2016 tri-association conference

2016 Tri-Association Conference

Technical Program Summary August 30 – September 2, 2016 Ocean City, Maryland Update Date: April 16, 2016, Information Subject to Change

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Room 201 8/31/2016 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Presenter: Gian Cossa, DC Water

Presenter Email: [email protected]

Title: Communications as Driver for Change Management

Abstract: When it comes to leveraging communications to drive cultural change as it relates to asset management, it is important to recognize that one size does not fit all. There are many asset management professionals who agree that change management is essential for asset management to be successful. Effective communications can sustainably support the cultural change necessary for asset management to become successful in the long term, and long after your consultants have left. This is allowing DC Water to effectively target specific audiences from a topic and perspective vantage point. The presentation today will focus on different communication messages and mediums that DC Water is using to establish broad support for the cultural change necessary to support an Enterprise Asset Management program. DC Water has committed to a company policy that now requires the utility to manage all assets in a strategic and enterprise‐wide manner. Successful execution of this Asset Management (AM) Policy will require staff to adopt an integrated business approach, collaborate across functions, use newly‐devised processes, acquire new skills, and proactively communicate with stakeholders. In short, adopting asset management as a way of doing business requires DC Water staff to make significant changes in the way they relate to each other and their work. Last year at this conference, I explained how DC Water employed the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) based on the Competing Values Framework (Cameron & Quinn, 1999) to determine which parts of the utility exhibit which of four dominant culture profiles (to be named). Upon this information, the Program Team was able to design messages, communication methodologies and change initiatives that would best fit with the current core values and protocols of the work teams, thus avoiding maneuvers that would incite suspicion. The Program Team used the assessment results to strategically choose communication and change approaches that were implemented within an overall structured change process designed to increase staff awareness of, desire for, knowledge of, and ability to adopt AM, as well as strategies for sustaining change through positive reinforcement. This presentation will focus on a series of articles that appear in DC Water’s internal newsletter, FOCUS. Ratepayers and customers received information included in their monthly service bill regarding the AM program and its impact on ratepayers. Another information series called “Find of the Month” was initiated to provide quantitative results for adopted AM best practices, whose audience is receptive to more technical concepts. DC Water also created a “AM Answers” to which any employee can submit their questions concerning AM and receive an answer. Finally, the DC Water AM team crafts messages specifically for its Executive Steering and Advisory Teams, as their buy in is critical to the success of our program.

Room 201 8/31/2016 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Presenter: Mert Muftugil, GHD


Title: How to Move Forward: Use of Asset Management to Identify Key Buried Pipe Projects That Support Effective Service Delivery

Abstract: The City of Annapolis, Maryland provides water and sewer service to about 38,000 people with a network of approximately 130 miles each of water and sewer mains of varying age and material. Several of the lines in this historic city are over a century old. With its aging infrastructure, the City has become increasingly aware that significant reinvestment is needed. As presented in last year’s conference, Annapolis initiated an asset management program with the focus on addressing the right assets, at the right time, for the right reasons. Using the Environmental Protection Agency’s framework for asset management, the City is updating its asset inventories, developing condition ratings, and determining which assets pose the highest risk if they were to fail, all in an effort to prioritize renewal investment effectively. The City is using the asset management approach to quickly get the right projects accomplished that address key buried pipe concerns. Since last year’s presentation, the program has fine-tuned the pipe risk scoring process and identified renewal investment needs of around 16 miles of water mains through 2032 and 11 miles of sewer pipe projects through 2025. The prioritization criteria include the asset risk, hydraulic limitations, frequency of maintenance issues, and the City’s paving schedule over the next few years. With a planning level cost estimate for the water and sewer projects of around $50 million, the primary goal is to achieve failure risk reduction in a cost efficient manner. In addition to the replacement and rehabilitation projects identified, during the last year, the asset management program included increased collaboration between the Department of Public Works and other city departments in an effort to improve the existing processes by (1) closing asset data gaps; (2) developing data collection standards for use during pipe, manhole, valve and hydrant inspections and repairs; (3) reviewing existing software tools such as GIS , the maintenance management system, and hydraulic model that support asset renewal decision making and improvements identification; (4) developing an as-built drawing look up tool for easier access to records. This presentation will discuss the approach the City of Annapolis is employing to implement asset management, focusing on translating the theory to practice to initiate and complete key infrastructure renewal, repair and replacement projects. In addition to results and outcomes, the presentation will review challenges faced by the City and lessons learned in addressing those challenges.



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Room 201 8/31/2016 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenter: Ryan Nagel, Hazen and Sawyer


Title: ISO 55000 AND ASSET MANAGEMENT - THE FIVE Ws

Abstract: In early 2014, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published ISO 55000 standards for asset management. Although this international standard is not specific to the water and wastewater industry, it is structured around the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle of continuous improvement and provides standard guidance that enables organizations to achieve their objectives through effective and efficient management of assets. Key themes of the ISO 55000 asset management standard include: “Alignment” of organizational objectives feeding clearly into asset management strategies, objectives, and plans; Whole “lifecycle” asset management planning and collaboration to achieve optimal organizational value; Integration of “organizational enablers” such as leadership, communication, continuous improvement, information management and business process optimization. Over the past 5-10 years, water and wastewater utilities within the United States have realized the value of asset management and have instituted and implemented asset management programs at various levels of detail and scope. However, the focus of asset management has primarily been on “physical” assets and asset management information systems (e.g., CMMS, GIS, etc.). ISO 55000 extends this focus and is designed to apply to, and standardize the treatment of, “any” asset type that an organization manages (e.g., information, people, finances, etc.). As a result, core definitions have been simplified and generalized to accommodate the broader potential scope that this standard is intended to cover. The primary focus of this presentation will be to provide insight into how water and wastewater utilities can adopt (and in some instances retrofit) ISO 55000 asset management standards within their organizations. The presentation is not intended to reiterate the definition and purpose of the standard, but instead will attempt to answer the following questions related to its application, adoption, and value to water and wastewater utilities: HOW does this standard differ from other asset management standards? How is it different from an organization’s existing asset management program? WHAT is the value of implementing asset management using the ISO 55000 framework? What changes does this standard propose? WHY does an organization need this standard and why now? WHO should be responsible to lead the adoption of asset management within an organization? WHERE should an organization start with the integration or implementation of this standard? Where is this asset management standard applicable within an organization? WHEN will my organization realize “value” from implementing asset management aligned with this standard and how do I measure that value?

Room 201 8/31/2016 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Presenter: Joseph Siemek, EBA Engineering, Inc.


Title: An Engineering and Asset Management Approach to Water System Rehabilitation

Abstract: Background - The City of Bowie is located in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and encompasses over 18 square–miles. The City owns and operates the water distribution system for approximately 7,900 customers. Built in the 1960s, many of the water mains have experienced leaks, breaks and discoloration of water, which are caused by age deterioration, internal and external corrosion, tuberculation and sedimentation in pipes. Loss of water service has also been a relatively frequent occurrence, and the quality of drinking water is degraded by discoloration and sedimentation. Objective - As water distribution systems age, utility companies and municipalities are facing increasing cost and service outages due to leaks, breaks and lost capacity. Private water suppliers, municipalities and counties around the nation need to rehabilitate water mains to minimize these problems and restore capacity. Complete replacement of the entire water system at one time is seldom economically practical so municipalities are forced to identify and prioritize system deficiencies and budget their rehabilitation efforts to match their funding abilities. The City of Bowie considered an engineering and asset management approach to evaluate their critical distribution system components. The goal is to analyze the existing service conditions of the system and devise a comprehensive list of prioritized improvements. This will allow the City to manage their resources efficiently and make informed decisions on the repair, replacement and alteration of the water distribution system. Methodology - The following methodology was used to establish the Standards that can be used to make repairs, replacements and alterations decisions. The Standards will outline specific testing protocols for the operation and maintenance staff and provide a description of activities necessary to reliably maintain the water supply system. Use various indicators of water system ratings and benchmarks, including The Water Research Foundation Water System Risk Tool for Investment Planning water utility systems. Compile assessment data from the City of Bowie for the physical and operational aspects of the water distribution system, including inventory, condition, repair history, water quality, operating characteristics, soil conditions and planned construction activity in the service area. Perform critical component assessment of the utility system to evaluate the impact of potential failures. The critical component assessment will include identification of critical facility services, primary delivery mains, and the need for redundancy. Evaluate existing hydrant flow test data and compare that with the recommended fire flow guidelines. Provide recommendations for improvements, and prioritization of rehabilitation projects to ensure the best return on investment. Tabulate and map prioritized rehabilitation tasks with costs estimated for affected pipe segments. Group the recommended improvements into annual projects that conform to budget constraints. Review the City’s existing testing protocols and maintenance program and recommend modifications as necessary. Results - Based on the results of this evaluation, the City is initiating a comprehensive long-term program to improve their water system, including field testing of priority pipe segments, preparation of a hydraulic model, updating their GIS database, and preparing a 20-year rehabilitation and budget plan.



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Room 201 8/31/2016 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Presenter: Paul Sayan, Louis Berger


Title: An Analysis of the True Cost to Maintain Baltimore County’s Sewer Collection System

Abstract: Since 2005 the number and volume of dry weather sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) that have occurred in Baltimore County (County) has consistently been less than experienced at other local and similarly-sized collection systems. Maintaining the County’s level of service requires financial and staff/equipment resources that, until recently, were never quantified or set in any long-term planning system. With the growing acceptance of asset management, the County has been and continues to quantify the resources needed to maintain their SSO incidence level of service. The resource planning is used to justify financial and staff resourcing decisions and budgets. To better understand and manage the needed resources, the County maintains multi-year schedules to track outstanding work activities, identify staff resources and limitations and develop financial budgets and planning analyses. The result of the County’s planning efforts has resulted in award of on-call contractors to augment County resources, re-organizing the Bureau of Utilities’ Pipeline Maintenance Division, implementing new technologies to increase productivity and monitoring the collection system’s performance. The presentation will discuss the County’s planning methodologies and analyses and provide details of the County’s analytics that are used to monitor system performance and compare system performance with other collection systems.

Room 201 8/31/2016 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Presenter: Prabhushankar Chandrasekeran, Greeley and Hansen LLC


Title: Sulfide Modeling in Gravity Sewers as a Practical Asset Management Tool

Abstract: Public utilities spend millions of dollars on field investigations to locate and identify sewers that are severely deteriorated and require intervention. Unlike inspection of sewers for fats oils and grease accumulation, sulfide damage may be well distributed within a sewer network requiring broad cast effort to identify sewers requiring near-term intervention. Predictive targeting of inspections through the use of a desktop model could result in reasonable reductions in the cost of sewer inspection crews by providing higher skill dispatching of sewer cleaning and closed circuit television (CCTV) crews to areas of high potential for sewer damage in lieu of lower risk sewers. This paper will describe the sulfide generation and corrosion in sewers; basic approaches to sulfide modeling; impact of sewer hydraulics on corrosion; and development of a spreadsheet based model to predict the release of sulfide from wastewater and its sorption to gravity sewer walls. The model incorporates the elements of the Wastewater Anaerobic/Aerobic Transformations in Sewers (WATS) model into a combined hydraulic and sulfide transfer model that would (a) be predictive of the key parameters to which sulfide transfer and sorption is most sensitive and (b) be practical to implement for wastewater utilities. The model was applied to 27” ductile iron and reinforced concrete sewers with known corrosion damage and the model results compared well with the corrosion locations. The desktop model when applied to the entire sewer network could result in substantial savings for utilities by reducing the occurrence of inspections revealing little or no corrosion and by identifying at an earlier date those sewer sections where significant corrosion and even sewer failure may occur. The technical transfer achieved in the presentation will broadly benefit wastewater utilities that operate aging collections systems where significant recurring costs for sewer inspection and cleaning are prevalent.

Room 201 8/31/2016 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Presenter: Kate Zhao, Pure Technologies


Title: Water Mains Prioritization with Historical Breaks: Howard County Case Study

Abstract: Proper understanding of water and wastewater pipeline system deterioration is crucial in developing cost effective, efficient, and most importantly successful pipeline management strategies. Numerous attempts have been made to better understand the historical failure data through various statistical models but these efforts have frequently only looked at a spatial component of the events, which can provide significant inefficiencies in managing pipeline assets. Luckily, we can learn from other industries and research to better understand and predict deterioration since pipeline failures share many characteristics with human disease outbreaks. A spatial temporal scan analysis developed by Martin Kulldorff, a professor at Harvard Medical School, can be applied to water distribution and sewer collection systems. It utilizes the pipeline geographic information and the historical pipeline failure/maintenance data (water main breaks or sanitary sewer overflows) to test if the pipe breaks are randomly distributed in space and time, or if any hot zones (clusters) can be detected. The scan analysis can be added as a valuable data point in risk analysis and decision-making under a pipeline asset management program. When additional pipe information is available, the scan analysis can eliminate the impact of different pipe attributes and reveal the existence of hot zones due to the complex environmental conditions. The application will be demonstrated on Howard County, Maryland.



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Room 201 8/31/2016 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Presenter: Keith Hodsden, Innovyze, Inc.


Title: GIS Tools for Asset Performance Modeling and Prioritization - A New Approach for Old Pipes

Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this presentation is to discuss modern techniques for prioritizing water, sewer, and stormwater asset rehabilitation and capital plans. Underground infrastructure is rapidly deteriorating and utilities are struggling to develop a comprehensive, defensible rehabilitation program that addresses the most critical infrastructure first. Many capital improvement programs spend millions of dollars annually, however, they may do little to lower total system risk if they are focused on infrastructure that is not hydraulically significant to system operation. Development of Risk scenarios will combat these challenges, and when performed in the GIS environment these projects may be easily bundled, packaged, estimated, and reported on. Likelihood of failure will be based on a variety of factors such as age, material, soil type, and sewer CCTV data. In addition, any number of complex statistical regression models may be employed to quantify the reliability and potential costs for your system. For water systems, the consequence of failure requires a more detailed estimation of the hydraulic significance of each water main. This will determine the real impact of main failure on critical facilities and ensure adequate service to customers. These scores can then be used to compile an overall risk score for each asset. Other factors, such as critical facilities, other utilities or roads, and work order data may be used as well. This solution allows for a more detailed, granular approach in which every asset now has a risk score determined as a combination of probability and consequence of failure calculations. The ArcGIS Desktop tool, InfoMaster, is used to perform batch criticality analysis for every pipe in a system to assess the impact of a pipeline being taken out of service or failing. Once a risk score is determined for each asset, they are used to prioritize the order of asset rehabilitation. The prioritized Rehabilitation Plan will ensure that utilities "get the most bang for the buck" and lower their total system risk as opposed to simply replacing older pipes first. During and after the risk scores and rehabilitation plans are established ArcGIS Online is an invaluable tool for easily presenting and sharing the results, especially in terms of receiving buy-in across departments and making decisions as a group. This presentation concentrates on using advanced GIS and Hydraulic Modeling Applications that integrate hydraulic engineering simulations, comprehensive risk assessment and GIS spatial analysis. Techniques, tips, and requirements for these types of analyses will be presented along with a working example demonstrating how to perform a detailed Risk Assessment and develop a complete Rehabilitation Plan for a real system.

Room 201 8/31/2016 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Presenter: Dave Lewis, Wachs Water Services


Title: Best Practices of Unidirectional Flushing (UDF): Improve Water Quality and Reduce Customer Complaints

Abstract: A Unidirectional Flushing (UDF) program, properly developed and executed, is an excellent, water-efficient method of cleaning water distribution pipes to improve water quality, restore capacity, and drive a reduction in customer complaints. UDF Programs, when properly planned and executed, are also comprehensive asset management programs that yield long-term benefits above and beyond the improvement in water quality. Utilities initiating improvements of water quality through unidirectional flushing face a number of challenges from the perspective of design and execution. Design challenges range from planning sequences using outdated or inconsistent water maps (inaccurate system geometry) and/or planning sequences without knowing the condition of the mapped assets being used to create the flushing sequences. Both incorrect system geography and inoperable assets will stop a flushing sequence in its tracks. Execution challenges can be allayed by insuring an accurate valve and hydrant inventory and system geometry assessment is executed immediately before the flushing sequences are executed, so that the reliability of the sequence can be improved dramatically. Additionally, by documenting PH, chlorine residual and turbidity both before and after the flushing sequence the change in water quality can be measured. And finally, by ensuring the asset inventory and condition assessment on the valve and hydrant assets are completed, documented, accurate, and integrated into the utility’s GIS and CMMS delivers additional lasting value. Join this audience and explore the essential steps to successfully creating and executing unidirectional flushing programs. This audience will gain new and valuable insight into the process by examining how two UDF programs overcame these challenges and achieved sustainable results.



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Room 201 9/1/2016 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Presenter: Bruce McClure, EBA Engineering, Inc.


Title: Prioritization Process for Capital Improvement Program for the City of Baltimore, Department of Public Works

Abstract: The City of Baltimore has, over the last 15 years, experienced explosive growth in the demands placed upon its Capital Improvement Program (CIP) due to developments familiar to larger municipalities across the country. A Consent Decree compelled $ 1.5 Billion in capital expenditure to separate a combined sewer system and address sanitary sewer overflows. Its wastewater treatments plants, the two largest in the State of Maryland, required capital investments of $1.0 Billion to provide Enhanced Nutrient Removal capability. A separate $500 Million Consent Decree called for replacement of five finished water reservoirs with enclosed tanks. An aging infrastructure prompted an aggressive $600 Million program to replace a large portion of the City’s water distribution system, including many pipes over 100 years old. In addition, the City has implemented a new Surface Water Management Division and Utility fee structure to upgrade an aging storm water system with a $2.0 Billion long term capital investment projection. The cumulative effect of these massive demands for capital investment has placed enormous financial pressure on an already economically disadvantaged city. The City has responded with a variety of measures in an attempt to mitigate significant rate increases. Internally, the methodology and approach to the CIP process were revised to better prioritize and plan for the essential funding. Externally, Baltimore became one of the pioneering utilities in partnership with EPA and MDE to develop an Integrated Planning Framework, with the purpose to prioritize and balance regulatory and infrastructure capital demands with the City’s capacity to bear the financial burden. Managers on the operational level assessed current and projected needs and submitted requests accordingly. As these requests progressed through the organizational structure, higher level managers measured the requests against affordability. After an iterative process, the final CIP request reflected a balance of needs and affordability. In response to the dramatic increase in capital demands, the City refined this process by introducing an initial step in which all potential projects were evaluated, scored, and ranked in order of priority. This presentation will focus upon the refinements introduced into the annual CIP process for the City of Baltimore Department of Public Works. Attendees will learn the techniques by which the City has greatly enhanced its ability to assess and prioritize its projects and its capital demands.

Room 201 9/1/2016 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Presenter: Alan Foster, KCI Technologies, Inc.


Title: Creating and Leveraging an Asset Management Program

Abstract: Asset Management can be an overwhelming and misunderstood process for many organizations. What does Asset Management mean? What do you need to get started? What can you expect? In this presentation, we will describe the initial steps and decisions necessary to prepare your organization for Asset Management implementation, then show the outcome of solid planning. We will establish what Asset Management is, what it means for your organization, stakeholders, and constituents, and how to get started on your Asset Management Plan. When considering Asset Management, it is important to understand that every organization is different and Asset Management plans can vary greatly. In the presentation we will examine organization-specific goal identification and discuss the ramifications of asset prioritization and risk thresholds. We will cover important topics for an organization to consider, including the benefits of Asset Management, establishment of Level of Service indicators, identification of critical assets, life cycle costs, and establishing long term preventive maintenance plans. Given the breadth of Asset Management plans, nearly every part of an organization will be impacted in some way. We will look to illustrate such impacts and explain the importance of and how to identify and include all key stakeholders. Our presentation will also cover and the role of a CMMS in an Asset Management program, and explore the links between the CMMS, the GIS, and the execution of the Asset Management program. We will then discuss the methods for informing your CIP programs moving forward using this Asset Management data. The audience will gain an understanding of what an Asset Management program can do, what it is, and the essential steps, databases and solutions which support a successful asset management program.



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Room 201 9/1/2016 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenter: Theresa McClure, HDR


Title: Magic Tricks, Tweets, and iPads: Harnessing the Power of Community Engagement to Advance the Water, Waste Water, and Stormwater Infrastructure

Abstract: Our national infrastructure is aging. Rates are increasing. Natural and man-made disasters are happening in higher frequency. All the while, social media is exploding. Today’s public utilizes technology to quickly and effectively draw support for or against a project, a program, or a brand. They make Facebook groups, hold massive “tweet-ups”, and work to communicate quickly and join forces for a common cause. Yet, water management agencies and municipalities notoriously find themselves in budget battles that ultimately have a direct impact on their ability to harness this innovation in ways that protect their reputation, build a community of support, and leverage organizational resources in a purposeful and meaningful way. At this year’s TriCon, attend a conference session where YOU are the stakeholder. Experience first-hand some of the new and exciting tools that are being used, across the country, to publicize and engage citizens and stakeholders in authentic and transparent discussions about water, wastewater, storm water, rates, and other operations special topics. In this session, you will learn how to how to broaden your audience base and increase the level of public participation in new and exciting ways, how to maximize the use of tried and true outreach practices, and how to incorporate technologies like iPads, text polling, Facebook and Twitter, , and Smartphones to educate stakeholders and keep communities engaged in project development.

Room 201 9/1/2016 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Presenter: Erica Whorley, Heery International, Inc.


Title: Is Being Average Okay?: An Analysis of Anne Arundel County's Water and Wastewater Bids

Abstract: Anne Arundel County's Department of Public Works oversees a 6-year Capital Improvement Project Budget with a budget of approximately $1.4 billion for water and wastewater capital improvements. The majority of these improvements follow the Design-Bid-Build process. As a part of the design process, the design engineers provide cost estimates upon which bidding ranges are selected. The bidding phase is competitively completed with local and national contractors being able to participate. The value of these contracts range from thousands of dollars to tens of millions of dollars. As the vastly different (size and scope) construction contracts are bid throughout each fiscal year, a long term analysis is needed to identity statistical trends in bid prices. This presentation will focus on those statistical trends in Anne Arnundel County's Department of Public Works bid prices for water and wastewater construction contracts that occurred within the last five years.

Room 201 9/1/2016 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Presenter: Eyasu Yilma, DC Water


Title: Potomac Interceptor Renewal Program Inspection and Rehabilitation of Critical Multi-Jurisdictional Infrastructure

Abstract: The Potomac Interceptor (PI) sanitary sewer system is an over 40-mile long reinforced concrete pipe sewer ranging in size from 36 inches to 96 inches in diameter, and is designated as one of the major assets within the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) sewer system. It conveys approximately 60 million gallons per day (MGD) by gravity from service areas in Virginia starting near the Washington Dulles International Airport, across the Potomac River into Maryland to pick up additional flow, and then traverses the Potomac River down to the Potomac Pump Station inside Washington DC. The flow is then pumped to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility for treatment before it is discharged into the Potomac River. The PI system conveys flows from parts of Fairfax County, Loudoun County, the towns of Vienna and Herndon, Dulles International Airport in Virginia and parts of Montgomery County in Maryland. The main portion of the PI is adjacent to the Potomac River and within its floodplain, where any failure could have harmful impact to the environment and would be very difficult to repair as an emergency project because of it’s location in environmentally sensitive or private property areas. This presentation will describe the process of inspection, characterization, project identification and prioritization of improvement projects and ongoing maintenance that will preserve the conveyance capacity and structural integrity of the PI. The presentation will also describe the approach used to determine the re-inspection and cleaning cycle, as well as recommended inspection technologies. Finally, the presentation will also describe risk-based prioritization of capital improvement projects (CIP) resulting from the assessment and analysis of the PI inspection data. The PI system is aged, suffers from extensive sulfide attack, and contains debris levels in some locations that reduce conveyance capacity. Based on the inspection results and observations of defect trends, most defects resulting from chemical attacks were observed to occur at flow connection points, horizontal bends, and steep slopes. The most probable reason for this condition would be that hydrogen sulfide gas is released by the turbulence at the confluence of sewage flows. The majority of closed-circuit television (CCTV) videos at flow connection points are of poor quality. The re-inspection technique and technology recommended has taken into account the poor video quality caused by mist or turbulence. DC Water has inspected approx 240,000 feet of the. Based on this inspection, 6 major rehabilitation projects and cleaning of 9 pipe segments were identified as high-priority projects. These projects will be implemented over the next five years. The Potomac Interceptor Renewal Program provides the framework for future project identification and re-inspection criteria for other large diameter sewers for DC Water Sewer System.



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Room 201 9/1/2016 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Presenter: Brian Gresehover, Pure Technologies


Title: Transient Pressure Monitoring – Real World Applications to Better Protect Your Pipes

Abstract: The operation of water transmission systems and the recurring nature of pump cycling at wastewater pumping stations contribute to pipeline stress. When considered in conjunction with pipeline aging and other deterioration, transient pressure fluctuations can significantly impact a pipeline’s structural integrity and useful life. Pressure and transient monitoring of water transmission pipelines and wastewater force mains can provide information that is useful to a Utility’s system operations and asset management. A Utility can apply this information to an overall asset management plan to target rehabilitation of certain pipeline assets while confidently extending the utilization life of others. This new information can also be used to improve Utilities standard operational procedures and maintenance & repair programs to minimize or prevent costly failures and emergency repairs. This paper will include a brief overview of available technologies from various different manufacturers (note author’s firm does not provide this technology). Up to four case studies will be presented and will cover the installation, analysis, and results: 1. Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC); remote wireless transient pressure sensors have been installed on the Utility’s large diameter PCCP Transmission Mains. These sensors provide near real-time data for use in the structural models, allowing up to date consideration of inspected and monitored structural deterioration in conjunction with internal pressure. This specific case study centers around one 54-Inch PCCP that was the subject of an emergency shutdown and replacement intervention. 2. City of Belmont DPW, California; remote pressure loggers were installed on a series of eight force mains to monitor transient pressure activity. The focus of this case study is one PVC pipe where higher than anticipated recurring transient pressure events were discovered. A structural fatigue model was prepared using the real field transient pressure data where the useful lifecycle was calculated. 3. Nashville, Tennessee; two remote transient pressure loggers were installed on a 12-inch ductile iron force main and Cobb County, Georgia. The change in pressure from static to operating pressure is approximately 3 psi, however, the full change in pressure with the transient pressure fluctuations is up to 80 psi. 4.Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority; a transient pressure logger was installed on 42-Inch PCCP water transmission main. Recurring transient pressure events with a range of 30-40 psi were observed at a frequency of 7-8 times per week. One significant transient pressure event with a range of 100 psi was observed and coincided with a two-pump trip. The standard SCADA pressure data, with a sample rate of 1 sample per minute, showed a range of only 34 psi during this event, emphasizing the importance of the higher sub-second sample rate to capture the extent of transient pressure events.

Room 201 9/1/2016 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Presenter: Mike Bezanson, Dewberry Consultants LLC


Title: Condition Assessment as a Foundation for Asset Management

Abstract: Condition assessment can be defined as an evaluation of a facility by a group of qualified and experienced professionals with the intention to inform the owner of the state and expected functional life of their asset. For the Owner, condition assessments can be an invaluable tool to understand the issues and root causes which limit the operational effectiveness of a facility in order to determine if the asset components should be maintained, upgraded or eliminated. For the Consultant, condition assessment can be a critical step in the design process which, if performed properly, can expedite the design process. This paper focuses on the challenges and solutions of condition assessments for pump stations, including defining the scope, capturing data, analyzing and synthesizing possible solutions. In order to provide the Owner with a condition assessment that establishes the correct course of action moving forward, the goal of the condition assessment needs to be clearly defined: for budgetary purposes as part of a long-term asset management program; as a response to deteriorating conditions; or as part of a trouble-shooting endeavor in response to failure of the asset. Additionally, we will share some of our experiences, project highlights and lessons-learned regarding the condition assessment procedure used on recent Dewberry projects. Developing a condition assessment program requires clear communication and a strong relationship between the Engineer and the Owner to understand the Owner’s requirements. The initial scope can be purposely broad and open-ended to allow out-of-the-box thinking during the execution of the project; however defining the objectives of the project and clarifying the intent is critical to finalizing the scope. A well-defined goal allows the Engineer to collect and capture pertinent information from record documentation, asset performance data and operational staff necessary for a complete evaluation of the asset components. Rudimentary analysis of the collected baseline data is used to identify failure modes and deficiencies of the station and discern between primary root causes and secondary effects. The end product of the condition assessment will provide the Owner with a set of possible solutions for further development based upon the collected and analyzed information.



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Room 201 9/1/2016 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Presenter: Dave Lewis, Wachs Water Services


Title: Water Distribution Asset Inventory: An Asset Management Approach for Valves and Hydrants

Abstract: Water distribution system infrastructures are aging and becoming less reliable. A noticeable reduction in system performance begins to show up as higher operating and capital costs, an increase in risks and a decline in the ability to meet customer’s expectations. Water system managers acknowledge that the decline in distribution system performance is no longer acceptable, and that if unaddressed, that the risks and costs will continue to increase over time. Faced with these challenges, many utilities are initiating asset inventory programs, specifically on valve and hydrants, that leverage proven asset management strategies in order to increase system efficiency, reduce the consequence of failures and improve customer service. In this presentation we will share the proactive steps taken by some utilities to kick start their renewal program by teaming with experts in distribution system asset assessment and inventory. These programs produce immediate results by identifying gaps in system information and begin the important process of documenting assets throughout the distribution system and improving operational intelligence. While this program is a “kick-start”, and delivers meaningful, real results, the end game is to put in place, processes that will result in predictable and dependable system performance; a program that is well-defined and capable of being sustained by the Utility. Additionally, our presentation will provide specific examples of problems and surprises discovered in the process and how these situations were resolved. We will also share in detail the results and status of example renewal programs including: 1. Program objectives, 2. Findings, 3. Comparisons with other major water systems, and 4. Examples of best practices Join us and discover how to initiate a distribution system asset inventory program that reduces the consequences of failures and improves system reliability.

Room 201 9/1/2016 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Presenter: William Lloyd, HDR


Title: Moneyball: Data-Driven Asset Management Enhances SSO Reduction Program

Abstract: In the true story and movie Moneyball, a major league baseball executive applies quantitative analysis to guide player selection decisions, which were heretofore highly subjective. The resulting team of undervalued players successfully competes and wins championships against teams that spend tens of millions of dollars more money based on “seat of the pants” decisions. Just as baseball executives have improved their organizations’ performance using quantitative approaches to guide fundamental decisions, water utility executives can achieve meaningful results from applying data-driven approaches to answer essential asset management questions such as: How much annual asset renewal is optimal for my utility? What are my utility’s highest risk assets, to which I should be paying the most attention? How frequently should preventive maintenance be performed on each individual segment of pipeline? Quantitative analysis of large amounts of data is a fundamental practice of asset management, which is core to everything a water utility does. The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) is successfully applying data-driven asset management approaches to comply with a Federal EPA Consent Decree (CD) that requires significant reduction of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) in its 5,100 mile wastewater collection system. This presentation discusses SAWS’ experience applying data-driven strategies to improve operations, determine asset criticality, assess asset conditions, develop a long-term asset renewal plan, and implement technology support. The results have enabled SAWS to cost-effectively accomplish the following: More than 60% reduction in SSOs over the past 4 years 100% completion of preventive cleaning on schedule Continuous updating of optimum preventive cleaning frequencies All CD-mandated milestones, deadlines, and deliverables have been accomplished on schedule and accepted by EPA Nearly $1 billion in capacity and condition-driven remediation projects – based on consistent data – are being integrated into a detailed 10 year capital projects plan which complies with the requirements of the CD Technology is in place to supports continued decision optimization and CD reporting compliance with the CD requirements. All of these results have been achieved using highly cost effective approaches, targeted to maximize the benefits to SAWS’ customers, achieve desired service level objectives, and address risk. Conclusions from SAWS’ application of data-driven asset management practices to comply with its EPA CD include the following: Quantitative approaches (i.e., Moneyball) can produce improved results over “seat of the pants” decision-making for operations, condition assessment, and capital project planning. The employment of data-driven asset management principles is producing a significant tangible payback in effectiveness, as measured by reduced SSOs. Large paybacks can be obtained very rapidly from optimizing and continually updating preventive maintenance frequencies, especially when an organization makes on-schedule completion of preventive work its top priority. Off-the-shelf information technologies, when planned and applied using proven approaches, are highly capable of organizing extensive quantities of data and supporting essential asset management analyses.



