December 2013 . Volume 65 . Number 12 by Florida Water Resources Journal

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NEWS AND FEATURES 4 How Safe Are Our Water Industry Control Systems?—Gene Monteleone 18 USF Teams Win at WEFTEC Student Design Competition—Erin Morrison and Margaret Cone

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President: Patrick Lehman, P.E. (FSAWWA) Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority Vice President: Howard Wegis, P.E. (FWEA) Lee County Utilities 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

TECHNICAL ARTICLES 6 City of West Palm Beach Makes Priority Improvements to Aging Water Treatment Plant—Gerardus Schers, Becky Hachenburg, Heath Wintz, Brian LaMay, Don Lythberg, Sam Heady, and Poonam Kalkat

22 Controlling Nitrification Within Pinellas County’s Ground Storage Tanks— Christopher C. Baggett, John H. Horvath, Roberto A. Rosario, Robert Powell, and James Hall

43 On-Line Water Quality Monitoring for Distribution System Operational Improvements and Security—Gary Jacobson and Ken Thompson

EDUCATION AND TRAINING 14 34 35 36 41 42 47 54

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.

Florida Water Resources Conference Exhibitor Prospectus and Call for Papers ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium FWPCOA State Short School TREEO Environmental Training FSAWWA Training CEU Challenge FWPCOA Training Calendar FWEA PACP/MACP/LACP Training

COLUMNS 20 30 32 34 36 38 40

Spotlight on Safety—Doug Prentiss Sr. FSAWWA Speaking Out—Jason Parrillo Certification Boulevard—Roy Pelletier Legal Briefs—Gerald Buhr FWEA Focus—Greg Chomic FWEA Chapter Corner—Lindsay Marten C Factor—Jeff Poteet

DEPARTMENTS

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

Save the Date for the 2014 Florida Water Resources Conference Larrabee Named New FSAWWA Chair Register Now for 2014 Florida Water Resources Conference Contests News Beat

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New Products Service Directories Classifieds Display Advertiser Index

Volume 65

ON THE COVER: The mixing and metering header at the City of West Palm Beach Water Treatment Plant. (photo: City of West Palm Beach)

December 2013

Number 12

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

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Florida Water Resources Journal • December 2013

How Safe are Our Water Industry Control Systems? Gene Monteleone Thinking back over my 30 years of working in electronics, and 25 years of writing programmable logic controller (PLC) code and installing systems in the field, I realized there was so much we hadn't foreseen about the future. To tell you a little about myself, I am one of those guys who still uses a flip phone—and I wouldn't carry it if it wasn't absolutely necessary. In short, I am an old guy who started my controls career by designing and wiring relay panels and motor control centers (MCCs). Well, a few years ago, my wife and I watched the Bruce Willis movie Live Free or Die Hard, where a bunch of Internet hackers break into all the vital industrial control systems and cause havoc for the United States. After the movie, my wife asked me, “Is that possible?” I of course said, “No way; the systems aren't even on the Internet like that. The systems are all isolated; it would be impossible.” I actually laughed to myself at the naiveté of her question. Well, I am not laughing now.

Vulnerabilities Uncovered A few weeks ago, one of the young engineers at work showed me how he could use a laptop that wasn't part of the control system and had no PLC programming software on it. He placed some code he had written onto the desktop of the computer. He then walked across the room and triggered the code from his smartphone. The laptop ran the code, located the PLC on the network, and wiped out the running ladder logic. What really surprised me was that the PLC had a password on it. He had found a vulnerability on this particle PLC's password system. I won't mention the PLC or describe the vulnerability here, in fear someone may use it to cause harm. He then placed a small Phoenix din rail mountable MGuard security device in front of the PLC on the network and was able to protect the PLC from his smartphone/laptop attack. He had set it up as a simple firewall. I thought to myself, “Okay, the laptop, although it wasn't part of the control system network, had access to the network. So the attack must only be possible if it comes from inside the network, from a device that already has permission to be on the network.” Our nation's infrastructure is still relatively safe, unless someone actually gets inside a building and has direct access to the network. So no real worries, right? Well, I spent three days researching, watch-

ing hacker videos, and downloading free software from the Internet. I set myself to the task of getting onto a network that I didn't have permission to be on and seeing what I could do. Now remember, I’m the guy who still carries a flip phone. I first had to crack a WiFi-protected access wireless router (WPA) and get permission to be on the network, then locate a PLC on the network and be able to manipulate the code in some way. I made sure the PLC was password protected and the key switch was in run mode, not terminal mode. As you can imagine, this was impossible: a WPA router, a PLC with a password, and in run mode. I would be better off calling in Tom Cruise and his team from Mission Impossible to accomplish this, right? Wrong! It took me about an hour and fifteen minutes for the free software to crack the WPA wireless routers password. It took another five to ten minutes for me to locate the PLC on the network. Then it took me less than three and half minutes to force a “1” onto all the memory coils and output coils. I know it was less than three and a half minutes because the free demonstration software “times out” after that and it is not PLC programming software. I was my own hero. I had just defeated all my own security features that I had been installing for years: a password protected router that was not on the Internet, a PLC with a password, and the key switch placed into run mode. Oh, the password and key switch for the PLC was easy to overcome; with the free software, I was able to write to the PLC. The software didn't care if there was a password or what mode the PLC was in. My mythical air gap “totally isolated system” did not work. My heart sank thinking of all the systems that not only I, but all of us, have been installing over the years. Based on what I have just said, you would think that a password protected router, a password protected PLC, a key switch in run mode, and the network not tied to the Internet is isolated, right? It’s protected, right? Nope! How many of these systems are out there now, just as I described them?

A Call to Action So, I want to pose some very serious questions: What happens if your control system gets completely wiped out? What happens if someone breaks in and forces some pumps “on”? Can your valves be open or closed by someone else? What can we do to better protect our systems, our infrastructures, our customers, and our nation?

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

I call for Florida’s water and wastewater professionals to be the leaders in this task. After all, we are the experts. We are the people on the front line. We are the ones who know the damage that can occur turning all the pumps on, closing all the valves, and overriding all the safety systems. We must work together to solve this by demanding better security features from our suppliers’ equipment, ensuring our designers are aware of the problem, and making sure our installers are following procedures. I call on the water and wastewater industry to develop a committee to address this very real concern. Talk to you vendors. Talk to your integrators. Talk to your information technology department. Now I have told you what the problem is and I have proven to you how vulnerable our systems are by me being able to hack into a “secured system.” But don't rely on my little story for you to take action; I leave you with this final quote to ponder: “We know that foreign cyber actors are probing America's critical infrastructure networks. They are targeting the computer control systems that operate chemical, electrical, and water plants, and those that guide transportation throughout this country. We know of specific instances where intruders have successfully gained access to these control systems. We also know that they are seeking to create advanced tools to attack these systems and cause panic, destruction, and even the loss of life. Let me explain how this could unfold. An aggressor nation or extremist group could use these kinds of cyber tools to gain control of critical switches. They could, for example, derail passenger trains, or even more dangerously, derail trains loaded with lethal chemicals. They could contaminate the water supply in major cities or shutdown the power grid across large parts of the country. The most destructive scenarios involve cyber actors launching several attacks on our critical infrastructure all at one time, in combination with a physical attack on our country. The collective result of these kinds of attacks could be a “cyber Pearl Harbor,” an attack that would cause physical destruction and the loss of life. In fact, it would paralyze and shock the nation and create a new, profound sense of vulnerability.” Secretary of Defense Leon E. Penetta – October 11, 2012. Over one year later, what has been done about this? It is up to us. Gene Monteleone is general manager with Matador Controls LLC in Palm Bay.

F W R J

City of West Palm Beach Makes Priority Improvements to Aging Water Treatment Plant Gerardus Schers, Becky Hachenburg, Heath Wintz, Brian LaMay, Don Lythberg, Sam Heady, and Poonam Kalkat hen the West Palm Beach Water Treatment Plant (WTP) was built by industrialist Henry Flagler in 1894, the facility used an average of four cords of wood per day to pump 1.5 mil gal of water per day (mgd) to Palm Beach and surrounding areas. Although the steam-driven pumps are long gone and the capacity of the facility has grown to 47 mgd, the founder of the Florida East Coast Railroad and Palm Beach would be proud to see his water WTP modernized with 21st-century technology. The City of West Palm Beachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Public Utilities Department has ongoing major capital improvement projects at its WTP that will improve the reliability, safety, and security of its public water supply. The source of the surface water for the facility is a 20-sq-mi wetland catchment area known as the Grassy Waters Preserve, making the City one of the few utilities in the state of Florida to not use groundwater. This surface water is conveyed by a canal and two shallow lakes before ultimately reaching the WTP intakes in East Clear Lake. As with all surface water treatment facilities, rainfall, stormwater management, and other factors can provide fluctuations in raw water quality and

Figure 1.West High Service Pump Station, Constructed 1926. Photo of Current Building Overlaid With Original Design.

December 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ Florida Water Resources Journal

Gerardus Schers is national water practice lead, Becky Hachenburg is senior client service lead, Heath Wintz is senior engineer, and Don Lythberg is construction manager with MWH in West Palm Beach. Brian LaMay is supervising engineer with MWH in Sunrise. Sam Heady is assistant utility director and Poonam Kalkat is water treatment plant manager with City of West Palm Beach.

quantity that have provided challenges to the water treatment process. The West Palm Beach WTP is located in the downtown corridor of a major metropolitan area, surrounded by residential homes, high-rise buildings, and businesses. In 2007, a series of bacteriological hits in the distribution system led to two boil-water notifications. Investigations by public utilities department staff, regulators, contract utility operators, and consulting engineers led to the discovery of an improperly sealed interconnect not shown on the as-built drawings, Continued on page 8

Florida Water Resources Journal â&#x20AC;˘ December 2013

Continued from page 6 which allowed filtered, chlorinated water to bypass the storage tanks without providing the contact time necessary for bacteriological and virus kill prior to distribution. Triage for the 100-year-old WTP involved the separation of filter backwash and side thickener supernatant return flows from the main treatment process, isolation of the interconnect to restore disinfection contact time, and replacement of inoperable valves and mechanical systems. The City selected MWH, a global wet infrastructure engineering, consulting, and construction firm, to perform condition assessments, evaluations of alternative processes, bench- and pilot-scale process investigations, and design activities for the WTP improvements. In 2009, the City initiated several priority projects, identified, in part, by the condition assessment, that have been completed or are still under construction: Disinfection with liquid chemicals Safe access driveway to maneuver onto and off the WTP property Reliable electrical/generator building Dosing, mixing, and metering of finished water chemicals Automation of the treatment process High-service pumps rehabilitation `These projects are spread across the WTP site, as illustrated in the graphic, requiring close

coordination with the City’s operations staff. The combined construction value of all priority projects, which includes the projects highlighted in this article, is around $54 million. As part of the priority projects, MWH provided hands-on training to the City’s operations staff, with the goal to improve the understanding of the treatment process. Training sessions included concentration x contact time (CT) calculations for disinfection, jar testing for coagulation, and turbidity trending and reporting for media filtration. The training sessions resulted in a step change of the WTP operations, and this in itself provided a significant improvement to the water treatment process.

Disinfection With Liquid Chemicals Improves Safety By Eliminating Hazardous Gasses Prior to 2009, all disinfection chemical feed systems at the facility were operated manually. Gaseous chlorine and ammonia dosing were controlled by adjusting rotameters manually any time the process flow was changed. Conversion of gaseous chlorine to liquid sodium hypochlorite eliminated the need to store nearly 40 1-ton cylinders and 15 120-lb cylinders. Likewise, conversion of anhydrous ammonia to aqueous ammonia for chloramine disinfection eliminated the risk of a poisonous gas leak within the city. Installation of variable frequency drives (VFD) controlled metering pumps for the liquid chlorine and ammonia systems, and remote monitoring of residual-free and combined chlorine allowed for remote operation and control of the dosing pumps as the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system developed. During the design of the sodium hypochlorite system,

Figure 2. West Palm Beach WTP Site Plan with Priority Projects Highlighted.

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

the need for close coordination among project teams became apparent. In an effort to provide operational flexibility, an existing underground ammonia pipeline and injection point was modified to add an additional chlorine injector. A leak from an incorrectly installed chlorine pipe allowed a stream of chlorine solution to spray and attack the stainless steel ammonia pipeline. The chemical and material incompatibility led to a gaseous ammonia leak in a confined space under the WTP’s primary entrance/exit driveway, resulting in an evacuation from that area and a temporary blockage of traffic using the driveway. This situation not only brought to light the need for an intrinsically safe chemical injection point and centralized residual monitoring, but also the need to reduce vehicular traffic near critical WTP assets.

New Access Driveway Provides Safe Maneuvering Onto and Off the WTP Property The vulnerability assessment confirmed the primary entrance to the West Palm Beach WTP as a risk for the City, given its proximity to critical assets. All vehicular traffic for the facility was required to navigate through the oldest part of the facility, which contained transfer and high-service pumping, finished water chemical dosing, emergency power generation, and electrical switchgear. Additionally, access from Banyan Boulevard was unsafe without the presence of proper turn lanes for maneuvering on and off the WTP property. To reduce the risk presented by this entrance, a new plant-access driveway was constructed along the north side of the property from Australian Avenue—a larger thoroughfare. This new access driveway included a dedicated turn lane, security guard checkpoint, video surveillance, and card-swipe-access control for the City staff. Chemical deliveries, sludge transport, Continued on page 10

Figure 3. Safe Access Driveway from Australian Avenue.

Service Name Aquifer Storage and Recovery SERVICE/PRPDUCT DESCRIPTOR

STRATEGIC STORAGE OF RECLAIMED WATER

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Reclaimed water stored in an aquifer for beneficial reuse—a success story in Florida. The Destin Water Users’ aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) system has increased the reliability of the water supply, reduced demands on freshwater resources, and helps the utility avoid potential wastewater disposal impacts. With an aquifer similar to many coastal areas, the Destin ASR system provides a prototype for other regions. Read the technical article at

water.slb.com/destin-asr-article Florida Water Resources Journal • December 2013 © 2201133 SSchlu chlum ch chlu mbe mber berger ger. ge e 13-W 3 WSS-001 3-WS 00018 0018

Continued from page 8 and traffic from ongoing construction are now safely separated from the critical assets.

Water Treatment Plant Reliability Improved With New Electrical/Generator Building Following Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004, the standby generators of the West Palm Beach WTP failed. A natural sense of urgency prompted the City to purchase two 2,000 kW remanufactured generators to provide generator power to the WTP. The new generators proved too large for the building, prompting the removal of the roof and façade and creating other challenges, such as a fan-driven rainwater short in the NEMA1 electrical equipment, failure of the automatic transfer switch, failure of a generator stator, and noise complaints from nearby residential neighbors. Additionally, the switchgear for the WTP was constructed in 1985 as part of a new building that also housed the transfer and high-service pumps. During a loss of utility power, and

subsequently a failure of the generators, the transfer pump clearwell overflowed within just 15 min and flooded the building, threatening the adjacent electrical switchgear on the first floor. To address these issues, MWH designed a new electrical/generator building and a dedicated “express” electrical feed from the Evernia Street substation located on the WTP site. The new generator building includes three 2,500 kW generators, an air intake rain knockdown plenum, sound damping exhaust plenum, and a new Florida Power and Light transformer vault, as well as 4160V primary and generator switchgear. The express electrical feed, augmented with two additional utility feeds from the Evernia and West Palm Beach substations, provides power to the double-ended switchboards and subsequently to all equipment, with an option to seamlessly transfer between utility and on-site generated power. This transfer feature is of critical importance during the wet season, allowing seamless transitioning between preferred power sources. Proactive management between sources helps to navigate through brownouts and blackouts and avoids interruptions to the treatment process and high-service pumping. This project also eliminates or replaces many obsolete loop switches, motor control centers, and electrical distribution panel boards. Historically, constant speed motors have shut down at the WTP upon utility power failure. As

part of the improvements to the facility, a number of VFDs have been added and programmed for power loss “ride-through” by using the capacitors in the direct current bus of the drives. The primary function of these capacitors is to filter the voltage and provide a stable direct current source for the inverter section of the drive. However, through VFD programming, these capacitors can discharge over a three-second switchover to standby power, avoiding a process interruption or a pressure loss in the distribution system during brownouts and short blackouts. These VFDs provide the added benefit of reducing current in-rush to the motors in order to “peak-shave” electrical demands of the facility, reducing electricty costs. Construction of the generator building at the heart of an aged facility has not been without challenges. During construction, unreliable record drawings of underground utilities and inoperable isolation valves complicated the relocation of a 42-in. finished water line. To facilitate the relocation, 42-in. and 24-in. line stops were installed to bypass this section of the pipeline, which was nearly 15 ft deep and located only 25 ft away from a railway. The project team members, including MWH, ensured that adequate shoring and thrust restraint was provided for this hot tap. The work was done successfully and this section of pipe was bypassed, while protecting the arterial line supplying potable water to the downtown area.

