Sustainability Archive » Type of Utility http://sustainabilityarchive.com a Compendium of Successful Sustainability Practices Fri, 27 May 2011 16:30:27 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Improving Utility O&M and Capital Decisions by Incorporating the Concepts of Asset Condition, Criticality and Risk http://sustainabilityarchive.com/improving-utility-om-and-capital-decisions-by-incorporating-the-concepts-of-asset-condition-criticality-and-risk http://sustainabilityarchive.com/improving-utility-om-and-capital-decisions-by-incorporating-the-concepts-of-asset-condition-criticality-and-risk#comments Fri, 20 May 2011 16:47:36 +0000 justin http://sustainabilityarchive.com/?p=755 Toho Water Authority (TWA) provides water, wastewater and reclaimed water service to
approximately 85,000 customers in Kissimmee Florida. For the past three years the Utility has
been implementing an asset management program for their over $700 million dollars worth of
water, wastewater, and reclaimed water assets. During this program TWA has made significant
investments in asset management information systems including INFOR EAM Computer
Maintenance Management System (CMMS) and an ESRI Geographic Information System (GIS)
database. These two systems now contain the comprehensive asset inventory for the utility. A
built-in interface between the programs allows the CMMS and GIS to integrate and share
information.
Once the software implementation and inventory was complete, TWA wanted to obtain
additional physical, financial, and asset management attributes for their assets to support the
overall asset management program, which includes evaluating asset risk, measuring utility
performance and effectively planning for future renewal and replacement needs. The CMMS
software was configured to store the attribute data in January of 2008 after conducting interactive
workshops with staff to define the attributes. In August of 2008 a pilot project was implemented
to define the process to consistently collect and calculate the asset data including condition,
consequence of failure, risk, and replacement cost for all vertical assets in the utility. The pilot
area contained one water plant, one wastewater plant and 47 lift stations that fed the wastewater
plant. This paper will describe the methodology that was established to obtain and calculate the
data, the results of the data analysis, and uses for the data to further their asset management
program and overall decision making.

]]> http://sustainabilityarchive.com/improving-utility-om-and-capital-decisions-by-incorporating-the-concepts-of-asset-condition-criticality-and-risk/feed 0 NEW PLANT IMPROVEMENTS RESULT IN SUBSTANTIAL O&M COST SAVINGS http://sustainabilityarchive.com/new-plant-improvements-result-in-substantial-om-cost-savings http://sustainabilityarchive.com/new-plant-improvements-result-in-substantial-om-cost-savings#comments Fri, 20 May 2011 16:47:36 +0000 justin http://sustainabilityarchive.com/?p=761 The Hangtown Creek Water Reclamation Facility (HCWRF) is located in the Sierra Nevada
foothills of Northern California. The treatment plant capacity is 101 L/s (2.3 mgd) average dry
weather flow. Substantial improvements were required to comply with new waste discharge
requirements (including nutrient removal, year-round tertiary treatment, reduction of disinfection
byproducts, and effluent cooling) and a cease and desist order, sludge treatment regulations, to
address safety issues. A substantial increase in annual operation and maintenance (O&M) cost
was probable with the addition of the upgraded treatment processes and need to meet more
stringent effluent limits.
The design strategy included upgrading critical processes and replacing inefficient outdated
technology to improve treatment plant efficiency while mitigating increases in overall operation
O&M cost. Since the City service area is of limited size and the number of connections is not
growing, controlling O&M costs was a major concern of the City.

]]> http://sustainabilityarchive.com/new-plant-improvements-result-in-substantial-om-cost-savings/feed 0 A Cost Effective Operation and a Low Carbon Footprint for Solids Reduction Using Thermal Drying http://sustainabilityarchive.com/a-cost-effective-operation-and-a-low-carbon-footprint-for-solids-reduction-using-thermal-drying http://sustainabilityarchive.com/a-cost-effective-operation-and-a-low-carbon-footprint-for-solids-reduction-using-thermal-drying#comments Fri, 20 May 2011 16:47:35 +0000 justin http://sustainabilityarchive.com/?p=764 Many communities are faced with considering a change in how their boisolids processing and disposal
programs will operate in the future. This discussion is coming about due to many biosolids processes that
were installed in the 1970s and 1980s under a different era of reuse and regulation and reaching the end of
their useful life.
To move forward there needs to be the establishment of objectives and goals that an evaluation is to be
built around for the future needs of biosolids processing for the owner/authority. The evaluation should
indentify the process that will be the most cost effective in capital and operation and maintenance costs. In
addition, with today’s concerns regarding climate change every evaluation should evaluate the carbon
footprint created by the various processes.
This is a case study of one evaluation done by the author that turned into a thermal dryer project that has
now been in operation for over six years.