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Room 201 9/1/2016 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Presenter: Anthony Dowell, AECOM


Title: Leveraging Geospatial and Remote Sensing Technologies for Asset Inventory, GIS Development and Enhancement of Asset Management Capabilities for WSSC Wastewater Facilities

Abstract: In 2011, AECOM began a four-year, Consent Decree driven Trunk Sewer Inspection & Surveying project with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC). Under this project, AECOM was tasked with the inventory and survey of sewer valves, gates, cleanouts, and related assets at WSSC’s pump stations, lift stations and connecting force mains. The initial goal of this effort was to assist WSSC in the development of a detailed and up to date inventory, as a database of these facility assets did not previously exist. This data would eventually be used to update and enhance WSSC’s Enterprise Geographic Information System (EGIS), a robust enterprise GIS that serves as the system of record for WSSC’s Asset Management Program (AMP). EGIS also pushes data to a variety of internal systems and public-facing applications, and as a result this information will be utilized by many departments within the organization. At the start of this effort, most of WSSC’s facilities were stored as a single, minimally attributed point feature in EGIS, which resulted in major limitations from the standpoints of mapping, modeling and asset management for these complex systems. AECOM began with a comprehensive review of existing data and as-built drawings. Over 1,800 as-built drawings were acquired, of which nearly 200 were georeferenced, providing spatially referenced documents that proved to be an invaluable resource for both field and office efforts. In the field, data was collected for approximately 60 wastewater facilities and connecting force main segments, which included over 600 valves of various types, cleanouts, pumps, wet wells, meters, and more. In addition to inventory data which was cataloged in the asset database that stored operational information, horizontal/vertical positions, photos and videos were captured for each asset with the use of handheld receivers and GPS-enabled tablet. Sketches were compiled to help record system connectivity and document operational information provided by WSSC’s on-site production staff. At select facilities, LiDAR scanning was used to help capture high-resolution images and point clouds that were leveraged during the GIS development process. The use of LiDAR scanning proved to be particularly beneficial for large, multi-floor indoor or underground facilities, where traditional GPS was ineffective. In the office, AECOM’s GIS Team used the asset inventory database, geographic data (GPS coordinates, LiDAR point clouds, etc.), media files, as-built drawings and field sketches to develop detailed, 3D-enabled spatial data within the framework of EGIS that effectively modeled the configuration of the network. The data participated in the existing geometric network, and newly cataloged assets were provided unique, WSSC-compliant asset identifiers to ensure that data could be properly integrated into WSSC’s systems. AECOM utilized a two-way, replicated ArcSDE environment that allowed for direct editing of WSSC’s enterprise GIS data and synchronization through the exchange of delta XML files. AECOM also incorporated a versioned workflow and the use of custom tests to ensure data quality and integrity. This paper serves to present the data collection, management and modeling processes used by AECOM, outline the potential uses of this data, and share lessons learned throughout the project.

Room 201 9/1/2016 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Presenter: Susan Donnally, Pure Technologies


Title: Do I really need to replace that pipe? Rehabilitation of high consequence water mains in lieu of replacement.

Abstract: Utility owners rely on their large-diameter transmission mains to serve as the backbones to their distribution systems. The consequences of their failure and other critical mains include disruption to service for a large number of customers, personal property damage, and traffic disruptions just to name a few. Replacing these pipes before they fail can reduce these consequences; however, replacement is not always the best alternative. There are several considerations that need to be reviewed before the decision to replace is made, including physical location (middle of a 4-lane highway, under a railroad, etc.), as well as other social and environmental concerns. In lieu of replacement, water main rehabilitation techniques are becoming viable options for extending the useful life of high consequence mains. The purpose of this paper is to: outline the rehabilitation methods and materials applicable to high consequence mains; present a strategy for selecting rehabilitation methods; and present a few case studies from recent projects where rehabilitation methods were used in lieu of replacement. The types of rehabilitation methods that will be discussed include: sliplining with close-fit liners and grouted-in-place pipes; cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) liners; carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) wraps and liners; other spot and joint repair systems and seals; and spray-on coatings and liners. The advantages and limitations of each method will be outlined and a strategy for selecting the appropriate methods will be presented based on selection criteria such as: structural requirements; service and branch connection reinstatements; flow capacity needs; pipe accessibility; contractor availability; diameter and length requirements; etc. Transmission and other critical mains vary in material of construction depending on several factors, including hydraulics and site conditions. Typical pipe materials include cast iron (CI), ductile iron (DI), prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP), and steel. Common failure modes for each of these types of pipes vary significantly, ranging from leaking joints to catastrophic failures due to prestressed wire failures and external corrosion. Given these variations in potential failure modes, the types of rehabilitation also vary. Three case studies will be presented that include rehabilitation on various pipe materials including concrete pressure pipe, steel, and cast iron, each experiencing a different potential mode of failure, as highlighted previously. The purpose of discussing these particular case studies is to expand upon the idea of how different types of pipes experience different modes of failure and how rehabilitation techniques can be tailored depending on the pipe material, site conditions, and potential failure mode.



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Room 201 9/1/2016 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Presenter: Minh Smith, Pure Technologies


Title: Risky Business: MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS WITH UNCERTAIN DATA

Abstract: The infrastructure industry, and especially the water/wastewater sector, needs robust decision making processes that perform in complex scenarios. Informed decision making is essential to preserve the lifetime of assets, and to achieve the maximum value from existing assets and capital investments. The concept of risk is commonly used in infrastructure to optimize capital investment decisions and rudimentary systems often act as a crutch to support a lack of better understanding. Decision analysis provides a framework for searching for an optimal solution under various uncertainties and potential risks. Bayesian Networks (BN) is an historically effective method to assist in decision making in a variety of disciplines. These methods can be implemented together to produce a more comprehensive decision making plan. This paper discusses this problem solving method as applied to water infrastructure utility planning and asset management. The purpose of this paper is to help provide an understanding of the use of BNs in infrastructure management and rehabilitation with an emphasis on the impact that data collection can have on decision making. This paper will demonstrate the implications of BN decision modelling on various real data-sets and provide case studies to articulate the benefits of such an approach. The intent is to illustrate how variations in data-sets (type, quantity, random vs. targeted) can impact decision making with regard to asset renewal and maintenance. More importantly it is intended that the paper will convey the importance and value of collecting the right data, the right way, and how that data can be used to support improved decision making; which can have a significant impact on the long-term financial optimization of a utility.

Room 201 9/2/2016 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Presenter: Adityz Ramamurthy, Hazen and Sawyer


Title: Taming the Data Chaos through Business Analytics - A Roadmap for Enterprise Decisions

Abstract: Simple data analytics reveal basic insights; more sophisticated analytics, applied to data that has been pooled into a “data lake” with data from external and enterprise sources allows utilities to unearth deeper insights that will help to optimize performance. Because of the growing volume, complexity and strategic importance of asset management data, it is no longer desirable or even feasible for each department/ unit/division/function within a utility to manage this data by itself, or to build its own data analytics capabilities. To get the most out of the new data resources, utilities are creating dedicated data groups that are potentially embedded within the core asset management program team to consolidate data collection, aggregation and analytics. Recently, advances in technology have revolutionized data and performance reporting so that users (with limited IT development expertise) can perform data mining and develop high impact visuals for performance reporting. Water and Wastewater Utilities are implementing Business Intelligence (BI) frameworks to track and report key asset management performance indicators and other data analytics. Benefits of this reporting framework include: · Eliminates the reliance on core IT developers to develop and manage reporting frameworks as BI is now integrated with common applications, putting the non-IT user in a position to perform complex data analysis and develop aesthetically-pleasing visualizations · Significantly reduces development cost and level of effort · Through the concept of data “lakes”, data models can be constructed using data from various sources (CMMS, GIS, SCADA, project management, financial and customer information systems) with ease · Eliminates the extensive costs and need for complex and disparate system integration that is typically required to connect data for effective performance reporting · Reduces the time to develop high impact visualizations to hours or days, rather than weeks, months, and years · Complete transferability to mobile devices for use at meetings and workshops This presentation will discuss the asset management KPI frameworks (2 case studies) that have been implemented by utilities for effective integration, tracking and reporting of various data within their asset management programs.

Room 201 9/2/2016 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenter: John Smith, SaLUT Corrosion


Title: Identification of External Corrosion Related Problems on Pipelines using Nondestructive and Nonintrusive Techniques

Abstract: This paper will present the various field techniques for investigating corrosion of existing municipal utility pipelines. This presentation will begin with a discussion of the various components of municipal water and wastewater utilities and the corrosion problems associated with each system. Next will be a discussion of corrosion mechanisms, including, with examples, specific techniques such as Pipe-to-Soil Surveys, Direct Current Voltage Gradient (DCVG) Surveys, Close-Interval (CIS) Surveys and new technologies currently being used for the evaluation of underground coatings using aboveground techniques and soils chemistry analysis. These investigative techniques provide the data necessary for the engineer to make important decisions regarding the condition of the pipeline. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of how this data when coupled with soil surveys into GIS Systems are useful in determining high risk areas for corrosion. Examples of soil surveys completed for Washington, DC (DC Water) water pipelines and the new data collection requirements from the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) will be used to illustrate new asset management data tools being used.



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Room 201 9/2/2016 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Presenter: Brian Gresehover, Pure Technologies


Title: Live Across a Wire - Accurate, Actionable, and Up To Date On-Line Condition Assessment Data Collection and Reporting through an Interactive Web Portal

Abstract: Pipeline assets are not static – as time goes on and conditions change, so do the assets. Deterioration, rehabilitation, replacement, and new loading parameters due to changing operational needs and system demands are common over the life of an asset. Tracking the condition of ever-changing infrastructure can be a challenge for any utility. The strategy of periodic condition assessment along with the growing use of real-time distributed sensors in water and wastewater networks provides a constant stream of new data. Ensuring this data is processed into accurate and up to date information allows a utility to better manage the risk to minimize unforeseen emergency repairs, or costly and unnecessary replacement of an asset with remaining service life. Quality assurance measures, manual processes, and automation software all need to be applied to process this stream of data into accurate and actionable information. An interactive web based portal provides a platform for this dynamic condition assessment reporting. This paper will provide a short summary of the considerations for creating a dynamic condition assessment reporting system, including manual and automated quality assurance processes, data management, integration of real time monitoring data, and software development. The paper will focus on the existing web portal for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission’s (WSSC) web-based water transmission mains asset management system, with investigation of specific pipes of interest using the Client’s web portal. The presentation will access and utilize the live web portal throughout the presentation as appropriate.

Room 201 9/2/2016 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Presenter: Michael Maker, Municipal & Financial Services Group


Title: Forecasting Expenses Without a Crystal Ball

Abstract: The 80/20 rule states that roughly 80% of effects come from 20% of their causes. While this rule has been used to explain everything from customer complaint data to the wealth of nations, it can also explain the distribution of operating expenses for water and sewer utilities: the majority of a water or sewer utility’s expenses are often composed of a small number of line items. For most water and sewer utilities, operating and maintenance expenses (such as salaries, benefits, supplies and contracted services) compose their largest annual costs. For a utility with wholesale costs such as the purchase of water or the regional treatment of sewage, the impact of just a few expense items is even more significant. Accurately forecasting to the extent possible these day-to-day costs can have a major impact on a utility’s bottom line. This presentation will focus on forecasting operating expenses (without a crystal ball) using a variety of basic techniques (such as trend analysis, annualized growth and cost indexes) and will discuss how to employ these techniques for various operating expense types (such as fixed vs. variable costs, nonrecurring costs, capital outlay and indirect expenses) as well as within a financial modeling environment in Microsoft Excel.



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Room 201 9/2/2016 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Presenter: Dan Tobocman, American Water - Military Services


Title: It's All in the Timing: The Synchronous Reserve Electrical Demand Management Program Can Generate Income

Abstract: The Army receives a fee from PJM, the regional grid operator, every year for American Water’s participation in a electricity demand management program. American Water (AW) owns and operates the Fort Meade water system under the Department of Defense’s Utility Privatization program. The Fort is the account holder and pays the bills on all of the electrical power connections used by AW. AW was approached by the Fort Meade Directorate of Public Works (DPW) and its Electricity Demand Management Coordinator (EDMC) to participate in the regional grid manager’s synchronous reserve program, which required two things: 1. The ability to cut electricity demand by at least 100 kW within 10 minutes of a request from the grid operator. Demand reduction events could last for up to 30 minutes. 2. The ability to report electricity demand in one-minute increments before, during, and after the event in order to demonstrate and record the load reduction. First, AW’s water system operators confirmed that they could turn off water supply wells and water distribution pumps for 30 minutes without compromising the safety and reliability of the system in most circumstances. However, during emergency conditions such as a large fire or water main break, they would not be able to participate. The EDMC explained that participation in any individual event would be voluntary and AW could decline to participate if a request was received during a water emergency. One of the Initial System Deficiency Correction (ISDC) projects at Fort Meade was a new SCADA system that securely and reliably connected the control room at the Water Treatment Plant with the remote sites all across Fort Meade where the electrical loads were located. Without the new radio network in the SCADA system, it would not have been possible to respond to an event within 10 minutes. Second, minute by minute electricity usage data had to be collected, recorded and reported from seven different sites. AW worked with DPW and Baltimore Gas & Electric to install pulse kits at the sites to generate the required data. AW worked with its SCADA system supplier to design the necessary SCADA modifications to collect the data and transmit it to the Fort Meade Water Treatment Plant. The SCADA supplier wrote a custom data storage and reporting program to automatically generate the reports required by the sync reserve program. AW developed secure procedures for transferring the data from the SCADA system to the EDMC over email. AW was able to blend funding from the Army and the EDMC to connect the pulse kits and program the SCADA system. This small investment paid for itself the first year from participation fees in the synch reserve program. The program was so successful it won a Federal Energy and Water Management Award from the Department of Energy.

Room 202 8/31/2016 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Presenter: Isaac Katz, O'Brien & Gere


Title: Shining the Light on Chemistry – Ultra-Low TRC Limit leads to PAA Piloting & Design

Abstract: The City of Oneida’s 3.75 MGD WWTP includes gaseous chlorine effluent disinfection with sodium metabisulfite dechlorination. A portion of the effluent is filtered with residual added (hypochlorite) and reused by the Oneida Indian Nation’s golf courses for irrigation. The SPDES permit effluent parameters include total residual chlorine (TRC), interim TRC limit of 0.1 mg/L and final of 0.02, which cannot be routinely met. The compliance schedule required expedited evaluation and implementation. The study phase defined key issues, identified and screened effluent disinfection alternatives, conducted technology review and discussed process control approaches, and analyzed shortlisted alternatives to recommend a course of action and establish a proposed implementation timeline. Chlorination / dechlorination, UV, ozone and Peracetic Acid (PAA) were evaluated in detail, generating layouts and life cycle cost analyses. Wastewater characteristics influenced selection. The recommendation for effluent disinfection was PAA, replacing the existing chemical storage & feed system, delivery to the contact tank, and monitoring and control. The use of PAA eliminates effluent TRC (and no DBPs), was found to be the lowest cost of the viable disinfection alternatives, operates similarly to the existing gaseous Cl2 system providing a smooth operational transition from chlorination / dechlorination to PAA disinfection. For purposes of regulatory review and confirmation of final design sizing, it was recommended that the City perform a full-scale PAA pilot test. A PAA Piloting Protocol was developed, to confirm the applicability, effectiveness and basis of design feed rate. In order to expedite the implementation per the SPDES permit compliance schedule, preliminary engineering and final design are proceeding. Along with design details, study phase bench testing and full-scale piloting results will be reviewed, along with regulatory / permitting aspects of the project.



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Room 202 8/31/2016 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Presenter: Hollie Adejumo, University of Maryland, Baltimore County


Title: Identifying implications of antibiotics during ultraviolet disinfection: antimicrobial activity and antimicrobial resistance in wastewater treatment

Abstract: The presence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in wastewater threatens human health and ecological stability. Evidence suggests that CECs cause detrimental health effects, even at sub-therapeutic concentrations. Trace levels of antibiotics in wastewater promote the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance. Our previous work has shown that antibiotics undergo partial degradation during ultraviolet (UV) disinfection processes. Recent work from our group has shown that select antibiotics can be degraded into other antibiotics during UV irradiation, thereby lowering the effective treatment efficiency. This scenario also implies that UV processes may not remove the corresponding antimicrobial activity of wastewater containing antibiotics. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of sub-therapeutic antibiotic concentrations on microbes throughout wastewater treatment. Specifically, this study characterized the impact of UV disinfection on antimicrobial activity and antimicrobial resistant bacteria in wastewater containing trace concentrations of antibiotics. We utilized antimicrobial assays to investigate the relationship between antibiotic concentration and bacterial growth. Data were mathematically modeled with the Hill equation to produce inhibition profiles. In this work, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas fluorescens were used as standard microorganisms, and subjected to a gradient of antibiotic concentrations. Activated sludge was also employed in the antimicrobial assay to determine impacts of antibiotics on wastewater microbe communities. Antimicrobial assays were conducted using three pharmaceutical classes: fluoroquinolones (e.g., ciprofloxacin, active above 1.0 µg/L), sulfonamides (e.g., sulfamethoxazole, active above 1000 µg/L), and tetracyclines (e.g., doxycycline, active above 100 µg/L). The potency-equivalent method was employed to characterize antimicrobial activity in wastewater samples irradiated with UV light. Finally, wastewater samples were plated on selective agar plates to investigate the incidence of antibiotic resistant bacteria following UV treatment. The results of this study confirmed that antibiotics are not effectively removed during wastewater treatment, including UV disinfection processes. Antibiotics were found to inhibit microbial growth at levels as low as 1-10 µg/L. In addition, antibiotic resistant bacteria were widely detected in wastewater, and the relative fraction of resistant microbes increased after UV disinfection. UV irradiation did not demonstrate any appreciable removal of antimicrobial activity. In summary, this study indicates that advanced processes are needed to effectively remove antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in wastewater treatment.

Room 202 8/31/2016 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenter: Terry Gellner, TnT Engineering LLC


Title: Is Disinfection Needed?.......MBR Activated Sludge Treatment Process Effectiveness and the Level of Treatment across the Disinfection Process

Abstract: Wastewater treatment plants in the United States operating with MBR activated sludge systems are required to disinfect. This requirement results in an increased cost to both capital and O&M, and with chlorination there is a potential increase in the formation of disinfection byproducts. Is disinfection following MBR activated sludge needed, if the MBR process alone removes microorganisms as well as or better than conventional technologies with disinfection. The overall goal of this study was to sample at multiple municipal wastewater treatment plants to determine the effectiveness of disinfection following MBR activated sludge and is disinfection needed to provide the same level of public health protection from microorganisms as that found for conventional systems that use disinfection after secondary treatment. In 2007, the writer/presenter was approach by Ohio EPA and asked to consider formulating a study regarding the MBR activated sludge process performance and its impact on the effectiveness of the treatment across the disinfection process. The writer then collaborated with USGS, Ohio EPA, the City of Delphos and his employer to format, obtain funding for and perform a study which had not previously been performed, based on our research. That being an independent study in the industry, not by a manufacturer; of five WWTP’s in the same study setting and using the same protocols, sampling methods and analytical testing for ecoli, fecal and five viruses. The results of the three year study became available in 2011. Presented will be the analytical results for each parameter as concentrations, and as log removal across the treatment process unit for each WWTP. From these analytical results the treatment occurring across each process unit can be ascertained, whether it be conventional or MBR activated sludge. The findings show after three years of field sampling and development of new standard methods for analysis and evaluation of the comparative results that the permeate after MBR activated sludge and before disinfection is similar or of higher quality than the effluent from a convention activated sludge process after disinfection. The results show that disinfection after MBR activated sludge provides no addition treatment to the wastewater. Wastewater treatment with MBR activated sludge and no disinfection allows for the capital and O&M cost associated with disinfection to be reassigned to unit processes providing treatment for a more sustainable and green environment. The study and the study results have been discussed with project decision makers for consideration when projects are developed and the impact has been surprising. This data base of information had not been previously available in the industry with regard to the MBR activated sludge treatment performance and the effectiveness of disinfection following the MBR process. Nor has a direct comparison of MBR activated sludge been available with respect to conventional activated sludge technologies and the associated disinfection systems following the conventional plant biological process. The study results seem to have raised considerable discussion and interest, and they have impacted plant designs, the capital cost of the associated projects and existing MBR activated sludge treatment plant operating practices.



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Room 202 8/31/2016 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Presenter: Kristi Perri, HDR


Title: Centrate Treatment System Selection and Design to Mitigate Impacts of New Anaerobic Digestion Process

Abstract: Howard County's Little Patuxent WRP (LPWRP) utilizes an anaerobic / anoxic / aerobic (A2O) process followed by denitrification filters to achieve the Chesapeake Bay ENR discharge limits. The existing biosolids handling facilities will be upgraded to provide new anaerobic digestion which will generate significant nitrogen and phosphorus recycle loads that must determined and managed to limit the impact to the biological treatment process and the effluent quality. Process models utilizing BioWin are being used to confirm the nutrient load associated with the anaerobic digestions process and to develop a plant-wide mass balance. The County selected the annamox process for centrate sidestream treatment to reduce the ammonia load recycled to the liquid treatment train and minimize the impact to operations, energy costs and overall plant performance associated with the digestion process. Existing rectangular basins will be utilized for the new process. Two sequencing batch reactor (SBR) and two flow-through reactors provided by World Water Works Demon® (SBR, flow through), Kruger Anita Mox (flow through), and Suez CleargreenTM (SBR) process are being evaluated. Preliminary evaluation indicates that a flow-through system will be better suited for the existing site. The presentation will include process selection results including preliminary design information for the options, preliminary layouts, advantages / disadvantages, and client preferences used to pick the final annamox treatment system as well as the design criteria, layout and anticipated performance for the selected supplier. Although the LPWRP is equipped with an alum feed system, the facility is able to meet the effluent limits with biological phosphorus process. Several options for limiting the phosphorus recycle impacts were evaluated including alum or ferric chloride addition and implementation of the CNP AirPrex or Ostara Pearl processes. The results of the phosphorus process selection will be presented as well as the impacts to the annamox process.

Room 202 8/31/2016 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Presenter: Adrienne Willoughby, CH2M


Title: Protocols for Researching the Effects of Sludge Granulation on Biological Nutrient Removal and Mainstream Anammox

Abstract: SUMMARY Sludge granulation is a leading edge topic at the intersection of two of the most important goals in wastewater biological nutrient removal: process intensification to achieve more capacity from existing infrastructure, and reduction in energy requirements as a means for plants to become net energy positive through the implementation of processes such as deammonification. This paper discusses research initiatives undertaken at two wastewater treatment plants with full-scale implementation of sludge granulation using hydrocyclones to separate and retain the heavier biomass fraction of waste activated sludge. The protocols described herein assess the impacts of sludge granulation on biological nutrient removal systems, determining biomass settleability and microbial populations, as well as characterizing the nature, activity, and abundance of granules in mixed liquor. INTRODUCTION The Alexandria Renew Enterprises (AlexRenew) advanced Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) is a 54 mgd facility located in Alexandria, VA, USA. VandCenter Syd (VCS) Denmark operates the Ejby Mølle Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in Odense, Denmark and has a treatment capacity of 15 mgd. Both the AlexRenew WRRF and the Ejby Mølle WWTP utilize biological nutrient removal (BNR) in the mainstream bioreactor system and have implemented the sidestream and mainstream deammonification systems to achieve stringent effluent nitrogen limits, reduced supplemental carbon use, and net-zero or net-positive energy consumption. The sidestream treatment processes at both facilities use DEMONTM technology for deammonification of solids dewatering centrate. Ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOBs) and anammox granules are periodically seeded from the sidestream reactors to the mainstream bioreactors. To enhance anammox population and to promote granule formation in the mixed liquor, the solids retention time of granules in the mainstream system is decoupled from the mixed liquor by passing the waste activated sludge (WAS) stream through hydrocyclones that separate the heavier granules and return them to the bioreactors. AlexRenew and VCS, with the assistance of CH2M and a team of academics, launched a research program to monitor and evaluate the benefits of implementing sludge granulation by hydrocyclone selectors. METHODS & RESULTS To assess the impact of sludge granulation on BNR at both facilities, numerous analyses are being undertaken with a focus on novel research activities that aim to characterize the material that is selectively retained by the hydrocyclones. The following activities are performed on mixed liquor, WAS, and hydrocyclone underflow and overflow: · Activity testing to determine the biological activity of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB), nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB), anammox, and heterotrophs · Genetic testing for quantification of AOBs, NOBs, and anammox organisms · Petri dish imaging for quantifying granules and determining size distribution · Mass balancing of granules through hydrocyclones and in the BNR process using sieves · Tracking the Sludge Volume Index (SVI) over time · Comparing zone settling properties of sludge with varying granule contents using clarifier flux analyses The full paper will provide details and results of the testing activities described above from both facilities. This paper will be of interest to facilities interested in understanding the implications and potential benefits of implementing granule selectors or mainstream deammonification.



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Room 202 8/31/2016 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Presenter: Tri Le, The Catholic University of America


Title: Developing Final Polishing Process to Obtain Discharge Requirements after Mainstream Deammonification

Abstract: Due to tremendous benefits of implementing deammonification in sidestream, a fast development of mainstream deammonification approaches has been ongoing and a significant impact and application potential on future wastewater treatment plants has been predicted. However, properly operating mainstream deammonification is challenging and one of the main challenges of mainstream deammonification is suppressing nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) to avoid nitrite oxidation to nitrate. An ammonium residual (>2 mg N/L) is required as an essential operating parameter in mainstream deammonification process to out-select the NOB. Unfortunately, this results in ammonium in the effluent which does not meet the discharge limits. Therefore, development of final polishing approaches (mostly anoxic environment orientated) that can be coupled to or integrated in mainstream deammonification systems is essential to allow for rapid full-scale implementation in existing facilities. As anoxic ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB) are the only organisms that canoxidize ammonium under anoxic conditions, anoxic final polishing steps need to be AnAOB based. However, in addition to ammonium, most probably nitrate will leave the mainstream deammonification system and not nitrite, the other substrate for AnAOB. Therefore, nitrate reduction to nitrite should be achieved to allow for ammonium removal in contrast to full denitrification. Denitrifiers, essential for obtaining nitrite availability in the first place, will thus also compete with AnAOB for the use of nitrite. In this study, we evaluated a final polishing concept within the same sludge system as the mainstream deammonification step with the main challenge of controlling nitrite competition between AnAOB and denitrifiers. The impact of different external carbon sources, carbon to nitrogen ratio, and AnAOB content was evaluated. The results of this study showed that potentially having an AnAOB activity at least twice as high as the nitrate removal rate in the final polishing stage could balance a significant nitrite channeling through AnAOB with achieving discharge limits (total N removal rate). In this proposition AnAOB content would depend on the mainstream deammonification operation while nitrate removal rates can be controlled by controlling the COD addition for nitrate reduction to nitrite. Realistically about 25-30% of the reduced nitrate was channeled to AnAOB (partial denitrification) in a single sludge system, indicating that the effluent NOx/NH4 ratio of mainstream deammonification preferably is above 3-4. In the coming months, a pilot study integrating an anoxic zone with COD dosing at the end of the mainstream deammonification reactor will be performed to confirm this concept for long term operation.

Room 202 8/31/2016 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Presenter: Terry Gellner, TnT Engineering LLC


Title: North America’s Largest MBR WWTPX.Breaking it Down to Make it Cost Effective and a Small Plant Mentality.

Abstract: At this writing the City of Canton Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) is the largest MBR activated sludge process in North America and its design was set into motion in 2010. It was ready for bid in late 2013, construction began in March 2014 and initiation of the first MBR train will occur third or fourth quarter of 2015. The project cost per gallon of treated wastewater is under $2.50 and significantly lower than most MBR plants. The average daily design flow is 39 mgd and the peak flow is 88 mgd. The average daily flow is four times greater than any WWTP operating at the time design began. MBR plants have been placed in operation with increased capacity since, however the Canton WRF, to our knowledge is still the largest plant operating or under construction as of 2015. The Canton WRF activated sludge process design includes biological nutrient removal for total nitrogen and phosphorus to levels of 8 mg/l and 0.7 mg/l respectively. The initial project team meeting was a somber experience when confronted with the physical magnitude of the MBR process and surrounding system components. Intense efforts to optimize the plant design during the 30% design phase resulted in a large plant having characteristics of a small plant leading the project to a very low cost per gallon. The paper and/or presentation will explain the design, optimization methodology and cost efficiencies. Flows, unit process and MBR process components and trains, associated support systems, levels of redundancy, chemicals systems and control aspects will be outlined. Construction sequencing to convert a convention plant to MBR with little and almost no temporary facilities was accomplished. Construction and O&M cost control considerations and/or methodology will be explained. Implementation methods considered and used, as well as maximum use of existing facility were instrumental with cost control. MBR activated sludge plants continue to grow in size. The industry has been adapting to the increased size of MBR plants as they have been constructed. The construction of the Canton WRF MBR plant is significant and demonstrates that membranes can be utilized in large plant applications and implemented economically. Larger plants will continue to be constructed and presently each is a stepping stone to the next.



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Room 202 8/31/2016 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Presenter: Anuj Jain, Hatch Mott MacDonald


Title: MBR Upgrade Brings Operational and Performance Improvements to Charlotte Hall Veterans Home WWTP with Groundwater Discharge

Abstract: The main purpose of this presentation is to educate attendees about the benefits of membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology for a small wastewater treatment plant with limited site area and groundwater discharge limitations. The Charlotte Hall Veterans Home WWTP was a loosely configured Modified Ludzack Ettinger (MLE) system followed by a large (5.2 MG) post treatment storage lagoon. Treated effluent disposal is by land application to a set of three Rapid Infiltration Basins (RIBS) or to a spray irrigation field. The treatment system consisted of a lined oxic-anoxic basin, a clarifier tank and produced effluent with 10 mg/l BOD and 15 mg/l TSS. The low process efficiency did not achieve the more stringent BOD, TSS and Nitrogen removal capabilities needed for efficient operation of RIBS. The single open, lined basin had no redundancy and experienced debris accumulation from airborne leaves from nearby trees. There were concerns of high temperature and lint (from laundry waste) in the raw incoming waste stream. The existing secondary effluent is typically sent to a 5 MG lined effluent storage pond for a controlled discharge to the RIBS or spray irrigation field based on actual groundwater levels. The RIBS plug up from fine particles and potential biological growth from the final effluent. Three (3) alternatives were evaluated for process upgrades and they were as follows: i. upgrade of existing process and equipment; ii. replacement with a packaged MBR system; iii. replacement with a packaged Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) system. Alternative 1 above was not evaluated in detail due to lack of performance reliability. Alternatives 2 and 3 were evaluated for process reliability and a 20-year present worth analysis. Both technologies can be easily packaged into a small footprint while achieving the required treatment levels. The MBR will operate in a manner similar to a typical MLE process with an anoxic zone, an aerobic zone and internal recycle. The MBR can be operated with a higher MLSS concentration, allowing it to treat higher BOD levels within the same tank volume. The MBR also does not require a tertiary filter to achieve the desired effluent TSS concentration (5 mg/l), thus eliminating a separate unit process that would otherwise require additional operation and maintenance costs. Though the present worth analysis performed for both MBR and SBR units resulted in present worth of MBR marginally higher than the SBR, the MBR technology was recommended for the Charlotte Hall WWTP upgrade. The use of a packaged MBR treatment unit with an upstream equalization tank is likely to address high temperature and lint carry over issues more effectively. Moreover, high quality effluent from the new MBR plant would greatly reduce plugging of RIBS. The new MBR plant includes a 2mm fine screen, an equalization tank, an anoxic tank and an aerated membrane tank with MLE configuration. The MBR WWTP is currently under construction and likely to be operational by July 2016.

Room 202 8/31/2016 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Presenter: Kristin Waller, OBG


Title: Fix it with Fixed Film: The Details of IFAS/MBBR Design and Construction

Abstract: In recent years, nutrient removal (NR) limits have become increasingly more stringent and prevalent, and the use of plastic media in biological nutrient removal (BNR) systems (i.e. Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors (MBBR) and Integrated Fixed Film Activated Sludge (IFAS)) has surged in response. When added to biological treatment tanks, the media provides a protective surface for microorganisms to grow, increasing the stability of treatment (at lower temperatures and varying flow rates) and expanding the achievable biomass population, therefore increasing the achieved nutrient removal capacity within the same or minimized tankage. While there are many benefits to these robust fixed film systems, fail safes (such as process/operational controls, and/or extra freeboard, where available), are required to prevent media overflow. In addition, obstacles in retrofitting tankage must be surmounted. For example, well mixed square bioreactors are preferable to minimize the approach velocity of media to the effluent screens (higher approach velocities can result in media build up and blockage around the effluent screens, preventing forward flow and potentially causing an overflow). When existing tankage is rectangular and long, it must be carved into more ideal reactors, or, if existing tankage does not allow (such as the oxidation ditches at one particular municipality presented here), interim internal recycle wells may also be used to draw off a portion of the forward flow to reduce the impact on the effluent screens. Nuances like these should be discussed with the media vendor to ensure process success. Thus, to maintain project deadlines, pre-selection, or pre-purchase of the IFAS/MBBR equipment is ideal so ancillary components may be selected to coordinate. This presentation will overview and compare/contrast projects at three municipalities (ADFs: 3 MGD, 4 MGD, and 17 MGD; PDFs: 10 MGD, 12 MGD and 22 MGD), each with their own objectives and challenges, through the design and construction of IFAS, MBBR, and a unique combination of the two (operational flexibility for both IFAS with return activated sludge (RAS) at higher flows, and MBBR without RAS at lower flows). Through this review, typical design and construction details and recommendations will also be presented.



