Editor’s Office and Advertiser Information:
Florida Water Resources Journal 1402 Emerald Lakes Drive Clermont, FL 34711 Phone: 352-241-6006 • Fax: 352-241-6007 Email: Editorial, editor@fwrj.com Display and Classified Advertising, ads@fwrj.com
Business Office: P.O. Box 745, Windermere, FL 34786-0745 Web: http://www.fwrj.com General Manager: Editor: Graphic Design Manager: Mailing Coordinator:
Michael Delaney Rick Harmon Patrick Delaney Buena Vista Publishing
Published by BUENA VISTA PUBLISHING for Florida Water Resources Journal, Inc. President: Richard Anderson (FSAWWA) Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority Vice President: Greg Chomic (FWEA) Heyward Incorporated Treasurer: Rim Bishop (FWPCOA) Seacoast Utility Authority Secretary: Holly Hanson (At Large) ILEX Services Inc., Orlando
Moving? The Post Office will not forward your magazine. Do not count on getting the Journal unless you notify us directly of address changes by the 15th of the month preceding the month of issue. Please do not telephone address changes. Email changes to changes@fwrj.com, fax to 352-241-6007, or mail to Florida Water Resources Journal, 1402 Emerald Lakes Drive, Clermont, FL 34711
Membership Questions FSAWWA: Casey Cumiskey – 407-957-8447 or fsawwa.casey@gmail.com FWEA: Karen Wallace, Executive Manager – 407-574-3318 FWPCOA: Darin Bishop – 561-840-0340
Training Questions FSAWWA: Donna Metherall – 407-957-8443 or fsawwa.donna@gmail.com FWPCOA: Shirley Reaves – 321-383-9690
For Other Information DEP Operator Certification: Ron McCulley – 850-245-7500 FSAWWA: Peggy Guingona – 407-957-8448 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
Websites Florida Water Resources Journal: www.fwrj.com FWPCOA: www.fwpcoa.org FSAWWA: www.fsawwa.org FWEA: www.fwea.org and www.fweauc.org Florida Water Resources Conference: www.fwrc.org Throughout this issue trademark names are used. Rather than place a trademark symbol in every occurrence of a trademarked name, we state we are using the names only in an editorial fashion, and to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement of the trademark. None of the material in this publication necessarily reflects the opinions of the sponsoring organizations. All correspondence received is the property of the Florida Water Resources Journal and is subject to editing. Names are withheld in published letters only for extraordinary reasons. Authors agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Florida Water Resources Journal Inc. (FWRJ), its officers, affiliates, directors, advisors, members, representatives, and agents from any and all losses, expenses, third-party claims, liability, damages and costs (including, but not limited to, attorneys’ fees) arising from authors’ infringement of any intellectual property, copyright or trademark, or other right of any person, as applicable under the laws of the State of Florida.
News and Features 4 New Study Shows High Potential for Groundwater to be Corrosive in Half of U.S. 6 An Operator’s Viewpoint of the Florida Water Resources Conference—Patrick Murphy
21 23 36 38 46
Drop Savers Contest Winners Announced—Melissa Velez News Beat Ethics for Water Professionals—Donna Kaluzniak WEF HQ Newsletter—Barry Liner Water Organizations Takes Part in 20th Annual River Cleanup
Technical Articles 24 Pioneering Ultraviolet Treatment of Potable Water From High-Organic Surface Water in Florida—Gabe Maul, GJ Schers, Poonam Kalkat, and Scott Kelly
Education and Training 11 12 37 45
CEU Challenge FSAWWA Fall Conference FWPCOA Training Calendar Florida Water Resources Conference Call for Papers 47 TREEO Center Training
Columns 10 FSAWWA Speaking Out—Kim Kunihiro 32 FWEA Focus—Lisa Prieto 34 FWRJ Reader Profile—Terri SeligmanSmith
40 Process Page—Tim Ware and London Womack
42 Test Yourself—Ron Trygar 43 FWEA Chapter Corner—Joan Fernandez 48 C Factor—Scott Anaheim
Departments 49 Service Directories 52 Classifieds 54 Display Advertiser Index
Volume 67
ON THE COVER: Tampa Bay Water’s surface water treatment plant is a state-of-the-art facility that uses a multistep process to ensure clean and pure drinking water each and every day for the citizens of the Tampa Bay region. (photo: Tampa Bay Water)
August 2016
Number 8
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.
POSTMASTER: send address changes to Florida Water Resources Journal, 1402 Emerald Lakes Drive, Clermont, FL 34711
Florida Water Resources Journal • August 2016
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New Study Shows High Potential for Groundwater to be Corrosive in Half of U.S. A new U.S. Geological Survey assessment of more than 20,000 wells nationwide shows that untreated groundwater in 25 states has a high prevalence of being potentially corrosive. The states with the largest percentage of wells with potentially corrosive groundwater are located primarily in the Northeast, the Southeast, and the Northwest. This report is unrelated to the drinking water problems experienced in Flint, Mich. The problems there were related to treated surface water from the Flint River, whereas the water analyzed in this report came from untreated groundwater. Two indicators of potential corrosivity were combined to determine that corrosive groundwater occurs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Corrosive groundwater, if untreated, can dissolve lead and other metals from pipes and plumbing fixtures. “The corrosivity of untreated groundwater is only one of several factors that may affect the quality of household drinking water at the tap,” said Stephen Moulton II, chief of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
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Water Quality Assessment Program. “Nevertheless, it is an essential factor that should be carefully considered in testing for water quality in both public and private supplies nationwide.” Public water supplies are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, but maintenance, testing, and treatment of private water supplies are the sole responsibility of the homeowner. About 44 million people in the U.S. get their drinking water from private wells, yet surveys indicate that many homeowners are unaware of some basic testing that should be done to help ensure safe drinking water. “Fortunately, in most areas of the country and with appropriate safeguards, the majority of homeowners can get good quality drinking water from private wells,” said Moulton. “But this study is a good reminder that prudent, routine testing of the water, including its interaction with the water supply system, is an essential first step so homeowners and their families can confidently drink water from their faucets.”
August 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal
Naturally corrosive water is not dangerous to consume by itself, but it can cause health-related problems by reacting with pipes and plumbing fixtures in homes. If plumbing materials contain lead or copper, these metals may be leached into the water supply by corrosive water. Signs of corrosive water causing leaching of metals may include bluish-green stains in sinks, a metallic taste to the water, and small leaks in plumbing fixtures. Potential sources of lead in homes include: S Lead pipes or fittings used in homes built prior to 1930. S Lead solder used in copper fittings in homes built prior to the late 1980s. S Lead-free brass components, which, in all states, except California, may have contained up to 8 percent lead, prior to 2014. S Galvanized steel that contained 0.5 to 1.4 percent lead, prior to 2014. “The USGS has consistently monitored the water quality of the nation’s groundwater for over three decades by analyzing representative water samples,” noted Moulton. “Recent public health and water quality issues underscore the responsibility for us to report the possibility that regional geologic characteristics of groundwater could potentially affect household water systems, resulting in significant implications for public health.” For concerns about potential health effects of household drinking water, the USGS looks to federal and state agencies to provide an indication of the potential scope of the problem. For example, Virginia and Pennsylvania are states where private water sources, such as wells, springs, or cisterns, are especially common. Private water systems are used by about 1.7 million people in Virginia and about 3 million people in Pennsylvania. The USGS report, “Assessing the Potential Corrosivity of U.S. Groundwater,” can be found online at www.usgs.gov. Additional information on groundwater quality monitoring and modeling is available on the USGS National Water Quality Assessment project website. A new USGS online mapper provides a decadal look at groundwater quality. S
An Operator’s Viewpoint of the Florida Water Resources Conference Patrick Murphy When Phil Donovan, the Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association (FWPCOA) publicity chair, discussed Past President Tom King’s desire to have someone write an article about the 2016 Florida Water Resources Conference (FWRC), and asked if I would be interested, I pondered to my wife that night, “Why me?” She simply reminded me that I had taken more pictures at last year’s conference than I did on our week-and-a-half vaca-
tion in Colorado! I’m not the best at taking award-winning photos, unless there is someone interested in seeing a picture of a Sarasota County superintendent’s shoe, or a lopsided, over-the-shoulder snapshot of Holly Hanson, the conference’s executive director, chasing me out of the exhibit hall, but I did get a lot of good ones for posterity. The FWRC is like the Disney World/Epcot Center for water professionals. It is a joint conference of the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (FSAWWA), FWPCOA, and the Florida Water Environmental Association (FWEA), and provides the most amazing offering of technical programs, ex-
hibits, awards luncheons, meetings, contests, competitions, networking, and other events. There literally is something for everyone in the water and wastewater industry to tactilely and mentally enjoy, and you can get continuing education units (CEUs) and professional development hours (PDHs) doing some of it!
Operators Showcase A real coup for Tom King was the second year of the Operators Showcase, which was held on Sunday at the conference. What possibly can be better than discussing the challenges that we all face, and interacting with operators, engineers, and regulators while enjoying some cold beers! With a broad range of topics being covered this year, such as computer-based testing, ethics in the utility field, wastewater collection system upgrades, career importance of participating in a professional organization, and so much more, the session had a great attendance. Tom’s talent as an emcee is significantly amplified by his dedication to the industry, and one can’t help but love that old-timey feeling of really getting to know others and what they do. It was a very openly interactive dialogue.
Florida Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers Tom King emcees the Operators Showcase.
The Student Design Competition winners celebrate their victories.
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August 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal
The induction of members into the Florida Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers (FSSSSS), held in the exhibit hall on Sunday afternoon, should not have been missed for a couple of reasons: S This is an organization that one may not join, but rather be selected for on the basis of personal merit, so the ones being inducted deserve this high honor through recognition of long and faithful service to the industry. Something we should all be striving for! S The inductees (generally an engineer, an operator, and a vendor) are people who really deserve respect and are put through the tongue-twisting induction process by repeating the full name of the society three times fast! It’s hard saying it that way—just try it! So, honoring these dedicated specialists in the industry is done with what usually is a humiliating, but infinitely entertaining and highly memorable process—at least for us watching it.
Congratulations to this year’s inductees: Brad Hayes, Brian Wheeler, and Ron Shupler.
Student Design Competition The FWEA Student Design Competition is like a time machine into the future. Seeing these young professionals giving amazing presentations as if they were already part of a firm of engineers that we will be working with on various projects is inspirational and captivating. I had a special interest this year in the competition since my employer, City of Plant City, collaborated with the University of South Florida (USF) teams. And it was even more special when USF won both categories: wastewater and environmental. And that’s just some of the first day!
Radhika Fox speaks at the Monday luncheon.
Monday Luncheon The technical sessions kicked off Monday morning with relevant and evaluated training, along with the Operator’s Challenge competition, which exemplifies excellence in knowledge, technical skills, and the teamwork needed to be winners. One would have to be cloned to see it all and not miss anything, but failing to attend the FWRC Awards Luncheon would be a true tragedy. All three associations present awards at this luncheon to recognize peers, plants, utilities, and other organizations in our industry. The conference always does a wonderful job of getting photos of the award recipients (and the correct names) after they have been presented with their awards and ushered outside to the hallway. If there was one thing that I’d like to see done slightly differently (hard to do when you’re trying to keep everything organized and flowing), is to get photos of the award presenters and the awardees. There are a lot of admirable people in this industry, and “touching the cape” of these folks is like getting one of those memorable pictures of you with a movie star. The luncheon meals are always excellent— how do they do that? Here’s a tip: Don’t wait until the last minute to try and get in; the luncheons always sell out and are packed! This year the guest speaker was Radhika Fox, chief executive officer for the U.S. Water Alliance. Speaking on this year’s conference theme, “One Water,” she had an excellent presentation.
