President
Nick Akers – nakers@centec-engineering.com
President Elect
Todd Swanson – todd.swanson@steptoe-johnson.com
1st Vice President
Charlie McKenzie – charliemckenzie@servicepump.com
2nd Vice President
Zach Thompson – zthompson@thethrashergroup.com
Managing Editor: Scott Kelman
Marketing Manager: David Gill
Design/Layout: Jackie Magat
Advertising Co-ordinator: Stefanie Hagidiakow
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Patience,
TODD SWANSON President todd.swanson@steptoe-johnson.com
ZACH THOMPSON
1st Vice President zthompson@thethrashergroup.com
SCOTT KELLY POTW Director skelley@huntingtonsb.com
MATT DAWSON Secretary/Treasurer matt@ghosheng.com
CHARLIE McKENZIE President Elect charliemckenzie@servicepump.com
JACOB DALEY
2nd Vice President jdaley@csb-wv.com
MELISA POWERS
National Delegate melisa.powers@k12.wv.us
NICK AKERS
Immediate Past President nakers@centec-engineering.com
Todd M. Swanson President, West Virginia Water Environment Association
Iam happy to report that the joint conference held at Glade Springs Resort this past May was a success. Attendance was like the crowds we expected before the COVID-19 pandemic. The golf tournament was also a huge success this year. While there are aspects of the joint conference the board and I will focus on to improve, we were pleased with the time spent at Glade Springs Resort. The board and I thank members for supporting the joint conference. Your dedication, support, and commitment are sincerely appreciated.
The West Virginia Water Environment Association and the West Virginia American Water Works Association are excited to continue building our connections and sharing valuable knowledge within
THE BOARD AND I THANK MEMBERS FOR SUPPORTING THE JOINT CONFERENCE.
the two organizations. We are thrilled to announce the annual West Virginia Water Conference, which will be held at the Canaan Valley Resort from May 18 to 21, 2024. This exciting event marks a fantastic opportunity to connect with colleagues, share knowledge and best practices, and stay at the forefront of the ever-evolving water environment field.
The conference will include informative presentations, operator training sessions, networking opportunities, golf tournament, and vendor showcases. The ability to mingle with others in the industry provides a great opportunity to share best practices, exchange ideas, and make connections that can benefit your professional development.
For detailed information on the conference schedule, speaker lineup, and registration process, please visit our website at https://wvwaterconference.com. We encourage you to register early, as space is limited and securing your spot ensures participation in this valuable event.
The West Virginia Water Environment Association looks forward to seeing you all at Canaan Valley Resort in May 2025!
Melisa Powers
Ihave attended three House of Delegates (HOD) meetings, including the orientation for new delegates and WEF business meeting.
There is discussion about the WEF organizational groups and responsibilities. In addition to the WEF staff, the other organizational groups are the Board of Trustees (BOT), Community Leadership Counsel (CLC), and the House of Delegates (HOD).
Nominated members are responsible for:
• Legal
• Policy
• Fiduciary
• Strategic direction
The CLC consists of the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of WEF Communities and members of a formed CLC Steering Committee. The CLC Steering Committee Chair provides leadership for the CLC, serves as a liaison to the BOT, and attends BOT meetings as a non-voting guest. The CLC was Created the BOT to:
• Provide a mechanism for WEF communities to share ideas.
• Improve communications within WEF; serve as a communication link between communities, councils, HOD, and the BOT.
• Provide a community-based voice to the BOT.
The HOD members:
• Represent Member Association (MA)/ Constituencies
• Confirm Board Officers
• Review WEF Budget process
• Communicate Board Information to MA’s
There are five HOD Work Groups (WG):
• MA spotlight and Engagement WG
• HOD Document Management and Historical Records Project
• HOD Promoting the Circular Water Economy WG
• HOD Workforce Development Recruitment Tools for Operators WG
• HOD Delegate-at-Large Strategy & Implementation WG
I have plans to participate in the HOD Workforce Development Recruitment Tools for Operators WG and the MA spotlight and Engagement WG at this year’s WEFTEC.
During the business meeting it was discussed that WEF will continue to support opportunities for training and education. While WEF continues to operate with a fiscal deficit since COVID, they have reserves to cover those and WEFTEC attendance has continued to grow every year.
The 2024 WEFTEC registrations are 20% above the 2023 registrations and 26% above the 2022. The exhibit hall for 2025 WEFTEC in Chicago has already contracted 56% of the exhibit hall.
WEF has offered a voluntary retirement program for staff and 11 members have since retired. WEF leadership is looking at some other cost savings for the coming year.
The incoming WEF President is Howard Carter, and he is the director of the Water Resource Recovery Department of Saco, Maine.
The Newsletter and Website Committee is excited to announce the launch of the new WVWEA website. This website will serve as a one-stop shop for all information WVWEA related news events, and updates. Over the next few months, the site will be further enhanced with features to help make it easier to interact with our organization, and for our organization to reach out and communicate with our members on initiatives, events, and topics that are of interest to our organization and the wastewater industry overall. Please visit and bookmark our website at the following address: https://westvirginiawea.org.