Dosing, Mixing, and Metering of Finished Water Chemicals Stabilizes Finished Water Quality Initial investigations in 2008 revealed that the mixing of disinfection chemicals was insuf-

Figure 4A. New Electrical/Generator Building Increases Reliability of WTP Service.

Figure 4B. View on Double-Ended Main and Generator Switchgear.

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Figure 5.42-in. Line Stop to Bypass In-Service Water Main Supplying.

ficient. Chlorine and ammonia were being injected into a 60-in. gravity, prestressed cylindrical concrete pipe (PCCP) immediately upstream of the transfer pump clearwell. Although transfer pump impellers provided the mixing energy downstream, quiescent plug flow through the 125,000-gal clearwell did not provide the favorable conditions necessary for immediate and complete monochloramine formation. During the construction of the sodium hypochlorite system, a chemical piping trench was added to accommodate all finished water chemical pipelines from the dosing pumps to a new central dosing point. Prior to the construction of this piping trench, finished water chemical feed lines were spread over multiple corridors to multiple injection points across the property. These finished water chemicals included sodium hypochlorite, ammonium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, ortho/polyphosphate blend, and hydrofluosilicic acid. The existing chemical injection points relied on turbulence from fittings and pipe bends, which provided incomplete mixing and reaction. Furthermore, finished water chemicals were dosed based on an aggregate flow from 26 individual filter effluent flow meters. With an inaccuracy of +/- 0.5 percent each, the total inaccuracy of the finished water flow signal could be as high as +/- 13 percent. To alleviate these issues, the City constructed an above-grade 48-in. in-line static mixer and a centralized venturi flow meter between the transfer pump station and the ground storage tanks. Since the system only has enough storage to be off line for 8 hours, the design included a 20 mgd temporary bypass system from the transfer pump clearwell to the ground storage tanks to enable the WTP to remain in service during the construction tieins. The centralized flow meter provides a signal by which all finished water chemicals are flow-paced with greater accuracy and reliability. A major improvement to the process and to finished water quality has been the addition of the mixing and metering header, and the automation of the finished water chemical dosing and controls.

Automated and Remotely Monitored Treatment Process in Real Time The WTP was operated manually from 1894 until the early 1990s, when a slow transition was made from manual to automatic operation. The improvements that were made included analog instrumentation and local control panels. Process monitoring over analog communications was transcribed by circular chart

Figure 6. Mixing and Metering Header.

Figure 7. Triple-Ringed Fiber Optic Control Network Architecture.

recorders for operations and compliance reporting. In 1996, a complete plant upgrade was undertaken, including the addition of Siemens S5 programmable logic controllers (PLCs). New instruments and sensors were provided, while automatic control was achieved through actuation of valves throughout the WTP. Critical functions and controls were networked via fiber optic cable to the control room. In 2007, the filters were upgraded with new Siemens S7 PLCs and the communication network of the Rotork actuators was replaced to Profibus. In 2008, a radio telemetry network was installed to monitor and control the remote booster pump stations and PLC hard-

ware consisting of Allen Bradley CompactLogix and ControLogix. The development of the control system over this 20-year period spanned generations of SCADA technology evolution. Process monitoring and control systems of the WTP were stitched together as a patchwork quilt to meet the immediate needs of various projects without a unified framework. Operators interfaced process equipment through the Human Machine Interface (HMI) software, which differed greatly among the systems controlled. These inconsistencies in the software Continued on page 12

Florida Water Resources Journal â&#x20AC;˘ December 2013

Continued from page 11 and interface increased the potential risk of operator error. To address these inconsistency issues, the control system was redesigned from the ground up. Efforts were made to standardize operation of devices via universally accepted communication protocols; these included Modbus, DeviceNet, Profibus and TCP/IP. Implementation of the new system was achieved with a phased approach: 1) fiber optic network construction, 2) PLC and remote rack installation, and 3) process software refinement. Following the construction of a triple-ringed fiber optic control network around the facility in 2009, the SCADA network was developed using twin 48-strand, 62.5 micron multimode fiber. Three PLCs operate separate control rings, which in turn operate a total of 22 local interface units (LIU) for a distributive control system, as illustrated in the network architecture graphic. These LIUs include fiber-to-ethernet converters to communicate to the remote PLC racks. The remote PLC racks communicate via hard wiring to the remote devices (i.e., pressure transmitters, flow switches, residual monitors, and turbidimeters). Five remotely located Thin Client touchscreens provide consistent and coherent graphic operator interfaces using Wonderware software for monitoring and control. The City continues to make improvements to the control network. In 2013, MWH helped the City with equipment updates and adjustments to Profibus communications of the media filters. The City faced serious challenges in the transitioning from existing to new SCADA, and could only allow for very limited facility shutdowns to facilitate system changeovers. The key was to avoid blind spots in the system and run parallel programming simultaneously in the old

and new systems to satisfy the health department’s requirement of continuous monitoring. Each input/output (I/O) had to be moved oneby-one and verified before proceeding to the next. Naturally, the hardest part of the switchover comes when it’s time to decommission and remove the fiber to the old remote terminal units (RTU). Therefore, old RTU obsolescence was verified by powering down the cabinets and confirming that no signals were lost and no unknown or undocumented junctions were overlooked. As a result of the methodical improvements to the controls, the manual operation of flow control valves and chemical dosing pumps is now history, and the delayed process performance monitoring and control by periodic sampling and laboratory analysis is minimized. The process is now remotely monitored and controlled in real time with minimal manual intervention.

identified the potential to increase the capacity of three high-service pumps with minor modifications to the existing impellers as follows: High-Service Pump 3 – The current impeller only draws 235 horsepower (hp) from the existing 300 hp motor. Additionally, the pump curve is “flat” and the operating head is much lower than the other pumps. This results in reduced output when the other pumps are in operation, making the pump least useful when it is most likely needed. Installing a larger-diameter impeller to take advantage of the existing 300 hp motor increases the operating head, thereby increasing the capacity of the pump. High-Service Pumps 6 and 7 – The pumps operate near the shutoff head and draw less than their rated capacity when the distribution system pressure is high. Installing largerdiameter impellers takes advantage of the existing motors to increase capacity with minimal capital cost.

High-Service Pump Rehabilitation The seven existing high-service pumps range in age from 17 to 60 years. The pumps were evaluated to identify opportunities to increase capacity and reduce power consumption, either through operational improvements or equipment modifications. A condition assessment was conducted by MWH to document physical deficiencies of the existing pumps. The condition assessment indicated the pumps were, generally, in good to fair condition, with a need for typical rehabilitation of pumps this age, including replacement of seals, wear rings, couplings, O-rings, nuts and bolts, coatings and exterior paint. Additionally, MWH compared the current performance of the pumps with the manufacturer pump curves to identify areas for improvement. This evaluation

Through detailed assessment and evaluation, the City was able to achieve cost savings by rehabilitating existing pumps, rather than purchasing new pumps, and increasing pump capacity by modifying, with minimal capital investment, the existing pumps to take advantage of existing motors and electrical supply.

The Result: Finished Water Quality Improvements In time, the improvement of the facility operations and finished water quality was broken down into four phases: operational improvements via staff augmentation and training (completed in mid-2008), filter improvements (completed in mid-2009), new mixing and metering header (completed in November 2011), and a new SCADA system (completed in February 2012). Whereas previously, total chlorine, pH, color, and turbidity would fluctuate quite drastically, the finished water quality has become

Above: Figure 8A. Old Remote Terminal Unit (RTU). At right: Figure 8B. New Local Interface Unit (LIU). Figure 9. High-Service Pump No. 7.

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Figure 10A. Total Chlorine (Free + Combined)

Figure 10B. Finished Water pH

Figure 10C. Finished Water Turbidity

Figure 10D. Finished Water Color

Data sets were cleaned up for outliers, anomalies, and readings below detectable limit (BDL). Turbidity data recorded as < 0.1 is depicted as 0.1. Color data recorded as < 3 is depicted as 3.0.

more stable, evident in the trends and variances of the daily data obtained from monthly operating reports and the SCADA system. The graphs for total chlorine and pH, particularly, show the narrower band in which total chlorine and pH are controlled in the finished water. For instance, the variance of the finished water pH dropped from 0.10 to 0.04 when operations were augmented by contract staff trained in mid-2008, with a further reduction to 0.01 when the mixing and metering header and SCADA system were completed in early 2012. The graph for finished water turbidity shows a consistent downward trend since the first improvements were made in mid-2008. Operations augmentation and training helped reduce average turbidity levels from 0.21 to 0.11 nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU), but another step-change improvement to a turbidity of 0.10 NTU was made with the completion of the SCADA system in early 2012. The graph for fin-

ished water color, on the other hand, shows the step-change improvement in mid-2008 when operations instigated the more frequent sampling regime (every 4 hours) on the settled water to ensure the ferric sulfate and lime dosing and pH conditions were always kept optimum for maximum organics and color removal in the sedimentation basins. The average color levels dropped from 7.6 to 3.3 PCU when this operational change was made.

Summary Through new controls hardware and software, the West Palm Beach WTP is more reliable and produces more consistent finished water quality with minimal manual intervention. Hazardous, gaseous chlorine and ammonia have been replaced with liquids, and a new safe access driveway provides safer ingress and egress. Obsolete chemical systems have been au-

tomated and replaced with state-of-the-art equipment. A new electrical/generator building with an express power feed is under construction with double-ended switchgear and standby generators providing reliably power to all equipment, with an option to seamlessly transfer between utility and generator power. With the right infrastructure and improved operator attention, significant improvements have been made to the water treatment process evidenced by improved finished water quality and operational reliability.

Acknowledgements Thanks from MWH go to the City of West Palm Beach for its support and to acknowledge the following team members who contributed to the improvements at the WTP: Jacobs Engineering and subconsultants GlobalTech, Song+Associates, and Integration Systems Incorporated.

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Wastewater team first-place winners Nicole Smith, Margaret Cone, Melissa Butcher, Matthew Woodham, George Dick, Dr. Sarina Ergas, and Jeanette Brown (WEF past president) at WEFTEC 2013.

Environmental team second-place winners Brett French, Erin Morrison, Miki Skinner, Jeanette Brown, Caitlin Hoch, and Joshua Becker at WEFTEC 2013.

USF Teams Win at WEFTEC Student Design Competition Erin Morrison and Margaret Cone Two University of South Florida (USF) student design teams participated in the national 2013 WEFTEC Student Design Competition in October. The engineering teams were divided into two categories: wastewater and environmental. The wastewater team placed first in the nation and the environmental team placed second, both within their respective categories. In order to compete nationally at WEFTEC, it was necessary for the two teams to place first in the FWEA State Student De-

sign Competition, which was held at the Florida Water Resources Conference in April. The team members were recruited in advance in fall 2012 from the anticipated spring 2013 capstone design class by their advisor, Dr. Sarina Ergas. The two teams, which included both undergraduate and graduate students, began their projects and committed to compete well before the actual design class had begun. Dr. Ergas’s approach to the design course is unique in the sense that she obtains real clients with real issues requiring engineering analysis and design. Therefore, each of these USF teams had actual

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

clients that stood to benefit from the time and attention they invested in their projects. The USF wastewater team was composed of five team members: Nicole Smith (project manager), Melissa Butcher, Margaret Cone, George Dick, and Matthew Woodham. The team was tasked with determining the best use for biogas that will be produced after a planned overhaul of the biosolids treatment process at the City of St. Petersburg’s Southwest Water Reclamation Facility (SWWRF). After calculating expected biogas production at the facility, the USF wastewater team

worked closely with the City of St. Petersburg’s Water Resources Department to develop seven biogas utilization alternatives, which ranged from cogeneration alternatives (e.g., utilizing biogas as a fuel for internal combustion engines) to renewable natural gas alternatives (e.g., fueling the City’s sanitation fleet vehicles with biogas purified to renewable natural gas quality). Alternatives were evaluated based on the City’s priorities, and internal combustion engines were selected as the recommended alternative for the City due to its high economic return and flexibility should it decide to take steps to increase biogas production in the future. The success of the biogas utilization project was in part due to the extra effort each and every team member put into the project, from Melissa manually sampling biogas (rotten eggs, anyone?) at a local water reclamation facility to George investigating not one—but three!— ways to transport biogas from the SWWRF to the fleet vehicle fueling station. What the design team did not expect was the overwhelming support of the Florida professional engineering community, especially the group’s official professional mentor, Juan Oquendo, P.E., from Gresham, Smith and Partners. Oquendo guided the team in organizing tasks and scope of work, provided feedback on reports, and shared his extensive knowledge on biogas utilization. His contributions were invaluable and the team extends much gratitude for his assistance. The USF environmental team consisted of five team members: Erin Morrison (project manager), Brett French, Caitlin Hoch, Miki Skinner, and Josh Becker. The primary objective of the Booker Creek Evaluation and Design project was to address eutrophication concerns within the Booker Creek basin, a 3200-acre urban watershed, located in St. Petersburg. A point of interest in this project was the detective work required before and during the actual design phase. When the team’s client, the City of St. Petersburg, handed over the project, available water quality data implied nitrogen over-enrichment was occurring within the Booker Creek basin. This raw stored water quality data, however, had not yet been fully evaluated and over-enrichment had not yet been confirmed. Therefore, the first phase of the project was devoted exclusively to data analysis in order to determining if over-enrichment within the basin was actually occurring. Once this over-enrichment was confirmed, it was necessary to locate an ideal site for the team’s design. Because the site determined the design, and the design determined the site, this process was a bit of a limbo act. In addition to finding a strategic location ideal for high nutrient reduction, variables such as land use, permitting, and community support all factored into determining the final design location within this large urban watershed. Multiple sites and design options were investigated

before the final design location, Woodlawn Lake, was determined. The lake’s position at the headwaters of Booker Creek, as well as the elevated levels of nitrogen the team found to be depositing from the lake into Booker Creek, made this location ideal for their design. The design included the implementation of floating treatment wetlands, as well as the optimization of an outlet structure and littoral shelf. The overall reduction of total nitrogen (TN), due to this design, was estimated at 51 percent, bringing the lake back into compliance with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. This reduction in TN gave an expected Chl-a level of 15 µg/L, which

would ensure the long-term health and compliance of the Booker Creek Basin. From beginning to end, Carlos Frey, P.E., with the City of St. Petersburg, was a tremendous asset to the team and its project. The design and real-world experience gained by the members of both teams were invaluable, and the reward of a winning design was truly gratifying. The USF design teams extend their appreciation to all participants who made this competition possible. Erin Morrison is a student (B.S. civil engineering, 2014) at the University of South Florida and Margaret Cone is an alumna from the school (M.S. environmental engineering, 2013).

Florida Water Resources Journal • December 2013

SPOTLIGHT ON SAFETY

Doug Prentiss Sr.

EPA Releases Weather and Hydrologic Forecasting for Water Utility Incident Preparedness and Response

he information in my column this month was provided by the Water Environment Federation Safety Committee representative Lisa McFadden, and is intended to provide water industry planners and emergency response coordinators with the latest resources available that focus on water and wastewater issues. Please ensure that a copy of this information is provided to those in your organization with an emergency preparedness responsibility. While there is more information on the website than most organizations will need, much of it could to be very useful for planning, depending on the incident. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other water sector representatives, has developed Weather and Hydrologic Forecasting for Water Utility Incident Preparedness and Response, a document that describes and provides links to all hazards and event-specific resources that are instrumental for both maintaining seasonal awareness and monitoring active hazardous weather. The document also presents the value of rela-

tionship-building with local NOAA weather forecasting offices to promote resilience at the local level. The document is part of a larger effort to make the resources on EPA's Water Security Division webpages more useful for utilities during actual emergencies. The document, as well as the additional resources listed, can be found on EPA's emergency/incident information page at water.epa.gov/drink/emerprep. This paragraph appears on the website: “Maintaining awareness of current and projected weather and hydrologic conditions is important as your drinking water or wastewater utility prepares for a natural disaster. The following information sources forecast several types of weather events over various time spans, ranging from real-time weather (i.e., today’s forecast) to three months. The forecasts begin with the identification of regional and local hazard outlooks across the nation and then become event-specific” These short descriptions are intended to provide just a glimpse of what can also be found at each site.

