Enhancing EMS Via Integrated Data Management at the Moccasin Bend WWTP, Chattanooga,TN

The Moccasin Bend Wastewater Treatment Plant in the City of Chattanooga (Chattanooga) recognized the need for electronically-assisted data management to support their biosolids generation, analysis, land application, and National Biosolids Partnership (NBP) Environmental Management System (EMS) programs. Chattanooga observed that data management is integral to support: 1) their developing EMS program, 2) mandated regulatory reporting, and 3) increased public and private scrutiny of their biosolids production and management. In addition, the lack of current, complete, and accurate data in a centralized location made it difficult to properly address day-to-day operational needs. This paper describes the successful implementation of a customized version of the Material Manager™ database (Material Matters, Inc, 2009), a centralized biosolids land application management tool that provides multiple functions: recordkeeping, management support, quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC), contractor oversight, and reporting. The idea of implementing new contractor oversight programs can induce friction. Most often, there is a real effort to preserve the status quo. Development and implementation of an EMS program was instrumental in moving both Chattanooga and their land application contractor toward a streamlined, accurate, and reliable data management system. The system also allowed Chattanooga to more easily share critical information with farmers and the public, providing needed confidence in records. Both Chattanooga and the land-application contractor wanted to have accurate hauling records to ensure the integrity of invoicing and payment. Properly managed, the efforts of implementing a more detailed biosolids data management and oversight program were judged as highly valuable and worthwhile. The efforts required are far outweighed by having an efficient data management system in place as well as the recognition of being part of a biosolids program that responsibly handles material, efficiently does business, and submits accurate regulatory reports. Source: WEFTEC 2009 Proceedings