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Room 202 9/1/2016 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Presenter: Jurek Patoczka, Hatch Mott MacDonald


Title: Analysis of Alkalinity Mass Balance and Recovery Options for 20 mgd Plant

Abstract: A 20 mgd Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) plant is undergoing major expansion with the effluent ammonia limits of 5/10 mg/L summer/winter, respectively. The WRRF is facing an increasing alkalinity deficit attributable to the lower alkalinity in raw wastewater and changes to the sludge processing train. Viable options to address the alkalinity deficit were evaluated, including partial denitrification, incomplete nitrification, centrate deammonification and chemical addition. Plant data indicates that while available alkalinity in the raw wastewater decreased due to an apparent/presumed change in the chemistry of the potable water, ammonia load (and associated alkalinity demand) originating from the sludge processing recycle stream (centrate) has increased. Mass balance indicates that even with the elimination of alkalinity demand from the centrate by implementing deammonification, alkalinity may still be deficient under the critical design conditions without partial denitrification or other measures. The paper provides details of the alkalinity mass balance and available gain of alkalinity by applying various measures of alkalinity gain/addition/recovery. The following options for addressing alkalinity deficiency were considered: 1. Single, pre-anoxic zones w/o internal recycle. This option is a base-case, as the original design of the expansion already provided for a single, un-aerated anoxic zone at the head of the aeration tank without internal recycle. This configuration relies on RAS for partial denitrification and alkalinity recovery as well as serves as anoxic selector. 2. Modify the aeration tanks to incorporate additional swing zones. Provide additional anoxic zones and operate the plant in a step-feed mode with multiple anoxic zones. 3. Incomplete Nitrification. Operate the plant in an alkalinity-saving incomplete nitrification mode of operation taking advantage of the relatively lenient effluent ammonia limits. 4. Provide side stream treatment. Treat the ammonia-rich side-stream in a new, dedicated treatment facility to eliminate alkalinity-consuming ammonia stream from reaching the main treatment train. 5. Replace ferric chloride with another phosphorus-removing chemical. The plant relies on ferric chloride addition at a low dose for phosphorus control. Ferric chloride is an acidic chemical, which consumes some alkalinity. The paper discusses the above options in more details including cost analysis. Analyses of the options indicate that centrate treatment with a deammonification process, and the operation of a single pre-anoxic zone are almost equally effective in terms of alkalinity gain. Deammonification process will basically allow nitrogen removal from centrate stream to be self-supporting in terms of alkalinity, without contributing further to the primary effluent alkalinity deficit. However, even the combined alkalinity recovery from these two approaches (pre-anoxic zone and centrate deammonification) is less than the projected alkalinity deficiency at critical design conditions. The incomplete nitrification option could be effective; however, it would be difficult to implement and control. The multiple anoxic zone approach provides a high level of alkalinity recovery, substantially matching the projected deficit at the critical design conditions. This option was selected for implementation and the paper will present results from full scale comparative tests for alkalinity recovery.

Room 202 9/1/2016 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Presenter: Velmurugan Subramanian, AECOM


Title: Towards Energy Savings: New Process Technologies for Biological Nitrogen Removal

Abstract: Biological Nitrogen Removal is widely used for wastewater treatment due stringent effluent standards for nitrogen and phosphorus. Conventional biological nitrogen removal process is an energy intensive process as it couples both chemical oxygen demand and nitrogenous oxygen demand for organic carbon and nitrogen removal. High nitrogenous oxygen demand for nitrogen removal increases more oxygen demand and aeration resulting in high energy consumption. Recent research advances reveals that decoupling of organic carbon and nitrogen removal is a promising strategy for reducing energy demand and increasing the energy production by diverting the carbon. There are three emerging strategies for addressing nitrogen removal: 1) Nutrient recovery or direct reuse where nutrient rich effluent from secondary treatment process is used for purposes such as irrigation or source separation of nutrient rich urine for N and P recovery, 2) Low energy nitrogen removal that short-circuit conventional nitrification-denitrification process by partial nitrification via nitrite and 3) Energy recovery process in which energy embedded in reactive species of N such ammonia nitrogen and nitrous oxides are converted into renewable energy. The purpose of this presentation is to review some of the emerging process technologies for nitrogen removal that fall under strategies 2 and 3 such as various types of nitritation-anammox processes (SHARON, Anammox, Canon, NOx), CANDO (Coupled Aerobic-anoxic Nitrous Decomposition Operation) process and algae-based biological processes. The presentation will cover the basic microbiological aspects of each process, comparison of each process for its design and operational conditions, status on full-scale applications, challenges and future direction.



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Room 202 9/1/2016 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenter: Tim Van Winckel, Ghent University


Title: External selectors as a way to increase capacity of existing wastewater treatment facilities

Abstract: As metropolitan cities are growing at an accelerated rate, municipalities are continuously challenged to meet discharge limits despite having to cope with increasing flow. Expansion of facilities is in many occasions undesirable due to budget or place constraints thus capacity increase has to be achieved by intensification of the existing process. At Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Plant in Washington, DC, the maximum capacity of the secondary treatment is estimated to be around 325 MGD before elevated suspended solids levels in the secondary effluent influence the biological nutrient removal step as a results of settling limitations. The secondary treatment is now operated at 300 MGD, thus the need for intensification is imminent. Resent research has indicated that increased flows are no issue in terms of biological conversions and would give higher potential for energy recovery through carbon redirection as shown by high-rate activated sludge (HRAS) process pilot testing. However, intensification limitations are directly related with bioflocculation limitation and thus settling of secondary sludge. The implementation of external selectors on nutrient removal processes have shown to not only selectively retain anammox granules but also improve overall settleability of activated sludge. This resulted in stabilized SVIs in the Strass WWTP (Austria). In this study, the concept of use of external selectors is broadened to bioflocculation limited systems such as HRAS and secondary systems. An external selector is an additional process step placed on the waste activated sludge (WAS) stream that selectively retains part of the WAS based on a predetermined criterion. This criterion can be size (screen) or density (hydrocyclone), thus allowing larger or denser particles to be retained in the system. This allows for selection of intrinsically faster settling sludge and thus intensification of the process as the same effluent suspended solids can be maintained at higher upflow velocities. Given the current sludge settling velocity distribution in the Secondary reactor and an external selector operating with a cutoff critical settling velocity of 1.5 m/h at 100% efficiency, a potential 18% increase in capacity (362 MGD) could be achieved. However, as new biomass is constantly formed, 100% selection efficiency will never be achieved. External selection is only designed to selective retain large or heavy particles which are formed by using specific operational conditions (internal selection) like a strong substrate gradient. An optimal balance between formation (internal selection) and retainment (external selection) is therefore of paramount importance in order to achieve adequate capacity increase. This presentation will highlight the effects of an external selector on a high-rate activated sludge pilot reactor and what the implications are in relation to increasing capacity of existing facilities.

Room 202 9/1/2016 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Presenter: ARIFUR RAHMAN, George Washington University


Title: High-Rate Contact-Stabilization: A Promising Technology for Efficient Carbon Management and Energy Recovery

Abstract: High-rate activated sludge (HRAS) processes are gaining attention as primary treatment processes that maximize carbon redirection and harvesting and may be one of the few technologies that can be successfully implemented with minimal capital investments in the existing wastewater treatment infrastructure in temperate and colder climates. Few installations intended to minimize carbon oxidation and perform carbon biosorption at very low sludge retention time (SRT) are currently in existence (e.g. Strass Wastewater Treatment Plant, Austria) and as a consequence these plants display a high degree of energy self-sufficiency. While design criteria for low SRT processes exist, these criteria are not optimized towards diversion of carbon to waste activated sludge, minimization of oxidation to CO2, or application of the process for treatment of low strength wastewaters such as chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) effluent. To recover carbon from CEPT effluent or low strength wastewater, it is essential to maximize the extent of biosorption as opposed to aerobic oxidation (and thus electrical energy use). Within the wide spectrum of activated sludge processes, high-rate contact stabilization (CS) is a variation of the conventional high-rate activated sludge process that aims to select for a strong biosorption response of the sludge by allowing for an aerobic stabilization time and anaerobic contactor time. This technology was previously developed to reduce the footprints while concentrating the biomass in a small reactor. In the past, during wet weather (or shock loading) conditions, the effluent quality in CS process deteriorated due to the poor treatment efficiency in the small contactor tank which decreased effluent quality significantly. Its application was therefore abandoned in several plants due to poor removal efficiency. In the light of maximizing energy recovery and carbon capture, this technology has however lots of benefits and potential as it maximizes biosorption capacity using return activated sludge (RAS) aeration scheme. In combination with short-cut nitrogen removal approaches as a subsequent step a novel function of the CS technology was shown in this work. A pilot study was performed at DC Water to compare HRAS processes (completely mixed reactor system and plug flow configurations) with CS approaches for carbon redirection and energy recovery potential from CEPT effluent. The study showed that carbon redirection could be controlled by operation at aggressive SRT, however bioflocculation became limited in HRAS systems not allowing for harvesting of carbon and thus sufficient energy recovery. The high-rate contact stabilization processes showed a better carbon removal (53%), redirection (0.55 g COD/g COD) and harvesting potential (0.32 g COD/g COD) than the conventional HRAS systems at aerobic SRT around 0.5 days. The presence of RAS aeration with sufficient stabilization time was responsible for improving sorption capacity and bioflocculation resulting in improved settleability. This study therefore showed a promising new function of the CS process for improving carbon management after CEPT.



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Room 202 9/1/2016 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Presenter: Thor Young, GHD Inc.


Title: Ithaca Area WWTP’s Path to Net-Zero Energy Performance: Feasibility Study of Potential Energy Producing Plant Improvements

Abstract: The Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility (IAWWTF) is well-regarded for its pursuit of net-zero energy performance. It was recently referenced as one of the top 10 energy efficient facilities in the United States in a 2015 WERF study titled, “Net Zero Energy Solutions for Water Resource Recovery Facilities”. The authors of the WERF study referred to the IAWWTF owners as “energy champions” for their efforts (Kohl et al., 2015). The IAWWTF has received favorable local recognition for investing $8 million to increase energy self-sufficiency from 30 to 70% (Blakinger, 2013). Moving forward, the IAWWTF plans to take further steps in order to increase energy generation, and is currently exploring the following options: 1) Carbon diversion using enhanced primary treatment (EPT), 2) Improved solids thickening, 3) Anaerobic digester expansion, and 4) Acceptance of additional high-strength waste (HSW). GHD was retained in 2015 to perform a feasibility study of the practices described above to identify their anticipated impacts with regard to process, energy, and economics. This paper focuses on the history of IAWWTP energy recovery efforts and an evaluation of possible future energy saving or producing options. Results of the study reveal that the potential benefit of addition of an EPT system or an approximate doubling of the amount of HSW accepted at the plant is estimated at approximately $200,000 per year above the current cogeneration benefit of $350,000. Realization of the potential additional annual benefit of $200,000 would bring the IAWWTP to being approximately net energy neutral. The capital costs associated with installation of an EPT system make that option less appealing than simply accepting more HSW, if it can be located. The full presentation will discuss each option considered in more detail, as well as their relation to the solids treatment improvements that were evaluated during this feasibility study.

Room 202 9/1/2016 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM



Title: Become Utility of the future by leveraging high strength food wastes to reduce BNR costs

Abstract: Wastewater treatment plants have been recognized to have the potential to serve as the Water Resources Recovery Facility as well as a function like a business entity than just a service provider. These paradigm shifts require innovative approaches and business undertaking by taking full advantage of the existing resources and treatment capacities at their facilities. This abstract presents a unique case of one of the largest utilities in this region and how they are becoming the “Utility of the Future” by thinking out of the box which serves them to not only reduce their operational costs but also bring socio-economic benefit to the community. The abstract discusses the conditions and reasons behind City of Richmond’s path to procuring alternative carbon sources in meeting their BNR treatment demands. Stone Brewing Company was looking for a suitable city for their eastern operations to build a new brewery and restaurant to expand their market. The $74M capital investment by Stone Brewing Company has the potential to create 284 jobs and bringing $1.2M/year in tax revenue to the winning city. Forty cities competed and three finalists were selected to provide their final proposals. City of Richmond was selected as the winner in part because of the partnership opportunities with the public utilities. City of Richmond reviewed three major waste streams of large-scale beer productions for their applicability as products at their wastewater treatment plant: Brewery Process Wastewater, Laurter Tun Drainage, and Spent Yeast. Rapid screening of these products revealed the value proposition of each waste stream. City decided to receive brewery process wastewater by allowing the brewery to discharge into sewer system as an industrial discharge customer, not accept spent yeast due to the negative impact of high pCOD on biosolids, and procure lauter tun drainage based on net methanol offset value. This was possible due to City’s ability to take full advantage of the intrinsic flexibility of the WWTP process operations. The presentation will focus on brewery waste product receiving and feeding implementation, understanding holistic product value, and turning assigned value into a commodity product. The presentation will also discuss how the recovery of high value products enhances the resource recovery opportunities for WWTPs and become a true “Utility of the Future”.



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Room 202 9/1/2016 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Presenter: Christopher Murphy, JMT Inc.


Title: Why NEMA 7 and Rain Aren’t Friends: Understanding Hazardous Area Classifications, Environmental Exposure, and Selection of the Right Electrical and Controls Equipment.

Abstract: Problem Statement and Significance: Many standards and certifications are available when specifying environmental protection for electrical and control equipment at wastewater treatment plants. It can be difficult to differentiate standards required by code for safety, from those which protect equipment from environmental exposure. This leads to ambiguity during product selection. The safety risk to operators and the impact to operation reliability when under-specifying protection levels is unacceptable. Conversely, the financial burden of over-specifying equipment is a disservice to the system rate payers. General Objectives: This presentation will provide engineers, owners, and contractors with guidance to select safe and robust electrical and control systems. It will also answer common questions that are frequent during design and construction, such as: Can NEMA 4X enclosures protect electrical equipment in hazardous areas? Can NEMA 7 equipment be installed outdoors? When specifying submersible enclosures using the IP system what depth and period of submergence protection is available? Throughout the presentation, specific examples will be provided for common areas in wastewater facilities including, pump stations; fine screen, grit, and chemical facilities; and biological reactors. Background: The performance of process equipment’s electrical and controls components is critical to long term safe wastewater conveyance and treatment. To ensure that electrical components such as motors, control panels, and sensors function safely and effectively, it is important to understand, (1) how to classify installation areas, (2) available methods for long term operation of equipment in these areas, and (3) the certification from industry accepted testing organizations. Each of these will be explained within the presentation. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) plays a large role in classifying installation areas to ensure safe and effective equipment operation. Both NFPA Standard 70 – The National Electrical Code and NFPA 820 – Standard for Fire Protection in Wastewater Treatment and Collection Facilities are key for selecting equipment in hazardous locations. In addition to the NFPA guidelines, acceptable levels of exposure to dust, liquid, and personnel must also be determined. There are additional systems that allow for quantification of these requirements, such as Ingress Protection Marking (IP Code). Once the area classification and desired environmental protection has been identified, one or more protection methods must be specified. For hazardous areas, the NEC allows for select solutions including explosion proof, purged and pressurized, and intrinsically safe systems. In parallel with the NEC prescribed methods, solids and liquids isolation such as gaskets and closed loop cooling systems must be selected. Lastly, to ensure confidence that the provided equipment can safely and effectively work in the installation area, various listing and testing facilities such as UL, CSA, FM, ISA, and NEMA, have created standards and perform tests on actual equipment. Following successful testing these organizations provide third party confirmation that the equipment meets the manufacturer’s claims. The ability and limitations on converting from one rating method to another will be detailed.

Room 202 9/1/2016 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Presenter: Bernard Williams, DPW Anne Arundel County


Title: "The Great Disconnect" : What Utility Operations Wish Engineers Thought More About

Abstract: Anne Arundel County owns and operates over 250 sewerage pumping station. Major station upgrades are performed as a part of Capital Improvement Program spear headed by the Bureau of Engineering. As part of the review process for each Capital Improvement contract for sewerage pumping stations, the Bureau of Utilities is given the opportunity to comment on rehabilitation and new designs. the purpose of this inclusion is to allow for the operational considerations to be taken into account during the design process. As most engineers do not have regular experience with the day to day maintenance requirements of these stations, it is easy to forsake long term operational concerns for the sake of constructabilty permit expedition and or time considerations. It is only with the input of those that work on the stations regularly that these concerns ca be readily addressed. It is also important that the lessons learned from previous Capital Improvement contracts be captured and utilized on current and future contracts. In daily use, the ideas that seemingly worked on paper, do not always translate to the three dimensional world. In these cases, without the capturing of the previous lessons, it is easy to make the same mistakes on several contracts. Theses mistakes often lead to greater operational future expenses. This presentation will focus on the five-ten areas of concern that an experienced maintenance/operational personnel considers as the compromised and or overlooked. The areas involved include positioning of lifting eyes and brackets, standardization of types of nuts and bolts, simplifying connections of pumps, pump types and working room.



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Room 202 9/1/2016 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Presenter: David Parker, Black & Veatch


Title: Innovation in Large Capacity Wastewater Pumping Station Design

Abstract: In today’s climate, design of large capacity wastewater pumping stations involves complex balancing of several critical priorities including reliable long term service, operations and maintenance considerations, capital cost, and constructability amongst others. The underlying drive to reduce capital cost due to the current economic climate can at times be counter to achieving a reasonably conservative and optimum engineering solution to meet the remaining priorities. Looking “outside the box” to develop innovative solutions that reliably meet both short term and long term needs while minimizing operations and maintenance and capital cost is of paramount importance. This paper will present recent wastewater pumping station designs in Virginia and North Carolina that coupled innovative design methodologies with innovative pumping station design concepts to meet this challenging balance of priorities. This includes the use of physical hydraulic modeling coupled with engineering experience and 3D design to significantly reduce the size and thus overall cost of large capacity pumping stations. The use of “confined inlet – trench style” wetwells has benefits of optimized hydraulics, increased solids removal capabilities, and reduced cost, and has evolved and improved through pump stations ranging from 60 mgd to 150 mgd in North Carolina and Virginia. The demonstrated results of the recent design innovations developed on these projects provide significant value as prototypes for developing sound, reliable engineering solutions for future wastewater pumping stations.

Room 202 9/1/2016 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Presenter: Christopher Moline, HDR


Title: Managing Nutrient Recycle Loads from Anaerobic Digestion: Process Modeling to Innovative Solutions

Abstract: Anaerobic digestion (AD) is becoming increasingly common as WRRFs seek to generate energy, minimize biosolids output, and adapt to land application restrictions. Accordingly, Howard County's Little Patuxent Water Reclamation Plant (LPWRP) is implementing anaerobic digestion. The nitrogen and phosphorus recycle loads from AD must be effectively managed to maintain plant performance. The ortho-phosphorus recycle is of particular concern at plants such as LPWRP which operate enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBRP). A BioWin process model was developed to evaluate both conventional and innovative strategies to manage the nitrogen and phosphorus recycle loads. The treatment process at LPWRP includes primary clarifiers, anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (A2O) activated sludge process, and denitrification filters. The plant has the ability to add alum for phosphorus removal at the A2O process, but currently achieves compliance without alum. EBPR and denitrification are aided by a local dairy processer, which contributes soluble COD to the influent. Modeling results indicate that nitrogen and phosphorus recycle loads from AD would require changes to current operational strategies. The presentation will compare the modeled activated sludge process performance with and without the anaerobic digestion recycle stream. Plant data and model validation results will also be presented. Anammox centrate treatment was evaluated as an alternative to conventional mainstream nitrogen removal. Modeling results for the mainstream nitrogen removal process will be presented to demonstrate increased aeration and methanol requirements, depressed effluent alkalinity, and EBPR impacts due to elevated RAS nitrate. The County has selected anammox centrate treatment to attenuate the nitrogen recycle load. Options to mitigate recycled phosphorus include conventional mixed liquor alum addition, alum or ferric addition at solids processing, or innovative controlled struvite precipitation processes (Ostara Pearl or CNP AirPrex). Supplemental alkalinity is required with metal salts, at significant overall cost. The cost of handling additional chemical solids was also considered. The presentation will include modeling results to illustrate impacts of recycled phosphorus on the activated sludge process, and benefits from the struvite precipitation processes including lower chemical requirements, lower ortho-phosphate and struvite in the digesters, and increased activated sludge SRT. The selected approach for managing phosphorus recycle loads will be presented.



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Room 202 9/1/2016 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM



Title: How Much Can One Plant Take? A Case Study Of The Cascading Impacts And Recovery From Leachate Discharge To A BNR Facility.

Abstract: Since 2005, nitrogen loading to the City of Richmond, VA WWTP has increased, reaching 3-4x the background (1992-2005) average influent ammonia concentration during months in 2014-2015. Operational challenges arose in 2014, resulting in high effluent NOX-N and cBOD5 in the effluent. In August 2015, the changing load to the WWTP resulted in exceedingly low effluent UV254 transmittance, which interfered with the performance of the WWTP UV disinfection facility. The combination of the TN, cBOD5 and E. coli compliance challenges resulted in emergency investigation to identify the source(s) of the changed influent character. Samples collected from main interceptors were tested for UVT254 values to identify any specific dischargers contributing to the high nitrogen loading and low UVT. Through this effort a single industry was identified as being responsible for both the nitrogen loading increases and UVT decreases that had occurred since 2005. The industry in question is a centralized pretreatment facility that was receiving landfill leachate and discharging it to the collection system with little treatment apart from solids separation and flow equalization. Upon stopping the industrial discharge, the plant recovered within a week in nearly every metric analyzed.This presentation will benefit utility managers and engineers who play a role in assessing the suitability of treatment systems to support high strength waste discharges by identifying key lessons learned. Communication between industrial pretreatment, engineering and operational staff is critical regarding allowable industrial discharges, plant process design and upgrades, and plant operations. WWTP capacity thresholds for acceptable performance need to be understood so that requests for industrial loading may be appropriately evaluated. Understand that not all landfill leachate is the same. Rather than qualitative evaluations of treatability or compatibility with plant processes, bench scale treatability studies should be performed to understand the range and magnitude of potential impacts on the WWTP.

Room 202 9/1/2016 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Presenter: Samuel Jeyanayagam, CH2M


Title: Extractive Nutrient Recovery Represents A Transition from Linear to Circular Economy

Abstract: Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are life-essential macronutrients that are extensively used in agricultural applications. Production of synthetic fertilizers containing N and P is an energy intensive process that uses non-renewable resources. For example, ammonia (NH3) is produced via the Haber-Bosch process with a high energy demand (12 kWh/kg NH3 produced). With respect to P, experts believe that economically extractable reserves are declining rapidly and would likely be exhausted in 50 to 100 years. Our current nutrient management approach entails the application of energy and other non-renewable resources to replenish nutrient supply for agricultural uses and again to remove these nutrients from wastewater before discharge to the environment. This linear approach assumes unlimited and cheap supply of energy and resources and is not aligned with a circular economy. While nutrient recovery has been practiced for hundreds of years via land application, it is not sustainable for a variety of reasons and there is a need to adopt methods for recovering a relatively clean chemical nutrient product with low organic matter content. This approach, defined here as extractive nutrient recovery, intentionally extracts nutrients from the solids stream. Benefits include: recycle load management, chemical savings, reduced solids production, potential dewaterability enhancement, and minimized struvite scaling. Despite these benefits there remain technical, social, institutional, and economic barriers towards a wider adoption of nutrient recovery. This paper presents technical information generated as part of a global study funded by the Water Environment Research Federation (WERF) aimed at filling the knowledge gap, accelerating the advancement of extractive nutrient recovery, capturing lessons learned through case studies, and enabling the use of best practices that favor a regenerative and circular economy. In addition, the features of the Tool for Evaluating Resource Recovery (TERRY), a high-level evaluation tool developed as part of the WERF study will also be presented. The nutrient concentrations in water resource recovery facility influent is relatively low and a three-step framework is often needed to make nutrient recovery viable: 1) Accumulation of nutrients achieving >1000 mg N/L and > 100 mg P/L; 2) Release of nutrients to a small liquid flow;; and 3) Extraction of nutrients as a marketable product. Many facilities already have the accumulation (enhanced biological phosphorus removal) and release (anaerobic digester) steps in place and are nutrient recovery-ready. These plants require the addition of the extraction step to make nutrient recovery a reality. Table 1 compares salient features of five mature extraction technologies. Table 1: Comparison of Proven Phosphorus Recovery Processes Ostara Multiform Harvest NuReSys Phospaq Royal Haskoning (Procorp) AirPrex Type of reactor Fluidized Bed Reactor (FBR) Completely Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR) FBR CSTR Recovery Location Dewatering centrate/filtrate Digested sludge & centrate/filtrate Dewatering centrate/filtrate Digested sludge Name of product recovered Crystal Green® (struvite) Struvite BioStru® (struvite) Struvite Struvite, Calcium phosphate, Magnesium phosphate Recovery efficiency 80-90% P 10-50% N 80-90% P >85% P 5 – 20% N 80% P 85-95% P 10 – 40% N 80 – 90% P Full-scale installations 8 2 7 2 5 3



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Room 202 9/2/2016 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Presenter: William Meinert, O'Brien & Gere


Title: Good Odor Treatment Makes Good Neighbors - Evaluation, Piloting, and Design Basis for Wastewater Pumping Stations

Abstract: The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) has initiated design of various upgrades to its 1907 historic Main and more-modern red-brick O Street sanitary and storm Pumping Stations. Along with the new Clean Rivers program Main tunnel access shaft, all three facilities are adjacent to commercial enterprises. The existing Main & O Street Pumping Stations are served by water-regenerated activated carbon odor control systems, the question is what type of odor control will best serve DC Water going forward for the two stations. Available odor control technologies were reviewed and considered for suitability for serving Main, O Street, and Main’s Low Area PS as part of the proposed upgrades. Details of the pump stations’ design, odor sampling campaign, two-month odor piloting of two shortlisted technologies, design development, and equipment procurement will be detailed and presented. The higher standard and basis of odor control design will be described, for both pump station and treatment plant odor control systems. Lessons learned from sampling and piloting will be summarized. The O Street system is scheduled for installation in 2016, and the Main system in 2017. Preliminary cool weather and warm weather surveys were conducted, using portable and stationary hydrogen sulfide (H2S) analyzers around the sewage pumping station facilities. Laboratory analyses of grab samples for reduced sulfur compounds (RSCs), mercaptans, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and also odor intensities, were performed. Existing ventilation and odor treatment practices were reviewed to identify potential improvements, such as capturing untreated emergency exhaust air flows. Also current solids screening and handling practices were considered for modification to reduce odor generation within the pumping stations. The pilot test program was developed based upon the results of the preliminary surveys. Odor treatment performance was monitored and analyzed for three pilot treatment systems connected to an air intake header drawing from a sewer influent chamber with relatively high odor concentrations. Two of the systems were based on blended and layered configurations of engineered carbon-based media, including potassium permanganate impregnated alumina and also proprietary media designed to target dimethyl disulfide (DMDS). The third pilot test system utilized ultraviolet photoionization followed by a catalyst. Over a seven-week warm weather period, H2S was measured, RSCs were analyzed, and odor intensities were assessed, for the treated discharge air streams and also the raw influent air. Air dispersion modeling showed how dilutions-to-threshold would be improved for both stations and overall at several points of interest by different discharge orientations and locations. Based on the field studies and analyses, design recommendations have been developed for the new odor control systems. Design goals include removal efficiency of greater than 99% and dispersing for atmospheric, as well as removal to below detection for other odor-causing reduced sulfur compounds and VOCs. Also, project delivery methods differ between Main and O Street, since all process upgrades at O Street are being incorporated into a progressive design-build delivery project, and Main will be delivered in a traditional design-bid-construct approach.

Room 202 9/2/2016 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenter: Peter Schuler, Brown and Caldwell


Title: Maximizing Secondary Clarifier Capacity and Performance through Rigorous Condition Assessments and CFD / Hydraulic Modeling

Abstract: The objective of this project was to demonstrate the need for the secondary clarifier upgrades while maximizing their capacity during wet weather events. The existing 16 secondary clarifier mechanisms were over thirty five years old and utilized a variety of sludge collection mechanisms, lacked modern Stamford baffles, had incorrectly sized flocculation wells, lacked energy dissipating inlets and did not have dedicated return activated sludge (RAS) pumps. Brown and Caldwell used computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modeling using the 2Dc model to optimize the performance and capacity of the shallow / relatively shallow clarifiers (8 ft, 10.5 ft 13 ft and 14 ft side water depth) 95 to 125 foot diameter secondary clarifiers. The 2Dc model is the most sophisticated clarifier model currently available for optimizing the design of clarifiers and determined that the clarifier capacity could be improved from 125 to 190 mgd by removing the existing vertical baffles, installing new spiral scraper type sludge withdrawal mechanisms, making minor modifications to the existing RAS pumps, correctly sized inlet/flocculation wells, and Stamford baffles without adding any new clarifiers. It should be noted that the client originally thought that four 8 ft deep clarifiers would need to be demolished and replaced – whereas the modeling showed this was not necessary. BC also conducted detailed condition assessments on the existing clarifiers / RAS pumping stations, hydraulic modeling of the pipe conveyance into / out of the clarifiers including the flow splitting, and conducted hydraulic modeling of the RAS collection and force main systems. This presentation will discuss the 2Dc modeling of the secondary clarifiers (including the stress testing and sample collection necessary to accurately calibrate the model), the outcome of the detailed condition assessments, the hydraulic modeling results and the RAS collection and force main modeling results. Business case justifications, net present value analysis and cost estimates used to justify the capital investments will also be discussed.



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Room 202 9/2/2016 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Presenter: Daniel Hingley, HDR


Title: Influent Pre-Aeration for Management of Floating Primary Solids

Abstract: The management of floating solids and scum in the primary clarifiers (PCs) at the ATP requires significant effort by operations and maintenance staff. Floating solids accumulate at the water surface as wastewater temperatures increase, but also during flow diversions and interceptor force main cleanings. Operators use spray water and hand tools to convey solids towards a manual tipping trough for removal. This labor intensive process requires continuous manpower for eight to ten hours to keep the floating material from lifting the covers and overtopping the channel walls. Approximately $30,000 was spent for labor in the spring and summer of 2013 to manage the floating material. It is suspected that large force mains and low velocities increase the detention time in the collection system, causing solids to digest in warmer weather. The entrained gases are then released from solution at the plant, causing solids to accumulate at the surface. Because floating solids may be related to anaerobic activity and the resulting entrained gases, it was decided that pre-aeration of the PC influent flow may be an effective method for controlling the accumulation of floating solids. A pre-aeration pilot system was installed upstream of the PCs to test its efficacy. The system successfully prevented the build-up of floating solids in the PC influent channel through mid-July. At that time, floating solids began to accumulate once more; however, the extent of the floating solids accumulation and the associated manpower requirements were drastically reduced. As a result of this successful pilot demonstration, design for an expansion of the PC influent pre-aeration system is currently underway. This presentation describes the operational impacts of floating primary solids, the results of a pre-aeration pilot, and how the results of this pilot are being used for the permanent installation of a new pre-aeration system.

Room 202 9/2/2016 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Presenter: Anuj Jain, Hatch Mott Macdonald


Title: Wet Weather Overflow Preliminary Treatment and Storage at the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) Piscataway WWTP

Abstract: The main purpose of this presentation is to educate attendees about maximizing incidental operation and maintenance benefits at the Piscataway WWTP from a Sanitary Sewer Overflow project in the Broad Creek Sewershed. In 2009, WSSC initiated a project for the reduction in SSOs in the Broad Creek Sewershed. To fulfill this goal, WSSC initiated designs for upgrades to the Broad Creek Pumping Station, the associated Force Main, and Piscataway WWTP. The upgraded pumping station will convey higher wet weather flows to the WWTP for emergency storage of 20 MG. To address the wet weather flows at the WWTP, two of the existing unlined storage ponds at the plant were selected for conversion to lined emergency storage. A new Headworks including an influent flow box, mechanical bar screens, a vortex grit removal system, and a flow diversion chamber is designed to provide operational flexibility under normal to high flow conditions, and to divert a portion of the wet weather peak flows to the emergency storage area as desired. A 5 MG concrete storage tank consisting of three compartments is designed within the footprint of the two ponds. The excess flow from the new Headworks is designed to first go to the contained storage tank and fill an individual compartment before overflowing to the next compartment; after all three compartments are full, additional peak flows are screened again with pump action screens to minimize solids entering the open pond area. A tipping bucket flushing system is provided in each compartment for easy flushing of settled solids. The open pond is provided with dual lined storage to optimize operations: the first uncovered overflow basin is a depressed concrete lined area for easier maintenance. If more overflow storage is needed, overflows travel further out to an HDPE lined portion. High flow water cannons are located along the pond perimeter to assure powerful flushing of residual debris. The stored sewage flows to the Piscataway Pump Station during low flow periods through modulating gates in the storage area.

Room 202 9/2/2016 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Presenter: John Willis, Brown and Caldwell


Title: Wastewater Methanol Use: A Surprisingly Significant Scope-1 Emission Source

Abstract: Over 200 wastewater treatment facilities use methanol as a carbon source to enable biological denitrification of nitrate produced from ammonia through nitrification. GHG reporting protocols fairly uniformly account for methanol combustion as a Scope-1 emission and manufacturing energy and emissions as a Scope-3 GHG source; but completely overlook it's CO2 emissions resulting from wastewater biological processes. Only ICLEI’s more-recently-published U.S. Community Protocol’s identifies a methodology to account for the liberation of anthropogenic CO2 emissions attributable to the addition of methanol. The prior oversight was likely attributable to a belief that CO2 produced through activated-sludge-process respiration is biogenic; raw sewage carbon being previously un-sequestered prior to entering a WRRF. However, the biogenic categorization does not apply to fossil-fuel-derived carbon sources, like methanol, added for WRRF operations. This paper provides a case study as to the significance of these emissions using the Blue Plains AWTP in Washington, DC where methanol CO2 represents between 70 and 82% of the AWTP’s Scope-1 GHG (making it extremely significant) and discusses how these emissions can be affected by in-plant choices and new options for avoiding methanol use.