National Weather Hazards All-Hazards www.weather.gov This map links to state- and county-level National Weather Service (NWS) watches, warnings, advisories, and other similar information on events including floods, high winds, severe thunderstorms, and winter storms. This page also serves as the National Weather Service homepage and many additional information sources are linked from it. Some of these resources are described later in this document, but you may also want to search the site to find a new product that could benefit your utility.

National Forecast Charts All-Hazards www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/national_forecast/ natfcst.php The Weather Prediction Center’s national forecast charts provide an overview of expected weather, with an emphasis on certain hazardous and significant weather. The one-, two- and threeday forecasts are summaries of event-specific NOAA forecasts and include current and projected threats, such as severe thunderstorms and tornados, tropical storms and hurricanes, heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain, and flash flooding.

U.S. Hazards Assessment All-Hazards www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_ assessment/threats.shtml

A storm front coming ashore in the Cocoa Beach area. (photo: Doug Prentiss Sr.)

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

The hazards assessment is intended to provide emergency managers, planners, forecasters, and the public advance notice of potential hazards related to climate, weather, and hydrological events. The first outlook illustrates projected regional and local hazards from day 3 to day 7, and the second outlook from day 8 to day 14. The map accounts for several weather events, including severe drought, enhanced wildfire risk, flooding, heavy snow, and abnormal temperatures.

Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts Rainfall www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/qpf2.shtml Quantitative precipitation forecasts (QPFs) illustrate expected precipitation amounts for various time scales. For days 1, 2, and 3, forecasts are available in 6-hour increments. Precipitation totals are available for 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-, and 7-day forecasts, which may be helpful in preparing for excessive rainfall accumulation. For days 4-5 and 6-7, 48-hour time period forecasting is provided.

Excessive Rainfall Forecasts Rainfall http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/excess_ rain.shtml Day 1 - Day 3 This map identifies areas across the United States where rainfall is expected to exceed flash flood guidance, provided in 1-, 2-, and 3-day forecasts.

River Observations, Forecasts, and Experimental Long-Range Flood Risk River Gage Flooding water.weather.gov/ahps/index.php Day 1 - 3 months

U.S. Drought Monitor Drought droughtmonitor.unl.edu/ Day 1 - 3 months

drought conditions are predicted to change over the upcoming three months.

This resource illustrates and categorizes current drought conditions across the United States and notes whether those conditions are expected to result in short-term (<6 months) or long-term (>6 months) drought impacts. The drought monitor scale, ranging from D0 to D4, is based on the historical frequency of drought for a particular area, with D1 conditions expected to occur about every 12 years, and D4 about every 50 years. This map may be useful for utilities developing drought preparedness or mitigation plans.

U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook Drought http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/ expert_assessment/sdo_summary.html Day 1 - greater than 3 months This resource provides a more long-term drought outlook and an explanation of how

I hope some of you find this information useful and that all of you who take your time to read this column will have a happy and safe holiday season. With another new year right around the corner, we all have much to be thankful for. As I move around the state, I see many positive steps being taken by water industry workers to protect our environment. Every member of the FWEA, AWWA, and FWPCOA has much to be proud of. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hope the good work continues in 2014, and that the improved levels of cooperation will result in even better results. Doug Prentiss is president of DPI, providing a wide range of safety services throughout Florida. He also serves as chair of the Florida Water Environment Association Safety Committee.

These three maps locate all river gages within the United States, highlighting those that are currently flooding (observations), are expected to flood in the next several days (forecasts), or are at risk for flooding in the next three months (experimental long-range flood risk). All maps have the ability to select a specific gage and view the current and projected river levels, and in the case of the longrange flood risk, the probability of exceeding river flood stage levels.

U.S. Spring Flood Risk Flooding www.nws.noaa.gov/hic/nho/ Seasonal This resource, which is only available in the spring, provides a nationwide seasonal flood outlook and includes a detailed explanation of causes and potential impacts. As flooding can affect much of the United States, this resource could be helpful for water utilities across the country as they look ahead and plan for flood season Florida Water Resources Journal â&#x20AC;˘ December 2013

F W R J

Controlling Nitrification Within Pinellas County’s Ground Storage Tanks Christopher C. Baggett, John H. Horvath, Roberto A. Rosario, Robert Powell, and James Hall n 2000, the Pinellas County Department of Environment and Infrastructure (DEI) installed a passive mixing system in each of its distribution system ground storage tanks (GSTs) to prepare for conversion to chloramines for secondary disinfection. These installations were completed in an attempt to reduce future potential nitrification issues in the GSTs. Conversion to chloramines occurred in 2002, and after gaining experience using GST passive mixers, DEI has been able to easily control nitrification in the GSTs at one pump station, but has encountered challenges in the GSTs at four others. The pump station in which control of GST nitrification has been easier is one that could be classified as having a high GST throughflow with a high incoming total residual chlorine (TRC) concentration. The other pump station GSTs typically have a lower throughflow and a lower incoming TRC concentration. Passive mixers can only impart mixing energy when they are active (i.e., they are filling a GST). Due to the system configuration and operating constraints, the primary

strategy used to promote a more uniform water quality and reduce the potential for nitrification within these challenging GSTs has been to artificially increase throughflow by recirculating water through, or by flushing water downstream of, these pump stations. To control nitrification in the distribution system and GSTs, DEI has increased system flushing and performs annual chlorine maintenance in which the system is switched from chloramines to free chlorine. The DEI flushes an estimated 255 mil gal of water per year. In summer and fall 2009, the system experienced the earliest reoccurrence of nitrification after chlorine maintenance in the beach community areas. This early onset of nitrification in the system was likely linked to low customer water consumption resulting from water-use restrictions brought on by early drought conditions and possibly from a localized decrease in population. For this reason, and because of future system demand reductions resulting from some wholesale users further developing their own water supplies, DEI authorized

Figure 1. Nitrification Study TRC Distribution at Various Nitrification Events (2008–2009)

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Christopher C. Baggett, P.E., is senor engineer and utilities department manager, John H. Horvath, P.E., is senior engineer, and Roberto A. Rosario, P.E., is project engineer with Jones Edmunds & Associates Inc. Robert Powell is director— water and sewer, and at the time of the project, James Hall, P.E., was project manager—division of engineering and technical support, with Pinellas County Department of Environment and Infrastructure.

Jones Edmunds & Associates Inc. in 2010 to study the system and develop improvements to reduce nitrification in the system and system flushing requirements. The study found that the best way to control nitrification was to control TRC (Jones Edmunds, 2010). Figure 1 presents the TRC distribution at various nitrification conditions for the data collected during a 2008–2009 DEI nitrification study and reanalyzed in the 2010 study. The median TRC concentration of all non-nitrifying samples was 2.5 mg/L, and this data analysis indicates that the system needs to maintain TRC above 2.0 mg/L to limit the occurrence of medium and severe nitrification episodes (nitrite > 0.04 mg/L). However, to better control nitrification in the distribution system, DEI has established a goal of maintaining a minimum distribution system TRC of 2.5 mg/L. The recommendations in the 2010 study included improving water quality in the GSTs by improved mixing and TRC boosting at some pump stations. None of the samples presented in Figure 1 was found to be nitrifying when the TRC concentration was 3.0 mg/L or higher. Since the GSTs contain large volumes of water for later use, DEI is considering establishing a higher TRC target (e.g., 3.0 mg/L) in the GSTs. The DEI is implementing many recommendations presented in the 2010 study. However, before implementing the recommendation to improve mixing within some GSTs using active mixers, DEI and Jones Edmunds wanted to verify that any active mixers would perform as needed. In addition, DEI and Jones Edmunds Continued on page 24

Florida Water Resources Journal â&#x20AC;˘ December 2013

Continued from page 22 wanted to use the results of this verification effort to help validate the performance guarantee requirement to which any potential active mixers would subsequently be held. For this reason, DEI authorized an active mixer demonstration test at one of its pump stations. Due to logistical reasons and the GST cleaning and inspection schedule, the demonstration test occurred at North Booster Pump Station (NBPS).

Active Mixer Demonstration Test Procedure and Timeline The active mixer demonstration test involved isolating two GSTs at the NBPS. An active mixer was installed in the southeast (SE) GST, and the southwest (SW) GST was used as a control tank. The test timeline and general testing procedures are as follows:

Figure 2. Recorded Temperature Readings in SW Control Tank

• The SE and SW GSTs were isolated from the system by closing the inlet and outlet valves and then draining them before June 12, 2012. • A PAX PWM-400 active mixer was installed in the SE GST on June 12, 2012. • The SE and SW GSTs were refilled on June 15, 2012. • The SE and SW GSTs were isolated from the system (inlet and outlet valves closed) after refilling through June 18, 2012, to promote the occurrence of stratification over the weekend. • The SE and SW GST outlet valves were opened, the system operations were switched to using an older fill valve, and the active mixer was turned on at 50 percent power on June 18, 2012. This configuration created a worst-case, fill-and-draw situation in which the inlet is the outlet. This arrangement typically results in the most challenging mixing condition. • The SE and SW GST inlet valves were opened and system operations switched back to using the new fill valve on June 22, 2012. In this configuration, the inlets and outlets were separated by 180 degrees and water enters the GSTs through the passive mixing systems. The active mixer was left at 50 percent power. • Temperature, TRC, and other parameters (e.g., pH, nitrite) were measured and recorded at different levels in the GSTs from June 15-25, 2012. • On June 26, 2012, the power setting for the active mixer was found to be at 50 percent, less than intended for a 5-mil-gal GST, and was increased to 90 percent, the intended setting.

Discussion of Results

Figure 3. Recorded Temperature Readings in SE Actively Mixed Tank

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Review of the collected data and results of the active mixer demonstration test indicate that the temperature and TRC readings provided the most meaningful information for evaluating GST thermal and chemical stratification. Figures 2 through 5 present charts of recorded temperature and TRC readings at the bottom, middle, and top of the SW GST (control tank) and SE GST (actively mixed tank). Thermal or chemical stratification was deemed to have occurred when a consistent temperature or chemical concentration profile pattern with depth was observed between successive readings. Typically, thermal stratification is identified in aboveground GSTs when warmer, less-dense water layers are at the top of the GST and cooler, denser water layers are at the bottom of the GST. The SW GST (control tank) experienced mild thermal stratification (range: 0.1 to 0.3°C) over the test period (Figure 2). The SE GST (actively mixed tank) did not experience thermal stratification over the test period (Figure 3). Although tempera-

tures varied along the depth of the SE GST for most measurements, well-defined temperature layers did not persist. This is evidenced by the times when recorded temperatures at the top of the SE GST were lower than those at the middle and bottom. The SW GST (control tank) experienced significant chemical stratification of nearly 1 mg/L of TRC over the test period (Figure 4). The SE GST (actively mixed tank) did not experience chemical stratification over the test period (Figure 5).

Conclusions and Recommendations Based on the active mixer demonstration test results and previous studies, the following conclusions and recommendations are provided: • Incomplete mixing can lead to thermal and chemical stratification issues in a GST. Test data indicate that with the occurrence of thermal stratification (i.e., warmer water located higher in the GST), the TRC of the warmer water is less than the TRC of the cooler water. As a result, it can be concluded that incomplete mixing and tank stratification are the major reasons that nitrification issues are typically first revealed in the upper levels of a GST. • Temperature is often used to determine if a GST is stratified. The test results indicate that having simultaneous mild thermal stratification and significant chemical stratification is possible. Since one of the primary improvement objectives is to maintain uniform TRC distribution throughout water depth to reduce the likelihood of nitrification within the GST, using temperature data as the only parameter to evaluate GST mixing is not sufficient for this system. The process performance guarantee and subsequent testing to verify that any installed mixing system meets the guaranteed performance should be focused on maintaining TRC uniformity throughout water depth. • Although the data were limited, they appear to show that an active mixer installed in a GST with the worst-case inlet/outlet condition (i.e., the inlet is the outlet) and operating at 55 percent of intended power can provide mixing results equivalent to a passive mixing system installed in a GST in which the inlet and outlet are separated, significant throughflow is provided, and the mixing valves are submerged/operable. • Maintaining acceptable GST water quality requires more than simply controlling stratification through mixing; drinking water quality parameters, such as TRC, disinfection byproducts (DBPs), and others within

Figure 4. Recorded TRC Readings in SW Control Tank

Figure 5. Recorded TRC Readings in SE Actively Mixed Tank their regulatory limits, must also be maintained. A common starting point to attempt to do this is simply to control the amount of GST throughflow. When the amount of GST throughflow becomes unreasonable or the quality of the incoming water is not sufficient to sustain the GST water quality, additional treatment may need to be considered. When evaluating alternatives, the additional energy costs associated with throughflow be-

yond what is needed to meet the water system’s hydraulic needs should be considered in the water quality alternatives evaluation. • The DEI does not have a DBP issue, and maintaining somewhat longer retentions times in the GSTs is not expected to result in exceedances of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Stage 1 and 2 DBP rules. However, maintaining longer retention time Continued on page 26

Florida Water Resources Journal • December 2013

Continued from page 25 can reduce TRC in the GSTs. Maintaining a minimum target TRC value throughout the water depth is critical to reducing the nitrification episodes in the GSTs. Figure 6 presents the expected TRC within a nearly full, completely mixed 5-mil-gal GST based on an inlet concentration of 4 mg/L for various throughflows and the range of bulk TRC decay coefficients measured in the system over the years. The inlet concentrations and/or reasonable throughflows for the GSTs at four pump stations do not appear adequate to maintain a target TRC value high enough to control nitrification within these GSTs during warmer months. For this reason, TRC boosting within these GSTs should be considered. During major distribution nitrification episodes, not enough free available ammonia may be in the water to combine with chlorine to boost TRC at some pump stations; therefore, the TRC boosting systems at some pump stations may need to include both chlorine and ammonia addition to be effective when most needed. • The test results demonstrated that the active mixer installed in the SE GST appears to have met or exceeded its performance guarantee during the testing period, despite operating at 55 percent of intended power. The following items should be considered when establishing mixing goals, selecting mixers (passive or active), and establishing GST throughflow strategies:

Uniformity The type of uniformity (e.g., temperature, TRC, or other) to be maintained within a GST should first be determined. Once a uniformity goal is established, research should be performed on each mixing system being considered to evaluate past success at achieving the desired uniformity. If actual data are not available that demonstrate the mixing system has successfully achieved the desired uniformity, or if a need exists to first verify that a mixing system will be successful in a site-specific GST before proceeding with a permanent installation, a mixer demonstration test could be performed. For this project, the contracting requirements for the mixer demonstration test stipulated that if the mixer did not achieve the sought-after mixing uniformity, the mixer would be removed by the supplier and the supplier would be reimbursed a predetermined amount for its effort during the demonstration test. This protected DEI from purchasing a mixer that may not have been capable of achieving the uniformity goals. Modeling Hydraulic- and water-quality-extended period modeling of the distribution system is recommended for establishing 1) the throughflow needed at each GST to satisfy the system’s hydraulic needs, and 2) the additional throughflow required for sustaining good water quality, assuming the GST is completed mixed. Sometimes, local treatment may also be needed to fully meet the water quality goals.

For passive mixing systems, the additional throughflow needs to be evaluated to determine if it is sufficient for a passive mixer to maintain destratified conditions within the GST. During this effort, the impact of buoyant jets on the passive mixing time needs to be considered, as buoyant jets could have a significant impact on the passive mixing time. If the passive mixing system requires additional throughflow to mix the GST beyond what is necessary to sustain water quality in a completely mixed GST (due to buoyant jets or for other factors), this additional throughflow also needs to be determined. Cost Analysis If multiple mixing systems are being evaluated and each satisfies the mixing goals, a present-worth cost analysis of the capital, and operation and maintenance costs, should be performed to determine which system has the lowest overall cost. The energy costs associated with the GST additional throughflow needed for each mixing system, beyond what is required to satisfy the hydraulic needs of the system, should be considered in the cost analysis. Process Guarantee The contract documents should include a mixing system process guarantee that is specific to the project’s mixing uniformity requirements. In addition, a mixer demonstration test should also be required to prove that the process guarantee has been met before considering the installation is successfully complete and ready for payment. If the mixing system fails to satisfy the process guarantee, the supplier could be required to either make modifications necessary to satisfy the mixing requirements or remove its mixing system from the GST.

Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank the DEI engineering and environmental services, laboratory, operation, and maintenance staff who participated in, and provided the data for, this project. The authors also gratefully acknowledge the technical support from Steven Duranceau, Ph.D., of the University of Central Florida, and William Lovins III, Ph.D., of AECOM, for their involvement in the 2010 study.

References

Figure 6. 5-Mil-Gal GST Retention Time and TRC Concentration Versus Throughflow

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

• Jones Edmunds. (2010). Upgrades and Improvements to Water Distribution System Final Report. Prepared for Pinellas County Utilities, Fla., October.

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for the 2014 Florida Water Resources Conference Holly Hanson, Executive Director, FWRC The 89th annual Florida Water Resources Conference (FWRC), a joint conference of the Florida Section American Water Works Association, Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association, and Florida Water Environment Association (Florida chapter of the Water Environment Federation), will be held April 6-10, 2014, at the Walt Disney World Coronado Springs Resort and Convention Center. The conference, with a technical program, exhibits, awards luncheon, meetings, contests, and other events, will offer something for everyone in the water and wastewater industry.

Innovative Technical Program The technical program, with sessions, workshops, and posters, will provide an understanding of, and offer solutions for, the significant challenges faced on a daily basis by the industry. There will be knowledgeable, nationally recognized speakers to address the technical, managerial, regulatory, and environmental needs of today—and the future. Plant operators, chemists, engineers, managers, regulators, industrial and municipal administrators, academicians, and researchers will have an opportunity to talk face-to-face with decision makers and problem solvers concerning such subjects as utility management, operations, water supply, water and wastewater treatment, disinfection, distribution and collection systems, infrastructure, public communications, water resources, contractor issues, laboratory research and monitoring, conservation, reclamation and reuse, environmental regulations, biosolids, and much more.

ment and supplies increases, and technology continues to change at an unprecedented rate, the industry representatives here will help you select the products and services you need to keep your company on the cutting edge.

Florida’s Future Engineers Present at the Student Design Competition A forum to showcase the capabilities of students studying environmental engineering, teams representing Florida colleges and universities will present their synopses at the annual Student Design Competition. Initiated in Florida, this competition has now become an international event at the annual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC). Another venue for students is the Student Poster Contest, in-

tended to promote the education of students in a variety of water-related projects.

Get Involved and Support the Industry Utilities can enter teams to compete in the Top Ops Competition or the Operations Challenge held during the conference; winners from these two events will travel to the national competitions at the American Water Works Association Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE) and WEFTEC. The Best Drinking Water Contest will take place, as well a fund raiser for the Water For People organization. Check the conference website at www.fwrc.org, for conference information. Make plans now to attend this exciting conference and move your career, your company, and the water industry to new heights!

Exhibit Hall: Learning and Networking Featuring over 250 exhibitors, the FWRC is Florida’s marketplace for this multi-faceted industry, and there will be many opportunities to network with this collected group of experts. No other show in the Southeast affords the opportunities that will be available here. As the demand for water-related equipFlorida Water Resources Journal • December 2013

Larrabee Named New FSAWWA Chair Carl R. Larrabee Jr. will become the 2014 chair of the Florida Section American Water Works Association on December 4 at the business and awards luncheon held at the section’s fall conference. He will succeed the current chair, Jason Parrillo. Larrabee is an environmental resource coordinator with St. Johns River Management District. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from the University of Central Florida. He joined AWWA as a college student and continued his membership through his tenure with his first employer, Cocoa Utilities, where he worked for 33 years. Larrabee has continuously been active in the Florida Section, first serving as the Awards Committee chair. He subsequently served as the Region III trustee, Administrative Council chair, Landmark Awards Committee member, Nominating Committee chair, Ad Hoc Committee chair for the Website Host Selection, treasurer, vice-chair, and chair-elect. He was the recipient of the 2007 Allen B. Roberts Jr. Award for Outstanding Service to the section by a member. While receiving the AWWA Lifetime Member Award (30 years) Carl quipped, “The main criteria for getting this award is living long enough!”

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Carl has been married to his wife, Janis, for 34 years. He has given away their two daughters, Jessica and Joye, in marriage to two fine young men, Adam and Parker, respectively. The newest addition to their family is grandson, Sawyer, who was 9 lbs., 15.4 oz. at birth and born to Jessica. “He’s got his Papa’s blonde hair and blue eyes,” said Larrabee. When named the 87th chair of the Florida Section AWWA, he reminisced about his 35 years of membership. “I’ve known 41 of the first 86 chairs of this organization. I worked with and was mentored by Bill Stephenson (#63); golfed with Tim Brodeur (#60), Dr. Jim Taylor (#57), and Dr. Ed Singley (#50); and in their presence, was in awe of Curt Stanton (#34) and Dr. Fred Eidsness (#17). The wisdom, knowledge, and stories shared by so many fellow members of AWWA have enriched my life in countless ways.” Added Carl, “I now look forward to the future. This coming year, I want to reach out to our current members and new members alike to connect them with the special people in the Florida Section to enrich their lives as well.”

Florida Water Resources Journal â&#x20AC;˘ December 2013

FSAWWA SPEAKING OUT

2013: A Year in Review Jason Parrillo, P.E. Chair, FSAWWA

t’s hard to believe that this will be my last Journal article as chair of the Florida Section AWWA. The year has passed by so quickly! The old adage “Time flies when you are having fun” definitely applies here. During the FSAWWA Fall Conference, which will either be ongoing or completed by the time you read this, I will be handing the chair’s gavel to Carl Larrabee. Congratulations, Carl! Looking back through 2013 there have been some very memorable events and accomplishments by the section, and for my last article, I would like to share with you some of those highlights—from my perspective. Strategic Membership Task Force – One of the very first things accomplished in 2013 was

the establishment of the strategic membership task force (SMTF). This task force is a threeyear committee devoted to looking at ways to promote membership throughout the section over the various membership categories. During 2013 the SMTF developed the utility ambassador program, which will roll out right after the FSAWWA Fall Conference. Legislative Day in Tallahassee – This year’s Legislative Day was held during Committee Week instead of during the regular session. I felt this year we had more interaction and face time with the legislators and they were listening to what we had to say. The section’s credibility has moved higher than ever before. A very special thank you goes to the FSAWWA Utility Council for moving us in this direction. AWWA Water Matters Fly-In – This year, our message concerning the Water Infrastructure Funding and Investment Act (WIFIA) gained serious traction within the House of Representatives, and the message was well received in the Senate. It is refreshing to see that the effort being put forth by AWWA and the

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

sections alike has gained significant credibility and is leading to significant legislation to benefit the water industry. Landmark Award, Distribution System Award, and Water Treatment Plant Award Presentations – These presentations are always fun, simply because they mean everything to the utilities that receive them. These awards are one of the few times that utilities get praise and recognition in front of their board, council, or commissioners, for the hard work that is done daily to maintain and operate the systems that serve their customers. A special thank you goes to our Awards Committee for its creative thinking in how we now present these awards to their recipients. First Female Operator of the Year – This was an historic event, not only for FSAWWA, but also for the water industry. This is the first time that a female operator was recognized as the Outstanding Water Treatment Plant Operator of The Year. Congratulations again to Kendra Phillips; she has raised the bar for an entire industry. FSAWWA’s First Consumer Webpage – Part of the ongoing effort to reach beyond our traditional membership base and to help further the mission and vision of the section, a special ad hoc committee was formed to develop a consumer webpage through which water consumers can navigate when they visit the section’s website. Joint Water Forum with Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) – This year, I really started to see a connection with the efforts the section has put forth during Legislative Day and this event. The legislators that did participate remembered us from our February visit and that, to me, shows the credibility that FSAWWA has now gained with Tallahassee. By partnering with AIF, our visibility continues to increase and our credibility continues to grow. Joint International Society of Automation (ISA) Symposium – This event allows FSAWWA to offer our membership training and education through ISA. This has been a wonderful event growing rapidly over the past two years. Sayfie Review Summit – This event was by invitation only. Attendees included Governor Rick Scott, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, and Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater—and FSAWWA was invited! This is another example of how far our credibility has come. We are now invited to the table in advance of water policy changes. We actually have a voice for our utility members to engage

in meaningful discussion of what should be considered for water policy—instead of just reacting to it. Backflow Accreditation Committee – The accreditation committee structure and governance has been finalized, along with the FSAWWA backflow accreditation agreement. We have entered into an agreement with the Center for Training, Research, and Education for Environmental Occupations (TREEO) and reviewed and accredited its backflow program. As of right now, TREEO is the only FSAWWA backflow-accredited training agency in the state of Florida. Strategic Planning Retreat – During this year’s strategic planning retreat, the membership decided to align the section’s mission, vision, and strategic plan with the newly-revised Association strategic plan. This was no small task and required lots of input and discussion as priorities and goals changed in our overall strategic plan. In reviewing the year along with me, I am confident you will see the direction and course that the section is taking. Even more important is that you may begin to realize that this course and direction is set by you, the member. It is only fitting that I start and close my year as chair with the same statement: The most

important and valuable asset to our organization is you, the member. Without membership, there is no FSAWWA. There are no councils, regions, or committees on which to serve. There is no board of governors, or executive committee, no section chairs, and certainly, no parent association or association presidents. In closing, I am forever grateful for the opportunity to serve the membership as section chair. The experience has been rewarding, both personally and professionally, and I will be looking back on it often throughout my life.

The lessons learned and the friendships made transcend the norm. One final parting note: I sincerely hope that you take advantage of the FSAWWA Fall Conference, either this year or in the future, and all that it offers, including our first-ever opening general session and conference mobile app. Together, these new components help to enhance and optimize your conference experience The FSAWWA Fall Conference is truly unique among a vast sea of conferences throughout the state. You, the member, own this one.

Florida Water Resources Journal • December 2013

Certification Boulevard

Roy Pelletier 1. What is the main cause of water seepage into a sanitary sewer? A. Poor construction of the collection line, especially at the pipe joints. B. Sewer line is too deep. C. Sewer line diameter is too small. D. Improper cycling of lift stations. 2. Which of the following lines are not used in transporting wastewater from its source in a home to the treatment plant? A. B. C. D.

House sewers Lateral sewers Trunk sewers Storm sewers

2 hours, 4 min 3 hours, 31 min 4 hours, 5 min 250 min

A. B. C. D.

Sodium hydroxide Sulfuric acid Unchlorinated water Polymer

177,563 gal 31,416 gal 332,043 gal 24,391 gal

6. Which gases may be found in sewer collection systems? Explosive gases Hydrogen sulfide Methane All of the above.

7. Given the following data, how many cu yds (yd3) of backfill are needed to fill a trench? • 9.25 ft wide • 28 yd long • 6.5 ft deep A. B. C. D.

4. Which may be the most appropriate chemical to use in a wet scrubber treating high levels of ammonia? A. B. C. D.

5. Given the following data, what is the volume of this wet well? • wet well diameter is 16 ft • bottom elevation of wet well is 82.5 ft • top elevation of wet well is 103.4 ft

A. B. C. D.

3. Given the following data, what is the detention time in this 24-in. diameter forcemain? • 14,700 ft long • 3,000 gal-per-min (gpm) pump capacity • Pumping cycle is 6 min ON and 5 min OFF A. B. C. D.

Test Your Knowledge of Distribution and Collections

62 yd3 257 yd3 959 yd3 187 yd3

8. Which gases do not usually cause problems in sewer collection systems? A. B. C. D.

Explosive gases Hydrogen sulfide Methane Carbon dioxide

LOOKING FOR ANSWERS? Check the Archives

Are you new to the water and wastewater field? Want to boost your knowledge about topics youʼll face each day as a water/waste-water professional? All past editions of Certification Boulevard through the year 2000 are

available on the Florida Water Environment Associationʼs website at www.fwea.org. Click the “Site Map” button on the home page, then scroll down to the Certification Boulevard Archives, located below the Operations Research Committee.

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

9. Given the following data, what is the volume of this wet well? • flow entering is 255 gpm • frequency and duration of flow is 5 min every 15 min • detention time is 1.75 hours A. B. C. D.

169,280 gal 8,925 gal 4,464 gal 0.0744 mil gal (MG)

10. What is the minimum velocity in a sanitary sewer pipeline necessary to prevent settling of solids and debris? A. B. C. D.

1 ft per second (fps) 0.5 fps 2 fps 2 ft per min (fpm)

Answers on page 62

SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS Readers are welcome to submit questions or exercises on water or wastewater treatment plant operations for publication in Certification Boulevard. Send your question (with the answer) or your exercise (with the solution) by email to roy.pelletier@cityoforlando.net, or by mail to: Roy Pelletier Wastewater Project Consultant City of Orlando Public Works Department Environmental Services Wastewater Division 5100 L.B. McLeod Road Orlando, FL 32811 407-716-2971

Florida Water Resources Journal â&#x20AC;˘ December 2013

LEGAL BRIEFS

Gerald Buhr

Collection Fees Repaid; Dangerous Amoeba Surfaces

Mount Dora Attempts to Collect $2.3 Million in Connection Fees

dora-mistake-20130802_1_city-manager-mikequinn-city-council-developer

It has been reported that the City of Mount Dora allowed appoximately 435 homes in a new subdivision to connect without payment of connection fees, and further compounded that error by refunding $23,000 to the developer when the developer attempted to pay. The finance director resigned after the discovery of the problem, and other employees were “culpable” in the error and have since left the City’s employment. Utility specialist Toni DeLand appears to be the local hero who discovered the error, and finally got action. The city manager is considering giving her a bonus, and I would hope so. When I was a utility manager many years ago (more than I care to admit), I discovered that one of our developers had connected a second phase of apartments without paying capacity fees. Those fees amounted to $200,000 then, and I received a $5,000 bonus; that is not nearly what Ms. DeLand saved Mount Dora, but I hope that her conscientious service is monetarily recognized.

Drinking Water in St. Bernard, La., Confirmed to Have Killer Amoeba

Source: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/ 2013-08-02/news/os-lk-lauren-ritchie-mount-

It has been reported that in September, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has confirmed that Naegleria fowleri, which is a live “killer amoeba,” have been found in the drinking water pipes of the water district. A fouryear-old boy in that Parish reportedly passed away from contact with the amoeba, and although the boy had been using a “Slip ‘N Slide” wave rider, which likely had mud on it, some wonder about the link. The CDC reports that chlorine easily kills the amoeba, and the areas where it was found had no chlorine residual. I guess I need not comment about that. St. Bernard has entered into a program of additional chlorination and flushing to try to correct the problem. The city’s website states that it gets its water from rivers, lakes, and streams, along with wells. It seems likely to me that the source would have been the surface waters, but if somebody is aware of the amoeba also showing up in unchlorinated well water, I would like to know about it and report it. Ac-

cording to the CDC, improperly chlorinated drinking water is a possible source; however, the parasite is taken into the body through the nose, and you cannot become infected by drinking it. Most long-time Floridians know about the killer amoeba and take precautions with their children, who are said to be particularly susceptible because of the ways they play in water, although I could not find that “fact” in the CDC information. I became aware of it when I was a preteen and later in college, when we were warned about waterskiing in lakes in the Miami and Tampa areas. Here is some information from the CDC factsheet: Naegleria fowleri infections are rare and devastating. From 2003 to 2012, 31 infections were reported in the U.S. All were fatal. Naegleria fowleri is a warm water-loving amoeba found around the world, often in warm or hot freshwater (lakes, rivers, and hot springs). The amoeba can travel up the nose and into the brain. This causes the disease primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), which destroys brain tissue and causes brain swelling and death. Of 128 people known to be infected in the U.S. since 1962, only one person has survived. Symptoms (can be mild at first, but worsen quickly): They usually start about five days after infection (but can range from 1–7 days) and can include headache, fever, nausea, or vomiting. Later symptoms can include stiff neck, confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, loss of balance, seizures, and hallucinations. After symptoms start, the disease causes death within about five days (but can range from 1–12 days). Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/brain-eatingamoeba-confirmed-st-bernard-parish-watersupply-cdc-says-1405380; http://www.cdc.gov/ parasites/naegleria/ ; http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/ naegleria/naegleria_factsheet508c.pdf Gerald Buhr is a utilities attorney who holds a Class A license in back water and wastewater treatment. A Florida Bar-certified specialist in city, county, and local government law, he is the city attorney for Mulberry, Zolfo Springs, Bowling Green, and Avon Park and reprresent Lake Wales on water and wastewater legal issues.