Exhibit Hall The exhibit hall is a fascinating plethora of innovative equipment, services, and programs to explore. Over 300 exhibitors, a lot of them with giveaways (It’s like Trick-or-Treating; one could literally walk away with a sack full of goodies, but the knowledge and usefulness of
From left: Tim McVeigh, Scott Anaheim, Terry McVeigh, Mike Darrow, and Al Monteleone display the FWPCOA sponsor plaque.
the equipment, programs, and contact information is the real treat!) I’m sure I’m not the only one who enjoys this so much. Getting to talk to the vendors in this atmosphere is refreshing for some reason; maybe because the shoe is on the other foot? The vendors are usually the ones dropping in at work to sell you something and it’s a lot harder to walk away from them when you’re not interested in a particular item. This is a new age of technology, and there’s very few of us who know what a pickle jar is really good for, or even remember what the reagents are when using the Winkler Method. If
you want to stay at the top of your game, have excellent plant performance, and win plant awards, you can’t shun these new innovations that are making it possible to do so. Besides seeing friends staffing these booths, there are also the thousands of people who attend the conference, and you get to meet new folks, hearing their problems or concerns while they discuss the issues that they have with the vendors. It’s so easy to spend a lot of time in the exhibit hall and still not see it all. I always keep my eyes peeled for the “Three-Bill’s Booth,” with Bill Allman, Bill Continued on page 8
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Continued from page 7 Edgar, and Bill Johnson. Sometimes they gather at a booth, sometimes at a corner table in the exhibit hall, like the Three Wise Men with what has to be over 150 years of experience among them, telling stories of wastewater glory that I could listen to all day! I missed them this year for some reason, but hope they are all well. I failed to get a picture at the Florida Water Resources Journal booth. General Manager Michael Delaney, Editor Rick Harmon, and conference photographer Patty Delaney, were all there at the same time; I was just so busy thanking them for the wonderful jobs that they do, it didn’t dawn on me to get the photo. I did score at the FWPCOA booth, getting a shot of Tim McVeigh (a past president), Scott Anaheim (current president), Tim’s wife, Terry (booth pro), Mike Darrow (vice president), and Al Monteleone (Historic Committee chair and recipient this year of a 50-year member award from the association) displaying the Premier Sponsor plaque. When Holly Hanson announces that the exhibit hall is closed though, she means it! She hasn’t eighty-sixed anyone yet, and I don’t intentionally ignore the announcement; I just tend to talk to much! This year was a little different with a guard at the door, so certain parts of the competitions you couldn’t see unless you were on a team, and there was so much more to do than try to grift my way in for that.
Tuesday Events So, Tuesday had more of the 100-plus educational presentations, workshops, and roundtables approved for CEUs and PDHs, the Top Ops Competition, the FWEA Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon, and the FSAWWA Best Drinking Water Contest. The FWEA Awards Luncheon is another not-to-miss event, where coveted awards are doled out to the most deserving! There are a variety of awards that recognize achievement in the water environment profession: S The Earle B. Phelps Awards are presented to wastewater treatment facilities that have maintained the highest removal of pollutants. S The David W. York Awards are given for commitment to, and accomplishments in, developing and maintaining exemplary reuse programs. S The Leroy H. Scott Award is given for the work of wastewater treatment plant operators who made the greatest contribution to their fellow operators, or who did the best job in operating a plant, regardless of its size or available equipment (and Poteet scores!). S The FWEA Safety Awards honor exemplary safety records. The title of FSAWWA’s Best Drinking Water Contest says it all! This year’s winner was the City of Tallahassee; a back-to-back winner, since it received first place last year as
Other conference events.
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August 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal
well. The City’s water went to the national drinking water competition held in June at the AWWA Annual Conference in Chicago. Other events included: S The Water Resources, Reuse & Resiliency (WR3) Integrated Reuse Roundtable, which was literally standing-room-only. It went 20 minutes over into lunch, with most people staying to the end; it was just that good! S A workshop that should have been standing-room-only that was truly top-notch w a s FWPCOA’s Bob Case and Dave Pachucki giving their Shaft Alignment Workshop, with the shaft alignment teaching tool on display. It’s new and excellent, and the information about it just isn’t out there enough yet. S Tim McVeigh’s session on operation and maintenance. Everything Tim does is meticulously prepared. S The Top Ops Competition entices you to get a team together. You root for each team as they are answering a battery of water-related questions.
Growing the Conference’s Vision To quote author and lecturer Joel A. Barker: “Vision without action is just a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.” The people behind the conference have the vision and action to make this an amazing event; without those two things, it could quickly become a nightmare, not a dream. All who attended the conference can be part of that dream and make a difference in our water world! Hats off to all the volunteers, the people behind the scenes, the generous sponsors, the vendors, and everyone who makes this event so wonderful each year! Special thanks again to the Journal staff for their reliable, excellent work, including the photographer; she has “Spiderman”-like skills, diligently getting the perfect shots and, when requested, graciously using someone’s personal camera to get greatly cherished pictures. Being a member of all three associations makes it very difficult to decide how long to stay at an event, or which event will be sacrificed for another. My apologies to everyone that I have and will elbow through to get a picture of an award recipient or event; I lost humility in Polk County years ago! The bottom line: The Florida Water Resource Conference is the place to be each year, so get it budgeted and have a blast! Patrick Murphy is chief plant operator in the utilities operations division at City of Plant City. S
FSAWWA SPEAKING OUT
A Conversation About EPA Priorities for the Drinking Water Sector Kim Kunihiro Chair, FSAWWA
recently returned from the ACE16 conference in Chicago, which is the largest conference in North America sponsored by the American Water Works Association and features more than 500 exhibitors, 1000 presentations, and hundreds of opportunities to interact with other water professionals from the United States, Canada, and around the world. I attended several committee meetings, division meetings, and many great presentations. I had the opportunity to attend the H2Open Forum, which featured Tracy Mehan, AWWA executive director of government affairs, and Peter Grevatt, director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water. It was a conversation between two seasoned professionals on a wide variety of topics and I was impressed by some of the things Peter had to say. Since 2014, which was the 40th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act, there have been three major water quality events that have rocked the drinking water world. They include the release of toxic chemicals into the source water of Charleston, W.V., in January 2014 when a tank near the Elk River leaked 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCHM) into the source water of the city, resulting in a “do not use” order for West Virginia American Water’s system. Shortly thereafter, in August 2014, the City of Toledo experienced a cyanotoxin contamination event in its source water from Lake Erie after an algal bloom. And, most recently, the Flint, Mich., water crisis has dominated drinking water conversations after lead was found in the water sys-
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tem and in the bloodstreams of children in Flint’s service area. Each of these events impacted consumer trust and confidence in the drinking water in our country. As water professionals, we think we should be able to do a better job to ensure that our supplies and our customers are protected. In all of these cases, EPA responded with additional testing requirements, additional monitoring guidelines, and additional health advisories. All of these additions to the guidelines will remain a part of our lives as water professionals for many years to come. They highlight some new concerns or initiatives that we now need to consider and prioritize as members of the water industry. The first is source water protection. We need to look harder at what is allowed to be built and stored near our water supplies. We need to understand that natural phenomena, such as drought and climate change (including increased water temperatures and sea-level rise), may impact our source water and may increase future algal blooms. And we need to acknowledge that our customer population may be changing and shifting.
August 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal
In the case of Flint, the demographics have changed significantly over time and the customers remaining are financially disadvantaged and fewer than before. Water age, changing populations, and financial issues, including an ability to pay for water treatment and improved water quality, are all real issues in today’s water world. The last takeaway from this conversation between Peter and Tracy was the need to be aware of social justice issues in our profession. As EPA or state regulators issue health advisories for new or emerging contaminants (which may have always been there, or we just learned how to measure or detect them), we need to respond. We need to be able to explain to our customers what the advisories are about, what they can do to protect themselves, and what we are doing to improve water quality and protect our source water. We need to figure out how to supply safe water to those who may not have the ability to pay. Drinking water programs are driven first and foremost by protection of public health. Issuing health advisories at the federal level is a much quicker way to get information out to the public and the regulated community when there is a new or emerging contaminant or a contamination event. This process does not include significant opportunity for public comment. When Tracy asked Peter why EPA has recently issued more health advisories than regulatory determinations, he stated that it gets the information to the public and water professionals faster. Whether advisories become regulations will be determined over time. The regulatory process takes, on average, 12 years from start to finish, but health advisories can be issued in months. Whether they become law or not, EPA plans to continue on this path, and as water professionals, we will need to react, get current and accurate information and education on the issues, and respond to our customers. Remember that what we do every day first and foremost is the business of protecting public health. S
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 Disinfection and Water Quality. 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!
Pioneering Ultraviolet Treatment of Potable Water From High-Organic Surface Water in Florida Gabe Maul, GJ Schers, Poonam Kalkat, and Scott Kelly (Article 1: CEU = 0.1 DW/DS)
1. Which of the following testing methods was not used to evaluate bacterial activity? a. Millipore filter b. Colilert c. Heterotrophic plate count d. MI Agar 2. The primary foulant identified in the acid rinsate of fouled sleeves in phase 1 was a. calcium. b. iron. c. copper. d. zinc. 3. As part of the project under evaluation, an additional ______________ dosage is planned downstream of the raw water pump stations. a. sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) b. carbon dioxide (CO2) c. ferric d. powdered activated carbon (PAC) 4. The most effective ultraviolet (UV) sleeve cleaning method was found to be a. mechanical. b. acid rinsing. c. Lime Away and denature alcohol. d. distilled water.
___________________________________________ SUBSCRIBER NAME (please print)
Article 1 ________________________________________ LICENSE NUMBER for Which CEUs Should Be Awarded
If paying by credit card, fax to (561) 625-4858 providing the following information:
5. ________________ is expected to increase fouling rates significantly if used in full scale. a. Higher flow-through velocity b. Lime scaling c. Prechlorination d. Higher organic concentration
___________________________________________ (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)
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Drop Savers Contest Winners Announced Melissa Velez Every year the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (FSAWWA) sponsors the "Drop Savers” Water Conservation Poster Contest. Students from Kindergarten to 12th grade are encouraged to create a poster depicting a water conservation idea, in slogan form, drawing form, or both. The contest allows students to promote water awareness and the importance of water conservation in their daily routines. Posters are designated under one of the following categories: Division 1 - Kindergarten and First Grade Division 2 - Second and Third Grade Division 3 - Fourth and Fifth Grade Division 4 - Middle School: Grades Six, Seven, and Eight Division 5 - High School: Grades Nine, Ten, Eleven, and Twelve S Poster are drawn on 8 ½ x 11-in.
