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Technical Articles 16 24 40
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Columns 22 32 36 38 52
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
Is Water Conservation an Effective Alternative Water Supply Solution? – North Florida Case Study—Fatih Gordu, Brett Goodman, and Rick Hutton Reuse Water Reservoirs Help Meet Nitrogen Total Maximum Daily Load: Do Floating Wetland Islands Help?—Rafael Vázquez-Burney, Jeffrey Harris, James Bays, Kerstin Kenty, and Ryan Messer Estimating Districtwide Water Conservation: St. Johns River Water Management District’s Estimation Tool—Max A. Castaneda and Andrew Mason
Education and Training
For Other Information DEP Operator Certification: Ron McCulley – 850-245-7500 FSAWWA: Peggy Guingona – 407-957-8448 Florida Water Resources Conference: 888-328-8448 FWPCOA Operators Helping Operators: John Lang – 772-559-0722, e-mail – oho@fwpcoa.org FWEA: Karen Wallace, Executive Manager – 407-574-3318
Accepting the Value of Water Efficiency in Long-Term Supply Planning—Lisa Krentz Work Order/Computerized Maintenance Management System: An Effective, Modern Solution for Port St. Lucie WEF Members Tune Up for Jammin’4Water 2015 FSAWWA Roy Likins Scholarship FSAWWA ACE15 Lunch Local Utility Celebrates Water Conservation Month FSAWWA Call for Papers South Florida Water Management District Highlights Water Conservation With Expo and Vendor Fair News Beat FSAWWA Operator Awards
Certification Boulevard—Roy Pelletier FSAWWA Speaking Out—Mark Lehigh Process Page—Ron Trygar C Factor—Thomas King FWRJ Reader Profile—Jason Paul Parrillo
Departments 54 57 60 62
New Products Service Directories Classifieds Display Advertiser Index
Volume 67
ON THE COVER: Residental pumps for the 7.5-mgd reuse plant at the City of Pompano Beach. They pump through 33 miles of reuse purple pipe to a growing residential and commercial customer base, and to golf courses and parks throughout the city. (photo: Randy Brown)
April 2015
Number 4
Florida Water Resources Journal, USPS 069-770, ISSN 0896-1794, is published monthly by Florida Water Resources Journal, Inc., 1402 Emerald Lakes Drive, Clermont, FL 34711, on behalf of the Florida Water & Pollution Control Operator’s Association, Inc.; Florida Section, American Water Works Association; and the Florida Water Environment Association. Members of all three associations receive the publication as a service of their association; $6 of membership dues support the Journal. Subscriptions are otherwise available within the U.S. for $24 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Clermont, FL and additional offices.
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Florida Water Resources Journal • April 2015
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April is Water Conservation Month! Accepting the Value of Water Efficiency in Long-Term Supply Planning Lisa Krentz
Utilities have been implementing water conservation in Florida for more than 20 years. Over the last decade, as water demands have declined, many water utilities have experienced considerable declines in water sales, which has led to problems with revenue recovery and uncertainty about future investments in water supply infrastructure—and water efficiency. While increasing water use efficiency is a contributing factor, the declines in water demand have largely been unanticipated and exacerbated by the recent recession. However, as the economy recovers, rebounds in water demand and forecasted future supply needs are highly probable for many utilities. As the costs of new supplies and infrastructure continue to rise, avoided cost of water supply becomes a more critical element of the water supply planning process. The value of increased water use efficiency in managing future long-term supply needs is evident because it most often provides the least-cost supply alternative for utilities and their customers. As such, water efficiency can and should be compared to other supply alternatives being considered. An “avoided supply cost” analysis considers increments of conserved water versus the cost to operate existing water supply sources and the total cost (capital and operating costs) to develop new water supply. Consideration of cost savings and water supply benefits permits a consistent “apples to apples” comparison to other water supply alternatives. Through efficient use of available supplies and use of targeted implementation strategies,
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water use efficiency can help manage peak and average daily water demand in conjunction with reducing long-term future water supply requirements. Cost-effective alternatives to new supply development and other valuable benefits can be realized through demand side management, including: optimization of existing facilities, deferred capital investment costs, improved public perception, support of future supply projects, and environmental stewardship and protection. Water demands are impacted by a variety of factors, including economic factors, weather, price, and water efficiency, and these impacts should generally be expected to change overtime. However, water efficiency savings potential is often estimated from general information and assumptions found in published literature and is assumed to remain constant at some level over time. This is often where demand forecast and traditional financial models used in rate development also fall short, and thus can explain the unexpected occurrence of revenue shortfalls when changes in these factors occur. In addition to water savings associated with conservation programs implemented by utilities (active efficiency), passive water efficiency (process of replacing old fixtures with new, more efficient fixtures without financial incentives) is occurring as a result of national plumbing standards adopted in the 1992 Energy Policy Act (EPAct). Since then, manufacturers have introduced and marketed fixtures and appliances, which far exceed EPAct standards, leading to EPA’s WaterSense and Energy Star programs that certify and label products meeting consumer expectations while performing at rates lower than current national efficiency standards. These programs influence the market by encouraging consumers to purchase high-efficiency water products. As the market for water efficient fixtures/appliances increases and the composition
of customers within communities changes, the relative proportion of properties with automated landscape water use continues to rise and the opportunities for active efficiency programs, along with their savings rates and cost–benefits, will also change. While utilities lack control over passive-demand reductions occurring as a result of these national programs, they can attempt to quantify the benefits and better understand how a changing market may affect the continued viability of existing programs, their future need for water supply, and how to manage potential revenue changes. At the same time, utilities should continue to assess new opportunities in efficiency as new technologies are constantly being introduced to the market. While these technologies may be introduced to some degree through passive efficiency, opportunities to accelerate the introduction of water efficient products and financially benefit from avoided costs typically exist in any utility service area. Cost–benefit analysis measures the financial benefit (avoided cost) of delaying or eliminating future infrastructure and operational costs. With proper planning, water conservation can support a utility’s long-term financial and resource management goals by providing cost-effective, least-cost supply alternatives. In order to realize the financial benefits of conservation and avoid revenue shortfalls, demand forecast and financial models that utility rate structures are built upon must incorporate future expectations of water efficiency. By coordinating the timing of planned conservation activity with growth expectations and water rates, water efficiency can provide viable, financial solutions in a utility’s long-term supply plans. Lisa Krentz is an associate with Hazen and Sawyer, P.C., in Tampa and is chair of the FSAWWA Water Use Efficiency Division.
Work Order/Computerized Maintenance Management System: An Effective, Modern Solution for Port St. Lucie Brad Macek, assistant utilities director for the Port St. Lucie Utilities Department, recognized it was time to streamline a dated, paper-based work order system when their current system, built in the early 1990s, was showing its age. Macek and his colleagues began researching computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) options that might help them run their utility more efficiently. “The old system wasn’t able to support the amount of assets we currently have,” said Macek. “We kept expanding on it as we grew and eventually those expansions simply got too big for the system to handle.” There were a lot of limitations to the old system. “Our maintenance crews had paper and clipboards, so a lot of time at the end of the day was spent either inputting data or turning it over to a switchboard group to do it,” said Macek. Port St. Lucie employs just over 200 workers. The water treatment plants have capacities of 8 mil gal per day (mgd), 11.15 mgd, and 22.5 mgd, while the wastewater treatment plants operate at 6 and 12 mgd. It was a lot to manage with an out-of-date maintenance system that simply wasn’t efficient. Initially, Macek and his colleagues could not find a system that met their needs. “We looked at a number of different systems and even looked internally to see if we could reproduce something on our own,” he said. “But we couldn’t come up with a canned solution that worked for us, so we talked to our neighboring system, Indian River County Utilities, about what they were using.” The system Macek and his colleagues decided on provided a paperless work order program that allowed them to streamline their workflow process for asset management/CMMS. This was a big change over the old system, but it was a good one. The new system allowed for full automation of the entire asset/equipment maintenance schedules for all the system’s plants. “One of the biggest advantages of the new CMMS package was the ability to break up each plant’s information into its own system,” Macek explained. “Before, we had a long list of all assets and equipment that made it almost impossible to find anything. This new system made it simpler for all of the plants to find their information and then schedule the necessary work orders, or look up their previous history.” According to Macek, one of the biggest benefits of the system is that it is geared toward a “field mobile solution,” so now all field workers use mobile devices, such as tablets or smartphones. “Not being paper-based is
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a huge benefit, because now the workers don’t have to double- or tripleenter their entries; it eliminates the paper trail. Our supervisors now can issue work orders and send them directly out to the field staff,” he noted. “There’s no more need to have the workers come back to the office or call them up on the radio. This freed up our paperwork at the end of the day, now that we have this instantaneous process.” The CMMS system was set up as a three-phased solution to simplify the implementation process. The first phase addressed correcting the work order system for the city’s water and wastewater treatment facilities, which included the plant and lift station mechanics, electricians, and instrumentation staff. The second phase addressed interfacing with the customer service work order system so that the distribution and collection crews can be implemented. The last phase involved organizing monthly operating report data for the plant operations. Another noteworthy aspect of this technology is evident in its calendaring system, which has the capability of registering all of the jobs a utility would need to track. “The jobs are color-coded so personnel can easily see the status of each component,” said Kurtis Warne, senior account manager with SEMS Technologies, the provider of the new system. “The costing aspect keeps track of the expenses associated with each job—from the labor hours of each worker to the parts needed for that job to the equipment required, or any purchases necessary, to facilitate its completion.” Warne explained that the system can keep track of all of the costs, so reports can be run that say how much money would be required to purchase or maintain a specific piece of equipment. “All of the line items in the calendaring system are user-definable, so each city can choose what type of jobs it wants to track and then run the reports. It’s a customizable system that allows the work to be specified and determine how much it costs.” Macek added that the system brings with it an ease of use that made the switchover a painless exercise for his employees. “It’s not a cumbersome system; it’s really easy to navigate, especially with our younger employees who grew up in the mobile-device age,” he said. “It’s that canned solution we were looking for; it came already put together and we didn’t have to build it from scratch. And, with all the assets in place, it’s been so much easier to transition them from our old work order system to the new CMMS package.” Macek was impressed with how quickly the system was in place. “We thought the system was going to take 12 to 18 months to complete the first phase,” he said, “but the system was up and running in six months. Of our approximately 200 employees, about half of them are on the new system now and the other half should be getting onto it within the next six weeks.” In addition, the system integrated a customizable component called “User-Definable Fields” to accommodate unforeseen developments in Port St. Lucie’s work order process as time goes on. These fields give the utility the ability to configure the system to meet its workflow process, rather than conforming to the software’s process. “It was built to be flexible, to work outside the box a little bit. Our plantside facilities were up and running with the new CMMS system within a few months,” Macek stated. “We’re currently getting ready to turn on phase two of the system, but we have to figure out some workflows on our end before that happens. In the third phase, we’ll be getting the treatment plant operators’ daily data gathering onto their iPads for our monthly operating reports, eliminating the double-data entry associated with our old system.”
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F W R J
Is Water Conservation an Effective Alternative Water Supply Solution? – North Florida Case Study Fatih Gordu, Brett Goodman, and Rick Hutton ater supply deficits have been projected in many areas in Florida as a result of future population growth and increasing water demands. This has led water utilities to initiate water conservation measures over the past 15 years to protect Florida’s water resources and minimize the need for an expanded water supply. Aggressive water conservation efforts, such as tiered rate structures and increases in reclaimed water use, combined with the recent economic downturn and return to more normal rainfall amounts, significantly reduced water use per connection throughout the state. This new, unprecedented condition raises two critical questions: How much of the reduction in water use truly resulted from water conservation efforts, and more importantly, is this trend sustainable? To better understand the effectiveness of water conservation and evaluate its viability as an alternative water
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supply solution, quantifying water conservation savings is more important than ever. What has been accomplished and the potential for continued improvement in efficiency needs to be analyzed so that water utilities can make smart financial decisions and water management districts can equitably distribute the available water supply among legal users. Water use data provided by the North Florida Utility Coordination Group (NFUCG) was used in the analysis. The NFUCG is composed of eight utilities: Jacksonville Electric Authority, Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU), Clay County Utility, St. Johns County Utility, City of Atlantic Beach, City of Jacksonville Beach, City of Neptune Beach, and Town of Orange Park (Figure 1). St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) has been working with local utilities and communities, including NFUCG and other stakeholders in north Florida, for
Figure 1. North Florida Regional Water Supply Partnership
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Fatih Gordu, P.E., is senior hydrologist with St. Johns River Water Management District in Palatka and Brett Goodman, P.E., is water reclamation facilities director with Gainesville Regional Utilities (Gordu and Goodman were with Jones Edmunds & Associates Inc. during this study). Rick Hutton, P.E., is supervising engineer with Gainesville Regional Utilities.
effective, consistent, and equitable water resource and water supply planning and development. In partnership with the Suwannee River Water Management District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the District initiated the North Florida Water Initiative (NFWI) in fall 2013, which includes the portion of the North Florida Regional Water Supply Partnership planning area that lies within the SJRWMD (Figure 1). As part of NFWI, the District has been working with stakeholders to develop a regional water supply plan, which includes development of alternative water supply options to meet existing and future water demands within the north Florida area, while protecting environmental resources. Understanding historical water use trends and the effect of water conservation efforts is very important as it directly impacts the magnitude of alternative water supply options needed to meet future demands and avoid unacceptable environmental impacts. This article analyzes the long-term water use trends of several water utilities in NFUCG and discusses the challenges in quantifying the water conservation efforts. The analysis introduces a methodology based on climate variables (rainfall and temperature) to help quantify water use reduction caused by factors other than climate so that potential water savings due to water conservation efforts can be estimated using a top-down approach.