]]> http://sustainabilityarchive.com/a-cost-effective-operation-and-a-low-carbon-footprint-for-solids-reduction-using-thermal-drying/feed 0 Solar Drying of Biosolids – Recent Experiences in Large Installations http://sustainabilityarchive.com/solar-drying-of-biosolids-recent-experiences-in-large-installations http://sustainabilityarchive.com/solar-drying-of-biosolids-recent-experiences-in-large-installations#comments Fri, 20 May 2011 16:47:35 +0000 justin http://sustainabilityarchive.com/?p=766 The conversion of raw sewage sludge into valuable biosolids for beneficial reuse requires a
suitable pre-treatment process. However, traditional technologies are causing high investment
costs, operation costs, and energy demand; or are not fully meeting the demands of the market.
As recent experiences from the world’s largest solar drying and solar-assisted drying plants in
Palma de Mallorca, Spain and Oldenburg, Germany show, solar drying is an effective alternative
for large facilities. Drying costs and energy consumption are less than half, maintenance is low,
and operation is simple and safe at these facilities when compared to traditional thermal dryers.
Also, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are reduced by a factor of seven when compared to
conventional dryers. By using waste heat from other processes, the area requirement can be
reduced by a factor of three to five. The final product is suitable as fuel for Waste-to-Energy
(WTE) plants, coal power plants, or cement kilns. It can also be used as a Class-A fertilizer for
agricultural use, or land application.

]]> http://sustainabilityarchive.com/solar-drying-of-biosolids-recent-experiences-in-large-installations/feed 0 Project Prequalification Process The Do’s, The Don’ts, and The How To’s http://sustainabilityarchive.com/project-prequalification-process-the-do%e2%80%99s-the-don%e2%80%99ts-and-the-how-to%e2%80%99s http://sustainabilityarchive.com/project-prequalification-process-the-do%e2%80%99s-the-don%e2%80%99ts-and-the-how-to%e2%80%99s#comments Fri, 20 May 2011 16:47:35 +0000 justin http://sustainabilityarchive.com/?p=768 In 2004, Massachusetts passed another law regulating Public Construction in the
Commonwealth. Being mostly engineers and owners, the first thing that comes to mind when
you hear “law regulating public construction” is “how is this going to affect my project?” And
the next thing you see is dollar signs floating through the air. This paper will show you how this
is one regulation and one process that will cost a little money and legwork upfront but will save
you significant dollars, reduce stress, and benefit your project in the long term. Case studies will
include the Westborough Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Project, Nantucket Surfside
Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Project, Nantucket Public Safety Facility Project, and the
Hopkinton Fruit Street Wastewater Treatment Plant Project. Topics will include the
Massachusetts Chapter 193 of the Acts of 2004 and Division of Capital Asset Management and
their influence on the Prequalification Process.

]]> http://sustainabilityarchive.com/project-prequalification-process-the-do%e2%80%99s-the-don%e2%80%99ts-and-the-how-to%e2%80%99s/feed 0 Project Management – Overcoming Resistance to Change http://sustainabilityarchive.com/project-management-%e2%80%93-overcoming-resistance-to-change http://sustainabilityarchive.com/project-management-%e2%80%93-overcoming-resistance-to-change#comments Fri, 20 May 2011 16:47:35 +0000 justin 1M]]> http://sustainabilityarchive.com/?p=771 The purpose of this paper is to help project managers in public agencies understand the reasons
for resistance to change and provide steps to overcome or minimize the resistance. These are
challenging times for all public agencies so there is a need to be wise stewards of public
resources. An increase in efficiency may require reorganizing departments, reallocating
resources and realigning staff roles and responsibilities and managing projects differently. These
all require change and growth from all levels of employees in an organization. Reducing the
resistance to change requires strong leadership qualities combined with proper project
management skills. If these combined skills are incorporated into projects that implement
change, they will be successful and can result in significant cost savings. The Orange County
Sanitation District (OCSD) has undergone many of the aforementioned changes in the past
couple of years and continues its austerity through efficiency while completing all tasks.