• Tote bag • Certificate
white paper (horizontally or vertically) S Each poster must portray a water conservation idea in a slogan, drawing, or both. Students may use crayons, paint, color pencils, or markers. No highlighters, photos, or computer graphics are permitted. S Students must work on posters individually, otherwise posters will be disqualified. S Only original artwork will be accepted (i.e., no trademarked or copyrighted materials). The Drop Savers Committee’s responsibility is to invite participation and provide each water utility
DIVISION 1 – FIRST PLACE Kameron Russell Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department
in Florida with the guidelines for running their own poster contest. Once water utilities selects their winners, they will send the firstplace winner’s poster to the Drop Savers Committee, where they will participate in the state competition. This year, there were 97 poster participants in the contest from 29 water utilities. The prizes for this year included: S First-Place Winners: • $100 Amazon gift card • Plaque displaying the poster • $25 gift card for a pizza party • Calendar displaying the poster • Note cards displaying the poster • Water conservation kit
DIVISION 1 – SECOND PLACE Haley Arp Englewood Water District
S Second-Place Winners: • $75 Amazon gift card • Calendar displaying the poster • Note cards displaying the poster • Water conservation kit • Tote bag • Certificate S Third-Place Winners: • $50 Amazon gift card • Calendar displaying the poster • Note cards displaying the poster • Water conservation kit • Tote bag • Certificate The winning Drop Savers posters are pictured here. Melissa Velez, P.E., is an environmental engineer with CDM Smith in Boca Raton. S
DIVISION 1 – THIRD PLACE Maria Gabriela Bottger City of Hollywood
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DIVISION 2 – FIRST PLACE Daniela L. Eylerts Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department
DIVISION 3 – FIRST PLACE Julia Carvajal Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department
DIVISION 4 – FIRST PLACE Khushi Parashar City of Sunrise
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DIVISION 2 – SECOND PLACE Dylan Fitzpatrick Gainesville Regional Utilities
DIVISION 3 – SECOND PLACE Sultan Keranovic JEA
DIVISION 4 – SECOND PLACE Anthony Madorsky Gainesville Regional Utilities
DIVISION 2 – THIRD PLACE Gabriella Albert City of Boca Raton
DIVISION 3 – THIRD PLACE Juliette M. Brooks North Miami Beach
DIVISION 4 – THIRD PLACE Anthony DiGregorio Town of Jupiter Utilities
DIVISION 5 – FIRST PLACE Cameron Mack Orange County Utilities Water Division
DIVISION 5 – THIRD PLACE Victoria Collins Gainesville Regional Utilities
DIVISION 5 – SECOND PLACE Sarena St.Michael-Ireland Town of Davie
News Beat McKim & Creed Inc., has announced the addition of a key manager in its Palm Coast office and two engineering and design professionals in its Daytona Beach location. Emmett Anderson, P.E., is the company’s new regional engineering manager in Palm Coast, and Mark Ralph, P.E., and Etienne Vawters, EI, have joined the Daytona Beach office as senior project manager and engineer intern, respectively. In his role as regional engineering manager, Anderson oversees all aspects of project activity and is responsible for business development, marketing, staff management, quality control, resource utilization, and team recruitment and development. He is a veteran of Jedson Engineering, where he served as general ANDERSON manager, operations manager. and structural department head. He also headed his own Florida-based firm for several years
“Emmett is an outstanding manager, engineer and general contractor who has worked in the Florida water industry for more than 30 years. His extensive experience and significant project successes bring our clients a new perspective and industry insight into their industrial and municipal water and water projects,” said Robert Garland, McKim & Creed regional manager. Mark Ralph specializes in planning, design, and construction management of water and wastewater facilities. Most recently he served as senior project manager with Reiss Engineering in Fort Lauderdale. As a senior project manager, Ralph provides planning, design, and RALPH operational support services for municipal water, wastewater, and biosolids projects, and oversees design teams, project budgets, and schedules. He has a graduate degree in civil engineering from California State
University, and is a licensed professional engineer in Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, and California. Engineer intern Etienne Vawters is responsible for providing technical and design services; conducting technical evaluation; preparing design computations and assessments; and producing design/ construction drawings, VAWTERS technical specifications, and bid documents. While a student at the University of South Florida, he led a team that designed an aquifer storage and recovery clogging solution for the City of Oldsmar that won first place at the Florida Water Resources Conference and third place at the national Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference. In addition, Vawters assisted with research involving concrete pavement repair slabs for the Florida Department of Transportation. S
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F W R J
Pioneering Ultraviolet Treatment of Potable Water From High-Organic Surface Water in Florida Gabe Maul, GJ Schers, Poonam Kalkat, and Scott Kelly he City of West Palm Beach (City) plans to upgrade its 47-mil-gal-perday (mgd) conventional surface water treatment plant (WTP) treatment train by adding a new ultraviolet (UV) disinfection treatment system. A simplified process flow diagram of the existing system is provided in Figure 1. In 2008, the local health department required the City to improve the treatment facility to include low-pressure membranes as an additional barrier to pathogens. The UV disinfection was accepted as a more economical alternative treatment process that fulfills the regulatory intent to install a secondary barrier, while providing additional protection from pathogens. The UV treatment system is planned downstream of the existing rapid gravity filters but upstream of any post-chemical addi-
T
tions. As part of the project, an additional powdered activated carbon (PAC) treatment system is also planned directly downstream from the raw water pump stations. The new UV system will be designed with a validated UV dose to achieve 4-log Cryptosporidium inactivation. This UV dose will also provide some level of inactivation of other pathogens, such as Giardia lamblia, E. coli, viruses, and bacteria. High organics, with a typical total organic carbon (TOC) of 11 mg/L, were expected to produce lower UV transmittance (UVT), posing a challenge for UV treatment. The UVT, a major UV design criterion, was in actuality much lower at 79 percent than typical applications. Fouling is a well-known phenomenon that was not understood for this water quality, although known UV foulants, calcium, and iron are added during treatment.
Figure 1. Simplified Existing Treatment Plant Process Flow Diagram
Gabe Maul is an environmental engineer with MWH in West Palm Beach. GJ Schers is senior water treatment technologist with CH2M in Fort Lauderdale. Poonam Kalkat is director of public utilities and Scott Kelly is assistant city administrator with City of West Palm Beach.
The City decided to perform a pilot study to proactively determine the extent of fouling and to make informed decisions about the full-scale UV installation. As the first large drinking water UV installation in the state, the Florida Department of Health also wanted a pilot study to ensure that fouling could be overcome during full-scale treatment. The specific objectives of the UV pilot study were the following: 1) Characterize fouling/scaling of quartz sleeves surrounding UV lowand medium-pressure lamps with softened/filtered water from the City’s existing WTP. 2) Quantify UV quartz sleeve fouling and cleaning requirements. 3) Compare effectiveness of two different automated mechanical cleaning systems with external chemical cleaning from two different manufacturers. 4) Quantify bacterial inactivation effectiveness of the UV systems as part of the overall water treatment process.
Testing Methodology Table 1. Summary of Ultraviolet Reactors Piloted in Parallel
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Pilot Overview Two UV reactors of different classes, medium-pressure and low-pressure highoutput (LPHO), were run in parallel over 12 weeks of testing (Table 1 and Figure 2). The UV transmittance through the sleeve was measured spectrophotometrically to determine fouling using UV intensity sensor measurements, with lamps running at a constant power level.
Feed water for the UV reactors was pumped from the filtered water flume using a self-priming centrifugal pump and split into two parallel UV reactors (Figure 3). The UV reactor effluents were pumped back into the main process at the filter influent channel. The chlorine injection point used in phase 2 was located before the UV influent pump and the first sample point. Flow rates were set to match the 4-log Cryptosporidium dose in accordance with the full-scale design and assuming 80 percent UVT. The LPHO unit was only validated using the older German DVGW standard to the 3log inactivation dose, and was assumed to be conservative enough to be equivalent to 4-log inactivation of the newer Ultraviolet Disinfection Guidance Manual from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The flow rate was maintained and the maximum power level was set throughout the pilot operation. The UV dose was allowed to drop as fouling and lamp aging occurred in order to use the UV intensity decline to measure fouling. This mode of operation is contrary to full-scale operation where lamp power would be increased to compensate for changes in fouling, lamp aging, and UVT to maintain the required UV dose. The UV operation was divided into two phases: phase 1 without cleaning, and phase 2 without cleaning but with free chlorine pretreatment (Table 2). Phase 2 was originally planned to include regular cleaning at different time intervals, but was changed when fouling was discovered to be low.
Figure 2. Photos of Installed Ultraviolet Pilot Reactors
(a)
(b)
(a) Low-Pressure High-Output and (b) Medium-Pressure
Figure 3. Pilot Testing Photos
(a)
(b)
(a) Ultraviolet Pilot Setup and (b) Cary 60 Optics Bench for Measurement of the Ultraviolet Sleeve
Table 2. Schedule of Testing Phases
Data Collection and Analytical Methods The UV sleeve fouling, water quality, UV intensity readings, metal concentrations in acid used to clean fouled sleeves, and microbial activity before and after the UV reactors were recorded during the pilot operation. Sleeve fouling was measured with offline UV transmittance measurements using an Agilent Cary 60 UV-Vis spectrophotometer optics bench (Figure 3b). The three sleeves from each UV reactor were removed, rinsed with deionized (DI) water and left to air dry, then measured along with a spare reference sleeve of both types on the optics bench on a biweekly basis. A fouling factor (FF) was calculated for each sleeve measurement using the following equation: FF = (Tmeasurement /Treference)0.5 Where Tmeasurement is the UV transmittance (percent) through the sleeve and Treference is the UV transmittance (percent) Continued on page 26
Figure 4. Ultraviolet Intensity Sensor Measurements for Low-Pressure High-Output Reactor Florida Water Resources Journal • August 2016
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Continued from page 25 through a spare reference sleeve as measured on the optics bench. Bacterial activity was tested at five different locations at the water treatment plant using three tests: 1. Colilert - total coliform and E. coli presence/absence 2. MI Agar - colony counts of total coliform and E. coli 3. Heterotrophic plate counts (HPC) - colony counts of total heterotrophic bacteria
Figure 5. Ultraviolet Intensity Sensor Measurements for Medium-Pressure Reactor
At the end of phases 1 and 2, one sleeve from each reactor from each UV system was rinsed with 12 percent phosphoric acid and analyzed for metals. The impact of PAC pretreatment of raw water on the UVT of settled and filtered water was simulated using jar tests.
Results: Ultraviolet Intensity Sensor Measurements
Figure 6. Ultraviolet Reactor Sleeve Fouling for Phase 1 – No Cleaning Note: Error bars represent the standard deviation of the three sleeve fouling factors. After the measurement at 540 lamp hours without cleaning, one sleeve from each reactor broke and was replaced. Therefore, the sleeve measurements after 540 hours are shown as the average of the remaining two sleeves and do not show standard deviations.
The UV intensity sensor measurements over the course of the UV pilot operation for the LPHO reactor and medium-pressure (MP) reactor are provided in Figures 4 and 5, respectively. Both LPHO and MP reactor UV intensity decreased steadily during phase 1, and decreased at a greater rate during phase 2. At the beginning of phase 2, there was a sharp increase in UV intensity of both reactors. One possible explanation for the increase in UV intensity could be biofilm removal of the pilot with the free chlorine clean and subsequent free chlorine residual through the reactors (biogrowth in the pump and piping was suspected as detailed in the discussion section under phase 1).