Methodology A method was needed to better quantify how much water use reduction is attributable to climate and nonclimate factors. Previous studies (Rockaway, T.D., et al., 2011 and Dziegielewski and Kiefer, 2010) indicated that water use was highly correlated with temperature and rainfall. A multilinear regression model was developed by building a relationship between single-family water use and climate for calibration periods before implementation of any major conservation measures, including a tiered rate structure. These calibration periods were determined by analyzing historical water use trends and the changes in rate structure over time for each utility. The model utilizes the following variables: Monthly single-family residential water use per connection Monthly average rainfall Monthly average maximum temperature The regression equation was developed as follows: Wi = Per connection water use in Month i (gpd) Wa = Average daily water use per connection for Month i over calibration period (gpd) Ri = Rainfall in Month i (inches) Ra = Long-term average rainfall for Month i (inches) MaxTi = Maximum daily temperature in Month i (Fahrenheit) Max Ta = Long-term average maximum daily temperature for Month i (Fahrenheit) a = Regression coefficient b = Regression coefficient
were analyzed. The analysis was intended to help GRU better understand its customers’ water use behavior changes based on climate, water conservation efforts, reclaimed water use, etc. Figure 2 shows the GRU water service area.
Monthly single-family residential water use data and the number of residential connections from 1993 to 2012 were provided by GRU, and the rainfall and maximum temperature data (Figure 3) were obtained for the Continued on page 18
Figure 2. Gainesville Regional Utilities Water Service Area
Once the best correlation was achieved, the water use was predicted using the regression model for the subsequent years. Then, the predicted water use was compared with the actual water use for the analysis.
Gainesville Regional Utilities Example Water demands from GRU customers have decreased significantly over the past 10 years. During this time, GRU invested heavily in water conservation, but climate (specifically rainfall and temperature) also influenced water use. To better quantify how much water use reduction is attributable to climate and nonclimate factors, the climate data and GRU’s water use trends from 1993 to 2012
Figure 3. Rainfall and Maximum Temperature Data at Gainesville Regional Airport Florida Water Resources Journal • April 2015
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Figure 4. Correlation Between Climate Variables and Two-Month Monthly Average Water Use Per Connection During 1993-1998 Calibration Period
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April 2015 • Florida Water Resources Journal
Continued from page 17 Gainesville Regional Airport weather station from the National Oceanic Atmosphere Administration’s website. The data was analyzed using the multilinear regression described previously. After testing periods of varying durations, the best correlation between water use and climate variables was achieved using a two-month average water use per connection. The period from 1993 to 1998 was selected as the correlation period because of the review of historical water use trend and changes in GRU’s rate structure. It indicated that climate was the main driver for water use changes during this period. Figure 4 shows the correlation between climate variables and the twomonth monthly average water use per connection and Figure 5 shows the simulated and actual water use per connection for the correlation period. Once a good correlation was achieved between the water use per connection and climate variables, the model was run to predict water use per connection from 1999 to 2012 (Figures 6 and 7). The simulated water use per connection shows what the water use per con-
Figure 5. Simulated Versus Actual Water Use per Connection for Correlation Period
nection for GRU would be from 1999 to 2012 if nonclimatic factors (i.e., rate changes and water conservation efforts) were implemented. The simulated water use per connection follows GRU’s actual water use per connection until 2001, when it starts to deviate. In 2001, GRU began implementing an aggressive tiered water rate structure. Figure 8 shows GRU’s tiered residential water rates over time. Using the average of the 2011 and 2012 simulated and actual residential water use per connection, it was determined that GRU’s single-family residential customers’ water use was reduced by 28 percent due to factors other than climate change. In addition, there were three distinct water use behavior periods: Pre-2001 2001-2007 2008-2012 The decline in water use between 2001 and 2007 was most likely due to water conservation measures, including changes in rate structure, given that the simulated water use during this time period would have been significantly higher (Figure 7) if climate conditions were the only factor affecting water use. As shown in Figure 8, from 2008 through 2012 GRU dramatically increased its thirdtier water rate, which is likely the primary cause of the further reduction in water use during this period. In addition, there had been an increasing awareness among the public on the need for conservation as a result of conservation messaging by utilities, local government, and the water management districts, and the increasing public awareness regarding minimum flows and levels. The economic downturn likely contributed to some extent to this further reduction; however, due to the fact that much of Gainesville’s economy is based on the University of Florida and area hospitals, Gainesville was less hard hit than many other areas of the state.
North Florida Utility Coordination Group Water Conservation Estimate Similar to the GRU example, a best correlation was obtained for each utility analyzed in this study. As was the case with GRU, other utilities in the NFUCG implemented increas-
Figure 6. Gainesville Regional Utilities Predicted Monthly Single-Family Residential Water Use
ingly aggressive tiered rate structures, particularly over the 2007 through 2012 period. The results of the analysis indicated that the NFUCG has achieved water use reduction of more than 20 percent, or over 40 mil gal per day (mgd) over the past 10 years (Figure 9).
Conclusion This analysis introduces a methodology based on climate variables (rainfall and tem-
perature) to help quantify water use reduction caused by factors other than climate so that potential water savings due to water conservation efforts can be estimated using a topdown approach. The multilinear regression model indicates a significant reduction in water use among customers served by NFUCG. Water use reduction could be due to water conservation and the economic downturn; however, the analysis of GRU’s water use trend between Continued on page 20
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Figure 8. Gainesville Regional Utilities Tiered Residential Water Rates
Figure 7. Gainesville Regional Utilities Predicted Annual Single-Family Residential Water Use
Continued from page 19 2001 and 2007 (before the economic downturn) indicated that a significant portion of the water use decline is due to water conservation measures, including changes in rate structure. Recent data also indicated that the current low level of water use could be sustainable even after the economy fully recovers because although the regression model predicted that water use should have increased in 2011 and 2012 because of low-rainfall and high-temperature conditions (Figure 9), water use declined during the same period. Additional analysis of water use trends as the economy recovers should be performed in order to verify them. The review of long-term trends of several north Florida utilities indicated that water conservation measures, especially changes in rate structures, have been very effective and provided the following benefits: Utilities will be able to serve an increasing population with less allocation than would have been required in the absence of conservation. The water conservation efforts helped GRU reduce the need for future water use and successfully renew its consumptive use permit without increasing the existing permitted allocation with a 20-year duration. Conservation will reduce and defer the need for costly recovery and prevention projects.
References • Dziegielewski, B. and Kiefer, J.C. Appropriate Design and Evaluation of Water Use and Conservation Metrics and Benchmarks. Journal AWWA, 2010. • Rockaway, et al. Residential Water Use Trends in North America. Journal AWWA, 2011. • http://www.northfloridawater.com/
Figure 9. North Florida Utility Coordination Group Water Use Analysis
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April 2015 • Florida Water Resources Journal
Certification Boulevard
Test Your Knowledge of Disinfection C. Liquid from the top valve and gas from the bottom valve. D. Gas from the top valve and liquid from the bottom valve.
Roy Pelletier 1. Given the following data, calculate the chlorine demand: • Total daily lb of chlorine used is 1,200 lb/day • The plant flow is 14.5 mgd • The effluent chlorine residual is 2.75 mg/L A. 1,200 lb/day C. 1,681 lb/day
A. B. C. D.
B. 867 lb/day D. 332 lb/day
2. What chemical is used to identify a chlorine leak? A. B. C. D.
6. Which component in the chlorination process is responsible for creating a vacuum condition, which draws the chlorine gas through the chlorinator and then mixes the gas into a solution?
Fumes from sulfur dioxide Sodium hydroxide Fumes from ammonia Sulfuric acid
7. Leaking chlorine gas will tend to collect near the ceiling of a closed room. A. True B. False
8. What is the relationship of chlorine liquid to water? A. Chlorine liquid is one and a half times lighter than water. B. Chlorine liquid is the same weight as water. C. Chlorine liquid is one and a half times heavier than water. D. Chlorine liquid is two and a half times heavier than water.
3. Given the following data, calculate the volume of this chlorine contact chamber in cu ft and gal: • Length is 120 ft • Width is 45 ft • Depth is 11.25 ft A. B. C. D.
750 cu ft / 1.0 mil gal 65,650 cu ft / 100,250 gal 256,145 cu ft / 545,750 gal 60,750 cu ft / 454,410 gal
9. What is the formula that defines chlorine residual? A. B. C. D.
4. What does this formula best represent? Tank volume, ft3 (flow, mgd x 92.84 cfm/mgd) A. B. C. D.
Chlorine residual Detention time in minutes Detention time in hours Tank volume in gal
Demand - supply = residual Supply - demand = residual Supply x demand = residual None of the above.
10. In which position should you rotate a ton container if a leak develops?
5. What form of chlorine comes in 1-ton containers? A. Gas from both valves. B. Liquid from both valves.
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Pressure regulator Vacuum regulator Gas rotometer Gas injector
April 2015 • Florida Water Resources Journal
A. B. C. D.
With the leak at the bottom. With the leak at the top. With the leak on the side. It does not matter. Answers on page 62
LOOKING FOR ANSWERS?
Check the Archives Are you new to the water and wastewater field? Want to boost your knowledge about topics youʼll face each day as a water/wastewater professional? All past editions of Certification Boulevard through 2000 are available on the Florida Water Environment Associationʼs website at www.fwea.org. Click the “Site Map” button on the home page, then scroll down to the Certification Boulevard Archives, located below the Operations Research Committee.
SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS Readers are welcome to submit questions or exercises on water or wastewater treatment plant operations for publication in Certification Boulevard. Send your question (with the answer) or your exercise (with the solution) by email to: roy.pelletier@cityoforlando.net, or by mail to: Roy Pelletier Wastewater Project Consultant City of Orlando Public Works Department Environmental Services Wastewater Division 5100 L.B. McLeod Road Orlando, FL 32811 407-716-2971
F W R J
Reuse Water Reservoirs Help Meet Nitrogen Total Maximum Daily Load: Do Floating Wetland Islands Help? Rafael Vázquez-Burney, Jeffrey Harris, James Bays, Kerstin Kenty, and Ryan Messer he methods, data analysis, and results of a performance assessment of floating wetland islands (FWIs) for nitrogen management of reclaimed waters in total maximum daily load (TMDL)-limited watersheds were studied to determine if FWIs could passively provide nitrogen reduction while reclaimed water is being stored in reclaimed water reservoirs before it is applied in the form of irrigation in TMDL-limited watersheds. The Pasco County Master Reuse System (PCMRS) is a regional reclaimed water transmission and distribution system providing the sole wastewater effluent management mechanism for the Pasco County Utilities Services Branch with a service area that is partially within a TMDL-limited watershed. The Tampa Bay Nitrogen Management Consortium (TBNMC) developed total nitrogen (TN) load allocations for the TMDL for Tampa Bay. The allocated load for the PCMRS for the area contributing to Tampa Bay is 5.8 tons per year. Since the load was determined based on prior-year loading (2008), the County is already discharging its entire allocation to this basin during normal operations. To approximate the efficacy of FWIs to reduce TN in the PCMRS, FWIs were constructed, operated, and monitored in a test cell receiving reclaimed water from the PCMRS subject to coverage by the FWIs. Reclaimed water was applied at rates consistent with practical reservoir residence time. Water quality performance was assessed during the establishment period (first six months of grow-in), performance period (eight months immediately following grow-in), and the control period (three months after the FWIs were removed). The results indicate that FWIs installed in reclaimed water reservoirs affects the removal of TN. The test cell alone removed nitrogen and phosphorus, but the FWIs were found to enhance that removal capacity by decreasing suspended algal growth and increasing denitrification. The combined effect of the FWIs on the test cell has been a decrease in organic nitrogen and oxidized nitrogen in the test cell outflow. By evaluating the difference between the performance and control periods, an incremen-
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tal rate at which the FWIs removed TN from the test cell was calculated to be 0.9 pounds per sq ft (lb/ft2) of island per year. The test cell included a total of 1,600 sq ft of FWIs, so the total rate of TN removal that can be attributed to FWIs is approximately 1,440 lb of TN per year. This estimated rate of removal may be applicable for systems receiving reclaimed water of similar characteristics and at similar rates. The implementation of FWIs is a relatively new application of natural treatment system technology. Just as time has allowed for integrative studies on treatment wetlands to confirm expectations of performance, FWIs application to ponds will require more analyses such as those conducted during this study to develop readily applied sizing criteria and removal rate constants. Because ponds differ in depth, size, and loads, each system needs to be assessed separately to fully understand the capacity for these FWIs to remove TN. The purpose of this project is to quantify performance characteristics of FWIs for management of nitrogen, thereby expanding reclaimed water application opportunities in watersheds facing stringent nitrogen loading constraints. The PCMRS is a regional reclaimed water distribution system providing the sole wastewater effluent management mechanism for Pasco County. This total reuse strategy is accomplished by the beneficial reuse of effluent from all wastewater treatment facilities (WWTF) in Pasco County via a combination of irrigation customers and rapid-rate infiltration basin systems. In addition, the PCMRS contains a 62-mil-gal (MG) storage pond (Lake Rita), an existing 100MG reservoir at the Land O’ Lakes WWTF, and is constructing an additional 500-MG reservoir. The PCMRS discharges indirectly via irrigation infiltration to Hillsborough Bay, one of four segments that comprise the Tampa Bay Estuary. The 2012 Tampa Bay Reasonable Assurance Submittal, referred to as the RA Document (Tampa Bay Estuary Program, 2012), has been developed and accepted and includes a TN load limit for PCMRS discharges to the Hillsborough Bay Basin. Approximately 30 percent of the reclaimed water produced by Pasco County is reused in the
April 2015 • Florida Water Resources Journal
Rafael Vázquez-Burney is project technologist, James Bays is technology fellow, Kerstin Kenty is project manager 2, and Ryan Messer is project engineer with CH2M HILL in Tampa. Jeffrey Harris is an environmental biologist with Pasco County Utilities Engineering in New Port Richey.