]]> http://sustainabilityarchive.com/project-management-%e2%80%93-overcoming-resistance-to-change/feed 0 Digital Revolution for Water/Wastewater Utility Management; From Paper to Digital Data http://sustainabilityarchive.com/digital-revolution-for-waterwastewater-utility-management-from-paper-to-digital-data http://sustainabilityarchive.com/digital-revolution-for-waterwastewater-utility-management-from-paper-to-digital-data#comments Fri, 20 May 2011 16:47:35 +0000 justin http://sustainabilityarchive.com/?p=773 Paper-based data is a long-term fixture of the Water and Wastewater Industry including both
Municipalities and Private Operating Companies. Transcribing handwritten log sheets into multiple Excel
spreadsheets is inefficient. It is common for monthly operation and compliance reports to take days to
compile, compared to digital systems that take minutes. Implementing a digital data solution provides a
more efficient and lower cost system with centralized information and reports.
Two questions that are addressed are how to make the transition to digital data and what kind of
technology to use. Points to consider when evaluating replacing the Operators’ handwritten log sheets
with an inexpensive, hand-held device:

  • Initial equipment costs
  • Replacement costs
  • Required IT support
  • Standard or non-standard operating system or software
  • Security needs
  • Required training

Three case studies highlight the successes realized after operations replaced traditional paper log sheets with a digital system.

]]> http://sustainabilityarchive.com/digital-revolution-for-waterwastewater-utility-management-from-paper-to-digital-data/feed 0 Converting Residuals To Reuse: Taking Aeration Out Of Oxidation http://sustainabilityarchive.com/converting-residuals-to-reuse-taking-aeration-out-of-oxidation http://sustainabilityarchive.com/converting-residuals-to-reuse-taking-aeration-out-of-oxidation#comments Fri, 20 May 2011 16:47:35 +0000 justin http://sustainabilityarchive.com/?p=779 Aeration accounts for up to 60% of the total energy required for a typical activated sludge wastewater plant. A new process was developed that decreases aeration demand during secondary wastewater treatment. This process, called BIOBROx, blends oxidant-laden residuals with screened municipal wastewater followed by treatment in a fixed-bed (FXB) bioreactor. Pilot testing showed that the BIOBROx process was effective at removing perchlorate and nitrate from membrane residuals. Considerable biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and suspended solids were also removed across the process. A 3.8-mgd BIOBROx demonstration facility is now operating at the Magna Water District. The BIOBROx train treats 1/3 to 1/2 of Magna’s total wastewater flow, uses no aeration, has an empty-bed contact time of 10 minutes, and has a footprint that is one-twentieth the size of the conventional secondary processes. Preliminary data show effluent that even under these conditions, BOD5 and TSS levels in the effluent from the BIOBROx process are similar to those in Magna’s conventional secondary treatment effluent.