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Florida Water & Pollution Control Operators Association

FWPCOA STATE SHORT SCHOOL March 24 - 28, 2014 Indian River State College - Main Campus – FORT PIERCE –

COURSES Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester ..........................$375/$405

Utility Customer Relations I, II & III................................$260/$290

Backflow Prevention Assembly Repairer ......................$275/$305

Utilities Maintenance ....................................................$225/$255

Backflow Tester Recertification ......................................$85/$115

Wastewater Collection System Operator C, B & A ......$225/$255

Basic Electrical and Instrumentation ............................$225/$255

Water Distribution System Operator Level 3, 2 & 1 ......$225/$255

Facility Management Module I......................................$275/$305

Wastewater Process Control ........................................$225/$255

Reclaimed Water Distribution C, B & A ........................$225/$255 (Abbreviated Course) ................................................$125/$155

Wastewater Sampling for Industrial Pretreatment & Operators................................................................$160/$190

Stormwater Management C & B ...................................$260/$290

Wastewater Troubleshooting ........................................$225/$255

Stormwater Management A .........................................$275/$305

Water Troubleshooting ..................................................$225/$255

For further information on the school, including course registration forms and hotels, download the school announcement at www.fwpcoa.org/fwpcoaFiles/upload/2014SpringSchool.pdf

SCHEDULE CHECK-IN: March 23, 2014 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. CLASSES: Monday – Thursday........8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday........8:00 a.m. to noon

FREE BBQ DINNER + Monday, March 24, 4:30 p.m. + 3209 Virginia Ave Fort Pierce, FL 34981

For more information call the

FWPCOA Training Office 321-383-9690 Florida Water Resources Journal • December 2013

FWEA FOCUS

Business-Planning Our Way to a Clean Water Environment Greg Chomic President, FWEA Clean Water Environment for Florida’s Future Generations. This is our vision for Florida’s water environment. To realize this vision, our mission is to: Preserve and enhance Florida’s water environment by supporting and uniting water quality professionals through public education, professional development, and promotion of sound science-based public policy. Our vision and mission is achieved through four strategic goals: Goal 1: Educate students, stakeholders,

and the general public about the water quality profession. Goal 2: Be a united voice to policy makers in matters related to Florida’s water environment. Goal 3: Provide abundant opportunities for professional development that set the standard for excellence. Goal 4: Recruit and retain members, and engage energetic and rising leaders to continuously improve the Association. Each goal includes three or four strategies. Each strategy describes a general approach to reach a goal. This is the FWEA strategic plan. It is short, clear, and concise. It describes who we are, what we do, and where we are going. But how do we ensure that our Association stays on track each year toward

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

achieving our vision? We use a management tool called business planning. Business planning is an annual goal setting and budgeting process that FWEA committee chairs implement to plan for the next fiscal year, while also ensuring that the Association remains consistent with our strategic plan. This year, our business planning was kicked off on November 1 with an excellent orientation webinar hosted by Alex Terral of AECOM, chair of the Strategic Planning Committee (SPC), and attended by about 40 of our committee chairs and state leaders. The process will continue through December 31 and will culminate in the 2014-2015 FWEA business plan and budget. As you read this column, all FWEA committees are in the process of developing their fiscal-year 2014-2015 business plans, which is actually a very straight forward process. During the business planning process, each committee meets to discuss and identify specific activities that it will implement in the coming fiscal year, and establishes a budget for each activity. Each activity must support at least one of the FWEA strategic goals of public education, professional development, promotion of sound public policy, or growing and improving the Association. So, after the activities are identified and budgeted, the committee assigns numerically-weighted values to each activity that associates that activity with specific FWEA goals and strategies. From the perspective of the committees, this is the end of the process. The committee chairs must submit their completed business plans to the SPC chair by December 31. The SPC then performs the “roll up,” which is a process of first checking each business plan for completeness and then organizing all of the activities identified by all the committees by FWEA goal and strategy using the numerically-weighted number system. The result is the strategic activities plan and a summary report called the “master roll up.” The strategic activities plan is a comprehensive compilation of committee business plans that lists all of the activities planned by all of the committees. The master roll

up is a two-page report that lists the total number of activities planned by all our committees and categorized by FWEA goal and strategy. It also includes the sum total of all expected revenues that will be earned and expenses that will be incurred to support each goal and strategy. In effect, the master roll up report provides a summary of where we plan to spend our time and money in the next fiscal year in support of the FWEA strategic plan. During the FWEA Leadership Development Workshop, the draft strategic activities plan and master roll up are reviewed by the Association leadership. The workshop provides one last opportunity for a committee chair to refine a specific business plan, while interacting directly with other committee chairs and state Association leaders. Finally, the strategic activities plan is rolled into the FWEA budget for the next fiscal year and presented to the membership at the FWEA annual meeting at the Florida Water Resources Conference. For fiscal year 2013-2014, our strategic activities plan and master roll up lists 172 committee activities in support of public education (Goal 1), 96 committee activities in support of sound public policy (Goal 2), 72 committee activities in support of professional development (Goal 3), and 150 committee activities in support of membership and leadership development (Goal 4). When you add it up, that is a total of 490 discrete committee activities in support of the FWEA strategic plan. We truly are an Association of active and engaged members! This is the how we plan and budget each year so that, as an Association, we remain focused on the strategic priorities set in the FWEA strategic plan. I want to thank Alex Terral and the Strategic Planning Committee for their steadfast focus and dedication to the FWEA strategic plan, and for helping Association leaders learn and follow the business planning process so that our financial and volunteer resources are utilized as efficiently as possible towards our vision of a Clean Water Environment for Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Future Generations.

Florida Water Resources Journal â&#x20AC;˘ December 2013

FWEA CHAPTER CORNER Welcome to the FWEA Chapter Corner! Each month, 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 via email to Suzanne Mechler at MechlerSE@cdm.com.

Suzanne Mechler

Happy Holidays

from the FWEA Manasota Chapter Lindsay Marten n the midst of luncheon meetings and holiday socials, the FWEA Manasota Chapter’s Steering Committee has been hard at work planning some fun events for the upcoming year. To facilitate the event planning taking place within our chapter, the committee has grown once again! We have added Chris Sharek as our professional society liaison and Danielle Bertini as our young professional (YP) coordinator. Chris will help coordinate with other local professional societies and aid in planning future joint events, and Danielle will help organize special events in the Manasota area, as well as coordinate with surrounding student chapters. The following is a recap of some end-ofthe-year activities and upcoming events currently in the works. The last luncheon of the year was held on December 5 at FCCI Insurance Group. Steven Marshall with the City of St. Petersburg presented on the topic of “Energy Recovery from Solids in St. Petersburg: Biogas to Vehicle Fuel and Combine Heat and Power” to a roomful

of intrigued local professionals concerned with the environment. Thank you, Steven, for a great and informative presentation! If you were unable to attend the December luncheon, you’re in luck because there is still one more event left to finish off the year! The FWEA will be joining forces with other local professional societies for a holiday social at Evie’s Tavern on the Range on December 19 at 5:30 p.m. We’re looking forward to celebrating the holidays with all of you! The 11th annual AWWA Model Water Tower Competition has been moved from October 2013 to January 2014 to better accommodate the students’ school schedules. The competition will be held at the new Manatee Technical Institute in Bradenton, where water quality professionals from the community will join forces, including members from our very own Manasota Chapter, to help plan and partake in this national event. The competition introduces students to water issues and water professionals from their community by challenging them to design and construct miniature water storage towers. Students creatively con-

The FWEA Manasota Steering Committee celebrated with the University of South Florida Student Design Competition team at WEFTEC. From left to right: Matthew Woodham, Chuck Hlavach, Nicole Smith, and Kristiana Dragash.

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

struct the models themselves, while taking into account structural, hydraulic, and cost efficiency, along with design ingenuity. This event welcomes volunteers, so we hope to see you there! Please contact Seton Katz (skatz@scgov.net) for event and registration information. The joint FWEA and AWWA Water For People Kayak and Picnic event has been moved from November 2013 to April 2014 at the Phillippi Creek Estate Park. The Silent Sports Outfitters of Nokomis will be providing kayaks and guides to ensure that participants have a safe and enjoyable time on Roberts Bay. Following the kayak tour, delicious food and cold beverages will be provided, accompanied by outdoor games and music. The event brings friends, families, and members of the water profession together, while raising awareness and funds for Water For People. More event details and registration information to come! Please contact Lindsay Marten (lindsay.marten@stantec.com) for event and registration information. Lastly, congratulations to the University of South Florida FWEA Student Design Competition teams for their amazing win at the 2013 WEFTEC competition in Chicago! The wastewater team took first prize and the environmental team took second prize in their respective categories. The Manasota and West Coast chapters of FWEA showed a strong presence at the national event, with presentations by Freddy Betancourt, who spoke about the cost-effective application of peracetic acid for high level disinfection in Largo, and Kristiana Dragash, who presented Hillsborough County’s plan to eliminate surface water discharge. 2013 has been packed with events and exciting updates. On behalf of the FWEA Manasota Chapter, we would like to thank all of the participants, volunteers, presenters, and sponsors for making these events possible. Be on the lookout for more great opportunities and occasions to come in 2014! Lindsay Marten, EI, LEED AP, is an engineering intern at Stantec in Sarasota.

C FACTOR

Distribution System Reliability, Staffing and Training, and Our “Seasoned” Membership Jeff Poteet President, FWPCOA he holiday season is upon us. What this means is that our water and wastewater teams are gearing up to meet the seasonal demands of their communities. As flow demands increase, treatment plant operators are putting into service systems that have been offline during the low-demand periods. This is the time that our knowledge of our system’s historical flows, the treatment process, and the system’s ability to treat those flows are challenged in an effort to meet the needs of the communities that we serve. If our efforts seem seamless, we typically go unnoticed, and we meet these challenges with little recognition from our communities. On behalf of FWPCOA, I want to thank all of you for your efforts, and please do not hesitate to let your Association know what we can do for you. As president of the Association, I receive concerns from our membership that, had I not been the president, I may never have heard about. One of these concerns, I feel compelled to share with you. Although I do not agree that this concern is widespread, I do believe we all should be aware of our responsibilities as Florida-licensed operators. The issue that was brought to my atten-

tion is that some believe that there are utility employers, both on the public side and the private side, that are not meeting Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) 62-699.310; in particular, it is the section on distribution system staffing. If you are a licensed operator, you have a responsibility to ensure that your system is meeting all operating requirements. If you become aware that your employer is not meeting these requirements, it is your responsibility, as a Florida-licensed operator, to inform your employer that the law is not being met and what needs to be done to conform to it. Tim McVeigh did an excellent breakdown of the distribution operator’s rule in the December 2010 of this magazine. For your reference, this article can be view online at www.fwrj.com.

Our Aging Association It doesn’t appear that we—Floridalicensed water, wastewater, and distribution operators—are getting any younger. There are over 11,000 licensed water professionals in the state and our median age is around 50 years old. Ronald McCulley, the program administrator—certification and restoration program, for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), wrote in an email, “Although we're making some headway with the younger plant operators (30 and younger),

OUR AGING ASSOCIATION

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

when compared to 2007, we've added 400 more operators in the 61-70 age bracket.” I’m not exactly sure what this means other than we (Florida water professionals) are like a good wrist watch: we take a licking and keep on ticking. Below is a breakdown of licensed operators by age that was provided to us by FDEP.

New Training Offered The FWPCOA continues to meet the needs of its membership by offering a variety of different training opportunities. We strive to update our training programs to meet the demands of our membership. Today, along with our historical training programs, we have a vibrant online training platform with almost 300 different courses to help meet your educational desires. Your Association has recently rolled out an online water distribution Level-2 training course. Scott Ruland, of Region 9, has been instrumental in putting this course together. On behalf of the Association, thank you Scott (once again) for your continued support of the FWPCOA programs and your efforts to help improve the knowledge of the industry! Our next board of directors meeting will be held in Hollywood on Jan. 11, 2014. I hope to see you there! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

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

Distribution and Collection . 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!

___________________________________________ SUBSCRIBER NAME (please print)

Article 1 ________________________________________ LICENSE NUMBER for Which CEUs Should Be Awarded

Article 2 ________________________________________ LICENSE NUMBER for Which CEUs Should Be Awarded

If paying by credit card, fax to (561) 625-4858 providing the following information:

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.

___________________________________________

(Credit Card Number)

(Expiration Date)

Controlling Nitrification Within Pinellas County’s Ground Storage Tanks

On-Line Water Quality Monitoring for Distribution System Operational Improvements and Security

Christopher C. Baggett, John H. Horvath, Roberto A. Rosario, Robert Powell, and James Hall

Gary Jacobson and Ken Thompson (Article 2: CEU = 0.1 DW/DS}

(Article 1: CEU = 0.1 DW/DS)

1. Results of testing described in this article indicate that simultaneous mild thermal and significant chemical storage tank water stratification is a. possible. b. nevitable. c. impossible. d. highly likely. 2. The 2010 Jones Edmunds and Associates Inc. study concluded that the best way to control system nitrification is to control a. finished water pH. b. Nitrate. c. dissolved oxygen. d. total residual chlorine. 3. The most challenging ground storage tank mixing condition is one in which a. stored water is thermally stratified. b. tank volume turns over every few hours. c. there is excess head space above the tank overflow. d. water enters and exits through the same port.

1. For measuring residual chlorine, ___________ sensors measure changes in electric current or potential. a. colorimetric b. voltaic c. amperometric d. potentiometric 2. _________________ is/are very accurately detected by ultraviolet light absorption. a. Residual chlorine b. Total dissolved solids c. Humic and fulvic acids d. Oxidation/reduction potential 3. On-line water quality monitoring (OWQM) alarms or alerts are generally based on or associated with a. simple set points. b. pattern relationships. c. regulatory drinking water quality parameters. d. a 10 percent separation from established background contaminant concentrations.

4. The factor that accounts for total residual chlorine dissipation is referred to in this article as the a. oxidant depletion factor. b. dissipation constant. c. decay coefficient. d. absorption ratio.

4. Sample locations suggested in this article for indoor OWQM stations do not include which of the following? a. Public libraries b. Hospitals c. Fire departments d. Police stations

5. Maintaining somewhat longer retention times in DEI’s ground storage tanks a. can reduce total residual chlorine levels. b. is expected to result in exceedences of EPA disinfection byproduct limits. c. may result in calcium leaching from interior gunite walls. d. will result in higher total coliform counts.

5. TEVA-SPOT is a. hardware capable of measuring water distribution system flow patterns. b. USEPA’s program that requires system water quality monitoring. c. a water quality monitoring system developed by the Tennessee Valley Authority. d. analytical software that identifies maximum public exposure to system contamination.

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

F W R J

On-Line Water Quality Monitoring for Distribution System Operational Improvements And Security Gary Jacobson and Ken Thompson ontinuous monitoring of distribution system water quality was rarely conducted prior to the United States terrorist attacks of 2001. Following that event, and the completion and review of risk assessments for all public water systems (PWS) serving greater than 3,300 population, the distribution system was identified as the most vulnerable area of attack. In response to Homeland Security Presidential Directive 9, which required the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop a process for utilities to improve their water distribution system protection, distribution system water quality monitoring pilot projects were conducted, funded through the EPA Water Security Division Water Security (WS) initiative. As a result, continuous monitoring systems are in operation in Cincinnati, Dallas, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. Independent from the WS initiative program, some PWS and U.S. government agencies have been developing similar programs. Benefits of these systems include improvement of water treatment processes, increased efficiency of water utility operations, more assured quality of water delivered to consumers, and increased protection of public health.

Benefits of Distribution System Monitoring Benefits from continuous distribution system on-line water quality monitoring (OWQM) may be categorized as operational enhancements, regulatory compliance, and contamination warning. Operational enhancements include continuous indication of water quality in the distribution system, beyond that which is possible through routine regulatory sampling. Early indication may be provided of unusually low residual chlorine levels, impending nitrification (elevated ammonia), turbidity excursions caused by main breaks, and other unusual water quality changes. This monitoring is achieved through measurement of several water quality parameters

that water utilities are already familiar with (e.g., chlorine residual) and other parameters, which are relatively new to this application; for example, total organic carbon (TOC). Warning of intentional or unintentional contamination in the distribution system is somewhat more complex. Specialized analyzers are available, including gas chromatographs, which may detect specific contaminants, and toxicity monitors of many types that can provide a general warning of contamination. Due to the large number of potential contaminants, rather than attempting to specifically identify a contaminant, it is more practical to monitor for an indication of contamination through changes in many of the same water quality parameters, or surrogates, that are used for operational benefits monitoring. Regulatory compliance benefits of OWQM include improving the ability to maintain chlorine residual as part of the Total Coliform Rule (TCR) and maintaining proper pH control to avoid potential violations of the Lead and Copper Rule. Beyond monitoring for operational and contamination purposes, utilities should consider OWQM as part of the distribution system optimization program of the Partnership for Safe Water, which is a voluntary effort that includes EPA, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and several other drinking water organizations, and more than 200 water utilities throughout the United States. The goal of the organization is to provide a new measure of safety to millions of Americans by implementing prevention programs where legislation or regulation does not exist. The preventative measures are focused on optimizing treatment plant performance and distribution system operation.