Hillsborough Bay drainage basin. This basin also represents the area where most of the future growth in reclaimed water customers is projected. Therefore, the County is interested in decreasing overall nitrogen in the PCMRS to satiate the irrigation demand associated with that growth, while keeping the nitrogen load within their allocation. The nitrogen in the PCMRS flow is predominantly in the form of nitrate, which is amenable to biological treatment. The FWIs offer a technology for improvement of surface water quality in existing or constructed water bodies where the water is being stored and conveyed. The FWIs utilize emergent wetland species growing on a floating mat (Headley and Tanner, 2006). Because the County is investing in significant surface water storage infrastructure, passive reduction of nitrogen by FWIs in reclaimed water reservoirs could increase the capacity of a reclaimed water system by allowing for increased use of reclaimed water in areas where TN may be limited without the additional infrastructure investment. Sizing methods to determine the feasibility of FWIs to accomplish this objective are not wellestablished. A pilot experiment using FWIs was conducted in Hungary with additions of 5 mg/l of oxidized nitrogen; results indicated that the system removed 85 percent of the TN (Headley and Tanner, 2006). Another study that investigated the removal performance of nitrogen by FWIs (Borne et al., 2013) in nitrate-rich stormwater reported increased denitrification. The TN losses due to low dissolved oxygen and increased organic carbon availability in the root zone below the FWIs were compared to a control pond that did not include FWIs. To approximate the efficacy of FWIs to reduce TN in the PCMRS, FWIs were constructed,
operated, and monitored in a test cell receiving reclaimed water from the PCMRS for a period of 18 months. Reclaimed water was applied at rates designed to create relatively short hydraulic residence times (HRT) consistent with actual reservoir residence time. The methods, results, and data analysis to assess whether FWIs could provide further nitrogen reduction in the PCMRS are discussed.
Table 1. Floating Wetland Island Planted Species
Project Implementation To study the performance capabilities of FWIs, this project was implemented in a 4-acrelined test cell at the Wesley Center Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF). This system included a temporary pipe that delivered reclaimed water flow from the PCMRS and an outflow spillway pipe that spilled to the WWTF’s reject pond and returned water back to its headworks.
Installation A total of 20 mats were purchased; each mat measured 8 ft by 10 ft. Total FWI surface area on the 4-acre test cell was 1,600 sq ft. The FWIs were interconnected with stainless steel cables and hardware to create the desired configuration. Because the test cell was lined, anchors could not be driven into the ground. Instead, weighted anchors were provided to rest on the bottom of the test cell to avoid liner damage during installation and operation.
Wetland Plant Species Selection A variety of plants were selected for this study to assess growth rates and evaluate the ability of each species to adapt to the reclaimed water quality. Wetland plants were obtained mostly as potted plants and bare root to enhance planting success and accelerate growth. A seed mix was also obtained and used on two islands to compare with the 18 planted islands. Table 1 provides a listing of plant species installed on the floating mats. Species were selected based on previous experience on FWIs applications and root/shoot growth characteristics.
Test Cell Operation Operation of the test cell was an important aspect of the study because hydraulic characteristics could potentially affect nutrient concentrations and performance of the FWIs in terms of nutrient uptake. Reclaimed water was applied at rates designed to create an HRT consistent with the Land O’ Lakes Storage Reservoir residence time. Average HRT in the test cell was approximately 20 days; the operational volume in the test
cell was approximately 5 MG. A temporary 4-in. line with a flow meter was installed on the west side of the test cell berm near the southwest berm corner to provide the test cell with continuous flow. Meter readings were recorded daily by WWTF operators. Reclaimed water flowed through the test cell and exited by spilling out via gravity through a pipe in the southeast corner that hydraulically connects the test cell to a twin pond. This pipe provided an adequate control elevation and eliminated the need to monitor the test cell stage.
pling event, at least one sample was collected from all islands. The plant species for tissue sampling were selected randomly. Plant tissue samples collected quarterly were analyzed for dry weight and percent TN. Quarterly samples were collected during September 2012, November 2012, April 2013, and August 2013. Root length, shoot length, and media depth (island matrix) were measured upon collection. Plant samples were packaged in coolers and shipped to the University of Florida Wetland Biogeochemistry Laboratory for analysis.
Water Quality Sampling
Lithium Chloride Tracer Study
Water quality monitoring was conducted biweekly from the beginning of the study with the intent of capturing the effect of plant establishment on the water column nitrogen concentrations, particularly as temperatures increased during the summer. This data supported the determination of removal rate constants, nitrogen species conversion, and temperature adjustment factors. Ammonia nitrogen, oxidized nitrogen (nitrate plus nitrite), organic nitrogen (ON), and TN were monitored biweekly for the three distinct project phases: the grow-in period (July 2012 through December 2012), the performance period (January 2013 through August 2013), and the control period after the islands were removed (September 2013 through November 2013).
Understanding the hydraulics of the FWIs test cell is important to the successful operation and nutrient removal. It has been established that there is a distribution of HRT in treatment wetlands (Kadlec and Wallace 2009). To characterize wetland hydraulics, tracer studies were conducted using conservative inorganic compounds such as lithium or bromine, or fluorescent dyes, to track and quantify the rate of movement of individual water parcels through specific cells. After 11 months of island establishment, a tracer study was performed involving a one-time slug application of lithium chloride (LiCl) at the test cell influent pipe. Lithium ion (Li) was monitored at the test cell outfall in order to determine the time and concentrations of the exiting tracer. Detection of Li well above the background Li concentration at the test cell outfall aided in determining important flow behaviors such as HRT, average flow-weighted velocity, and the presence of significant flow path short circuiting.
Tissue Sample Collection Tissue analysis of the planted vegetation was performed to quantify plant nutrient uptake during the study period. The fraction of plant nutrient uptake compared to the inflow and outflow concentrations was important to understand for the overall balance of nutrient concentrations within the test cell. Plants were harvested and assessed as whole plant biomass. During FWIs installation, two random sampling sites (slotted well screens) were installed in each of the three planting zones on each FWI for a total of six tissue sampling sites per FWI. During each sam-
Floating Wetland Islands Removal and Relocation The FWIs were removed from the test cell at the Wesley Center WWTF on Aug. 27 and 28, 2013. The FWIs were fully grown and saturated with water at the completion of the study. The FWIs were relocated and permanently installed at the Lake Rita reclaimed water storage facility. Continued on page 26
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Continued from page 25
Hydrologic Evaluation of the Test Cell To assess treatment performance, the test cell hydrology was evaluated. Recorded flows and test cell stage-storage relationships were used to complete a daily water balance of the test cell. In addition, a tracer study was performed to determine the hydraulic characteristics of the system. These analyses were used to establish the basis for evaluation of treatment performance.
Water Balance The purpose of the water balance is to determine the HRT for the test cell. Measured flow to the test cell, precipitation records, and evaporation were used to calculate daily test cell outflow. The average HRT was determined to be 25 days. The daily nominal HRT varied between 5.6 days and 158 days due to extreme rain events and periods when the flow to the test cell was turned off for reasons outside of the control of this study. To determine hydraulic characteristics of the test cell, the tracer response curve was analyzed for common hydraulic parameters, including the number of tanks in series, dimensionless variance, wetland dispersion number, Peclet number (Pe), and volumetric efficiency. A gamma distribution was used to solve for the number of tanks, N, and the mean HRT by minimizing the sum of squared differences between the residence-time distribution (RTD) and the field data in a modeling analysis. The value N represents the degree of mixing and the dimensionless variance characterizes the spread of the tracer response curve about the mean of the distribution. The variance occurs by mixing of water or by the velocity distribution during passage. It is important to note that although gamma distri-
butions describe tanks-in-series (TIS) mixing, they do not imply the existence of turbulent flow (Kadlec and Wallace, 2009), since a gamma distribution may be observed in unmixed systems with several travel paths and different velocities. As N becomes very large, the gamma distribution might indicate a plug-flow reactor (PFR)-type system. An N of 1.0 in theory indicates a completely mixed flow reactor (CMFR)-type system. For the test cell, N was determined to be 1.0, representing a realistic application of a CMFR. The wetland dispersion number calculated for this system was 8.0, which is atypical of normal treatment wetland systems; typical values for the wetland dispersion range from 0.07 to 0.33. An average daily inflow rate and an estimated water volume were used to estimate the nominal HRT of the system of 25 days. The mean HRT for the test cell, calculated using a first-order gamma distribution analysis, as recommended in Kadlec and Wallace (2009), is 15.7 days. The nominal HRT calculated based on the volume of the test cell and the field-estimated mean HRT varies by 25 percent. The early response and the long-descending limb of the tracer response curve indicate the presence of both short circuits and the existence of areas with reduced hydraulic connection. The Pe describes the dispersion as a dimensionless parameter, where Pe = 0 represents a CSTR-type flow, and Pe = ∞ represents a PFRtype flow. For free surface wetlands, reported values range from Pe = 5 to 20 (Kadlec and Knight, 1996). The Pe for the test cell was 0.13, which indicates significant short-circuiting of flow through the system. Finally, the volumetric efficiency was calculated by dividing the actual HRT by the nominal HRT. For the test cell, this ratio was less than 1, which means that the actual HRT was shorter than expected. This also indicates shortcircuiting.
Figure 1. Total Nitrogen Concentrations
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Monitoring Results Nitrogen Water Quality Monitoring Results To determine the performance of the FWIs in the test cell, water quality parameters were monitored biweekly through the duration of the study. Water samples were collected at the test cell inflow and outflow and analyzed for TN, oxidized nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, and ON to assess total nitrogen treatment performance for each period and to understand the nitrogen conversion dynamics within the test cell. Figure 1 presents TN concentrations for the test cell inflow and outflow over the duration of the study. During the study, inflow TN concentrations averaged 6.1 mg/L and ranged from 3.4 to 9.6 mg/L. Based on inflow and outflow TN concentrations, TN was reduced by 54 percent on average during the grow-in period, 70 percent on average during the performance period, and 30 percent during the control period when the FWIs were not present. These data show a clear difference in performance between the performance period and the control period, suggesting that the FWIs had an effect in the treatment performance of the test cell. Nitrogen species conversion and nitrogen dynamics can be explored by comparing inflow and outflow concentrations of each nitrogen species. Figure 2 presents oxidized nitrogen concentrations for the test cell inflow and outflow over the duration of the study. During the study, inflow oxidized nitrogen concentrations averaged 5.3 mg/L and ranged from 2.8 to 7.8 mg/L. This represents approximately 87 percent of the TN entering the test cell. In general, the outflow concentrations were less than 1.5 mg/L, with most concentrations below the detection limit during all the monitoring periods. These results for oxidized nitrogen together with TN performance suggest that during the performance period, oxidized nitrogen was being removed from the system more readily than during the control period, whereas during the control period, oxidized nitrogen was just being converted to other forms of nitrogen. The other nitrogen species were assessed to understand the conversion of nitrogen species within the test cell. Ammonia concentrations were not observed at significant levels in the inflow nor in the outflow of the test cell. In general, ammonia concentrations were found to be either below the detection limits of the analytical method or between the detection limit and the practical quantitative limit. Based on the water quality results for ammonia, nitrogen species conversions involving ammonia were considered negligible in the test cell. Continued on page 28
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Continued from page 26 Figure 3 presents organic nitrogen concentrations for the test cell inflow and outflow over the duration of the study. During the study, inflow organic nitrogen concentrations averaged 0.6 mg/L and ranged from nondetect to 1.8 mg/L. This parameter represents approximately 10 percent of the TN entering the test cell. In general, the outflow concentrations were significantly above the inflow concentrations, with average organic nitrogen concentrations of 2.2 mg/L that ranged from 0.4 to 4.0 mg/L. Inflow organic nitrogen less than outflow of organic nitrogen demonstrates the conversion of inorganic nitro-
gen to organic nitrogen. The dominant inflow nitrogen form throughout the study was oxidized nitrogen, while the dominant outflow nitrogen form was organic nitrogen. Average outflow organic nitrogen concentrations for the grow-in period, performance period, and control periods were 3.0 mg/L, 1.4 mg/L, and 2.8 mg/L, respectively. The data suggest that the FWIs affected the rate of conversion of oxidized nitrogen to organic nitrogen after the grow-in period. The FWIs increased processes that resulted in removal of total nitrogen and did not just convert nitrogen to other forms.
Figure 2. Oxidized Nitrogen Concentrations
Tissue Sampling Results Tissue samples were collected quarterly and analyzed for total dry weight and TN. Total estimated mass per island was calculated by averaging the plant samples collected from each zone, multiplying the average for each zone by the number of plugs they contain, and then summing the totals for each zone together. Average TN sample concentration was used to estimate the mass of TN removed that can be attributed to plant uptake. Based on these estimates it is estimated that approximately 2.2 kg of TN was bound up in plant tissue mass, which accounts for only 0.2 percent of the TN removed. Algal Productivity and Deposits Throughout the study, algae flourished on the test cell, leaving deposits that are known as “calcified cyanobacteria.� Cyanobacteria calcify when water conditions favor calcium carbonate precipitation and when photosynthesis is able to occur on the algae (Riding, 2011). The lack of photosynthesis in deeper waters of the test cell explains why the calcification only occurred in the shallower parts of the test cell. The highest line of calcification was a reliable high-water-level indicator for this study. Calcified deposits on the test cell liner were sampled at the end of this study. Ten samples with a surface area of 4 sq ft were taken. Groups of two samples were taken at increments of 30 ft inward of the west berm. Within these groups, the first sample was taken between 75 to 100 ft north of the first sample in the previous sample group. The second sample was taken at varying distances north or south of the first sample. Samples were analyzed for wet weight and TN. The total estimated amount of TN accumulated in the calcified deposits was 96 kg.
