Florida Water Resources Journal - July 2016

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Editor’s Office and Advertiser Information:

Florida Water Resources Journal 1402 Emerald Lakes Drive Clermont, FL 34711 Phone: 352-241-6006 • Fax: 352-241-6007 Email: Editorial, editor@fwrj.com Display and Classified Advertising, ads@fwrj.com

Business Office: P.O. Box 745, Windermere, FL 34786-0745 Web: http://www.fwrj.com General Manager: Editor: Graphic Design Manager: Mailing Coordinator:

Michael Delaney Rick Harmon Patrick Delaney Buena Vista Publishing

Published by BUENA VISTA PUBLISHING for Florida Water Resources Journal, Inc.

2016 FLORIDA WATER RESOURCES CONFERENCE REVIEW 10 13 14 15 16 17

Conference Highlights—Holly Hanson Business Meetings Poster Session Operators Showcase Women in Water Forum Exhibition

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Technical Sessions Awards Competitions Florida Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers

President: Richard Anderson (FSAWWA) Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority Vice President: Greg Chomic (FWEA) Heyward Incorporated Treasurer: Rim Bishop (FWPCOA) Seacoast Utility Authority Secretary: Holly Hanson (At Large) ILEX Services Inc., Orlando

Moving? The Post Office will not forward your magazine. Do not count on getting the Journal unless you notify us directly of address changes by the 15th of the month preceding the month of issue. Please do not telephone address changes. Email changes to changes@fwrj.com, fax to 352-241-6007, or mail to Florida Water Resources Journal, 1402 Emerald Lakes Drive, Clermont, FL 34711

Membership Questions FSAWWA: Casey Cumiskey – 407-957-8447 or fsawwa.casey@gmail.com FWEA: Karen Wallace, Executive Manager – 407-574-3318 FWPCOA: Darin Bishop – 561-840-0340

Training Questions

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News and Features 4

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Evaluation of Stormwater Pumping Station Engine Drives—Richard M. Schoenborn, John Dunton, and Mark Hamel New Author, New Name for Certification Column Deltona Eyes Growth With New Reclamation Facility In Memoriam WEF HQ Newsletter—Al Goodman News Beat

Education and Training 47 53 63 69 75

Technical Articles 36 50

Water Resources Master Plan for Lowry Park Zoo—Tonya Simmons and Heather Maggio A Systematic Approach for Addressing Total Maximum Daily Loads Along the Halifax River—Matthew Goolsby, Danielle Honour, Michael Schmidt, and Judy Grim

FSAWWA: Donna Metherall – 407-957-8443 or fsawwa.donna@gmail.com FWPCOA: Shirley Reaves – 321-383-9690

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FSAWWA Fall Conference FWPCOA Training Calendar CEU Challenge TREEO Center Training ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium FWPCOA Region IV Short School

Columns 43 44 56 57 62 64 74

For Other Information

New Technologies and Split Treatment Result in Increased Production Capacity and Improved System Performance for Clearwater—Colin Hobbs, Craig Montgomery, Jorge Arevalo, Fred Hemerick, and Lan-Anh Nguyen

Process Page—Kevin Vickers FSAWWA Speaking Out—Kim Kunihiro Test Yourself—Ron Trygar C Factor—Scott Anaheim FWEA Focus—Lisa Prieto FWRJ Committee Profile—FSAWWA Drop Savers Committee FWRJ Reader Profile—Darryl Parker

Departments

DEP Operator Certification: Ron McCulley – 850-245-7500 FSAWWA: Peggy Guingona – 407-957-8448 Florida Water Resources Conference: 888-328-8448 FWPCOA Operators Helping Operators: John Lang – 772-559-0722, e-mail – oho@fwpcoa.org FWEA: Karen Wallace, Executive Manager – 407-574-3318

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New Products Service Directories Classifieds Display Advertiser Index

Websites Florida Water Resources Journal: www.fwrj.com FWPCOA: www.fwpcoa.org FSAWWA: www.fsawwa.org FWEA: www.fwea.org and www.fweauc.org Florida Water Resources Conference: www.fwrc.org Throughout this issue trademark names are used. Rather than place a trademark symbol in every occurrence of a trademarked name, we state we are using the names only in an editorial fashion, and to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement of the trademark. None of the material in this publication necessarily reflects the opinions of the sponsoring organizations. All correspondence received is the property of the Florida Water Resources Journal and is subject to editing. Names are withheld in published letters only for extraordinary reasons. Authors agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Florida Water Resources Journal Inc. (FWRJ), its officers, affiliates, directors, advisors, members, representatives, and agents from any and all losses, expenses, third-party claims, liability, damages and costs (including, but not limited to, attorneys’ fees) arising from authors’ infringement of any intellectual property, copyright or trademark, or other right of any person, as applicable under the laws of the State of Florida.

ON THE COVER: Marc Filsaime and Duron Millines, members of the City of Boynton Steam Team, participate in the laboratory event during the Operations Challenge at the 2016 Florida Water Resources Conference. (photo: Patricia Delaney)

Volume 67

July 2016

Number 7

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

POSTMASTER: send address changes to Florida Water Resources Journal, 1402 Emerald Lakes Drive, Clermont, FL 34711

Florida Water Resources Journal • July 2016

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Evaluation of Stormwater Pumping Station Engine Drives Richard M. Schoenborn, John Dunton, and Mark Hamel

Location of Project The City of Port St. Lucie (City) was originally developed by General Development Corporation (GDC) beginning in the early 1960s. The GDC built the Tiffany Stormwater Pump Station (SWPS) in 1977 and the Blackwell SWPS in 1985. Today, both stations are operated and maintained

by the City’s public works department. The stations are critical for maintaining proper drainage of stormwater from portions of the greater Port St. Lucie area east of U.S. 1, including neighborhoods in Sections 29, 30, 40, 52, and 62. In 1980, the Port St. Lucie area was considered rural and the entire population was 14,690. The City is now one of the fastest growing areas in Florida, with a rate of growth that has been estimated to be the second fastest in the United States. In 2003 the City’s population was around 111,000;

today, the population is estimated to be over 180,000. Residential areas, with sewer and water services, have grown adjacent to the Blackwell SWPS and now surround the Tiffany SWPS. What was once rural is now a heavily urbanized area.

General Description of Stormwater Pumping Stations The original construction of the Blackwell SWPS included three axial flow-type pumps powered by a propane-fuel-based system. The three pumps have a stormwater pumping capacity of up to 135,000 gal per minute (gpm). Despite regular maintenance, the public works department realized that the existing pumps were not operating per their original design and were in need of replacement. The Blackwell and Tiffany SWPS are similar in design and layout, and both stations operate vertical, axial flow, and stormwater pumps that use petroleum-based drives: the Blackwell SWPS uses propane-fueled drives and the Tiffany SWPS uses diesel-fueled drives.

Purpose and Goals of the Project

Figure 1. Blackwell Stormwater Pumping Station Design Drawings

Based on the nature and types of fuel used at the Blackwell SWPS, City staff expressed concerns regarding the public’s health, safety, and well-being, as well as environmental protection issues. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and benefits of converting the Blackwell SWPS from propane-fuel-based drives to alternative-fuel drives. The goal of the study was to identify the safest and most cost-effective system for powering the Blackwell SWPS. The options included utilizing a diesel-fuel system, a propane system, and an electric-motor system. The study included analysis of capital construction costs, fuel costs, ease of maintenance, and longevity of equipment. The goals for this project were to identify an alternative-fuel-based drive system for the Blackwell SWPS that: 1. Makes economic efficiency sense 2. Is safe for operation in a highly urbanized area 3. Utilizes the City’s existing manpower assets efficiently

Stormwater Service Area

Figure 2. Blackwell Stormwater Pumping Station, South View

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July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Location of Stormwater Pumping Stations and Service Basins The Blackwell SWPS is located off of South Continued on page 6



Continued from page 4 Blackwell Drive at the southeast end of Section 40. The station site is on the north edge of the

water retention area and west of the Savannas State Preserve. The Blackwell and Tiffany SWPS service areas are depicted in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Stormwater Pumping Station Service Area

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July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Existing Conditions Typical Flows The typical total accumulative annual time of operation of the Blackwell SWPS is approximately 200 hours. Typical flows at the station have been estimated to be 45,000 gpm, but occasionally pump up to 135,000 gpm, or 100 cu ft per second (cfs) to 300 cfs. The total annual amount of water moved by the station is approximately 1620 mil gal (MG). A general description of the SWPS and equipment from 1985 to present is listed in Table 1. A partial inventory of pumping equipment is included in Table 2. The Blackwell SWPS was upgraded in 2010. The three older propane-based engine drives were replaced with newer engines; the new engine drives were rebuilt propane drives identical to the originals. A fourth pump was purchased and installed for emergency backup and pump-capacity redundancy in the event there was a mechanical failure to any of the three existing pumps. Other upgrades included the addition of station telemetry for monitoring of engine performance and for site security. In 2014 and 2015 a comparison of maintenance time was made between the newly upgraded Blackwell SWPS and Tiffany SWPS. It


quickly became apparent that more time and money was being spent on maintaining the Blackwell propane-based engine drives. Between 2011 and the present, approximately 200 hours have been spent maintaining the Blackwell propane drives. The majority of that time was spent on repair of component malfunctions, compared to 40 hours over the same time period for the Tiffany SWPS, and the majority of those hours were spent on routine maintenance for each pump. An improvement was obviously needed. Based on the lower maintenance times experienced with the diesel drives at the Tiffany SWPS, it was decided that the Blackwell drives would again need to be replaced.

Table 1. General Description of Blackwell Stormwater Pumping Station Facilities

Proposed Blackwell Stormwater Pumping Station Upgrades The new replacement engine drives for the Blackwell SWPS are proposed to be diesel-fuelbased. The new drives are anticipated to have a longer running life and less maintenance time than the propane drives. A comparison of dieselpowered engines versus propane-powered engine fuel use is presented in Table 3. A comparison of annual expenditures for fuel use by the Blackwell SWPS, based on data recently posted on the United States Energy Information Agency (USEIA) website, is included in Figure 5. A comparison of energy uses and costs is shown in Table 4. Electric-drive costs were included for comparison purposes. The unit cost of electrical energy is anticipated to rise 4 percent from now until 2020. Annual energy consumption costs are based on three pumps (with firm capacity) in operation for a total of 200 hours per year. Capital costs for the diesel and propane drives include purchase and installation of new drive equipment, as well as ventilation improvements to control the ambient temperature for the entire facility. Capital costs for the electric drives include construction of facilities for a standby generator to bring sufficient electrical power to the station (i.e., 480 volt, three-phase). Operation and maintenance (O&M) costs for each fuel alternative were calculated based on unit-cost projections from the USEIA from 2015 to 2040. Costs for O&M also include estimates of annual routine maintenance, repair and replacement of pumps, and drive mechanical components.

Table 2. Equipment Description of Blackwell Stormwater Pumping Station

Table 3. Fuel Consumption and Cost Propane Drive Versus Diesel Drive

Why Diesel? For civil municipal systems, consistency, reliability, and cost are major considerations in equipment selection. This is especially true for stormwater equipment that is in service to proContinued on page 8 Florida Water Resources Journal • July 2016

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Figure 4. Blackwell Pumping Station Interior, Propane Drives

Continued from page 7 tect residential and commercial areas. Typically, for stormwater pumping, downtime for a pumping unit is usually due to engine-drive issues. The diesel-engine drive units for the Tiffany SWPS usually experience 1 hour of downtime per 200 hours of operation, or 1 hour per year, for routine maintenance and repair. The 2015 energy costs for the three alternatives were basically the same, with a slight advantage for the diesel drive; however, the 2015 capital costs definitely favored a diesel-drive conversion. The study concluded that the capital construction costs for electric-powered units is not presently economically feasible for the City. While the current price per gal for propane is lower compared to diesel, a propane powered unit will burn more fuel compared to the dieselpowered unit. Additionally, the limited number of propane service technicians, combined with the more frequent service requirements, are a concern with the propane-powered units. Based on the economic analysis conducted by the City, the study recommended new diesel-powered units for the critical Blackwell SWPS.

Project Status The Blackwell SWPS fuel conversion is well underway. The engine drives have been purchased and upgrade work on the station’s ventilation, electrical, and structural systems is ongoing. Richard Schoenborn is senior engineer with City of Port St. Lucie Utility Systems. John Dunton is manager for environmental services and Mark Hamel is project coordinator with City of Port St. Lucie Public Works. S Figure 5. Comparison of Annual Expenditures for Fuel Use

Table 4. Comparison of Operation Costs and Capital Costs

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It’s A Wrap! FWRC REVIEW

Highlights From the

2016 Florida Water Resources Conference Holly Hanson With economic challenges being prevalent the past ten years, the conundrum in contracting site arrangements is anticipating attendance and participation levels for future events. Historically, the Florida Water Resources Conference (FWRC) characteristics include average growth and stability. However, attendance at the 2016 FWRC was robust, to say the least. Held April 24-27 at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee, this year’s event was extraordinarily special on

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many accounts. Attendance was record-setting, attracting over 3100 participants, and the 319 exhibitors (24 of them new to the conference) were exceptionally pleased with the turnout and level of booth traffic. Other significant segments of FWRC included additional roundtables, symposia, operator interaction showcase, and a wide variety of industry professionals interacting on all levels. Returning this year to the comfortable and easily accessible Gaylord Palms, the stage was set for new perspectives into the daunting task of “One Water” and the integration of water for future use. Industry experts exchanged ideas at the multiple technical sessions that were overflowing with participants.