Selection of Water Quality Parameters The water utility that is embarking on the design of distribution monitoring must first decide which water quality parameters

Gary Jacobson is senior project manager with CH2M HILL in Boston. Ken Thompson is deputy director—intelligent water solutions with CH2M HILL in Englewood, Colo.

to monitor. Parameters that are typically included in OWQM systems include: TOC Residual chlorine Conductivity pH Turbidity These are of interest to utilities from a distribution system, operational, and regulatory perspective and provide critical information, including: TOC – Elevated turbidity excursions can be associated with a breakthrough at the water treatment plant or scouring and release of biofilm within the distribution system. Residual Chlorine – Identifies sudden loss in residual which could promote biofilm growth and potential violation of the TCR. Conductivity – This measurement provides an easy method to identify mixing or different water sources, which can have a significant impact on many industrial operations. pH – Controlled for disinfection and corrosion control. The formation of some disinfection byproducts is pH-dependent. Turbidity – Provides warning of a system disruption created by a surge or reversal in flow that scours the pipeline. This could be caused by a pipeline break, hydrant knockover, or other problems that will impact chlorine residual and customer satisfaction. Utilities that use chloramines for disinfection also measure for ammonia, nitrates, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to proContinued on page 44

Florida Water Resources Journal • December 2013

Continued from page 43 vide early warning of nitrification in the distribution system. The first water quality indicator of nitrification will be the increase of ammonia, which will occur before nitrites and nitrates begin to increase. The myriad of potential contaminants have been classified among twelve categories by EPA (EPA, 2005). Laboratory testing has concluded that three of these water quality parameters (TOC, residual chlorine, and conductivity) respond to the presence of contaminants from 10 of the 12 categories, as shown in Figure 1. By using these three parameters, along with operational monitoring, broad contaminant coverage is also provided with a minimum of instrumentation. The relative change in quality of water with either chlorine or chloramines has been investigated by EPA and the pilot cities, and can serve as general guidance for evaluating a water quality anomaly. Most OWQM systems include monitoring for absorbance of ultraviolet (UV) light. The UV analyzers that operate by measurement of absorption at the single 254 nanometer (nm) wavelength are generically referred to as UV-254 analyzers; instruments, which operate through analysis of a broad spectrum from 200-720 nm and are referred to as spectral analyzers. The UV absorbance has been shown to be strongly correlated to TOC content (Dilling). The UV-254 analyzers measure absorbance at the 254 nm wavelength, since this is the radiation emitted by a common mercury-based UV source lamp. The absorbance of UV light by TOC or other contaminants contained within the water sample is reported as a percent of the uninhibited lamp intensity, ranging from 0-100 percent.

Spectral analyzers utilize a xenon lamp to produce a light source across UV and visible light wavelengths from 200-720 nm. Measurement of absorbance at 254 discrete wavelengths across this range enables construction of an absorbance, or spectral curve (Figure 2). Due to the substantially greater information provided by spectral analysis, the broadband spectrum enables measurement of TOC based on calculation of numerous UV/visible light wavelengths, which are associated with this parameter. Similarly, turbidity is also calculated based on analysis of numerous wavelengths. Subtraction of the turbidity component enables derived measurement of nitrate and DOC. Other parameters, not typically included in OWQM analysis, also may be derived from broad spectral absorbance of UV and visible light. Not all sources of TOC are revealed by UV/visible light absorbance, but a large enough percentage are detected so that these technologies are generally accepted for the OWQM application. This limitation of correlated or spectral indication of TOC must be considered when selecting OWQM parameters.

Selection of Water Quality Analyzers Once water quality parameters to be used for OWQM monitoring are selected, specific instruments to be used for this purpose must be selected. All utilities are under pressure to minimize capital and operating costs, so this consideration factors into analyzer selection. Addition of OWQM monitoring must be done without unnecessarily adding to the existing responsibilities of utility technicians, and this also impacts the se-

Figure 1. TOC, Chlorine, and Conductivity are the Three Primary Water Quality Parameters Used for Distribution System Contamination Monitoring.

December 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ Florida Water Resources Journal

lection of OWQM analyzers. One way to do this is to select sensors and analyzers that are reliable and inexpensive to operate, and require only infrequent direct attention or maintenance. Chlorine Analyzer: The two most common methods for on-line chlorine analysis are amperometric and colorimetric detection. The colorimetric method requires use of chemical reagents to produce the reaction that is measured and used to quantify chlorine content. Reagent reservoir levels must be regularly monitored and refilled by maintenance personnel. Additionally, reagents used for colorimetric tests have been found to degrade in environments that exceed 105 degrees and significantly impact the quality of the analysis. Amperometric sensors measure changes in electric current or potential and operate without use of chemical reagents. For monitoring residual chlorine by OWQM systems, these sensors reduce maintenance costs and activities, and reduce operational risks from depletion of reagent reservoirs between service visits. Therefore, amperometric technologies are most frequently used. TOC Analyzers: Traditional TOC analyzers involve multiple electrochemical reactions for operation. Phosphoric acid is used for pH reduction and inorganic carbon removal, followed by oxidation of organic carbon to CO2 by sodium or ammonium persulfate and heat or UV light. At least one manufacturer uses boron-doped electrodes to generate oxidation radicals in place of the persulfate solution. The CO2 is directly detected by a nondispersive infrared (NDIR) detector, or converted to carbonic acid and measured by conductance. Operation requires periodic re-

Figure 2. UV/Visible Absorbance Spectrum Enables Calculation and Derivation of Numerous Water Quality Parameters.

plenishment of acid and, if used, persulfate reagents. The UV lamp, when used, is also a replacement part. Prefiltration of the analyzer sample stream is frequently required to prevent plugging of the microtubing, which is included in the analyzerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s internal construction. In some waters with a substantial level of inorganic carbon, additional filters that remove this carbon component must be included at the inlet to the analyzer. These filtering systems are generally available from the analyzer manufacturer, but constitute a maintenance activity and cost, which varies depending upon the particular nature of the sample stream. The TOC analyzers are mechanically and highly complex, and require substantial technical training and experience to ensure proper operation over extended periods (Hall & Szabo, 2009). While analyzers that are mechanically less intricate are now commercially available, they remain complex in operation. UV Analyzers: When UV254 analysis is used for an OWQM system, the absorbance measurement alone may be used as a general indication of water quality. Due to the potential difficulties involved with operating and maintaining TOC analyzers, UV analyzers are sometimes used to provide a TOC measurement or indication, depending on the particular technology selected. Several factors must be considered when selecting a UV absorbance analyzer for use in OWQM systems. Some UV254 analyzers apply a correlation coefficient to the 254 nm absorbance reading to generate a TOC measurement. However, the accuracy of the correlation is dependent upon the stability of the correlation. For systems where the source water is subject to change, the correlation may change, and without adjustment to the programmed coefficient, the TOC measurement may be inaccurate. The TOC correlation to UV254 absorbance is also impacted by the turbidity of the sample stream. Some UV254 analyzers include automated turbidity compensation, others do not. Spectral analyzers calculate TOC and turbidity measurement from the UV and visible light absorption measurements that make up the spectral curve. Turbidity readings from these analyzers are applied to the TOC calculation to achieve a turbidity-compensated TOC measurement. These analyzers can also derive nitrate, DOC, and other water quality parameters. Specific water contaminants, for example, ricin (van den Broeke, 2009)), can be calculated based on their specific absorbance spectrum, similar to the method used for TOC determination. The EPA studies have found that UV-vis-

ible light absorbance-based TOC readings will not detect all TOC compounds, but they do detect a large enough portion of potential TOC contaminants that these instruments are valid for contamination monitoring (Water Security Initiative: Interim Guidance on Planning for Contamination Warning System Deployment, 2007). Similarly, TOC readings by these instruments are suitable for distribution system water quality indication because drinking water TOC is typically made up of humic and fulvic acids, which are very accurately detected by UV absorption. Absorbance-based UV and TOC measurements have the potential to be affected by deposition of mineral content on optical surfaces. This will impact absorbance readings and is highly dependent on the water being tested. Optically-based analyzers frequently include automated cleaning systems, ranging from periodic flushing with various solutions to mechanical wipers or brushes, or continuous operation of ultrasonic wave generators. Each of these has been found to be of varying effectiveness. Some UV-based optical analyzers include automated compensation for variation of the UV lamp output over time. This is considered to be an essential function since the lamp output is known to decrease over time, requiring periodic lamp replacement. Ammonia Analyzers: Ammonia sensors may be reagent- or nonreagent-based operations. For OWQM systems, reagentless technologies that use ion-selective electrodes are preferred to assist in minimizing maintenance activities and costs. The ammonia measurement should include pH compensation, which may be integral to the ammonia sensor, or a separate pH sensor with signal input to the ammonia analyzer. The pH signal can also be separately used for the OWQM pH measurement. Ammonia sensors may also include potassium compensation, because elevated potassium levels will interfere with low-level ammonia measurements, such as those close to the sensor detection limit where OWQM systems typically operate. The potassium signal is not an OWQM parameter and is not separately reported by the OWQM system. Conductivity, pH, Turbidity: These sensors operate based on standard, proven electrochemical and optical technologies, which water utilities have deployed for many years in water treatment plants and other facilities. Specific analyzers to be used in an OWQM station should be those that the user has found to be reliable in service and to provide accurate readings with minimal maintenance requirements. For these parameters, use of a

utilityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standard sensors is usually acceptable.

Prioritization of Installation Locations Selection of installation locations for OWQM stations involves important considerations to reduce cost and provide an environment conducive to long-term and successful operations. Monitoring stations are typically installed at the discharge of each water treatment plant or wholesale connection interties to indicate baseline conditions entering the distribution system for comparison with downstream measurements. These stations also indicate results of changes to the treatment process, and warn of conditions in the treatment process that may otherwise go undetected. Some OWQM process measurements may already be made at the water treatment plant (WTP), and these existing measurements can be used for OWQM purposes. When adding other OWQM parameters that are not already monitored at the WTP, some utilities use installation of OWQM stations as an opportunity to upgrade older instruments or to convert to reagentless technologies for savings of labor and maintenance costs. The OWQM stations are frequently installed at the discharge of distribution system reservoirs and chlorine boosting pump stations. Measurement may be upstream of chlorine addition to provide a measure of the quality of the water in the reservoir and of that further upstream. The OWQM station could alternately be installed downstream of chlorine addition at the booster station to provide a baseline measurement for comparison to OWQM stations further downstream. Other OWQM stations are installed at critical nodes in the distribution system, and different approaches may be taken in selecting these locations. Distribution system managers generally have a good understanding of operation of the piping network, and can often identify the nodes of interest based on working experience. A more scientific approach to OWQM siting is frequently conducted through the use of the Threat Ensemble Vulnerability Analysis and Sensor Placement Optimization Tool (TEVA-SPOT) software (Berry, 2008). This analytical package, developed by EPA, Sandia Laboratories, and others, analyzes a distribution system network and identifies critical nodes that will represent water quality impacting the largest number of consumers. The TEVA-SPOT Continued on page 46

Florida Water Resources Journal â&#x20AC;˘ December 2013

Continued from page 45 analysis results often validate the operational understanding expressed by distribution system managers, but also frequently identify nodes otherwise not understood to be critical, or recommend subtle location changes compared to the managers recommendations. The analysis enables prioritization of a selected number of OWQM stations to meet the budget available for a project, and identify stations to be added as a monitoring system expands over a period of years.

Requirements for Data Communication and Analysis Several products are available for analysis of OWQM data and alarming of unusual conditions. The most common software

event detection systems (EDS) are commercially available through s::can, Whitewater, and Hach. Also available is the Sandia National Laboratories freeware system CANARY, which was developed as part of the WS initiative. Each EDS has strengths and weaknesses associated with their performance under distribution system operations. Additional information can be obtained through the EPA Water Security Division. The OWQM alarms are generally based on more than simple alarm setpoints for parameter measurements. Typically, the alarms or alerts are associated with pattern alarms, where multiple parameters change in a manner that is atypical of their normal relationship. As an example, if TOC increased, it would also be expected that DOC would increase in a proportional manner. When a utility has implemented enhanced coagulation,

Figure 3. Typical EnclosedType OWQM Station. When Installed in Secure Indoor Locations, Open-Type WallMount Stations are Often Used.

the TOC-to-DOC relationship changed and created an alert at the water quality monitoring stations. Broadband UV-Vis systems also produce a spectral alarm, which is initiated if the normal spectral fingerprint displays an unusual shift. The OWQM data is collected more frequently than typical SCADA monitoring data, and therefore OWQM data usually cannot be communicated over traditional lowbandwidth SCADA networks. Additionally, spectral data cannot be communicated over the typical SCADA data collection network, so separate communication pathways must be established for this. Many utilities therefore include all OWQM data on the alternate path and keep monitoring and maintenance of this information separate from operational SCADA data, although there is no requirement to maintain this separation. If T-1 or optical connections to the central monitoring facility are available, these pathways may be used, but typically the OWQM measurements are still transmitted as a separate data stream from SCADA parameters. Water quality analysis is conducted local to the OWQM station, and measured values and alarms are communicated to a central historian and display. There is typically a long-term database for storage and retrieval of data and a short-term cache for short-term (30-day) trending. For OWQM stations at water utility locations, the data may be communicated over a virtual private network (VPN) setup on the existing utility network, if available. For locations that do not have access to the utilityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s network, data are frequently communicated over commercial digital radio or cable service connections.

Fabricated On-Line Water Quality Monitoring Stations

Figure 4. On-Line Water Quality Monitoring Ultraviolet Absorbance Spectrum Enables Identification of Distribution System Accelerated Corrosion.

December 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ Florida Water Resources Journal

Installed OWQM stations take several forms, depending on the parameters and analyzers that are selected for use. For outdoor installation, they are generally fabricated in enclosed cabinets for protection and security (Figure 3). Since water flows inside the cabinet with an open drain, ventilation of the cabinet is required to dissipate moisture that may accumulate. In hot southern climates, temperatures inside the enclosed cabinets are also of concern, so ventilation is also necessary, and shade from direct solar illumination is recommended. High internal temperatures can also impact the stability of chemical reagents, so reagentless analyzers are also preferred for this reason. Continued on page 48

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APRIL 7-9........Backflow Repair ........................................St. Petersburg ......$275/305 21-24........Backflow Tester ..........................................Deltona ................$375/405 25........Backflow Tester Recert*** ........................Deltona ................$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;˘ December 2013

Continued from page 46 Many of these issues may be avoided by installing OWQM stations indoors. For secure indoor locations owned and controlled by the utility, the station may be configured as a nonenclosed wall mount panel or openframe system. Heat and moisture are usually no longer an issue, but the potential for tampering or vandalism of equipment may be more of a concern. Indoor locations that are not owned by the utility, such as at fire departments, police stations, hospitals, or other host facilities, should be configured as enclosed cabinets that will still require ventilation to remove humidity. But, indoor locations avoid the OWQM environmental impacts of excessive heat or cold, and also make it easier for utility technicians to conduct routine calibration and service. How-

ever, indoor installation at any facility requires that access be available on a short-notice basis to retrieve automatically collected water samples in the event potential contamination is detected. Continuous access is a priority for locating OWQM stations that hold contamination monitoring as a mission of critical consideration. For those that are focused only on operational benefits, quick access is less of a siting priority.

Operational Benefits The most important aspect of OWQM systems are the benefits of assured and improved water quality provided to the consumer. Such monitoring may provide recommendations for adjustment of the water treatment process and feedback of the

Figure 5. On-Line Water Quality Monitoring DOC and TOC Plots Used to Optimize Treatment Plant Maintenance Activities.

Figure 6. On-Line Water Quality Monitoring Data Enables Comparison of Nitrate Profiles and Hydraulic Model Verification.