Nitrogen Mass Balance and Transformations
Figure 3. Organic Nitrogen Concentrations
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The test cell nitrogen cycle, performance of each nitrogen species, and the potential for FWIs to reduce TN concentrations within reclaimed water storage facilities were assessed. Figure 4 shows the principal components of the nitrogen cycle in the test cell with the FWIs. The various forms of nitrogen in aquatic systems are continually involved in a process of transformation from inorganic to organic compounds and back from organic to inorganic (Kadlec and Wallace 2009). Some of these processes are microbially mediated, requiring energy (typically derived from an organic carbon source), and others release energy, which is used by organisms for growth and survival. Most of the chemical changes are controlled through the
production of enzymes and catalysts by the living organisms they benefit. Principal processes transform nitrogen from one form to another. The processes assessed include ammonification, nitrification, denitrification, plan uptake, algal assimilation, and burial. A detailed understanding of these nitrogen transfer and transformation processes is important for understanding treatment performance of storage facilities with and without FWIs. A nitrogen mass balance was estimated for the performance and control periods. The nitrogen mass balance consists of quantification of the fate of nitrogen within the test cell, the nitrogen fluxes and nitrogen species conversions based on the water balance, and water quality monitoring done during the study. Figure 5 presents the nitrogen mass balance during the performance period. During this period, the percent mass removal is estimated to be 61 percent, with 56 percent estimated as loss in the form of elemental nitrogen to the atmosphere (denitrification). Approximately 87 percent of the test cell inflow nitrogen is composed of oxidized nitrogen. Based on the tissue samples gathered and the liner biofilm samples, it is estimated that approximately 4.3 g N/m2/yr is lost to system storage. This corresponds to 4.2 g N/m2/yr bound in the calcified cyanobacteria and 0.1 g N/m2/yr bound in the plant tissue. During the establishment period, system storage corresponds to 5 percent of TN lost. Plant uptake during this period is attributed to only 0.2 percent of the TN removed. Figure 6 presents the nitrogen mass balance during the control period. During this period, the percent mass removal is estimated to be 32 percent, with 24 percent estimated as loss of nitrogen gas to the atmosphere (gasification or denitrification). At a greater rate than in the previous periods, algal uptake (algal biomass) was responsible for converting the nitrate to organic nitrogen, which is then exported in the test cell outflow. Approximately 96 percent of the nitrogen in the test cell outflow was composed of organic nitrogen. During the control period, a significantly greater loss of approximately 24 percent less nitrogen to the atmosphere was estimated when compared to the performance period. By removing the FWIs, the mass balance suggests that the ability of the system to denitrify and convert oxidized nitrogen to organic nitrogen is greatly reduced, and the majority of the nitrogen is exported in the outflow stream. Based on the liner cyanobacteria samples, approximately 4.2 g N/m2/yr is lost to system storage. Because the islands were removed during this period, plant uptake is removed from this mass balance. During the establishment period, system storage corresponds to 7 percent of TN lost.
Figure 4. Simplified Nitrogen Cycle for the Floating Wetland Islands Test Cell
Figure 5. Performance Period Nitrogen Mass Balance
When comparing the mass reduction of the two periods, the mass removal that can be attributed to the FWIs can be estimated. A unit rate of denitrification of the performance period was estimated to compare to the control period. By comparing the denitrification rates of the control period with the performance period, a total mass of 630 kgN/yr can be attributed to the FWIs. This corresponds to a mass removal rate of approxi-
mately 0.4 kgN/yr (0.9 lb/yr) per sq ft of floating island. Plant uptake contributed to approximately 0.2 percent of this removal rate.
Treatment Model Calibration and Performance Assessment Nitrogen removal in the test cell can occur Continued on page 30
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Continued from page 29 through three main processes: denitrification, plant uptake, and burial. The P-k-C* model (Kadlec and Wallace, 2009) was used to evaluate the monthly treatment of the nitrogen species in the test cell (Table 2). First-order removal rates were fitted to the measured species concentrations in the inflow and outflow of the test cell for each period. Calculated treatment rate constants for nitrate are higher during the control period than during the performance period, indicating that the effect of the FWIs may be a decrease in nitrate removal rates. The water quality results suggest that each period has a different background concentration for organic nitrogen. For the establishment, performance, and control periods, background concentrations for organic nitrogen of 3.3, 1.4, and 3.6 mg/L, respectively, were fitted based on
the achievable outflow concentrations for each period. The increased background concentrations for organic nitrogen during the establishment and control periods, when FWIs were not established or not present, suggests that algal activity is increased. The data suggest that the FWIs had a significant effect on algal activity within the test cell. Based on TN observations in the inflow and outflow of the test cell and calibration of rate constants and background concentrations, it appears that the FWIs had an effect on TN removal. Rate constants calculated during the performance period are within the range of typical treatment wetland performance. Removal of the FWIs and observations during the control period indicated that treatment performance for TN was reduced. During the performance period, a TN treatment efficiency of 61 percent was observed, compared to 30 percent treatment
efficiency during the control period. When accounting for the effects of temperature, approximately 63 percent of the TN treatment observed during the study can be attributed to the presence of FWIs.
Conclusions The results from this study indicate that FWIs installed in reclaimed water reservoirs may aid in the removal of total nitrogen within the system. These systems may be capable of enhancing TN removal capacity by limiting suspended algae activity and enhancing denitrification. The result is robust removal of oxidized nitrogen and decreased levels of organic nitrogen in the test cell outflow, which lead to decreased levels of TN. Increased performance was observed during the performance period when compared to the control period. The test cell achieved 61 percent mass removal efficiency of TN during the performance period while the FWIs were established, and only 30 percent mass removal efficiency of TN during the control period while there were no FWIs in the test cell. The rate at which the FWIs were found to remove TN from the test cell was 0.9 lb/ft2 of island per year. The test cell included a total of 1,600 sq ft of FWI, so the total rate of removal of TN that can be attributed to FWIs is approximately 1,440 lb (almost 0.75 ton) of TN per year. This rate of removal may be applicable for systems receiving reclaimed water of similar characteristics and at similar rates. However, because ponds can differ in depth, size, and loads, each system must be assessed to understand the capacity for FWIs to remove TN.
References
Figure 6. Control Period Nitrogen Mass Balance
Table 2. Summary of Nitrogen Species Areal Rate Constants (m/yr)
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• Borne, K.E. et al., 2013. Stormwater Nitrogen Removal Performance of a Floating Treatment Wetland. Water Science and Technology. 68 7: 1657-1667. • Headley, T.R., and Tanner, C.C., 2006. “Application of Floating Wetlands for Enhanced Stormwater Treatment: A Review.” Prepared for Auckland Regional Council, New Zealand. • Kadlec, R.H., and Wallace, S., 2009. Treatment Wetlands. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. • Riding, R. 2011. Calcified cyanobacteria. In J. Reitner and V. Thiel (eds), Encyclopedia of Geobiology. Encyclopedia of Earth Science Series, Springer, Heidelberg, pp. 211-223. • Tampa Bay Estuary Program, 2012. 2012 Tampa Bay Reasonable Assurance Submittal. Accessed via the internet at: http://www.tbeptech.org/index.php?option=co m_content&view=category&id=29&Itemid=5 4&limitstart=10.
Operators: Take the CEU Challenge! Members of the Florida Water & Pollution Control 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 Conservation and Reuse. 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, FL 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!
Reuse Water Reservoirs Help Meet Nitrogen Total Maximum Daily Load: Do Floating Wetland Islands Help? Rafael Vazquez-Burney, Jeffrey Harris, James Bays, Kerstin Kenty, and Ryan Messer (Article 1: CEU = 0.1 WW) 1. Based on plant tissue sampling, it is estimated that 2.2 kg of ________ was bound up in island plant tissue. a. b. c. d.
nitrate nitrite organic nitrogen total nitrogen
2. The highest percentage total nitrogen removal in the test cell was achieved in the ___________ period. a. b. c. d.
dormant grow-in performance control
3. The study concluded that the floating wetland islands removed _________ of total nitrogen in the test cell. a. b. c. d.
0.9 lb/sq/day 1600 lb/year 1440 lb/year 30 percent
4. Oxidized nitrogen consists of
___________________________________________ SUBSCRIBER NAME (please print)
Article 1 ________________________________________
a. b. c. d.
nitrite plus nitrate. Total Kjeldahl nitrogen. ammonia nitrogen. organic nitrogen.
5. The observed change in dominant nitrogen form from inflow to outflow suggests
LICENSE NUMBER for Which CEUs Should Be Awarded
If paying by credit card, fax to (561) 625-4858 providing the following information:
a. b. c. d.
high inflow ammonia nitrogen concentrations. the conversion of inorganic to organic nitrogen. nitrification. denitrification.
___________________________________________ (Credit Card Number)
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.
(Expiration Date)
Florida Water Resources Journal • April 2015
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FSAWWA SPEAKING OUT
FSAWWA Legislative Update and the “Year of Water” Mark Lehigh Chair, FSAWWA he latest annual legislative session is in full swing, and with Governor Rick Scott in his second term and new leadership in the Florida Senate and House, water issues are expected to be a hot topic. In fact, it’s said that this is to be the “year of water.” On February 17, a delegation from FSAWWA, led by Utility Council Chair Rob Teegarden, descended on Florida’s capitol for the 2015 Legislative Day in Tallahassee. This year’s events provided an in-depth discussion with legislators on water policy solutions to establish water funding priorities. Water expert Edgar Fernandez led things off with introductions, while Teegarden gave an overview of the day. A strong contingent of more than 40 FSAWWA member volunteers were in attendance to voice concerns about water issues. Assigned to six different teams and arranged by geographic locations around the state, Utility Council members briefed the teams on topics to be discussed and introduced them to their team leaders. Armed with information and led by knowledgeable, passionate, and motivated team leaders, it was then time to sit down and discuss water topics face-to-face with 49 of Florida’s legislators.
T
The prevailing theme throughout the day was that water issues must be comprehensive and statewide, with the long-term health of Florida’s ecosystem in mind. Policies must be flexible, with both long- and short-term strategies that include strategic investments in water projects that will improve our overall supply and quality. No issue is more important to maintaining the quality of life of the citizens of Florida than an abundant and clean supply of water. Adequate investment in water infrastructure ensures safe and reliable water systems to attract and retain industry, business, and qualified workers, which are essential to economic vitality and growth. Conservative estimates for maintaining and protecting this vital resource over the next 20 years total a staggering $43 billion. One of the key points for teams as they met with legislators was Amendment 1, which was approved last November by 75 percent of the voters and is sure to get a lot of attention. Many believe that the amendment allows for a portion of the funds to be used for water and water infrastructure needs if those expenditures protect or conserve water resources or natural systems. This is what the teams focused on and the message that was delivered at each meeting. Funding for water projects can and should come from Amendment 1 dollars as long as they protect or conserve water resources or natural systems as the amendment reads. Other topics included continuing services contract limits, line relocation study, water in-
Above: One of the many discussions that took place at the meeting. At right: Participants in Legislative Day included Flip Mellinger, Marion County (seated), and (standing, left to right): Bill Young, St. Johns County Utility; Rep. Dennis Baxley, Ocala; Blake Bennett, American Cast Iron Pipe; Suzanne Goss, JEA; and Justin Sobol, Abengoa.
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frastructure funding, water policy legislation, and utility employee safety. All of these issues were received well by legislators throughout the day. We were all treated to a meeting with Adam Putnam, Florida’s commissioner for agriculture, who expressed his passion and commitment to protecting the quantity and quality of the state’s water supply. He pointed out that creative solutions are necessary for water policy and that he would like to see an “overarching regional framework” in which all parts of Florida help one another. Commissioner Putnam said that “the biggest challenge to Florida’s long-term growth was getting water policy right.” It was refreshing to see his energy and enthusiasm concerning water policy. At the end of the day it looks like water policy is getting the needed attention it deserves. The Utility Council has been working with legislators for years on the importance of water to this state. Every single legislator that we talked to was acutely aware of, and engaged in, water policy. Hard work does pay off. The FSAWWA Utility Council does a fantastic job of organizing this every year. Kudos to all the volunteers for a job well done. The value of becoming a Utility Council member is clearly evident by the accumulation of work throughout the year that is presented in one day at the state’s capitol. Come join us next year—I guarantee you will be impressed and informed. I know I was.