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Room 203 8/31/2016 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

Presenter: Jim Johnson, Wallace Montgomery


Title: Ethics - the Heart of the Engineering Profession

Abstract: Over the last forty years, engineers have experienced dramatic changes in the technology utilized in our profession. The slide rule has been replaced by laptops and tablets, and plans prepared by hand are now produced by CADD. However, the ethical dilemmas the engineering profession faced forty years ago continue to challenge us today. In 1973, Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned from office amidst an engineering kickback scheme that began in the early 60’s when he was the Baltimore County Executive. And last year, the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation resigned because of ethical lapses. This presentation explores the importance of ethics in the engineering profession by discussing: what does ethics in engineering mean, the impact of ethics throughout your engineering career and the code of ethics overlay. Ethics is a set of moral principles or values, a discipline dealing with what is good and bad. The practice of engineering involving the application of scientific, economic, social and practical knowledge to invent, design, build and improve structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes is a profession. According to a 2009 Gallop poll, engineers were rated as one of the top five professions that exhibit high to very high honest and ethical standards. To uphold the public’s trust, ethics is at the heart of the engineering profession. Engineers must be aware of the code of ethics overlay. Members in professional societies such as the American Society of Civil Engineers subscribe to a code, licensed engineers subscribe to a code per jurisdiction, and public sector as well as private sector engineers subscribe to codes applicable to their employment status. Violation of these codes have live changing repercussions. Each of the areas within the overlay is briefly explored in the presentation. Several case studies will be discussed that detail the typical ethical lapses engineers in practice have faced and continue to face - from falsification of time sheets and expense reports to conflict of interest matters and performing services outside of your area of competence. In conclusion, the presentation will provide attendees with several simple, time tested tools that will be helpful in addressing ethical situations that may occur during your career.

Room 203 8/31/2016 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenter: Andy Baker, Hawksley Consulting


Title: Enhanced Affordability Analysis of Long-Term Control Plans – A Case Study in Baltimore

Abstract: The City of Baltimore has sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) Consent Decree-related capital obligations of over $1.4 billion, and capital needs of over $4 billion across its sewer, water, and stormwater funds. As a component of an Integrated Planning Effort and the City’s negotiation with EPA, Hawksley Consulting conducted an affordability analysis which supplements and enhances EPA’s Financial Capability Assessment approach. The Weighted Average Residential Indicator (WARi™) methodology developed by Hawksley Consulting improves up the EPA approach by utilizing multiple orders of magnitude more data points to characterize the financial capability of a Permittee. Rather than imputing a single average bill and median income to apply to every resident of the City, WARi™ incorporates household income data at the most granular level available from the Census Bureau, broken in to sixteen ranges for every census tract within a Permittee’s service area. This method better reflects the trend of widening income inequality, which is particularly pronounced in major cities like Baltimore. Additionally, the WARi™ methodology uses Baltimore’s actual billing data to compute the average bill in each census tract – capturing differences in the usage characteristics (and thus the bills) of residents living in dense multifamily apartments versus single family homes, as well as fairly reflecting the benefit from existing low-income subsidy programs. The City has used the results of this analysis to better characterize the affordability implications of complying with their Consent Decree and Integrated Plan, identifying that meeting their existing Consent Decree compliance schedule will result in bills which exceed EPA’s benchmark for affordability for forty percent of households in the City.

Room 203 8/31/2016 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Presenter: Sonia Oton, Mott MacDonald


Title: Condition assessment and rehabilitation of a 78-inch reinforced concrete pressure pipe in Washington, DC

Abstract: The 78-inch reinforced concrete pressure pipe (RCPP) water main, installed around 1926, is a critical asset in DC Water’s water system. It is 1,600 LF long and it runs between the United States Army Corp of Engineers’ McMillian Water Treatment Plant and the DC Water’s Bryant Street Pump Station. The existing grade along the alignment covers a grassy area and a parking lot. It is located between a Reservoir to the north and a steep embankment to the south. The 78-inch water main had been suspected to leak for several years. In April 2015 the main was taken out of service and a manned visual inspection was performed to assess its condition. Pipe defects were observed along the pipeline which included cracks, spalled concrete, corrosion, cracks, and separated joints. In order to repair the water main, several trenchless repair alternatives were evaluated, including grout sealant injection, flexible joint sealant, internal joint seals, carbon fiber reinforced polymer, cured-in-place pipe, and slip-lining. This presentation will discuss the rehabilitation management of one of the oldest DC Water’s large diameter transmission water mains that can only be taken out of service for a very limited period of time during the year, the evaluated repair alternatives, and the design and construction of the repair strategy.



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Room 203 8/31/2016 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Presenter: Donald Koch, Prime AE


Title: Emergency Response and Management for Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Infrastructure Assets in Streams

Abstract: Historically Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) constructed stream crossings with water or sanitary sewer pipes encased in concrete and placed rip rap on the banks and bottom of the stream. Over time many of these streams have incised and meandered causing the pipes to become exposed and the concrete encasement itself to erode. This eventually leads to damage or failure of the pipe threatening a major loss in service and potentially creating millions of dollars of repairs. The WSSC asset management program addresses exposed water mains and sewer pipes in stream beds with emergency response contracts for both professional and construction services. This paper will document four emergency response projects where environmentally conscious stream restoration methodologies were implemented to protect both sewers and water mains in stream beds. In order to facilitate permit authorizations quickly, cooperation and emergency authorizations from the Maryland Department of the Environment and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have been a key component of completing the work for each of the projects in a timely fashion. Case 1 – Protection of Exposed 48 inch PCCP Water Main in Cabin John Creek: Bank erosion exposed approximately 50 to 60 feet of a 48 inch water main. The restoration design addressed significant erosive flows and sediment movement throughout the reach. A riffle grade control structure was designed to cover the pipe. Case 2 – Replacement of Failed 8 Inch Sewer Lateral beneath Broad Creek: A hole developed in an 8 inch lateral beneath Broad Creek in Prince George’s County allowing stream water to flow into the sewer. The project replaced approximately 50 linear feet in kind matching existing inverts and slope. A riffle grade control structure was designed and constructed on top of the new pipe. The design, permitting authority approval and construction were completed in less than three weeks. Case 3 – Protection of Exposed 8 Inch Sewer in Unnamed Tributary: A rapidly eroding channel exposed an 8-inch sewer and suspended it three feet above the stream bed causing it to fail. The emergency response and subsequent design consisted of implementing a series of step pools over a 250 foot reach to cover and protect the asset. Case 4 – Rehabilitation of Exposed 30 Inch Steel in Rock Creek: A meander of Rock Creek had eroded the bank and exposed a 30 inch water main. A new stream alignment was prepared to move the channel away from the pipe. The design included multiple cross vanes to dissipate the energy in the stream to prevent additional meandering

Room 203 8/31/2016 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Presenter: Christopher Garrett, Brown and Caldwell


Title: Making 100 Years Old Look Good – Understanding Water Main Rehab Program Basics

Abstract: Because of regulatory actions enforced by EPA Regions III and IV, utilities have understandably focused their energies and financial resources on investigating, prioritizing and rejuvenating their combined sewer and separate sanitary sewer assets. Yet in the value mindset of customers, reliable, safe drinking water and fire flow protection are considered a higher priority. Coupled with estimates of needing up to a trillion dollars in investment in our aging drinking water infrastructure, the time has come to grapple with our next great buried infrastructure challenge. How do we cost-effectively maintain our drinking water infrastructure at customer billing rates that are markedly below self-sustaining levels? With no credible federal funding for aging water infrastructure on the horizon, utility enterprise funds will need to provide a level of suitable system rejuvenation with expectations that our average system age will need to extend to 100 years and beyond. The challenge is providing an acceptable level of service, planning for future aging infrastructure repair projects, while keeping water rates affordable for customers. The solution is effective planning, leveraging advancements in non-destructive investigation technologies and setting a new normal expectation of accepted pipe service life. This presentation presents basics on understanding the nuances of risk assessment of drinking water infrastructure through risk-based assessment and prioritization for condition assessment and follow-on reinspection, repair, rehabilitation or replacement (the Four Rs). The key is making decisions based on a balanced approach of budgets, emphasizing the right approach to management via a toolkit of sustainable funding options, and rejuvenation programs focused on condition and service rather than age. Examples of how this has been effectively executed within the Mid-Atlantic will be presented to emphasize the flexibility of the program framework. The presentation will include an overview of condition assessment technologies and strategies based on pipe materials, sizes and access/service restrictions. This presentation can be expanded to a one hour workshop that focuses on condition assessment technologies and/or rehab technologies for water main renewal.



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Room 203 8/31/2016 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Presenter: Gary Geck, Mott MacDonald


Title: DC Water’s Distribution System Needs Storage Tanks . . . . Are You Sure?

Abstract: This case study considers alternatives to address the emergency water supply needs and presents a cost/benefit analysis of the identified solutions. The paper aims to present the key considerations in sizing a tank and how non-hydraulic factors can affect the sizing of a distribution system storage tank. DC Water’s distribution system comprises eight service areas. The 4th High West Service Area is the highest elevation service area in the city and is currently served by the Fort Reno Pumping Station and Fort Reno Elevated Tank No. 2. Water is drawn from 3rd High Service area by the Ft. Reno pumping station and is discharged directly into a common header and delivered to the distribution system and to the Fort Reno Elevated Tank No. 2. Although small at 160,000 gallons, this tank provides surge protection and elevation head for the 4th High West distribution system. Under a pressure zone improvement program aimed at solving long term low pressure and fire flows issues, the Ft. Reno pumping station is being upgraded to serve the 4th high west at a HGL of EL 510’ compared to the current HGL of EL 485’. This upgrade will render the current tank Ft. Reno Elevated Tank No. 2 unusable as the overflow elevation will be ‘under-water’. DC Water is proceeding with a Concept Finalization Report for building a new elevated storage tank in the 4th High West Service Area, a tank which was originally conceived in the mid 1940’s. A hydraulic study was conducted for determining the volume and hydraulic gradient requirements for the proposed 4th High West elevated tank. The study includes a desktop evaluation of background studies on system hydraulics, hydraulic modeling using existing system demand conditions, and a review of modeled scenarios to develop recommendations for the 4th High West Elevated Tank. The study notes that there are three purposes of a storage tank including a) demand equalization, b) fire flows management, and c) essential needs for the use of emergency storage. Because the pumping station has variable speed pumps, both demands and fire flow coverage are provided. However, the emergency needs are governed by the operator’s assessment of emergency; robustness of pumping; resiliency and redundancy of the distribution system and operator’s confidence in reliability of its system. These needs are conflicted by the needs of water quality which desire less storage and lower water age. The conclusions reached will be beneficial to other utilities that are attempting to justify the cost of additional water storage.

Room 203 8/31/2016 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Presenter: David Kerr, GHD Inc


Title: Bringing it All Together: A Case Study for Combining Water Systems

Abstract: Finding and maintaining high quality water sources along with more stringent water quality regulatory requirements are making it increasingly difficult for water suppliers to meet the growing demand of their customers. Adding additional sources or improving treatment processes can have a high capital cost and often make in almost infeasible to financially support. As a response, communities are often turning to their neighbors for help. This paper will present three (3) different real life challenges. The first is a County in Maryland trying to address an increasing level of arsenic in a small community system. The second is the development of "smart-grid" for a region in Central NY where some communities have excess water and some communities have a deficit. The third is a small community in Maryland that has an increased demand for development but had to enact a moretorium on growth because they do not have enough source capacity. The regional geology does not make it feasible to drill additional wells and meet the project demand. As a result they are turning to a larger regional supplier in a neighboring state. While each of these cases are unique they each were solved by combining/interconnecting neighboring systems to mutual benefit of everyone.

Room 203 8/31/2016 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Presenter: Nick Lewis, Gannett Fleming


Title: Fullerton Finished Water Reservoirs - Design of 60MG of Storage for the Baltimore Water System

Abstract: Baltimore County and Baltimore City are constructing three new finished water reservoirs at the Fullerton Site, just northeast of the City. Constructing these reservoirs is the next step in a plan set forth over 60 years ago to use this site to help improve the finished water supply to the Baltimore Water System. The current design calls for three, 20 million gallon water storage tanks. Each 300-foot diameter, precast concrete panel tank will serve the First Zone of the Baltimore water system, as well as provide water to the Second and Third Zone via the Fullerton pump station. In addition to the storage tanks, the project includes the design of roughly 2,000 feet of large diameter (66-inch to 84-inch) piping and valves, a 150-foot bore and jack crossing under a 108-inch raw water main, and nearly 400,000 yards of earthwork. Once completed, the Fullerton Site will house the largest finished water storage capacity in Baltimore County. The presentation will highlight basis of design, focusing on the hydraulics of the reservoirs, how it fits into the Baltimore supply system and their function as part of the future water filtration plant to be built on site. The presentation will also touch on a few of the other numerous challenges a project of this magnitude encounters, such as, the effort of balancing the massive amount of site excavation, adapting design to evolving permitting regulations, and communicating and compromising with the surrounding community.



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Room 203 9/1/2016 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Presenter: Russell Deason, Mott MacDonald


Title: Development and performance of tracer study to improve water distribution operations

Abstract: Reducing water age can have a positive impact on water quality including improving taste and odor, minimizing discolored water, and minimizing disinfectant decay. This study outlines the steps taken by DC Water to execute a modified tracer study within the distribution system to improve operations in one of their eight pressure zones with the ultimate intent of improved water quality. This study included several key steps to complete the work, including: (1) Operations: A review of operational activities was made to identify operational changes that will reduce water age. This included deep cycling of the elevated tanks that do not have mixers although mixers are planned for the future. (2) Preliminary Hydraulic Model: Using the modified operational changes in the system, an extended period simulation (EPS) was developed and a inert constituent added at the pumping station. This preliminary model was used to plan for the tracer study. (3) Boundary valve confirmation: For this pressure zone, there were over 50 boundary valves connected to an adjacent pressure zone. For water age purposes it was necessary to confirm their status as they are sometime inadvertently or intentionally left in a partially open position for water quality or pressure related purposes. (4) Testing Protocol: The development of the testing protocol included several key factors requiring coordination from operations and regulators including: (a) Review of alternative, non-reactive constituents including fluoride or calcium chloride. (b) Development of injection pumping and equipment that would provide continuous monitoring. (c) Selection of locations for continuous monitoring and grab samples for testing based upon the preliminary hydraulic model. (c) Reviewing the plan with EPA Region III. (5) Data Collection: Testing occurred over a period of three days. This required two crews to perform grab samples and monitor remote testing stations. (6) Hydraulic Model Calibration: The hydraulic model was re-calibrated using the continuous monitoring results and grab samples from the field study. The modified hydraulic model was then used to reduce operational changes and identify the areas of concern within the distribution system. In summary, the tracer study is intended to result in a better understanding of how water is distributed within one of DC Water’s eight pressure zones and improve operations. This study should also provide more confidence in the hydraulic model as a tool for operational changes to improve water quality.

Room 203 9/1/2016 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Presenter: John Marciszewski, Echologics LLC


Title: Acoustic Monitoring Minimizes Water Loss and Risks of Pipeline Failures

Abstract: Main breaks are the most visible signs of aging water infrastructure, the impact of leaks and their repair interrupt customer service and add costs to water utilities operation. Leaks represent failures that offer indication that a pipe may be approaching the end of its useful life. These deteriorating pipes will leak more (background leakage), leak quieter (more difficult to find), and have higher risks of catastrophic failure. For many systems, leaks can run for extended periods of time without surfacing, adding to subsurface damage and loss of water intended to serve the customer. To minimize water loss and maintain customer levels of service, water system managers turn their attention to leak detection, pressure management and efficient response time. In 2009, American Water agreed to participate with Echologics LLC in a consortium focused on the development of fixed leak detection technology for water distribution systems, using acoustic monitors (correlating loggers). After successful field trials, the first commercial hydrant-based acoustical monitoring system was installed in 2014. In the first six months of operation, the acoustic monitoring system detected 60 leaks, most not surfacing before repairs were made. Water loss was reduced by over 10% of daily production. The largest system was deployed by New Jersey American Water, starting in late 2015. A similar system has been developed for transmission mains. Permanent monitoring technologies drastically improve the way water main leaks are identified, prioritized, and repaired: - Maximize non-revenue water loss from nonsurfacing leaks - Monitor leak progression, and prioritize field crew schedules - Significantly reduce pipe repair costs including reduction for emergency (overtime) repairs - Minimize the risks of catastrophic failures - Improve the safety of field personnel by eliminating the need for traffic controls during current leak

investigations. The presentation includes: - An overview of acoustic leak detection technologies and permanent monitoring systems - How permanent monitoring of water mains extends asset life, minimize the risks of failures, and create resiliency in the water system - Case studies from American Water and Las Vegas Valley Water District



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Room 203 9/1/2016 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenter: James Shelton, ARCADIS


Title: Conducting Safe Extended Off-Tether Manned Entry Pipeline and Tunnel Inspections – The El Monte Raw Water Pipeline Inspection

Abstract: This paper presents the planning and implementation needed to safely and effectively conduct manned entry off-tether and out of line of sight pipeline and tunnel inspections for the El Monte Raw Water Supply, a 16 mile long pipe system that had not been inspected since constructed in the 1940s. It varies in diameter from 18” to 72” diameter, in depth from 15’ to 300’, and is constructed of 5 different materials with many different styles of manways, vents, and sags/blowoffs that affected the inspection design. Due to geography and in ability to locate manways and blowoffs, inspections varied in length from 3000’ long single point entries (deadhead) to 1.5 mile long tunnel inspections. These works were conducted in California in 2014 and 2015 using specially modified pipe carts and BMX bikes. We will review record plan review, pipeline dewatering, steep slope management, submerged section safety, ventilation and air exchange calculations, emergency air supply, communications, pump lock-out tag-out management, confined space entry, deep hole entry, entry and exit planning, bike and cart modifications, lighting, inspection documentation tools, and inspection methods. We will also review the results of the inspection and the development of key recommendations for rehabilitation and future inspection frequency.

Room 203 9/1/2016 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Presenter: Ahmad Habibian, CDM Smith


Title: Design & Installation Considerations for HDD Pipeline River Crossings

Abstract: Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technique is ideal for river crossings. It not only minimizes adverse environmental impacts, but also minimizes the installation time. Permitting agencies often view the HDD in favorable terms. The risk of HDD operations increases with length and size. To mitigate such risks, consideration should be given to installations beyond 1,000 ft in length and larger than 16-inches in diameter. The HDD operation is a three-step process. Initially, a small pilot hole is drilled along the intended profile of the pipe to be installed. In the second step, the pilot hole is enlarged by several reaming operations. The third step involves the pulling of the product pipe into the reamed hole. Drilling mud is used to mix the soil cuttings and bring them to the surface. Key design considerations include an investigation of surface feature and subsurface geotechnical conditions, establishing a design drilled path, pipe material selection, and an analysis of the installation and operational loads and stresses on the pipe. Major construction considerations include workspace requirements, drilling fluid characteristics, containment and recycling, and as-built documentation of the drilled pipe. A potential adverse effect of HDD operations is the inadvertent return of drilling mud. This paper will provide an overview of major design and construction considerations for HDD pipeline river crossings, and will include case studies to highlight key issues.



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Room 203 9/1/2016 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Presenter: Andrew Cooper, Whitman, Requardt & Associates, LLP


Title: Howard County, MD – Solving the Pressure Zone Puzzle

Abstract: Whitman, Requardt & Associates (WRA) has been assisting Howard County with Capital Project W-8306, which started as the extension of a 550 Pressure Zone water main along Sanner Road on the west side of the County’s water service area. The purpose of the water line was to increase water movement and to provide additional water system looping and fortification to the water infrastructure in the southern portion of the County. Separately, an area of particular concern for the County was the 630 West (630W) Zone, located in the central part of the County, which has only one point of water supply. As a potential back-up connection for the 630W Zone, it was proposed that the future 550 Zone project along Sanner Road be converted to a 630 Zone project connecting the 630 South (630S) Zone to the 630W Zone. Concurrently, future construction planned near the intersection of Sanner and Johns Hopkins Roads would require a high zone water connection to achieve minimum pressure requirements. WRA completed the Phase I Water Storage Study and Phase II 630 Zone Interconnection and Redundant Supply Study to analyze the ability of a 630 Zone Sanner Road water main to act as a full back-up connection to the 630W Zone and/or supply 630 pressure water to the planned construction areas. WRA finalized the Phase II 630 Zone Interconnection and Redundant Supply report for the County in June of 2014. This report confirmed that a 630 Zone connection along Sanner Road would not function as a full back-up to the 630W Zone. In addition, the hydraulic modeling conducted as part of this study confirmed that the installation of the Sanner Road water main as a 550 Zone pipeline would not significantly defer the necessity of larger more costly infrastructure improvements in other portions of the distribution system. Therefore, per the findings in the report, the County determined that Capital Project W-8306 would be re-designated as a 630S Zone extension to serve planned growth at one of the County’s largest water users. The final phase of the project included an evaluation of alignment alternatives, recommendation of an alternative design based on several selection criteria, and design of the selected alternative. As part of the alignment study, WRA completed evaluations of various alignment alternatives which include the installation of new water mains, directional drilling new water mains, and/or shifting pressure zone boundaries. Results of the study showed the most efficient alignment to be a combination of shifting pressure zone boundaries and the installation of approximately 800 linear feet of new 12-inch water main. Ultimately, this alignment was selected for achieving the project objective while minimizing requirements for new infrastructure. The configuration of the County Pressure Zones in the Study Area, evolution of the hydraulic modeling associated with the studies, alternatives considered and selected alignment will be presented.

Room 203 9/1/2016 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Presenter: Paul Deardorff, JMT


Title: Motorized Control Valves and SCADA: Ambitious Plan to Automate Processes at DC Water's Bryant Street Pumping Station

Abstract: The Bryant Street Pumping Station (BSPS) is the heart of the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) potable water distribution system, with total capacity of 309 MGD. The facility was constructed in 1904 and pumps water to four pressure zones. Controlled transfer of water between pressure zones is possible through a spillage header system which uses seven separate pressure control valve (PCV) and interconnecting valve (IV) arrangements to transfer flow. The spillage header system provides operational flexibility and service reliability by providing pressure relief and pressure maintaining functions. Presently, operations staff must manually operate a series of valves to transfer flow into the spillage header. There is no remote control capability or status feedback to the DC Water SCADA system. The goal of this project is to design modifications at DC Water’s BSPS that will provide remote, automatic monitoring and controls capability to increase operational flexibility and improve service reliability. Currently, globe valves are used as PCVs to control the flow entering the SpH. The PCVs have pilot valves for pressure reducing and pressure relief functions. When flow is transferred, PCVs on the higher pressure zone are manually opened to allow flow into the SpH. The existing SpH manual valve operation is complicated and labor intensive, as operations staff must be located at the PCVs and IVs to manually adjust valve set points and positions. Under this contract, 30 PCVs and IVs will be replaced and equipped with motor operators and integrated into the SCADA system to allow remote control and monitoring. The existing orifice plate meters have been found to have significant meter data variations that lead to differences in billing and consumption data. There is currently no means to measure flow transferred between pressure zones via the spillage header. To improve metering capabilities, in-line magnetic flow meters will be installed on the nine discharge lines that leave the BSPS and supply water to the various pressure zones. A new, remote I/O cabinet will be provided for interface with the improved station valve controls. The SCADA system will be configured to provide remote manual, and automatic control of the valves. Various spillage modes will be configured and the operator may select a mode depending upon the needs of specific pressure zones. The BSPS improvements contract will be bid in early 2016 with construction scheduled to start in mid-2016. This paper will discuss project drivers and criteria defined by DC Water engineering, operations and maintenance staff. Specific design criteria for the PCVs, IVs, flow meters and the SCADA system improvements will be discussed. BSPS is a critical pumping station for the DC Water distribution system. Construction sequencing requirements will be provided with a focus on challenges associated with tight working clearances and the requirement to maintain pumping operations during construction. A discussion of the 3D modeling program used to develop the design documents will be provided.



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Room 203 9/1/2016 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Presenter: Anjuman A. Islam, WSSC


Title: Mitigation and Prevention of Discolored Water Induced by Manganese

Abstract: Starting from March 2015, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), which serves 1.8 million customers in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, received a heavier than normal volume of customer complaints regarding discolored water. Mapping of the complaint locations indicated that the issue prevailed in the Potomac Water Filtration Plant (WFP) service area, which covers approximately 70% of WSSC’s customers. The Potomac WFP uses conventional treatment processes to treat water withdrawn from the Potomac River. Metal analysis showed higher than normal levels of manganese in the finished water, occasionally approaching the SMCL of 50 ppb. In response to the elevated manganese and associated increase of complaints, Potomac WFP started adding permanganate to treat manganese. Permanganate oxidized the dissolved fraction of raw manganese and reduced finished water manganese to a very low level within days. However, even after treatment of manganese at the plant, the discolored water complaints persisted for several months at a level higher than previous years, indicating accumulation of manganese in the distribution system, i.e., legacy manganese, as a potential source of continued complaints. WSSC scientists attribute the prolonged discolored water situation to the dissolution or desorption of manganese previously deposited in the water distribution pipes. Probable factors affecting manganese desorption include: increased corrosion of iron pipes due to biological activity, change in chloride and sulfate concentrations, shifts in redox potential from seasonal changes in chlorine residual, and changes in hydraulics due to water main breaks or fluctuation in water demand. It is also possible that the elevated salt concentration from winter runoff exacerbated the corrosion of iron pipes and resulted in subsequent release of accumulated manganese. In response to complaints, WSSC conducted several actions including flushing from a fire hydrant near the customer houses, and increased monitoring at Potomac WFP as well as customer taps. In addition, WSSC conducted metal analyses on samples collected from distribution system routine monitoring sites. Analyses of complaints data showed that areas served by aged iron pipes (e.g. unlined cast iron pipes) were more susceptible to discolored water issues. After identifying the most severely affected areas, primarily using the number of complaints and the type and age of the water conveyance infrastructure, WSSC conducted two pilot cases of uni-directional flushing (UDF). UDF significantly reduced the number of complaints in both areas. Several operational approaches were implemented at the Potomac WFP to prevent manganese breakthrough, including (1) increased monitoring of total and dissolved manganese in the source, finished and intermediate process locations, (2) continued permanganate application throughout the winter months, and (3) promoting the development of more manganese oxide coating on filter media for an improved “greensand effect”.

Room 203 9/1/2016 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Presenter: Muhammad Tak, WSSC


Title: Managing WSSC’s PCCP Program

Abstract: The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) was established in 1918 and is currently among the largest water and wastewater utilities in USA. The water transmission and distribution network at WSSC is over 5,600 miles long and serves around 1.8 Million people in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, Maryland. Out of the 5,600 miles of water network, there are about 337 miles of Pre-stressed Concrete Cylinder Pipe (PCCP) which is the vital backbone of water transmission system at WSSC. Managing PCCP is a huge challenge and involves the use of various inspection, monitoring and management technologies. One of the technologies that WSSC uses is Acoustic Fiber Optic (AFO) monitoring which detects and reports prestressing wire breaks in near real-time. Currently there are more than 90 miles of PCCP mains that are monitored using AFO technology - largest PCCP AFO monitoring network in USA. This paper provides an overview of the PCCP Program being managed at WSSC and shares some insight about new ways to help better manage this program. It provides history of the program, major events and interventions, use of inspection and monitoring tools and the evolution of the program over the years. It also provides current status of the program and future developments as WSSC continues to manage PCCP mains and expands the program further.



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Room 203 9/1/2016 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Presenter: Raj Arora, American Ductile Iron Pipe Co.


Title: Zinc Coated Ductile Iron Pipe

Abstract: In December 2015 the White House launched an ambitious effort to enlist the private sector in its efforts to reclaim and conserve water. The strategy, known informally as a "moonshot for water," focuses on encouraging technological advances like better materials for water pipes and Zinc coated ductile iron pipe is an innovation that improves on a product that has stood the test of time. Zinc has been used to protect ferrous materials against corrosion for many years. Metallized arc-spray zinc coatings are now available on ductile iron pipe produced in the United States. Zinc coated ductile iron pipe has been widely accepted and specified in the 18 months it has been available. This paper will present an overview of corrosion principles, how zinc is applied to ductile iron pipe, how zinc inhibits the corrosion of ferrous materials, and additional enhancements that in combination with zinc further extend the life of an already-long lasting product. The paper will also briefly highlight the performance characteristics of ductile iron pipe related to pressure, surge, flow characteristics, thrust restraint, and sustainability.

Room 203 9/1/2016 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Presenter: Claire Kwiatkowski, RK&K


Title: Making It Fit – Reliability Improvements to DC Water’s 16th & Alaska Water Pumping Station

Abstract: This presentation will discuss how RK&K and DCWATER developed solutions to the special challenges of implementing modifications to a water pumping station in order to achieve almost full redundancy and reliability for a critical facility. The most constraining aspect of the project was the constructability challenges of implementing significant changes to an existing compact underground facility located at a busy Washington DC intersection while assuring uninterrupted water supply to residents. The 5 MGD water pumping station is located on the triangular corner of 16th Street, NW and Alaska Avenue and was placed into service in the early 1990’s to provide water service to the isolated 4th High Service Area east of Rock Creek Park. Years ago there was a major water main leak in Rock Creek Park and access was problematic, so 16th and Alaska Pump Station was initially constructed as a temporary solution to provide dependable water service to the 4th high service zone. The Station was recently renovated with redundant controls and is now considered a permanent pump station. The service area supplied by the 16th and Alaska Pumping Station is a closed system without the benefit of zonal storage, so pump speeds must be variable throughout the day to equalize system demands. The existing underground vault/pump station is considered VERY small with inside dimensions of approximately 20-feet x 22-feet due to a limited site footprint. If the pump station goes out of service for any length of time residents of the 4th high lose water service, therefore the successful renovation installed multiple measures to assure the station maintains high reliability and consistency in its day to day operations. The primary design method was to install many redundant controls. Which sounds typical except that the station was already small and there was little room for additional controls. Functionality and clearances had to be retained so operators could work safety work in the pump station. Close-quartered redundant suction and discharge headers allowed the station to be essentially “split in two,” allowing water to enter and discharge from the station in one of two directions from the 3rd High service area.

Room 203 9/1/2016 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Presenter: Jeffrey Peluso, Baltimore County DPW


Title: Baltimore County uses Innovated “Hybrid” installation to Reduce Gasketed Joints

Abstract: In 2009 Baltimore County began the planning process for connecting two major pressure zones in their system with a new water transmission main. The main would traverse 10,700 LF through suburban Catonsville and would be installed in close proximity to existing gravity sewer lines and gas lines and would use both conventional and trenchless installation techniques. The county typically would use ductile iron pipe for a transmission main however, soil conditions and proximity to stray currents from gas lines forced the county to explore alternative pipe products. The project was publicly bid in 2014 and the contractors were given the choice to use 18” Fusible PVC® pipe or 20” HDPE pipe for the entire length of the line. Contractors were given the option to install the pipe via conventional open-cut or HDD. Fusible PVC® pipe was selected by the low contractor Cossentino. Due to numerous conflicting utilities and obstructions Cossentino used an innovative “hybrid” installation of fused joints and restrained bell joints. 150 to 250 LF sections of pipe were fused together and a belled section of pipe was fused on the end of the long pipe length. This allowed Cossentino to connect one day’s production to the next without the need for additional fusion joints or costly ductile iron fittings. A standard bell restraint was used on all bells in order to meet fully restrained requirement of the line. The “hybrid” system allowed 65% less gasketed joints over the 10,700 LF line. This paper will review the project in terms of the conventional and trenchless technologies evaluated and the decision to utilize the “hybrid” traditional direct bury installation, and trenchless methodologies. It will review the planning, installation and project results.



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Room 203 9/1/2016 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Presenter: Christopher Overcash, KCI Technologies, Inc.


Title: Cured-In-Place-Pipe Rehabilitation of Water Mains: The Do’s and Don’ts of this Technology or How to Successfully Execute a Pilot Project.

Abstract: Cured-In-Place-Pipe (CIPP) rehabilitation has been used for many years in the sanitary sewer environment. That technology is now being implemented for pressure pipe including potable water mains. This case study provides an overview of how a pilot project for structural CIPP water main lining was successfully implemented. In 2012 WSSC began efforts to ascertain the applicability of CIPP lining rehabilitation for their water mains through a pilot program. The WSSC system encompasses 5,500 miles of water mains of an average age of over 80 years. For a system of this magnitude to be effectively maintained it takes a variety of technologies. The benefits of CIPP lining for water mains versus traditional methods are many. This form of trenchless technology minimizes the need for excavation which in turn reduces potential impact to sensitive environments, high traffic areas, heavily congested utility corridors as well as other areas. It also has the ability to reduce construction cost, depending on the site, and to greatly reduce construction time. For the pilot program WSSC first established that the project would only utilize the strongest lining category know as “full structural” liner, Class IV per the AWWA M28 Manual. Next several technologies were given the chance to present their products. These were then ranked by a variety of criteria and two were selected for involvement with constructing the pilot. For the pilot work, five areas encompassing 29,600 LF were identified in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in Maryland. KCI Technologies (KCI) was engaged to provide full design and permitting for each of the pilot areas. The design team focused on solving the design challenges a new technology can bring to a utility owner. The design involved lining of existing 10-inch, 12-inch and 16-inch water main, as well as specialized design considerations such as planning for excavation and replacement of valves, fire hydrants, and liner thickness. In addition, the design specified replacement of water house connections (WHC) through excavation. The design team was able to produce a template for each of the design items to be used on all future lining projects including both drawings and specifications format. As part of the design careful consideration was given to monitoring the installed CIPP liners, this included typical post lining CCTV inspection and also a second to be completed one year after installation. Once the designs were completed to an expedited design schedule of three months, two of the five areas were selected to be constructed first. Prior to beginning work each contractors bid was closely analyzed. These were compared with other pilot lining projects to ascertain if the proposals reflected actual site realities. Once procured, for continuity, the design team was retained to provide construction management to make sure the pilot design concepts were implemented properly. Following the pilot project installation phase, WSSC plans to produce a lessons learned report of the successful water main lining pilot program.