July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Plugging Into the Technical Sessions The technical program, loaded with valuable content, was coordinated by conference vice president Tim Madhanagopal, with Orange County Utilities, and his technical review committee, which is composed of industry experts from a variety of government and privately owned facilities and agencies. They read and graded the top five ranked abstracts per subject that were selected for presentation. Two days of solid technical content that included workshops and technical sessions covered issues like utility management, nutrient removal, sustainability and climate change, aquifer storage and recovery, biosolids technologies, collections,


It’s A Wrap! FWRC REVIEW disinfection and public health, distribution, supply, treatment, resource recovery, stormwater and green infrastructure, facility operations and maintenance, automation and computer applications, reclamation, and reuse. Workshops focused on hot topics like nondispersibles in collection systems, nutrient removal challenges, shaft alignment, and a comprehensive asbestos-cement pipe-bursting workshop. Other sessions that took place included: S Water Resources, Reuse, Resiliency Roundtable, which discussed the future of Florida’s water in a “One Water” perspective, including indirect potable reuse, direct potable reuse, and stormwater reuse. S Women in Water Forum, hosted by Linda Kelly, senior director for the Water Environment Federation (WEF), and a panel that included Radhika Fox, CEO of U.S. Water Alliance; Jackie Jarrell, trustee and visiting dignitary from WEF; Marjorie Craig, director of Polk County Utilities; Raynetta Curry Marshall, president of the Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA); and Lisa Wilson-Davis,

incoming president of the FWEA Utility Council. This illustrious group of water experts conducted an open-forum discussion on questions posed by the moderator and the audience. S Young Professionals (YPs) Symposium, organized and cohosted by both the Florida Section AWWA and the FWEA Young Professionals, this event is used to stimulate and encourage YPs and student participation. S Contractors Council Session, sponsored by the Florida Section AWWA, discussed Florida’s municipal leadership and conducted annual business.

In the Exhibit Hall Scott Kelly, the conference corporation president, opened this year’s exhibit floor on Sunday evening with a few words at the president’s reception. Utility managers, water and wastewater professionals, consultants, faculty, administrators, regulatory personnel, and many other attendees enjoyed a delectable spread and the great networking opportunity. One of the most exciting

and rewarding FWRCs in recent memory, exhibitors showcased their products and services. The Sunday reception was also the site, for the first time, of the Florida Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers induction hosted by Tom Baber, with Litkenhaus and Associates. This annual event, usually held during the Monday awards luncheon, enjoyed its trial run utilizing Scott Orbany, an Orlando-area comedian, to create a “fun roast” of the three inductees. This exclusive award honors the recipients based on merit for their “outstanding and meritorious service above and beyond the call of duty to the water industry.” This years’ recipient were: Brad Hayes, City of Tavares; Brian Wheeler, Toho Water Authority; and Rodney Shupler, Heyward Incorporated. Tom King, Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association (FWPCOA) past president, served as honorary master of ceremonies in the hall. His warm personality and ability to entertain and banter with the audience, while conducting the daily drawings and Continued on page 12

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It’s A Wrap! FWRC REVIEW Continued from page 11 commentary from the center stage, was enjoyed and appreciated. The FWRC exhibitors showcased their products and services, while enjoying networking opportunities each day. The South's premier water and wastewater conference was buzzing, and the focus was on promoting new industry trends and technologies. The exhibitors and the attendees exchanged information and discussed case studies, regulatory issues, and subjects pertaining to Florida’s challenge of supplying, conserving, and reusing its precious water resources.

Thanks to our Sponsors A heartfelt thanks to this year’s sponsors. Their support makes the FWRC extra special for attendees. We appreciate their interest in FWRC’s vision and are grateful for their involvement. We encourage all conference attendees to give these sponsors the opportunity to earn their business: S Mott Macdonald S Brown and Caldwell S HIPPO Multipower Systems S Carter & VerPlanck S Cardno S Reiss Engineering S Forterra S HDR Engineering S Hydra Services Inc. S Tetra Tech S SpectraShield/ Concrete Conservation S CH2M S Green Technologies S American Water Resources S PC Construction S CDM Smith S Gannett Fleming S Kimley Horn S VacVision Environmental S Jones Edmunds S Crom LLC S Trihedral/VTScanda S Woolpert S U.S. Water Services Corporation S Garney Construction S PCL Construction S Barnes, Ferland and Associates S Florida Aquastore S Unimin S SunCoast Controls/Xylem

Networking and Annual Events Many, many activities went on at FWRC in additional to the educational forums, technical sessions, and committee meetings. The FWEA Student Design Competitions for wastewater and environmental categories took place on

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Sunday afternoon, with University of South Florida teams rocking both first-place wins. The competition, created in 2000 by FWEA, provides a forum for students to showcase their capabilities in solving real-life environmental engineering problems. This event is so popular it was accepted into the international Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) and continues to this day. The Student Poster Contest was held Monday afternoon on the exhibit floor. Kelly Landry, with the University of Florida, won first place, and Kevin Orner, with the University of South Florida, came in second. Each student won a Visa gift card. The Student and YP Social also took place, providing an opportunity for social networking face-to-face instead of via Twitter and other social media. The Operators Showcase packed the room as operators from around the state discussed best practices, new trends, and reoccurring issues. Hosted by FWPCOA, Tom King once again served as emcee for this great venue, with positive feedback from attendees. Over 600 people attended the Monday Awards Luncheon where keynote speaker, Radhika Fox, with the U.S. Water Alliance, presented the organization’s outlook on achieving “One Water.” Tuesday’s Florida Water Environment Association’s Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon hosted Jackie Jarrell, with WEF, and guest, Adam Krantz, CEO of National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). This luncheon was also popular, with over 400 attendees and award recipients present. The “Monday Nighter” networking party promoted the theme of “One Water, Mission Impossible: Possible.” It was a free, fun night for all FWRC attendees and was very popular as they listened and danced to music by the Orlando-based Leonard Brothers Band. The FSAWWA hosted the annual “Best Tasting Drinking Water Contest” on Tuesday, where 12 municipalities representing the section’s regions, entered their drinking water samples for close examination and various testing before the City of Tallahasee was selected as the winner. With preparations starting in January, anticipation was high this year as the Operations Challenge competition had eight team entries. Coordinated by Chris Fasnacht and Ada Levy, with the City of St. Cloud, the competing teams were: S City of Boynton Beach “Steam Team” S City of Fort Lauderdale “Hurricanes” S City of St. Cloud “Methane Madness” S City of St. Petersburg “Dirty Birds” S Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) “True Grit”

July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

S Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) Team 1 “Water Hogs” S JEA Team 2 “Fecal Matters” S Orange County “Treatment Outlaws” A discernible undercurrent of excitement was present as tough competition in each of the five categories took place. Two teams—Methane Madness and True Grit—were declared cochampions and will compete at the 89th annual WEFTEC, to be held September 24-28 at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. The Top Ops Competition, which was held Tuesday afternoon and coordinated by Christopher Wetz, with City of Tampa, hosted the following teams: S City of Palm Coast “Water Buoys” S Pasco County Utilities "The Hydros" The winning team, “Water Buoys,” competed at the American Water Works Association Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE16) in Chicago. Both the Operations Challenge and Top Ops teams rocked newly design FWRC “One Water” caps. Teams were encouraged to promote their team theme and colors throughout the conference. Other yearly events included the FSSSS Annual Members Breakfast and the FSAWWA Regional Chairs and Volunteer Breakfast. Various association meetings and forums were also held.

Volunteers The FWRC has many moving parts and I would especially like to thank all of our talented speakers who truly are experts in their fields; staff members of FSAWWA, FWPCOA, and FWEA; and all the many people who volunteer their time as part of the technical review committee, coordination of workshops, and educational events, committee meetings, registration volunteers, and all the people behind the scenes that make this event so successful. You are all good stewards of Florida’s clean water environment with your commitment to FWRC.

Thanks and Save the Date Let’s get ready for a Palm Beach tan, as the 2017 Florida Water Resources Conference is scheduled for April 23-26 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in beautiful West Palm Beach. The FWRC strives to be your prevailing source for technical and educational information. Holly Hanson is executive director of the Florida Water Resources Conference. S


It’s A Wrap! FWRC REVIEW

Business Meetings Held at Conference Several groups meet at the conference every year to conduct business. The face-to-face interaction helps to facilitate decision making and consensus.

FSAWWA board of governors meeting.

The Florida Water Environment Federation board of trustees conducts its business on Sunday and at the Tuesday luncheon.

Contractors Council. Above: Board of trustees for the Florida Water Resources Conference and Florida Water Resources Journal. At left: Florida Section AWWA board of governors group photo.

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It’s A Wrap! FWRC REVIEW

Poster Session A poster session was held in the exhibit hall, where students from various Florida universities present their research methods and outcomes. The poster authors were available at several times during the conference to discuss their findings with conference attendees and answer questions. It proved to be a good venue for students to meet with their colleagues and industry professionals.

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It’s A Wrap! FWRC REVIEW

Operators Showcase Highlights Relevant Issues The second Operators Showcase was held at the conference on Sunday, April 24. The showcase was moderated by Tom King, the immediate past president of FWPCOA. Attendees enjoyed beer, snacks, and the camaraderie of their follow operators as they addressed the issues of the day.

Computer-Based Testing There was an in-depth discussion about the return of computer-based testing (CBT) by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for water and wastewater licenses. “Florida statutes require anyone who operates a drinking water treatment plant or a domestic wastewater treatment plant to be licensed by FDEP,” said King. The contract that permits FDEP to offer CBT through Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP) expired August 2014, and its currently in the process of procuring a CBT vendor. Many attendees felt there was a need for more sites in south Florida for state exams and suggested the possibility of having the exams proctored at health departments until CBTs is reinstated. It was suggested that, in the interim, testing could be done at the FWPCOA short schools. Since many operators in the industry are now retiring, it was stated that continued computer testing would help to attract newer and younger people to the profession. It would also help with the issue of reciprocity.

Tom King moderates the showcase.

Water Crisis in Flint Another topic discussed at the session was the recent discovery of lead in the water in Flint, Mich. Many people stated that the operator of a water system is like a gatekeeper, and asked what the responsibility of an operator should be when they may be asked to do something that may not be in the best interest of the system’s customers. It was recommended that operators work with a code of ethics to govern their professional actions, and they should speak up when they know something is wrong and be able to do something about it without fear of retribution. Since the issue in Flint was first reported in the media, many water systems across the United States are getting added scrutiny—about lead and other issues—and operators everywhere should be ready to respond if the spotlight shines on their communities.

Water Infrastructure Funding There is an urgent need to repair and replace the crumbling infrastructure across the United States, and investing in infrastructure has historically been one of the best ways to create jobs, including operators in the water and wastewater industries, and boost economic growth U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew has said that he would commission a report on transport and water projects that could have the biggest economic impact around the country, but it

may not be moving ahead because of funding or political obstacles. Republicans and Democrats are currently at odds over how to provide a more permanent fix to the infrastructure funding problem, and the White House is highlighting the need for the private sector to step in. King stressed that infrastructure funding of any kind isn’t glamorous, but it’s especially hard to get for water and wastewater projects that are mostly underground or out of site. He recommended that operators get involved politically by notifying their local, state, and federal representatives and act as advocates for the industry by requesting the funds necessary to keep water service in the country world-class.

Advantages of Organization Membership King talked about the career advantages he’s experienced by being a member of FWPCOA, and strongly recommended that all operators should belong to the association, FSAWWA, FWEA, or any other operator-related organization. He stressed the networking aspects of meetings, conferences, and other educational events sponsored by these organizations, which could help with a future career move, and noted that learn new skills only increases someone’s marketability. Said King, ”Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and do new things, like presenting a paper at a conference. Always look for ways to improve a process, a procedure, and yourself.”