WVWEA wants to thank the Water Environmental Federation (WEF) for providing the grant funding to help us build our new website and restart our newsletter as part of our rebranding, communication, and outreach initiative to better inform and engage our membership and to help recruit new members throughout our industry. Helping us to fulfi ll our mission “To inspire the West Virginia water community in pursuit of human and environmental well-being.”
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) joined other national leaders at the White House’s roundtable on water security and climate resilience, on October 31, 2024. As a water sector representative, WEF had the unique opportunity to highlight its commitment to building a more sustainable and resilient water future.
Ralph Exton, WEF’s Executive Director, stressed the importance of moving toward a circular water economy – an approach that makes the most of every drop by reusing water, reducing waste, and turning byproducts into valuable resources. This shift is essential to ensure that America’s homes, agriculture, and industries have a dependable water supply, especially as we face intensifying climate pressures.
Exton also emphasized WEF’s ongoing commitment to promoting innovative conservation technologies, as well as the importance of redefining the economics of water to drive conservation and resilience. In particular, WEF advocated for policy changes to provide targeted incentives for water conservation technologies, including grants, low-interest loans, and tax incentives.
“Innovative funding approaches are essential,” noted Exton. “The estimated $1.25 trillion investment needed over the next 20 years calls for a sustainable economic model to support the future of our water infrastructure.
“By advocating for better funding mechanisms, economic incentives, and supportive policies, WEF is helping create a path for meaningful conservation and innovation across the sector,” he continued.
“It was a powerful moment of collaboration, and I’m proud of how our work positions WEF as a leader in this crucial conversation.”
WEF also focused attention on the need to build a skilled and diverse water workforce to tackle future challenges by attracting workers with varied talents and experiences, investing in skills training, and establishing standardized career pathways for the sector. Through expanded workforce training and data-driven
management practices, WEF seeks to empower communities and industries, enhancing water efficiency and resilience.
“WEF’s participation in this roundtable reflects our dedication to addressing water
security through collaboration, innovation, and community engagement,” said Exton. “By prioritizing a circular water economy and workforce development, we can help secure our nation’s water future for generations to come.”
Greenville County, South Carolina, encompasses an area of approximately 795 square miles with a population of over 500,000. The water and wastewater infrastructure servicing the county is intricate and robust and includes over 350 miles of pipes connecting the community, and providing for future growth and development.
For almost 100 years, Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) has been responsible for the county’s wastewater infrastructure and manages eight water resource recovery facilities (WRRF). This oversight includes purifying more than 40 million gallons of water per day from homes, businesses, and industries. ReWa operates 83 pump stations and nine water treatment facilities. Each facility contains a self-sufficient water treatment process with onsite power generation and sometimes thousands of gauges, flow meters, and storage tanks depending on the facility size.
Since 2002, ReWa has relied on AVEVA’s System Platform SCADA system integrated with WIN-911 remote alarm notification software to monitor and alert the team about any abnormal operating conditions. This involved a complicated process of the SCADA system
calling a mobile phone; operators would then stop work, answer the call, input a unique identification number, and then enter an acknowledgment. This process could take up to one minute. While this doesn’t seem very long, this is critical time lost during possible emergencies. Additionally, since these alarm notifications were transmitted via cell phones if the operator was in a part of the facility without good [cell] service, the call might break up and the entire identification input process would have to be repeated.
In 2020 ReWa, WIN-911, and MR Systems, the systems integration company with whom ReWa partners to implement technology, identified opportunities to improve the WRRF alarming systems by deploying the more streamlined, technologically advanced WIN-911 mobile solution. Tony Jones, ReWa business analyst, reached out to Ed Noyes, application engineer with MR Systems. Jones worked closely with Noyes, who listened to Jones’ concerns and designed a system that met ReWa’s high-security requirements, improved the ease and efficiency with which operators can monitor and action SCADA alarms, and deployed a proactive monitoring system to notify ReWa technology personnel in the event of a system issue.
WIN-911 running in a distributed landscape across 8 WRRF’s (Water Resource Recovery Facilities) with a Centralized Mobile Hub leveraging the most secure implementation offered by the WIN-911 Application
Mauldin Rd. WRRF
WIN-911 (R2) Inter-Component Encryption
Voice Call-outs use POTS
Hot Backup Redundant Failover System
Durbin Ck. WRRF
WIN-911 (R2) Inter-Component Encryption
Voice Call-outs use VOIP
DataCenter
DMZ Network
Lower Reed WRRF
WIN-911 (R2) Inter-Component Encryption
Voice Call-outs use POTS
Hot Backup Redundant Failover System
WIN-911 Mobile Hub (R2) Inter-Component Encryption
Gilder WRRF
WIN-911 (R2) Inter-Component Encryption
Voice Call-outs use VOIP
Pelham WRRF
WIN-911 (R2) Inter-Component Encryption
Voice Call-outs use POTS
George’s Ck. WRRF
WIN-911 (R2) Inter-Component Encryption
Voice Call-outs use POTS
Piedmont WRRF
WIN-911 (R2) Inter-Component Encryption
Voice Call-outs use POTS
Marietta WRRF
WIN-911 (R2) Inter-Component Encryption
Voice Call-outs use VOIP
All WIN-911 Components now use the same System Account for Local Authentication
Custom Built Monitoring Solutions that detects whether or not both Wonderware & WIN-911 are running and communicating successfully and notifies designated personnel in the event of an issue.