Room 203 9/2/2016 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Presenter: Elford Jackson, RK&K Engineers


Title: The Gibson Island Ground Level Tank Design Process - Affluent Reservoirs

Abstract: The Anne Arundel County Department of Public works owns and operates the Gibson Island Water Distribution System which includes a single ground-level water storage reservoir, a water treatment plant, and associated distribution system piping. The previous Gibson Island ground-level water storage reservoir was located at a high point on the western end of the island off of Magothy Road. The former tank was a 40 year old steel structure with a capacity of 173,000 gallons. Bounded by a wooded area, the site for the existing tank is at the end of a narrow 11-foot wide service road that extends 750-feet off of the main road. The area is only secured by a single pad locked farm gate located at the beginning of the service road. A tank condition report by Trident Engineering, dated December 15, 2009 concluded that the existing tank required complete replacement as rehabilitation of the existing tank was impractical given its state of deterioration, presence of heavy metal coatings, and a substandard foundation. In addition, a structural and coating assessment of the existing tank was prepared by World International Testing, Inc. on November 19, 2008. The existing tank structure was rated at fair; however, recommendations were submitted to address interior coating deterioration along preventive maintenance improvements to include safety, security, operations, and regulatory compliance. Based on the findings of the condition reports, Anne Arundel County executed a request for design services to evaluate tank replacement options through a schematic design report and develop constructions plans based on the report recommendations. The schematic design was used to determine the optimal tank capacity and overflow elevations, identified alternative site locations, evaluated tanks construction materials, and prepared preliminary cost estimate for the presented options. The water distribution system was analyzed to determine the equalization, fire, and emergency storage components required to estimate the storage capacity based on current and ultimate build-out demands for the area. After evaluation of all of the design components, the recommendation was provided to design a tank with a storage capacity of 220,000 gallons. Once the storage capacity was determined, final design services were approved to prepare construction plans. Using the estimated storage capacity, a tank design was provided with the following parameters: an overflow elevation of 160 feet, a sidewall height of 30 feet, and a tank diameter of 35.5 feet. The new tank was constructed 50 feet from existing tank because of site constraint limitations related to critical area and forest conservation concerns. The project manual was developed in a manner that would allow the Contractor to choose from one a three different types of tank designs which included precast post-tension concrete, glassed fused bolted tank, and fusion (thermoset) powder coated bolted tank. For construction, a sequence of work was carefully developed to safeguard normal plant operations while construction occurred on the new tank. This abstract will review the design process for the replacement of a ground level water storage tank.



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Room 203 9/2/2016 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenter: Joseph Conti, OBG


Title: "It Doesn’t Get Better Than This!" How an alignment study for an "at risk" main yielded results which supported a major initiative of the client’s asset management program.

Abstract: The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) recently embarked on an aggressive assessment study to identify options for realigning approximately 3.5 miles of 42-inch pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP) transmission main that’s currently located within the Henson Creek stream corridor in Fort Washington, MD. Over the past several years, this transmission main experienced several failures (requiring expensive emergency repairs) and recent site walks revealed that several sections along the main are currently exposed in the creek bed. With the recent failure history of this (and other segments) of PCCP transmission main across the system and the currently identified exposures in the creek bed, WSSC prioritized this critical piece of “at risk” water infrastructure for realignment and replacement. Early in the study, the project team recognized that several of the alignments being considered for the project allowed for several additional unforeseen (and extremely valuable) benefits that aligned with much larger planning objectives of the Commission. It was quickly identified that this project not only would replace the aforementioned segment of “at risk” infrastructure, but also had potential to both eliminate several future transmission main replacement projects and support a much larger planning initiative (and goal) to provide reinforcement, resiliency, and redundancy across the southeastern section of the service area (all the way to National Harbor). In essence this project expanded to a program that not only provided a solution for replacing a lengthy segment of “at risk” infrastructure, but also aligned to the Commission’s Asset Management Plan and future Capital Improvement Program. This paper will present the planning and execution strategy that was developed and successfully implemented for a detailed alternatives analysis for selecting an alignment that replaces the aforementioned main. Along with meeting this objective, the presentation will also present how the collaboration of the project team during this assessment identified additional benefits that supported both the Commission’s AMP and CIP and translated to significant future cost savings to the Commission. The presentation will present and highlight the following: - Detailed workflow strategy that was developed and seamlessly implemented - Extensive data gathering activities that were executed with the program - The evaluation criteria that was established for the assessment including the processes used for both defining and weighting the criteria using a Pairwise Comparison approach - The extreme value and benefit of project team communication & interaction as well as stakeholder involvement (internal departments and external regulators/parties of interest)

Room 203 9/2/2016 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Presenter: Mike Osborne, Black & Veatch


Title: INTEGRATING RESILIENCE INTO YOUR WATER SYSTEM

Abstract: What does the term “Resilience” mean to you? Is it a buzzword? Is it simply replacing “sustainability” as the next new thing? Andrew Zolli, author of Resilience: Why Things Bounce Back, argues that sustainability as a movement is meaningless and stale: “Sustainability offers few practical prescriptions for contending with disruptions precisely at the moment where we are experiencing more and more of them. Resilience-thinking, on the other hand, can provide a broader, more dynamic, and more relevant set of ideas, tools, and approaches. As volatility continues to hold sway, resilience-thinking may soon come to augment or split the sustainability regime altogether." There are numerous academic definitions of the emerging resilience field depending on the context. Central to these definitions is one idea: Resilience is the ability to function and recover in the face of change. We would agree with Zolli and argue that Resilience is actually much more than a buzzword; instead, evaluating Resilience as it applies to a water system can provide tremendous value to the forward-thinking utility. Numerous recent examples of extreme weather-related events – floods, storms, drought, storm surge, and water quality impacts, to name a few – and the potential for future extreme events favor proactive development of Resilience strategies. Simply put, Resilience-thinking offers the utility the ability to be proactive in its response to a disaster through targeted infrastructure investment. During the ongoing Water Distribution Master Plan for Charlotte Water, Black & Veatch was tasked with evaluating Resilience. This presentation will include a background and introduction of Resilience as it applies to a water system, a summary of Charlotte Water’s motivation for evaluating Resilience, an overview of the methodology developed used to quantify system Resilience, and, finally, a summary of the conclusions developed from the evaluation.



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Room 203 9/2/2016 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Presenter: Devang Prajapati, Hatch Mott MacDonald


Title: Want better water quality? Mix it up a bit!

Abstract: The purpose of the paper is to illustrate whether the mechanical mixers installed in DC Water's distribution storage tank have increased the homogeneity of the water quality by the elimination of tank stratification and providing chloramine residual stabilization.DC Water owns and operates eight water storage facilities as part of its distribution system in Washington DC. Under its current capital improvement program, DC Water is implementing rehabilitation and upgrade program for its storage facilities. The improvements are based on: 1) EPA Sanitary Survey recommendations, 2) Rehabilitation needs identified in triennial inspections, and 3) Upgrades designed to keep pace with developing best practices in water distribution. The ‘best practice’ upgrades include the following components related to water quality: installing mechanical mixers, water quality sampling, and automated online water quality monitoring for water leaving the water storage facility. The first installation under the program was completed at Ft. Reno Reservoir No. 1 in September 2015. Fort Reno Reservoir No. 1 is a 5.4 million gallons (MG) underground reinforced concrete structure with a side water depth of about 18 feet. Circulation through the reservoir is maintained by three baffle walls. DC Water acts as a consecutive system and booster chloramination is not practiced. Earlier sampling study at one of the reservoirs had found indications of stratification during warm temperatures. To establish a baseline condition before installation of mixers, temperature probes were installed in the tank to quantify the extent of stratification. Temperature probes were suspended at four locations in the reservoir through access hatches. At each location, three temperature probes were attached to record temperature at bottom, middle and high water level. Temperature was recorded for approximately 8 months before installing the mixers. The same arrangement of temperature probes are being installed after the installation of the mixers to record the temperature profile in the reservoir with mixing. With respect to water quality monitoring, an evaluation was performed to determine the pre and post mixer installation temperature regime in the reservoir and its relation to the available water quality data. The data will also be analysed for its relation to the fill and draw cycle and ambient temperature.

Room 203 9/2/2016 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM



Title: Protecting Water Quality and Preventing Contamination of Potable Water Supply at DC Water’s Brentwood Reservoir

Abstract: This presentation will highlight design and construction challenges of implementing upgrades to protect water quality and prevent possible contamination at one of DC Water’s largest buried drinking water reservoirs. EPA public health officials have long been concerned about protecting water quality and eliminating potential sources of cross-contamination in public water supply distribution systems. Every five years, the EPA meets with utility owners and inspects potable water storage facilities to identify opportunities for improvements to protect water quality from bacterial contamination. Brentwood Reservoir is a 25-million gallon underground reinforced concrete water storage reservoir located in northeast Washington D.C. in the vicinity of New York Avenue and Brentwood Parkway. The reservoir was constructed in 1959 and is a trapezoidal structure measuring between 320 and 390 feet in length and width and 32 feet in depth, with approximately 2.5 feet of soil cover. An access building located at the south corner of the reservoir contains a valve vault, 48-inch inlet and outlet piping, a 24-inch drain pipe connected to a 48-inch overflow pipe, and weir. Water quality upgrades to the reservoir included cross-connection elimination, a new impervious roof membrane, installation of water quality mixers and new sampling equipment, and minor crack repairs. Improvements were also made to the ventilation, electrical, security, instrumentations and controls, and SCADA systems and the site. Although the 24-inch drain is only used on occasion to empty the reservoir for scheduled cleanings and repairs, safety features were incorporated into the design for cross-connection elimination, including separation of the combined 24-inch drain and 48-inch overflow piping and construction of a new cross-connection elimination chamber downstream of the reservoir. Within the chamber, flap gates installed on incoming and outgoing piping prevents contamination of the reservoir from backflow from piping downstream. For additional protection to ensure that there is no backflow, twin gate valves and a leak detection and alarm system between the gate valves were installed on the 24-inch drain pipe inside the valve vault. Additional improvements included a new roof drainage system which protects the reservoir from surface water infiltration. The roof drainage system consists of a layer of Geofoam covered by a 60-mil thick membrane and drainage mat. The Geofoam consisted of over 3,600 pieces of foam of varying thicknesses making it one of the largest jigsaw puzzles in the area. The new membrane extends beyond the roof edge to a new perimeter drain installed below the reservoir roof and wall joint elevation. Within the reservoir, there is a new mixing system designed to maximize water turn-over which reduces the occurrence of dead-zones and thereby improves overall water quality throughout the entire reservoir. New water quality sampling equipment ensures test parameters are within regulatory standards. The recent upgrades performed to the Brentwood Reservoir ensure that the latest technologies are used to protect and provide the best possible water quality to residents and visitors in the nation’s capital.



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Room 204 8/31/2016 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Presenter: Paul Sayan, Louis Berger


Title: Baltimore County’s Fix and Find Contracts – An Alternative Construction Delivery Method for Utility Repairs

Abstract: In 2014 Baltimore County (County) awarded two sewer repair on-call contracts to address miscellaneous sewer structural repairs that were recommended in the County’s sanitary sewershed repair, replacement and rehabilitation (SRRR) plans. Approval by EPA and MDE of the SRRR Plans made the repairs and the completion deadlines that were included in the plans a federal mandate in accordance with the County’s Consent Decree. The number of repairs and the deadlines precluded the typical design/bid/build delivery method to complete the construction work; therefore, the County eventually chose a hybrid to the design/build delivery model. The County’s fix and find delivery method avoids the typical design stage and takes planning-level repair recommendations directly to construction; thereby, reducing time and funds that would normally be allotted for design and project advertisement/award. The fix and find method relies on a mutually cooperative and beneficial relationship between the County and the contractors. The County relies on the contractor to identify the most effective repair method and complete the needed repairs within an agreed-upon duration. As repairs are completed, the contractor relies on the County to allot additional funds so that more repair work can be assigned to them. The presentation will discuss the intent, advantages and disadvantages of the fix and find delivery method and will provide three case studies using this delivery method. The case studies will discuss how initial and final scopes of work were developed, contractor coordination issues and a comparison of estimated and actual costs to complete and estimated and actual work duration.

Room 204 8/31/2016 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Presenter: Russ Dalton, Hazen and Sawyer


Title: Maximizing the Benefits of WSSC’s Trunk Inspection Program

Abstract: The WSSC Trunk Inspection Program involves the inspection of trunk sewers, 15-inch in diameter or greater, and their associated manholes and feeders. Work on this project included project management, pipeline and manhole inspection, surveying and the identification of exposed assets. The assets involved in the trunk inspection program are typically located in wooded rights-of-ways and run along and/or across streams. Sewer collection systems are often far from the public eye. However, in residential and business areas, the effects of a failed sewer line can be immediately seen with service interruptions and SSO’s. This is not always the case with trunk lines within the system. The assets are typically located in difficult to access places where general monitoring can be difficult. These locations are also typically the most environmentally sensitive areas in the system, further necessitating their inspection. This presentation will focus on the methods to maximize the benefits of the program. The presentation will include a review of the preparation required for a project of this size. Projects of this type require extensive data management. It is critical to have a well-organized data management plan in place prior to beginning field operations. The project database must be easy to update, find and access. Additionally, regardless of how the data is organized, it must be correct. In order to ensure quality data, project protocols must be in place prior to the beginning of work. Necessary protocols include detailed descriptions of expectations regarding production, quality and timeliness. Due to the remote nature of many of the assets in the program, it is critical to have well-defined procedures and goals before commencing field visits. Instances where multiple actions are required at a single asset should be identified and figured into scheduling. This presentation will include the “hits”, and in some cases “misses”, associated with the past approach during the Trunk Inspection Program. It will include lessons learned throughout the project and as part of a retrospective review performed after the completion of the project. It will also discuss a guide to moving forward on future similar projects.



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Room 204 8/31/2016 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenter: John Gresh, RJN Group, Inc.


Title: Trunk Walk Inspection Program: Going Beyond the Scope of the Consent Decree

Abstract: WSSC has performed two rounds of comprehensive field survey and inspection of over 19, 000 trunk sewers in their sanitary sewer basins since 2008. This inspection program represents over 900 miles of sewer and is a part of a comprehensive response to a Consent Decree with the USEPA and the Maryland Department of the Environment. This presentation will discuss the program history, the purpose and use for the collected data, some of the challenges encountered, lessons learned and related benefits that have accrued to WSSC. Because WSSC has a very large and mature trunk sewer network, a variety of logistical challenges had to be overcome. These included variable topography, older components in very difficult access area, coordination with other entities, and the need to incorporate trunk walk procedures into a more traditional manhole inspection process. The trunk walk is a unique aspect of the Consent Decree, included to enable the assessment of pipeline integrity for trunk sewers above 15-inch diameter, particularly along the areas adjacent to and near stream crossing. WSSC is using the data generated by this project to develop rehabilitation rankings. Since two rounds of inspections are now complete, this paper will address comparative findings that can be drawn from the results in several sewer basins. Deterioration rates will be examined. Program metrics for components surveyed and the range of findings will be discussed. Other needs have been identified as a result of the program. These include the need to expand the program to examine additional feeder sewers (less than 15-inch) tributary to trunk sewers, flow control devices in manholes, and sewers along smaller unnamed streams, that are not classified as a trunk sewers and beyond the scope of the Consent Decree criteria.

Room 204 8/31/2016 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Presenter: Thor Young, GHD Inc.


Title: Successful Application of Horizontal Directional Drilling for Long River Crossing

Abstract: Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is often the preferred method for installing pipelines across rivers because it minimizes environmental impacts during construction. However, successful application of the technology is dependent on understanding the geotechnical conditions along the proposed alignment and appropriate planning, design, and execution for the drilling operation and pipe installation. A case study of a long HDD river crossing in a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay will be used to outline the approach used and lessons learned by one project team which lead to a successful outcome. A new 24” HDD force main crossing of the South River in Anne Arundel County was constructed in 2015 as part of the regional sewage transfer project. The total length of the HDD segment under the river was 4,200 ft. from entry to exit pit. Normally, fusible PVC would be recommended for a HDD installation of this length due to its higher tension strength. However, the County preferred to use HDPE, which they had used successfully in other applications. The pipe had to be carefully designed and installed to use HDPE due to the lower safety factor this type of pipe provides during the pipe pull. A critical part of the design process was the collection of subsurface geotechnical data along the proposed pipe alignment, including both on land and underwater portions. This geotechnical data and institutional knowledge from other similar installations in the area were used as the basis for engineering calculations to analyze pull forces and select the appropriate pipe thickness and profile. Regulatory agencies involved in the project included the Maryland Department of the Environment, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Commission, the Soil Conservation District, and Anne Arundel County. The schedule and installation parameters for the $3.2 Million pipe installation was driven by permitting agencies, which included limiting construction activities from October 1 to December 15 to minimize the impacts a potential frack-out in the river would have on endemic species. To accomplish this, the contractor worked up to 16 hour days on site and was able to complete the installation at 11:45 pm on December 15 without major frack-out or damage to the pipe during the long pull. Throughout the process, the project team worked closely with the local, state, and federal regulators, residential community activists, park service staff, and commercial watermen impacted by the project.



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Room 204 8/31/2016 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Presenter: Will Hinz, WRA


Title: Construction Challenges and Lessons Learned From a 2,500 Linear Foot Directional Drill for a 36-inch Forcemain

Abstract: Harford County had previously upgraded the Bush Creek Pumping Station to 28 MGD. In conjunction with this upgrade, the replacement of aging downstream infrastructure was necessary to handle the increased flow. Final construction of the new 36-inch replacement force main for the Bush Creek Pump Station is anticipated to be complete by February 2016. The 10,600-foot forcemain alignment included two 36-inch horizontal-directional-drills (HDDs) for crossing Bush Creek and the Bush River – approximately 1,100 feet and 2,500 feet in length, respectively. These HDD’s were completed from December 2014 through April 2015. The Bush Creek HDD crossed below marshland and creek channels from the Bush Creek Pumping Station to Maryland Route 40. The Bush River HDD crossed below the Bush River from a commercial/residential area to agricultural lands on the Perryman Road side. Significant wetlands and environmentally sensitive critical area permitting were required for the installation. Extensive investigations and calculations relating to HDD pipe installation were performed. The investigations during the design stage included geotechnical explorations, identification and selection of pipeline material, multiple meetings with various HDD contractors, calculations of pullback forces and post-installation service loads. Additionally, 4,200 feet of the land portion of forcemain alignment is located along Maryland Route 40 in proximity to multiple existing utilities within a tight construction corridor. Significant differing installation conditions were encountered during the construction of the 36-inch HDPE directional drill river crossing as compared to those anticipated during the design phase. These factors included differing geotechnical conditions, directional drill equipment breakdowns, new environmental requirements that were enacted between the design and construction phases, and a change in environmental permitting that resulted from the construction of a new bald eagles nest within the project’s construction corridor. These factors resulted in an increase in the complexity and duration of the directional drill, required open cut construction for a portion of the forcemain that was originally intended to be installed trenchless, and required significant coordination with regulatory agencies such as the Army Corp and National Fish and Wildlife during construction. Significant construction related issues were also encountered during the construction of the land portion of the 36-inch forcemain alignment. These issues included new utilities and embankments that were constructed between the design completion and construction phases, an unknown clay tile drainage system that was encountered in the Route 40 shoulder that created dewatering issues during open cut construction, and unforeseen safety issues within the adjacent Maryland Route 40 travel lane.

Room 204 8/31/2016 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Presenter: David Schwartz, CDM Smith


Title: THAT'S SOME BIG PIPE!! Modeling, Design and Construction of a 13-Foot Diameter CSO Pump Station Intake Manifold: A Case Study

Abstract: Facilities intended to control combined sewer overflows (CSO) are typically much deeper than conventional infrastructure, requiring specialized structures and construction. This paper presents a case study outlining the evaluation, design and construction effort that was undertaken to install a 13-foot diameter manifold pipe for a complex 500-MGD CSO Tunnel Dewatering Pump Station. The deep underground location required a compact station design but a back-to-back storm design requirement called for high capacity pumps (83.3 MGD each) usually installed in much larger spaces. The station is located in an approximately 160 feet deep, 132 feet diameter circular shaft located at the end of a 23-foot diameter CSO tunnel. Implementation of the project was complicated by the need to design and construct the pump station to fit within a shaft that was designed and constructed by others for access to construct the CSO tunnel. Spatial restrictions and geotechnical/structural conditions required a combined and coordinated effort between the tunnel shaft designer and pump station designer to ensure that the pump station’s internal elements would be able to accommodate the stresses imposed on the shaft by consolidating soils and groundwater. The design calls for five pumps for the initial 250-MGD design, with space for three additional pumps for the build out 500-MGD design. Each pump is designed to have a multi-segment 60-inch x 42-inch reducing mitered elbow, and have tangential 84-inch by 60-inch takeoffs from the invert of a 156-inch common steel manifold. Flow straightening vanes are provided at each branch and at the pump inlet to provide inlet conditions meeting Hydraulics Institute standards. The paper discusses the sequential steps that were taken to design, fabricate and install this massive pipe manifold, while ensuring that it met all the hydraulic and structural needs of the project. The design process began with a physical, 1:8 scale hydraulic model study to determine the shape of the pipe outlets and need for flow straightening vanes. Then a finite element analysis was used to design the pipe system including wall thicknesses, flexible connection types and locations, welding requirements (both shop and field) and pipe support design. Loadings analyzed included dead loads, hydraulic loads, structural loads (imposed by the pump station structure), dynamic loads imparted by the pumps and thermal loads. Joint locations and configuration of individual manifold pieces (5 pieces) were selected to allow the pipe to be transported on public highways and to be installed. A special 900 ton hydraulic crane was needed to provide the lifting capacity and reach needed to lift and place the manifold in the pump station shaft.



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Room 204 8/31/2016 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Presenter: Renni Zhao, DC Water


Title: Lesson learned - DC WATER recent experience with masonry sewer tunnel

Abstract: As in many coastal cities, a system of large masonry sewer tunnels plays critical roles in controlling the surface water flow as well as sanitary discharge for the flourishing neighborhoods built above. The current flat terrain became established after massive manmade fill on these masonry sewers. This mostly happened in the beginning of 1900’s, prior to establishment of modern soil mechanic theory in 1930. In this presentation, we’ll show two case studies on how the adjacent construction or changes to surrounding soil around the pipes could cause crack propagating significantly over unanticipated extended period. One case is a deliberate residential construction right above a 22’-0” wide x23’-6” high brick tunnel built circa 1905. This sewer tunnel carries a 3,500 MGD CSO in a 15 year rain event, with 5-ft surcharge. Excavation on top of the sewer tunnel for the basement of the building, without increasing the total loading on the sewer as explained by the designer, proved to be more detrimental than the pre-construction loading of 8 feet soil above the crown of the sewer. Another case is a commercial building with underground garage. The deep excavation per designed sheeting and shoring was about 20-ft adjacent to a 7’-6” storm culvert with concrete masonry top in the middle of the road. The sheeting and shoring did not perform well during a heavy rain event, resulting in soil erosion and local failure of the sheeting. The sheeting failure was at an elevation lower than the invert level of the masonry sewer. In this presentation we will demonstrate with these two cases, how DC WATER engineers exercised caution in the field for monitoring, engineering, and evaluation. We’d also like to share our collection of thoughts regarding how the old masonry tunnel resembles the modern day “prestress pipe” concept with the surrounding balanced soil pressure being the “prestress force” for the “compression ring” in the masonry arch. Alteration of the surrounding soil pressure could diminish the prestress in the masonry tunnel, causing cracks.

Room 204 8/31/2016 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Presenter: Joshua Farmer, Hazen and Sawyer


Title: Addressing Geologic Challenges Commonly Encountered in Water Infrastructure Tunneling in the Mid-Atlantic States

Abstract: The scope of investigation, implementation during design, and contract execution of a project’s geologic conditions is the single most underestimated/undervalued factor in water and wastewater tunneled/microtunneled/bored crossings in the US. From the most common jack and bores to large scale mechanized water and sewer tunnels, subsurface conditions represent a significant factor to a project’s total cost. However, the collection, interpretation, and contractual execution of subsurface data is rarely efficiently addressed. Most commonly, an engineer and owner apply standardized, “cookie cutter”, approaches to the gathering, interpretation, and contractual inclusion/exclusion of geotechnical data. These inflexible methodologies lead to risk exposure that otherwise would be avoidable or overspending on potentially contractor favorable risk sharing. These increasingly common occurrences arise more prevalently in VA, NC, SC, MD, and DC due to the extreme variety of subsurface conditions found in the Mid-Atlantic States. In this presentation the speaker will breakout the most significant geologic challenges to water infrastructure tunneling and boring for each of the 3 principal geologic regions of Virginia – Coastal, Piedmont, and Blue Ridge/Appalachian. For each of these regions, the speaker has selected recent, ultimately successful, water infrastructure projects where tunneled crossings encountered significant geologic challenges. The presentation conclusion will focus on lessons learned from the 3 case histories that are now being applied on an ongoing gravity sewer project in Virginia with 10 tunneled/bored crossings of differing constraints. The attendee can expect the following “takeaways” which should be relatable to their local tunneled/bored crossings – risk reduction and cost savings through phasing of geotechnical investigations, often excluded soil and rock properties pertinent to tunneling methods, explanation of classified/unclassified/baseline contracts, cost saving procedures for soil and rock testing, knowledge gap between project engineer and local geotechnical engineer, and a brief explanation of the common tunneling and boring methods of installation for water infrastructure. Trenchless constructability knowledge gap between the pipeline engineer and local geotechnical engineer. Reliance on the geotechnical engineer to understand the feasibility and constructability parameters of trenchless construction methods. Tunneling/Microtunneling/Boring for the installation of Water Infrastructure in the State of Virginia can contain some significant challenges due to 3 regional subsurface regions that are especially challenging



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Room 204 8/31/2016 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Presenter: christopher caro, WSSC


Title: Environmentally Sensitive Areas, Sewer Design to Construction: Lessons Learned

Abstract: The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) contracted Hazen and Sawyer (Hazen) to identify, develop, and design access roads for the rehabilitation of right-of-way manholes and pipe segments assigned Priority 1 rankings, as reported in the Sewer Repair, Replacement, and Rehabilitation Plan (SR3 Plan). Under this Sewer Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) contract, Hazen developed a design for the Piscataway Creek Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA). The design objective was to provide the most feasible access routes for asset rehabilitation for designated Priority 1 manholes and pipe segments located in ESAs. The design also included access consideration for manholes located immediately upstream and downstream of the Priority 1 manholes. The goal of the project is to mitigate environmental disturbance with a cost-effective design. The project consists of 90 project areas accessing approximately 337 Priority 1 manholes and 163 Priority 1 pipe segments. A total of 506 manholes and 380 pipes were recommended for rehabilitation. The design included full access paths suitable for the use of tractor trailers and other large vehicles passing through private property, park property, wetlands, and streams. As commonly found in a gravity sewer system, the assets are located in low laying areas with significant topography, typically adjacent to streams and wetlands. To properly determine the most beneficial route alignment, several access path alternatives were analyzed in the field with environmental and civil engineers. A project of this size and complexity required coordination with a multitude of federal, state and local permitting agencies. In addition, hundreds of right-of-entry agreements from private homeowners and homeowner associations were acquired to allow access. To adequately design access to assets, Hazen communicated with local general contractors to determine their means and methods for rehabilitation. This was essential to streamline the project and provide the appropriate access for construction. In instances where assets were located adjacent to water bodies, significant site condition changes were observed between the design and construction phases. These changes in field condition highlighted the need and benefit of having the design engineer tasked with construction management to assist with field adjustments. This presentation will discuss the lessons learned taking a project from design to construction. It will explore possible future standardization of design criteria within WSSC infrastructure projects with the intent of limiting the number of change orders needed by the contractor. This will better provide accurate methodology and assumptions for determining contract line items. The presentation will also present the benefits of the SR3 project to reduce SSOs, protect exposed assets and improve water quality. Working in ESAs creates a unique project where the rehabilitation of the assets is the easy part with the most challenging aspects being the permitting and providing adequate access for construction.

Room 204 9/1/2016 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Presenter: James Shelton, ARCADIS


Title: When Engineers, Contractors, and Manufacturers Collaborate – Improvements in Chemical Grouting practices fromSullivan’s Island Construction Management at Risk project

Abstract: The objective of this paper/presentation is to discuss key findings regarding the design and implementation of chemical grouting for I&I leakage control as revealed during the Construction Management at Risk (CMAR) sewer rehabilitation project in Sullivan’s Island, SC. This alternative project delivery work featured a remarkable collaboration between engineering, contracting, and manufacturing that significantly furthered the practical science of chemical grouting as a technology for stabilizing sewer collections piping and significantly reducing leakage over an extended period of time. Significance Chemical grouting has been widely implemented for nearly 4 decades, often completely incorrectly. This is largely due to a poor understanding by engineers and owners regarding important variables and key performance needs and the need of contractors to compete in a low price market. This paper presents in plain fashion what contractors, owners, and engineers need to know to use this technology effectively. Status The field work behind this paper is complete. Findings, Observations, and Recommendations Presented primarily from the perspective of the engineer, this technical paper will discuss important topics and their impact on grout effectiveness, longevity, and impact on construction cost, including: · Articulating grouting performance objectives and matching specifications to these. · Benefit and cost of higher concentrations of acrylamide to in-situ grout strength, especially in a very wet environment. · Benefit and cost of latex to grout tackiness, strength, and long-term sealability. · Benefit and cost of glycol as an anti-desiccant. · Grout refusal - correcting common engineering misperceptions. · Packer inflation pressure vs. expansion pressure – understanding the significance of blow-by and of preventing unintended pipe fracturing. · Short gel times versus long gel times – the pros and cons · The impact on gel time from the often unrecognized endothermic reactions resulting from mixing acrylamide with water. · Impacts on gel time when mixing the two catalysts in even and uneven stoichiometric ratios · Lowering gel time without decreasing acrylamide concentration – dilution of ammonium persulfate catalyst · Grout gel time calculations and safety factor to accommodate the difference between desk assumptions and field conditions. · Veneering versus long term sealing - Minimum grout per joint goals, and how to achieve them via extended gel times and step grouting, and when does grout volume become excessive · Pump rate test frequencies based on job site findings · Impact of grout pump rate in sand and crushed stone pipe beddings on production. · How to quickly adjust gel time when active leakage is preventing grout set-up. · Contingency rules for when a pipe fractures from packer pressures. · Impact of double batching grout on production



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Room 204 9/1/2016 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Presenter: Matt Roder, Greeley and Hansen


Title: Emergency Repair of a Distressed 102-inch Diameter Sewer Under an Active Storage Depot

Abstract: Last year, WSSC and Greeley and Hansen presented the design of repairs to the 102-inch Anacostia Trunk Sewer (ATS) that runs under a stream and through a levee. The ATS had suffered extensive hydrogen sulfide corrosion. During final design of the repairs, Greeley and Hansen discovered longitudinal cracks in the ATS underneath WSSC’s Anacostia Storage Depot. This presentation covers the identification and investigation of the cracks, evaluation of emergency repairs, and development of a construction sequence to allow repairs to occur concurrently with the depot activities. In late summer 2015, Greeley and Hansen identified a longitudinal crack in the crown of a section of the ATS from CCTV videos. Further investigation uncovered a multitude of other cracks in other pipe sections under the Depot. Greeley and Hansen identified the dynamic loading from the front-end loader that travels over the ATS as the likely cause of the cracking. WSSC decided to make emergency repairs to the ATS. The repairs include encasing the top half of the pipe in reinforced concrete and installing anchors in the pipe exterior to connect to the encasement. This will allow the ATS to withstand the impact of the front-end loader on top of it until the lining repairs are complete. Prior to making the repairs, contractors will perform two separate activities. First, WSSC will retain a contractor to perform vacuum excavation to find the exact location of the top of the ATS. The record drawings do not include surveyed locations for the bends in the pipe or any deflections. The contractor will excavate the ATS and will also excavate to find the parallel 72-inch sewer. After excavation of the ATS, the contractor will take a core sample from the top of the ATS and measure its thickness. If the remaining concrete pipe is less than four inches thick, from an original thickness of approximately nine inches, the pipe will not be encased because of concerns that it might not support the encasement. The timing of the repairs will require significant coordination between the Depot staff and the repair contractor. Some measures to accommodate Depot staff include installing jersey walls to keep the front-end loader out of the excavation and staging the repair so the entire length of the pipe being repaired is not exposed at once. The final paper will include construction photos, description of the coordination activities to maintain the Depot’s normal operations, and figure comparing the field location of the ATS and the adjacent 72-inch sewer with the locations shown on the previous record drawings.

Room 204 9/1/2016 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenter: Monika Blassino, WRA


Title: Rehabilitation of an Interceptor Sewer and Manholes along Little Patuxent River in Howard County, MD

Abstract: Howard County installed approximately 10.4 miles of new interceptor sewer parallel to the existing Little Patuxent Interceptor. The existing concrete interceptor, which was installed in 1967 is needed to provide adequate flow capacity. Howard County performed CCTV investigations of the existing sewer and manholes and determined that majority of the sewer requires rehabilitation. WR&A designed the rehabilitation of the existing 30-inch interceptor with cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) lining for over 13,000 linear feet and rehabilitation of 53 manholes. The pipeline size can make CIPP installation challenging, especially during cold weather months, when temperatures for curing the resin can be more difficult to obtain. As such, the requirements of testing of the liner to assure proper curing and strength have been developed. These include producing restrained samples inside manholes, limits on product specific design parameters, and constraints of time between impregnation of the liner with the resin and liner installation. Other unique construction challenges of the project include its location parallel to the Little Patuxent River, in the 100-year flood plain, and near residential dwellings. The access during construction includes multiple creek crossings, access through a golf course, and Blue Heron nesting areas. These present a limit in work to be performed at certain times of the year: no work is permitted in the streams between March 1st and June 15th and no work is permitted in the nesting areas between February 15th and July 31st.