WEF Members Tune Up for Jammin’4Water 2015 A California jam session evolves into a WEFTEC tradition of music, fellowship, and good doings Musicians inevitably find other like-minds and talents with which to play. In today’s world, apps and websites more frequently bring musicians together—and so does the Water Environment Federation. Members of WEF networking about water quality expanded their focus in 2012 to include a side helping of musical fellowship and charity fundraising. That first year, two dozen attendees at the Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) gathered to play at Diego Rosso’s studio in Los Angeles. That early session got lots of attention and became the popular and fast growing water industry-related musical collaboration and charity event Jammin’4Water, also known as J4W. Following the 2012 gathering, a core of the
musicians and supporters noted the interest on both the performing and spectator side of the stage and agreed it should be expanded into a more organized event. Chandler Johnson (hard rocker) and Matt Livingston (mandolin) approached Dave Kinnear (guitar) and offered to step up monetarily if they could take it to a higher level. They decided to secure an appropriate venue for the next year to hold the event to raise money for water-related charities. A few phone calls and emails later, Kinnear was able to secure the sponsorships. The WEF Students and Young Professionals Committee (SYPC) was identified as the original recipient, with proceeds benefitting its Chicago Service Project. The Saturday night before 2013 WEFTEC in Chicago, the first official event occurred. Mu-
sicians, friends, family, sponsors, attendees, and members of SYPC filled the room to the 120person capacity. Musicians also donated to the charity to secure a stage spot and the rights to perform and produce their bucket-list music before an enthusiastic audience. Some songs were solo; others were truly a jam session with a full stage. “In addition to supporting water charities, the garage band sensation in the room excited both young and old WEF professionals alike. It was ‘WEF meets Woodstock’ in a very positive groove,” said Kinnear. In 2014 the core group incorporated, assembled a formal board of directors, and obtained federal 501(c)3 nonprofit status. “Water Charities Fundraising” was now organized to host an annual charity event on the Saturday prior to WEFTEC that consisted of an open-microphone format with eclectic live performances by WEFTEC attendees. That year, J4W raised $17,000, which was donated to the following groups: SYPC Water For People Winetowater Global H2O Water.org The House of Blues in the New Orleans French Quarter hosted the event, with Tom Kunetz and Mary Knosby serving as the masters of ceremonies. Over 30 musicians entertained almost 300 attendees. Performances ranged from traditional Irish and bluegrass to rock and roll, with standards like “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals, the Jethro Tull standby, “Cross-Eyed Mary,” and “Sweet Child of Mine” by Guns N’ Roses. Many companies went beyond sponsorships and bought tickets for clients, manufacturer’s representatives, and young professionals. “Initially, we signed up to support our musical friend and representative, Max Foster of Premier Water. We couldn’t be happier that the event has evolved beyond great music and a diverse audience to a water charity fundraiser. We are very proud to be a part of this special event,” said Dave Caspersen, president of Custom Conveyor Corporation, which is also an event sponsor. Other sponsoring organizations included: World Water Works
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Novozymes PC Construction Cambi Huber USA HDR Engineering Garney Construction VeloDyne CH2M HILL Indigo Water Group MWH Brown and Caldwell Premier Water
AECOM inCTRL The Third Annual Jammin’4Water 2015 will be held in Chicago on Saturday, September 26, at 6:00 p.m. at Redmoon Events Venue (www.redmoon.org). More than 70 artists have expressed an interest in performing. What started out with a few people jamming one weekend has turned into something special. Look for Jammin’4Water to continue on a high note.
If you would like to participate as a musician, sponsor, or attendee, email Dave Kinnear at dkinnear@hdrinc.com or please find details at: • Website: www.jammin4water.org • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jammin4water • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGzj-KILvCNK0qpQzq_45WQ YouTube contains all of the 2014 performances.
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PROCESS PAGE Greetings from the FWEA Wastewater Process Committee! This month’s column highlights the Van Dyke Water Reclamation Facility. This facility took the runner-up Earle B. Phelps Award in the category of secondary treatment in 2014.
Award-Winning Van Dyke Water Reclamation Facility Meets Many Challenges Ron Trygar he Van Dyke Water Reclamation Facility is one of seven wastewater treatment plants operated by the Hillsborough County Public Utilities Department. Although the average daily flow to the plant is the lowest among the County’s treatment facilities, the Van Dyke treatment plant has not been without its operational challenges.
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Many Upgrades Over the Years The original Van Dyke Wastewater Treatment Plant was built in 1986 to serve the residents of the Lake Carlton Arms apartment complex and was operated by a contract operations firm for the developer of the property. In October 1988, Hillsborough County took over operation and maintenance of the facility and made plans for retrofitting much of the existing equipment on the plant site. Between 1995 and 1997, modifications to the plant included the addition of a tetra effluent filtration system (four filters, one mudwell, and one clearwell), an additional chlorine contact chamber, a sludge holding tank, conversion of the existing traveling bridge filters into a filter lift station, and a flow-paced chlorine feed system. These modifications gave the facility Class I reliability, and al-
lowed the expansion of the reclaimed water system to full capacity. In March 1999, the permitted capacity was increased from 1.5 mil gal per day (mgd) to 1.7 mgd through a Florida Department of Environmental Protection permit modification, and in that same year, a biofilter odor control system was added to the headworks. A ground storage tank for reclaimed water storage was added in 2006 and improvements to the facility were completed in 2010. During this effort, the existing brush rotors were rehabilitated and larger horsepower motors were installed to improve oxygen transfer to the extended aeration plant’s mixed liquor suspended solids. Clarifier rehabilitation, along with new return and waste sludge pumps, were installed to improve operation flexibility. Upgrades to the plant headworks preliminary treatment system were completed in 2012 and involved replacement of the influent barscreens, grit removal equipment, sluice gates, and other associated equipment. Replacement of the valves that control flow into each oxidation ditch in 2013 inadvertently led to the discovery of severely corroded underground 16-in. ductile iron piping that feeds the two oxidation ditches, requiring complete pipe and valve replacement (see photo). Plant operators and county maintenance personnel went above and beyond the
Aerial view of the Van Dyke Wastewater Treatment Facility, June 2007.
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Pipe and valve replacement at the facility, September 2013.
call of duty to quickly implement an emergency pump and pipeline diversion to continue the flow of influent wastewater to the oxidation ditches while repairs were made to the original underground piping. This bypass flow around the broken feed pipes from the headworks to the ditches was in place for the two-week time period it took to make repairs. Through all these modifications, construction, and unusual events, the plant continued to provide high-quality reclaimed water to its customers.
The Plant Today The plant services several large communities, including Cheval Country Club East and West, Calusa Trace, Van Dyke Farms, Lake Carlton Arms, and St. Joseph’s Hospital, which are all located in the northwest corner of Hillsborough County. Monthly average flow through the facility is 1.17 mgd, roughly 70 percent of its permitted capacity. Through the efforts of a dedicated staff of three (LaTisha Staley, Mack Luton, and Ryan Alexander) the Van Dyke Advanced Secondary Wastewater Treatment Facility continues to be a winner every day! Ron Trygar, CET, is a wastewater process control specialist with Hillsborough County Public Utilities Department in Tampa.
A section of the severely corroded influent pipe, September 2013.
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Raise a Glass at the Florida Water Resources Conference Thomas King President, FWPCOA
he Florida Water Resources Conference (FWRC) will take place at the Caribe Royal Resort in Orlando from May 3-6. The conference is a joint effort of the Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association, the Florida Water Environment Association, and the Florida Section of the
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American Water Works Association to promote environmental education and provide a forum for members of the industry to comingle. These three nonprofit associations support the water industry from a different prospective, but all believe in the common goal of a better Florida for generations to come. The conference is coming off a record year thanks to the efforts of those who participate in it. There are a handful of people who I have the pleasure of watching each year that make the conference work smoothly. Holly Hanson has continued to advise the three associations on financial issues and pro-
April 2015 • Florida Water Resources Journal
vide ideas that she picks up from other conferences. This is her 15th year as executive director and FWRC has become the third largest conference of its type in the United States. Last year the conference had a record 302 booths and 2,626 attendees. Holly’s energy and dedication have been paramount in making the conferences what it is today. The registration booth at the conference is an amazing hub of action. The women who run the booth are amazing and work consistently with a smile—even when it is not deserved. They handle everything from registrations, lunch-ticket issues, parking information, and lost and found. They work at
a fever pitch from the starting gun on the first day to the last day when the exhibitors displaying their products and services are continually encouraged to register early to get the best spot for next year. They are some of the unsung heroes of the conference. Thanks go to Connie, Lynn, Christine, Susan, Christy, and students from the Rosen School of Hospitality Management; you make it all run smoothly. The Florida Water Resources Journal crew should be mentioned here as well. They take hundreds of photos in an effort to capture the essence of each conference. I watch them as they take these pictures as if to say, “How do I best represent this year’s conference so it’s unique from the others?” All of us who attend look in the background of the photos published in the magazine to find ourselves, like playing “Where’s Waldo?” We all look forward to this year’s Operations Challenge and Top Ops competitions. I love the team spirit that’s exhibited during these events. You can see the bonding that has taken place among the members of each team during their training. I see the benefit each
utility reaps for sponsoring a team; knowledge is never a wasted effort. The awards banquet where we honor those who put in that extra effort during the year has become so popular we have seen tickets being scalped at the door. This year, FWPCOA will sponsor an educational showcase on Sunday afternoon. We are building a board of experts and topics to challenge the minds of the attendees. Since it’s a joint session open to everyone, including engineers and operators alike, we will provide beer—that’s right, beer, which is the thesaurus of communication for all water and wastewater personnel. I believe if beer were served at the 45 percent review process, we would have better-operating treatment facilities and happier, more prolific engineers. Remember, this is a joint conference, so let’s join together, drink a beer, and talk crap. Who knows, this might be the year engineers and operators all learn to speak the same lan-
guage. I will bring two of my favorite books, “Engineering for Dummies” and “All You Ever Wanted to Know About Distribution and Operations but Were Afraid to Ask.” We can discuss specifications, project reviews, budget issues, safety concerns, and any other topics brought up by attendees. There are many challenges in the future of water treatment in Florida; let’s work together to find the answers. This will be the first of this kind of showcase for FWPCOA, and if it’s successful we may try to build on it in future years. I must admit, the idea for the event came from Holly Hanson; if it works out, she will be up for the Nobel Peace Prize. By the time this article is printed I will have seen many of you at the March short school being held in Ft Pierce. I will conduct some interviews at the school and use them in future articles. I want the state to see the caliber of those who attend the school in an attempt to advance in our industry.
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F W R J
Estimating Districtwide Water Conservation: St. Johns River Water Management District’s Estimation Tool Max A. Castaneda and Andrew Mason he St. Johns River Water Management District is continuing its development of the Florida Automated Water Conservation Estimation Tool (FAWCET), a water conservation planning tool developed by the District to support its initiatives by providing districtwide estimates of water conservation. It is being used, in some form, in four of the five state water management districts. The FAWCET linear programming model calculates conservation potential by optimizing the selection of best management practices (BMPs) to maximize savings while minimizing costs. It estimates conservation savings for residential indoor; residential outdoor; and commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) domestic use. A previous article was written that delved into the details of FAWCET optimization calculations1, which provides background, and this article is an update to the latest developments in FAWCET and a glimpse into the future of what has become an invaluable tool for water use planning at the District.
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Background The FAWCET tool leverages county property appraiser data, census block data, and utility billing data to create a rich comma-separated value (CSV) data set for input into the tool. The tool then solves an optimization problem to determine the best number of implementations of each BMP; the resulting savings and cost is summarized for both residential and commercial sectors. Additional output for each sector includes: passive replacement savings (credit for existing utility conservation efforts), program replacement implementations, and additional cost and savings information, such as an annualized cost per 1,000 gal and mil gal per day (mgd), respectively. This is a much improved way to estimate water conservation, because it provides a method to choose BMPs in a collectively exhaustive way, whereas previous spreadsheetbased estimation tools choose BMPs in a mutually exclusive way. The summary infor-
Max A. Castaneda is a water conservation policy analyst with St. Johns River Water Management District in Palatka. Andrew Mason, B.E.(Hons), Ph.D., is an associate professor at the University of Auckland in Auckland, New Zealand, and the creator of SolverStudio.
mation produced by FAWCET allows for the development of a thorough planning effort for water conservation1. The FAWCET optimization analysis targets volume use reduction through the use of BMPs to maximize savings within a set budget, or it can be used as a multiobjective model to emphasize savings over budget—and vice versa— for the output. The input data is used to develop heat maps, which illustrate where high, medium, and low water use is occurring throughout a utility service area. Sectors of use are associated with their characteristic water uses and their sector growth rate derived from the build dates of the parcels1. This data allows the District to disaggregate sectors by the number of parcels and their water use amounts. More importantly, the sector’s water use can also be projected into the future for the purpose of quantifying water use, and ultimately, savings over a given planning horizon. Additional processing is required to further develop the database1.
Data Preparation
Figure 1. FAWCET leverages account-level billing data where available, or a proxy data set recently built for the entire state of Florida.
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Although much progress has been made in the development of automated metering devices, whether for radio-read or fixed-base systems, there remains a need to further disaggregate water use to establish indoor and outdoor use baselines1. The division between indoor and outdoor use is currently accomplished through the “minimum month” method, which considers indoor use to be defined as the lowest-use month in the parcel’s monthly billing record to a maximum of 10,000 gal; the maximum is set to avoid
counting winter watering, which is common in Florida. If the difference between the minimum month and the peak month for the year is greater than 10,000 gal, the parcel is identified as an inground irrigator; if the difference between the minimum month and the peak month is less than 10,000 gal, that residential parcel is identified as a hose irrigator1. Indoor water use is separated into proportions (Mayer and DeOreo, 1999); the study resulted in proportioning the indoor water use volume from toilets, faucets, showers, clothes washers, and other uses1. Building standards identify the number of bathrooms in a home per sq ft. This calculation allows for estimating fixtures within homes adjusted down to the number of fixtures a utility water conservation program would reasonably replace within a home. Both residential indoor and outdoor use and multifamily indoor-only use volumes and fixture counts are calculated using these methods1. Limited sectors of commercial properties and their fixture estimates are calculated through the use of the number of bathrooms per sq ft; examples of these sectors include hospitals, hotels, schools, and live-in care facilities. The number of bathrooms per sq ft as specified in the building standards are also used for these sectors to estimate the number of bathrooms, and therefore, replaceable fixtures, while a water use per sq ft metric is used where account-level billing data is not available. In addition, the parcels are disaggregated further, initially into plumbing-code eras1. The plumbing code-based build-outs are defined in the following way: Build-Out 1 (BO1) 1984 and earlier: preplumbing code standard Build-Out 2 (BO2) 1985-1993: National
Plumbing Code Standard Build-Out 3 (BO3) 1994 to present: Federal Energy Act Build-Out 4 (BO4) Future: current or BO3 efficiencies assumed In spring 2014 the District hired a consultant to create a statewide data base that was developed using actual account-level data. The data was developed utilizing load profiles of billing data from 26 utilities. The profiles represent a profile of customer use through a graph that displays the customer single-family consumption at 1000-gal-use intervals on the x-axis and the percentage of customers on the y-axis at each 1,000-gal-use interval. The graph is weighted by the number of customers in each of the 26 utilities that make up the load profile. The weighted load profile was used to develop the statewide water use database by distributing these estimated residential water use volumes randomly throughout a service area. When the load profiles are used to estimate single-family use and compared to the actual account-level billing data, the method has proven to be a more accurate way of characterizing water use. The previous method used to estimate single-family residential water use applied water use coefficients multiplied by the sq ft of the heated area; this method is currently used in calculating domestic water uses in commercial facilities where account-level data is not available. A statewide data base was developed using the methodologies described previously. The data is used for estimating land-applied water for groundwater modeling purposes, as well as conservation5.