The intricate and upgraded system monitoring the eight WRRFs meets ReWa’s high security requirements, improves the ease and efficiency with which operators can monitor and action SCADA alarms, and deploys a proactive monitoring system to notify ReWa technology personnel in the event of a system issue.
The WIN-911 mobile app enables more efficient plant operations by giving operators the ability to monitor and act on SCADA alarms via mobile devices with redundant voice and text callouts as needed. Additionally, it complements ReWa’s mission of supporting wastewater treatment through the use of innovative solutions, promoting operational efficiency, and reinforcing the core values of safety and unity.
WIN-911 provides the teams with faster response times, which is critical since many alarms involve lost power. In these situations, every minute counts to get an alarm message to the team. This could mean the difference between restarting the generator or experiencing an overflow.
The types of alarms that WIN-911 monitors include critical functions –pumps, UV disinfecting systems, generators, and utility power - that can stop a process and result in a sewer overflow or discharged untreated water. To ensure the systems’ integrities are not compromised, it’s critical to use the most secure architecture possible. To that end, Noyes and the MR Systems team implemented the highest security levels offered by WIN-911 in the form of intercomponent encryption in conjunction with a custom-built proactive monitoring system that detects if WIN-911 and AVEVA are communicating and notifies designated personnel of any issues. Additionally, WIN-911’s integration with the SCADA system offers ReWa another layer of security.
This proactive and perpetual monitoring routinely averts problems. However, if any of the equipment is not operating properly, WIN-911 Interactive alerts the ReWa team via mobile app, phone call, email, or text. One such instance occurred when the team received an alarm related to a power outage at one of the WRRFs.
A newly installed generator did not automatically start during a power failure and WIN-911 alerted the technology staff who then began a dialogue with the operations team via the mobile app’s chat feature. Because of this early and real-time intervention, ReWa assessed the problem and determined that the generator wasn’t properly wired, avoiding additional problems that an extended power loss would have caused.
“Prior to this upgrade, ReWa functioned in a reactive mode and waited until the WIN-911 software notified the operations team there was an issue. Now, we have completely changed this mindset and become more efficient. The IT team knows there is a system problem long before the operations team,” added Jones.
Named a Utility of the Future by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, ReWa is committed to enhancing the area’s quality of life through the quality of its waterways. Using advanced technology like the AVEVA System Platform integrated with the WIN-911 mobile app remote alarm notification software helps ensure this.
The 2024 West Virginia Water Conference was held on May 19 – 22 at Glade Springs Resort. The conference is a joint effort between West Virginia Water Environment Association (WVWEA) and the West Virginia section of the American Water Works Association (WV AWWA). The conference caters to both the water and wastewater industries and provides attendees the opportunity to learn and earn CEU credits, engage with vendors, network with peers, and build out their professional network.
This year’s conference provided twelve dedicated wastewater continuing education hours (CEHs). New to this year’s conference was a student poster competition displaying the research and effort of talented students interested in providing fresh solutions to industry challenges.
In addition to the poster competition. The conference also brought back events that have been welcomed in the past including the social networking picnic, the annual Terri Smith Golf Tournament, which helps to raise awareness and funds for both organization’s scholarship funds, a networking gaming event, a vendor showcase event, a Young Professionals (YP) engagement meeting, and the annual banquet where awards and acknowledgements were presented.
The 2024 WV Water Conference proved to be a rewarding experience for all who attended, providing a platform for knowledge exchange, professional growth, and inspiration. We look forward to seeing everyone at next year’s event, where even more exciting developments, discussions, and networking opportunities await.
At the 2024 WV Water Conference, WVWEA awarded their yearly awards to members of the organization. The awards were presented by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) Board of Trustees Secretary Christine Volkay-Hilditch at the 2024 banquet on May 21, 2024.
Ernie Utter – Morgantown Utility Board
This award is named for Mr. Fortney who was a Program Director with the West Virginia State health Department. In the mid-1970’s soon after the first Clean Water Act was passed, he was the driving force in creating one of the very first wastewater operator certifi cation programs in the United States.
This year’s winner of the award has demonstrated a similar passion and commitment to our industry. His facility underwent an $80 million upgrade over the past few years combining both activated sludge and membrane treatment. As a wet weather design flow up to 208 MGD, it is the largest membrane system of its type in the US.