Attendees listen and participate. Florida Water Resources Journal • July 2016

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It’s A Wrap! FWRC REVIEW

First Women in Water Forum Highlights Challenges, Opportunities Celebrating the importance of women to the water industry, the first “Women in Water” forum presented at the conference was held on April 25. Chaired by Linda Kelly, senior director of association engagement for the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the session attracted more than forty people. The panelists for the program were: S Marjorie Craig, director of water, wastewater, and reclaimed water services for Polk County Utilities, Winter Haven, Fla. S Raynetta Curry-Marshall, director of water and wastewater project engineering and construction with JEA, Jacksonville, Fla. S Radhika Fox, chief executive officer of the U.S. Water Alliance and director for the Value of Water Coalition, Washington, D.C. S Jacqueline Jarrell, operations chief for Charlotte Water, Charlotte, N.C., and WEF board of trustees member. S Lisa Wilson-Davis, operations and environmental compliance manager with City of Boca Raton Utility Services, Boca Raton, Fla. Kelly opened the session by asking the panelists if they chose to be in the water industry or if the industry chose them. Some said that they wanted to be in water or something technical, while others never dreamed that they would be where they are now. A few weren’t sure what path their careers would take, but they knew they wanted a job that would make a difference in the world. The panelists acknowledged that it isn’t always easy being in the water industry, which is still considered a male-dominated profession. Many of them were the “first female” in many of their university curricula and in a lot of the positions they’ve had since college. They are

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heartened by the fact that the industry is embracing diversity (in all of its aspects) and that there are many more women in higher education today taking classes in science, technology, engineering, and math, also known as STEM, which are needed in a world that’s becoming increasingly complex, where career success is driven not only by what you know, but by what you can do with what you know. While these technical subjects are still very important to the water industry, there is now recognition that other disciplines are useful for project development and completion, such as management, human resources, public relations and public affairs, customer service, and information technology. Another issuer discussed was work/life balance. The panelists agreed that it’s hard to “have it all,” but if you have children, it helps to have a spouse or partner who can help. It was noted that the workplace is becoming more accommodating (for women and for men) to enable workers to accomplish their goals, both in their professional and personal lives. When asked what advice they received when they started their careers, the panelists noted the following: S Always be positive. Use positive communication when dealing with colleagues and others in the industry. S Find a mentor who you admire, can learn from, and discuss issues with. S Never sell yourself short; you are your best champion. S Treat everyone with respect. S Be genuine. S Always follow through on the commitments you make.

July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

S Be passionate about your work. S Make goals for yourself and stick to them. S With hard work and determination, anything is possible. The advantages of belonging to professional organizations and associations were also discussed: S Developing a network of people can be helpful in finding a mentor and possibly a new and better job. S Interacting with your peers (in the water industry and in other businesses) can help you learn how to deal with professional issues you may be facing. S Writing and presenting papers at conferences and other educational events can improve your public speaking skills and increase your exposure in the industry. The issue of salaries was also addressed. It was noted that it’s helpful that there are now many women who are in positions that make the decisions about salaries. Attendees were encouraged to: S Do research to find out what your job is worth and what others in similar positions are making (both men and women). S At review time, have a list of accomplishments that show the value you bring to your position and to the organization. S Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want and think you deserve. The panelists stated that they will continue to improve the working lives of women wherever and however they can. They encouraged those in the audience to be and find mentors, and strive to enrich the working lives of everyone in the water industry.


It’s A Wrap! FWRC REVIEW

The Latest Products and Innovations The exhibit hall this year included more than 300 vendors, with company representatives discussing up-to-date technologies and processes with the attendees. The hall was also the site for the evening receptions; prize giveaways; Top Ops, Operations Challenge, and Best Drinking Water Contest; Florida Select Society of Sanitary Shovelers induction; poster session; and some of the awards presentations. Shown are some of the activities in the hall.

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It’s A Wrap! FWRC REVIEW

Learning From Others in the Industry The technical program included sessions on utility management, potable water treatment, biosolids, collection systems, disinfection, supply and treatment, distribution, sustainability and climate change, resource recovery, stormwater, green infrastructure, asset management, geographic information systems and computer applications, wastewater treatment, new technologies, nutrient removal, and reclamation and reuse; workshops on nondispersible collections, nutrient removal, preventive maintenance, and comprehensive asbestos-cement pipe-bursting technologies; and a student poster session. Pictured are some of the sessions and workshops.

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July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal



It’s A Wrap! FWRC REVIEW

AWARDS Each year the Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association, the Florida Water Environment Association, and the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association honor outstanding individuals, utilities, and other organizations for contributions to the state’s water and wastewater industry. The awards were presented at the two lunches held during the conference.

FWEA Awards EARLE B. PHELPS AWARDS

Advanced Secondary Wastewater Treatment Facility First Place Polk County Northeast Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility Accepted by Mark Lowenstine, Jeremiah Van Horn, Charles Nichols, Jeff Goolsby, and Nathan Silveira. Secondary Wastewater Treatment Facility First Place Broward County North Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Accepted by Mark Damanin and Ralph Aliseo.

Secondary Wastewater Treatment Facility Runner-Up FGUA Golden Gate Wastewater Treatment Facility Accepted by Jon Meyer and Nathaniel Mastroeni.

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July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Advanced Secondary Wastewater Treatment Facility Runner-Up Bonita Springs East Water Reclamation Facility Accepted by Andrew Koebel, Robert Schute, and John Jenkins.

Advanced Secondary Wastewater Treatment Facility Honorable Mention City of Tavares Woodlea Wastewater Facility Accepted by Tim Claitor and Jim Wyker.


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Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility First Place Hillsborough County Valrico Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant Accepted by Peter Stryker and Eric Gauld.

Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility Runner-Up Pinellas County South Cross Bayou Water Reclamation Facility Accepted by Ivy Dexler, Megan Ross, and Nestor Sotalo.

Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility Honorable Mention City of Plant City Water Reclamation Facility Accepted by Patrick Murphy and Steve Saffels.

DAVID W. YORK WATER REUSE SYSTEM OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Greater Than 15 MGD City of St. Petersburg Water Resources Department Master Reuse System Accepted by Ken Wise, Janet DeBiasio, Kimberly Ciranko, and Craven Askew.

5 to 15 MGD Loxahatchee River Environmental Control District Accepted by (back row): Albrey Arrington, Waldo Cruz, and Anthony Nicoletto; (kneeling): Kevin Skellenger and Alan Lopatosky.

1 to Less Than 5 MGD Town of Davie Water Reclaimed Facility Accepted by Don Bayler, John McGeary, and Carlos Rodarte.

Less Than 1 MGD North Hutchinson Island Water Reclaimed Facility Accepted by Paul Denham and Matt Hammond.

Reuse Person of the Year Presented to Brad Hayes.

Reuse Project of the Year Water Independence for Cape Coral Utility Expansion Projects 6 and 7 Accepted by Jody Sorrels and Jeffrey Pearson. Florida Water Resources Journal • July 2016

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COLLECTION SYSTEM AWARDS

Small Village of Islamorada Accepted by Dan Butler.

Medium City of North Miami Beach Accepted by Karim Rossy, Pedro Melo, and Jeffrey P. Thompson.

Large Loxahatchee River Environmental Control District Accepted by Kevin Skellenger and Alan Lopatosky.

GOLDEN MANHOLE SOCIETY

Presented to Rudy Fernandez, Jacobs Engineering.

Presented to Lane Longley, City of St. Petersburg.

Presented to Wes Haskell, Ebara/F.J. Nugent and Associates.

Presented to Walt Schwarz, CH2M.

MUNICIPAL UTILITY OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Greater Than 50,000 Connections Palm Bay Utilities Accepted by Deshon Davis Patterson.

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Less Than 50,000 Connections Seminole Tribe of Florida Public Works Accepted by Derek Koger, Keith Thomas, Juan Mata, and Ronald Payne.


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FWEA/FBC BENCHMARKING AWARDS

Marion County Utilities Accepted by Doug Andrews.

City of Tallahassee Accepted by Joseph Cheatham.

Orange County Accepted by Helaine Zarek.

JEA Accepted by Andrew May.

SAFETY AWARDS

Class A, First Place Hillsborough County Valrico Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant Accepted by Peter Stryker and Eric Gauld.

Class B, Second Place Palm Coast Wastewater Plant #1 Accepted by Patrick Henderson.

Class A, Second Place Dale Mabry Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility Accepted by Peter Screnock.

Class B, Second Place Seminole Tribe of Florida Public Works Accepted by Juan Mata.

Class A, Third Place City of Palm Bay Utilities Wastewater Facility Accepted by Tim Bailey.

Class B, First Place Three Oaks Wastewater Treatment Plant Accepted by John Hollingsworth and Robert F. Dick.

Class B, Third Place Polk County Utilities Northeast Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility Accepted by Nathan Silveira, Jeremiah Van Horn, and Jeff Goosby.

Class C, First Place CH2M Crestview Accepted by Tom Williams.

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BIOSOLIDS AWARDS

Small Operations City of St. Petersburg Northeast Wastewater Reclamation Facility Accepted by Aldo Nappo, John Crutcher, and Craven Askew.

Technology Innovation and Development Military Point Regional Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility (Tyndall Air Force Base) Accepted by Frank Burgess.

Public Acceptance Green Technologies Accepted by Amir Varshovi.

ODOR CONTROL AWARD City of St. Petersburg Accepted by Janet DeBiasio, Kimberly Ciranko, Ken Wise, and Tony Pevee.

INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES AWARD Presented by Chris Rader (left) and JoAnn Jackson (right) to Ed Torres (center).

PUBLIC EDUCATION AWARDS

LEROY H. SCOTT AWARD Campaign Category Orange County Utilities Division Accepted by Terri Thill.

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Organization Category City of Ocala Accepted by Robyn Preston.

July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Presented to Jeffrey Poteet.

ALBERT B. HERNDON AWARD Presented to Justin L. Prince.


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WILLIAM D. HATFIELD AWARD

THOMAS T. JONES AWARD

Presented to Craven Askew.

Presented to Derek Koger.

DELEGATE Presented to John Giachino.

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AWARD Presented to Laurel Rowse.

OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARDS

Presented to John Giachino.

QUARTER CENTURY OPERATORS CLUB

Presented to Amber Batson.

Presented to Greg Chomic.

FWEA WELCOMES NEW PRESIDENT

Raynetta Curry Marshall (left), introduces Lisa Prieto as the FWEA 2016-2017 president at the organization’s annual meeting and awards luncheon that was held on April 26.

Presented to Patrick Henderson.

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FSAWWA Awards Water Treatment Plants

Outstanding Class A City of Port Orange Charles B. Garnsey Water Treatment Plant Accepted by Steven Miller and Brent Davis.

Most Improved Class A City of Coral Springs Water Treatment Plant Accepted by Bryan Heller and Jeff Hill.

Marvin N. Kaden Award for Outstanding Water Treatment Plant Operator Presented to Paul Haskins, Hillsborough County Utilities.

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Outstanding Class B Hillsborough County Central Water Treatment Plant Accepted by Talbert Anckle and Norrise Shellman.

Most Improved Class B Hillsborough County Lithia Water Treatment Plant Accepted by Mel Parrish and Paul Haskins.

Outstanding Class C City of Winter Park Accepted by Denesh Dewdat.

Most Improved Class C Hillsborough County Lake Park Water Treatment Plant Accepted by Kevin Kraujalis and Paul Kavanagh.

Operator’s Meritorious Service Award Presented to Forrest Douglas Wright, Seminole Tribe of Florida Public Works.


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FWPCOA Awards David B. Lee Award

Wastewater Presented to Charles E. Nichols.

Water Presented to Patrick Murphy.

50+ Years of Membership, Dedication, and Support

Presented to Joan Stokes.

Presented to Al Monteleone.

Pat Flanagan Award

Presented to Patrick Allman.

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– Drinking Water Taste Test –

City of Tallahassee Wins Best Tasting Water Crown Two Years in a Row Kim Kunihiro, FSAWWA chair (left); Mark Lehigh, FSAWWA past chair (second from left); and William Young, FSAWWA vice chair (far right) present the winning trophy to City of Tallahassee employees (starting third from left): Jennifer Porter, program engineer; Kent Thibou, underground utilities technician II; Ronnie Harris, water and wastewater distribution and collection foreman; and David Roberts, water operations manager.

The City of Tallahassee won the statewide Best Tasting Drinking Water Contest at the conference for the second year in a row. The four taste-test judges chose the utility from 12 Florida Section AWWA regional winners. For the statewide final, each regional winner submitted a gallon of water that was collected less than 24 hours before the contest. All of the samples were tasted as room temperature to allow for any tastes or odors to be more easily detected. In addition to taste and odor, the samples were rated on color and clarity. Greg Taylor, project manager with Reiss Engineering, served as emcee for the contest. The judges were: Carl Larrabee; Blake Bennett, with American Cast Iron Pipe Co.; Erica Stone, with Carollo Engineers; and Tom Sorrells, chief meteorologist at WKMG, Channel 6. The City of Tallahassee also won the taste test in 2008. Tallahassee’s water system has 27 wells, drawing water from the Floridan aquifer. It has a nationally accredited water quality lab-

oratory and all of its water well operators are state-certified. The 27 wells are monitored around the clock every day of the year by a stateof-the-art computer monitoring system. The utility annually conducts 7,000 tests on its water—more than twice the state-required 3,000 tests a year—to ensure the quality of the

Audience members wait for the results.