December 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ Florida Water Resources Journal

results of treatment process changes. The OWQM stations can provide early warning of water main breaks, low- or high-chlorine conditions, nitrification, and other conditions, and thereby not only improve operations, but also save considerable costs to the utility. When the EDS identifies an anomaly in a data stream, an alert is sent to the centralized distribution system monitoring dashboard, which allows the operator to spatially correlate information from the other data streams (consumer complaints, enhanced security alarms, public health alerts) in real time. Operations staff can rapidly and independently query each alert to evaluate trends and relate the anomalies to explainable events that may be occurring in the water distribution system (e.g., a pipeline break). During this operational evaluation, it is possible that the cause of the alerts cannot be explained by known activities. When this occurs, the utility will proceed with a tiered response, such as a consequence management plan, which becomes increasingly aggressive as more information related to a potential contamination event is received. The ability to rapidly convert very large data streams into actionable information and provide the consolidated alert information on a user-friendly dashboard significantly decreases a utilityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s response time. The ability to identify trends and nuances in the data supports operational benefits not previously available. Examples of collected data associated with distribution system events are presented. Corrosion Detection and Control: Figure 4 shows a plot of spectral absorbance that indicated a peak characteristic of iron oxide. Plots of the data in five-day increments showed the size of the peak was rapidly increasing. This was ultimately identified as accumulating deposition of iron on the analyzer optics caused by aggressive water unexpectedly leaching from ductile iron pipe. Identifying the problem early and implementing corrective actions saved the utility an estimated $20 million in early replacement costs. Granular Activate Carbon (GAC) Replacement Optimization: In Figure 5, DOC and TOC plots were used to optimize GAC filter performance. In this case, the utility developed correlations between total trihalomethanes (TTHM) production and effluent DOC for use in determining when to change the GAC and maintain system compliance. By revising the GAC replacement schedule from a prescribed frequency to one based on 50 percent TTHM levels, the utility reduced the annual replacement costs by $100,000 at each treatment plant.

Water Age Tracking: Figure 6 shows an example of how OWQM data can be used to track water age. In this case, nitrate profiles were compared over time to determine travel time between sites. The data was validated through the utility’s calibrated model and similar readings from other distribution system locations have been used to verify their hydraulic model. Water Quality Monitoring and Process Control: Figure 7 shows an example of how spectral absorbance changes indicated failure of treatment plant controls early enough for the problem to be resolved before major damage occurred. In this case, the failure allowed spent brine solution to flow into the distribution system reservoir. The immediate result was a spectral change associated with the highly colored brine solution blocking the UV transmittance and creating a spectral alarm and notification. The graph on the left indicates normal absorbance (blue trace at bottom, behind, and coincident with green trace). Over a period of several minutes, the absorbance increased, with maximum disruption indicated by the orange and purple marks indicating high absorbance of 30 – 50 percent for 3 min. After 13 min from start of the event, the condition was resolved, the brine solution had passed the monitoring station, and the absorbance spectrum returned to normal (green trace at bottom, coincident with the pre-event absorbance). The right graph shows conditions the next day at a monitoring station in the distribution system. The contaminant is shown to be considerably diluted, with the maximum absorption reduced to 30-40 percent and spread over 7 min. The event is seen to take a total of four hours to pass the station from start of the event to return to normal water quality. Water Quality Concern Source Identification: A military base using water from the local utility often had reports of water quality problems that couldn’t be readily attributed to a known cause. Monitoring of the water inlet to the base identified changes in the water supply, as shown in Figure 8. Precise determination of when water quality changed helped establish a link to source water operations. The water provider occasionally changed the source of the water and where it entered the distribution system, with the result of heavy scouring in the pipe, directly impacting water quality on the base. Once the problem was understood, base personnel worked with the retail water provider so they would understand the impact associated with flow reversals. The water provider Continued on page 50 Florida Water Resources Journal • December 2013

Figure 7. On-Line Water Quality Monitoring Identified Changes in Spectral Characteristics Indicate Equipment Failure.

Figure 8. On-Line Water Quality Monitoring System Identifies Changes in Source Water as the Cause of Water Quality Problems.

Continued from page 49 implemented a flushing program to reduce the sediment that had accumulated in distribution system pipelines, largely correcting the problem.

Conclusions Installation and operation of OWQM stations at water treatment plants, reservoir outlets, and strategic locations throughout the distribution system provide an understanding of water delivery conditions that may have been previously unknown or incompletely understood. These systems enable correction of problems and improvement in delivered water quality, as well as substantial savings in operational and maintenance/re-

placement costs. A mix of well-known and new technology sensors and analyzers may be used to obtain and report the substantial amount of data required for a complete picture of distribution system operation. The data can be displayed in an optimized manner on a central dashboard, as well as through mobile technologies, to support and improve water utility operations.

References • Berry, J. E. (2008). TEVA-SPOT Toolkit and User's Manual. Washington, DC: EPA. • Dilling, J. K. (n.d.). Estimation of the hydrophobic fraction of dissolved organic matter in water samples using UV photometry. Wat. Res. 36 (20) , 5037 - 5044.

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

• EPA, U. (2005). Water Sentinel Online Water Quality Monitoring as an Indicator of Drinking Water Contamination. Washington, DC: US EPA Water Security Division. • Hall, J., & Szabo, J. (2009). Distribution System Water Quality Monitoring: Sensor Technology Evaluation Methodology and Results. Cincinnati, OH: EPA. • Hill, C. (2013). Contamination Warning System Demonstration Pilot Project: Implementation and Assessment. • van den Broeke, D. J. (2009). Spectral RICIN Measurement - Detection Limits. s::can Messtechnik, GmbH. • (2007). Water Security Initiative: Interim Guidance on Planning for Contamination Warning System Deployment. Cincinnati, OH: EPA Water Security Division.

Florida Water Resources Journal â&#x20AC;˘ December 2013

Register Now for 2014 Florida Water Resources Conference Contests! Operations Challenge Treatment plant operators from across Florida will compete in the 25th annual Operations Challenge at the Florida Water Resources Conference in April 2014. Participants will be timed in five separate operational competitions to determine the state’s representative for the national Operations Challenge at WEFTEC 2014. The Operations Challenge promotes team building, leadership, education, and pride within a utility. Any utility that didn’t have a team in last year’s contest is especially encouraged to participate in the 2014 event. For information and entry forms, contact

Chris Fasnacht, Operations Challenge 2014 chair, at 407-709-7372 or cfasnacht@stcloud.org.

Top Ops Competition The annual statewide Top Ops contest will be held in April 2014 at the Florida Water Resources Conference. Top Ops is the “College Bowl” of the water industry. Teams of one, two, or three water operators or laboratory personnel from the FSAWWA regions compete against each other in a fast-paced question-and-answer tournament at the conference. A moderator poses a wide range of technical questions and math problems, and the team scoring the most points in the cham-

pionship round is awarded the Florida Section AWWA Top Ops championship. The winning team will earn a trip to ACE14 in Boston to compete with teams from the other AWWA sections in the national Top Ops contest. Utilities throughout the state are encouraged to enter. Teams do not have to consist of employees of the same utility; multiple utilities can sponsor a team. Florida Section AWWA regions are also encouraged to enter teams made up of operators from a region. No video, audio, or digital recordings will be allowed during the competition. For registration forms and the 2014 rules, contact Peggy Guingona at fsawwa@gmail.com or 407-957-8449.

News Beat Dean M. Breaux has joined Vogel Bros. Building Co. in Lakeland as vice president of operations. He has over 35 years of experience in all facets of the construction industry, including industrial, municipal, and institutional projects, with his most recent assignment being senior manager of preconstruction projects. Breaux has also served as a chief estimator, subcontract manager, project manager, electrical superintendent, field engineer, and industrial and marine electrician. Breaux majored in math and science at Louisiana State University and received his

LEED® AP certification in 2009. Vogel has been active in the Florida Construction market since 1980 building schools, water and wastewater treatment plants, power plants, and commercial buildings.

Kim P. Hoskins, who began her career at Bonita Springs Utilities Inc., has returned as director of engineering. She will be responsible for planning, design, permitting, project budgeting, scheduling, and construction administration for the not-for-profit utility, as well as the review, in-

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

spection, and acceptance of developer-contributed projects. She supervises a staff of six and directs the utility’s five-year capital improvement program. Hoskins interned and began her professional career at the utility, serving as assistant engineer for three years. She has worked as project manager with Barraco and Associates Inc., development review representative with Lee County Department of Community Development, and engineering manager with Lee County Utilities. Hoskins holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from the University of Florida. Continued on page 54

Florida Water Resources Journal â&#x20AC;˘ December 2013

New Products Innovyze introduces IWLive, a comprehensive solution for real-time water distribution hydraulic and water quality modeling, monitoring, forecasting, and SCADA integration. Fully optimized for the control room, IWLive equips operators with advanced analytics and decision-support tools that are both reactive and predictive, enabling them to improve system performance and reliability, enhance service, save money, safeguard critical infrastructures, and protect public health. More information can be found at www.innovyze.com.

The FPI Mag from McCrometer is a high-performance hot tap flow meter for industrial or municipal water applications. The unique streamlined water flow sensor features multiple electrodes across the entire full diameter. Electrode pairs are positioned so that each measures a cross-sectional area. Multielectrode sensing provides accurate measurement without long upstream and downstream pipe runs, providing a smaller footprint for greater accuracy. Go to www.mccrometer.com to learn more.

The Solar Sync ET sensor from Hunter Industries is an advanced weather sensor that calculates evapotranspiration and daily adjusts the sensor controls based on local weather conditions. Solar Sync measures sunlight and temperature and uses evapotranspiration to

determine the correct seasonal adjustment percentage value to send to the controller. The controller then uses its programmed run time and adjusts to Solar Sync’s seasonal adjustment value to modify the actual irrigation run time for that day. The Solar Sync evapotranspiration sensor integrates Hunter’s Rain-Clik and Freeze-Clik sensors, providing quick response in shutting down an irrigation system during rain or freezing conditions. The Solar Sync is compatible with most Hunter controllers and can be used by residences, businesses, and municipalities. Visit www.hunterindustries.com for more details.

The Amacan P submersible motor pump from KSB Inc., originally designed for stormwater and wastewater applications, has a current capacity of up to 110,000 gal/min and a power range up to 550 hp. The pump can be installed horizontally or vertically. Built for stormy conditions, the system includes a sealed shaft and motor and double-sealed cables. This design protects the cables at entry to the pump motor and prevents movement inside the tube, stabilizing the cables and helping to prevent damage. The diffuser casing and motor housing are made of cast iron, and the shaft, casing wear ring, screws, bolts, and nuts are stainless steel. An aluminum-bronze/duplex stainless steel propeller completes the pump. More about the product is available at www.ksb.com.

The XD 3.0 grinder from JWC Environmental is 13 ft tall, weighs 9300 lbs, and produces 7 tons of cutting force at peak loads. The grinder combines rotating screen drums and a Muffin Monster® grinder to shred solids while processing up to 59 mgd. This combination is ideal for pump stations since the grinder shreds rags, plastics, wood, and trash so particulates flow easily through pumps and pipelines. This new design features larger cutters, shafts, and housings, which enables the grinder to process heavy debris and first-flush storm loading. To find out more, visit www.jwce.com.

Blue-White Industries has a redesigned Chem-Pro® C2 diaphragm metering pump with a broad range of capabilities, including a larger pump cover, which enables engineers to increase the size of the control pad and make it more intuitive. The pump also has a snapon cover for the control pad. Other features include a remote start/stop, 4—20-mA output, upgradable firmware, a larger single-piece junction box (40 percent larger than previous models, and terminal-block connectors. Log onto www.bluwhite.com for more information.

The Emerson 6888 combustion fuel analyzer measures the oxygen remaining in flue gases from such combustion processes as boilers, incinerators, kilns, process heaters, and industrial heating furnaces. By maintaining the ideal level of oxygen in the flue gases, optimal efficiency is achieved and the lowest levels of NOX, CO and CO2 are produced. The in situ design places a zirconium oxide sensing element at the end of a probe, which inserts directly into a flue-gas stream. Probe lengths are available from 18 in. to 12 ft, and a slip-mounting option provides the ability to mount a long probe at any insertion depth. The product is fully field-repairable. All active components can be replaced, including the diffuser/filter, sensing cell, heater and thermocouple, and all electronics cards. A dualchannel operator interface unit provides an easy-to-use method of setup, calibration, and failure diagnostics. Go to www.emersonprocess.com for further details.

Anue Water Technologies Inc. presents the FORSe 5™ series of high-efficiency odorContinued on page 55

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

News Beat Continued from page 52

The Water Research Foundation is making resources available to help water systems and other interested parties better understand the costs associated with removing hexavalent chromium, or Cr(VI), from drinking water. These resources come as California announced its draft maximum contaminant level (MCL) for Cr(VI), and as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is evaluating the need to develop a national MCL beyond the current one for total chromium. The Foundation’s cost estimation tool will help drinking water systems estimate a range of potential costs to remove Cr(VI) from their water based on system-specific information about the impacted well, water quality, residuals handling, and different treatment options. The tool was developed as part of the Foundation project, “Impact of Water Quality on Hexavalent Chromium Removal Efficiency and Cost,” which evaluates the removal of Cr(VI) from 10 groundwater sources in an effort to understand the impact of different water quality parameters on the performance and cost of three Cr(VI) treatment technologies: Weak-Base Anion (WBA) resin, Strong-Base Anion (SBA) resin, and reduction-coagulationfiltration (RCF). Based on the treatment performance, capital and annual operations and maintenance cost estimates were developed for each treatment technology. In addition, the project creates defensible capital and annual operations and maintenance cost estimates for implementing treatment systems of various sizes that can comply with a range of potential

drinking water contaminant levels. In recognition of the broad interest in this issue, the Foundation is currently supporting numerous initiatives to advance the science surrounding Cr(VI) in its focus area program, which solves broadly relevant subscriber issues with a targeted, multiyear research response. For more information, go to www.waterrf.com.

The U.S. Geological Survey is involved in partnered research focusing on water quality, including pesticides and pesticide degradates, in surficial aquifer and lakes in central Florida. This research includes two regional-scale companion water quality studies: a long-term groundwater study, and a lake-reconnaissance study. These studies provide information on spatial and temporal variability of agricultural chemicals (pesticides and nutrients) in the water resources of Lake Wales Ridge, and insight into chemical transport and fate within this closely linked groundwater—surface water system. The 700-sq-mi study area encompasses the Lake Wales Ridge, an area in central Florida that has been recognized as a

region particularly susceptible to agrichemical leaching, and which is a primary citrus-growing region. The groundwater study focuses on surficial aquifer system, which consists of unconsolidated, highly permeable, and relatively homogeneous marine sands. It provides a tool for early detection of potential contaminants leaching into the Ridge groundwater system. The lake study focuses on groundwater seepage lakes that receive water from, and discharge water to, the surficial aquifer system. The results of both studies provide information to support efforts by state and local agencies to minimize land-use impacts and to protect the region’s water resources. These studies are noteworthy in several regards. The groundwater study is one of the first in the U.S. to document short-term (quarterly) variability of pesticides over a long period (more than 11 years, as of 2010) using consistent sampling and laboratory methods. The lake pesticide study is one of the first evaluations nationally to focus on the regional occurrence of pesticides in small- to intermediate-sized lakes (5 to 393 acres). Also, both studies were among the first to analyze for and detect triazine degradate hydroxysimazine in water resources.

New Products Continued from page 54 and corrosion-control systems for wastewater collection systems. The series uses sustainable means to eliminate the source and production of odor and corrosion. The systems integrate on-site oxygen and ozone generation using a proprietary “hydrodynamic” infusion process and microprocessor controls in a quiet and compact package. The systems treat force mains, lift stations, or a combination of the two. The different models range in capacity to accommodate various flows and loads. They are designed for ease of use and require limited maintenance. For more information, visit www.anuewater.com. Florida Water Resources Journal • December 2013

ENGINEERING DIRECTORY

Tank Engineering And Management Consultants, Inc.