As the Chief Operator and Land Application Manager, he maintained continued operation of the plant along with a satellite facility with a flow of 750,000 GPD. With twenty-two employees and 80 lift stations under his responsibility, he is certainly due to be recognized.
Congratulations to Ernie Utter. Our 2024 Glenn O. Fortney Award winner!
Billy Johnson – City of Fairmont
Presented to operators of wastewater treatment plants for outstanding performance and professionalism. The award was established in honor of Dr. William D. Hatfield, Superintendent of the Decator, Illinois Sanitary District, who was President of the Central States Sewage Works Association in 1944 – 45 and served as President of the Federation in 1958 – 59.
This year’s winner is the plant superintendent of a unique West Virginia
facility – the largest rotating biological contact plant in the state at a design flow of 6 MGD.
During Mr. Johson’s tenure as superintendent all 27 lift stations will have undergone major upgrades. Under the guidance of Mr. Johnson, the plant staff has recently rebuilt two sludge thickeners – a project that required teamwork with a local metal fabrication shop. And despite being 42 years old, the plant has sustained an outstanding compliance record and has even won special recognition from the USEPA.
Mr. Johnson has worked his way up from pre-treatment and Biosolids Coordinator to Interim Superintendent and is now the full rank Plant Superintendent with a dedicated staff of nine operators and specialists.
Congratulations to Billy Johnson. Our 2024 Hatfield Award winner!
James Mitchell Jr. – Ghosh Engineers
The Aurthur Sidney Bedell Award was established to acknowledge extraordinary personal service to a WEF Member Association. The award is named for Arthur Sidney Bedwell, WEF’s second president for his long devotion and service to the New York Sewage and Industrial Waste Association. To be presented with this award, one must be a member of the Water Environment Federation.
This year’s winner has over 20 years of experience in building, implementing, and managing GIS systems and technology solutions supporting the water and wastewater industry in both regulatory and operational environments.
Our winner earned an B.A. in Geography with an emphasis on GIS and Remote sensing from West Virgnia University (WVU) in Morgantown, WV where he was also a member of the WVU Marching Band and drumline Section Leader. This Eagle Scout went on to earn his MBA from Grantham University focusing on Project Management which has served him well in his prior role of managing the GIS business unit for the largest water utility in West Virginia and continues to serve him well in his current role as the GIS Manager for Ghosh Engineers.
His latest contribution to WV WEA was the successful launch of a new WV WEA website and the relaunch of the organization’s newsletter (Mountain Currents). This endeavor was partially funded with WEF Grant monies that our winner secured through a WEF MA grant application he wrote.
Congratulations to James Mitchell. Our 2024 Bedell Award winner!
The Crystal Crucible Laboratory Analyst Award is presented to a laboratory analyst, supervisors, or someone in the field who has made significant contributions to this sector of the water quality industry.
This year’s winner began his career in 2002 as a technician in a commercial lab after earning a degree from Marshall University in Huntington, WV. He has been an Environmental Resource Specialist 3 for the past 15 years and visits 30-35 commercial labs each year to ensure correct analytical procedures are followed and reliable data is generated for facility compliance.
He displays a great passion for his work and has visited laboratories in WV and the surrounding states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky, and Maryland. He is also well known for his helpful and cooperative spirit during his visits. Each year he shares his knowledge and experience while teaching new lab technicians at the Wastewater Lab Technician Certification course at the West Virginia Environmental Training Center (WV ETC)
Congratulations to Tommy Smith. Our 2024 Crystal Crucible Laboratory Analyst Award winner!
This award is named in honor of two talented operators who tragically lost their lives in a collection system accident. It recognizes outstanding operations and maintenance efforts of a town or district to optimize collection system performance while reducing infiltration and inflow.
This town has certainly demonstrated such efforts. About one year ago they purchased a cure-in-place system, which uses UV light to cure the liner material, to reline major portions of their collection system generating significant cost savings versus utilizing an outside contractor for the work. Recently at a WV Environmental Training Center collection system course the town’s staff held a demonstration of the equipment for attendees to share their innovative solution and experience. The town also utilizes resource sharing with
adjacent communities to save costs while maintaining access to equipment that provides better operational efficiency which includes a jetter truck and a vacuum truck.
Congratulations to the Town of Nutter Fort. Our 2024 Wilson-Wellman Collection System Award winner!
Selection to this society is in recognition of “outstanding, meritorious service above and
beyond the call of duty” to the West Virginia Water Environment Association (WV WEA). Selection bestows the accolade of being elevated “on the official shovel to the highest ridge on the sludge bed, with the title of Select Sludge Shoveler and all the honor, atmosphere, prerequisite and dignity appertaining thereto.”
Congratulations to the new 5s inductees Tony Shirkey with Dunbar Sanitary Board and Doug Urling with Core And Main.