The judges (from left): Carl Larrabee, Tom Sorrells, Blake Bennett, and Erica Stone.

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city's drinking water. The system usually reports levels of minerals, metals, and contaminants 10 to 100 times below the allowable amounts permitted by state and federal agencies. The utility competed in the national drinking water taste test that was held at the AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition in June in Chicago.

Greg Taylor emcees the contest.

Judges show their ratings for one of the entries.


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– Top Ops –

Water Buoys Takes First Place for Third Straight Time The Water Buoys, from the City of Palm Coast, qualified for the national American Water Works Association (AWWA) Top Ops competition by winning the Florida Top Ops, held during the conference. For the third time in three years, the team took home the first-place award from this “College Bowl” type event that tests each group of water treatment and distribution operators on its knowledge of system operations. The contest was emceed by Ron Cartwright. The other team in the competition was The Hydros from Pasco County. The national Top Ops contest took place at the AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE16) held in Chicago in June. Water utilities across the state are encouraged to enter the 25th annual Top Ops, which will be held April 2017 during the Florida Water Resources Conference in West Palm Beach. Teams may represent more than one utility. For more details, and to receive the competition rules, contact the Top Ops chair, Christopher Wetz, with City of Tampa, at Christopher.Wetz@tampagov.net.

Cartwright (center) emcees the contest.

The Hydros team includes Mike Avila, Vinnie Domanico, and Karen Lewis.

The winning Water Buoys team, including (from left) Fred Greiner, Peter Roussell, Jim Hogan (team coach), and Tom Martens, display their first-place plaque.

Water Buoys team waits for the next question.

The contest taking place in the exhibit hall.

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– Operations Challenge –

City of St. Cloud’s Methane Madness and GRU’s True Grit Named Co-Champions for 2016 Fasnacht (left) and Ada Levy (fourth from left) with Methane Madness team (left to right): Wesley Maghee, Chris Henderson, Marcus Fullwood, and Kevin Douglas.

Fasnacht and Levy (second and third from right) with True Grit team (from left): Donnie Eplee, Eddie Walsh, Todd Hines, Levi Lee, and Jose Rivera.

Chris Fasnacht, who coordinates the competition, announces the winners in the various categories.

Methane Madness and True Grit both took home the title of co-champion this year as they each finished the competition with a total of 32 points. The Orange County team, Treatment Outlaws, finished third with a combined 19 points. This year eight teams came to central Florida to compete. The other teams in the contest were the Ft. Lauderdale Hurricanes, Dirty Birds from St. Petersburg, Boynton Beach Steam Team, and two teams represented JEA: Water Hogs and Fecal Matters. The competition, which was held in the exhibit hall, is a skills-based contest consisting of four timed events and one questionnaire event that showcase the knowledge and expertise of wastewater treatment plant operators. The teams display their proficiency in process control, maintenance, safety, collections, and the laboratory. The process control event this year had a new twist to it as a computer-based questionnaire was added where two team members were given certain scenarios to figure out through a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) program, and the other two members completed a math and basic knowledge question section. Methane Madness took first in the event, with Fort Lauderdale Hurricanes taking second place. The laboratory section is an ammonia and alkalinity testing situation, in a simulated format, to determine the operation of an aerobic wastewater system, as well as added questions

Operations Challenge audience members.

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It’s A Wrap! FWRC REVIEW

Other teams in action.

to show what the demand and usage are. The St. Petersburg Dirty Birds took first place, with True Grit taking second. The maintenance event simulates the maintenance of a lift station where a pump has gone down and a Godwin pump is set up as a bypass in case, at some point, the other pump goes down. The teams do a simulated inspection of the pump before simulating taking the pump to the station and hooking it up. In this event, Methane Madness came in first and Treatment Outlaws placed second. The safety section also changed this year with a new hoist system and added steps to challenge the teams. The event simulates a person passing out in a confined space and the team arriving on site to retrieve the person. Also added is the maintenance of a check valve in replacing the gaskets to it. The collections event simulates the team having to replace a section of an 8-in. piece of pipe with a new piece of pipe that has a 4-in. hole cut out for a new sewer lateral. While this is going on, one member of the team is setting up a sampler to take samples. Here, True Grit took first place, as

JEA Fecal Matters took second. Both winning teams will now go on to represent Florida at this year’s Operation Challenge at the Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC), which will be held in New Orleans in September. Congratulations to both teams and best of luck!

The next Operations Challenge at FWRC will be held April 2017 in West Palm Beach. The competition is open to teams of wastewater treatment operators from any utility in Florida. For information on entering a team, contact Chris Fasnacht, City of St. Cloud, at cfasnacht@stcloud.org.

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– Student Design Competition and Poster Competition –

University of South Florida has Near Sweep of FWEA Contests Danielle Bertini and Tyler Smith The Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA) Student and Young Professional Committee (SYPC) hosted the 20th annual Student Design Competition (SDC) on April 24 at the Florida Water Resources Conference. The competition is intended to promote real-world design experience for students interested in pursuing a career in water/wastewater engineering and sciences. This year, 10 teams from six different universities and colleges across the state partici-

pated and competed in one of two categories: wastewater or environmental. The two winning teams received a $4000 travel allowance to go on to represent Florida at the national Water Environment Federation Technical and Exhibition Conference (WEFTEC) SDC competition to be held on Sept. 25 in New Orleans. Additionally, each first-place team received a $1000 Norm Casey Scholarship. All other teams received a $500 participation bonus. We're proud to announce and congratulate this year's winners for each of the categories:

University of South Florida wastewater team.

University of South Florida environmental team.

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July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

• First-Place Wastewater Competition: University of South Florida, for their design, "Developing Solutions for the City of Plant City Water Reclamation Facility to Handle Increased Septage Loads Due to the Ban From FL SB 550," with team members Monica Resto, Dillon Forsyth, Wainella Isaacs, Madeline Kender, Jonathan Knudsen, and Vittoria Zucchelli. • First-Place Environmental Competition: University of South Florida, for their design, "Supplementary Sludge Management Process for City of Plant City Water Reclamation Facility," with team members Rebecca Braz, Krystin Kadonsky, Christin Gentz, Maria Reed, and Poe Poe Min Hlaing. In addition to the SDC, a poster competition was held in which 13 participants competed for first- and second-place prizes of $300 and $200, respectively. Congratulations to first-place winner, Kelly Landry, from the University of Florida, for her poster on "Environmental and Economic Assessment of Urine Source Separation and Pharmaceutical Removal by Ion-Exchange," and second-place winner Kevin Orner, from the University of South Florida, for his poster, entitled "Nutrient Removal and Energy Recovery from Digester Effluent Using a Microbial Fuel Cell." The SYPC would like to recognize the students, faculty advisors, professional mentors, and the SDC planning committee and volunteers (Tim Ware, George Dick, Samantha Hanzel, Kristen Andre, Lauren Davis, Kristiana Dragash, David Hernandez, Yanni Polematidis, and Holly Hanson) for all of their hard work and dedication. And a special thank you goes out to all of the judges, who read and reviewed design reports and judged the presentations. We would also like to thank the Florida Water Resources Conference and our 2016 sponsors, including: • JEA • City of Tallahassee • St. Johns County • City of Tavares • TOHO Water Authority • Stantec • Arcadis • Jacobs • Moss Kelly • GHD


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• • • • • •

Flygt Pure Technologies TSC Jacobs Wade Trim CDM Smith University of Florida TREEO Center

The SYPC is a great way to get involved and get connected with others in your field. For more information on joining the committee or becoming a sponsor for next year’s contests, please contact: Tyler Smith, chair, SYPC tsmith@carollo.com David Hernandez, vice chair, SYPC dhernandez@hazenandsawyer.com Samantha Hanzel, chair, Poster Competition Samantha.Hanzel@jacobs.com Danielle Bertini is an environmental engineer with Carollo Engineers in Sarasota and Tyler Smith is a staff professional with Carollo Engineers in Tampa. S

Kelly Landry (University of Florida), first-place poster competition winner.

Kevin Orner (University of South Florida), second-place poster competition winner.

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New Members Inducted Into FWEA Society Three nominees for the Florida Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers (FSSSSS) became members after completing a tongue-twisting induction exercise at the conference, held for the first time on Sunday during the president's reception in the exhibit hall. The chair of the society, Tom Baber, welcomed the attendees to the ceremony. Scott Orbany, a local comedian, “roasted” the inductees as they completed their verbal exercises. Brad Hayes, with City of Tavares, and Rodney Shupler, with Heywood Inc., received their certificates as members of the Class of 2016. Brian Wheeler, the third nominee, was unable to attend the conference on Sunday and was inducted at a separate ceremony held the next day. The new members also received the coveted Silver Shovel pin. The society, which was founded in 1956, annually recognizes wastewater industry professionals for meritorious service above and beyond the call of duty to FWEA.

Comedian Scott Orbany was “roaster of ceremonies.” Attendees encourage the inductees.

Rodney Shupler has his turn on stage.

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Tom Baber introduces Brad Hayes.


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F W R J

Water Resources Master Plan for Lowry Park Zoo Tonya Simmons and Heather Maggio History of the Zoo Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo originated in the 1930s as a City of Tampa (City) municipal department with a small collection of Florida native species located near downtown Tampa on the grounds of the University of Tampa. During the mid-1950s, the Zoo was moved to a more spacious location on a city-owned parcel in the neighborhood of Seminole Heights, opening in 1957 as Lowry Park Zoo. In this new location, it grew gradually throughout the next three decades, but struggled to meet the professional standards of modern zoos. In 1982, community leaders created the Lowry Park Zoo Association to take over management of the Zoo for the City with the goal of creating a world-class facility through a public-private partnership. The Association then became the Lowry Park Zoological Society of Tampa Inc., as it remains today. After years of fundraising, and through the help of the City, the original Lowry Park Zoo closed in the late 1980s for a $20-million reconstruction and reopened in 1998 as a modern 24-

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acre facility. Since that time, it has completed several additions and expansions that have brought the zoo to its current configuration. Construction phases included the following: S The original footprint of the Zoo, referred to as “Old Zoo,” was constructed in 1986. S The stormwater basin, Wallaroo, was constructed in 2000 and 2001. S The stormwater basin, Africa, was constructed in 2003. S Safari Lodge was constructed in the Africa basin in 2008. S The hospital and commissary were constructed in 2014 at the southwestern edge of the Africa basin.

Purpose of Zoo’s Water Resources Master Plan The Zoo holds water conservation and source water protection as two of its core values. As such, it wanted to develop and implement a holistic and progressive approach to reducing its water use and protecting the water quality of the Hillsborough

July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Tonya Simmons, P.E., is senior project manager with Greenman-Pedersen Inc. in Tampa, and Heather Maggio is NPDES program administrator and lead scientist for the City of Tampa’s ambient water quality and TMDL programs.

River. The objective of the project was to improve water use efficiency within the Zoo and the quality of water discharged through the creation of a water resources master plan (WRMP). The WRMP was intended to evaluate viable water quality and reuse options that, when implemented, would reduce pollutants discharged by the Zoo to Hamilton Creek, a tributary to the Hillsborough River that discharges to Tampa Bay. The Hillsborough River, the City’s primary drinking water source, is an impaired waterbody (WBID 1443E) with an adopted fecal coliform total maximum daily load (TMDL) that has exceedance levels of 400 coliform fecal units (CFU)/100 mL as a monthly average, and 800


CFU/100 mL as a maximum-day average. The Hillsborough River does not have a TMDL for nitrogen; however, it discharges into Tampa Bay, which has a TMDL for nitrogen that was approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1998. The allowable total nitrogen load for each major bay segment of Tampa Bay is as follows: S Old Tampa Bay: 486 tons/year S Hillsborough Bay: 1,451 tons/year S Middle Tampa Bay: 799 tons/year S Lower Tampa Bay: 349 tons/year The Zoo property and Hamilton Creek are in the watershed of the impaired Hillsborough River. The Zoo property is located approximately 1,000 ft from the Hillsborough River, and Hamilton Creek, a tributary to the river, runs through the Zoo property before discharging into it (Figure 1).

Funding Sources and Engineer for the Water Resources Master Plan The Zoo submitted a Cooperative Funding Initiative (CFI) proposal to the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). Through the CFI process, SWFWMD and project owners (also called cooperators) collaborated on a water management project with both entities typically paying 50 percent of the project cost. Acknowledging the importance of the project, the City provided the Zoo’s matching funds for the CFI project and became the cooperator and project manager. In that role, the City retained Greenman-Pedersen Inc. (GPI) to develop the WRMP.

Existing Water Sources and Uses The Zoo has two water sources: city-supplied potable water and self-supplied well water. The Zoo uses over 5 mil gal (MG) of well water per month for irrigation and to fill pools that are in its exhibits. The majority of this use is to fill exhibit pools. Potable water is used to meet all other needs, including the cleaning of exhibits. The Zoo purchases about 1.5 MG of potable water per month.