Results: Phase 1 Sleeve Fouling – No Cleaning
Figure 7. Ultraviolet Reactor Sleeve Fouling for Phase 2 – No Cleaning
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Average values of fouling factors of the sleeves from MP and LPHO reactors are summarized over phase 1 in Figure 6. The average fouling factors of both systems remained above 97 percent over 1000 lamp hours during phase-1 operation, which indicates low fouling. Lamp hours in the graph have been adjusted by subtracting the burn-in period hours for each reactor of approximately 85 hours. At the end of the burnin period, all sleeves were to be cleaned according to vendor recommendation with Lime-A-Way and denatured alcohol; however, the cleaning left a residue that was recorded as a drop in UV transmittance on the optics bench as shown on the first data point. This method of cleaning was discontinued after
the initial cleaning at the end of the burn-in period; instead, the sleeves were completely replaced after phase 1. Flow decreased slowly, day to day, on the LPHO unit, and valves were adjusted twice to compensate, indicating a possible increase in headloss in the pipes.
Results: Phase 2 Sleeve Fouling – No Cleaning with Free Chlorine Pretreatment Average values of fouling factors of the three sleeves of MP and LPHO reactors are summarized over the course of phase 2 in Figure 7. The average fouling factor of the MP system remained above 98 percent after 540 hours, while the average fouling factor of the LPHO system decreased to approximately 86 percent after 540 hours without cleaning. The LPHO sleeves were more fouled toward the end that was closer to the reactor inlet as measured using the optics bench.
Figure 8. Concentrations of Metals in the Acid Rinsate Note: The blank was measured in phase 2 only. The 6 percent phosphoric acid was used as acid rinsate in phase 1, and 12 percent phosphoric acid was used in phase 2.
Figure 9. Foulant Characterization on the Sleeve Acid Rinsate – End of Phase 1
Results: Fouling Characterization Concentrations of some known foulants in the feed water to the UV reactors were: • Iron ~220 µg/L • Total hardness 115 mg/L as calcium carbonate (CaCO3) • TOC 6.5 mg/L In the acid rinsate of LPHO and MP sleeves, absolute concentrations were measured at the end of phase 1 and phase 2, as well as the blank, which are presented in Figure 8. The exact absolute concentrations were not important, but the relative magnitude of concentrations show that the acid rinsate measured from the sleeves was significantly greater than the blank. The major metal foulants measured in the acid rinsate of fouled sleeves in phase 1 were primarily iron (~40 percent) and zinc, followed by aluminum, and copper to a lesser extent (Figure 9). The major metal foulant measured in the acid rinsate of fouled sleeves in phase 2 was iron (~75 percent), and the remainder foulants were zinc and copper on the MP sleeves, and calcium on the LPHO sleeves (Figure 10).
(a) MP
(b) LPHO
Figure 10. Foulant Characterization on the Sleeve Acid Rinsate – End of Phase 2
Results: Powdered Activated Carbon Jar Testing The UVT of settled water after pretreatment with PAC ranging from 0 to 40 mg/L is presented in Figure 11. It increased about 1 Continued on page 28
(a) MP
(b) LPHO
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Continued from page 27 percent with 10 mg/L PAC and about 2.5 percent with 40 mg/L PAC on unfiltered water.
Results: Cleaning Method Comparison
Figure 11. Settled Water Turbidity at Various Powdered Activated Carbon Pretreatment Doses
The UV transmittance measurements taken before and after the sleeves were cleaned are presented in Figure 12. The ‘Fouled’ column shows fouling factors of sleeves operated without cleaning for approximately 1000 hours and 600 hours for phases 1 and 2, respectively. The mechanical clean for the LPHO unit malfunctioned during phase 1, so only approximately one-third of the sleeve was cleaned. Fouling factors of ‘fouled’ sleeves were similar between LPHO sleeves (e.g., T1 and T2) and similar between MP sleeves (e.g., C1 and C2). Sleeve UV transmittance was improved by acid rinsing between 0 and 10.7 percent and changed by mechanical cleaning by -0.6 to 6.9 percent. In all cases, except the phase1 MP mechanical clean, acid rinsing improved sleeve UV transmittance more than mechanical cleaning. None of the cleanings improved sleeve UV transmittance to the same UV transmittance of the reference sleeve (100 percent fouling factor).
Results: Microbiological Testing
Figure 12. Comparison of Ultraviolet Sleeve Cleaning Methods
Figure 13. MI E. coli Test Results Note: Undefined values varied depending upon the volume of the sample tested: 7/28: <10 CFU/100mL; 8/4 - 8/25 : <5 CFU/100mL: 9/8 - 9/22: <2 CFU/100mL.
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The MI agar testing results at various places in the WTP process train are graphed in Figures 13 and 14 for E. coli and total coliform, respectively. In general, the number of colony forming units (CFU) of total coliform and E. coli decreased as the water progressed through the treatment process. E. coli was absent in all samples measured after the UV reactor, and undefined (where a colony was not found during a test that tested <100 mL of sample) in all samples after the raw water. Total coliform was present in measurable quantities in the raw water, decreased in the flume sample, and then increased in the UV influent pump sample. Total coliform was measured after the UV reactors at 3 CFU/100mL or less on three separate days at the end of phase 1 and the beginning of phase 2. The HPC results at the various sampling locations in the plant are provided in Figure 15. The HPC results from MP and LPHO UV reactor effluent water were significantly less than the samples obtained from other locations in the full-scale plant. The data showed higher HPC in the UV influent pump Continued on page 30
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Continued from page 28 location than the flume during phase 1 and a step decrease in HPC at the UV influent after chlorination began in phase 2 to below 1000 CFU/mL. Log reduction over the UV reactors was 1-log to 2-log of plate counts of bacteria, which are not the same as true log inactivation. The HPC results were well within the EPA-recommended limit of 500 CFU/ml for potable water. During microbiological testing, E. coli was not detected in any sample after both UV reactors, total coliform colonies were less than 3 CFU/100 mL after the UV reactors, and HPC results showed significant reduction of total bacteria after both UV reactors.
Discussion of Results Phase 1 Sleeve fouling measurements declined less than 3 percent over 1000 hours during phase 1. This represents low fouling; for comparison, the fouling factors in the Hetch Hetchy pilot study of MP systems decreased to 80 percent in less than 100 hours (Kim et al, 2009). The UV intensity decreased by 9 and 18 percent for LPHO and MP systems, respectively, in that period. Based on sleeve UV transmittance and UV intensity measurements, fouling is considered low during Phase 1. Low fouling has positive implica-
Figure 14. MI Total Coliform Test Results Note: The UV Influent samples on 8/25 and 9/8 were undefined because they were tested using less than 100mL. Therefore, the results of these tests were <5 and <2 CFU/100mL, respectively.
tions on maintenance efforts and cost of the full-scale UV plant. Biogrowth during phase 1 was suspected due to several indicators: S Increase in TOC and color a week after Phase 1 began. S Increase in headloss to the LPHO unit characterized by decreasing flow and required adjustments of valves. S Observed odor when pump and upstream piping was opened. S Step increase in UV intensity after initial chlorination. S Greater bacterial presence via MI total coliform and HPC in the UV influent pump than in the filtered water flume. S On the second day of operation with prechlorination, total coliform up to 3 CFU/mL were detected in the LPHO and MP UV reactors, even though total coliform was not detected in the UV influent pump. Possible biogrowth in piping could be the source for total coliform hits. Phase 2 In Phase 2, with free chlorine addition, sleeve fouling increased greatly for the LPHO unit, but not for the MP unit. Fouling characterization showed that the increased fouling was ~75 percent iron, and ~ 20 percent calcium. The increased oxidation potential of chlorine may have oxidized Fe2+ to Fe3+, which could have contributed to increased fouling. Surprisingly, sleeve fouling measurements showed greater fouling in the LPHO system, but UV intensity showed a greater rate of decline in the MP system. It appears that temperature was not the strongest indicator of fouling as previously hypothesized because MP fouling would have been consistently greater. The difference in velocity may have led to the different results between sleeve measurements and UV intensity readings. The UVT did not correlate with any other water quality parameter tested (data now shown because of space constraints).
Conclusions
Figure 15. Heterotrophic Plate Count Results
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A UV disinfection pilot study was conducted to evaluate preliminary operational data on a small-scale UV unit in order to verify the effectiveness of UV disinfection and to make decisions about the full-scale UV installation. Two UV reactors of different classes, one medium-pressure and one lowpressure high-output, were run in parallel over 12 weeks of testing. The UV sleeve fouling, water quality of the feed water, UV intensity readings, and microbial activity
before and after the UV reactors were measured. The major findings of the study were: S The fouling rate of filtered water without online cleaning was low as measured by sleeve fouling (<3 percent fouling factor decline) and UV intensity sensor readings (percent decline of 9 and 18 percent for LPHO and MP, respectively) over 1000 hours, even with biogrowth present upstream (phase 1). S The fouling rate of filtered water without online cleaning was increased by free chlorine pretreatment as measured by sleeve fouling (fouling factor decline of 16 percent and 4 percent for LPHO and MP, respectively) and UV intensity sensor readings (percent decline of 18 and 49 percent for LPHO and MP, respectively) over ~600 hours (phase 2). S The major metal foulants were primarily iron, and to a lesser extent, copper, zinc, and aluminum during phase 1, primarily iron during phase 2, and to a lesser extent calcium (LPHO) or zinc and copper (MP). Relative to the overall foulant amount, the percentage of iron and calcium increased during phase 2 when a prechlorine dose was applied to the reactors. S Offline acid cleaning improved sleeve UV transmittance more than online mechanical cleaning, but up to 3 percent of the fouling factor was irreversible. Periodic online cleaning is suggested to proactively prevent irreversible fouling. S The UV reactors were effective in inactivating a significant portion of bacteria, as shown in the total coliform, E. coli, and HPC tests. The HPC results were well within the EPA-recommended limits of 500 CFU/mL for potable water. S In jar tests, PAC addition prior to coagulation improved the settled water UVT. The UVT increased about 1 percent with 10 mg/L PAC and about 2.5 percent with 40 mg/L PAC. S For full-scale, low fouling is expected for either MP- or LPHO-type UV reactors, and both types provided adequate cleaning solutions without need for additional pretreatment. Prechlorination is expected to increase fouling rates significantly if used in full-scale. S
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FWEA FOCUS
You’re Not Just a Number—You Are a Voice Lisa Prieto President, FWEA
f you Google “why be a part of a professional society” you will come up with over 76 million results. That’s a pretty compelling reason alone to join an organization; 76 million hits on Google is nothing to sneeze at. So why do you belong to a professional society? Did your employer put it on your goals for this year? Did you have a mentor who took you to your first meeting and you were hooked? Maybe you were at a point in your career where you needed to broaden your network and it made sense. My involvement in FWEA was a simple path: my mentors were very involved in the organization and brought me along. They took me to meetings, introduced me to people in the industry, and overall, it seemed fun. I became more involved because someone came up to me at a conference and said, “We need help with our seminars; would you like to step up and be our seminars coordinator?” We forget how many people get involved in groups, events, and causes just because they are asked. Of course, that question may represent a formality of the desire already in place. Many of us serve in chapters, committees, or on a board of directors not because our employers make us do it, but because it’s our way of giving back to our industry and it addresses our underlying beliefs of why we feel called to this industry: to protect and improve our environment. Being a volunteer is not always easy. We have all been loaded up with more expectations and responsibilities at work and in our personal lives than in the past. Smartphones and laptops have infiltrated family vacations, date nights, and Little League. We are constantly tethered to our responsibilities. People ask me all the time: How do you fit it all in? The honest truth is— I don’t. Sometimes it feels like FWEA needs my full attention and my work gets delayed a couple days. Sometimes work gets hectic and FWEA gets put to the side. And sometimes my husband calls from the ER with one of our kids and I drop everything and run.