Engineering • Inspection Aboveground Storage Tank Specialists Mulberry, Florida • Since 1983

863-354-9010 www.tankteam.com

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

ENGINEERING DIRECTORY

Fort Lauderdale 954.351.9256

Jacksonville 904.733.9119

Miami 305.443.6401

Orlando 407.423.0030

Gainseville 352.335.7991

Key West 305.294.1645

Navarro 850.939.8300

Tampa 813.874.0777 813.386.1990

West Palm Beach 561.904.7400

Naples 239.596.1715

Showcase Your Company in the Engineering or Equipment & Services Directory Contact Mike Delaney at 352-241-6006 ads@fwrj.com

EQUIPMENT & SERVICES DIRECTORY

Florida Water Resources Journal â&#x20AC;˘ December 2013

EQUIPMENT & SERVICES DIRECTORY

Motor & Utility Services, LLC

Instrumentation,Controls Specialists Instrumentation Calibration Troubleshooting and Repair Services On-Site Water Meter Calibrations Preventive Maintenance Contracts Emergency and On Call Services Installation and System Start-up Lift Station Controls Service and Repair

Central Florida Controls,Inc. Florida Certified in water meter testing and repair P.O. Box 6121 • Ocala, FL 34432 Phone: 352-347-6075 • Fax: 352-347-0933

w w w. c e nt r a l f l or i d a c ont rol s . c om

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

CEC Motor & Utility Services, LLC 1751 12th Street East Palmetto, FL. 34221 Phone - 941-845-1030 Fax – 941-845-1049 prademaker@cecmotoru.com • Motor & Pump Services Test Loaded up to 4000HP, 4160-Volts • Premier Distributor for Worldwide Hyundai Motors up to 35,000HP • Specialists in rebuilding motors, pumps, blowers, & drives • UL 508A Panel Shop, engineer/design/build/install/commission • Lift Station Rehabilitation Services, GC License # CGC1520078 • Predictive Maintenance Services, vibration, IR, oil sampling • Authorized Sales & Service for Aurora Vertical Hollow Shaft Motors

EQUIPMENT & SERVICES DIRECTORY Showcase Your Company in the Engineering or Equipment & Services Directory Contact Mike Delaney at

352-241-6006 ads@fwrj.com

CLASSIFIEDS Positions Av ailable Purchase Private Utilities and Operating Routes Florida Corporation is interested in expanding it’s market in Florida. We would like you and your company to join us. We will buy or partner for your utility or operations business. Call Carl Smith at 727835-9522. E-mail: csmith@uswatercorp.com

We are currently accepting employment applications for the following positions: Water & Wastewater Licensed Operator’s – positions are available in the following counties: Pasco, Polk, Highlands, Lee Instrumentation Technician – Pasco Maintenance Technicians – positions are available in the following locations: Jacksonville, Lake, Marion, Ocala and Palatka Employment is available for F/T, P/T and Subcontract opportunities Please visit our website at www.uswatercorp.com (Employment application is available in our website) 4939 Cross Bayou Blvd. New Port Richey, FL 34652 Toll Free: 1-866-753-8292 Fax: (727) 848-7701 E-Mail: hr@uswatercorp.com

Water and Wastewater Utility Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Management

HERNANDO COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - OPERATIONS MANAGER $65,748 - $85,871. For additional information and to apply, please go to http://www.hernandocounty.us/hr/job_postings.asp.

Account Manager Collection Systems Barney's Pumps Inc. is the largest municipal & industrial pump distributor and control panel shop in the state of Florida with a rich 60+ year history under the same family ownership. Our company is financially stable; completely debt free; and poised to continue our success for another 60 years! We have an immediate opening for an Account Manager to become a member of our Coral Springs based sales team covering the SE Florida market. He or she must be self-motivated to make sales calls to engineers, City & County end-users, contractors, and other entities to specify our products. This is a straight-commission sales position with a guarantee for first 12 months, and offers unlimited six-figure earnings potential. Benefits include a 401K plan, 100% company paid health insurance, vacation, expense account, and company car. Ideal candidates will have a college degree; a minimum of 5-years outside sales experience; knowledge of pumps, electrical components / control systems, or any combination. Please contact Tom Gerardi email gerardit@barneyspumps.com

Water Plant Superintendent The City of Miramar Utility Department is seeking qualified candidates for a Water Plant Superintendent. This position is responsible for supervising day to day operations of a potable water treatment plant in the City of Miramar. It requires Florida State Class “A” Operators license and 10 years progressive supervisory experience in water system operations. Starting salary is $55,400 annually. For more information and to apply for this position, please go to the City of Miramar’s employment website at http://www.miramarjobs.us.

Hernando County Water Plant Operator I Online Application and Job Description can be found at: https://emp.hernandocounty.us Florida Water Resources Journal • December 2013

CITY OF TITUSVILLE WATER/SEWER FIELD OPERATIONS DIV. SEEKING: CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR - $40,902$48,381 Supervise activities in construction, maintenance and repair of wastewater, water and reclaimed water systems. Associate Degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent, and 5 years’ experience. Must possess a Florida DEP Level 1 Distribution/Operator License (Class ”A” Wastewater Collection Technician Certification) within one year. CREW LEADER II - $12.87/Hour High school graduate or equivalent plus 3 years' experience in construction, concrete work, or gravity sewer maintenance/construction. Florida Class DEP Level III Distribution License and FWPCOA Wastewater “C” Certificate desired. See website www.titusville.com for application. – EOE

Utility Technician I The Dunes Community Development District is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Utility Technician I in the Utility Division. This position performs outdoor maintenance of the water distribution, wastewater collection, reuse distribution and stormwater systems of the District. Minimum qualifications: High School diploma, G.E.D. or other certificate of competency. Must have a minimum of two years of related experience and/or distribution/collection certification. Preference will be given to applicants with prior experience and certification. Must possess a valid Florida Drivers license. Salary range $9.90 -$13.80, depending on prior related experience and certifications held. Excellent benefits package. Applications may be downloaded from the District’s website, www.dunescdd.org , obtained from the District’s office, 101 Jungle Hut Rd., Palm Coast (in person) or requested by mail at 5000 Palm Coast Pkwy S.E., Palm Coast, FL 32137. Applications accepted until position filled. The Dunes Community Development District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Utility Manager Shop Mechanics and Field Service Tech Wanted Manufactures repair and service facility is looking for quality people in the Orlando and Tampa area. Shop mechanics: Must be experienced in pumps and motors repairs, minimum. Field Service Tech: Must be experience in pumps, lift stations and control panels. Must have a valid driver’s license and know how to operate the Autocrane on the truck. Excellent benefit package with employee medical paid, 401K, vacations and holidays. Equal Opportunity Employer. Please send resumes to tim@hydraservice.net or fax to 407-330-3404

CITY OF HOLLYWOOD, FL Billing Supervisor This position is responsible supervisory work in the utility billing division of the City of Hollywood. The City currently bills approximately 40,000 utility customers each month. The utility bill currently includes Water and Sewer Service, Stormwater fees and Sanitation Fee and other charges and taxes. Salary starts at $51,160 to a maximum range of $90,952. Excellent benefit package includes; 25 annual vacation days, 13 annual holidays, 12 sick days accrued per year, medical coverage and dependent coverage with a biweekly contribution, dental plans, and a retirement plan with 7 years vesting. Must have a Bachelor’s degree and three (3) years of responsible experience working for either a utility, local government, or large billing and collection concern, or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Preference will be given to those who have experience in Utility Billing and supervision. EOE M/F/D/V Apply by ASAP to: www.hollywoodfl.org or City of Hollywood 2600 Hollywood Blvd., Rm. 206 Hollywood, FL 33020 Fax: 954-921-3487

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

U.S. Water Services Corp. is now accepting applications for a full time Utility Manager. The Utility Manager will be responsible for all facets of contract that relates to Water Plant Operations, Maintenance and Utility Billing Services department. The Utility Manager will plan, direct, and coordinate the functions associated with both the Operations and Billing as it relates to meeting the requirements of the Company’s contract. Key responsibilities to include the ability to oversee the Operations of the Water plant facilities as it relates to staffing, safety, operations, chemical applications, vehicle management and meeting all FDEP and other governmental requirements in accordance with permit(s) and all City requirements; oversee the Billing services department which is responsible for casher services, intake/outtake of customer calls, meter reading, field customer service inquiries, handling of elevated customer complaints received and coordinated with the Finance Dept. Current position is for a utility that has an estimated 10,000 accounts. Qualifications: ➢ Bachelor’s degree in biology, finance, management, accounting, or other related discipline or 5-7 years of supervision of operations and billing services activities. ➢ 5 or more years of experience in water treatment, utility maintenance, and customer service. ➢ Experience in the public sector as it relates to operations, maintenance, and customer services. ➢ Skill in building and maintaining effective working relationship with City personnel, City officials, and the community as a whole. A partnership philosophy is key to this position to both the Public Works and the Finance Department. ➢ Ability to focus on both aspects of this project. ➢ Multi-lingual a plus. This position will also be responsible for positively representing U.S. Water and its staff to our current and potential clients. U.S. Water offers a competitive compensation and benefits package along with a strong growth-oriented working environment. Benefits to include: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, STD/LTD and 401(k) with company match. Send Resume and Salary Requirements in Confidence to: hr@uswatercorp.com Fax resume to: (727) 842-6412 Deadline to submit: Dec. 20, 2013 Please visit our website at www.uswatercorp.com EEOE/DFW

The City of Daytona Beach Water Plant Superintendent

Indian River County Board of County Commissioners

Anticipated hire date – March 2014 Weekly Pay Range: $910.78 - $1,734.51

Indian River County BCC is currently accepting employment applications for the following full-time positions:

The City of Daytona Beach is seeking qualified candidates for a Water Plant Superintendent for the growth, operations, and development of a water treatment facility. Candidates must possess Associate's degree in math, science, or related, and 4 years water treatment operations, 2 of which are in a supervisory capacity in a water treatment plant; or High School Diploma, and 6 years water treatment operations, 2 of which are in a supervisory capacity in a water treatment plant. Requires Water Treatment Plant Certification Class 'A' and possession of and ability to maintain valid Florida Driver’s License. Experience with lime softening, ozonation and chlorine generation preferred. For application/information go to www.codb.us

Utility Operations Superintendent City of Fernandina Beach The City of Fernandina Beach is seeking a Utility Operations Superintendent to oversee the operations, maintenance, and construction for the City’s sewer system located on Amelia Island. It requires a Florida State Class B Wastewater Operators license, CDL Class B Florida Driver’s License with tanker endorsement and 10 years progressive supervisory experience in Utility operations. Salary range is $45,018 to $70,903. Interested candidates can apply on the City of Fernandina Beach’s web site at http://www.fbfl.us

Project Engineers W.K. Dickson & Co., Inc., a Civil Engineering Consulting firm is seeking Project Engineers in our Augusta, GA and Columbia, SC offices. Individual must have experience in managing and developing water and wastewater projects. Proven experience with municipal water and water/sewer projects is a must. A minimum of 6-8 year’s experience and PE in GA or SC, or the ability to obtain it, is required. Interested candidates may respond in confidence with resume to hrdept@wkdickson.com. EOE www.wkdickson.com

Lift Station Mechanic - $16.23 Hourly Utilities Service Worker - $13.35 Hourly Both positions require a high school diploma/GED and a valid Florida Class “A” Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Water Plant Operator B - $17.91 Hourly Skilled work in the operation of a water plant. This position requires a high school diploma / GED. Must possess a Class B Florida water plant operator’s license and a valid Florida driver’s license. Applicants with a Class C license will be considered. Environmental Compliance Specialist - $1,432.62 Bi-weekly Plans, directs and coordinates the necessary monitoring, evaluation, and investigative activities to ensure compliance with environmental regulations for all Department of Utility Services facilities. This position requires a bachelor degree in Environmental Science and five years related work experience. Must possess a valid Florida driver’s license. Please visit our website at www.ircgov.com to review the full job description for each position listed. If qualified download an employment application and mail/fax the completed application to: Indian River County Human Resources, 1800 27th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960. Fax: (772) 770-5004. EOE/AA

Wastewater Plant Operator C License Marathon, Florida Keys Category: Full-Time Description: This position is responsible for wastewater treatment plant operation and process control data collection and reporting, ensuring that the plant operates within the required State of Florida Department of Environmental permit standards. Miscellaneous: Email application/resume to HR@ci.marathon.fl.us or fax to 305-289-4143. See website for full description: www.ci.marathon.fl.us

CITY OF TITUSVILLE is seeking: SENIOR UTILITY ENGINEER - $46,931 - $58,344/Annually Bachelor of Science in Civil or Environmental Engineering plus three to five years of engineering experience. Must possess a thorough knowledge in the design of stormwater systems, potable water distribution systems, sanitary sewer collection systems, and hydrology for subdivisions and site plans. Ability to use a computer and associated software for engineering and analysis. Must be a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Florida or be able to obtain within six months of employment. See website www.titusville.com for application. - EOE

Looking For a Job? The FWPCOA Job Placement Committee Can Help! Contact Joan E. Stokes at 407-293-9465 or fax 407-293-9943 for more information.

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES - Classified ads are $18 per line for a 60 character line (including spaces and punctuation), $54 minimum. The price includes publication in both the magazine and our Web site. Short positions wanted ads are run one time for no charge and are subject to editing.ads@fwrj.com

Florida Water Resources Journal • December 2013

Certification Boulevard Answer Key From page 32 1. A) Poor construction of the collection line, especially at the pipe joints. Poor sealing of the pipe joints typically cause water seeping into a sewer pipe. It can, however, also be caused by holes in the pipe from H2S corroding the crown of the pipe.

2. D) Storm sewers

= 785.4 min pumped per day = 3,000 gpm x 785.4 min per day = 2,356,200 gpd ÷ 1,000,000 = 2.3562 mgd 46,158 ft3 ÷ (2.3562 mgd x 92.84 cfm per mgd) Detention Time = 211 min … divided by 60 min per hour = 3.516 hours (or, 3 hours 31 min)

4. B) Sulfuric acid

Storm sewers are designed to only convey street runoff and other rain catch basin flows to a destination, like a lake or treatment facility. Sanitary or domestic waste streams are not conveyed through storm drains.

3. B) 3 hours 31 min

Sodium hydroxide is typically used when a wet scrubber is treating odorous air high in hydrogen sulfide. However, it typically requires a low pH when scrubbing air high in ammonia.

5. B) 31,416 gal

Formula for Detention Time in Min = pipe volume in cu ft ÷ (flow pumped in mgd x 92.84 cfm per mgd) Pipe Volume = π r2 x length, ft = 3.14 x 1 ft x 1 ft x 14,700 ft = 46,158 ft3

Gal Capacity = 0.785 x diameter2 x depth, ft x 7.48 gal per ft3 Or π r2 x depth, ft x 7.48 gal per ft3 Liquid depth in wet well = 103.4 ft - 82.5 ft = 20.9 ft = 0.785 x 16 ft x 16 ft x 20.9 ft x 7.48 gal per ft3 = 31,416.5 gal

Flow Pumped = 6 min ON + 5 min OFF = 11 min per cycle = 1,440 min per day ÷ 11 min per cycle = 130.9 cycles per day = 6 min ON per cycle x 130.9 cycles per day

6. D) All of the above.

7. D) 187 yd3 Cu Yd = 9.25 ft wide x (28 yd long x 3 ft per yard) x 6.5 ft deep divided by 27 ft3 per yd3 = 187.06 yd3

8. D) Carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the least harmful gas listed in this question. However, high CO2 concentrations in a space, accompanied with low oxygen concentrations, can be very harmful to people.

9. B) 8,925 gal Volume, MG = Q, mgd ÷ 24 hours per day x D.T., hours Q = 20 min per hour x 24 hours per day = 480 min per day x 255 gpm = 122,400 gpd 0.1224 mgd ÷ 24 hours per day x 1.75 hours = 0.008925 MG x 1,000,000 = 8,925 gals

10. C) 2 fps Sanitary sewer pipelines are typically designed and constructed to maintain a minimum velocity of 2 fps (feet per second) to prevent settling of solids and debris.

All of these gases can typically be found in sewer collection systems. Explosive gases are measures by the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) reading. Hydrogen sulfide gas is heavier than air and will settle to the

Display Advertiser Index AECOM ................................6

Hudson Pump ....................29

Blue PLanet ........................53

ISA ....................................34

CEU Challange ....................42

Moss Kelley ........................23

Crane Pumps ........................7

Oldcastle ............................18

Crom ..................................37

PCL ....................................21

Data Flow ..........................33

Rangeline ..........................63

FSAWWA Thank You............39

Regional Engineering ..........28

FSAWWA Training................41

Reiss Engineering ................5

FWEA Collection System ....54

Schlumberger ......................9

FWPCOA Short School ........35

Stacon ..................................2

FWPCOA Training ................47

Stantec ..............................52

FWRC............................14-17

Sunshine 811 ....................30

Garney................................51

Treeo ..................................36

Gerber Pumps Disc Flow ....27

US Water ............................49

Heyward HIBOCS ................19

Wade Trim ..........................55

Heyward HICARB ................31

Xylem ................................64

bottom of a space. Methane gas is lighter than air and will rise to the top of a space.

December 2013 • Florida Water Resources Journal

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