Existing Stormwater Management The Zoo consists of three stormwater basins: Africa, Wallaroo, and Old Zoo. As shown in Figure 1, the Africa exhibit drains to a stormwater management pond (SWMP) that has an emergency overflow structure, which discharges directly to the Hillsborough River. Wallaroo drains to a separate SWMP, which has an emergency overflow structure that discharges into Hamilton Creek. Stormwater management in Old Zoo is unique because the storm sewer in that part of the facility includes a mixture of relatively clean stormwater (runoff from roofs and sidewalks),

Figure 1. Zoo Property

which is referred to herein as “clean stormwater” and water with high levels of fecal matter (drained from exhibit pools during cleaning activities), which is referred to herein as “dirty stormwater.” The Old Zoo storm sewer combines both clean and dirty stormwater and drains to Lake Sharon. Water is then pumped from Lake Sharon to the Zoo’s Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)-permitted onsite industrial wastewater treatment system. The system includes sand filtration and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection. More than 150,000 gal per day (gpd) of treated effluent from the system is discharged to Hamilton Creek through the Zoo’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)permitted outfall. The treated effluent outfall is co-located with an emergency overflow weir in Lake Sharon. Per the Zoo’s operating protocol, in an effort to not discharge untreated Lake Sharon water over the weir, levels in Lake Sharon are closely monitored and exhibit pools are dropped and cleaned only when there is sufficient free board in the lake. The protocol also calls for discharging untreated Lake Sharon water to the City’s sanitary sewer when the treatment system is taken off line for maintenance or repair, or if it cannot keep up with flow demands when the water level in the lake needs to be quickly dropped due to a storm event.

Nitrogen Levels in Treated Stormwater Effluent As part of the 2009 Tampa Bay Reasonable Assurance Plan, Lowry Park Zoo was assigned a total nitrogen allocation, which was included in its industrial wastewater treatment permit for the Lake Sharon system. In the permit, the Zoo is allowed to discharge up to 1.5 tons/year of nitrogen as a total annual load, and up to 1 ton/year as a five-year rolling average. The Zoo’s effluent discharge data was reviewed by GPI from September 2012 through October 2015. In evaluating the NPDES data recording and reporting practices, GPI identified that Zoo maintenance staff would benefit from a custom calculator to record laboratory results and calculate loadings for monthly reporting to FDEP. A spreadsheet-based calculator was developed by GPI for the staff to use moving forward. The calculator also included a performance measurement so that the Zoo could track the performance of its nitrogen management efforts. The performance metric calculated by the tool is nitrogen loading as a percent of the Zoo’s permitted allocation. This allows the Zoo to track its nitrogen loadings as a percent of its annual and Continued on page 38

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Continued from page 37 five-year allocations. Through GPI’s review of historical effluent data for the Lake Sharon treatment system, it appeared that, since monitoring inception (September 2012), the Zoo had maintained nitrogen loadings in treated effluent from the Old Zoo that were well below permit limits. On average, the Zoo uses about 20 percent of its annual nitrogen loading allocation.

Fecal Coliform Levels in Treated Stormwater Effluent As previously mentioned, the Hillsborough River fecal coliform TMDL includes exceedance levels of 400 CFU/100 mL as a monthly average, and 800 CFU/100 mL as a maximum-day average. The fecal coliform level on the Zoo’s discharge monitoring reports (DMRs) was reviewed from September 2013 through August 2015. During this period, on average, the Zoo’s fecal loading through the outfall has been 30 and 43 percent of its monthly average and maximum daily allowances, respectively. For the period of analysis, the Zoo had not exceeded the monthly average limit, but it did exceed the maximum day limit three times. The cause of the exceedances was: 1) untreated Lake

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Sharon water discharging over the weir during heavy rains; 2) the UV flow sensor malfunctioning; and 3) due to low precipitation, the concentration of fecal coliform was higher than the design values for the UV system.

S S

Identifying and Scoring Potential Projects After completing discovery and evaluation tasks, GPI determined that proposed project options should consider the following: S The Zoo’s greatest liabilities with respect to impacting water quality in the Hillsborough River included: • The potential of untreated Lake Sharon water topping over the weir and discharging into Hamilton Creek. • Failure of the UV system to disinfect Lake Sharon water prior to discharge to Hamilton Creek. S Nitrogen in the Lake Sharon-treated effluent was well below the Zoo’s permitted effluent limits. S The UV system was capable of meeting fecal coliform effluent limits as long as the system was properly working and fecal coliform levels en-

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S

S

S

S

tering the UV system were within the design range. The Lake Sharon pumping and filtration systems were dated and inefficient. The pumping, filtering, and disinfection systems lacked backup power and instrumentation and controls, which could greatly improve system reliability and on-demand power, pumping, and treatment redundancy. Separation of clean rainwater from fecal-contaminated water in the Old Zoo storm sewer would be highly disruptive to animals because of the layout of the Old Zoo. Although the Zoo could decommission the Lake Sharon treatment system and dispose all untreated Lake Sharon water to the City’s sanitary sewer through a metered connection, this option was highly undesirable at $4.71/100 cu ft. Reuse of treated Lake Sharon effluent provided an opportunity to offset water uses from wells and some uses of purchased potable water (exhibit washdown water, for example). The Zoo is committed to providing environmental education to its visitors and wanted project options to include at least one that Zoo visitors could themselves implement.


Based on these considerations, GPI developed a simple qualitative benefit–cost matrix to identify projects with fatal flaws and score project options.

Table 1. Conceptual Design Parameters for Treatment, Storage, and Reuse of Treated Lake Sharon Wastewater

Recommended Capital Projects Based on the results of the benefit–cost matrix, the following three projects were identified. Storage and Reuse of Treated Lake Sharon Wastewater This recommended project includes storing treated water from Lake Sharon in an underground vault under the events lot. Except for the existing UV system, all other pumping and treatment systems would be upgraded and pumping, treatment, disposal, and outfall facilities relocated. Parameters used to conceptualize this project option are summarized and a conceptual layout is provided as Table 1. In Figure 2, existing storm sewer flowing to Lake Sharon is shown in red, Lake Sharon wastewater (WW) treatment components are shown in green, and treated effluent is in purple. The components of the proposed treatment and storage system are shown in pink. Storage and Reuse of Diverted Clean Stormwater From Zoo Entrance Area This option includes the capture/collection and pretreatment of clean stormwater from the Zoo’s entrance area (see clean stormwater capture area in Figure 3). In the figure, clean stormwater is shown in orange and dirty stormwater in red. The proposed capture area is shown in pink. This project option is considered an add-on to the Lake Sharon storage/reuse option. Clean stormwater would be conveyed to the vault via guttering and direct stormwater drainage pipes. It is assumed that some modification to the building guttering will be required to maximize rainwater collection potential. At least one hydrodynamic separation device (interceptor) would be required to remove debris and suspended solids from the stormwater runoff through gravitational settling and trapping. Future basis-of-design efforts may identify that it is more cost-effective to capture, treat, and store these flows through the existing drainage system. This means that if this project option were not implemented, the potential to capture and reuse these flows would not be lost, as they would continue to flow to Lake Sharon, be treated by the new Lake Sharon treatment system, and then be stored in the vault. Rain Gardens Rain gardens were proposed throughout the Zoo and also in its parking lot. Candidate rain garContinued on page 40

Figure 2. Treatment and Storage of Lake Sharon Wastewater Florida Water Resources Journal • July 2016

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Continued from page 39 den sites generally included areas that collect stormwater runoff from higher lying areas. Potential sites were located in public high-access areas to maximize exposure to visitors for their public education value. The rain garden project was conceptualized in coordination with the University of South Florida (USF). Candidate rain garden sites would be ranked by USF based upon the following factors: potential nitrogen sources within the contributing drainage area (30 percent), visibility (30 percent), accessibility (30 percent), and construction feasibility (10 percent). Then, the top four sites would be selected for implementation and would include two to three enhanced nitrogen removal (modified) rain gardens and one to two conventional rain gardens. For traditional rain gardens, the International Stormwater Best Management Practices Database shows a total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency of

21 percent and Version 3 of the Center for Watershed Protection’s National Pollutant Removal Performance Database lists a median removal efficiency of 46 percent. The USF is currently monitoring both a conventional and a modified rain garden at a field site in Tampa. Results to date indicate 61 percent TN removal for the modified rain garden versus 34 percent TN removal for the conventional rain garden. Similar removal efficiencies are expected for conventional and modified rain gardens that may be implemented at the Zoo.

Next Steps and Other Recommendations The following is a list of next steps for implementing the proposed capital projects: S Submeter several end uses at the Zoo to better quantify appropriate storage volume, pumping requirements, and reuse piping.

Figure 3. Clean Stormwater Capture Area in Old Zoo

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S Identify acceptable water quality for each potential use of treated Lake Sharon wastewater. S Conduct additional water quality testing of well water and treated Lake Sharon water to identify baseline water quality testing for parameters that relate to various uses (exhibit pools used by animals; exhibit pools used for animal containment, such as moats; and fouling of taps used for washdown water). S Investigate the geotechnical aspects of the site of the proposed storage vault, the events lot. S Most importantly, identify funding sources to implement the projects. Other recommendations that were not capital projects and/or were interim recommendations include the following: S Install floating islands to improve water quality in Lake Sharon. S The sand filters for the Lake Sharon wastewater treatment system are backwashed with untreated Lake Sharon water. Until the Zoo can upgrade the Lake Sharon treatment system, it was recommended to replumb the system to backwash filters with City potable water or treated Lake Sharon water. S Installation of a prefilter to be installed upstream from the sand filters to remove shells and other debris entering the intake pipe. Also, it’s recommended to raise the Lake Sharon pump inlet to reduce entrainment of shells and debris from the bottom of the lake. S All hoses used for washing down exhibit pools after pool drops should be fitted with high-pressure nozzles with a shut-off feature. S Approximately half of the aerators on handsink faucets are 2.2 gal per minutes (gpm), instead of 0.5 gpm. Replacing 2.2-gpm aerators with 0.5-gpm aerators reduces this end use by 30 percent. All toilets and urinals are currently 1.6 gal per flush (gpf) and 1 gpf, respectively. New or renovated bathroom facilities should use 1.28 gpf or dual-flush toilets to reduce this end use by 30 percent. S Prerinse spray nozzles should be installed in food service areas with 1.6-gpm nozzles. In an effort to conserve Florida’s limited fresh water supplies and to protect the Hillsborough River and Tampa Bay from fecal coliform and nitrogen loads, SWFWMD, the City of Tampa, and Lowry Park Zoo teamed up to find a way to transform environmental liabilities into opportunities. When project funding becomes available, the Zoo will be able to improve the reliability of its industrial wastewater treatment system, replace up to 300,000 gpd of treated potable and well water with reclaimed water, and test nutrient removal efficiencies of traditional and engineered rain gardens. S



New Author, New Name for Certification Column Ron Trygar, CET, is the author of “Test Yourself,” which replaces Certification Boulevard in the Journal. His first column appears in this issue. He is the senior training specialist for water and wastewater programs at the University of Florida TREEO (Training, Research, and Education for Environmental Occupations) Center. Located on the southwest side of Gainesville, the TREEO Center has been training adult learners in all types of environmental occupations since 1978. Ron has been in the water and wastewater treatment industry since 1983, although he has been around water treatment plants since he was a kid growing up in New Jersey, where his father was the chief water plant operator in his hometown. Ron is licensed in Florida as a Class B drinking water operator and a Class A wastewater operator. He became a certified environmental trainer (CET) in 1998 through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (for-

merly National Environmental, Safety, and Health Training Association) in drinking water and wastewater treatment technology. He instructs many of the drinking water treatment and wastewater treatment exam preparation classes given at TREEO, with a very high success rate of students passing their state exams and becoming certified operators. He also teaches most of the continuing education unit (CEU) water and wastewater courses attended by operators to maintain their licenses. Ron is a member of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Operator Certification Exam Review Committee and AWWA and its Florida Section (FSAWWA), WEF, FWEA, and FWPCOA. In his spare time, Ron enjoys fishing the shallow waters along Florida's coastline, biking, National Hot Rod Association drag racing, reading, and enjoying life with his wife, Rochelle, at their home in High Springs. S

Deltona Eyes Growth With New Reclamation Facility The City of Deltona has recently completed the $27-million Eastern Water Reclamation Facility, which was built to handle the city’s growing sewer demands from current and future growth. The new wastewater treatment plant is located on the eastern edge of the city, which will allow it to develop with sanitary sewers instead of septic tanks and drainfields. The plant increases Deltona’s wastewater capacity by 1.5 mil gal per day (mgd); when all phases of the plant are complete (by 2035), the capacity will increase to 4.5 mgd. State funds of $500,000 helped to fund the facility’s construction, and the city also received a State Revolving Fund loan of $28 million for the project. The new plant allows Deltona, with a population of 86,000, to adopt new state standards for treating sewage and disposing of waste. S

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July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal


PROCESS PAGE

Greetings from the FWEA Wastewater Process Committee! This column highlights wastewater treatment facilities that have won the Earle B. Phelps Award.