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We understand that when you sign up as a volunteer we are not always going to get 100 percent of you—and that’s okay. Volunteering is not perfect; just like all aspects of our lives, we do the best we can. But we value the time you can give and we value your membership in our association. You are not just a number when you are part of WEF and FWEA–you are a voice. Our membership enables us to be a compelling voice in the industry: educating government officials, supporting utilities, and supporting or opposing legislation. On a national level, WEF hosts an annual national fly-in to Washington D.C., where members can meet with legislators to discuss current water issues with our elected officials. The Federation provides updates on legislative affairs and policy issues. There is also a program where you can become a water advocate for your area (all of this can be found on the WEF website, www.wef.org, under the “Government Affairs” tab). On a local level, the FWEA Utility Council prepares position statements, meets regularly with legislators, and serves as a liaison between utilities and our state government. Both WEF and FWEA play an important role as a resource to legislators, as well as an advocate for our environment. But back on the ground, what can we do in our daily lives, what can we do to give back, and what can we do to help? It’s simple—get involved! Go on the FWEA website and reach out to the chapter in your area. Go through the list
August 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal
of committees and email the chair of a committee you are interested in. Getting more involved does not have to be a huge time commitment— assignments are flexible. If you’re already involved, invite co-workers to an event, introduce them to your colleagues and make them feel welcome. Tell them why you love FWEA and how much it has helped broaden your network, increase your passion for water, and make new friendships. The association has a FWEA-only membership available to those who are employed by a utility, or a state or federal agency. This membership class was put into place to be an affordable option to those members whose agency or utility may not pay for their membership and they do not need the national WEF benefits. The annual membership is only $50 and more information can be found on the website (www.fwea.org) under the “Membership” tab. Although this membership does not include WEF discounts or benefits, it does include the member discounts to FWEA events and a subscription to this magazine. If you are not already a FWEA member, I encourage you to go to the FWEA website and look at the membership options. If you have any questions, feel free to contact one of us. If you are already a member, I again encourage you to reach out to one person and invite him or her to an event or to join and get involved. Sometimes we are just waiting to be asked. Thank you for being a member. You aren’t just a number—you are a voice. S
FWRJ READER PROFILE
Terri Seligman-Smith Orange County Utilities, Water Reclamation Division, Orlando Work title and years of service: I am the utilities services coordinator at Orange County Utilities, where I have been employed for over 22 years What does your job entail? I develop, facilitate, coordinate, and track a variety of in-house specialized training programs for all staff to promote safe and effective operations, periodically reviewing programs to update materials and content. I coordinate and track outsourced training programs from vendors, and coordinate, develop, and instruct courses and proctor exams for FWPCOA wastewater collections tech and supervision courses. Through FWPCOA, I develop and coordinate CEU courses in classrooms for water, wastewater, and distribution system operators. I also coordinate and maintain the Orange County Utilities Water Reclamation Division Emergency Management Plan. I serve as chair for FWPCOA Region 11, coordinating and tracking regional training. For the past eight years, I have been a parttime instructor for the water resource technology programs at Orange Technical College, Mid-Florida Campus (formerly Mid-Florida Tech), teaching wastewater treatment operator Level C classes, and for the past four years, the water distribution level III and II courses as needed. I develop the lesson plans, curriculum, coursework, and schedules, as well as load and maintain the course contents for the water resource technology programs for the campus online environment.
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S Phi Theta Kappa Alumni Association S National Notary Association
Education/training you’ve taken: S Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning with Technologies S Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management S Class 3 Distribution System Operator License S Class A Wastewater Collection Technician Certification S Air Purifying and Supplied Air Respiratory Protection Training S FDOT Intermediate Work Zone Traffic Safety S BLS for Healthcare Provider Instructor S Excavation Safety S FEMA Emergency Response and Incident Command S UFTREEO Activated Sludge Process Control and Troubleshooting S UF TREEO Process Control of Advanced Waste Treatment Plants S Multiple correspondence courses from Office of Water Programs, CSU, Sacramento
How have the organizations helped your career? In addition to preparation courses for licenses and certifications, FWPCOA, FWEA, and FSAWWA offer opportunities for education on the latest information in the water/wastewater industry through classroom and online courses, trade journals, workshops, seminars/webinars, and conferences, so even the busiest operator, maintenance person, or water professional has an opportunity to advance their skills and knowledge, as well as earn the necessary CEUs for license renewal. These associations also give industry personnel opportunities to network with peers and other industry professionals exchanging ideas and experiences to foster well-rounded plant and field operations and maintenance personnel.
What do you like best about your job? Two things: First, as a trainer, when I am helping someone to learn a concept or topic and the lightbulb goes off in his or her eyes, and I know they got it—it is amazing! Secondly, no matter what my job title or duties have been, being a part of the water and wastewater industry has given me an opportunity to make a difference in my community and the environment for future generations.
What do you like best about the industry? There’s always something new to learn! As a trainer/educator, I believe we learn something new every day, no matter how many decades we live. The water/wastewater industry is constantly improving processes and changing technologies to make and deliver the best product, whether it’s biosolids, reclaimed water, or pristine drinking water, in a more efficient and effective way.
What organizations do you belong to? S Florida Section American Water Works Association (FSAWWA) S Water Environment Federation S Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association (FWPCOA) S Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA)
What do you do when you’re not working? I am honored to be serving on the FWPCOA Education Committee. My husband (whom I married in 2015) and I like to take our kayaks out on the beautiful waterways of Florida, and enjoy our six (plus one coming in October) grandchildren. I am the caregiver for my mother, and I love reading and quilting. S
August 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal
Terri teaches a recent FWPCOA supervision class.
Ethics for Water Professionals Donna Kaluzniak On June 13, 2014, employees from the Village of Westfield, N.Y., were attempting to fix a malfunctioning lift station. Andrew Thompson, chief operator of the wastewater treatment plant, directed the employees to deliberately dump the untreated sewage out of the station and into Chautauqua Creek, a public fishing creek that empties into Lake Erie. As a result of an investigation by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Thompson was charged and on May 20, 2016, pleaded guilty to violation of the Clean Water Act. The maximum penalty for the infraction is one year in prison and a fine of up to $25,000 per day of violation. When most people think about water and wastewater, they focus more on the technical side of the business. But ethics is an important factor for all water professionals—operations staff, consultants, vendors, regulators, and elected officials. The recent issue of lead in the water system in Flint, Mich., makes a discussion of ethics in the water industry very timely.
Examples of Ethical Lapses, Pressures, and Temptations Over the years, there have been many reports of unethical behavior, resulting in everything from regulatory fines to jail time. Utility managers who deliberately discharge untreated wastes or falsify information on regulatory reports have been fined and imprisoned. City officials using grant funds for other than their designated purpose have also been punished. Water professionals may sometimes be pressured to lower their ethical standards. Operators are well trained to know and understand the importance of proper sampling, testing,
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monitoring, and reporting. But some may be told by unethical managers or utility owners to omit reports of overflows or change test results to avoid regulatory fines. Operators may be “discouraged” from reporting breakdowns in order to avoid the cost of repairing or replacing equipment. Needing to keep their jobs, operators may feel they have no choice but to obey a superior. Some less scrupulous vendors may try to convince utility managers to purchase products by offering “free” trips or gadgets in return for an overpriced order. City staff or elected officials may be tempted to use a contractor or engineer because they have a financial interest in the com-
pany. Vendors or consultants may approach elected officials during a bid or proposal process to garner votes for their company. A lot of ethical issues are not as cut and dried as the ones that typically make the news. Maybe a treatment plant operator asks a workmate to cover for him if he comes in late on a night shift. Wanting to keep the peace, the operator might “clock in” for her buddy.
Staying Above the Line When pressured or tempted to take a potentially unethical action, an easy way to decide which way to go is to picture a headline in the newspaper. If that causes an uncomfortable feel-
August 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal
ing, it’s wise to rethink the action. Another alternative is to discuss the issue (depending on circumstances) with a manager, the human resources department, or even a family member or religious counselor.
Training Many companies and utilities provide ethics training. For most engineers and consultants, ethics courses are required. While the information in these courses may seem dry or boring, taking the examples to heart may be important to a future career in water. At a minimum, if a potentially unethical situation arises, such training can “ring a bell” and help to avoid a bad situation in the future. These classes are often taught by attorneys, using actual case law. Real-world examples of ethics cases provide a description of the original case, and the pain and punishment that ensued. Suggestions on how to avoid such situations, and class discussions, help students to make better decisions. Ethics training should be required for all water professionals. In addition, others involved in making decisions about water issues—such as some municipal staff and elected officials—should also receive training on ethics related to water. A company that values ethics is a more productive and pleasant place to work. Employee morale rises in an atmosphere that promotes ethical behavior and honest interactions. Workers feel more valued and, in turn, value the work they are doing when they feel the organization they work for is respectable and has a noble purpose, especially when it involves the health and safety of the public. Donna Kaluzniak, CEP, owns H2O Writing in Jacksonville Beach. S
FWPCOA TRAINING CALENDAR SCHEDULE YOUR CLASS TODAY! August 8-12 ........FALL STATE SHORT SCHOOL ..................Ft. Pierce
September 19-22 ........Backflow Tester*..........................................St. Petersburg ........$375/405 19-23 ........Utility Maintenance II ................................Osteen ..................$235/255 26-28 ........Backflow Repair ..........................................Osteen ..................$275/305 30 ........Backflow Tester recert*** ..........................Osteen ..................$85/115
October 3-7 ........Water Distribution Level 3, 2 ....................Osteen ..................$225/255 17-21 ........Reclaimed Water Field Site Inspector ......Osteen ..................$350/380 26-29 ........Backflow Tester ..........................................St. Petersburg ........$375/405 28 ........Backflow Tester recert*** ..........................Osteen ..................$85/115
November 14-16 ........Backflow Repair* ........................................St. Petersburg ........$250/275
December 12-14 ........Backflow Repair ..........................................Osteen ..................$275/305 30 ........Backflow Tester recert*** ..........................Osteen ..................$85/115 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
You are required to have your own calculator at state short schools and most other courses.