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Room 204 9/1/2016 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Presenter: James Howard, Heery International


Title: The Paybacks of Gas Relief in a Sewer Collection System

Abstract: Anne Arundel County, Maryland is in the process of inspecting, assessing, testing, replacing and/or rehabilitating all of the Air Release Valves (ARV) in their collection system. Due to the topography, it is not possible to have long gravity lines that convey sewage to the Water Reclamation Facilities (WRF); therefore, there are a large number of sewer pump stations (SPS), and over fourteen hundred (1,400) miles of forcemains (FM), with approximately four hundred fifty (450) Air Release Valves in the County’s collection system. Many of the ARVs were installed in the 1970s and have surpassed their expected useful life. The County has designated a team of Utility Operations Personnel to assess the condition of the existing ARVs. Of the ARVs that have already been inspected, between 80% and 90% need to be replaced. The County has created a blanket order contract for a contractor to assist the County’s team in replacing the ARVs. The County also intends to add all of the ARVs to their existing database to track maintenance records and the performance of the collection system. Based on the County’s assessment of the existing ARVs, they are placed in one of the three following categories: 1. The ARV is good working condition and does not need to be replaced. The ARV information is logged into the system and placed into the rotation for scheduled maintenance. 2. The ARV is not in working condition, and the County or the Blanket Order Contractor replaces, or rehabilitates it. The new or rehabilitated ARV information is logged into the system and placed into the rotation for scheduled maintenance. 3. The ARV is not in working condition, requires professional design considerations and is put into a separate design contract. When the ARV replacement requires a design modification, it is put in a separate design contract with several other ARVs. Issues that will place an ARV into the fourth category include, but are not limited to: structural modifications to the valve vault, addition of odor control, replacement of FM piping, need for bypass pumping system and Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) not covered in standard MOT details for the State and County. In conjunction with the ARV replacement program the County also set up an equipment pre-purchase blanket order with one manufacturer to supply all of the ARVs over a five year period. Draw down tests are performed before and after each ARV installation to measure the collections system’s increased efficiency. The results of preliminary draw down testing have shown a significant increase in collection system efficiency (power savings at the pumps), a reduction in sewer overflows and reduced FM failures.

Room 204 9/1/2016 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Presenter: Saul Kinter, DC Water


Title: Evaluating the Feasibility of Wastewater Thermal Energy in Washington, DC

Abstract: DC Water’s Innovation Program includes a focus on new revenue streams. Wastewater thermal energy is an economically viable resource that can simultaneously offset ratepayer costs, reduce the overall carbon emissions of the District of Columbia, and increase the viability of local development projects. Wastewater passing through collections systems is relatively warm during cold months and relatively cool during warm months. This thermal energy can be tapped and used to power heating systems for building HVAC applications, industrial process preheating, and domestic hot water. Similarly, heat can be dumped into the sewer during the summer to provide cooling. Fundamentally, wastewater thermal energy is analogous to geothermal heating/cooling systems, but has a significantly lower capital cost and environmental impact due to the lack of boreholes. DC Water’s collections system has approximately 200 MW of available energy, which, if harnessed, could significantly reduce the cost of supplying the District with thermal energy and the carbon intensity of that energy supply. To fully harness this resource, it is necessary to take advantage of new development or renovation projects, ideally near a high-flow sewer. In addition, it may be possible to develop district energy systems that are primarily supplied from a DC Water pump station. This report assesses the feasibility and potential benefits of wastewater thermal energy in Washington, DC. Flow and temperature patterns of the Washington, DC sewers are measured and analyzed to inform extraction projects or future modeling efforts. Daily, seasonal, and annual patterns were evaluated, as was the impact of rain and snowmelt. Areas with high flow and temperature meet two necessary qualifications for the application of wastewater thermal energy, but may not fully suffice. Additional factors such as accessibility of the sewers, depth, pipe condition, and public space considerations may rule out certain areas. In others, preexisting infrastructure or high-temperature dischargers could make a spot particularly attractive. These factors were assessed via surveys, internal documentation, and consultation with other stakeholders in the public space. To assess risk and the potential hazards of this technology, available solutions and vendors were surveyed for company stability and quality of product. Facilities were surveyed worldwide to discover lessons learned and best practices as well as past failures and their causes. Relevant information was applied to the unique regulatory environment of the District of Columbia to develop guidelines for safe application of the technology and to mitigate risk to the general public and to public entities. DC Water has evaluated the viability of wastewater thermal energy and determined that it is a potentially thrice-valuable resource, providing economic, environmental, and social benefits. Efforts to implement the technology at various pilot sites are ongoing.



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Room 204 9/1/2016 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Presenter: Paul Wilson, Brown and Caldwell


Title: CSI Sewer Main: Forensic Analyses in Failure Response

Abstract: The numerous combinations of pipe material vulnerabilities, internal service conditions and corrosive environments that a wastewater pipeline must operate under pose significant challenges to accurate identification of failure causes. HRSD, a major wastewater utility, has integrated lab analyses into pipeline failure forensic analysis to identify failure cause and to inform appropriate response measures. The approach has been characterized by integrated coordination of utility, consultant and lab staff; rapid evidence collection, photographic and physical; and collection of uncompromised as well as failed samples for comparison and contrast. These samples, although taken at specific moments, contained evidence of the progression of the underlying failure cause(s) over time, providing confirmation of the primary degradation factors. A prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP) failure was confirmed as due to old impact damage, contrasting with the originally suspected wire failure or internal corrosion. Photographs of the failure at the moment of discovery were correlated to later photos of the removed samples at the utility shop yard. Lab testing of the pipe components was used to rule out substandard materials as a vulnerability factor. A polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe failure was confirmed as due to rapid crack propagation (RCP), in which a crack beginning at a specific point travels quickly along the pipe wall. High resolution lab photography showed the aged surface on the inside of the pipe contrasted with the fresh fracture surface from the RCP. Material testing also confirmed the basic integrity of the material. Integrating photographic and physical data collection, followed up by controlled laboratory analysis of those samples, provides a thorough assessment of possible failure causes that can be used to evaluate continuing risk of the failed pipeline. In some cases, analyses may show that significant replacement of the pipeline is not warranted based on the failure evidence.

Room 204 9/1/2016 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Presenter: Laura Siemers-Kennedy, GHD Inc.


Title: The Sewering of an Entire Town: How Chatham, Massachusetts is Gaining Control of Wastewater in Order To Restore the Marine Environment

Abstract: The Sewering of an Entire Town: How Chatham, Massachusetts is Gaining Control of Wastewater in Order To Restore the Marine Environment Abstract The Town of Chatham, Massachusetts is a small seaside residential community, with highly seasonal population variation. Apart from being a residential and vacation area, the Town also has a year-round fishing industry and heritage. The TMDLs for estuarine systems around the Town of Chatham, Massachusetts, are stringent and require removal of much of the wastewater nitrogen coming from the many individual septic systems, as well as nitrogen from non-point sources. The Town developed a Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP) which utilizes sewer extensions, a wastewater treatment facility upgrade, growth neutral land use controls, stormwater management, and fertilizer reduction research and management to meet the limits. This presentation will focus primarily on the expansion of the sewer system to serve existing properties with septic systems. Prior to 2010, the existing wastewater treatment facility in Chatham served only approximately 10 percent of the population, mainly in the downtown area. The remainder of the Town was served by septic systems. Traditional septic systems are designed to remove solids from the wastewater and protect public health from pathogen exposure; however, their removal of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus is minimal, the “leachate” from a septic system discharges to the groundwater and eventually recharges to surface water bodies, such as estuaries and ponds. When the incoming nutrient loads to these water bodies exceed the carrying capacity for the water body, eutrophication occurs. To address the planning challenges and prevent requiring an excessive number of pumping stations, the initial sewer strategy was updated in 2015 based on newly proposed infrastructure and known requirements. The proposed system consists of 75 miles of pipe and more than 80 pumping stations. Multiple alternatives for routing flow were reviewed to minimize impact on the existing sewer system, which was originally intended to serve only a small portion of the current properties. The primary challenges for gravity sewer in the coastal community included: limited available property for new pumping stations, phased implementation to coordinate availability of downstream infrastructure, and flat, coastal topography not ideally suited for gravity sewers. The sewer extension plan is divided into two phases. The initial phase would provide sewer service to two-thirds of the Town and the remainder would be served by the second phase. Initial portions of the Phase 1 have been designed and constructed, and design is underway on remaining areas. The total capital cost of the collection system improvements is projected at $250 million. Highlights will be provided for the other portions of the project, which includes sustainable features implemented for stormwater (green infrastructure) and energy (photovoltaics) at the wastewater treatment plant. The wastewater treatment plant improvements total $50 million and correspond with the collection system improvement phases. The ultimate wastewater treatment capacity will be will be 2.7 MGD (average summer day).



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Room 204 9/1/2016 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Presenter: Chris Painter, HDR


Title: A Case-study of Achieving Form and Function with Modern-day Infrastructure

Abstract: The HRSD Bridge Street PS service area was a source of reoccurring sanitary sewer overflows due to aging equipment and insufficient capacity. Therefore, an 11,500 gpm replacement PS was needed in a highly visible waterfront area of downtown Hampton. The new site offered multiple challenges including: potential flooding, architectural blending, limited property area and a compressed design schedule. Design had to be completed within six months to stay on schedule for a federally mandated consent decree deadline. This presentation will discuss the case study of balancing form and function of the new PS while achieving a fast-tracked design process. The 100-year flood elevation is 3-feet above site grade and a local ordinance required a 3-foot freeboard above the flood elevation. Therefore, the finished floor elevation is 6-feet above existing grade. The new site was surrounded by mixed use developments of condominiums, residential homes, a yacht club and a waterfront. To blend the PS into the neighborhood, multiple architectural concepts were developed and reviewed, ultimately deciding on the option that matched a nearby seafood marketplace. The exterior integrated the freeboard requirements into the foundation appearance through architectural elements including a porch. Cedar siding, windows and brick accents were utilized to integrate the structure into the historical neighborhood. To fit the pump station within the confines of the property, a solids handling trench-type wet well was utilized to limit the wet well footprint. Bulky odorous air scrubbers were located on top of the wet well and concealed behind a screen wall. Bypass pump connections to the wet well and discharge line were located in manholes installed in the access drive, minimizing impedances to vehicles accessing the site. In addition to the pump station, the site layout was designed to accommodate a BMP and a satellite parking lot for the neighboring condominiums. A work plan was developed at the beginning of the project to determine activities that represented the critical path to meeting the 6-month design schedule. A series of workshops, led to constant discussion and feedback which allowed for short-duration deliverables and the ability to maintain the initial schedule. A value engineering study that was not originally planned was incorporated in the schedule without delaying the original design submittal dates. To expedite permitting, the site plan submittal was finalized at the 90-percent design stage. The final design was completed on time and provided a PS meeting all stated design goals. The PS features a flood resistant design that does not compromise the structures appearance. Architectural elements inspired by nearby buildings and a compact site layout successfully blend the building into the surrounding neighborhood. The project is currently out to bid and will begin construction February, 2016.

Room 204 9/1/2016 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Presenter: Stephen Motley, City of Virginia Beach DPU


Title: We can ride the WAVE but How do we Measure It? Flow Monitoring for Challenging Sites

Abstract: This paper will present how an effective flow-monitoring program was developed for the City of Virginia Beach and overcoming various challenges to successfully monitor sewer flows. Being a coastal community with a very flat landscape and 408 sanitary sewer pumping stations there are many unique and challenging flow monitoring sites in Virginia Beach. The vast majority of the gravity collection system is 8 inch pipe with very little slope and some with very low flows. In 2007 Virginia Beach entered into a Regional Consent Order with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and a flow monitoring program was one of the requirements of this Consent Order. We realized that at least initially it would be next to impossible to develop a flow monitoring program that involved actually flow monitoring each location all at one time, so we developed a phased approach. The first phase only measured flow at key locations, the consent order required a minimum of 20% of the total service areas be flow monitored. For this first phase the City chose sites that were likely to be great candidates and ideal conditions for flow monitoring since we were under a time constraint with the Consent Order. The information gathered from these key sites would then be used to categorize the remaining sites. This first phase used a combination of open channel flow metering and the City’s SCADA system. We would then take the information learned from these first phase service areas and apply it to the remaining service areas using a Hydrologic Categorization Matrix. This matrix categorized our sanitary sewer service areas into 27 types. While the above was certainly enough to meet the requirements of our Consent Order we also realized that the best solution would be to have actual flow monitoring data for each of our pump stations. As a result we developed a MOM Program that would focus our efforts on those remaining sites to ensure we were using the best and most accurate data. Naturally the sites in the first phase were the easier less challenging sites for flow monitoring and as we began to monitor other sites we quickly realized we would need to look at some alternative flow monitoring methods, techniques, and technologies to ensure we got good accurate flow data at these more challenging sites. As many struggle with how to flow monitor challenging sites, this presentation will provide the audience with an understanding of those challenges and what tools the City of Virginia Beach used to overcome them. This presentation will discuss the flow monitoring factors (access, hydraulics, safety and applicable technology) that contribute to an effective flow-monitoring program that requires the monitoring of “challenging” sites. It is not always possible to “just relocate the site”. These “challenging” sites are ones with limited access, low flow, high velocity and other complex hydraulic conditions. This presentation will discuss how these conditions were addressed and the lessons that were learned though out the project.



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Room 204 9/1/2016 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Presenter: Pamela Mooring, DC Water


Title: Protect Your Pipes: A public education campaign about the impacts of Fats Oils and Grease (FOG) and nondispersibles in the Metropolitan Washington region

Abstract: The Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s (COG) Protect Your Pipes (PYP) campaign is an example of effective utility management to address a region-wide problem faced by wastewater system operators. This public outreach campaign leverages resources of thirteen utilities and jurisdictions to protect sewer systems and minimize customer cost burden associated with sewer backups and plumbing damage. The PYP education campaign is about preventing improper disposal of materials into public sewer systems and protecting wastewater facilities from expensive damage. The campaign has a crime stopper theme targeting three criminals that don’t belong in sewer systems. 1) Fats, Oils, and Grease, 2) Medications and personal care products, and 3) “Flushable” wipes and other foreign items, e.g. tissue, cotton swabs and paper towels. Each of the three criminals is a graphic character with an ID card that explains why it’s a plumbing culprit, its aliases, and how the public can “protect pipes” with prevention tips. For example, the FOG character aliases include meat drippings, salad dressings, and oils; the recommendation for “crime prevention” is disposal of grease in the trash. The medications character states that improper disposal of medications can pose threats to aquatic health and potential drinking water sources. PYP recommends using drop-off locations for disposing of unwanted medications and secure disposal of medications in the trash. The wipes character and its aliases clog toilets. PYP stresses that only human waste and paper should be disposed of in toilets to avert clogged pipes and expensive, unsanitary sewer backups. The campaign has a website (www.protectyourpipes.org), combined with a Facebook page and Twitter handle. In 2016, PYP will launch an advertising campaign that features public transit ads, social media advertising and conventional broadcast media engagement efforts. The thirteen utility members/jurisdictions that support the PYP campaign include: Alexandria Renew Enterprises, Town of Leesburg, Town of Purcellville, Arlington County, DC Water, Fairfax County, Fairfax Water, Frederick County, Loudoun Water, Prince William County Service Authority, City of Rockville, Upper Occoquan Service Authority, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), VA American Water, and COG.

Room 204 9/1/2016 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Presenter: Charlie Card, EBA Engineering, Inc.


Title: Fats, Oils, and Grease Program Optimization

Abstract: A common component of Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) Consent Decrees is a requirement to develop and implement a Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) program, or enhance an existing program. Many Consent Decrees are very prescriptive in their required FOG program elements. Most include requirements for inspection and permitting of all Food Service Establishments (FSEs); establishment or improvement of grease abatement device design, installation, and maintenance standards; implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for FSEs; and community outreach. In other words, Consent Decrees tend to be very FSE centric. To accommodate these requirements, utilities may have to hire additional staff, obtain additional legislative approvals, modify their plumbing code or ordinance, and conduct extensive community outreach to explain any changes. The parties to the Consent Decree (typically the Environmental Protection Agency, State and Local Governments, and environmental groups) add an additional level of review and approval. For utilities of all sizes, FOG program implementation can put a serious strain on already limited resources. A utility with a proactive stance related to controlling grease related SSOs can negotiate with regulators from a position of strength and are less likely to be the subject of an enforcement action. A focus away from the traditional method of FOG Program implementation can require fewer utility resources, lower user costs, and still yield effective results. The presentation will focus on alternative methods of addressing grease related blockages, in lieu of attempting to directly control the source at the FSE via permitting, routine inspections and the expensive installation of grease abatement technologies. Methods presented will include; focusing on the “hot spots” where blockages are actually occurring; targeted FSE Inspections; Best Management Practices (BMPs) for FSEs; desktop investigations; and maximizing the use of GIS. Many utilities invest a tremendous amount of time and resources administering comprehensive routine inspection and permitting programs in an attempt to control FOG. A targeted inspection program, focusing on high risk FSEs and SSO “hot spots”, supplemented by a BMP Program, can be an effective and economical way to deal with FOG issues.



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Room 204 9/1/2016 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Presenter: Brianne Nakamura, Water Environment Federation


Title: Flushable Wipes: A Problem That Can’t be Wiped Away

Abstract: Flushable Wipes, to flush or not to flush? That is the question. While toilet paper companies challenge you to “go commando” with their new and improved flushable cleansing clothes, we in the wastewater industry cringe from the nightmares of clogged pumps, messy screens, and SSO’s. Recently, the topic of “flushable” wipes has become front and center within the wastewater industry, as more consumers are turning to a wet wipe rather than the common dispersible toilet paper. While flushable wipes have been on the market for years, the question of their degradability has been garnering more attention in the media and prompted state-level responses, such as the recently proposed bill in Maine requiring that products labeled “flushable” live up to their claim. Since 2013, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) has been collaborating with five other associations representing the wastewater sector and the non-woven fabrics industry (Association of Non-Woven Fabrics Industry, INDA). This collaboration is an effort to develop a fourth edition of guidelines (GD4) that will influence product design and support the marketing of nonwoven products as “flushable”. This presentation will address the impacts that flushable wipes have on our wastewater treatment systems and how WEF and others in the wastewater sector are addressing the problem. The following are some key points that will be discussed: What is a Flushable Wipe? (History of INDA Guidelines & Testing Requirements for Flushability); Advertising vs. Reality: Non-Dispersible’s effects on the Wastewater System; Wastewater Collaboration with the Non-Woven Fabrics Industry (Fourth Edition Guidelines of Flushability; Product Steward Ship Initiative; International Standard Organization (ISO) Standards); How can you help? While we can’t stop consumers from flushing things down their toilets, we can stem the tide with better education and incentives for corporate responsibility.

Room 204 9/2/2016 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenter: Samuel Grant, Gannett Fleming, Inc.


Title: Ethics for the Maryland P.E.

Abstract: Discussion of the structure of PE discipline in Maryland- the Annotated Code, the PE Board, its regulations, and review within the Maryland courts. Examine certain pertinent regulations, and real/hypothetical case histories. Discuss forms of ethics violations, PE Board enforcement, and possible consequences.

Room 204 9/2/2016 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Presenter: Jeffrey Riling, GHD Inc.


Title: Let’s Go to the Beach: Evaluation and Modeling of a Coastal Community’s Storm Drain System and Outfalls

Abstract: The City of Rehoboth Beach is a beach community with a high seasonal population. An evaluation of the City’s stormwater management, collection, and outfall system was performed to identify methods to improve water quality and minimize potential impacts to water users within the nearshore area. The City’s storm drain system consists of approximately 36,000 linear feet of pipe, varying from 6” to 36”. Stormwater currently discharges into four ocean outfalls connected directly to the storm drain system or into adjacent lakes which overflow into ocean outfalls. All stormwater outfalls currently discharge within the surf zone. The City currently employs a variety of non-structural good management practices, such as street sweeping, and structural best management practices, such as sand filters and a management plan for the adjacent lake to protect water quality. Historical water quality data obtained from grab samples in the surf zone were utilized to analyze existing and future conditions in a hydrodynamic model. The stormwater evaluation included investigation of the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of additional BMPs to reduce enterococcus within runoff. Alternative outfall configurations were investigated, including combining and extending the outfalls to discharge an additional 1,000 feet off-shore. Challenges included limited available land and flat, coastal topography. An EPA SWMM model of the existing storm drain system was developed from field surveying and record drawings and used to approximate the discharge hydrographs at each outfall. A calibrated 233-mile by 65-mile hydrodynamic model of the ocean was utilized to determine anticipated concentrations within the ocean after storm events and the behavior of discharge plumes over time. The stormwater evaluation and the developed models will allow the City to cost-effectively improve the already high water quality within the surf zone.



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Room 204 9/2/2016 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Presenter: Michael Skerritt, Mott MacDonald


Title: Real Time Controls for Stormwater Management: Changes to the state of the practice

Abstract: Urbanization changes a watershed’s landscape through decreases in pervious grass or vegetated areas and increases in impervious areas such as buildings and roadways. Increases in impervious areas result in an excess of stormwater runoff quantity, as well as a decrease in water quality. Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) is increasingly used in an effective way to mitigate the stresses that development places on urban watersheds. However, there are several challenges with GSI, including the inability to adapt to changes in climate, and the inherent inefficiencies of a passive system. Due to the increase in the popularity of GSI and recognition of associated flaws, leaders from industry and academia are now looking to implement ‘real time’ control systems to monitor and control GSI practices within a watershed with the overarching goal of optimizing the system operation. Real time control for water/wastewater systems have been used extensively in the past but are relatively new to the stormwater and GSI field. Examples of current uses include inflatable dams on overflow structures located on combined sewer outfalls. The emerging concept for implementing real time controls for storm water management and GSI optimization rely on real time weather forecasts and GSI sensors to ensure optimal operation of a system. Implementing such controls can increase the adaptability and effectiveness of a GSI practice or stormwater system by making a static GSI system dynamic. Real time control of GSI systems has also been shown to increase system benefits, such as improved capture efficiency, greater runoff control, all while decreasing long term system cost and maintenance. However, real time controls have additional costs associated with them including SCADA and electrical-mechanical devices that may impact the cost-benefit ratio and negate the justification of these improvements. This presentation focuses on a review of various methods for real time monitoring and control to optimize for stormwater systems. A review of the advantages and the potential challenges of implementing real time control in GSI will be discussed along with the budgetary costs for these improvements. Examples of some of these modifications will be provided along with a listing of manufacturers providing real time controls.

Room 204 9/2/2016 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Presenter: Eric Eckl, Water Words That Work, LLC


Title: Enlisting Citizens to Report Illicit Discharges

Abstract: With a fresh MS4 permit in hand, New Castle County’s municipal employees and consulting engineers developing the stormwater management plan found themselves with a dilemma. The Education and Outreach MInimum Control Measure required the county to generate at least 250,000 advertising impressions and to use before-and-after surveys to demonstrate a “statistically valid” increase in stormwater awareness. After working with a consultant that specializes in this area, the county chose to meet this requirement by setting up an illicit discharges hotline -- and promoting it heavily. After creating the hotline infrastructure, the partners conducted a baseline survey and found that <1% of residents were aware that they could report stormwater violations to the county. In July 2015, the county saturated the county with cable TV commercials, sponsored YouTube and Facebook videos, web ads, billboards, bus and bus shelter ads, truck magnets for public works vehicles, press releases, messages on official county channels, and outreach to community groups. The advertising effort cost $.11 per residents, and produced more than 4 million impressions -- roughly eight advertising “hits” for each county resident. In the followup survey, partners learned that this investment had produced an 800% increase in awareness of the hotline, meeting the “statistically valid” bar set in the MS4 permit. County residents submitted dozens of reports to the hotline. The consulting engineers reported that in just one month, the hotline outperformed the previous three years of field screening for illicit discharges. In particular, residents reported violations from one waste hauler that, upon investigation, turned out to be a chronic offender. The County carefully tracked the data for every aspect of the promotional effort: How many residents we reached through each outreach channel, and how many residents responded to each channel. The County and its vendors used this information to identify high and low performing advertising efforts and identify opportunities to improve “bang for the buck” in future campaigns.



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Room 205 8/31/2016 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Presenter: Bryan Bedell, Haskell


Title: One Owner Two Similar Projects: Two Different Design-Build Methods

Abstract: This presentation compares and contrasts two similar projects, TWMP Segment 2 completed as a progressive design-build and South Shores completed as a fixed price or lump sum design-build, both for JEA one of the largest utilities in the County. The presentation will touch on best practices during selection for both progressive and fixed price design-build. Best practices highlighted will include the use of proven DB contracts, driving value creation, fostering collaboration, and fairly managing risk. The presenters will provide insights, from both the Owner and design-builders perspectives on how risk allocation works within both progressive and fixed price design-build projects and how risks can best be transferred to the party most able to control the risk exposure. The presentation will outline procurement processes and required deliverables within these two design-build methods and what information the Owner is responsible for delivering prior to undertaking design-build procurement such as geotechnical information, utility standards, and permitting. We will further touch on how open-book process within progressive design-build compare to less transparent cost accounting within a fixed price project. The two projects highlighted within this presentation are TWMP Segment 2 and South Shores. Highlights of these projects are: TWMP Segment 2: A fast tracked progressive design-build Segment 2 crosses underneath the St. Johns River near Downtown Jacksonville, FL. Its alignment is adjacent to the Arlington Expressway, which is a major roadway for commuter traffic between the Beaches and Downtown. The massive directional drill project involved 6,700 feet of 36 inch steel pipe, a very compressed schedule, and pipe assembly along a very congested roadway. Meeting the challenges of this high profile project involved close and constant collaboration between the contractor, designer, client, and stakeholders. South Shores: This difficult fixed price design-build project also crosses underneath the St. Johns River near Everbank Field (NFL Jaguars Stadium) to the southbank of the river. This wastewater transmission pipeline consists of a 42” 4000’ + steel pipeline installed 65’ under the river as a horizontal directional drill with a 36” HDPE carrier pipe pulled back through the 42” casing pipe. Project challenges include, obtaining required easements and permits to accomplishing the schedule and then working to assemble the pipe and execute the drill within a very confined space while avoiding the NFL football season.

Room 205 8/31/2016 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Presenter: Curtis Czarnecki, Kenosha Water Utility


Title: Kenosha Energy Optimized Resource Recovery Project

Abstract: The Kenosha Water Utility (KWU) provides water and wastewater service to nearly 110,000 people in the greater Kenosha metropolitan area of Southeastern Wisconsin. The waste water treatment plant was put into service in the late 1930’s and currently treats an average of 22 MGD with a permitted annual average design flow of 28.6 MGD. The plant is a secondary conventional activated sludge treatment plant that discharges into Lake Michigan. In an effort to combat ever rising natural gas and electric utility costs as well as landfill disposal fees, the Kenosha Water Utility began to explore emerging technologies as a means of becoming more energy independent while also reducing the volume of biosolids in need of disposal. The objectives of the project to help us meet these goals can be summarized as follows: Increase the generation of methane gas from its biosolids, generate electricity from the methane gas to be interconnected to the existing plant power network, use the electricity generated to offset peak energy pricing during high demand periods, use the electric and thermal energies generated to increase drying of biosolids to produce 90% dry solids, produce high quality biosolids that meet the criteria for Class A sludge allowing for beneficial reuse, recover and utilize waste heat as the main thermal energy supply for the facility, and install a system that can provide a payback period of 8 years or less. Due to the complexity of the project and the varying technologies necessary to accomplish the above objectives the RFP was solicited as a design/built approach. The design/builder was tasked with preparation of the design, assisting KWU in obtaining all necessary permits, procuring, constructing and installing all components, integrating the new system with the existing plant SCADA network, startup and commissioning, preparation of operations and maintenance manuals and warrantying the System.The individual technologies which have been implemented can be summarized as follows: mechanical hydraulic digester mixing (Rotamix by Vaughan), primary sludge thickening (THK 18-3 by Centrisys), waste activated sludge thickening (THK 18-3 by Centrisys), thermal-chemical hydrolysis (Pondus by CNP Technologies), high solids anaerobic digestion, biosolids dewatering (CS 21-4HC by Centrisys), drying of biosolids (Compact belt dryer by Sulzle-Klein), biogas conditioning (Gas conditioning and siloxane removal by Unison Solutions), generation of electric and thermal energy (CHP Generators by Kraft Power). The project is currently under construction with an anticipated substantial completion date of November 2015. Immediately following the startup and commissioning, the system will be run under a wide variety of operational scenarios that will allow data to be collected to substantiate the effect each individual component has on the treatment process along with the system as a whole.



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Room 205 8/31/2016 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenter: Cheryl Robitzsch, Haskell


Title: How St. Petersburg Partnered Engineering and CMAR to develop an Efficient Design and Guarantee Cost Certainty for a Sustainable Biosolids Project

Abstract: In 2009, the City of St. Petersburg began the development of a sustainable biosolids and renewable energy project by making application for appropriations to the Federal Department of Energy (DOE). In 2012, the DOE provided a grant for a feasibility study and design and Brown and Caldwell was selected to provide engineering services for the Feasibility and Technology study and design of the biosolids processing and gas production facilities. Additional engineering for the dewatering building was completed by AECOM and thickening was done by Carollo Engineers. An initial cost estimate at 30% design completion provided the City with a baseline cost estimate for planning. After advancing the design to 60% the cost estimate indicated an increased to the baseline cost estimate due to market conditions and unknown conditions. This was putting the project at risk, so in late 2013 the City decided to hire a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) to reduce and properly assign risks for cost controls. The City’s goal was to reduce increased risk, develop a proper risk envelop, reduce cost and provide cost certainty. In November 2014, the City selected The Haskell Company as the CMAR and authorized preconstruction phase services. Haskell’s initial task included a cost estimate of the existing 60% drawing, which confirmed the cost increase. The City directed Haskell and Brown and Caldwell to review and compare the costs along with a detail reconciliation and value engineering effort to lower the cost to within the City’s budget. The success story for the project is that utilization of CMAR and collaboration between the Contractor, Engineer and City during the early stages of design to quicken the significance of value engineering, creates more efficiency, reduces unnecessary processes and lowers cost.

Room 205 8/31/2016 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Presenter: Ben Movahed, WATEK Engineering Corporation


Title: Overview of the New Ultrafiltration membrane plant at the Rocky Gap State Park

Abstract: Rocky Gap State Park is located in Allegany County, in northwestern Maryland. The park covers approximately 3,400 acres of land, at an elevation of approximately 1,200 ft., and features the 243-acre Lake Habeeb, which is fed by Rocky Gap Run. Within the park, there are 278 individual campsites, 14 mini cabins, lodge, amphitheater, aviary, camp store, a nature center and a Golf Resort. The new casino and expansion of the lodge and aging facilities required upgrade of both water and wastewater systems at the park. Majority of the water and wastewater systems at the park were built in the 1973-1974 period. The water system consisted of a shallow intake, main treatment plant building, two Diatomaceous Earth Filters (DE), chlorine gas disinfection system, a ground storage tank and a small control building adjacent to this tank. The existing plant had major deficiencies in terms of capacity, equipment condition, reliability and meeting current and future water quality requirements. In addition the location of old intake was causing issues with having adequate source supply in dry summers, which was also impacting water quality. A comprehensive evaluation report prepared in February 2010, evaluated various alternatives and recommended a new membrane water plant with an intake at deeper portion of the lake near the dam. Due to differences between membrane manufacturer’s system layout, design and utility requirements and for cost savings measures the project was procured in two phases: Phase 1 was the membrane system procurement: The project was bid based on a life cycle cost analysis. Three bids were received and Evoqua Water Technologies was selected as the supplier. Phase 2 incorporated the selected membrane system into the new plant and was bid by general contractors, which included installation of the membrane equipment Due to the location of the new intake, a cofferdam was installed for portions of the intake pipe, while rest of submerged pipe was completed by divers. The new plant consists of Intake screens, auto-backwash strainers, Ultrafiltration membrane skids, post Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) and Ultraviolet (UV) and chlorine disinfection. Plant was completed in October 2015 and has been successfully meeting and exceeding project requirements. The following is a summary of this presentation: · Overview of water quality and plant capacity; Reasons for selecting membrane system; Procurement procedures and challenges; Intake construction methods ;Specifics of the new membrane plant ; Project cost data;Recent Operating data



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Room 205 8/31/2016 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Presenter: Paul Delphos, Black & Veatch


Title: WTP and Pipeline Design and Construction - 21st Century Style

Abstract: The Bedford Regional Water Authority (BRWA) and the Western Virginia Water Authority (WVWA) have joined together to construct a new 4 MGD water treatment plant and 22 miles of pipelines. This $35 million (total project cost) project is being constructed under a progressive design-build (PDB) delivery model. A fixed-price was negotiated between the Owner and the Design-Builder based on 60% design plans that included everything from a 12 MGD raw water intake, new raw water pumping station, new 4 MGD WTP (expandable to 6 MGD with no new structures required) and 22 miles of large diameter pipelines. The lump-sum DB Proposal accepted by the Owners included permitting, easements, equipment, power supplies, railroad and stream crossings, etc. In addition, due to the tight Owner budget, only a 3% Design-Builder contingency and a 1.5% Owner Allowance was carried through the project. Even though the design documents had only been progressed to a 60% level, both the DB team and the Owner felt the closely reflected the final product and the smaller than typical contingencies were a worthwhile risk to keep the project moving forward. Obviously, design-build is very different than traditional design-bid-build in that not everything is complete and finalized when bids are obtained. As such, this presentation will discuss all of the activities on this project after the final lump-sum price was accepted by the Owner. This includes final permitting with local, state, federal, power and railroad agencies; finalizing design concepts; generating issued for construction drawings; obtaining easements; coordinating with the public; all while initiating and completing all construction and start-up activities with 13 different subcontractors. All of these activities will be completed within approximately 14 months of finalizing the lump-sum proposal. In addition, the presentation will discuss how design omissions, Owner preferences, and construction modifications were managed within extremely tight contingencies considering the level of detail of the construction documents at the time of bidding. Finally, due to the tight budget requirements, additive change orders were not an option, so all parties had to work together to keep the project within its budget. Attendees to this presentation will learn about the Progressive Design Build process, how the team reached agreement on a lump-sum proposal, and, most important, how the team worked together to execute the project with absolutely no change orders and within the original budget and schedule agreed upon by all parties.

