1970s and ‘80s and are now officially at the end of their useful life. Many municipalities are going through recoating, rehabilitation, modifications, and/or replacement of basins and, of course, they are on a path (albeit a required one per Senate Bill 64) to surface water discharge elimination. This is creating an acceleration of advanced wastewater treatment facilities, as well as indirect and direct potable reuse projects.

Driving Water Quality Improvements as Part of Water Resources Projects

The CERP projects are either completed or under construction. This has been a huge effort and accomplishment for SFWMD, the state of Florida, and the federal government. This

doesn’t mean our work is done. The ASRs are now being implemented at a large scale across the SFWMD boundary for water storage with a full water treatment system to ensure the water quality is maintained. In addition, the water management districts are a huge partner is how we manage water quality and its connection to water resources throughout the state.

Moving Forward

At the end of the day, engineers, operators, scientists, regulators, and academics are needed now more than ever. Our infrastructure is critical to a successful economy and to support a growing population in Florida. Even though we may do things differently than we did 20 years ago (thanks to Microsoft teams, Zoom, and that thing called COVID), the work still needs to get done.

My takeaways from all of this include:

1. Encourage kids to be interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs. It’s everyone’s responsibility to get out in the public and in schools to share our knowledge and excitement about this industry and the

NEWS BEAT

Continued from page 54

and custom fabrications for the water, water treatment, hot water, and industrial markets. The acquisition gives AqueoUS Vets a base of operations to serve a wider variety of customers across the U.S. Financial terms of the private transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1943 and headquartered in Jacksonville, Dixie Tank is one of the foremost pressure vessel and equipment fabricators in the Southeast providing services to deliver quality and customer satisfaction. The company’s Jacksonville facility covers six acres, with approximately 78,000 square feet of manufacturing area.

“Our vision for AqueoUS Vets is to be a national brand and a leader of treatment solutions that address the country’s most urgent drinking water contaminants, including PFAS, 1,4-dioxane, arsenic, 1,2,3-TCP, VOCs, TOC, and TPH. This transaction gives us a base to better serve the eastern half of the U.S.,” said Rob Craw, chief executive officer of AqueoUS Vets. “With the acquisition of Dixie Tank, we will continue to grow and address the increasing demand for compliant water treatment across the country by mitigating the environmental impact of modern industrialization and promoting healthy water systems.”

“We share AqueoUS Vets’s commitment to addressing critically important water supplies and removing harmful contaminants in our nation’s water system. We look forward to joining with them to innovate in new technologies to improve product quality and deliver products faster to market, while remaining focused on providing our customers with the same highquality, on-time service that they have come to expect from Dixie Tank,” said Chris Eidson, president of Dixie Tank, who along with the rest of the leadership team from Dixie Tank will be joining AqueoUS Vets.

In January 2022, AqueoUS Vets received a growth investment from Bain Capital Double Impact, the impact investment strategy of Bain Capital, to enable the company to expand its highly efficient and effective water treatment systems nationally, while reducing the quantity of contaminants that are prevalent in the U.S. water system.

important work we do. Hopefully, in 20 years, we will have our replacements.

2. Maintain our smart, young staffs in this state. That means we should pay attention to things like affordable housing and downtown redevelopment to attract this generation.

3. Encourage participation in the FWEA Students and Young Professionals Committee (SYPC) internship program.

4. Work together to be creative, efficient, and productive. Although we work for different municipalities and different consulting firms, we have one common goal: move the industry forward.

Let’s take advantage of our local chapters and technical committees to learn from each other and support our future together. S

CST Industries Inc. has announced its anniversary celebration, marking 130 years of delivering innovative solutions and exceptional value to its customers worldwide. Since its inception in 1893, the company has been a driving catalyst, propelling progress

and spearheading advancements. It strives to provide longevity to all aspects of its storage tanks and covers market, including designing and manufacturing storage and cover solutions to meet any challenges.

For decades, CST has remained at the vanguard of technological breakthroughs, and one of its most notable milestones includes the introduction of groundbreaking innovative clear span aluminum geodesic dome roof structures for municipal water and waste storage solution. Another exemplary showcase of its innovation is the “Spaceship Earth” at EPCOT, a testament to CST’s visionary approach to creating immersive and iconic architectural marvels.

Jeff Mueller, president and chief executive officer of the company, states, “At CST, we have dedicated ourselves to 130 years of product innovation and manufacturing efficiencies to provide our customers with the highest quality of products. We could not have achieved our outstanding success without our talented team’s hard work, zeal, and persistent devotion. I feel incredibly privileged to lead this team of passionate employees driving success each day. I feel honored to stand in the place of the great leaders that came before me who created a culture of quality and accountability.” S

Keeping Chemical Deliveries Safe

Drinking water and wastewater systems rely on water treatment chemicals to maintain operations, effectively treat water and wastewater, and provide their essential services to the public. An interruption to a utility’s chemical supply, whether short- or long-term, can have a significant impact on its ability to provide safe drinking water and treat wastewater prior to discharge.