Izaiah Kruenegel, Deputy Director, Operations and Maintenance at South Platte Renew
In the current job market, employee turnover is a reality that leaders must face. Workplace retirement parties celebrating decades of service are becoming less common. Today’s workforce is characterized by frequent job changes. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average worker will hold approximately twelve different jobs by the time they retire. This trend is likely to accelerate for Millennials and Gen Z, potentially reaching fifteen to twenty jobs over their careers.
Leading in this dynamic environment presents its own set of challenges and opportunities. Effective leadership now demands more than traditional management skills; it requires expertise in coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and adapting to change. Receiving a resignation letter, while challenging, can be managed constructively with the right approach.
To make matters more difficult, many of the systems and metrics we have around training, succession planning, and employee development are based on the outdated assumption that people are going to stick around to help train their successors. This is especially true in the public sector, where we can sometimes be slow to react and hesitant to embrace change. Retention is still an important part of the equation; organizations should absolutely dedicate time and resources to keeping their employees. We should also be spending time figuring out how to create resilience within our organizations to become better at absorbing losses when they do occur.
People leave organizations for several reasons and under varying circumstances. For the purposes of this article, we’re examining employees who are voluntarily leaving to pursue a job elsewhere.
If one of your high performers just gave a two-week notice – here’s how to turn it into a positive.
When an employee decides to leave, especially a high performer, it can initially feel like a setback. However, it is crucial to reframe this situation positively. Consider that this departure may represent a significant step forward in the employee’s career – whether it’s for growth, better compensation, or other benefits. As leaders, we invest time and resources into developing our team members, and their advancement is a testament to our efforts. Their new role may have been made possible by the skills and experiences gained at your organization, which contributes to their growth and benefits the industry as a whole.
Moreover, the water and wastewater industry is a relatively close-knit community. How an organization handles employee departures can influence its reputation and future relationships within the industry. Leaving on good terms can foster positive connections that benefit both the departing employee and the organization.
Exit interviews, though often seen as a retrospective tool, can provide valuable insights into employee engagement and organizational culture. When faced with multiple departures in a short period, it is essential to analyze common themes and feedback to identify areas for improvement. If employees are leaving for reasons such as better compensation or opportunities, consider implementing retention bonuses or enhancing career development programs.
Additionally, if feedback highlights issues with communication, advancement opportunities, or work conditions, address these areas proactively. Making improvements based on exit feedback can help retain current employees and attract new talent.
Instead of viewing employee departures solely as a loss, use them as a catalyst for organizational enhancement. The concept of the “Brain Drain” or the loss of institutional knowledge is often discussed, but rather than trying to transfer all of an employee’s knowledge to a single successor, focus on optimizing your processes and systems.
Start by evaluating the job description and responsibilities of the departing employee.
“While losing valuable employees is never ideal, approaching departures with the right mindset can turn them into opportunities for growth and improvement.”
Assess whether their role could be redefined to better align with the organization’s current needs. Look for opportunities to reorganize or realign tasks to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Consider creating or updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure that critical knowledge is documented and accessible.
Develop systems that reduce dependency on individual employees by distributing tasks and responsibilities across the team. This approach fosters cross-training and enhances organizational resilience. Any role or process that falls apart in the absence of a specific individual indicates a vulnerability that needs addressing. By creating robust systems and distributing knowledge, you mitigate risks and strengthen the organization.
Accepting the reality of frequent employee turnover allows for a more strategic approach to recruitment and retention. Focus on building a resilient organization that can absorb and adapt to change. Develop contingency plans and invest in training programs that prepare employees to step into new roles or take on additional responsibilities when needed.
Implementing these strategies not only helps manage the impact of employee departures but also supports a healthier work-life balance for the remaining staff. By planning for and addressing potential
risks and vulnerabilities, you enhance your organization’s ability to thrive amidst change.
While losing valuable employees is never ideal, approaching departures with the right mindset can turn them into opportunities for growth and improvement. By celebrating the positive aspects of an employee’s new role, gathering and acting on feedback, and using departures as a chance to refine processes and systems, organizations in the water and wastewater industry can navigate these challenges effectively. Embracing these strategies not only strengthens your organization but also contributes to a more resilient and dynamic industry overall.
Izaiah Kruenegel is a dedicated water professional with a deep-rooted passion for the outdoors, innovation, and empowering those around him. With 19 years of diverse experience in the water and wastewater industry, he has honed his skills in operations, maintenance, collections, project management, and leadership. He currently serves as the Deputy Director – Operations and Maintenance at South Platte Renew and can be reached at 303-762-2632 or ikruenegel@englewoodco.gov.