Room 205 8/31/2016 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Presenter: Christopher Walker, AECOM


Title: Long Point WTP Process Evaluation and Design Upgrades for Performance Enhancement

Abstract: The Long Point WTP, constructed in the 1990s, treats water from 6 production wells in the surficial unconfined Columbia Aquifer. AECOM evaluated alternatives to upgrade the current ozone process so that the WTP could increase production to the original design of 4.0 MGD which is presently not achievable. AECOM assessed the raw water quality, current treatment processes, and the WTP condition and related components. The assessment initially focused on new ozonation equipment, but evolved to changing the treatment objectives based on recent water quality data. Ultimately, iron and manganese levels governed the upgrade needs and costly ozone retrofits were avoided.

Room 205 8/31/2016 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Presenter: Joe Nattress, CH2M


Title: Converting a mixed groundwater supply to chloramination disinfection to reduce DBP formation

Abstract: Tidewater Utilities operates a number of groundwater supplies in Southern Sussex County. The system(s) in the Ocean View service area include groundwater supplies that have varying concentrations of iron, manganese, and TOC. The 2-mgd Southern Shores WTP is operated as a seasonal groundwater treatment plant that supplements existing wells in the service area for peak supply. The water quality at the Southern Shores wells includes high concentrations of TOC which have led to elevated concentrations of disinfection by-products in the distribution system that approach the Stage 2 DBPR OELs. To ensure compliance with the Stage 2 DBPR, TUI examined alternatives to reduce DBP formation at the WTP, and settled on using chloramines to minimize chlorinated by-product formation. This presentation will discuss the project implementation, lessons learned, and initial results from the first summer season of chloramination.



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Room 205 8/31/2016 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Presenter: Patrick Daniel, SUEZ


Title: Biological filtration for iron and manganese removal

Abstract: In 2013, a pilot study was conducted at the Annapolis Water Treatment Plant to evaluate a biological iron and manganese removal filtration process as a potential full-scale upgrade to the Water Treatment Plant. The pilot study was organized by a joint venture team of CDM Smith and Haskell Construction and was operated by Blueleaf, Inc. The City of Annapolis sources its raw water from eight wells that pump from three different aquifers; the frequent changing between wells and using different combination of aquifers can change the raw water quality dramatically. Influent iron concentrations vary from 3.6 – 11.6 mg/L and manganese concentrations from 0.07 to 0.50 mg/L. The main goals of the study were aggressive: average effluent iron concentrations <0.02 mg/L and average effluent manganese concentrations < 0.010 mg/L. There were also various process stress tests including shutting off process variables and an extended shut down. The biological process piloted is a simple filter that permits the growth of natural, already present, friendly bacteria on the filter media. The bacteria consume the iron and manganese in water. When the filter headloss increases, the filter is backwashed gently to remove the oxidized iron and manganese, but retain the resident bacteria in the filter. Biological oxidation processes have been around for a long time, over 30 years; despite this, there is little experience in operating these processes with high iron concentrations and abrupt changes in water quality - making the pilot study an excellent learning opportunity. The pilot study was successful. All the pass/fail criteria established in the pilot study protocol were met including meeting the strict effluent iron and manganese concentrations from each aquifer and from a blend of sources, and passing the stress tests.

Room 205 8/31/2016 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM



Title: Mount Airy Acquires a New Water Station with a Vision for the Future

Abstract: This presentation will discuss the design and challenges of constructing a new water treatment facility capable of accommodating significant expansion and treatment processes to handle Town of Mount Airy’s changes in future water quality. This presentation will also discuss the trials encountered on a compact site that was already congested by existing facilities. The replacement of Water Station #2 was the last major link required to secure dependable water distribution for the Town of Mount Airy. The Town’s eleven groundwater wells serve approximately 10,000 residents and many commercial properties. The new Water Station replaced the original pumping station which was over 50-years old. The original station performed well over the years but was long beyond its design life and the Town water system was approaching its water use appropriation limits and was operating under MDE’s Consent Decree. The new water station expands the existing treatment plant from a capacity of 200,000 GPD to 350,000 GPD. Along with providing redundancy protection for Wells #5 and #6 with dual pumps and other controls, the new station was constructed to accept two future wells. Some possible new well locations are located on existing farm land and consequently exhibit a high nitrate condition. The new water station can provide nitrate removal and water softening. An onsite hypochlorite generation system was installed to reduce the amount of chemical deliveries to the station. The project site was small and triangularly shaped and the new Water Booster Station had to be constructed immediately adjacent to the active existing station.



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Room 205 9/1/2016 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Presenter: Thomas Kochaba, HDR


Title: Dollars and Sense: Best-Value Selection and Procurement of Biosolids Belt Dryers

Abstract: Howard County, MD, is moving forward with the design and construction of new anaerobic digestion and thermal belt drying facilities at their 29-mgd Little Patuxent Water Reclamation Plant (LPWRP), an enhanced nutrient removal facility, to produce a versatile, exceptional quality Class A biosolids product. During the preliminary engineering phase of the project, belt dryers were selected over drum dryers based on their relative ease of operation, reduced mechanical complexity, lower operating temperatures and preferred biosolids characteristics in the regional end-use market. Selection of the specific belt dryer technology for the LPWRP was deferred to the final design phase, now underway. There are significant differences between belt dryer technologies, including the use or lack of product recycle and back-mixing, how dewatered solids are introduced into the dryer, and the heating and recirculation of drying air, all of which affect mechanical complexity and the size and shape of the dried biosolids product. Howard County is making a final, “best-value” belt dryer selection through a competitive request-for-proposal (RFP) procurement process. Both monetary (capital and present-worth life-cycle costs) and non-monetary (mechanical complexity, integration of product handling and/or post-processing with the drying process, and a number of risk factors including critical process failure points and product consistency) parameters are factored into the selection process. This presentation will describe the process and outcomes of the competitive belt dyer selection and procurement for the LPWRP. Candidate belt dryer technologies will be compared and contrasted. Content of the RFP and vendors’ proposals will be outlined. How monetary and non-monetary factors were applied in evaluating proposals and making the final best-value selection will be described. The information presented will be of interest and useful to owners, operators and consulting engineers considering belt drying of biosolids at other water resource recovery facilities.

Room 205 9/1/2016 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Presenter: Ripan Saha, KCI Technologies, Inc.


Title: Retrofitting Sludge Treatment Process with Membrane Sludge Thickening (MBT)

Abstract: The existing Eastern Correctional Institution (ECI) Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) located in Somerset County Maryland receives raw sewage from several prison facilities and discharges with the permit requirements of 15/15/3/0.3 mg/L (BOD/TSS/TN/TP). The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has issued a new discharge permit requirement for total nitrogen 1.2 mg/L and total phosphorus 0.13 mg/L. The plant will be retrofitted with two trains of Membrane Bio Reactors (MBR), ballasted flocculation and tertiary phosphorus removal to meet the new nutrient discharge permit. The plant will also be upgraded to increase its hydraulic capacity to an average flow of 1.14 million gallons per day (MGD) and a peak flow of 1.8 MGD. The existing sludge treatment process is limited to handle only sludge generated from the existing biological process that has a flow capacity of 0.48 MGD. The sludge treatment process will be upgraded to accommodate higher sludge flow rate from MBR’s and ballasted flocculation process. Simultaneously, the existing treatment process footprint will be reduced to provide space for the construction of new nutrient removal process. Membrane Sludge thickening (MBT) process has been used to address both footprint reduction and capacity upgrade. MBT removes water from sludge by physical barrier and can increase the solids content in the sludge by up to 5 fold. With the simultaneous application of sludge digestion and thickening within one of the existing digestion tanks, the plant will be able to provide space for its nutrient removal process and increase sludge treatment capacity. The existing sludge treatment process includes sludge storage tank, two digesters, two gravity thickeners and belt press dewatering. The sludge treatment retrofit will eliminate two gravity thickeners and the sludge storage tank. One of the two nutrient removal process trains will be installed at the place of the Sludge Storage tank. Improved sludge storage facility will be provided to store up to 3 months of stabilized class B sludge at the place of existing gravity thickeners. Sludge from biological process will be digested in the existing digesters and thickened by MBT which will be installed within the digestion tank. The dewatered sludge from the existing belt press will be lime stabilized to achieve class B biosolids that can be applied on land.



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Room 205 9/1/2016 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenter: Stephanie Spalding, HDR


Title: Teamwork and Innovation Results in a Long-Term Reliable Solution for Solids Handling

Abstract: Teamwork and innovation are critical for a successful project. This is especially the case for the Thermal Hydrolysis Process (THP) and FOG Receiving Station Project at HRSD’s Atlantic Wastewater Treatment Plant (ATP). This complex nature of the project requires a uniquely collaborative approach between the design engineering team of HDR with Brown and Caldwell (BC), HRSD, Crowder Construction, and Cambi, Inc. as the sole source pre-purchased THP system supplier. Final design is nearing completion. Innovation comes in many forms on this project: from the project delivery approach - Construction Manager At Risk (CMAR) is still uncommon in Virginia, to the diverse design team for the retrofit of this highly complex system into an existing plant. The THP system uses heat and pressure to cause cell lysis and pathogen pasteurization by holding pre-dewatered biosolids and steam for a specified temperature and pressure over a period of time. The resulting thermally hydrolyzed solids (THS) are cooled and then introduced into anaerobic digesters whereby optimized volatile solids destruction occurs, biogas production is elevated, and the digested biosolids are dewatered to create a substantially drier high-quality Class A biosolids product. This is the second installation in the US for the Cambi THP, and first of the newer Mark II B6 skid-based operating system. The engineering team is working together cohesively, despite being two separate firms with their own computer systems, file management systems, design standards, and corporate cultures. The collective team's use of technology has been a key factor for the successful teamwork. A web-based file management system hosted on HDR’s server has reconciled file sharing and weekly webinar coordination meetings ensure effective communication across project offices. Implementing THP into an existing facility requires a significant amount of interfacing with nearly every facet of the existing solids handling system, so there is frequent and seamless cross over between unit process design responsibilities. CMAR project delivery was selected to capitalize on the benefits inherent to having the CM integrated with the engineering/owner team during the design phase including: decreasing construction uncertainties during the design process, refining the design to improve constructability and cost effectiveness, and locking-in project price earlier in the project, and with more accuracy. Since selection, Crowder Construction has become a fully-participatory project team member. HRSD, HDR, BC, and Crowder have all entered into Design-phase Partnering activities to ensure seamless communication and straight-forward paths for conflict resolution. HRSD has chosen to implement this Project with an eye on the future to diversify the overall solids program at HRSD. For example, this facility could serve as a regional biosolids facility for multiple HRSD plants in the future, with the Class A product having multiple potential beneficial end uses. The additional digester gas created due to THP and any increased solids will be beneficially used for the production of power through cogeneration engines to reduce HRSD's reliance on other non-sustainable forms of energy.

Room 205 9/1/2016 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Presenter: John Uzupis, Synagro


Title: Abstract Subject: Maryland Phosphorus Regulations. Phosphorus measurements in land application and their relevance to the Phosphorus Management Tool

Abstract: Land application of organic nutrients, including biosolids, in Maryland is subject to the Phosphorus Management Tool (PMT). The regulations, effective June 8, 2015, adopting the PMT have phased in requirements starting in 2018 with full implementation by 2022. The goal of the PMT is to lower P levels in soils and prevent sites from becoming high in P. Many Maryland wastewater plants are in the process of or have completed ENR upgrades. Learning of the PMT and P measurement tools will better position wwtps to predict their biosolids quality to land application opportunities in Maryland. Two aspects of implementing the PMT is utilization of Phosphorus testing beyond the routine monitoring of biosolids for total P. Degree of P Saturation and Water Extractable P are two of those terms. Degree of Phosphorus Saturation is a soil test that indicates the percentage of soil P binding sites with P. Water Extractable P is a biosolids measurement that represents environmental risk of P leaching into waters.



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Room 205 9/1/2016 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Presenter: Lisa Boudeman, Material Matters, Inc.


Title: Pennsylvania Nutrient Trading Options for Satisfying NPDES Cap Load in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Abstract: The Pennsylvania Nutrient Trading Program (PANTP), while a relatively young program, has provided a platform for the buying and selling of nitrogen and phosphorus credits since Compliance Year 2011 (October 1, 2010 –September 30, 2011). The PANTP supports Pennsylvania’s goal of reducing nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment loading to the Chesapeake Bay, and is part of Pennsylvania’s plan to meet USEPA Chesapeake Bay TMDLs (Total Maximum Daily Loading limits). However, in April 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) began formally objecting to the issuance of new NPDES permits prepared by PADEP. USEPA expressed concerns that the nonpoint source (agricultural) baseline requirements in the nutrient trading regulations (25 Pa. Code § 96.8) were not sufficient for credit generation. In response, PADEP established additional eligibility and credit calculation requirements, which has strained nonpoint source credit generation in the Commonwealth. Additionally, the PANTP no longer allows point source credit generation based on design flow of the wastewater treatment plant; credit generation must now be calculated based on actual flow. Due to these changes, a fraction of last year’s certified credits is anticipated to be available in CY2016. This paper evaluates case studies that are participating in the PANTP to meet NPDES compliance. Additionally, historic data are reported, and the anticipated effects of the rule changes are presented.

Room 205 9/1/2016 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Presenter: Gerhard Forstner, CNP - Technology Water and Biosolids Corp.


Title: Controlled Phosphate Removal from Biosolids - Elimination of Struvite related maintenance and Dewatering Optimization

Abstract: Elevated Orthophosphate levels in biosolids will lead to struvite precipitation and associated with that high maintenance costs, lower dry cake solids and higher polymer consumption in the dewatering process. 15-20% of the incoming phosphorus concentration will be recycled back to the biological treatment step if it is not removed from the digested sludge or the centrate stream. Test data from five full Phosphorus (Struvite) removal scale pilot tests conducted from October 2015 to July 2016 will be presented on how the removal of Orthophosphate will positively impact plant operations for those plants experiencing high Ortho-P levels. Belt Filter Press and Centrifuge dewatering technology are used for dewatering at these plants. The subject plants process anaerobically digested sludge and operate intentional (or in some cases also unintentional) Phosphorus removal processes. The paper will demonstrate that the removal of Orthophosphates will lead to dryer cake solids, a lower polymer consumption, and the prevention of struvite related maintenance by removing at least 90 percent of the Orthophosphate contained in the digested sludge. Additional energy savings will be generated by relieving the biological treatment process from needing to treat high phosphorus loads coming back from the centrate or filtrate stream.

Room 205 9/1/2016 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Presenter: Joshua Gelman, CDM Smith


Title: The Water PCS Comes of Age in the 21st Century - Leveraging Advanced Technology at Loudoun Water's Trap Rock Water Treatment Facility

Abstract: Loudoun Water is currently implementing a Process Control System (PCS) at their new a new state-of-the-art 20-MGD (with 40-MGD future expansion capacity) Trap Rock Water Treatment Facility (TRWTF). With the luxury of starting with a completely blank slate at a brand new plant, without the constraints of existing technologies or networks, Loudoun Water is employing the latest technologies available in PCS system design. It is a compelling example of how a well-designed and commissioned PCS can improve Operating and Maintenance (O&M) efficiency, offers actionable intelligence, validates regulatory compliance, facilitates future expansions, and enhances operational performance and asset reliability. It is also a strong proof of a PCS that goes well beyond the day-to-day monitoring and control of the facilities as it is used by nearly every department within the organization. Loudoun Water’s PCS philosophy was to bring in all readily available information and data into the control system to maximize operational, analytical, energy management, and diagnostic opportunities. To accomplish this, the PCS design utilizes intelligent Motor Control Centers (iMCCs), networked devices and equipment, and smart instruments to provide vast amount of data; a high-speed, resilient network to deliver the data; and a top-end system to harness, present, and analyze Big Data. In addition to the process control information, the PCS is being networked with other facility systems, such as maintenance management, building automation, security, and safety systems for a fully integrated facility. For faster learning and understanding of the new facility while developing situation awareness, the PCS is utilizing a 3D graphics and visualization software.This presentation will share the PCS progression from early planning and design through testing and construction of the facility. It will highlight key design drivers, challenges, advanced technologies and techniques employed, and share the current project status.



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Room 205 9/1/2016 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Presenter: Erik Rosenfeldt, Hazen and Sawyer


Title: Assessing the Impact of Anthropogenic Discharges on Endocrine Disruption in the Potomac River Watershed

Abstract: The Potomac River serves as the primary drinking water source for more than 4 million people in the Washington Metropolitan Area (WMA) of Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia. The river also serves as an important spawning and nursery ground for migratory and resident fish species and contributes approximately 20% of the total streamflow to the ecologically sensitive Chesapeake Bay (Ahmed et al., 2010). Nutrient and endocrine disrupting compound (EDC) discharge into watersheds has been identified as major issues that will continue to negatively impact the health of the Potomac River watershed. While municipal wastewater treatment facilities (WWTPs) have been implicated as contributors of these contaminants, it is known that non-point sources (e.g. agricultural runoff or urban/suburban runoff) dominate surface discharges in the Potomac River watershed and that EDCs can be discharged from these non-point sources. If the desired goal is to minimize the impacts of EDCs on the Potomac River, there is a critical need to accurately quantify the relative input of each discharge on the overall endocrine disruption in the Potomac River watershed. De-convoluting the complex set of EDC inputs to the Potomac River watershed presents a difficult task. To address this task, DC Water and Hazen and Sawyer have assembled a collaborative team of regional experts to combine geochemical markers, advanced effluent/natural organic material characterization methods, advanced analytical chemistry methods and EDC toxicological profiling to help resolve impacts from WWTP discharges relative to urban runoff and agricultural inputs. The two objectives of the study are to: (1) Evaluate the upstream and downstream impacts from ‘best-in-class’ nutrient control, agriculture management, stormwater management and wastewater treatment strategies, and (2) Assess the relative contribution of EDCs from the above sources, evaluating the impact on the Potomac as a Resource and a Drinking Water Supply. Project planning and kickoff occurred in the 4th quarter 2014, and an intensive sampling campaign occurred during 2015. Utilizing methods developed in the Water Research Foundation Project 4260: “EDC/PPCP Benchmarking and Monitoring Strategies for Drinking Water Utilities”, the project team was able to apply land use information and determine potential “hot spots” for impact analysis, and determine the appropriate resolution in sampling frequency in order to ensure accurate information regarding representative levels of these contaminants are assessed. Evaluations of preliminary data have uncovered Interesting correlations between BMPs and concentrations of EDCs, and between EDC activity and measured estrogens and degradation products and nutrient water quality data. This presentation will provide an opportunity to update the Drinking Water Community on preliminary results of the important study, providing a blueprint for utilities faced with similar questions to address the issues in their watersheds.

Room 205 9/1/2016 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Presenter: John Civardi, Hatch Mott MacDonald


Title: Treatment of 1,4-Dioxane Using Advanced Oxidation at Artesian Water Company’s Llangollen Wellfield

Abstract: The Artesian Water Company (Artesian) Llangollen Wellfield has a capacity of 2.2 MGD. The Llangollen Wellfield is located in New Castle County Delaware. The wellfield represents approximately 10% of Artesian’s total production capacity. Treatment was limited historically to aeration, chlorination, and pH adjustment. In 2000, bis(2-chloroethyl) ether (BCEE) was discovered in three of the wells. Subsequently, granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment was provided for the removal of BCEE. The GAC system consists of three parallel trains of two vessels with each vessel containing 20,000 pounds of GAC. GAC changeout from 2011-2014 was occurring every 3 to 4 months. In 2013, 1,4-dioxane was detected in one of the wells at levels of concern, and Artesian removed the well from service. Monitoring wells at a nearby landfill found 1,4-dioxane as high as 300 µg/L. The Delaware Department of Public Health requires that levels above 3.5 µg/L of 1,4-dioxane be reported. Artesian conducted a treatability study that evaluated multiple types of advance oxidation processes. The study found that using UV-hydrogen peroxide and quenching the hydrogen peroxide with the existing GAC system was the most cost-effective treatment option to remove 1,4-dioxane. A bench testing program was then conducted to evaluate impact of the UV-hydrogen system on the existing GAC system as well as to optimize the UV and hydrogen peroxide dosages. The bench testing program involved the use of Rapid Small Scale Column Tests (RSSCT) to simulate the performance of the GAC. RSSCTs were first performed to simulate the existing treatment plant and the performance of the RSSCTs matched the performance of the existing GAC system. The raw water was then treated using a bench type UV-hydrogen peroxide system and run through RSSCTs. The bench testing found that UV hydrogen peroxide system would remove additional BCEE along with the 1,4 Dioxane system. The full-scale treatment system includes two UV reactors, each with 144 lamps, which are sized to provide 2-log (99%) reduction of 1,4-dioxane. The system was placed into service in October 2014. As of December 2015, the system has achieved excellent results for BCEE and 1,4-Dioxane, as there have been no detections for either compound after the UV-AOP system. The first breakthrough of BCEE through the lead carbon filters occurred in December of 2015, meaning the carbon life has been extended by 3 or 4 times the life prior to the installation of the UV-AOP system. This paper describes critical components associated with the treatability study, bench studies, design, and initial operation, and nearly two years of operating data.



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Room 205 9/1/2016 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Presenter: Russell Ford, CH2M


Title: Finding a Cost Effective Solution for Challenging Manganese and TOC Removal

Abstract: The existing Oswestry Water Treatment Works is a 210 Ml/d plant operated by United Utilities (UU). The main treatment process consists of a direct filtration plant with rapid gravity filters. The existing RGFs, built approximately 12 years ago, cannot cope with the rising concentrations of raw water organics and color. The existing SSFs, which follow the RGFs, are approximately 100 years old and significant investment will be required to maintain the structures and address issues such as bacteriological risk, structural stability, flow control and leakage. The objective for this project is to ensure reliable manganese removal to achieve a very low concentration in the final water, thus reducing discoloured water complaints in the supply network. For manganese control, the technologies considered were 2nd stage filtration, chlorine dioxide, intermediate ozonation and maintaining the SSFs. For TOC control, enhanced coagulation, MIEX, Ozone/BAC, and maintaining the SSFs were evaluated. The results from the cost evaluation and impacts on the existing WTW assessment recommend the low cost option. This low cost option consists of chlorine dioxide, enhanced coagulation, clarification and RGFs. Bench-scale testing was conducted to provide some additional insight into the ability of these processes to remove the TOC in the water. The project is a part of a design build, where the cost effective solution had to be guaranteed for both capex and opex for a 20 year life. The manganese treatment goals were 0.4 ug/L 80% of the time, with no manganese concentration greater than 12.5 ug/L. The TOC removal goals were 1.17 mg/L on average with noTOC concentration greater than 1.75 mg/L. In addition, the recommended solution had never been used in the UK and had to achieve regulatory and organization approval. The project is currently being built with portions of the plant already installed (included the filter modifications). The presentation will present the decision process, process selection and the challenges with having to guarantee such stringent water quality goals.

Room 205 9/1/2016 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Presenter: Paul Hargette, Black & Veatch


Title: Utilizing Physical-Scale and CFD Modeling to Optimize Hanahan WTP’s Flocculation and Clarification Processes

Abstract: Charleston Water System owns and operates the Hanahan Water Treatment Plant (HWTP) located in Berkeley County, SC. The HWTP is the largest potable water treatment facility in the state with a permitted capacity of 115.4 million gallons per day (mgd). Treatment includes coagulation, flocculation, clarification, filtration, and disinfection. The HWTP’s clarification process consists of five (5) conventional sedimentation basins and one (1) high-rate basin with inclined plate settlers (Basin 6). The inclined plate settler basin has not performed as anticipated since its initial installation in the early 2000s. Charleston Water System has been working over the last several years on modifications/operational enhancements to improve the performance of the flocculation/inclined plate settler basin (Basin 6), and also to optimize design configurations and criteria for construction of future basins. This paper will discuss the evaluations that have taken place at the Hanahan WTP over the last several years, specifically related to optimization of flocculation, including full-scale evaluation of changing the location of coagulant addition to improve settlability, physical-scale modeling of the existing flocculation basin to reduce short-circuiting and improve treatment, and CFD modeling of three different flocculation basin alternatives to determine the preferred configuration for future basins. This information will be useful for other utilities for innovative methods and solutions to improve performance and design of coagulation, flocculation and clarification processes.



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Room 205 9/1/2016 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Presenter: Christina Alito, HDR


Title: Evaluation of Biofiltration Optimization Strategies at 15 North American Utilities with Various Source Water Qualities

Abstract: Biological filtration (biofilter) acceptance and use is gaining momentum in the drinking water industry. While significant progress has been made to establish baseline operation and control of biofilters, additional guidance is necessary to (1) identify source water quality parameters and upstream treatment processes that impact the efficacy of biofiltration treatment, and (2) provide clear and concise engineering guidance on how to optimize biofiltration under these conditions. Water Research Foundation Project #4555, “Optimizing Biofiltration for Various Source Water Qualities,” is focused on developing this guidance. The overall objective of this project is to identify biofilter enhancement and monitoring strategies that yield reliable, sustained, and robust achievement of the treatment and provide a decision framework for utilities. Although biological filtration has been put into operation at many water treatment plants, process improvement methods are needed to address factors that affect performance. First, varying source water types play a large role in performance efficiency; characteristics such as seasonal temperature changes, nutrient loads, and influent particulate matter can great impact biofiltration operation. Second, upstream treatments, like coagulation and sedimentation processes, influence nutrient availability, pH, and particle charge (zeta potential) which may impact filtration performance and biological activity. The WRF #4555 study hopes to address these factors by evaluating the optimization of the following parameters for biofiltration performance: upstream coagulation/sedimentation treatments, pre-oxidant addition, nutrient enhancement, backwash optimization, and media configuration. This presentation will present results from pilot-scale and full-scale studies of biofilter optimization at fifteen North American utilities, including two from Virginia (Fairfax Water and Newport News Waterworks), with a wide range of source water types over full seasonal variations. The results presented herein demonstrate that fine-tuning of biofiltration optimization strategies will allow for improved biofiltration hydraulic performance and enhanced water quality. Preliminary data collected from implementation of strategies has shown that upstream holistic optimization of coagulation/sedimentation processes with biofiltration paired with effective oxidant addition with can yield improved hydraulics and water quality at a reduced operational cost. Examples of effective process modifications for utilities to implement for improved biofiltration operation will be presented and compared across source waters and treatment trains. This research will benefit the drinking water community by providing a clear framework on how to monitor and control the biological processes in a biofilter, to realize the benefits of biofiltration as an engineered and controlled process.

Room 205 9/2/2016 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Presenter: Carrie DeSimone, Duffield Associates, Inc.


Title: The Town of Millsboro Beneficial Reuse Project

Abstract: Mandated to eliminate wastewater discharge into the tributary of the Inland Bays in order to comply with the TMDL, The Town of Millsboro, Delaware upgraded its wastewater treatment facility with an ultrafiltration membrane bioreactor (MBR) system capable of producing reclaimed water. Although not mandated by the Pollution Control Strategy developed for the Inland Bays, the Town chose the MBR process to be designed to produce high-quality reclaimed water, which maximized the Town’s alternatives for disposal of the WWTF effluent. The WWTF was constructed with three reclaimed water force mains to allow flexibility in use of reclaimed water at various locations throughout town. The Town’s wastewater reuse strategy centers around several advantages of water reuse over stream discharge including: Reuse recharges valuable ground water supplies used for drinking water and irrigation; Reuse reduces pollutant loading to surface waters; Reuse can mitigate costly investment for development of new water sources and supplies; and Reuse allows multiple uses of land for agriculture and reuse of reclaimed water. In 2011, one of the 18-inch force mains was extended to the Millsboro Middle School for use as irrigation water on the sports fields. The purple reclaimed water PVC pipe was designed in accordance with EPA Guidelines for Water Reuse, and is the first publicly-owned water reuse system of its kind in the state of Delaware. In 2013, the force main was extended over 4.0 miles to a 438-acre parcel owned by the Town (commonly known as the White Farm) for use as irrigation on an existing farm field and for aquifer recharge through 7 rapid infiltration basins (RIBs). The beneficial reuse main was constructed to both a booster pumping station for the irrigation spray pivot and to a 2.74 million gallon above-grade bolted stainless steel storage tank. The storage tank was designed and constructed to AWWA D103 standards and provides the head needed for gravity dosing of the RIBs. The area of the RIBs totals 8.29 acres and the capacity of the spray irrigation and RIBs is approximately 0.75 MGD and 1.2 MGD respectively. With this capacity of 1.2 MGD, Millsboro’s RIBs are the first and largest municipal RIB system in Delaware. Because Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) staff were developing RIB design and operations guidelines and regulations during development of this project, the project served as a test of some of the concepts being developed. The Town is currently completing six (6) months of full scale basin testing through the measurement of RIB dosing volumes, water levels, infiltration rates and groundwater response. These tests have shown that RIB performance exceeds expectations.



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Room 205 9/2/2016 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenter: Leita Bennett, GHD Inc.


Title: AlexRenew Brings Reclaimed Water to Alexandria, Virginia

Abstract: Alexandria Renew Enterprises (AlexRenew) sits just inside the city limits of Alexandria, Virginia, one of the oldest towns in America. As part of its commitment to water resource recovery, AlexRenew constructed a new reclaimed water system that, in its initial phase, can supply up to 2 million gallons a day of reclaimed water to commercial, residential and industrial customers and, as a result, reduce nutrients discharged to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. AlexRenew’s reclaimed water system uses the first in-line ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system in Virginia. This paper will discuss considerations associated with the selection of an in-line UV system and its performance during initial start-up. The in-line UV system supplements the main, open channel UV disinfection system that was first installed back in 2000. Due to the excellent transmissivity results from the main treatment plant processes, lower UV doses could be applied using the in-line system. This helped reduce capital and maintenance costs. Further considerations were given to the potential for using UV in an open channel versus using in-line UV. Results of these investigations demonstrated that AlexRenew would need to use one of their six channels for supplemental equipment, if open channel UV disinfection was selected. Since this option would preclude future expansion of the main, open channel UV system, an in-line UV system was eventually selected. Construction of AlexRenew’s reclaimed water system was complete at the end of 2015. A host of lessons learned during equipment testing, start-up, and initial operation with low demand will be shared with the audience.

Room 205 9/2/2016 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Presenter: Timothy King, CDM Smith


Title: Designing for Sustainability and Water Reuse at the Durward E. Grubbs Jr. Environmental Center at the H.L. Mooney Advanced Water Reclamation Facility

Abstract: The Prince William County Service Authority (PWCSA) is an independent public body responsible for providing and operating a comprehensive drinking water and water reclamation system serving a quarter of a million customers. PWCSA provides customers high quality drinking water drawn from three primary sources: the Occoquan Reservoir, Potomac River and Lake Manassas. Wastewater from PWCSA’s service area is treated at two different facilities in Northern Virginia. The H. L. Mooney Advanced Water Reclamation Facility (AWRF) in Woodbridge, along the U.S. 1 corridor near the Potomac River, treats wastewater from the eastern portion of the County. Originally completed in 1979, the facility had a sewage treatment capacity of 12 million gallons per day (MGD). Major upgrades in 1997 increased treatment capacity to 18 MGD. In 2010, CDM Smith assisted PWCSA with an award-winning upgrade that expanded capacity to 24 MGD and reduced nutrient discharges to meet environmental standards, an important part of protecting the nation’s largest and most naturally productive estuary—the Chesapeake Bay. Recently, CDM Smith assisted the Authority through another transformation at the H.L. Mooney AWRF; design and construction of the Durward E. Grubbs Jr. Environmental Center which opened in 2015. The new multipurpose building houses the plant’s Administration staff, the Water Quality Laboratory and an Environmental Education Center. The facility supports a collaborative and state-of-the-art work environment and will educate the Chesapeake Bay community about environmental stewardship. Designed for LEED® v2009 Certification, the new facility incorporates numerous sustainable strategies including extensive natural light, optimized energy performance and several innovative approaches for efficient water usage and waste reduction. Reclaimed plant water will be used instead of potable water in flushing fixtures and make-up water for treatment cooling towers. Environmental stewardship and community education will also be front-and-center in the new public learning center. Interactive exhibits will educate visitors on ways the Mooney facility protects the Chesapeake Bay and provides safe, reliable drinking water to the community. Exhibits will showcase steps for water conservation and a separate viewing gallery will allow visitors to see into a fully operational water quality laboratory.