The types of the chemicals used by utilities include coagulants, disinfectants, acids, bases, corrosion inhibitors, dechlorination chemicals, and fluoridation chemicals.

The delivery of hazardous chemicals is one of the most potentially dangerous activities at a water or wastewater plant. Injuries can occur when a chemical is delivered to the wrong container or the chemical is spilled. Serious injury can result when incompatible toxic chemicals are inadvertently mixed during delivery.

Safe chemical receiving and unloading procedures, practices, and management

practiced to ensure the safe delivery of chemicals to all utilities.

Facility Responsibilities

While the supplier and shipper are responsible for ensuring the chemical load is properly identified, placarded, and transported, it’s up to the staff of the receiving facility to ensure the flowing: S The chemical is what was ordered

S The chemical is offloaded safely to the proper place

S Personnel are trained to handle the material correctly

In addition, facility security protocols should be used to verify in advance who will be delivering the chemicals and in what manner. A chain of custody should always be maintained between the manufacturer and the purchaser. It’s even common for some utilities to require background checks on the chemical delivery drivers for their

Safety Procedures

While every chemical has specific safety precautions that must be taken when inspecting and handling occurs, which are spelled out in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Safety Data Sheets (SDS), the following general procedures should be followed during the delivery and acceptance of any chemical:

S Schedule the delivery so the proper personnel are onsite when the chemical is delivered and the facility is ready to receive it.

S Confirm the identity of the delivery driver; verify he or she is who the supplier had scheduled to make the delivery, and that the vehicle or cargo

Continued on page 61

This column addresses safety issues of interest to water and wastewater personnel, and will appear monthly in the magazine. The Journal is also interested in receiving any articles on the subject of safety that it can share with readers in the “Spotlight on Safety” column.

Let’s Talk Safety is available from AWWA; visit www.awwa.org or call 800.926.7337. Get 40 percent off the list price or 10 percent off the member price by using promo code SAFETY20. The code is good for the Let’s Talk Safety book, dual disc set, and book + CD set.

C L A S S I F I E D S

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

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Water Reclamation Facility Operator III

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

Required Qualifications:

♦ 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

Clay County Utility Authority - Multiple Positions Available

• Senior Design Engineer /project manager,

• Water, Wastewater Maintenance Mechanic

• Inventory Manager

• Utility Mechanic

• Retrofit Technician

• W & WW Maintenance Forman

• Superintendent Wastewater Treatment

Apply at WWW.Clayutility.org

Water Distribution Manager

$76,650 - $118,639/yr.

Utilities Program Coordinator

$60,057 - $92,955/yr.

Utilities Electrician

$59,451 - $83,564

Utilities Compliance Coordinator

$54,473 - $84,315/yr.

Utilities Treatment Plant Operator I or Trainee

$53,924 - $75,875/yr. or $48,910 - $68,821/yr.

Utilities Mechanical Specialist

$46,581 - $65,544/yr.

Utilities System Trainee or Operators II & III

$40,239, $44,362 - $62,424, $48,910 - $68,821/yr. Apply Online At: http://pompanobeachfl.gov Open until filled.

Executive Director

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

PRINCIPAL ENGINEER

The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority is searching for the right professional with the perfect balance of Engineering and Operations knowledge and education in water and wastewater utility systems operation. This position would be at an advanced professional level. Must be a Registered Professional Engineer (PE) in Civil or Environmental Engineering in the United States, with the ability to obtain registration in the State of Florida within six (6) months of hire. Salary based on experience. Benefit package is extremely competitive. Location: Florida Keys. See Job description/ requirements and on-line application at http://www.fkaa.com/ employment.htm

Village of Tequesta SERVICE TECHNICIAN

Service Technician II: $38,713 - $61,941

Service Technician I: $36,711 - $55,302

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

Village of Tequesta

WTP Oper./QA Officer Water Production $53,965-$71,455

The Water Production department seeks a Water Plant Operator/QA Laboratory Officer. This position is responsible for the proper operation & maintenance of water treatment & pumping equipment, and serves as QA Lab Officer, performing water quality control and compliance activities. Please visit: https://tequesta.bamboohr.com/careers/132

Let’s Talk Safety

Continued from page 59

container is the same transport container that is listed on the manifest.

S Verify the contents of the container. Read the placard, the bill of lading, and the SDS, and do any necessary testing. The American Water Works Association chemical standard states, “Each product shall be identified as to the product, grade, net weight, name and address of the manufacturer, and brand name. Packages or containers shall show a lot number and identification of manufacturer. All markings on packaged, containerized, or bulk shipments shall conform to applicable laws and regulations, including requirements established by OSHA. Bulk quantities of product should be sealed with a uniquely numbered tamperevident seal.”