By Paul Caprio, PG, Vice President and Erica Thieleman, PG, Program Support Manager –Chemicals and Contaminants of Emerging Concern Director, EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., PBC
By now most people have heard of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or as they are sometimes referred to “forever chemicals.” PFAS are a broad class of thousands of synthetic fluorinated chemicals that exhibit unique heat resistance, oil and water repellency, corrosion inhibition, and lubricating properties. PFAS are used in a wide variety of manufacturing processes, consumer products, and specialty applications in commercial, military, and private sectors. Two of the most widely recognized and studied PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanoic sulfonate (PFOS), are constituents in aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) used by Department of Defense (DoD), private, and municipal fire departments to train for and extinguish petroleum-based fires. There have been featured movies made about PFAS (e.g., Dark Waters). Large multinational manufacturing corporations (e.g., Dupont-Chemours and 3M) have spent billions of dollars on legal settlements related to legacy PFAS pollution.
The DoD has spent more than $2B on investigation and mitigation of drinking water sources impacted from the use of PFAS-containing AFFF used for fire-training exercises, and there are multiple ongoing multi-district litigations underway against major PFAS manufacturers and DoD.
EPA estimates that as many as 6,000 public drinking water systems across the U.S. (both surface water and groundwater) may contain one or more PFAS above the current maximum contaminant level (MCL) regulatory limits recently established by EPA in April 2024 for six PFAS, including PFOA. There are also more than 150 human consumption health advisories nationwide due to elevated PFAS levels in fish.
“Teflon” cookware, and some cosmetics). Many industrial manufacturing methods either use PFAS as a processing agent or produce products that contain PFAS. Chrome plating facilities are one example where PFAS were used and eventually released into the environment through industrial pretreatment wastewater discharges or air emissions.
Although DoD and major PFAS manufacturers have gained the most notoriety for their respective roles in the environmental lifecycle of PFAS, these chemical substances are used as raw ingredients and are also contained at trace levels in our everyday commercial items (e.g., stain resistant carpet, nonstick
“EPA estimates that as many as 6,000 public drinking water systems across the U.S. (both surface water and groundwater) may contain one or more PFAS above the current maximum contaminant level (MCL).”
Publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) are the unfortunate recipients of this group of contaminants of emerging concern. Inevitably, most PFAS containing materials are eventually discarded in landfills, flushed down sanitary sewer or stormwater systems, or released through air emissions or industrial pretreatment discharges to POTWs.
Industrial wastewater dischargers who use or manufacture one of the more than 600 PFAS in commerce today have not been historically required to monitor for these substances in pretreatment effluents. Similarly, landfill leachates that are discharged to POTWs contain measurable amounts of PFAS. PFAS have also been detected at residual levels in rainwater at concentrations of potential environmental significance. As a result, precipitation events can deposit airborne PFAS from industrial emissions on land that subsequently seep into soil and groundwater or are carried
by surface water runoff into surface water bodies or into stormwater conveyance utilities. Although residential and industrial pretreatment influents are both responsible for PFAS entering POTWs, the specific chemical profile of either waste stream can vary significantly, which often affords environmental scientists and engineers the opportunity to forensically assess and identify upstream sources of PFAS.
Environmental and human health impacts are of concern as these chemicals can be transported into our nation’s drinking water sources, where they may cause adverse health effects in humans or bioaccumulate in certain fish that are consumed by humans, even at very low part per trillion levels. Because industrial and municipal influents contain measurable levels of PFAS, POTWs now face the challenge of having to deal with new monitoring requirements and potentially having to take action to reduce PFAS levels in effluents.
“Because industrial and municipal influents contain measurable levels of PFAS, POTWs now face the challenge of having to deal with new monitoring requirements and potentially having to take action to reduce PFAS levels in effluents.”
wastewater treatment to more stable forms of PFAS, typically referred to as “terminal end products” such as PFOS and PFOA that can be measured by commercial labs. This dynamic of transforming “hidden” PFAS mass to measurable PFAS mass in effluents often results in higher concentrations of targeted PFAS exiting the POTW than entering.
A curious phenomenon occurs when PFAS-containing influents travel through a conventional WWTP, most of which are not currently configured to treat or remove PFAS. Many PFAS compounds referred to as “precursors” are converted (or transformed) aerobically and anaerobically by conventional
Precursors (or chemically less stable intermediates) are comprised of potentially hundreds of PFAS that are not routinely measured by conventional laboratory analysis, generally referred to as “non-targeted” PFAS that may present in wastewater influent at a proportionally equal or greater volume than the approximately 28 to 40 individual PFAS that are routinely analyzed in the lab referred to as “targeted” PFAS.
Approximately 62 billion gallons of wastewater are treated and discharged daily in the U.S. Based on representative PFAS analysis of POTWs across the nation, the average effluent concentration of targeted
PFAS (PFAS that can be routinely measured by commercial labs) is approximately 100 ppt. Extrapolating this concentration over the average daily effl uent volume discharged from more than 16,000 POTWs (large and small) results in about 18,000 lbs1 of PFAS discharged annually into our nation’s surface water bodies. In aggregate, POTWs release the proportionally highest amount of PFAS into the environment compared to other sources. Figure 1 illustrates the PFAS lifecycle.