]]> http://sustainabilityarchive.com/converting-residuals-to-reuse-taking-aeration-out-of-oxidation/feed 0 POLYMER ADDITION COMBINED WITH RAPID DECREASE IN SOLIDS RETENTION TIME IS AN EFFECTIVE NOCARDIA FOAM CONTROL METHOD http://sustainabilityarchive.com/polymer-addition-combined-with-rapid-decrease-in-solids-retention-time-is-an-effective-nocardia-foam-control-method http://sustainabilityarchive.com/polymer-addition-combined-with-rapid-decrease-in-solids-retention-time-is-an-effective-nocardia-foam-control-method#comments Fri, 20 May 2011 16:47:35 +0000 justin 1M]]> http://sustainabilityarchive.com/?p=783 In this study, Nocardia foam control using a combination of polymer addition and solids
retention time (SRT) reduction was investigated at the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution
Control Plant (SJ/SC WPCP). A three-week continuous polymer addition at increased dosing
rates of 0.35 mg/l, 0.5 mg/l and 0.75 mg/l reduced Nocardia foam coverage from 100% to less
than 5%. But, foam accumulation returned to 95% coverage when polymer dosing was stopped
for a week. It only took a week to eliminate Nocardia foam from the aeration tanks when 0.5
mg/l polymer addition was accompanied by SRT reduction from eleven days to four days. A
potential effluent ammonia permit violation associated with SRT reduction was avoided by
aerating the anoxic compartment of the aeration tanks and converting the step-feed biological
process to plug flow mode. Except an increase in secondary effluent solids concentrations during
plug flow operations, polymer addition to the return activated sludge (RAS) and Nocardia
wasting to the digesters via dissolved air floatation did not cause foaming in the digesters nor
was it detrimental to effluent filtration.

]]> http://sustainabilityarchive.com/polymer-addition-combined-with-rapid-decrease-in-solids-retention-time-is-an-effective-nocardia-foam-control-method/feed 0 Cost Savings and Performance Improvement of Large System Iron Salt Use for Integrated Sulfide Control and Chemically Enhanced Primary Treatment by Using Peroxide Regenerated Iron Technology http://sustainabilityarchive.com/cost-savings-and-performance-improvement-of-large-system-iron-salt-use-for-integrated-sulfide-control-and-chemically-enhanced-primary-treatment-by-using-peroxide-regenerated-iron-technology http://sustainabilityarchive.com/cost-savings-and-performance-improvement-of-large-system-iron-salt-use-for-integrated-sulfide-control-and-chemically-enhanced-primary-treatment-by-using-peroxide-regenerated-iron-technology#comments Fri, 20 May 2011 16:47:35 +0000 justin 1M]]> http://sustainabilityarchive.com/?p=786 San Diego’s Point Loma WWTP is a 160 MGD (240 MGD permitted), 100% advanced primary
treatment plant that has historically used iron salts for collection system sulfide control and
chemically enhanced primary treatment. Beginning in 2006, a PRI-SC® (Peroxide Regenerated
Iron – Sulfide Control) program was implemented by adding H2O2 at the intermediate pump
station PS2 (in place of the FeCl3), and again to the plant influent (ahead of FeCl3 addition for
CEPT). The application of PRI-SC® in the Point Loma system was designed to provide at least
$685/day in cost savings, to be achieved through reduced ferric chloride use at PS2 and Point
Loma, while improving sulfide control and CEPT performance. Since integrating the PRI-SC®
program full-time in 2008, SDMWD is realizing savings of approximately $4,700 per day
(~$1.72 million/yr) compared to the 2007 baseline iron salts program. At the same time, both
sulfide control and CEPT performance has improved. The cost savings were helped by the
hedging aspect of the PRI-SC® program – iron salt price volatility in 2008 and 2009 was
upwards of 45%. The PRI program has reduced the total iron salt use from the 2007 baseline rate
of 32.5 dry tons per day to approximately 19.3 dry tons per day in 2009, with the core savings
coming from an overall reduction in ferric chloride use at PS2 and the treatment plant (Table 1).
Significantly, ferric chloride use at PS2 was eliminated and, for CEPT, reduced from 24 mg/L to
10 mg/L (16.6 to 6.8 dry tons per day) with no loss in performance. In addition, total sulfide
removal has improved over baseline levels, and average CEPT performance exceeds the permit
levels at 89% for TSS and 65% for BOD, and effluent water quality has improved (with 60% less
spent iron (as FeS) present in the ocean discharge). For the most part, digester biogas H2S levels
were maintained below the permit requirement of < 40 ppm, but required approximately twice
the baseline FeCl2 feed rate. Even so, the overall program has maintained the stated savings
benefit.

]]> http://sustainabilityarchive.com/cost-savings-and-performance-improvement-of-large-system-iron-salt-use-for-integrated-sulfide-control-and-chemically-enhanced-primary-treatment-by-using-peroxide-regenerated-iron-technology/feed 0