Earle B. Phelps: The Man Behind the Award Kevin Vickers ach year, the Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA) gives the Earle B. Phelps Award to wastewater treatment facilities in recognition of outstanding operations. This column, over the last couple of years, has highlighted some of the Earle B. Phelps awardwinning treatment facilities, and it will continue to honor the 2016 winners by featuring each facility in the coming months. This month’s column, however, will highlight the life and accomplishments of the man who inspired the award. Earle Bernard Phelps was a chemist, bacteriologist, and sanitary expert who served in governmental positions and as an academic in some of the leading universities in the United States. He is best known for his contributions in the fields of sewage disinfection, water chlorination, sewage treatment, milk pasteurization, and shellfish control, and for describing the “oxygen sag curve” in surface water bodies. He was born in 1876 in Illinois and graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1899 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. After graduating, he worked as assistant bacteriologist at the Lawrence Experiment Station in Massachusetts and as a chemist/microbiologist with the Sanitary Research Lab at MIT. In addition to teaching chemistry and biology at MIT, he investigated a typhoid fever epidemic at State Hospital in Trenton, N.J., and worked as an assistant hydrographer for the U.S. Geological Survey. From 1910 to 1911, he conducted groundbreaking research with Col. William M. Black of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the pollution of New York Harbor. His work established for the first time the concept of utilizing dissolved oxygen concentrations in water as a determination of water quality. In 1913, he left MIT to lead the chemistry division at the U.S. Hygienic Laboratory, which was part of the U.S. Public Health Service in Washington, D.C. It was there that Phelps worked with H.W. Streeter, a sanitary engineer, on the characterization of oxygen depletion in a stream receiving organic wastes. From this research they developed the Streeter-Phelps equation, which was the first quantitative model used to determine biochemical oxygen demand impacts on discharges to surface waters. Phelps later went on to teach at Stanford and Columbia universities between 1919 and 1943. In 1944, he began teaching at the Univer-

E

Earl B. Phelps (1876-1953) a pioneer in the measurement of steam quality, believed that industrial pollution constituted a menace to public health. (photo: MIT Museum)

sity of Florida, where he was a professor of sanitary science until his death in 1953. The university named a laboratory building in his honor, which is currently home to the Howard T. Odum Center for Wetlands, a forum for the research and promotion of utilizing natural and constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment. In 1964, FWEA, an association of the Water Environment Federation (WEF), established the Earle B. Phelps Award. Kevin Vickers, P.E., is the utilities engineering division manager at the Hernando County Utilities Department in Brooksville. S Florida Water Resources Journal • July 2016

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FSAWWA SPEAKING OUT

La Niña is Coming— It is Time to Prepare! Kim Kunihiro Chair, FSAWWA

une 1st marked the beginning of the 2016 hurricane season, and utilities, cities, counties, and citizens throughout the state should have already reviewed their hurricane plans and made preparations. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that this year will bring 10 to 16 named storms, four to eight hurricanes, and one to four major storms with winds over 110 miles per hour. They are predicting La Niña conditions this year, which recur every three to seven years and typically last from 9 to 12 months—and up to two years. One of the strongest La Niña episodes on record was that of 1988-1989 when ocean temperatures fell as much as 7 degrees Fahrenheit below normal. The last La Niña episode occurred from 2010-2012. The NOAA scientists expect La Niña conditions to return again during late 2016. The cooler waters affect the atmosphere above the ocean, causing significant changes in climate. Tropical storms and hurricanes are a reality throughout all parts of our state and all regions have been impacted in the past. Some of us who work in utility operations have required training in emergency management in preparation for hurricane season. I cannot even remember how many times I have been to formal training at our emergency operations center in the 21 years I have worked at Orange County. I always feel that the training is useful and a good reminder of what my role is in emergency management, and I appreciate the opportunity to work and train with all the other personnel from other departments that also have emergency planning and management functions. We wish we would never have to use this type of training, but I have needed it and used it. During the 2004 hurricane season we had back-to-back hurricanes and tropical storms over a three-month period in central Florida. I

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still remember the names: Charley, Frances, and Jeanne. They were memorable because we lost power for a significant period at my home. I was one of the few people in our laboratory who could make it out of my street to come to work, and the water plant was the best place to be because we had emergency generators and air conditioning. Our efforts and lessons learned during Charley helped to prepare for the next two that quickly followed behind. In 2008, under Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, governmental entities were directed to organize our domestic response to emergencies, and disaster response and integration, under the National Incident Management System (NIMS). A nationwide systematic and flexible response framework, NIMS represents a core set of doctrine, concepts, principles, terminology, and organizational processes that enable effective, efficient, and collaborative incident management. Agencies that have emergency management and support functions and intend to get reimbursement and funding from FEMA when emergency declarations are made must be trained in this framework and organize their operations, preparedness, communications, information management, and command and management according to the framework. It helps to ensure common methods of incident command, coordination, and cooperation

July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

among local agencies, state agencies, and the federal government in emergency response to disasters, and even terrorist attacks. As a water industry, Florida utilities have taken emergency planning and response very seriously. Many years ago, utilities got together a mutual response and assistance organization and formed the Florida Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (FlaWARN), which has expanded to many other states since its formation in Florida. It is a formalized system through mutual aid agreements for utilities to help other utilities to respond to incidents that may be man-made or from a natural disaster. The mutual aid agreement is easy to use and the WARN database provides a data bank of available resources that allows an agency in need to request from another member some form of aid to assist them in getting operations back to normal as quickly as possible. That may include trucks and staffing, or equipment, such as portable generators. There is no cost to join or participate. The requests are made in a secure environment, and often resources can be made available quickly and minimize red tape and purchasing bureaucracy. I encourage all utilities to go to the website (www.flawarn.org) and gather additional information and join. I wish you a safe and uneventful 2016 Hurricane Season! S


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I n

M e m o r i a m

Albert William Heller 1957 – 2016 Albert William “Bill” Heller, 58, passed away June 5, 2016, at his new ranch in Osteen. He was born Aug. 20, 1957, in Baltimore, Md. The son of Donald William Heller, Sr., and Myra Maples of Apopka, he retired from Orange County Utilities after 33 years, and was the district sales manager for Hydra Service Inc. He was a member of the Florida Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers and the West Volusia Saddle Club. He was passionate about his family and was a friend to all. His hobbies and interests were playing golf, collecting sports memorabilia, caring for his horses, motorcycles and sports cars, and he was an antique enthusiast. Bill brought the Christmas spirit to life by carrying on the family tradition of playing Santa, like his father and brothers. According to those who knew him, he was the most fun-loving family man, gentle giant, teddy bear, husband, father, brother, uncle, coach, colleague, and mentor that anyone could ask for. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Shelley Heller; son Keaton Riley (Rachel) and first grandson-to-be, Grayson William Scott Heller; daughter Madisen Jean (Patrick) Jaynes; motherin-law Bonnie Ferron; brothers Donald (Jane) and Michael (Julie Bell); sisters Tina Loretta (Jeffrey) Heller-Zaenger and Donna (Roy) Holland; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was proceeded in death by his father and mother, brother Jimmy Hayni, sisters Darlene Ewing and Jaqueline Heller, and nephew Steven Michael Kent. Several past and current FWEA board of trustees and committee members expressed their condolences to Bill’s family, remembering him as an organizer, helper, mentor, colleague, and friend. In remembering Bill, Holly Hanson, executive director of the Florida Water Resources

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Conference, said, “If there was one man that I ever thought was chivalrous and would ride in on a white horse, it was Bill. I’ve known him for more than 20 years and I was always amazed at his extreme kindness, loyalty, and willingness to help in any way possible. But mostly, it was the unconditional love and respect that he had for other human beings that set him apart. “Bill coordinated the annual golf event for the conference every year. Although I worried about his tactics, the day of the event he and Bill

July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Scott, who is retired from Orange County Utilities, were always there with their pairings sheet and Mulligan packets. Their generous gift of time allowed for a sizeable donation from the tournament to Water For People for over 12 years. “The Bible states: “Love one another as I have loved you.” Bill lived his life that way—humble and kind. We are all better for having Bill touch our lives. Although our hearts are breaking, we can smile knowing that he is playing on the most fabulous fairway for the rest of eternity.” S





F W R J

A Systematic Approach for Addressing Total Maximum Daily Loads Along the Halifax River Matthew Goolsby, Danielle Honour, Michael Schmidt, and Judy Grim Matthew Goolsby, P.E., CFM, is water resources engineer; Danielle Honour, P.E., D.WRE, is principal water resources engineer; and Michael Schmidt, P.E., BCEE, D.WRE, is senior vice president with CDM Smith. Judy Grim, P.E., is road and bridge director with Volusia County.

he Halifax River is a 25-mi-long estuary located in eastern Volusia County (County) that extends from Tomoka Bay south to Mosquito Lagoon and connects to the Atlantic Ocean via the Ponce De Leon Inlet. It is part of the Intracoastal Waterway and has popular recreational uses, including boating, fishing, and wildlife viewing. The Halifax River watershed is highly urbanized and receives stormwater runoff from the unincorporated County and several municipalities, including Ormond Beach, Holly Hill, Daytona Beach, South Daytona, and Port Orange. In 2013, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) adopted a total maximum daily load (TMDL) for nutrients for a portion of the Halifax River. The river was also listed as impaired for copper (Cu). The County road and bridge division has taken a proactive approach in identifying innovative solutions to address the impairments early on in this highly urbanized watershed prior to formal TMDL implementation by the state of Florida. The nutrient TMDL requires a 9 percent reduction in total nitrogen (TN) from nonpoint sources.

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Project Objective

Figure 1. Project Study Areas

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This project consisted of a stormwater outfall assessment to identify potential operation and maintenance (O&M) activities and best management practice (BMP) implementation to improve water quality of discharges to impaired waters in the Halifax River. The study area for this project focused on those unincorporated areas of the County with direct outfalls to the river from the Halifax Peninsula area, as shown in Figure 1. The systematic approach for addressing TMDLs included: S A detailed inventory of the County's stormwater and septic tank infrastructure. S Evaluation of current operation and maintenance (O&M) practices by the County within the study area. S Investigation of potential pollutant sources within the study area causing the water quality impairment. S Identification of best management practices (BMPs) to reduce nonpoint source pollution to the river from unincorporated areas. S Overall recommended plan for implementation.


Stormwater Inventory Available data from the County, FDEP, St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), and other government agencies that supported the evaluation as it pertained to County outfalls to the Halifax River were reviewed. The County provided a comprehensive inventory of its existing stormwater infrastructure and BMPs, which were field-verified for the project study area. The collected data were used to assess current BMP effectiveness and calculate pollutant loadings to each of the outfalls. The loading values were then used in determining the most effective BMPs and pollutant reduction potential under proposed conditions. Table 1 summarizes the stormwater infrastructure inventory for the project study area.