Figure 3. The area of interest is outlined using ArcGIS 10.
Creating the Build-Out 4 Database Tool In the summer of 2014, the District hired a consultant to limit the fields in the statewide water use database to a restricted number of columns of data necessary to use as an input file for FAWCET. While the creation of a statewide database is beneficial for the District in developing water conservation estimates using FAWCET, the creation of the “Create Build-Out 4 Data Base� tool (CBO4-DB) has also been critical to the process; prior to its development, the future build-out was being processed manually. The CBO4-DB uses the county appraiser database trends in residential and commercial parcel yearbuilt dates to derive a growth rate for each sector and project the growth of each sector over a selected planning horizon. The CBO4-DB tool is housed within a custom ArcGIS 10 toolbox. This process creates future parcels for all sectors, from single-family to multifamily and the other CII sectors. The tool then randomly selects parcels of the most recent build dates within the past decade or so and a separate input file is created and joined manually to the original BO1-BO3 file set5. A general outline of the steps involved began with CBO4-DB, prompting the user to access the statewide data base and outline an area of interest within the ArcGIS 10 map environment (Figure 3)5. The area of interest in the figure is outlined using one of the service-area boundaries in ArcGIS 10, or a custom service area boundary. The underlying data is also labeled by the service Continued on page 42
Figure 4. Parcels within a service area are turned on in ArcGIS 10.
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Figure 5. A heat map of water use is displayed across the service area.
Figure 6. Sequential prompts from the CBO4-DB for developing a BO4 projection.
Figure 7. The progress of the development of the BO4 projection is shown in the dialog box.
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Continued from page 41 provider and the city. Once selected, the parcels are brought into the selected area (Figure 4)5. The underlying data records are populated with indoor and outdoor water use estimates, along with the details used to develop existing fixture estimates. This data is represented as heat maps, which show the range of water use across the selected service area parcels. The data represented can either be based on load profiles or actual account-level billing data, where available (Figure 5)5. The CBO4-DB was created using Python programming language and runs as a custom ArcGIS tool that forms part of the FAWCET toolbox. A more detailed description of the steps begins with the CBO4-DB, prompting the user to browse to the filepath for the parcel-level FAWCET input data, which includes BO1, BO2, and BO3 (Figure 6). This is the location of the underlying baseline data being used to develop BO4. The user is prompted to provide the filepath for the location of the parcel data for build-out estimation, which represents the total area available for future build-out. The “area of interest” selection step allows the future growth rates of the parcels to be represented by the most recent build-out standards. This tool randomly selects sectors and parcels from BO3 to represent the types of parcels that will be built in the future. It is designed to more accurately estimate the most recent trends in lot size and heated areas and to avoid selecting older trends in building sizes. For example, more homes are being built with more sq ft, while lot sizes are being kept smaller because of cost and for ease of maintenance. This overall trend may not be true in a specific area of interest however, and so randomly selected parcels are developed from local data and represent local trends, depending on the area selected. The user is then prompted by CBO4-DB to select the output workspace. This is the file path that identifies where the resulting files will be saved. A prefix for the table-names prompt allows the user to name the files for future reference. A model horizon step is used to specify the number of years being considered for a planning horizon. Typically for District purposes, a 20year planning horizon is used5. Once the file path and information is entered in the BO4 tool, the user is prompted to press the “OK” button. The processing window shows the progress of the BO4 tool script, as it accesses the necessary files and develops the projection in five-year increments (Figure 7). Three additional tables illustrate the results: monthly variability, growth summary, and water use summary. With this inContinued on page 44
Figure 8. The BO4 files are generated for use in the FAWCET model. The BO4 result is manually appended to the existing BO1-3 files. The table in the graph represents the limited input in CSV format required to run FAWCET.
Figure 9. The FAWCET LP page worksheet is used to define the problem objective and constraints.
Figure 10. In the assumptions tables tab, the user designates the start-year B2, the implementation period B3, the cost perspective B6, the active BMPs B45-71, and the utility rebate cost J45-71.
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Continued from page 42 formation, growth and water use summaries generated by CBO5-DB can be compared to previously developed water use summaries in a localized area, developed through the most recent District water use planning cycle. These tables are generated as a guideline for comparison purposes and are not intended to replace District-derived estimates. Growth-rate summaries are compared to available land to ensure the growth rate from the parcels identified in CBO4-DB does not exceed the land available for development. In the event the water use or growth rate exceeds that calculated by the tool, the results can be adjusted up or down to adhere to the pre-established projections and available land calculated by the tool (Figure 8)5.
Finishing Up With the FAWCET Once the BO4 file is appended to the BO13 files, the data is ready for input into the latest version of FAWCET1. This data is used by FAWCET to calculate the water savings and costs for all the different BMP interventions that may be made at each of the residential and commercial premises under consideration. It is then used to determine the best set of BMP interventions to optimize some user-specified combination of quality measures. Written in Excel, FAWCET has optimization modelling provided by SolverStudio, a free Excel add-in3. A number of different worksheets are Continued on page 46
Figure 11. The FAWCET model is written using PuLP, a library for the Python-based scripting language that enables users to describe mathematical programs6. The SolverStudio add-in is used to embed the PuLP code into the Excel spreadsheet, providing a familiar environment for the FAWCET model user3.
Figure 12. A summary of the results of a FAWCET run is generated in the summary sheet tab. It illustrates the savings resulting from the number of BMPs selected by the model and other useful data that can be used to calculate an ROI. It also includes the reported before-and-after gal per capita per day use.
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Continued from page 44 used to set up the problem data, define the optimization problem to be solved, and then, after optimizing, present summary tables for the solution. The core FAWCET worksheet is the “LP page” where the user specifies the input BO4 file and the output CSV file, and defines the particular optimization problem (i.e., linear program) to be solved. As Figure 9 shows, the user can specify (via column E) the weights that are used to combine a number of different quality measures together to give a single overall objective value to be maximised. This worksheet also allows the user to specify (via column D) minimum or maximum values (i.e., constraints) for each of these quality measures. This combination of userspecified weights and constraints for each quality measure gives the user a lot of flexibility in defining a particular problem of interest. Prior to processing, the user must also designate various parameters, such as the start-year of the planning horizon period, the BMPs that will be active through the analysis period, and the rebate amounts or costs for each BMP. The user can specify a “cost perspective” that allows for focus, for example, on the cost to the utility, the cost to the customer, or the sum of both.
These and other parameters are set using the worksheet shown in Figure 105. Once the problem has been specified, the user clicks the SolverStudio solve button, shown in Figure 11. This instructs SolverStudio to solve the optimization model to determine the best BMP interventions. The underlying integer linear programming model that determines these optimal interventions is written using the PuLP Pythonbased modelling system6, and is solved using the COIN-OR CBC solver (COIN-OR 2015)1. The results are optimized selections of waterconserving BMPs, given a utility’s unique customer base. The results are summarized in the summary sheet tab, which reports the total passive and program replacements for residential and commercial sectors; it also summarizes the cost and the annualized cost per 1,000 gal and other useful data that can be used to populate return on investment (ROI) calculations (Figure 12)1. Merging the input file used to run FAWCET and the output file generated by the FAWCET run provides much greater detail in terms of the account types chosen for various BMPs and their volume of average annual month. As Figure 13 shows, this information can be developed graphically. If proxy data has been used, then an Excel pivot table is used to develop an approach for targeting certain types of customers by their annual average month volume. If the data used is accountlevel billing data, the results can be mapped using the parcel identification, and the resulting map can be used to target moderate or high-using areas and to stage a logistical plan over a portion of the planning horizon or the entire 20-year planning horizon1.
Conclusion
Figure 13. FAWCET develops estimates of the water conserved by parcel utilitywide.
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The District is currently using FAWCET to develop regional water conservation estimates over the District’s five regional water planning groups or areas. It is also being used as a first step in the development of water conser-
vation program estimates for the development of proposals for the District’s cost-share program. It will be used as an option to assess the results of water conservation cost-share programs in the required program evaluation step. The District is planning to develop these tools into one easy-to-use format. While BO1-3 data is currently accessed through ArcGIS 10, the District maintains an ArcGIS online account that could be used to house the data and make it available to a wider group of users than currently use the tools. Both FAWCET and the CBO4-DB are Python-based tools that typically run on a user’s own computer. However, FAWCET can also solve the optimization models in the cloud using an Amazon EC-squared account with Gurobi, a commercial optimization solver for various types of programming and one of the most powerful on the market. It makes sense to continue to develop the tool to work seamlessly as a Python-based tool accessible over the cloud; however, this has yet to be discussed and decided by the District. For now, District staff members have been distributing the Excel-based spreadsheet and providing the necessary ArcGIS layers and CBO4-DB tool to run FAWCET. District staff cannot support the tools, but may be able to perform runs for given areas provided the data is available for the area of interest.
References 1. Castaneda, M., Mason, A.J., and Geursen, V., 2014. “Florida Automated Water Conservation Estimation Tool Overview.” Florida Water Resources Journal, April 2014; PP. 2447. Available online: http://fwrj.com/techarticles/0414%20tech%202.pdf. 2. COIN-OR: Computational Infrastructure for Operations Research, http://coin-or.org. Retrieved 2015. 3. Mason A.J., 2013. “SolverStudio: A New Tool for Better Optimization and Simulation Modelling in Excel.” INFORMS Trans. Ed. 14(1):45– 52. Available online: http://solverstudio.org. 4. SJRWMD, 2014. “Spatial Distribution of Estimated Water Use.” Final Report. Special Publication 2014-SP1. Available online: http://floridaswater.com/technicalreports/pdfs /SP/SJ2014-SP1.pdf. 5. Jones Edmunds, 2014. “FAWCET Data Generation Final Report.” Unpublished report, September 2014. 6. Mitchell, O’Sullivan, Dunning 2011. “PuLP: A Linear Programming Toolkit for Python.” Department of Engineering Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, N.Z.; Sept. 5, 2011. Available online: http://www.optimization-online.org/DB_FILE/2011/09/3178.pdf.
North Port High School students painting Ryan Hatcher’s rain barrel.
Local Utility Celebrates Water Conservation Month The City of North Port Utility Department is dedicated to community public education and outreach for water issues. It believes that getting the word out about water conservation and protection is a great step in protecting current and future water resources. As part of this effort, on March 5 the City declared April as “Water Conservation Month” through a proclamation as recommended by the Florida Section American Water Works Association (see proclamation at left). In anticipation of this year's celebration and to raise awareness of the importance of water conservation, the utility is hosting two contests: a calendar contest for elementary school students and a rain barrel contest for middle and high school students. The contests are being held in partnership with the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP). The City received many wonderful designs and is excited to see the participation and awareness that the contests have brought to the community.
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Heron Creek Middle School students painting rain barrels.
Completed rain barrels from the City of North Port’s Rain Barrel Design Contest that included local students from Kindergarten to 12th grade.
Winners of the North Port Rain Barrel Design Contest being recognized at a city commission meeting. From left to right: Tara MacLean , Bethany Carter, Ethny Indico, and Paige Buklad (Atwater Elementary); Lauren Burke (Heron Creek Middle School); and Ryan Hatcher, Courtney Opsatnek, and Baylee Cooper (North Port High).
Tara MacLean from Atwater Elementary painting her rain barrel.
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South Florida Water Management District Highlights Water Conservation With Expo and Vendor Fair Dozens of conservation-conscious visitors attended the 2015 Water Conservation Expo and Vendor Fair, held on February 20 and hosted by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (FSAWWA). Attendees gathered at District headquarters in West Palm Beach for a day-long program of informative presentations geared to largescale water users. In addition, 24 vendors showcased the latest water conservation hardware, technology, and related items. “Water conservation is definitely on the minds of many Floridians,” said Terrie Bates, SFWMD director of water resources. “We
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Attendees view a few of the many exhibits.
continue to promote practices and strategies that help protect south Florida’s water resources.” Speakers at the expo included representatives from Toho Water Authority, Disney Parks and Resorts
April 2015 • Florida Water Resources Journal
U.S., Marriott Hotels, University of Miami, Florida Hospital Association, and Publix Super Markets. Participants from both the public and private sectors attended the full day of sessions that featured
topics such as how to better implement conservation programs, improve efficiency, and reduce demands. This District’s theme this year was, “Reducing Your Water Footprint: Corporate and Institutional Practices.” A water footprint is a measure of water use equal to the total volume of fresh water used to produce goods and services consumed. Attendees could compute their daily household water footprint and see how much water could be saved by using more efficient fixtures and appliances by completing SFWMD’s online water conservation calculator. For more information on water conservation, visit www.savewaterfl.com.