*** any retest given also Florida Water Resources Journal â&#x20AC;¢ August 2016
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Big Data Making Waves in Utility and Investment Communities Barry Liner mart-water infrastructure and big data are starting to attract funding both from investors and utilities after years of capturing the water sector’s imagination. Automated meter reading (AMR) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) have been around for decades, but improved sensors, advanced analytics, and visualization tools are now enabling utilities to better partner and interact with their customers. Smart-water infrastructure technology has the potential to reform delivery of services, while raising the quality of life by helping to make cities more sustainable and resilient. The smartcity movement encompasses many facets, such as smart buildings, energy management, transportation connectivity, information connectivity, high-speed data networks, and, of course, water management. Opportunities from smart-city programs are exciting to contemplate, but two factors really serve as the primary drivers for a city or community to implement smart-city initiatives: achieving cost efficiency and sustainability. In terms of actual implementation, water utilities trail natural gas and electric utilities in the implementation of smart initiatives. About a third of all natural gas utilities and one quarter of all electric utilities report being engaged in a smartcity initiative, while only 15 percent of water utilities claim to be. While smart-water practices are increasing in adoption, the barriers to implementation in the water sector are generally well known and include siloed communication within the utility and between infrastructure sectors, the need to justify return on investment, lack of budget, and lack of resources and expertise. Additionally, at the municipal level, sometimes short-term, highvisibility smart-infrastructure projects, such as street lights, digital kiosks, and electric vehicle charging systems, may gain funding approval
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more easily than water-related initiatives. Master planning efforts to integrate water, energy, communications, and transportation systems are complex and come with a longer time horizon, which might make them comparatively more difficult for decision makers. Opportunities abound, however, such as the potential of cloud-based platforms to facilitate implementation of these big-data solutions at utilities of all sizes. Small investments in hardware and software are required for cloud-based computing, which aligns well with resource constraints of small- and medium-sized utilities. Utilities implementing smart-water practices must consider six key aspects of a big-data platform: integration, analytics, visualization, development, workload optimization, and security and governance. Integration is critical to have one platform managing the data, as separate silos of data only create separate silos of insight; an integrated solution has to be bigger than one technology. Analytics tools are used to analyze the data, providing more sophisticated, accurate, and actionable information. Visualization tools bring the information into a form that is understandable to decision makers, be they utility managers, government officials, or customers. Development tools are needed to enhance the analytical and visualization engines, as well as support the overall platform. Workload optimization focuses on efficient processing and storage of the data. Security and governance are critical for maintaining the sensitive data that must be protected, which is especially important for public-sector agencies, including many water utilities. As more and more utilities implement smart-water practices, the opportunities to harness big data are growing rapidly. In March 2016, Imagine H2O announced the winners of its Water Data Challenge competition. These innovative startup companies provide an indicator of the momentum toward providing big-data solutions. While water and many other resources have been called “the new oil,” big data has earned this cliché moniker for nearly a decade as well. The big-data analogy to oil is quite appro-
August 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal
priate since oil has little value in its raw form, but when refined, it can power the world. The same can be said of big data: the water sector has a huge amount of data, but that data must be refined into information to spur utilities and customers to knowingly take action. Sensors are one of the biggest sources of big data, and the water sector is particularly rich in sensor data. Smart metering, inventory management and asset tracking, fleet management, supervisory control and data acquisition systems, and water quality instrumentation are major sources of sensor data. The Nutrient Sensor Challenge exemplifies one effort to advance sensor technology. The challenge is an innovation effort to accelerate the market for the development, adoption, and use of sensors to measure nitrate and orthophosphate in water. The goal is to encourage development of sensors that are affordable (a less than $5,000 purchase price), reliable (unattended operation for three months), and can provide accurate real-time data. The challenge, which seeks to accelerate these new technologies to commercial availability by 2017, is being sponsored by the Alliance for Coastal Technologies (ACT), which is a partnership of research institutions, state and regional resource managers, and private-sector companies, supported by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funding. The purpose is to develop, improve, and apply sensor technologies to study and monitor coastal environments. Private investment from venture capital firms are helping companies that provide solutions associated with many aspects of big-data platforms to advance at a rapid rate. For example, XPV Water Partners (Canada), one of the world’s leading institutional water funds, counts the U.S. firm FATHOM as one of its portfolio companies. Based in Phoenix, Ariz., FATHOM is a software-as-a-service, cloud-based, geospatial data integration platform helping to enable water utilities of all sizes to unlock the power of their meter and customer data in order to increase revenue, decrease costs, and delight customers. Emerald Technology Ventures
(Switzerland) recently invested in Optimatics, an Australian firm providing infrastructure planning software that uses genetic algorithms to optimize capital investment for water and wastewater utilities. Imagine H2O, a global water innovation accelerator, conducts water infrastructure challenges that produce companies advancing technologies for analytics, sensors, and visualization. From the analytics arena, 2015 winner Valor Water (San Francisco) provides customer sales analytics software to water utilities to address revenue risk, affordability, and supply management. Finalists included FLOWatch (Wynnewood, Pa.), which provides integrated asset management software for water and environmental systems operators, and Dropcountr (Redwood City, Calif.), which uses data analytics and mobile apps to communicate water usage and metrics to consumers and utility staff. On the topic of sensors, finalist Lumense (Atlanta) is developing a real-time, continuous-sensor platform for monitoring chemicals and biologicals in water, while fellow finalist Aquarius Spectrum (Israel) features a near real-time, automatic water pipe monitoring tool for leak detection based on acoustic sensing. Like Imagine H2O, The BREW accelerator program at the Water Council in Milwaukee, Wis., has seen an increase in big-data-related participants from the city. The most recent class
included Optiktechnik, which makes laser-based, optical sensors and instrumentation to improve monitoring and control of key particle processes in water and wastewater treatment. Radom creates instrumentation to identify toxic trace metals in water, wastewater, industrial processes, and food and drugs. Current Data is a watershed-focused water quality data-collection and information system using a sensor array and mobile app with cloud storage and analysis tools to lower the costs of data collection and increase its use in critical water quality decisions. In the BREWâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inaugural class, Meter Hero focused on water consumption data and social networking to drive conservation programs. Drinking water and wastewater are not the only categories of water sector advances in big data. On the groundwater front, Wellntel provides a real-time understanding of well and surrounding water-table dynamics, provided through constant measuring and reporting of water levels. Both Imagine H2O and the Water Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s BREW program recognized this firm for its innovation. Managing stormwater in real time is the focus of both EmNet and OptiRTC, while companies like H2Ometrics provide cloud-based visualization tools to better plan stormwater and sewer operations. Cloud-based solutions provided by innovators will help water utilities of all sizes advance smart-water infrastructure. Smart-water inno-
vation has even emerged from firms better known for other information technology sectors, such as network giant CISCO or mobile devices leader Qualcomm. With innovations developed by entrepreneurial startups and large companies, including IBM, GE, and OSIsoft, an exciting future is already underway for big-data solutions in smart-water infrastructure. The information provided in this article is designed to be educational. It is not intended to provide any type of professional advice, including, without limitation, legal, accounting, or engineering. Your use of the information provided here is voluntary and should be based on your own evaluation and analysis of its accuracy, appropriateness for your use, and any potential risks of using the information. The Water Environment Federation (WEF), author and publisher of this article, assumes no liability of any kind with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness of use for a particular purpose. Any references included are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute endorsement of any sources.
Barry Liner, Ph.D., P.E., is the director of the Water Science & Engineering Center at the Water Environment Federation (WEF). S
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PROCESS PAGE Greetings from the FWEA Wastewater Process Committee! This column highlights wastewater treatment facilities that have won the Earle B. Phelps Award.
Valrico Plant Wins Advanced Wastewater Treatment Category Award Tim Ware and London Womack he Earle B. Phelps Award had a wide range of applicants in 2016, and selecting the winners proved to be quite a challenge. Each of the facilities that submitted an application demonstrated good stewardship of the environment and consistently met permit requirements. Over the next few months, this column will highlight the top three facilities in the secondary, advanced secondary, and advanced wastewater treatment categories. This month, the winner from the advanced wastewater treatment category is highlighted.
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Valrico Wastewater Treatment Plant Nestled on a backroad in eastern Hillsborough County, the Valrico Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant (AWTP) is just a few steps off the beaten path. As a part of the county’s regional wastewater system, it is permitted to treat an annual average daily flow of 12 mil gal per day (mgd) under its National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit. As an AWT facility, it is re-
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quired to meet effluent limits of 5 mg/L of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), 5 mg/L of total suspended solids (TSS), 3 mg/L of total nitrogen (TN) and 1 mg/L of total phosphorus (TP). Over the last year, the facility treated an average daily flow rate of 6.1 mgd and saw a maximum daily flow rate of 7.1 mgd. The plant is managed by Adam Hunsberger, who is a Florida Class A wastewater operator and one of several members of his family in the wastewater treatment business. Adam oversees a staff of nine operators who work around the clock to keep the facility running at peak performance. Originally built in 1989, the facility has undergone substantial upgrades on four separate occasions. Currently, construction to replace the existing headworks is underway. Typical loadings and discharges at the plant are shown in the chart below. The treatment process at the plant begins with a headworks facility, which includes influent screening and grit removal. As previously mentioned, the headworks at the facility are currently in the process of being replaced and upgraded to facilitate the capture of more inorganic solids. The new structure will have two mechanical bar screens coupled with washer compactors and a manual bar screen as a bypass. It will also use two cyclone degritters.
August 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal
Odor control will be accomplished through a biological treatment unit. The Valrico Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility (AWWTF) is an extended aeration plant with an anaerobic zone before the aeration tank. The biological treatment includes four treatment trains with anaerobic selector tanks, followed by oxidation ditches. This treatment process provides the ability to simultaneously nitrify and denitrify in the oxidation ditches. These ditches discharge into six circular clarifiers, followed by eight deep bed sand filters. Disinfection is accomplished through two ultraviolet (UV) disinfection channels and is backed up with sodium hypochlorite as needed. The treated effluent can be disposed of through a variety of methods; most of it is transferred to reclaimed water users through the county’s extensive reclaimed distribution system. In 2015, approximately 67 percent of the AWWTFtreated effluent was distributed to public-access reuse. The facility has a permitted surface water discharge outfall that can be used as required. A reject water pond is also available should there be an upset in the process. The water from the pond can be returned to the headworks to begin the process again once the situation is resolved. Biosolids generated by the facility are ini-
tially stored in waste sludge holding tanks. The waste activated sludge is then dewatered via two centrifuges. The operation of the centrifuges is based on the electric off-peak hours to cut down on the cost of operation. The centrifuges run daily and fill seven to 10 trailers a week. The biosolids are then disposed of in one of three landfills. The facility faces several operational challenges when meeting its permit limits. The facility accepts biosolids transported by truck from several Hillsborough County School WWTFs. Additionally, nearly all of the leachate from the county’s solid waste management landfill is discharged to the facility containing high Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN), which can also have high amounts of recalcitrant nitrogen, forcing the facility to run as efficiently as possible to meet a TN limit of 3 mg/L. The facility currently operates at 51 percent capacity for flow and 8 percent capacity for influent TKN. The AWTP uses an onsite lab to run basic process control tests, such as ultraviolet trans-
missivity (UVT), pH, ammonia (NH3), nitrogen compounds (NOx), TSS, and others. An offsite lab is used for compliance testing. The offsite lab is also run by Hillsborough County and is fully accredited by the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC) for its approved quality assurance plan. The staff members at the Valrico plant take safety very seriously. They have gone for more than eight years, which is almost 3000 days, without a lost-time accident. The plant’s safety program consists of regular meetings covering a variety of topics, and also annual classes for first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), chlorine handling, and emergency response. Additionally, specialists in different trades are brought in to provide hands-on training for the staff. This ensures a working knowledge of the systems and equipment being used. Hillsborough County also utilizes a safety acronym (S.A.F.E.R) when approaching tasks (see sidebar). Previous plant operation and maintenance
awards received include the following: S Florida Pollution Control Association Earle B. Phelps Award (1992) S Department of Environmental Protection Excellence Award (1993 and 2002) S Association of Metropolitan Sewage Agencies Gold for Discharge Permit Compliance (1991, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, and 2002) and Silver (1998, 1999, and 2003) S FWEA Earle B. Phelps Award Honorable Mention (2014) With its excellent treatment history, knowledgeable staff, and exemplary safety record, the Hillsborough County Valrico Wastewater Treatment Plant continues to demonstrate its dedication to protecting the beautiful Florida environment. Tim Ware, P.E., is a client manager with Arcadis and London Womack is section manager for wastewater operations with Hillsborough County. S
The operations team, top row (left to right): Eric Gauld, plant supervisor; Gerardo Martinez, Richard Scheuch, and Alfonso Higareda, plant operators; and Adam Hunsberger, plant manager. Bottom row (left to right}: Peter Stryker, Yamilet Gonzalez, Mary Karow, and Desmond Dennis, plant operators. Two trainees not pictured are Earl Lee and John Hancock.