PFAS-containing effluents is one of three possible release vectors that occurs at POTWs. PFAS also adsorbs onto biosolids at levels of potential environmental concern. Nearly 50% of all biosolids generated from POTWs nationwide are land-applied for agricultural purposes, which may also contain measurable levels of PFAS. Land application of biosolids containing PFAS may enter the food chain through uptake in agricultural crops, leach to groundwater, or degrade local watershed quality from runoff. The least studied, and
Influent PFAS Mass
(Avg. Targeted PFAS Concentration X Avg. Daily Flow Volume)
100%
Plant Return* 20-50%
*Plant return includes digested sludge decant or advanced treatment return such as wet oxidation ** PFAS mass varies based on additional sludge treatment processes that may transform precursors 15-50%**
likely the least environmentally significant release vector, is through air and aerosol emissions into the environment.
Figure 2 is a conceptualized PFAS mass balance of a typical POTW that illustrates the relationship of target PFAS measured in influent compared to effluent and biosolids. Although the profile (i.e., types and ratios of specific PFAS) varies between influent, effluent, and biosolids, the diagram illustrates how precursor transformation and conventional treatment is ineffective in removing PFAS, allowing for release into the environment.
There are no federal mandated regulations for POTWs to monitor for or mitigate PFAS in effluents or biosolids. However, in December 2022, EPA issued a memo to all 10 EPA Regions titled: Addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) discharges in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits and through the Pretreatment Program and Monitoring Programs. The NPDES program was established by the Clean Water Act (CWA) to address water pollution at its source by regulating discharges to waters of the United States.
This EPA memorandum provides regulating agencies direction on how existing permitting authorities can be used to help identify upstream sources of PFAS with the latest sampling analysis methods and leverage monitoring information to develop technology-based effluent limits to reduce industrial facility-specific PFAS discharges.
(Avg. Targeted PFAS Concentration X Avg. Daily Flow Volume) 115%
Mass of Targeted PFAS Exiting Plant ~130 to 165% of Target Mass Entering Plant
PFAS Mass in Biosolids (Avg. Targeted PFAS Concentration X Avg. Biosolids Weight)
The memorandum also provides recommendations to POTWs and industrial facility direct dischargers for monitoring, pollution reduction strategies, and public notification guidance for Draft Permits with PFAS-Specific Conditions to potentially affected downstream public water systems. Recommendations for POTWs include:
• Effluent, influent, and biosolids monitoring for 40 PFAS to be conducted at least quarterly
• Pretreatment program activities such as industrial user inventory updates, control mechanisms such as Best Management Practices (BMPs), or local limits for industrial users and other pollution prevention measures
• Permitting authority works with POTWs to reduce the amount of PFAS chemicals in biosolids
The number of states that are now including monitoring for PFAS in influent/effluent and biosolids is growing. Michigan, New York, and Wisconsin have imposed PFAS monitoring requirements and/or have issued restrictions or guidance for land application of biosolids. As regulating authorities begin to incorporate PFAS-specific conditions into the draft permits, affected facilities will be required to monitor and potentially treat process waters or effluents for certain PFAS. POTWs will leverage pretreatment program authorities to identify upstream point sources and set discharge limits as the first course of action to reduce PFAS loadings. Industrial dischargers may need to evaluate treatment options or process modifications to reduce PFAS loading.
Federal and state regulatory agencies understand that POTWs do not create PFAS or derive any benefit from its presence in effluents or biosolids. In fact, PFAS was not on the regulatory radar 10 years ago. There was little to no understanding how virtually all waste stream inputs (e.g., residential, industrial pretreatment, landfill leachate, and storm water) contribute to overall PFAS loadings in WWTPs. EPA is continuing to develop ambient water quality criteria (AWQC) and categorical effluent limit guidelines (ELGs), which will certainly inform future rulemaking for effluent PFAS guidelines as science evolves.
In April 2024, EPA also designated PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Among other things, designation as a hazardous substance under CERCLA creates a potential legacy of environmental liability spanning from the originator of the hazardous substance to the final disposal or treatment facility. Although EPA stated in their PFAS Enforcement Discretion and Settlement Policy Under CERCLA (19 April 2024) that they do not intend to pursue POTWs for response actions or costs under CERCLA, POTWs are still vulnerable to third-party lawsuits from downstream potentially responsible parties that are pursued by EPA under CERCLA. Therefore, POTW operators are encouraged to make an informed determination on the suitability of any aqueous waste streams that are proposed to be discharged to POTWs based on its PFAS levels and any impact it will have to POTW effluent limits.
POTW managers should assess their facilities’ potential vulnerability to existing or proposed municipal or state regulatory actions, in lieu of federal standards, and how that may affect operations. A well-informed strategy starts with an understanding of what upstream PFAS sources are most significant in terms of PFAS loadings and how best to mitigate PFAS before they reach the WWTP. POTW operators are encouraged to implement BMPs as a sustainable pollution reduction option. This may include a thorough understanding of what the highest contributing waste streams are within a treatment plant. For example, some technologies, such as wet oxidation, may yield high PFAS concentration/lower volume aqueous waste streams (i.e., decant) that are more easily treated than higher volume/lower concentration effluents.