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Room 205 9/2/2016 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Presenter: Thomas Dumm, O'Brien & Gere


Title: AWWA Manual M50, Water Resources Planning – Achieving Sustainable Solutions for Multiple Water Systems in Central Tennessee

Abstract: AWWA Manual M50 (third edition), Water Resources Planning, was recently prepared by AWWA’s Water Resources Planning and Management Committee and associated volunteer authors to help water resource planners who are facing the challenge of accommodating a growing demand for water, while addressing competing uses and complying with the myriad of regulations that govern the development and use of new water supplies. This manual is a guide that will allow the utility to develop and implement a comprehensive planning document that responds to technical and institutional questions that must be addressed before deciding how to develop new water supplies. The overarching principle addressed in the M50 Manual is sustainability through utilization of reliable supply sources to meet water consumption needs today and in the future, while maintaining water quality. This manual provides the planner with a stepwise process for determining how best to meet future water supply needs and includes the following topics: drivers for plan development, water rights, water supply alternatives, water demands and needs, water quality, evaluation criteria, and screening and selection of a portfolio of alternatives based on financial, social and environmental considerations. A case study for four water systems in central Tennessee will be presented to illustrate the planning process and techniques in the M50 manual and the benefits derived including: addressing the urgent need for additional water supply, using revenues from near-term water sales to help finance a project to improve regional resiliency, bolstering interconnections between water systems, and developing a sustainable solution that will be financially viable and viewed favorably by the regulatory agencies, water utility representatives and the public.

Room 205 9/2/2016 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Presenter: Chris Behr, HDR


Title: Sustainability Analysis of Groundwater Recharge and Desalinization - Case Study from Monterey, CA

Abstract: Decision makers at all levels regularly face challenges in evaluating tradeoffs in project investments while responding to different stakeholders’ interests in financially astute, environmentally benign and resilient. These pressures are particularly acute in Monterey, CA where a variety of environmental and water supply pressures have forced the State Water Resources Control Board to require that the local utility, Cal-American (Cal-Am), replace nearly 70 percent of the water supply provided to Monterey Peninsula by the end of December 2016. To meet the objective of the state order, a groundwater recharge program needs to be substantially complete by the end of 2016. Cal-Am is currently concerned that this facility may not be ready in time to meet the deadline, and has tentatively retained two capacity options for the desalination plant: 6.4 mgd with GWR and 9.6 mgd without GWR. HDR was engaged in 2015 to support the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District and Cal-Am to evaluate options. HDR has applied its Sustainable Return on Investment (SROI) process. SROI is an economics-based approach to project evaluation and applies peer-reviewed evidence to account for and communicate financial, social and environmental outcomes in both monetary and non-monetary terms. The SROI process separately determines potential financial lifecycle cost savings of a proposed project relative to existing conditions. SROI also estimates the value of environmental (e.g. air pollution, water pollution, etc.) and social impacts (e.g. health effects, safety, etc.). SROI measures impacts in monetary terms to the extent possible to establish a common basis for evaluating tradeoffs. It also identifies key indicators that communicate impacts more tangibly. The process of SROI in establishing credibility in final results however is as important as the results themselves. We do this by convening and facilitating workshops to discuss the model, data and data gaps, and modeling of uncertainty. The results are then ultimately developed so that comparisons can be made among alternatives that suit each client’s need to communicate results to sometimes a broad array of stakeholders. For the District, HDR has evaluated environmental and social benefits with the SROI process, some of which can be monetized, and added to net financial benefits of the smaller desalinization plant. These benefits include: (a) Avoided emissions of green house gas (GHG) and criteria air contaminants (CAC) with the smaller plant; (b) Avoided costs of pumping Carmel river water with the accelerated completion of the GWR; (c) Avoided fines associated with non-compliance with cease and desist orders from Carmel river diversions; (d) Avoided groundwater pumping costs with the GWR and desal plants provide fresh water supplies for use in irrigation for agriculture; (e) Avoided capital and O&M costs at the Salinas industrial wastewater treatment plant by utilizing diverted wastewater from the plant; (f) Savings to agricultural producers by utilizing nutrients in recycled water. Other non-monetary factors included: enhanced water supply security, improved water quality, and improved drought resiliency. This paper will outline the context, methods, data and results as a general application of SROI and specific case water reuse and desalinization.



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Room 206 8/31/2016 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Presenter: Meredith Neely, CH2M


Title: MS4 Stormwater Retrofits in the Patapsco Tidal Watershed

Abstract: Now two years into their Phase I NPDES MS4 permit term, stormwater retrofit projects in Anne Arundel County related to the Chesapeake Bay restoration requirements are gaining momentum. The permit requirements of achieving TMDL pollutant load reductions and restoring 20% of untreated impervious surfaces are significant, making effective BMP planning and implementation critical towards compliance. This presentation will provide a holistic overview of ongoing stormwater restoration work in the high priority subwatersheds of the Patapsco Tidal, from strategy and planning through BMP selection and design. The majority of restoration work to date has been completed as capital projects through the County’s Watershed Protection and Restoration Program, funded largely by residents via the stormwater remediation fee. New BMPs, retrofit of existing facilities constructed prior to stormwater quality requirements, as well as alternative practices are included in the restoration strategy on a large scale for both public and private lands. A variety of retrofit practices are planned for the Patapsco Tidal watershed, which extends from the north end of the County near the BWI airport, towards the east to the Patapsco River. Projects range from implementation of new, centralized practices such as wetlands and infiltration basins, to retrofit of existing dry ponds, to in-channel alternative practices such as regenerative step pool stormwater conveyance and stream restoration. Through a 2015 constraints analysis of two subwatersheds in Patapsco Tidal (Cabin Branch and Back Creek), CH2M demonstrated that MS4 compliance could not be achieved without the use of alternative practices. Subsequently, 15 strategic projects were planned in each subwatershed by identifying and analyzing sites using desktop and field methods, screening based on feasibility and non-cost criteria prioritization, and ranking based primarily on treatment cost efficiency. Several of these projects are moving into various stages of design, with projects slated for construction starting in 2017. Calculation and documentation of impervious acre treatment and TMDL pollutant credit for MS4 permit accounting will be discussed in the presentation. Site specific challenges and solutions, as well as early lessons learned in both the planning and design processes, will also be shared. Last, this presentation will provide an overview of how work in the Patapsco Tidal watershed fits into the County’s overall MS4 program restoration goals.

Room 206 8/31/2016 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Presenter: Fernando Pasquel, Arcadis


Title: Integrating Asset Management Concepts in the Inspections and Maintenance of BMPs

Abstract: Thousands of stormwater BMPs (conventional and green infrastructure) have been built throughout the nation and most NPDES MS4 permits require that they be maintained. A well-structured inspection and maintenance program will reduce life-cycle costs and will provide valuable information to comply with MS4 permit requirements as well as improve future design standards. This paper will help personnel responsible for designing, permitting, and maintaining stormwater BMPs to learn how BMPs work so inspections and maintenance programs can be tailored to specific community needs. Lessons learned on why BMPs need to be maintained will be used to illustrate best practices as well as design considerations that impact maintenance. Elements of maintenance program, including routine and non-routine elements, will be discussed using case studies from Virginia and the Nation. Stormwater BMPs that are not maintained are likely to fail. Because green infrastructure facilities are distributed throughout a site, neighborhood, or watershed, their maintenance can be perceived as more expensive and difficult than for conventional practices. Regardless of the location or type of BMPs, the typical municipal maintenance crew will need different skill sets to accommodate the maintenance requirements of green infrastructure. A recent publication by WEF’s Stormwater Institute entitled “Rainfall to Results: The Future of Stormwater” stated that “inadequate attention to operations and maintenance and a lack of effective planning for repair and replacement are one of the biggest current weaknesses of stormwater management”. This paper will also summarize the steps needed to establish a stormwater asset management approach to maintenance that could address the current weaknesses. This approach is proactive and risk-based rather than reactive. A brief overview of EPA/WERF’s 10-step asset management process will be provided as a framework for implementation. Case studies on conditions assessments, asset ranking, and consequences of failure for conventional and green infrastructure BMPs/assets will be presented.



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Room 206 8/31/2016 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenter: Matthew Jones, Hazen and Sawyer


Title: Forecasting Costs and Comprehensive Benefits of Stormwater Quality Improvements

Abstract: Understanding the costs associated with improving stormwater quality and conveying the benefits provided by these expenditures to the public are among the key challenges MS4s face within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Further adding complexity to these efforts are the nature of changing construction and maintenance costs and variable water quality improvement credits over the life of implementation efforts that may span decades and include dozens or hundreds of stormwater controls. An online computer tool was developed to track local construction and maintenance costs for stormwater controls along with water quality benefits and environmental, social, and economic co-benefits. The tool utilizes tracking information on implementation costs and benefits to forecast a range of future program costs based upon water quality improvement needs. Specific data entry requirements vary based upon the type of stormwater control, but include basic information regarding contributing drainage, system sizing, design components, and site characteristics. User interface elements and data validation rules guide and standardize data entry to facilitate analysis and forecasting. Assessments of water quality benefits account for pollutant and volume reductions utilizing procedures and efficiencies consistent with the Chesapeake Bay Program, with options to augment results based upon local performance monitoring efforts. Similarly, co-benefits evaluations are based upon literature review results, but can be modified to reflect locally relevant findings and priorities. Utilizing recorded tracking information, the tool forecasts anticipated costs and benefits for an individual stormwater control or group of stormwater controls. A weighting scheme prioritizes the use of projects with similar characteristics in forecasting costs and benefits to improve the relevance of results, while also providing an illustration of the full range of potential variability. These evaluations have demonstrated that individual project and overall program costs vary substantially based upon the use of typical cost estimates versus actual costs, as well as other factors like stormwater control selection, design configuration, and site characteristics. In parallel to cost forecasts, quantifying the co-benefits of stormwater controls has provided valuable information to engage the public and justify the value of increased stormwater expenditures.

Room 206 8/31/2016 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Presenter: Elford Jackson, RK&K Engineers


Title: Sustainability: Urban Stormwater Management that Fits

Abstract: The Morgan State University (MSU) Center for the Built Environment and Infrastructure Studies (CBEIS) project was an effort to create a state-of-the-art sustainable building to house the research and instructional programs. The site is an approximately 6.10 acres in size and is located in Baltimore City, Maryland. The University (MSU) redeveloped an existing surface parking lot to construct a shared 252,900 sq.ft. facility for academic engineering and design programs. The projects overall design intent was to incorporate as many green features as possible with a focus on sustainable LEED elements. As a part of the design process, the (BMP) used for stormwater management were considered as essential components to help the University obtain its green objectives.The pre-construction conditions provided a number of challenges for the project. Situate in an semi-urban environment, the site was constrained by an arterial roadway to the west, an existing academic building to the south that required access during construction, and steep slopes along the northern and eastern fringes that transition to a receiving watercourse area known as Herring Run.The MSU administrators in accordance with the projects overall theme for sustainability, requested that the civil engineering team provide a design that would adhere to the new MDE 2009 guidelines and provide qualitative control for 50% of the project’s impervious area. The constructed BMP’s were designed to meet the University’s directive.The intent of the BMP was to provide a stormwater management approach that would fit the context sensitivity of the site and provide an leaning opportunity that emphasizes sustainable practices. The design was able to reduce the impervious areas by installing pervious paver and green roof area. These two specific elements helped to reduce the discharge rate. The pervious paver section and green roof conveyed overflow drainage into two separate bioretention facilities. Both bio-retention facilities are designed to retain and treat the water quality volume through the use of planting soils as filter beds for removing total suspended solids and phosphorus loadings.Inside the CBEIS building, the University elected to install two 2,000 gallon cisterns that collect rain water from the roof of the building. The cisterns are located in an open room that allows students to observe the rain harvesting process. The equipment used to treat and filter the water is strategically located to show the process of how the grey water is then conveyed to the restrooms for flushing. Overflow for the cisterns is directed to the bio-retention areas again, facilitating the combination of BMPs in a series.The project was unique in that it was the perfect vessel for introducing sustainable applications to a new generation of architects and engineers. The combination of LEED focused elements that included grey water collection, photovoltaic glass, day lighting studies, solar thermal for domestic hot water, and combination BMP practices using pervious pavers, green roof, cisterns, and bio-retention areas all contribute to the University’s green philosophy.



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Room 206 8/31/2016 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Presenter: Radhika Wijetunge, Brown & Caldwell


Title: Every Drop Counts: The Howard County Watershed Stewards Academy's Work with Public Stakeholders

Abstract: The Watershed Stewards Academy (WSA) is a training program to empower residents to improve groundwater recharge potential and the water quality of local streams through community outreach and implementation of small-scale stormwater management practices. The Academy provides Stewards with knowledge and expertise from lecturers, training in using watershed assessment tools for analyzing stormwater runoff, and hands-on experience leading stormwater management and behavior change projects. Once training is complete, a volunteer becomes a Master Watershed Steward, and assists the community. Their duties include: educating the public about the need to prevent stormwater pollution; engaging and educating a wide range of citizens in critical water quality improvement projects; serving as a resource for family, friends, and the community on actions they can take to improve their watersheds; and receiving technical support from a consortium of professionals on design, implementation, and fundraising The Howard County WSA was developed by an Advisory Committee with members from University of Maryland Extension-Howard County; Howard County Office of Environmental Sustainability and Dept. of Public Works; Columbia Association; Howard County Legacy Leadership Institute for the Environment; and the local volunteer community. Howard County WSA has benefited from the advice and cooperation of the Watershed Stewards Academies of Anne Arundel County and the National Capitol Region. Grant funding to develop this program were provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Howard County. Implementing residential stormwater BMPs, while critical for compliance with the 2025 Bay TMDL, is of equal importance for aquifer recharge and Maryland’s drinking water supply. The WSAs work to compliment the county’s watershed plans by educating and advising homeowners and homeowner associations on best management practices to reduce the volume of stormwater runoff. Currently, the Howard County WSA has trained 23 Stewards, and 8 more are undergoing training. They have planted 1,238 native trees and 21,780 square feet of streamside forest buffers; removed 1002 linear feet of invasive plants; stenciled 59 storm drains; installed 10 rain barrels and cisterns; and established 13 rain gardens and conservation landscapes (totalling 16,713 square feet of project space) throughout Howard County. Overall, 2,533 people have been reached through public outreach projects. The WSA currently works with 14 HOA’s and neighborhoods. Volunteers have put in over 4,500 hours in helping residents with the various projects. In addition, 22 stream assessments, 38 resident site assessments, and 31 presentations/workshops have been conducted. This presentation will address how Master Watershed Stewards’ implementation of BMPs offset the impact of impervious cover. Attention will be given to how WSA, through education, accomplishes its mission and the practices it uses to do so. Details will be given on the Howard County WSA, it’s training of their volunteer Stewards, and lessons learned along the way. The anticipated outcome for the presentation is to challenge stakeholders to become involved with their local Watershed Stewards Academy.

Room 206 8/31/2016 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Presenter: Alan Davis, Hazen and Sawyer


Title: A Comprehensive Approach to Stormwater Asset Management Planning

Abstract: The City of Virginia Beach, Virginia Public Works Operations (PWO) has taken a proactive approach to stormwater asset management planning through condition assessment, prioritization, and rehabilitation and/or replacement of their storm water infrastructure assets. This approach has resulted in a methodology for condition assessment that considers specific storm water system criteria and effectively prioritizes improvements for the evaluated assets. This paper will present the methodology used to perform the specific storm water asset condition assessment, condition rating and prioritization of improvements. A storm water infrastructure specific coding system was developed to supplement the standards of the Pipeline Assessment and Certification Program (PACP) as established by National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO). Supplemental defect codes for CCTV assessment and a unique above ground defect coding system were developed to analyze the relationship between buried storm water infrastructure and above ground documented defects. The applied coding system and analysis were utilized to generate an asset grading system. The asset grading system utilizes a quantitative risk assessment approach to identify the assets that represent the highest risk to the owner. Combining the probability of asset failure based upon the overall pipe rating and the magnitude of the loss related to the asset’s combination of relative geographic position, physical features, and past performance generates the asset’s improvement prioritization ranking. Building upon the prioritization ranking, individual asset improvement costs are determined by defining specific construction methods and associated costs. The associated costs are arranged cumulatively and compared to the owner’s threshold for capital improvement expenditures in order to determine the specific assets to be rehabilitated or replaced. This project offers significant benefit to the asset management community due to its unique risk based analysis approach, coding system, and resulting correlation between above ground and buried asset defect observations. The owner benefited by utilizing a defendable, analytical approach to infrastructure capital improvement prioritization and the efficient use of capital funding. To date, approximately 450,000 linear feet of storm water infrastructure has been analyzed and prioritized with programmed cost savings associated with this methodology exceeding $5 million for the first year alone. Construction is complete of the first basin and the second basin is scheduled to be complete by Summer 2016.



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Room 206 8/31/2016 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Presenter: Roland Steiner, WSSC


Title: Benefits of Both Local and Regional Approaches for the Sustainable Use of Resources and Facilities

Abstract: Sustainability in our water and wastewater agencies is enhanced by the efficient use of our resources and facilities, both within our utility service areas and in coordination with others in the region. At the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), we increase technical, personnel and financial efficiencies by the following programs in water, wastewater, and crosscutting issues. Through a series of agreements, WSSC joined the District of Columbia, US Army corps of Engineers, Fairfax Water, and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) in the provision of raw water resources to serve the Washington Metropolitan Area. The cooperative and coordinated relationship among these entities results in technical optimization and cost minimization. This is accomplished by jointly funding capital and O & M costs for upstream reservoirs in order to augment low flow in the Potomac River during droughts. The coordinated use of the Potomac reservoirs with those on the Patuxent and Occoquan rivers is accomplished through the ICPRB for the combined benefit of WSSC, Fairfax Water and the Washington Aqueduct (which serves DC Water and parts of northern Virginia). This arrangement has saved hundreds of millions of dollars of avoided cost and environmental impact of new resource development. In one-to-one arrangements, WSSC has (and is considering the expansion of) treated water interconnections with our adjacent utilities and jurisdictions, including: DC Water, City of Rockville, Ann Arundel Co., Howard Co., Charles Co., and Fairfax Water. WSSC realizes economies of scale and reduction of environmental impacts of sewage transmission and treatment by connecting to the collection systems of our neighbors: DC Water, Poolesville, and Charles County. Two thirds of WSSC’s sewage and all of the sewage from the City of Rockville is transmitted through WSSC's system to DC Water’s Blue Plains AWWTP. All of that sewage receives state of the art treatment, with the added environmental and economic benefits of residual solids being reduced by half through thermal hydrolysis and anaerobic digestion, followed by 30% of the plant’s electricity demand generated from on-site turbines powered by the digester gas. Through the current purchase of wind-power-generated electricity, installation of solar panels and planned digester gas-burning turbines, WSSC will generate increasing amounts of “green” power to meet the electricity needs of its facilities. Further, WSSC is sharing its knowledge and experience in the management and maintenance of sewage pumping stations at the military’s Joint Base Anacostia Bolling; and exploring the re-use of wastewater treatment plant effluent for power plant cooling. These examples of technical and financial efficiencies are available as current elements of a sustainable future for the water and wastewater utilities in our region. Additionally, they deliver so-called triple bottom line (economic, environmental, and social) benefits to our customers.

Room 206 8/31/2016 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Presenter: Essey Woldemariam, DC Water


Title: Equitably Sharing O &M Costs for Multi-Jurisdictional Use Facilities A Defensible Approach for Allocating O&M Costs Between DC Water and Client Jurisdictions

Abstract: The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) is a regional utility that provides drinking water and wastewater treatment to more than 600,000 residential, commercial and governmental customers in the District of Columbia (the District), and also collects and treats wastewater for 1.6 million customers in Montgomery and Prince George's counties in Maryland and Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia. Sewers and pumping stations inside the District’s boundaries that serve both the suburbs and the District are known as multi-jurisdictional use facilities (MJUF). DC Water recently assessed long-term rehabilitation and annual Operation and Maintenance (O&M) needs for its entire sewer system, including MJUFs. It was found that the current cost allocation methodology was not very well understood and not equitable. The presentation discusses how DC Water developed a fair and justifiable method to allocate annual MJUF O&M costs among user jurisdictions, including the District. To achieve this goal, DC Water verified the sewershed boundaries within the District, identified locations where sewer sheds discharge into MJUFs, and developed a new methodology to determine O&M cost share. The challenge was to develop a methodology that was as simple as possible, fair and did not result in too much administrative cost to implement. Several cost allocation methods were presented to the jurisdictions and the most appropriate one was selected. According to current practice, DC Water charges suburban jurisdictions annually for O&M costs for their use of MJUF sewers based on the annual average flow they discharge to the MJUFs. The flow from suburban jurisdictions is metered at or near the District’s boundaries. Flow from District sewersheds into MJUF sewers is not metered but rather calculated as fixed percentages of associated upstream metered suburban flows. This method is not fair since District cost is always tied to jurisdictional costs so the District will not benefit even if its flow is reduced in any given year. District flows can be calculated indirectly by subtracting suburban flow at the boundary from pumping station flow and used to do a flow balance and adjust the estimates for calculated District sewer shed flows as needed. The proposed methodology uses the flow balance calculation and the need for a simple cost share tool to derive 12 flow routes with a normalized cost split for each. The proportion of flow and the distance travelled along an MJUF for each jurisdiction was used to normalize the user share for each flow route to come up with a simplified cost split for 12 flow routes in the District and along the Potomac Interceptor. The methodology has been accepted by the Blue Plains Regional Committee. This will allow DC Water to apply an improved O&M cost allocation method to MJUF sewers that is defensible and equitable. About $12 million of O & M Costs are expected to be impacted by the new methodology annually over the coming years.



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Room 206 8/31/2016 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Presenter: Eyasu Yilma, DC Water


Title: Multi-Jurisdictional Use Facilities Capital Improvement Cost Sharing

Abstract: The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) is a multi-jurisdictional regional utility that collects and treats wastewater for 1.6 million customers in Washington DC, Montgomery and Prince George's counties in Maryland and Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia. Sewers within the District’s boundaries that serve both the counties and the District are known as multi-jurisdictional use facilities (MJUF). DC Water recently assessed long-term rehabilitation needs for its entire sewer system, including the MJUF sewers. This, in turn, led to a search for a standard method to equitably allocate multi-jurisdictional sewer capital rehabilitation costs among user jurisdictions. This presentation describes the technically sound basis and methods developed by DC Water to equitably allocate capital rehabilitation costs among jurisdictions, and the District, for multi-jurisdictional sewers. It also describes how to identify sewers that were not already officially recognized to function as MJUFs. Additionally, this presentation will describe several examples of how DC Water applies the cost allocation approach for Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) projects. DC Water's recommendation was accepted by Washington DC and the user jurisdictions in June 2013. This significant achievement allowed DC Water to apply a standard capital cost allocation methodology to multi-jurisdictional sewer rehabilitation projects proposed in the 2015 “Sewer System Facility Plan”. This will, in turn, support equitable cost sharing for these projects among user jurisdictions into the future. Altogether, these projects are estimated to cost approximately $93 million over 10 years. DC Water’s recommended approach assumed that the original design capacity of a sewer would have been set to accommodate the peak flow expected from all contributing sources. DC Water also established peak flow allocation limits for the suburban jurisdictions. DC Water reasoned that these limits amounted to capacities reserved for the suburban jurisdictions in the sewer system. Furthermore, if a suburban jurisdiction’s peak flow in a multi-jurisdictional sewer could be determined as a percentage of the sewer’s design capacity, DC Water recommended that percentage to equal the suburban jurisdiction’s share of the capital cost of rehabilitating the sewer to restore or preserve its design capacity. Conversely, DC Water reasoned that the District’s share of the capital cost of rehabilitating a multi-jurisdictional sewer would be the difference between 100 percent and the percentage of the sewer’s design capacity utilized by the suburban jurisdiction’s peak flow. The standard cost allocation methodology provides cost share percentages for each MJUF sewer segment (manhole to manhole), however; the majority of projects comprise more than one segment or more than one cost share zone. The specific project locations are taken into account when DC Water calculates a normalized project level cost split (length-weighted or cost-weighted percentage) to arrive at a unique cost share for the project. Review and approval by all jurisdictions is required before implementing the billing based on the specific project share.

Room 206 9/2/2016 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Presenter: Greg Knight, Black & Veatch


Title: Biogas Utilization - State of the Industry

Abstract: Beneficial utilization of biogas produced from anaerobic digesters at wastewater treatment facilities can be driven by various factors including sustainability and greenhouse gas reduction initiatives, electrical cost savings or revenue, potential revenue from renewable natural gas (RNG) or compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle fuel, and in some situations by synergies with backup power generation. Increased gas production from advanced digestion technologies, treatment of fats, oils, and grease (FOG), co-digestion of food waste, and other initiatives have further opened up interest and possibilities for increasing the return on investment in gas utilization technology. Design of combined heat and power (CHP) systems requires an integrated approach to ensure that process heating needs are met while maximizing the production of electricity. Furthermore, gas cleaning requirements and emissions performance with respect to regulatory requirements need to be fully evaluated for CHP technologies being considered. Recent advances in gas upgrading technology mean that conversion of biogas to renewable natural gas for pipeline injection or, following compression, to compressed natural gas for vehicle fuel are now very viable alternatives to more traditional combined heat and power applications. Deciding on the best and highest use of biogas for a given application requires careful consideration of available options analyzing both economic and site-specific constraints. This paper will provide an analysis of gas utilization options including: - Combined heat & power - Cleaning and compression of biogas for pipeline injection - Cleaning and compression of biogas for use as a vehicle fuel The paper will evaluate how selection of the optimum solution for gas utilization depends on various factors including power cost, natural gas prices, vehicle fuel prices, government incentives for green energy production and logistics associated with beneficial use, such as the size and availability of vehicle fleets. Examples from specific case studies will be included showing how approaches to biogas utilization vary for different situations and economic drivers. This will provide useful information for Utilities who are considering what might be the best use for their biogas.



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Room 206 9/2/2016 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenter: Jonathan Gordon, HDR


Title: Key Factors in Selecting the Appropriate Biogas Utilization Pathway

Abstract: Raw biogas is generated by the anaerobic digestion of organic material present in wastewater. It is primarily composed of methane and carbon dioxide and contains varying amounts of moisture, hydrogen sulfide, siloxanes and other trace compounds. Biogas utilization pathways are processes that transform raw biogas into a valuable end use product. Combined heat and power (CHP) has traditionally been the primary pathway, converting raw biogas into useable process heat and electricity; however, alternative pathways related to renewable energy markets have recently begun to receive increased attention. A rules change to the Renewable Fuel Standard passed in 2014 acknowledged biogas as a valid green energy source and is expected to significantly increase the value of renewable identification numbers (RINs) generated from production of biogas-derived vehicle fuel. The establishment of Renewable Portfolio Standards by a number of states similarly incentivizes generation of electricity from biogas through compliance markets and Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). The emergence of multiple pathways has created new opportunities for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to capitalize on biogas production and utilization. The EPA estimates that domestic WWTPs have the potential to produce 113 billion standard cubic feet of biogas per day, equivalent to 5.6 billion kWh of electricity annually. The American Biogas Council reports that only 1,250 of the 3,208 WWTPs treating more than 1 MGD utilize anaerobic digestion, and of those, nearly one third do not beneficially use the biogas produced. As these processes are increasingly adopted, one of the biggest challenges for producers will be determining how to use biogas most effectively in order to maximize benefits and minimize risks. Biogas utilization pathways are typically divided into two categories based on the level of pretreatment required: combustion and biomethane production. Within these broad classifications, there are numerous options available to biogas producers. For example, CHP systems can be used to generate heat and electricity to offset plant heat and energy demand or sold to the grid to net valuable RECs. Alternatively, raw biogas upgraded to biomethane can be directly injected into pipelines and sold or dispensed on-site to refuel vehicle fleets, offsetting fuel prices and generating RINs. The optimal pathway is partly dependent on site-specific conditions such as raw gas quality, average and peak biogas production rates, equipment efficiencies, permitting issues, operational complexities, and heat and energy demands for each facility. This presentation will focus on other aspects of biogas utilization, outside factors that affect the pathway selection process: capital and operating costs and sources of revenue. Typical equipment costs and the value of the products and renewable credits associated with each option will be identified. Patterns in the RIN and REC markets and predictions for the future will also be discussed. The presentation will conclude with a sensitivity analysis showing how changes in these key drivers can affect the appeal of each utilization pathway.

Room 206 9/2/2016 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Presenter: Metin Duran, Villanova University


Title: Bench-scale Biochemical Methane Potential & Digestibility Assessment of Feedstocks as part of Anaerobic Digester Design for Gloucester County Utilities Authority

Abstract: Gloucester County Utilities Authority (GCUA) is in the process of building two egg-shaped digesters. Designed by Remington and Vernick Engineers, the digesters will replace GCUA’s current approach for sludge management, incineration. As part of the design process, bench-scale Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) tests were designed and carried out by the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Villanova University. The tests were designed to investigate the anaerobic digestibility and BMP of three waste streams that will be fed to the digesters. The waste streams investigated included dried solids (DS) from Harrison and Two Rivers facilities (two streams combined at 50% volatile solids (VS) basis for the BMP study and it is called DS from here on); fats, grease and oil (FOG); and the contents of the blend tank (BT). Each stream is tested at two different loadings: 1.5 g VS/L and 4 g VS/L. Initially, each waste stream was analyzed for its solids contents (both total solids as well as volatile solids). This provided guidance on mass of each stream to be added to BMP reactors. Then the BMP matrix was developed that included a control and two loadings for each of the three waste streams. The BMP tests were conducted according to a slightly modified form of the standard BMP protocol developed originally P.L. McCarty’s group (Owen et al., 1979). Each BMP reactor contained 40 mL seed biomass and corresponding load of waste streams. The operating volume in each reactor was 45 mL and tap water was used to make up the total volume when it was necessary. Each variable is tested in triplicate for the purposes of quality assurance/quality control and statistical analysis. The results indicated that of the three waste streams studied, FOG had the highest BMP per unit mass of VS fed. The 30-day incubation period resulted in BMP of 7.83 and 12.90 ft3 CH4/g VS fed at 1.5 and 4 g VS/L loadings, respectively. The BMP of the BT sample at two loadings studied show a typical trend for sewage sludge (primary sludge and thickened activated sludge) digestion in that BMP per mass is around typical values, 6.17 and 6.85 ft3 CH4/g VS fed, for the 1.5 and 4 h VS/L loads, respectively. The DS samples on the other had limited methane potential as 1.42 and 3.92 ft CH4/lb VS for 1.5 and 4 g VS/L loads, respectively. Overall, the results were useful input into the design of the new digesters as the bench-scale study allowed not only identifying potential feedstocks but also determining optimal loading rates for each waste stream.



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Room 206 9/2/2016 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Presenter: Chris Peot, DC Water


Title: From waste treatment to resource recovery - How DC Water is changing perceptions about it's biosolids reuse program

Abstract: DC Water's successful biosolids program has for years been recognized for it's commitment to high quality product and low odors. Inspections in the field and a certified EMS program have improved public acceptance tremendously. Just a short 10 years ago, the program suffered from complaints and mistrust, but in the past decade DC Water has improved communications and product quality to the point that complaints are non-existent. With the completion of the new digesters at the Blue plains Resource Recovery Facility, DC Water now has a high quality Class A product that is of exceptional value. No longer will the product be treated as a waste, but rather as a valuable asset to be maximized for environmental and economic benefit. This paper will chronicle the past problems and show the steps DC Water took to point the program in a new direction.

Room 206 9/2/2016 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Presenter: Fasil Haile, DC Water


Title: Importance of Anaerobic Digestion Models As Process Monitoring Tools

Abstract: Anaerobic digestion (AD) process is widely applied in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to reduce sludge disposal costs and harvest methane for energy recovery. The AD process is a complex biological process with a series of steps conducted by various microbial communities. This results in creating, intermediate and step-dependent sensitivities in the process. Therefore, most AD reactors are conservatively operated far below their maximum capacity to avoid potential of process upsets. These concerns, however, can be reduced if the necessary tools are available to detect upsets early enough or can predict digester behavior under loading changes. Biogas production rate, pH, concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), alkalinity, percentage of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removed, and Hydrogen (H2) gas partial pressure in the reactor have been used as a performance monitoring parameters. However, because of the complexity of the process, interpretations of the changes[AA1] in these measured parameters could affect the operational procedures. Mathematical AD models are useful to provide detailed explanation of these changes and the status of the digestion process.In this study a 3-phase (aqueous-gas-solid) full element (C, H, O, N, P, S), COD and charge mass balance Plant Wide AD model (PWM_ADM) of Brouckaert et al. (2010) and Ikumi et al. (2011) was used to test the effect of increasing loading on the stability of the AD process. This model defined influent organics concentrations in the generic form CxHyOzNaPbSc and uses routinely measured parameters (e.g. COD, VSS, TOC, TKN, TP) to determine the x,y,z,a,b,c values, and includes features that are critical to model process upsets. Data used in this study was from a lab-scale setup that investigated the performance of THP fed AD reactors operated at different SRTs (10, 15, and 18 days). Model simulations were performed to investigate how biogas production rate and composition, VFA, and H2 concentrations respond to perturbations. This was done by doubling the feed flow (on the 10 day reactor), to obtain a direct HRT shift to 5 days.The outcomes showed that the gas production responded positively to the increase in feed resulting in an instant 20% increase of the gas peak height and total gas production increase with 56%. However, increased CO2 content of the gas (20 to 30%), indicated an immediate accumulation of VFA which inhibited methanogens significantly resulting in lower gas production as the loading peak continued. Looking more into detail, the initial positive gas response coincided with an immediate H2 accumulation resulting in propionate accumulation. As the acetogens were limited, only when sufficient growth was established, net propionate accumulation was minimized. As the methanogens were already inhibited by VFA, the decrease in propionate was only resulting in acetate accumulation and not in improved gas production. Gas profiles therefore showed that increased width of the gas peak was directly correlated with limitation in methanogenensis. These kind of profiles are indicators of potential process upset. Additional sensitivity analysis and experimental data will be added to the final presentations. [AA1]What do you mean here? Do you mean continuous monitoring within the digester?

2016 tri-association conference

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