Table 1. Study Area County Stormwater Inventory

Table 2. County Operation and Maintenance Practices and Reported Frequencies Within Study Area

Operation and Maintenance Practices and Recommendations Currently, the County has a comprehensive O&M program that routinely addresses stormwater infrastructure components present in the Halifax River study area. An overview of the O&M practices for all of the County stormwater facilities in the study area is summarized in Table 2. To support the County’s O&M program, a database was created to provide critical O&M details for the tributaries upstream of each outfall to the Halifax River. The database contained attributes, such as land use, soil type, roads, relevant stormwater infrastructure, existing upstream BMPs, and O&M practices associated with each outfall subbasin. Google® Street View was used to summarize the curb type of the roads corresponding to each outfall subbasin and the County’s street-sweeping geographic information system (GIS) layer to assess which curbed streets were on the County street-sweeping route. Observed O&M issues were also noted, which included any observations that were made during project field visits. Recommendations meant to supplement or enhance the County’s current program were provided for exfiltration trenches, street sweeping, and stormwater treatment structures. Street Sweeping Recommendations with respect to street sweeping were based on literature review, observation of the study area, and laboratory analysis of collected street-sweeping samples. The County street-sweeping program only includes curbed streets, which assists with containing the debris within the right of way (ROW). Additional curbed routes upstream of outfalls with curbs that

Table 3. Estimated Street Sweeping Load Removal Within Study Area (14.5 mi/29 curb mi swept)

were not being swept were identified and recommended for inclusion into the program. Also, recommendations for optimal performance based on guidance from American Public Works Association (APWA, 2009), including speed, frequency, target pollutants, and sweeping locations, were included as part of the overall recommended plan: S Frequency of sweeping residential streets with low traffic volumes should be at least quarterly. S Analyze the sediment (<2,000 microns) for key pollutants, such as total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), metals (zinc, copper, and lead), phosphorus, and nitrogen to obtain value (mg/kg). S Calculate average amount of material per curb mi swept. S Regenerative air and vacuum sweepers have higher removal rates and are more effective at removing small particles than mechanical sweepers. As part of the analysis, a composite sample of street-sweeping-collected materials were sent

to a laboratory to quantify the nutrient content. The purpose was to determine if there would be additional benefit by increasing the frequency and/or modifying the types of street-sweeping equipment. The County had samples of its street sweepings from three different areas analyzed. The results of the samples, along with guidance from a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) study sponsored by the Florida Stormwater Association (University of Florida, 2011), were used to estimate streetsweeping load removals, as shown in Table 3. The results suggest that increasing the frequency and including the additional sweeping routes would provide additional benefit in the removal of nutrients from the County’s MS4 and, ultimately, the Halifax River. Exfiltration Trenches The County’s current maintenance practices for exfiltration trenches are identical to that Continued on page 52

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Continued from page 51 of the inlets, pipes, and outfalls. Several of the exfiltration systems in the Halifax watershed were constructed with a fixed concrete weir wall located in the downstream catch basin, which increased detention time and allowed for effective exfiltration to occur. Due to the constricted ROW, the County is limited to junction boxes no larger than type C, which are unable to provide adequate space to house a fixed weir structure and also allow room for proper maintenance. Eventually, the fixed weir structures were demolished in order to obtain access for debris removal, subsequently impacting exfiltration performance. Based on these constraints, one recommendation is to retrofit the fixed and/or demolished weirs with stop log weir structures (e.g., aluminum or reinforced plastic) that can be removed for maintenance purposes and then replaced afterwards. Stop logs are typically long rectangular beams or boards that are placed on top of each other and dropped into premade slots inside a weir. Another option, which would be more costly, is to include an additional manhole on the downstream side of the junction box to house the fixed weir if a stop log weir structure is not permitted. Baffle Boxes The County is anticipating the installation of baffle boxes within the study area as a component of ongoing projects and to reduce overall pollutant load to the river. Several baffle boxes were also recommended as part of this study. Maintenance recommendations are based on guidance from FDEP and previous experience: S Cleanout schedule based on the observed needs of the individual baffle boxes, rather than a set quarterly or monthly cleanout schedule. S Better tracking of the amount of organic material removed from the boxes can also aid in directing more maintenance efforts toward boxes that need frequent cleanouts and optimizing effectiveness. S Routine maintenance is key for baffle box performance, as sediment accumulates in the box, the chance for resuspension of accumulated material increases, and pollutant removal efficiencies can decline. S Manholes should be located within 15 ft of a paved surface to allow access by vacuum trucks for box maintenance. S Standing water that accumulates in the baffle box may become stagnant, leading to odor and/or mosquito breeding problems. Bottom weep holes to drain standing water should be considered, if existing groundwater conditions allows for it.

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Potential Pollutant Source Evaluation The parameters of concern for the Halifax River include TN and Cu. The TN was identified as the limiting nutrient in the adopted TMDL, which requires a 9 percent reduction from nonpoint (stormwater) sources. The Halifax River is also currently impaired for Cu. Potential pollutant sources for nutrients and Cu were evaluated as part of this study. Commercial and Industrial Facilities Commercial and industrial businesses within the study area were reviewed based on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code and North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code in order to identify potential pollutant sources. The search results did not produce any facilities within the unincorporated area that could potentially contribute any significant amount of Cu or nutrients to the Halifax River. Further review of the ambient water quality data indicated that it may be coming from a localized source to the river outside of the study area. The County indicated that it did not use copper sulfate, a commonly used herbicide, as part of its O&M practices within the study area. Domestic and Industrial Wastewater Point Sources Another resource used to identify potential Cu and nutrient contributions to the Halifax River is the FDEP wastewater facility regulation (WAFR) database. The database consists of domestic and industrial wastewater facilities and provides key information, such as address, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) facility designation, ownership, facility type, and treatment process. The nutrient contributions from point sources (domestic wastewater) have been documented in the 2013 TMDL report, appeared to be meeting advanced wastewater (AWT) standards, and did not receive a wasteload allocation from FDEP. Several discharge monitoring reports (DMRs) for the wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs) and water reclamation facilities (WRFs) with discharge to the Halifax River were reviewed to see if monitoring of Cu in the effluent discharge is part of the facility’s permit condition. Review of the DMRs indicated that only TN, total phosphorus (TP), dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and total suspended solids (TSS) are monitored and reported for the facilities. Septic Tanks There are approximately 1,475 septic tanks

July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

within the North Peninsula and 300 septic tanks in the South Peninsula. The 2013 TMDL report estimated 19.3 lbs-N per drainfield and assumed that loading from all 1,030 septic tanks reached the Halifax River (water body identification unit [WBID] 2363B) without any denitrification. Based on these assumptions, the TMDL report estimated the septic tank loading to the WBID to be 19,845 lbs-N per year. Since the study area has relatively uniform soil and topographic gradients, the conditions were suitable for a limited desktop study to be performed to estimate septic tank contributions. This approximation suggested that septic tank contributions as part of the TMDL were likely overestimated, as calculations suggest that the 1,475 septic tanks in the study area contributed approximately 5,000 lbs-N per year. In order to verify these estimates, site-specific geotechnical and groundwater data, in conjunction with complex computational modeling, would be required to more accurately assess and confirm the nitrogen fate and transport for the septic tanks in the study area. Detailed fate and transport analysis were not included as of this study. Potential sources of Cu associated with septic tanks were also considered. Copper sulfate dosing in septic tanks is a common practice to control root growth and destroy existing roots impacting the system. There was not enough information to determine if privately owned septic tanks receive dosing of copper sulfate in the study area. For public outreach purposes, the recommended copper sulfate dosage rates are 2 lbs per 300 gal of tank capacity and no more than two applications per year. Pollutant Source Conclusions The study area consisted of primarily residential land uses, which typically have higher nutrient loading rates compared to other land uses. After reviewing the potential sources listed previously, the findings were consistent with the findings of the nutrient TMDL report for the Halifax River. The TMDL report indicated that surface runoff, groundwater inflow, and septic tanks are the sources for nonpoint source nutrient load. As a result of the potential source review, this study focused on identifying and recommending BMPs in subbasins that currently do not have treatment and have direct connections to the existing outfalls. As indicated in the TMDL report, septic tanks in the study area likely have some influence on TN concentrations, especially due to the higher discharges of nitrates associated with septic tanks. Areas immediately along the Halifax River should be considered by the County as candidates for septic tank phase-out over time. Continued on page 54


FWPCOA TRAINING CALENDAR SCHEDULE YOUR CLASS TODAY! July 11-15 18-20 18-22 18-22 18-22 25-28 29

........Reclaimed Water Field Site Inspector ....Osteen ..................$350/380 ........Backflow Repair* ........................................St. Petersburg ........$275/305 ........Water Distribution Level 3 ........................Homestead ............$225/255 ........Wastewater Collection A ..........................Orlando ................$225/250 ........Water Distribution Level 1 ........................Orlando ................$225/255 ........Backflow Tester ..........................................Osteen ..................$375/405 ........Backflow Tester recert*** ..........................Osteen ..................$85/115

August 8-12 ........FALL STATE SHORT SCHOOL ..................Ft. Pierce

September 19-22 19-23 26-28 30

........Backflow Tester*..........................................St. Petersburg ........$375/405 ........Utility Maintenance II ................................Osteen ..................$235/255 ........Backflow Repair ..........................................Osteen ..................$275/305 ........Backflow Tester recert*** ..........................Osteen ..................$85/115

October 3-7 17-21 26-29 28

........Water Distribution Level 3, 2 ....................Osteen ..................$225/255 ........Reclaimed Water Field Site Inspector ......Osteen ..................$350/380 ........Backflow Tester ..........................................St. Petersburg ........$375/405 ........Backflow Tester recert*** ..........................Osteen ..................$85/115

November 14-16 ........Backflow Repair* ........................................St. Petersburg ........$250/275 Course registration forms are available at http://www.fwpcoa.org/forms.asp. For additional information on these courses or other training programs offered by the FWPCOA, please contact the FW&PCOA Training Office at (321) 383-9690 or training@fwpcoa.org. * Backflow recertification is also available the last day of Backflow Tester or Backflow Repair Classes with the exception of Deltona ** Evening classes

You are required to have your own calculator at state short schools and most other courses.

*** any retest given also Florida Water Resources Journal • July 2016

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Continued from page 52 As it relates to Cu impairments in the Halifax River, the unincorporated portion of the County does not appear to be a significant contributor. Through tracing monitoring stations provided in the impaired waters rule (IWR) database available from FDEP, the source of Cu impairment is located outside the County’s jurisdiction.

Best Management Practices Evaluation Based on a review of the stormwater inventory, discussions with the County, and information collected during the site visit, priority subbasins were identified in both the North and South Peninsula study areas. As several outfalls in the study area currently have some form of BMP treatment in place, the priority subbasins were primarily selected based on the lack of existing stormwater treatment. Thus, 15 recommended BMP alternatives were developed, their net benefit in terms of pollutant load reductions to the Halifax River were assessed, and conceptual cost estimates were also developed. Best Management Practices Selection The BMPs were selected by assessing the characteristics of the study area and having active discussions with the County. The study areas are almost entirely built out, which requires BMPs that have little to no footprint. The County prefers BMPs that it is familiar with and fit into its current capital and O&M program. Additional information is included to support each decision.

Exfiltration Trenches As part of its maintenance program, the County has been systematically replacing older (mostly corrugated metal pipe) outfall systems with exfiltration. It is recommended to continue this practice in the priority subbasins indicated. Inverted Crowns Another concept recommended to the County to address the space limitations is to install the exfiltration trench (inlets and/or piping) along the center of the road, taking care to avoid utility conflicts. The crown of the road is inverted to capture and convey water toward the inlet. Care should be taken to maintain a slope on the road, such that long-term ponding does not occur; the Florida Department of Transportation Type V inlets can be used to avoid differential settlement. This type of installation can be constructed in parallel with existing stormwater infrastructure to help avoid conflicts during construction with driveways, resident yards, and other potential utilities. Inverted crowns create less disturbance to the residents’ yards, can provide cost savings, and have been successfully implemented in other communities. Biosorption Activated Media The County has expressed interested in incorporating an innovative biosorption activated media (BAM) into existing and proposed BMPs, as applicable. Typical BAM components include tire crumb, expanded clay, and existing soil. Field studies using BAM as a component of various stormwater BMPs have reported excellent performance measures for nutrient reduction, which report up to 73 percent reduction in TN from a 24-in. layer of BAM (Wanielista et al, 2015).

Table 4. Summary of Proposed Projects and Ranking Results

The County currently has 19 existing retention basins in the study area. One retention basin proposed as part of this study would potentially increase nutrient removal rates by incorporating BAM. Other applications include upflow filters, septic drainfield media, and offline filtration. Baffle Boxes The County is planning on constructing baffle boxes in the study area as part of current ongoing projects and several boxes were recommended as part of the BMP evaluation for this study. Baffle boxes are viable options for nutrient reduction, which fits the goal of the study area. The study area also has curb and gutter systems that are set up to support end-of-pipe treatment, such as baffle boxes, which can handle the large amount of trees and vegetation, as they are designed to collect and retain leaves and other organic debris. Best Management Practices Analysis In order to evaluate the benefit provided by the recommended BMPs, the pollutant load reduction was estimated and quantified for each of the proposed projects within their priority subbasins. The Best Management Practices Treatment for Removal on an Annual Basis Involving Nutrients in Stormwater (BMPTRAINS) model (Version 7.4) developed by the Stormwater Management Academy at the University of Central Florida was used. The tool is a Microsoft® Excel spreadsheet model that is used to evaluate stormwater runoff nutrient loads, as well as treatment efficiencies of BMPs based on the findings of studies conducted in recent years within Florida. The 15 projects were ranked using a qualitative assessment criteriascreening matrix. Criteria selected to evaluate recommended conceptual projects included: S Nutrient load reduction benefits S Flood benefits S Cost-effectiveness (in terms of nutrient removal) S Condition of existing infrastructure S O&M costs S Halifax River TMDL limits (discharge to impaired water body segments) A summary of the 15 projects that include load reductions, conceptual costs, and project rankings are provided in Table 4. Projected TN removal efficiencies ranged from 45 to 85 percent for TN, depending on the BMP type and acreage of treated area. The conditions at most project locations were similar, therefore the recommended BMPs were consistent. The proposed projects each had some combination of exfiltration trenches, inverted

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July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal


Figure 2. Example Project Summary for Proposed Project Number 10, Roberta Road

crowns, baffle boxes, and/or biosorption activated media (BAM). An example of a proposed project is provided in Figure 2.