Advancement in PFAS treatment technologies are being made; however, the focus has been on drinking water treatment using commercially available technologies such as granular activated carbon (GAC), ion exchange resins (IX), membrane filtration, and a host of other PFAS emerging and innovative
technologies (e.g., foam fractionation). Most do not destroy PFAS but rather remove PFAS from the aqueous waste stream into concentrated residuals (e.g., spent GAC, concentrate, etc.) that require additional treatment for destruction or special handling for disposal. Given the complex nature of wastewater, if POTWs want to include PFAS treatment into their operations, they should consider performing pilot-scale tests to identify the most effective technologies and/or treatment train approaches for their influent streams. Additionally, they should evaluate the initial capital costs, operation costs, and residuals management costs of each technology, along with evaluating scalability and footprint requirements to retrofit these units in existing facilities. All of this comes at a cost premium to POTWs that will have to be passed on to customers.
land application of biosolids combined with concerns about potential liabilities associated with land application of biosolids, some POTWs are opting to dispose of their biosolids in landfills or use incineration, both of which are expensive and have the potential to pose other environmental risks. There are other technologies, such as supercritical water oxidation and thermal desorption, that are in development but are either not ready for full-scale operation at this time or need more data to prove that they are effective in removing PFAS to optimize removal efficiency.
Traditional biosolids treatment, such as digestion and drying, do not remove PFAS and can cause precursors in the biosolids to break down into terminal end products such as PFOA and PFOS. As a result, many biosolids products are concentrated with target PFAS. With some states banning
The more POTWs understand their influent/effluent characteristics, treatment process, and current residuals or biosolids management practices in the context of rapidly evolving local and federal regulations, the better prepared they will be to make informed risk management decisions in the future.
1 A percentage of PFAS released into surface water is cycled back into drinking water or other withdrawals that eventually are returned to POTWs.
Mountain Currents is made possible by the companies below who convey their important messages on our pages. We thank them for their support of WV WEA and its publication and encourage you to contact them when making your purchasing decisions. To make it easier to contact these companies, we have included the page number of their advertisement, their phone number, and, where applicable, their website.
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• The insert is made of High Molecular Weight Polyethylene material that meets ASTM specifications designation D 1248, Class A, Category 5, Type 111 with a minimum impact brittleness temperature of -180°F. The thickness shall be uniform to .187 or greater.
• The lift strap is made of 1-inch -wide woven polypropylene web and is attached to the bowl of the dish by a wide head stainless steel 3/16” rivet and a stainless steel ¾” backup SS washer. All cut edges are seared to ensure against raveling.
• Ventilation is provided by a 1/8” vent hole and/or a valve (see valve information under the SS specifications ), vent hole located on the side wall of the bowl, valve threaded into the side -bottom of the insert. The hole or valve allows maximum release of 5 gallons of water per 24 hours and is not affected by debris that migh t collect in the bottom of the dish. Sewer gas is vented at one P.S.I. or less.
• The gasket is made of closed cell neoprene and is attached by a pressure sensitive adhesive to the weight bearing surface of the dish.
INSERT- The manhole insert is manufactured of 16 gauge , 304T Stainless Steel. The insert shall have a bowl size large enough to receive the design of the underside of the manhole lid. The bowl size shall also be designed to allow easy removal from the manhole frame. The insert shall have a load test greater than 3000 pounds.
GASKET- The gasket is made of closed cell neoprene and is attached by a pressure sensitive adhesive to the weight bearing surface of the dish.
HANDLE- The handle, cable terminal, and cable eye end are manufactured from stainless steel. The handle is manufactured from 3/16” plastic-coated stainless-steel cable and is attached with a #66 stainless steel rivet and a 1” diameter SS washer. The cable is braided in a manne r which resists cutting with bolt cutters.
TETHER- Th e tether is manufactured from 3/16” braided stainless steel and is attached to the insert using #66 stainless steel rivet. The cable terminal end and eye are manufactured from stainless steel.
RELIEF VALVE - The gas relief valve is designed to, release at a pressure of .5 to 1.5 PSI and release less than 5 gallons of water in 24 hours. The valve is threaded and screwed into a hole drilled in the bottom of the insert. The valve is made from material that is inert against Sulfuric Acid, Hydrogen Sulfide and other substances found in the sanitary sewer systems.
SPECIFICATIONS :
• The valve box insert is made of High Molecular Weight Polyethylene material that meets ASTM specifications designation D 1248, Class A, Category 5, Type 111 with a minimum impact brittleness temperature of -180°F. The thickness shall be uniform to .187 or greater.
• The lift strap is made of 1-inch -wide woven polypropylene web and is attached to the bowl of the dish by a wide head stainless steel 3/16” rivet and a stainless steel ¾” backup SS washer. All cut edges are seared to ensure against raveling.
HDSS 5°
M-FLEX 15°
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