FWPCOA TRAINING CALENDAR SCHEDULE YOUR CLASS TODAY! April 13-15 13-16 13-17 13-17 13-17 24
....Backflow Repair ........................................St. Petersburg ....$275/305 ....Backflow Tester ........................................Pensacola ..........$375/405 ....Reclaimed Water Field Site Inspector ....Orlando ............$350/380 ....Water Distribution Level 3, 2 ..................Deltona ............$275/305 ....Reclaimed Water Distribution C..............Deltona ............$275/305 ....Backflow Tester Recert*** ........................Deltona ............$85/115
May 4-7 18-21 18-22 29
....Backflow Tester ........................................Deltona ............$375/405 ....Backflow Tester ........................................St. Petersburg ....$375/405 ....Stormwater Level C, B ..............................Deltona ............$260/280 ....Backflow Tester Recert*** ........................Deltona ............$85/115
June 8-12 15-18 22-26 22-26 22-26 26
July
6-10 13-15 24 27-30
....Wastewater Collection C, B ....................Deltona ............$325/355 ....Backflow Tester ........................................St. Petersburg ....$375/405 ....Wastewater Collection A..........................Deltona ............$275/305 ....Water Distribution 1 ................................Deltona ............$275/305 ....Stormwater A ............................................Deltona ............$275/305 ....Backflow Tester Recert*** ........................Deltona ............$85/115 ....Reclaimed Water Field Site Inspector ....Deltona ............$350/380 ....Backflow Repair ........................................St. Petersburg ....$275/305 ....Backflow Tester Recert*** ........................Deltona ............$85/115 ....Backflow Tester ........................................Deltona ............$375/405
Course registration forms are available at http://www.fwpcoa.org/forms.asp. For additional information on these courses or other training programs offered by the FWPCOA, please contact the FW&PCOA Training Office at (321) 383-9690 or training@fwpcoa.org. * Backflow recertification is also available the last day of Backflow Tester or Backflow Repair Classes with the exception of Deltona ** Evening classes *** any retest given also
You are required to have your own calculator at state short schools and most other courses. Florida Water Resources Journal • April 2015
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FWRJ READER PROFILE Work title and years of service. I have been an engineer for six months with Hillsborough County and have 18 years of industry experience.
Jason Paul Parrillo, P.E. Hillsborough County Public Utilities Department, Tampa
What does your job entail? My position is with the wastewater strategic planning team. I help assist the team in achieving the strategic goals set forth by the county administration and public utilities department. This includes master planning activities and special projects as they relate to process improvements for wastewater treatment, transmission and collection system improvements, ultraviolet disinfection, and biosolids management.
What training have you taken? I’ve had training in confined space entry, disaster management, sales, Siebel CRM, project development, and Lean Six Sigma.
Presenting the trophy to Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority, winner of the 2013 Best Tasting Drinking Water Contest at the Florida Water Resources Conference.
Landmarks Award presentation to the City of St. Augustine Water Treatment Plant, completed in 1927.
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What do you like best about your job? I like being able to work with highly skilled and professional staff on a regular basis. We all have a similar goal: to better serve the customers of Hillsborough County. The attitude we have towards achieving that goal is incredible. From my perspective, we work very well together as a team. Whether we are engineering, field maintenance, operations, electrical, or management personnel, we look at how we can assist each other to get the best results for all stakeholders.
What organizations do you belong to? I belong to the Florida Section American Water Works Association and the Florida Water Environment Association.
How have the organizations helped your career? The FSAWWA has provided me with training in the following areas that can be directly translated to my career: leadership, strategic vision, strategic planning, teambuilding and building consensus, legislative outreach, and community outreach. It has also allowed me to cultivate an outstanding professional network. I have been given multiple opportunities to work with municipalities across the state, providing me even greater perspective on the issues we face as an industry.
I have made some lifelong friendships because of my involvement in the organization and I firmly believe this to be the most important part of my experience.
What do you like best about the industry? Put simply, it’s the people I come in contact with on a daily basis. The level of professionalism in our industry is second to none.
What do you do when you’re not working? I used to have many hobbies, including working as a disc jockey, Ultimate Frisbee, drag racing, hunting, fishing, golf, camping, and motorcycle riding, but now I have one profession outside of my career: parenthood! After having served on the board of governors and on the executive committee for several years, I do continue to volunteer through FSAWWA with the many fundraising activities and community outreach events that we have every year.
Serving as barbeque chef at the Annual St. Johns River Cleanup.
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New Products Concentrated leak detection dye from BRIGHT DYES, a division of Kingscote Chemicals, is designed to disintegrate rapidly in water and give vivid, fluorescent color that is detectable in murky water, sewage, or septage. It can be used to identify leaks, infiltration, and exfiltration in plumbing connections; validate sanitary and septic hookups and performance; and identify teachfield issues and sources of contamination in wells. The dye is safe, nontoxic, biodegradable, and certified by the National Science Foundation International to ANSI/NSF Standard 60 for use in and around drinking water. It’s available in fluorescent yellow/green, red and orange, and nonfluorescent blue, and comes in tablet, liquid, and powder form. (www.brightdyes.com)
The DM138 drain cleaning machine from Duracable Manufacturing Co. cleans lines
from 1 ¼ to 3 in. in diameter. It has a continuously welded frame, heavy-duty front bearing mount and self-aligning head bearing to ensure proper reel placement, quick reel change, and extend the life of the machine. Designed for residential sink, shower, and bathtub drains, it has a heavy-duty 20-amp switch and revolving arm. Powered by a ¼-hp motor that operates at 230 rpm, the machine weighs 22.5 lbs and has a 7.75-lb, 14-in. polyethylene reel that won’t rust or dent and is easily drained. (www.duracable.com)
The FXT50 truck vacuum excavator from Ditch Witch mounts directly to a truck’s frame rails, allowing the system to flex independently of the truck, increasing stability. Dealers can mount the unit to the single-axle truck of a customer’s choosing and can customize the truck with toolboxes and other support equipment,
such as a 1,020-cfm blower and a 3,000-psi water system flowing at 5 gpm. The product is quiet and offers ideal filtration. (www.ditchwitch.com)
Submersible centrifugal FPS NC Series nonclog pumps from Franklin Electric are manufactured in 3- and 4-in. 125# ANSI flange discharge connections. They can handle up to 3-in. solids and are available in 3-,5-, 7.5-, and 10-hp models, with heads up to 66 ft and flows up to 610 gpm. They have silicon carbide dual mechanical seals, two-vane semi-open ductile iron impellers, a seal sensor probe, field-adjustable wear plate, and a motor designed for continuous operation when the pump is fully submerged, sustaining up to 104-degree F maximum liquids and boasting Class F insulation. They retrofit easily to any standard rail system and contain replaceable internal components. (www.franklinengineered.com)
News Beat Ecosphere Technologies Inc. has signed an exclusive technology licensing and equipment purchase agreement with Brasil Clean Energy to deploy Ecosphere’s patented Ozonix® water treatment technology for the food and beverage industry in Brazil. In the agreement between the two companies, which both have offices in Stuart, Brasil will maintain exclusivity by purchasing a minimum of $5 million worth of equipment from Ecosphere during the next two years, plus a royalty payment based on usage or revenue, with a minimum amount earned per machine. This agreement marks the expansion of Ecosphere outside of the oil and gas industry into the water market to meet the continued demand for cost-effective and proven solutions for replacing chemical biocides and managing the larger volumes of water for a wide variety of industrial processes.
County’s water transmission and distribution mains. As part of the three-year contract, the consultants will provide: Asset inventory, including an update of the county’s inventory of more than 7700 mi of water transmission and distribution mains of all sizes. Valuation, which includes an analysis of the mains using hydraulic modeling and geographic information system data. Condition assessment, which will determine the condition of the mains through observation, entry assessments, and indirect monitoring. Prioritization of mains that need remediation based on technical, environmental, and social criteria. Technical support for the repair, replacement, and rehabilitation of the deteriorated mains.
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department has selected Lockwood, Andrews, and Newman Inc., a Houston engineering firm, as a program management consultant for its water infrastructure and assessment program. The consultant, with CDM Smith and Milian Swain and Associates as subconsultants, will devise and establish a comprehensive program to evaluate and rehabilitate Miami-Dade
The City of Haines City has hired VHB to provide professional services for its environmental management plan. The firm will conduct monitoring and reporting of soils, hydrology, and vegetation for the city’s water use permit (WUP) and will handle the environmental permitting for the Lake Eva dredging project. These services are necessary for the city to meet the environmental conditions of the WUP and to keep
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April 2015 • Florida Water Resources Journal
it in good standing with the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The one-year contract includes an option for renewal for two additional years.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a series of incident action checklists that outline critical measures that drinking water and wastewater utility personnel can take before, during, and after an emergency to protect their systems. Ten incident types are highlighted, including drought, earthquake, extreme cold and winter storms, extreme heat, flooding, hurricane, tornado, tsunami, volcanic activity, and wildfire. The "rip and run"-style checklists were developed collaboratively with water utility managers and state agency/water association representatives as an on-the-go reference. The checklists complement two other EPA efforts that support response during actual emergencies: the first effort provides up-to-date response partner contact information by state and region, and the second effort provides access to a number of useful weather forecasting tools through the document titled, “Weather and Hydrologic Forecasting for Water Utility Incident Preparedness and Response.” All of these resources can be accessed at EPA's emergency/incident information page.
Hydro-Flex has designed the Ripsaw rotating hydroexcavation nozzle for performance and efficiency, allowing operators to dig faster while using less water. Its optimized stream quality results in greater impingement with higher digging speeds. These heavy-duty highimpact nozzles operate at up to 3,200 psi and are made with stainless steel housings and tungsten carbide wear surfaces to withstand harsh environments and provide long life. Nonconductive urethane coating on the nozzle body also protects the user and sensitive underground assets. (www.hyrdoflexinc.com)
The KeeVac CW950 from KeeVac Industries can be mounted on a choice of chassis to provide lasting service in cold environments. The standard cold-weather package includes a heated tank, heated valves, heat tape, and insulation on water lines. The washdown pump and hose reel are mounted in an insulated heated cabinet. The hydraulic system also has heaters on four-wheel-drive units. The tank is manufactured from A36 carbon steel. Single service
with a 30-ft tiger tail hose and fold-down toilet carrier are standard. The freshwater compartment comes with an epoxy lining to prevent contamination. ( www.keevac.com)
The Kleen Sight inspection and cleaning system from KEG Technologies combines upright image video technology with fluid mechanics for inspection and cleaning. The system is engineered for mainline sewers with pipes down to 8 in. and is completely sealed with a magnetic on/off switch. The camera is powered by a long-life, quick-change, and rechargeable lithium-iron battery. It has rugged stainless steel construction with replaceable skids that protect internal components and a 16 GB onboard memory. Eighty LEDs ensure illumination and video quality. Video files are automatically stamped with the appropriate date and time for WiFi downloading to a laptop or tablet. (www.kegtechnologies.net)
The Snorkel large-diameter pipe chemical root control foaming nozzle from Municipal Sales applies a foaming sewer line root control
agent into high-flow large-diameter pipes from 24 to more than 72 in. Even when the skid is completely submerged, an easily field-adjustable counterweighted snorkel keeps the spray nozzle above the water. The skid and nozzle arrangement easily fits through standard access cover openings and doesn’t require staffed entry for assembly. Combined with a dual-stage nozzle, a large-diameter, heavy-flow pipe can be completely foam-coated. (www.municipalsales.net)
The Mainstay PortaMortar from Madewell Products Corp. will mix, pump, and spray heavy-bodied mortars. It can be used with a medium to large skid steer loader and is powered by the loader’s engine and hydraulics. This combination of equipment allows for efficient applications in difficult-to-access areas. Hydraulic power for the mixer and rotor/stator pump provides exceptional torque for mixing and pumping mortar and offers long life with low maintenance. Its ergonomic design puts the top of the mixer at waist level, allowing the operator to perform the job with less strain and effort. ( www.madewell.net)
Florida Water Resources Journal • April 2015
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ENGINEERING DIRECTORY
Tank Engineering And Management Consultants, Inc.
Engineering • Inspection Aboveground Storage Tank Specialists Mulberry, Florida • Since 1983
863-354-9010 www.tankteam.com
ENGINEERING DIRECTORY
EQUIPMENT & SERVICES DIRECTORY
EQUIPMENT & SERVICES DIRECTORY
Motor & Utility Services, LLC
Instrumentation,Controls Specialists Instrumentation Calibration Troubleshooting and Repair Services On-Site Water Meter Calibrations Preventive Maintenance Contracts Emergency and On Call Services Installation and System Start-up Lift Station Controls Service and Repair
Central Florida Controls,Inc. Florida Certified in water meter testing and repair P.O. Box 6121 • Ocala, FL 34432 Phone: 352-347-6075 • Fax: 352-347-0933
w w w. c e nt r a l f lor i d a c ont rol s . c om
CEC Motor & Utility Services, LLC 1751 12th Street East Palmetto, FL. 34221 Phone - 941-845-1030 Fax – 941-845-1049 prademaker@cecmotoru.com • Motor & Pump Services Test Loaded up to 4000HP, 4160-Volts • Premier Distributor for Worldwide Hyundai Motors up to 35,000HP • Specialists in rebuilding motors, pumps, blowers, & drives • UL 508A Panel Shop, engineer/design/build/install/commission • Lift Station Rehabilitation Services, GC License # CGC1520078 • Predictive Maintenance Services, vibration, IR, oil sampling • Authorized Sales & Service for Aurora Vertical Hollow Shaft Motors
EQUIPMENT & SERVICES DIRECTORY Showcase Your Company in the Engineering or Equipment & Services Directory Contact Mike Delaney at
352-241-6006 ads@fwrj.com
CLASSIFIEDS Positions Available
Service Technician Water Treatment & Controls, South & Central Florida Wallace & Tiernan/Evoqua Distributor/Rep. Chem Feed, Chlorinators, Analyzer/Control + Other great lines EOE, chip@watertec.com Fx 850-474-1776
Water Distribution Field Supervisor Utilities Treatment Plant Operations Supervisor $54,099 - $76,123/yr. Assists in the admin & technical work in the mgmt, ops, & maint of the treatment plants. Class “A” Water lic. & a class “C” Wastewater lic. req. with 5 yrs supervisory exp.