S Wear any and all required personal protective equipment.

S Inspect transferring hoses, valves, and recipient containers for damage, plugging, or wear, and replace as necessary.

S Have a trained attendant oversee the unloading of cargo tanks. This person must be alert and note the following:

City of Temple Terrace

Water Plant Operator

Technical work in the operation of a water treatment plant and auxiliary facilities on an assigned shift. Performs quality control lab tests and other analyses, monthly regulatory reports, and minor adjustments and repairs to plant equipment. Applicant must have State of Florida D.E.P. Class “A”, “B”, or “C” Drinking Water License at time of application. Excellent benefits package. To apply and/or obtain more details contact City of Temple Terrace, Chief Plant Operator at (813) 506-6593 or Human Resources at (813) 5066430 or visit www.templeterrace.com. EOE/DFWP.

SALARY RANGES:

$22.13 - $35.42 per hour • w/”C” Certificate

$24.34 - $38.96 per hour • w/”B” Certificate (+10% above “C”)

$26.77 - $42.86 per hour • w/”A” Certificate (+10% above “B”) $1,000 Hiring Bonus!

• There is a clear view of the cargo tank.

• Be within 25 feet of the tank.

• Be aware of the hazards.

• Know the procedures to follow in an emergency.

• Be authorized to move the cargo tank and be able to do so if necessary.

S Inspect the actual container or pipe that the product should be loaded into and/or through, and be sure the receptacle is clear of all potential contaminants.

S Unhook all loading/unloading connections before coupling, uncoupling, or moving a chemical cargo tank. Always chock trailers and semitrailers to prevent motion after the trailers are dropped.

S Unless the engine must run a pump for product transfer, turn if off when loading or unloading.

S Ground the tanks correctly before filling them with flammable materials through an open filling hole. Ground the tanks before opening the filling hole, and maintain the ground until the filling hole is closed.

S Close all manholes and valves before moving a tank carrying hazardous materials. It doesn’t matter how small the amount in the tank or how short the

distance—manholes and valves must be closed.

S Keep the liquid discharge valves on a compressed gas tank closed, except when loading and unloading.

S Ensure that any necessary lockout/tagout procedures are followed.

S Know what to do in the event of a spill or chemical release, or individual exposure to a chemical.

Resources

For more information go to following websites:

• American Chemistry Society at www.americanchemistry.com/Safety/ TransportationSafety

• U.S. Chemical Safety Board at www.csb.gov

• OSHA at www.osha.gov S

Editorial Calendar

January ....... Wastewater Treatment

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

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

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

May .............. Operations and Utilities Management

June Biosolids Management and Bioenergy Production

July .............. Stormwater Management; Emerging Technologies

August ......... Disinfection; Water Quality

September... Emerging Issues; Water Resources Management

October ....... New Facilities, Expansions, and Upgrades

November.... Water Treatment

December .... Distribution and Collection

Technical articles are usually scheduled several months in advance and are due 60 days before the issue month (for example, January 1 for the March issue).

The closing date for display ad and directory card reservations, notices, announcements, upcoming events, and everything else including classified ads, is 30 days before the issue month (for example, September 1 for the October issue).

For further information on submittal requirements, guidelines for writers, advertising rates and conditions, and ad dimensions, as well as the most recent notices, announcements, and classified advertisements, go to www.fwrj.com or call 352-241-6006.

Display Advertiser Index

Test Yourself Answer Key

1. A) drinking water. The major cause of illness within the United States and the developing world is drinking water.

2. C) gastroenteritis. The majority of water-related diseases cause gastroenteritis.

3. D) hepatitis A. The waterborne virus of most concern today is hepatitis A.

4. B) bloody diarrhea.

E. coli 0157:H7, when in drinking water, causes an infection that may result into death due to bloody diarrhea.

5. C) 30,000 people.

A major waterborne outbreak of infectious hepatitis that occurred in Delhi, India, in 1995 infected approximately 30,000 people.

6. A) stomach and intestine. Gastroenteritis is described as inflammation of the stomach and intestine.

7. D) typhoid fever, dysentery, and cholera. Arguably, the most common and feared waterborne infectious diseases are typhoid fever, dysentery, and cholera.

8. C) E coli. The bacteria whose presence is used as an indicator of fecal contamination is E. coli.

9. D) coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection.

The most effective treatment methods in preventing a waterborne outbreak if the drinking water source is Lake Okeechobee is coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection.

10. B) Giardia. A pathogen (beaver fever) with cysts and cells that may be found in seemingly pristine waters that causes diarrhea, intestinal, cramps and nausea is called Giardia

CORRECTION

In the September 2023 issue of FWRJ the CEU Challenge column on page 59 includes questions for the article, “Alternative Management Strategies to Prevent Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances From Entering Water Supplies,” which will not be published in the magazine until January 2024. Both the article and the questions from the column will appear in that issue. The magazine regrets the error.