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Test Yourself
Test Your Knowledge of Emergency Preparedness and Response Ron Trygar
1. “Utilities Helping Utilities” is a motto of what organization? a. Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) b. American Water Works Association (AWWA) c. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) d. Florida Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (FlaWARN)
2. After the landfall of a storm, utilities in the affected counties must post their operational status in what FDEP program? a. FlaWARN b. State Emergency Response Team Geospatial Assessment Tool for Operations and Response (SERT GATOR) c. Monthly Discharge Monitoring Report (E-DMR) d. Stormtracker
3. “Circuit riders” with what organization provide rapid damage assessment for smallto medium-sized water utilities? a. Florida Water Agency Response Network b. Florida Rural Water Association c. Florida Water Environment Association d. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
4. What critical number is needed by responding utilities when providing emergency assistance to another utility and reimbursement is required? a. Facility public water system identification number b. SERT mission number c. Operator license numbers d. Water and wastewater equipment and chemical vendor contract number
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5. When is an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) an essential part of a utility’s response to provide aid to another utility? a. When the response crosses state lines. b. When the response crosses county lines. c. When the governor issues an emergency declaration. d. When the responders cross into another time zone.
6. Utilities must communicate their needs for assistance with their County EOC. What does EOC stand for? a. Emergent Opportunities Consortium b. Energy Optimization Controller c. Emergency Observation Compact d. Emergency Operations Center
7. Florida’s state EOC is made up of 18 ESFs. What is an ESF? a. Emergency Support Function b. Entire Staff Format c. Emergency Staffing Function d. Energy Saving Feature
8. Known as a living document, this contains standard operating procedures and guidelines for recovering from a natural or manmade disaster. a. Vulnerability Assessment Report b. Comprehensive Strategic Plan c. Emergency Response Plan d. Continuity of Operation Plan
9. If a suspected or confirmed security breach occurs at a drinking water facility, an operator must notify who and within what time frame? a. The State Warning Point at the State Watch Office within 24 hours. b. The State Warning Point at the State Watch Office within two hours. c. The County EOC within 24 hours. d. The FDEP Regional District Office within 12 hours.
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10. To enter the FDEP Stormtracker program and update a facilities operational status, the person making updates will need what number to log in on Stormtracker? a. State retirement program identification number b. Facility PWS or wastewater treatment plant discharge (WAFR) identification number c. Drinking water or wastewater operator’s license number d. EPA storage tank permit number Answers on page 54
SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS Readers are welcome to submit questions or exercises on water or wastewater treatment plant operations for publication in Test Yourself. Send your question (with the answer) or your exercise (with the solution) by email to: rtrygar@treeo.ufl.edu or by mail to: Ron Trygar, CET Senior Training Specialist UF TREEO Center Gainesville, Fla. 32608
FWEA CHAPTER CORNER Welcome to the FWEA Chapter Corner! The Public Relations Committee of the Florida Water Environment Association hosts this article to celebrate the success of recent association chapter activities and inform members of upcoming events. To have information included for your chapter, send the details to Lindsay Marten at Lindsay.Marten@stantec.com.
18th Annual Southeast Chapter Scholarship Golf Tournament is Huge Success Joan Fernandez The FWEA Southeast Chapter held its 18th annual FWEA Southeast Florida Chapter Scholar-ship Golf Tournament at the Hollywood Beach Golf Resort on May 13. The tournament this year had an excellent turnout once again with over 80 golfers from the municipal, construction, supplier, and consulting fields. Both golfers and volunteers enjoyed the beautiful weather. Taking first place was Team Costa/Kendrix/Lovett/Marshall. Second place was won by Team Fernandez/Hernstadt/ Santos/Baptiste and Team Keane/Vinas/ Acevedo/Betancourt placed third. Marcell Betancourt nabbed the longest-drive prize, and David Hernandez helicoptered in a beauty to land the closest-to-the-pin prize. Over $5,000 was raised, with the proceeds going to support the FWPCOA Operators Challenge; future water professionals through the FWEA state scholarship fund; and for scholarships at Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, and University of Miami. Our sponsors are the lifeblood of this event, and we appreciate them. Thank you! Also, many thanks to my fellow volunteers on the Golf Committee: Rod Lovett, MiamiDade Water and Sewer Department; Tara VanEyk and David Hernandez, Hazen and Sawyer; Amy Hightower and Eric Stanley, CDM Smith; and Manny Moncholi, Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department. Our next quarterly meeting will be held in August, so keep your eyes open for the invitation! As always, if you are interested in getting involved in the Southeast Chapter Steering Committee, please contact Amy Hightower at hightoweram@cdmsmith.com.
Gold Sponsors: • 300 Engineering Group
All Sponsors (including Silver and Bronze)
• BND Engineers • CDM Smith • CES Consultants • USSI • RUTT • Southern Sewer Equipment Sales • Pure Technologies • Hazen and Sawyer • Perma-Liner Industries • Insituform Technologies
Joan Fernandez, P.E., is principal engineer with Brown and Caldwell in Miami. S
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Water Organizations Takes Part in 20th Annual River Cleanup The Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (FSAWWA) and Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA) hosted an event, in conjunction with Volusia County, for the 20th annual St. Johns River Cleanup on National River Cleanup Day, held on April 16. All around the United States, similar efforts were made to raise awareness about the importance of keeping the country’s rivers free of hazardous and unsightly debris. Fifty volunteers came out in support and
canoed along the St. Johns River, picking up trash—both in the water and on the banks. Volunteers launched their canoes from Blue Springs State Park and traversed several miles for many hours in an effort to beautify the waterways. A total of approximately 8,000 pounds of trash were removed from the river banks by 670 registered volunteers from Lake, Seminole, and Volusia counties. S
Erica Stone and Amy Hunter preparing for lunch.
Blake Bennett, master chef, at the grill station.
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C FACTOR
Our Future Operators and Organization Leaders: What Are We Doing to Get Them Involved? Scott Anaheim President, FWPCOA
ost of our customers turn on their faucets and flush their toilets without considering where the water comes from or ends up. Water and wastewater treatment plant operators work quietly behind the scenes ensuring that the water we all use on a daily basis is safe for public health and the environment. While most folks may take their water for granted, operators work diligently to clean, test, and monitor this vital resource. The duties of water and wastewater treatment plant operators vary depending on the size of the plants. With a small plant, there may be only one operator maintaining all the systems; in large plants, multiple operators may work in shifts or have specialized duties. The operators run and maintain the pumps and motors that move water and wastewater through the filtration systems. They are responsible for making sure plant equipment works properly, run tests to determine water quality, and make any necessary adjustments to the amount of chemicals in the water. Water and wastewater plant operators also are responsible for complying with the strict standards of the U.S. Environmental Protection
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Agency and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). Violations can result in environmental concerns and public health issues, hefty fines, and loss of licenses. There’s more to the job than most people think, and the need for training is now as important as ever, especially with the constant changes in technology and water-related standards. The industry has taken its lumps in the news recently, so more eyes are looking at how we treat our water and wastewater. Operators have the wonderful opportunity to work those great shifts that everyone loves, whether it’s at night, a DuPont 12-hour rotating schedule, or whatever schedule management can devise to maintain personnel coverage at the plant. Keeping this in mind, it’s hard trying to find the best option for training. With that said, as an organization we need to find a way to get that training to the operators, whether we add additional online courses, on-the-road training to utilities, some joint training with other organizations (as much as some may not like to hear that), and of course, short schools. Training is not the only issue we face with operators. The other elephant in the room that everyone keeps avoiding is the need for future operators. In fact, the American Water Works Association estimates that almost 50 percent of today’s water and wastewater operators will retire within the next five to seven years. We need more high schools to review their technical training courses and look at offering a residence course. There are a few districts in
Florida that currently offer them, like Heritage High School in Brevard County and Academy of Coastal and Water Resources in St John’s County. Both of these schools have seen an increase in enrollment in the courses offered and improvement on passing rates for the FDEP exams. So, there’s hope for the future, and with the success of the programs, maybe more school districts will start their own. We need to work with as many organizations as possible to help bring young people into our industry and our association. Yes, the current workforce is older and getting ready to retire, but it makes up most of our membership and leadership. What we need to look at is what we are doing to get younger folks involved with our association. I know from being a region director that it’s hard to get regular members to attend meetings, much less the younger employees who don’t have or aren’t willing to take the time to attend them. It’s time for us to start looking at what we can do to get them motivated to join and become active members. We still rely heavily on so many of the older members that have been around since the invention of the wheel. I don’t want to take anything away from them because they have contributed so much of their time and energy to make this association as strong as it is—and they still do a great job. My point is that one day they may want to take it easy and we need people willing to step up and take the reins. So that’s what I want to work on: how to get that untapped talent involved and how we can do it. I know with the high school students and new hires we can help by being mentors, but what do we do to get to the five- to 10-year employees to show them how valuable this organization is to the industry and what training is available? I would love to hear any comments on how you think we can achieve this goal, so please email any of your thoughts to president@fwpcoa.org.
Online Institute Update The Online Institute presently has 80 active courses and 281 registered students. Please continue to advise your members of the availability of the FWPCOA Online Institute in your newsletters and at your membership meetings. There are 10 months left in the 2017 license renewal cycle, so encourage operators to start earning CEUs before the end of the cycle. S
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August 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal
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CLASSIFIEDS P osi ti ons Ava i l a b l e
Utilities Treatment Plant Operations Supervisor $55,452 - $78,026/yr.
Utilities System Operator II & III
Orange County, Florida is an employer of choice and is perennially recognized on the Orlando Sentinel’s list of the Top 100 Companies for Working Families. Orange County shines as a place to both live and work, with an abundance of world class golf courses, lakes, miles of trails and year-round sunshine - all with the sparkling backdrop of nightly fireworks from world-famous tourist attractions. Make Orange County Your Home for Life.