Utilities Treatment Plant Will Call Operator $18.29-$28.38/hour. Part time. Must have passed the C drinking water or wastewater exam. Apply Online At: http://pompanobeachfl.gov Positions are open until filled. E/O/E
The City of Casselberry is seeking a Water Distribution Field Supervisor to organize and direct maintenance, repair and construction of operations relating to field activities. Requirements: HS diploma or G.E.D., ten (10) years’ experience in water and sewer installation, repair and maintenance with five (5) years of supervisory experience. Certification for Excavation and Trenching Safety issued by the Seminole County Public Works Academy or by an OSHA approved training program, State of Florida Class “B” Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection System Operator certifications, Florida Department of Transportation approved Intermediate Level MOT certification, and a valid Florida Commercial "B" Driver's License with Air Brakes and Tanker endorsements. Hiring range D.O.Q.: $42,068-52,585 For additional information regarding responsibilities or qualifications and to apply, please visit our website at www.casselberry.org
City of Coconut Creek, FL: Utility Service Worker II (Wastewater) WASTEWATER PLANT SUPERVISOR The City of Lakeland is seeking a Wastewater Plant Supervisor. The Salary is $44,803.20 - $69,513.60 annually (DOE). This is skilled and technical work in the operation and maintenance of the City’s wastewater treatment plants. Requires a high school diploma from an accredited school or a G.E.D. and three (3) years of wastewater plant operations experience. Must possess and maintain a state of Florida Class “B” wastewater plant operator certification. Continuous – Position may close at any time without notice. Applicants must complete an online application at: http://www.lakelandgov.net/ employmentservices/employment-services/job-opportunities.
Utilities & Engineering Department Salary: $15.76/hour; $32,780.80 Annually High school diploma or GED; supplemented by a minimum of two (2) years of experience in the maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of wastewater collection systems; an equivalent combination of education, certification, training, and/or experience may be considered. Successful completion of an electrical apprenticeship program or equivalent training which has provided a minimum of entry level technical knowledge of the electrical trade is preferred for positions assigned to lift station repair and maintenance. A valid Florida Class B or higher commercial driver license must be obtained within six (6) months of hire. A Florida Water Pollution Control Operators Association (FWPCOA) Wastewater license “C” or higher is preferred. CPR, Maintenance of Traffic (MOT), and Confined Space Entry training must be completed within one (1) year of hire. Apply online at www.coconutcreek.net
Utility Line Locator The City of Casselberry is seeking a Utility Line Locator for locating and mapping all collection and distribution mains, manholes, valves, street light conduits, and other utilities in the City’s utility service areas. Requirements: HS diploma or G.E.D., ten (10) years of increasingly responsible experience in the location, installation, maintenance and repair of water and sewer service facilities and lines. Experience in locating all utilities, including fiber optic, telephone, gas, and electric can also be considered. Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver’s license. A motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check will be made to determine acceptance of past driving record. Hiring range D.O.Q.: $34,097-42,622 For additional information regarding responsibilities or qualifications and to apply, please visit our website at www.casselberry.org
Project Manager Engineer, Geologist, or Architect Jones Edmunds hires the best and the brightest associates and is proud to build business based on our core values of Integrity, Knowledge, and Service. We offer a diverse workplace that fosters growth and development. If you thrive on challenge and wish to work with industry leaders on environmental and infrastructure solutions to improve the quality of life for the people we serve, join our team of dedicated professionals. We are currently looking for a Project Manager to join our team in Winter Haven, FL. About the Position The Project Manager manages projects of moderate scope with complex features. The PM is responsible for overall project quality and financial performance. The PM prepares the scopes, budgets, and schedules for assignments. This individual assigns tasks to and oversees engineers, technicians, and administrative staff working on the project. The PM has extensive interaction with technical and non-technical staff, clients, officials, contractors, vendors, and others. This individual is expected to attend project meetings and present specific aspects of engineering assignments. The PM is responsible for continued marketing and sales to clients with whom they are working.
City of North Miami Beach PLANT SYSTEM ENGINEER This is responsible technical work, in the operation and general maintenance of treatment system equipment, SCADA (Supervisory Controls and Data Acquisition) system at the water treatment plant and related storage facilities, water distribution system, as well as wastewater system. Work involves performing difficult technical and skilled work in design, set up, programming, calibration, repair and maintenance of instrumentation and process control system. An incumbent in the classification will apply knowledge of process control, programming, engineering, SCADA etc., and employ comprehensive analyses of operations and procedures to assist the operation and maintenance of water and wastewater systems. Work is performed with considerable independence within the scope of professional methods and procedures to accomplish objectives. Position reports to the Assistant Director of Public Services. The successful candidate for this position must possess the following: • A bachelor’s degree in Industrial Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or other engineering degrees with major course work in instrumentation and control engineering. • Three (3) years of responsible experience in construction, repair and maintenance of instrumentation and control system working with SCADA, PLC, HMI, etc. at an industrial facility. • Experience in instrumentation and control engineering at a water treatment plant with membrane treatment process preferred. • Trained in computer systems maintenance and networking. • Valid Florida Driver’s License.
To apply, mail resume to City Of North Miami Beach, Human Resources Dept. 17011 N. E. 19th Avenue, North Miami Beach, FL 33162, or fax to 305.787.6034.
QUALIFIED, LOCAL CANDIDATES ONLY, PLEASE. EOE/AA/SMOKE-DRUG FREE WORKPLACE
Education: BS in Engineering, Science, or Architecture Registration: Professional Engineer, Geologist, or Architect Experience: 8+ years of progressive consulting or related experience Apply at: www.jonesedmunds.com Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veteran/AA/DFWP
CITY OF ROCKLEDGE LEAD OPERATOR - WASTEWATER Class A Operator’s Certificate required. Salary Range: $31,179.00-$46,779.00. For details, please visit: www.cityofrockledge.org.
General Manager
ENGINEERING MANAGER - Utilities
The Big Bend Water Authority, 1313 1st Ave SE, Steinhatchee, Florida, is accepting applications for a General Manager. Applicants should have at least a Class "C" Water and Waste Water license with a minimum of 5 years of experience in the water/wastewater business. Applicant must be able to oversee all aspects of water/wastewater plant operation, file necessary government reports, and have experience in maintaining a water/wastewater utility. Salary is negotiable. More information regarding the position, including position requirements and how to submit an application, is available at www. http://bigbendwaterauthority.com/ or by calling 352-498-3576. BBWA is an EOE/DFWP.
Hiring Pay Range $2,611.20 - $3,081.22 biweekly. The Brevard County Utility Services Department is seeking an Engineering Manager- Utilities (Job 201501609-1) located in the Brevard County Government Center, Melbourne, Florida. This position is for a Countyowned public water and sewer utility. For more information, go to the employment website of the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners at http://web.brevardcounty.us/Easy/. Position closes April 6, 2015.
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April 2015 • Florida Water Resources Journal
Town of Oakland
CITY OF TITUSVILLE
UTILITY DISTRIBUTION TECHNICIAN I The Town of Oakland is recruiting for a full-time Utility Distribution Tech. 1. Requires HS diploma/equivalent, valid FL CDL class "B" license, Level 3 FDEP Water Distribution License. Other equivalent combinations of education, training and experience in Public Utilities or Public Works operations will be considered. Three years work exp. a plus.
CHIEF TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR $40,902 -$48,381/Annually High school graduate or equivalent diploma is required. Must possess State of Florida Class “B” Certified Water License. Must obtain “A” within one year. Requires three to five years of progressively responsible experience in water field. A combination of education and experience may be considered. Possession of a valid Florida driver’s license.
PUBLIC WORKS SUPERVISOR Under general direction of the Public Works Director, plans, schedules, organizes, assigns, evaluates and reviews the work of public works maintenance staff within the Public Works Department; supervises, plans, and coordinates the construction, installation, maintenance, and repair of streets, sidewalks, storm water conveyance and drainage systems, sanitary sewer systems, drinking water systems, public buildings, parks and recreational facilities, arbor maintenance, vehicle and equipment maintenance, street sweeping, traffic signage and striping, and solid waste collection; administers, monitors, and provides technical input for assigned public works maintenance, operations, and related projects and programs; provides responsible technical assistance to the Director of Public Works; performs a variety of technical tasks relative to the assigned functional area and performs other related work as required to support the overall Public Works mission. Open until filled. Compensation commensurate with experience. Send resume to HR Director Tonna Duvall at: tduvall@oaktownusa.com or dial direct 407.656.1117 x2102. EOE; M/F/D/V; DFWP
Director of Public Utilities City of West Palm Beach, Florida The City of West Palm Beach seeks a strong, innovative leader as the Director of Public Utilities to manage the day-to-day operations; facilitate the development, planning, and implementation of goals and objectives; and recommend and manage policies and procedures. Starting salary may be within the range of $114,194 - $147,245, dependent upon qualifications. First review of resumes will take place on April 20, 2015. To apply, visit www.srnsearch.com and apply online. Detailed brochure is available. Questions regarding this recruitment may be directed to S. Renee Narloch & Associates at info@srnsearch.com or call 850-391-0000. EOE/ADA employer. PURSUANT TO FLORIDA’S BROAD PUBLIC RECORDS/SUNSHINE LAWS, APPLICATIONS AND RESUMES ARE SUBJECT TO PUBLIC DISCLOSURE.
CREW LEADER II $13.26/Hour High school graduate or equivalent required plus three years' experience in construction, concrete work, or gravity sewer maintenance/construction. A combination of education and experience may be considered. Florida Class DEP Level III Distribution License and FWPCOA Wastewater “C” Certificate desired. Must possess a Florida Driver's License and obtain a Class B Commercial Driver's License with Tanker Endorsement and Air Brakes within 6 months from days of employment. Call 321-567-3728 or view web-site www.titusville.com . Open until filled. EOE
PUMP MECHANIC & FIELD TECHNICIAN VERTICAL TURBINE-HORIZONTAL SPLIT CASE-END SUCTION PUMPS TITUSVILLE SALES SERVICE & REPAIR CENTER/ 386-690-1075
Looking For a Job? The FWPCOA Job Placement Committee Can Help! Contact Joan E. Stokes at 407-293-9465 or fax 407-293-9943 for more information.
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES Classified ads are $20 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 Florida Water Resources Journal • April 2015
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Certification Boulevard Answer Key From page 22 February 2014
Editorial Calendar January ......Wastewater Treatment February ....Water Supply; Alternative Sources
1. B) 867 lb/day Supply - demand = residual, or demand = supply - residual • Supply is given at 1,200 lb/day • Residual = 14.5 mgd x 2.75 mg/L x 8.34 lb/gal = 332.55 lb/day • 1,200 lb/day – 332.55 lb/day = 867.45 lb/day
March ........Energy Efficiency; Environmental Stewardship April............Conservation and Reuse May ............Operations and Utilities Management; Florida Water Resources Conference June ..........Biosolids Management and Bioenergy Production July ............Stormwater Management; Emerging Technologies; FWRC Review August........Disinfection; Water Quality September..Emerging Issues; Water Resources Management October ......New Facilities, Expansions, and Upgrades
Only fumes from a squeeze bottle of ammonia should be used to test for chlorine leaks. Liquid ammonia sprayed directly onto valves and fittings will cause corrosion and pits to develop.
3. D) 60,750 cu ft / 454,410 gal Cu ft = length, ft x width, ft x depth, ft Gal = cu ft x 7.48 gal/cu ft 120 ft x 45 ft x 11.25 ft = 60,750 cu ft 60,750 cu ft. x 7.48 gal/cu ft = 454,410 gal
4. B) Detention time in minutes. Cu ft ÷ cu ft per minute (cfm) = minutes
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 Blue Planet ............................63
FWPCOA Training ..................51
CEU Challenge ......................31
FWRC ................................8-15
Crom ....................................53
Garney ...................................5
Data Flow ..............................33
Gemini Group ........................47
FIPA ......................................49
GML Coatings ..................18,39
FSAWWA ACE Luncheon ........45
Hudson Pump ..........................7
FSAWWA Awards ..................55
ISA ........................................48
FSAWWA Call for Papers ........50
McKim & Creed ....................35
FSAWWA Likins ....................38
Polston Technology ................21
FSAWWA Training ..................37
Stacon.....................................2
FWPCOA Online Training ........23
TREEO ..................................27
FWPCOA Region IV ................43
Xylem ...................................64
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2. C) Fumes from ammonia
April 2015 • Florida Water Resources Journal
5. D) Gas from the top valve and liquid from the bottom valve. Chlorine ton containers are manufactured with liquid chlorine under pressure. Due to evaporative temperature of chlorine, some of the liquid is always being converted to gas inside of the container. Gas is withdrawn from the top valve and liquid is withdrawn from the bottom valve.
6. D) Gas injector An injector creates a vacuum condition as water flows through a restricted throat. This vacuum action draws the chlorine gas through the chlorinator, into the injector and into solution as it mixes with the water. The chlorine solution is then injected into the effluent for disinfection.
7. False Because chlorine gas is two and a half times heavier than air, it will settle in the space. Leak detectors should always be located about 6 to 12 in. from the floor. The molecular weight of chlorine is 70.9, where the molecular weight of air is about 28.95; because of this difference in molecular weight, chlorine gas will find its way to low-lying areas.
8. D) Chlorine liquid is one and a half times heavier than water. Due to the specific gravity differences, liquid chlorine is one and a half times heavier than water and will settle to the bottom of a pool of water. However, due to the boiling point/flash point of liquid chlorine, most of the liquid will convert to gas (or freeze) before it reaches the floor of the room.
9. B) Supply - demand = residual The residual of something, like chlorine or dissolved oxygen, is that which is left over after the demand has been satisfied. So, chlorine residual is the remainder of chlorine supply minus chlorine demand.
10. B) With the leak at the top. Because liquid chlorine converts to gas at a rate of about 457 times, it is important to locate the leak “gas side up.” With the leak located at the top of the container, the least amount of chlorine will escape.