$37,152 - 52,279/yr.; $39,011 - $54,892/yr.
Water-Reuse Distribution Supervisor $55,452 – 78,026/yr.
Utilities Engineering Inspector $52,279 - $73,561.90
Utilities Treatment Plant Operator I $46,010 - $60,519/yr. Apply Online At: http://pompanobeachfl.gov Open until filled.
Orange County Utilities is one of the largest utility providers in Florida and has been recognized nationally and locally for outstanding operations, efficiencies, innovations, education programs and customer focus. As one of the largest departments in Orange County Government, we provide water and wastewater services to over 500,000 citizens and 66 million annual guests; operate the largest publicly owned landfill in the state; and manage in excess of a billion dollars of infrastructure assets. Our focus is on excellent quality, customer service, sustainability, and a commitment to employee development. Join us to find more than a job – find a career. We are currently looking for knowledgeable and motivated individuals to join our team, who take great pride in public service, aspire to create a lasting value within their community, and appreciate being immersed in meaningful work. We are currently recruiting actively for the following positions:
Reiss Engineering, Inc. Looking for an opportunity to make a difference? Looking for a dynamic team environment where you can manage and lead projects to success? Reiss Engineering is seeking top-notch talent to contribute and make a difference for our people, our clients, and our community! Reiss Engineering delivers highly technical water and wastewater planning, design, and construction management services for public agencies throughout Florida. To see open positions and submit a resume to join our team, visit www.reisseng.com.
WATER DIVISION MANAGER The Town of Jupiter Island/ South Martin Regional Utility is looking for a water plant manager for operations supervision of its water treatment facilities. Go to www.southmartinregionalutility.com for complete job description, application and submission requirements. Exempt/DFWP/EOE. Open until filled.
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Industrial Electrician I $36,733 – $43,035/ year Apply online at: http://www.ocfl.net/jobs. Positions are open until filled.
CITY OF WINTER GARDEN – POSITIONS AVAILABLE The City of Winter Garden is currently accepting applications for the following positions:
- Traffic Sign Technician - Water/Wastewater Plant Operator – Class C - Solid Waste Worker II - Collection Field Tech – I & II - Distribution Field Tech – I & II Please visit our website at www.cwgdn.com for complete job descriptions and to apply. Applications may be submitted online, in person or faxed to 407-877-2795.
City of Winter Garden Construction Projects Manager The position acts as the City's project manager for all capital improvement construction projects including water, wastewater, roadways, parks, stormwater systems and other facilities; inspection of private development projects; and supervision of 3 construction inspectors. Salary DOQ. The City of Winter Garden is an EOE/DFWP that encourages and promotes a diverse workforce. Please apply at http://www.cwgdn.com. Minimum Qualifications: ~ High school diploma or GED equivalent and two years of college coursework. ~ 10 years of field experience in utilities and/or structural construction management ~ Working knowledge of general construction of above and below ground utilities. ~ Valid driver's license
Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida Lead Operator Full-time 40 hours per week, Day shift, ability to work flexible schedule & holidays as necessary. Performs work involving operation and maintenance of a small utility. Operator must possess a "B" License from State of Florida or equivalent. Must have valid Florida Drivers License. Backflow certification desired. Clean Criminal Background. Email resume to: BrinaA@miccosukeetribe.com or fax (305) 894- 2350. Work Location is 20 Miles west of Krome Ave on Tamiami Trail, Miami.(Salary, $45-$50K D.O.Q)
Peace River Manasota Regional WSA - Mechanic The Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority is accepting applications for a Mechanic at our Peace River Water Treatment Facility located in DeSoto County. Position performs skilled work in the maintenance and repair of water treatment plants, pumping stations and transmission mains. Employee in this class must have a basic knowledge of the function of wells, pumps, valves, piping, motors and water treatment-related equipment. Salary $32K-$43K. Visit www.regionalwater.org for application and complete job description. Submit application to 9415 Town Center Parkway, Lakewood Ranch, Florida 34202. For information email peaceriver@regionalwater.org or call 941/316-1776. Position open until filled. The Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Drug Free Workplace. Veterans and spouses may receive preferential treatment.
Utility Operations Trainee: On the job training in utility operations, lift station maintenance and repair, leading to certification and licensure of Water/WW Treatment within two years of hire. Salary based on experience. Benefits package. Valid drivers license required, Drug Free, Smoke Free Workplace. MUST RESIDE IN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE TO POLK COUNTY, FL. Fax resume with detailed information on experience specific to the position CONSTA FLOW 863-965-1733 or email to cindy@constaflow.com
Assistant Director of Utilities Salary Range: $77,961.00-$140,875.00 The City of Miramar, Florida invites applications from highly skilled candidates to apply for the position of Assistant Director of Utilities. This is a professional position that plans, promotes, organizes and administers the programs, functions and services of a core function of the Utilities Department. Under limited supervision, performs complex professional and administrative work coordinating and assisting divisions within the Utilities Department. Core functions may include one or more divisions of the Department and are currently defined as administrative supervisory responsibilities and management of capital construction projects and coordinating the activities of engineers and contractors retained by the City for design and construction of capital projects. The position is also responsible for developing and implementing long-range growth management plans, based on current and future projected needs for the Utilities Department. This position plans, directs and coordinates diversified administrative and procurement functions, supervises cost analysis and control, budget preparation and inventory controls, as well as ensures compliance with all applicable policies, procedures and regulations and standards. Minimum Training and Experience This position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering or related field, supplemented by ten years’ experience directly related to utilities management and operations, as well as an understanding of utility design and construction operations. A minimum of five years’ of progressive experience in a supervisory capacity is required with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience providing the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Possession of a State of Florida Professional Engineer License is required, and the applicant must possess and maintain a valid Florida driver’s license throughout employment. Please apply via internet: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/miramar/default.cfm City of Miramar 2300 Civic Center Place Miramar, Florida 33027
CITY OF TITUSVILLE – SENIOR UTILITY ENGINEER Salary Range: $50,281 - $64,109 Annually DOQ BS in Civil or Environmental Engineering plus 3 years of engineering experience required. Knowledge of engineering and construction for municipal water and wastewater systems. Requires a thorough knowledge in the design of potable water supply and distribution, sanitary collection and treatment, and subdivision utility plans. Must be a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Florida or be able to obtain within six months of employment. Visit web-site-www.titusville.com or call 321-567-3728-EOE
Licensed Water Plant Operator The North Springs Improvement District is seeking Licensed Water Plant Operators. Must possess Class C or higher FL Drinking Water License. We offer excellent Health Benefits and Pension. Please email Mimi Ortega at MireyaO@nsidfl.gov with your application. Classifieds continued from page 54
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Test Yourself Answer Key
The City of Newberry Water – Wastewater Operator I The City of Newberry is accepting applications for individuals to fill the full-time position of Water & Wastewater Operator I. This is technical work involved in all aspects of the operation and maintenance of the City’s Wastewater and Water Plants. The employee works under the general direction of the Water/Wastewater Supervisor. The employee typically works shifts in combination with other Operators but may be assigned to work certain shifts alone. Salary range $14.77 - $20.68 an hour. Visit www.ci.newberry.fl.us for application and complete job description. Submit applications to P.O. Box 369 Newberry, Fl. 32669 Attn: Human Resources. For more information email deborah.starr@ci.newberry.fl.us or call 352-4746388. Position open until filled. The City of Newberry is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug Free Workplace.
From page 42 1. D) FlaWARN Florida’s Water Agency Response Network is activated before a storm event and tracks utility needs and available resources like generators, pumps, and staff.
2. D) Stormtracker The FDEP Stormtracker is activated after the landfall for utilities to post their operational status to the State EOC. Options include fully operational (green), partially operational (yellow), or nonoperational (red). Unknown status is color-coded grey.
3. B) Florida Rural Water Association (FRWA) The FRWA circuit riders live all over the state and either call or visit facilities to confirm their status and need requests.
4. B) The SERT mission number
Fo r S a l e Environmental Laboratory equipment – Certification: SM 5210B, SM2540D, Micro capable, TC and FC. QA/QC manual, SOP’s Email: wmdfges@yahoo.com Tel; 386 437-0116
Pos i ti o ns Wa nt e d BRIAN BARNES – Holds a Florida double C License with one plus years experience. Has taken the Florida B Wastewater exam and is scheduled to sit for the B Water exam. Has a Florida CDL driver’s license and prefers the Pinellas and Hillsborough areas. Contact at 2042 62nd Ave. S. St Petersburg, Fl. 33712. 727-318-3954 ANTHONY JONES – Holds a Florida C Wastewater License with a Water License pending. Prefers Pinellas and adjacent areas. Contact at 5396 4th St. North, Unit #104. St Petersburg, Fl. 33703. 727-527-7261 DARRYL E. WILLIAMS – Has passed test for C Water and C Wastewater licenses. Currently has 785 credit hours but needs additional plant hours to obtain his license. Prefers the St Petersburg and adjacent vicinity. Contact at 4327 8th Ave. S. St Petersburg, Fl. 33711. 813-215-8332
Display Advertiser Index Acipio ........................................39 Blue Planet ................................55 CEU Challenge ............................11 CROM ........................................31 Data Flow Systems ....................29 FSAWWA CONFERENCE Sponsors ............................12-13 Attendee Registration................14 Exhibits ....................................15 Poker........................................16 Golf ..........................................17 Utility Systems Symposium ......18
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FSAWWA Conference con’t Competitions ............................19 Water Distribution Awards ........20 FWPCOA Training ........................37 FWRC Call for Papers..................45 Garney..........................................5 Hudson Pump ............................35 Lakeside Equipment ..................33 Medora ........................................9 Stacon..........................................2 UF Treeo Center ..........................47 Water Resources Technologies ..56
August 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal
The State Emergency Response Commision (SERC) houses the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) and issues a mission number in EM Constellation or web EOC programs when requests for assistance come in. The mission number must be present on all receipts, forms, and documents responders acquire while helping another utility if they expect reimbursement.
5. A) When the response crosses state lines. Utilities can give help to utilities in another state, but to be reimbursed, an EMAC is set up between the state governments to accelerate the reimbursement of any expenses incurred by the responding utility.
6. D) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) The County EOC must be made aware of any responding utility and assistance provided within their county.
7. A) Emergency Support Function (ESF) Following the U.S. National Response Framework, and NIMS (National Incident Management System), local and state EOCs have ESFs that pertain to specific entities like Public Works (ESF 3) and Hazmat Response (ESF 10). The state EOC in Tallahassee contains 18 ESFs, but some local and county EOs may have more than that.
8. C) Emergency Response Plan (ERP) The ERP is based on the vulnerability assessment and changes often, especially after employees retire or relocate and are no longer a part of the utility response plan. Update and review your ERP often—at least annually!
9. B) The State Warning Point at the State Watch Office within two hours. According to Chapter 62-555.350 (10) (a) FAC, suppliers of water shall telephone the SWP at (800) 320-0519 immediately (i.e., within two hours) after discovery of any actual or suspected sabotage or security breach, or any suspicious incident, involving a public water system.
10. B) The facility PWS or WAFR identification number The person attempting to update information in Stormtracker will need either the drinking water facility PWS identification number or the wastewater treatment plant discharge permit (WAFR) number to access Stormtracker.