Conclusion The objective of this study was to evaluate impairment sources, O&M practices, and potential BMP options to reduce pollutant loads to the Halifax River. The results of the evaluation led to a recommended improvement plan. To assist the County with program implementation and sequencing, a prioritized list was developed for the proposed conceptual BMP alternatives based on information compiled and evaluated as a result of this study. The condition of the existing infrastructure is a major component when prioritizing the individual projects. This criterion was incorporated into the prioritization framework in an effort to tie into the County’s existing O&M program. Routine pipe and roadway upgrades were recognized as opportunities to implement exfiltration; however, other critical criteria were factored into the overall ranking for the recommended BMPs, as listed previously. The recommended improve-

ment plan, along with the O&M recommendations, will lead to County compliance with TMDL and future basin management action plans (BMAP). The adopted TMDL for nutrients is isolated to the North Peninsula study area only. The proposed BMPs in this study area are estimated to remove 1,175 and 229 lb/yr of TN and TP, respectively. The implementation of the recommended BMPs amounts to an estimated 11 and 12 percent reduction in TN and TP from the study areas. Therefore, it appears that implementation of the recommended BMPs in the North Peninsula study area would be on order with the reduction required by the TMDL (i.e., 9 percent reduction for TN).

References • CDM Smith, 1994. Halifax River Watershed Management Plan. Volusia County, Fla. • CDM Smith, 2015. Halifax River Stormwater Outfall Assessment. Volusia County, Fla. • FDEP, 2010. Baffle Box Effectiveness Monitoring Project. FDEP Contract No. S0236. • Hammond, Cecil, and Tyson, Tony, 2014. Sep-

tic Tank Maintenance and Care. UGA Cooperative Extension. Magley, W.M., 2013. Nutrient TMDL for Halifax River, WBID 2363B. Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Tallahassee, Fla. O’Reilly, A.M, et al, 2012. Nutrient Removal Using Biosorption Activated Media: Preliminary Biogeochemical Assessment of an Innovative Stormwater Infiltration Basin. Science of the Total Environment. Sutherland, R., 2009. Urban Myths Associated with Street Cleaning. APWA International Public Works Congress & Exposition. Columbus, Ohio. University of Florida, 2011. Quantifying Nutrient Loads Associated with Urban Particulate Matter and Biogenic/Little Recovery through Current MS4 Source Control and Maintenance Practices. Gainesville, Fla. USEPA, 2001. Stormwater Technology Fact Sheet: Baffle Boxes. Office of Water, Washington, D.C. Wanielista, M, Williams, E.S., 2015. Improving Nitrogen Treatment Efficiency in Dry Retention Ponds. 2015 Florida Stormwater Association Annual Conference, Ft. Myers, Fla. S

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TEST YOURSELF

Test Your Knowledge of Lead, Copper, and Corrosion Control Ron Trygar

1. In the corrosion cell, or a piece of iron pipe, which is the positive pole, or electrode? a. The anode b. The cathode c. The electrolyte d. The cation

2. Which element is considered one of the most corrosive components in water chemistry when found dissolved in water? a. Ammonia (NH3) b. Carbon (C) c. Nitrogen (N2) d. Oxygen (O2)

3. According to the Lead and Copper Rule, samples for lead and copper must be collected at locations the utility has identified as high risk. These locations include homes with lead pipes, lead service lines, and what other risk factor? a. Homes with copper solder installed after 2003. b. Homes with lead solder installed after 1982. c. Homes with chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) hot water lines. d. Schools and businesses that also contain lead-based paint.

4. By rule, samples for lead and copper must be “first draw” samples. What defines a “first draw” sample? a. A sample that is the first gal of water collected from a tap that has not been used for at least 15 minutes. b. A sample of water collected from a hydrant that has not been used for at least six weeks. c. A sample that is the first liter of water collected from a tap that has not been used for at least six hours. d. A composite sample collected from the point of entry to the distribution system, collected by a certified laboratory technician.

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5. Phosphate-based corrosion inhibitors used in water distribution systems may cause what condition? a. Nitrification within the distribution system. b. Encourage growth of biofilms on pipe walls. c. Stimulate the growth of algae within the distribution system. d. Increase algae growth in a water supply reservoir.

6. The results of a Marble Test are as follows: • Initial water pH = 7.8 Finished water pH = 7.5 • Initial water hardness, as CaCO3 = 156 mg/L Finished water hardness = 143 mg/L • Initial water alkalinity, as CaCO3 = 198 mg/L Finished water alkalinity = 172 mg/L

9. Metallic corrosion in potable water lines is always the result of what kind of reaction? a. Tuberculation reaction b. Electrochemical reaction c. Wilson-Grizzle reaction d. Cathodic reaction

10. According to Chapter 62-550 FAC, “Drinking Water Standards, Monitoring and Reporting,” Table 1: Maximum Contaminant Levels for Inorganic Compounds, what is the primary MCL for lead? a. 0.2 mg/L b. 0.080 mg/L c. 0.010 mg/L d. 0.015 mg/L

Answers on page 86

What do these test results indicate? a. The initial water is corrosive. b. The initial water is too soft. c. The initial water is saturated. d. The initial water is nonpotable.

7. What percent of samples over the action level maximum contaminant level (MCL) for lead or copper will cause a utility to take steps to control corrosion in the distribution system? a. 1 percent b. 5 percent c. 10 percent d. 12 percent

8. Calculate the 90th percentile lead value from the results of lead testing shown: 0.003 mg/L 0.002 mg/L 0.004 mg/L 0.024 mg/L 0.035 mg/L 0.012 mg/L 0.020 mg/L 0.054 mg/L 0.003 mg/L 0.017 mg/L

July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

a. 0.002 mg/L c. 0.003 mg/L

b. 0.193 mg/L d. 0.035 mg/L

SE ND US YOUR QUE ST ION S Readers are welcome to submit questions or exercises on water or wastewater treatment plant operations for publication in Test Yourself. Send your question (with the answer) or your exercise (with the solution) by email or mail to: rtrygar@treeo.ufl.edu Ron Trygar, CET Senior Training Specialist UF TREEO Center 3900 S.W. 63rd Blvd. Gainesville, Fla. 32608 352.392.9570, ext. 215


C FACTOR

It Wasn’t Curiosity That Killed the Cat—It was Complacency Scott Anaheim President, FWPCOA

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e have made it to the summer and now the fun begins, with the afternoon storms that last long enough to make it a natural sauna to work in. Oh, what fun! During this time of year, we try to get our tasks completed as quickly as possible so we can get out of the heat. It’s inevitable that we will take shortcuts, and when I say shortcuts, I’m talking about doing something that we do on a regular basis but don’t think twice about. It can be as simple as reaching over the bed of the truck to get a traffic cone or tool instead of taking the time to walk to the back of the truck and using the step to get it. Complacency results in many on-the-job injuries as much as anything else because it comes with the monotony of a task or job. I know from my own experience as a pipefitter that I didn’t always follow the correct safety procedures because it would have required me to take extra steps that I felt weren’t necessary to get the work done. Now that I look back at many of the shortcuts that I took, I realize how lucky I was to not get seriously hurt. Notice how I said “seriously” because I did get hurt, but most instances were minor and I didn’t think about it because the job got done. It was easy back then to have what I call the “cowboy mentality” to get a job done, but it all changed the day I watched as a good friend and co-worker became stuck in a hole during a repair after the banks collapsed and pushed debris and multiple pumps in on top of him. The local fire and rescue department responded as quickly as possible with their confined space rescue team, but they weren’t able to save him.

I remember talking with Robert and some of the other crew that morning in the yard and telling them to be careful. This fatal accident could have been avoided, but once again, complacency played a huge part in this. Here a crew was doing what we had done so many times before, which was work a water repair under pressure to avoid putting customers out of water. Yes, it took longer to make the repairs after the valves were closed and the hole was properly wellpointed and shored, but it was too late for my co-worker, and his family will never see him again. So, was it worth? Of course not. After this accident, it took a very long time for us to recover, and there were lingering effects on the remaining crew that tried everything they could to help save their co-worker. I knew from that day forward if I ever made it to management that I would make sure that the cowboy mentality would stop and that safety would be at the forefront of each job. Remember it’s easy to get complacent when you’re doing something so routine that you forget how dangerous it can be. Safety is something that can’t be overlooked and safety training should be part of every utility’s program and every training course. We’re at the start of the hurricane season, and while we’re busy reviewing our plans and procedures, take the time to also review your safety policies and update them if needed. Always remember that FWPCOA offers great safety training courses, so if you or your utility needs training, contact your local region about it.

Online Training The FWPCOA Online Institute presently has 78 active courses. Please continue to advise your members of the availability of the Institute in your newsletters and at your membership meetings. Please note: we have completed the first 12 months of the 2017 license renewal cycle, so continue to encourage operators to start earnS ing CEUs for the new cycle. Florida Water Resources Journal • July 2016

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Reclaiming Resources: Reducing Water Consumption Through Reuse Although water reuse can be energy-intensive, its use is increasing across numerous industries Al Goodman ommunities and industries around the world are turning to water reuse. The drivers are varied: the need to augment strained water supplies, reduce nutrients in treated effluent, maintain ecological balance, use the most energy-efficient water sources, and reduce the cost of purchased and treated water. The major driver is water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions, though some regions of the world that are not considered to be water-scarce are also implementing water reuse. Ecological drivers are becoming more important in evaluating reuse as part of a response to rigorous and costly requirements to reduce or remove nutrients (mainly nitrogen and phosphorus) from discharges to surface waters. Though water reuse can be energy-intensive, depending on the level of treatment required, only a full life cycle analysis can reveal whether overall resource costs are greater or less than alternative water supplies. Municipalities are implementing various types of urban water reuse and turning to industry and agriculture as potential customers of reclaimed water. Categories of water reuse applications are presented in Table 1. This article focuses on considerations relevant for municipal and industrial reuse. For more information on the full range of categories of reuse, refer to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Guidelines for Water Reuse (2012; http://nepis.epa.gov/ Adobe/PDF/P100FS7K.pdf).

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There is great potential to expand water reuse in the United States and globally over the coming decades. Because the U. S. currently reclaims only about 7 to 8 percent of municipal wastewater, there is tremendous potential to expand reclaimed water use, particularly where demand is geographically close to the generation of municipal wastewater, such as in some types of power generation, industrial, and urban uses. In addition, there are significant efforts in the industry to evaluate onsite water reuse for various production processes.

Reclaimed Water Usage in Various Industries Water can be reused in several ways and for numerous applications, including cooling towers, boilers, high-tech, and prepared food manufacturing. Cooling Towers. Reclaimed water can be used for cooling tower makeup water. Evaporative cooling systems require significant volumes of makeup water to replace water lost through evaporation. Additionally, some water must be periodically discharged, referred to as “blowdown water,� so that dissolved solids that are concentrated during evaporation do not build up in the cooling water and damage equipment. The main issues in using reclaimed water for cooling towers are controlling biological regrowth (i.e., when nutrients are present and a disinfectant residual is not maintained) and scaling (i.e., due to the presence of minerals, particularly calcium, magnesium, sulfate, alkalinity, phosphate, silica, and fluoride). Boiler Water Makeup. Water for boiler makeup requires extensive pretreatment to control scaling and oxygen within the boiler, whether the source is reclaimed water or con-

July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

ventional potable water. Boilers are even more susceptible to corrosion due to scale buildup than cooling towers, because they operate at higher pressures and temperatures. High-Tech Water Reuse. Reclaimed water is used in high-tech manufacturing, such as the semiconductor industry for microchip manufacturing and the manufacture of circuit boards. Water quality for circuit-board manufacturing is similar to that of boiler makeup water, requiring extensive treatment. Reclaimed water is also used at the associated facilities for cooling water and site irrigation. Intel Corporation (Santa Clara, Calif.) internally recycles approximately 2 bil gal (7.6 mil m3) of water per year, equivalent to 25 percent of its total water withdrawals. A large portion of this comes from using internally generated water. After ultrapure water is used to clean silicon wafers during fabrication, the water is reused for industrial purposes, irrigation, cooling towers, scrubbers, and other facility uses through dedicated plumbing networks. Prepared Food Manufacturing. Prepared food manufacturing is most often a water-useintensive process, especially if irrigation used in the food chain supply is included. (In many areas of the country, 70 percent of water usage is for crop irrigation.) Though the food and beverage manufacturing industry was initially reluctant to use reclaimed water because of public perception concerns, the use of highly treated, drinking-water-quality reclaimed process water has been growing. With increasing knowledge of water reuse principles and treatment technology comes the motivation to use reclaimed water at manufacturing sites, which helps minimize the total volume of water used. Companies such as Coca-Cola and PepsiCo/Frito-Lay are implementing water reuse as part of their holistic approaches to reduce resource use.


Wastewater Treatment for Reuse Because each opportunity for reuse presents site-specific and process-specific factors, water reuse consideration requires thorough data collection and careful analysis of the many options available. The primary factors affecting the decision to implement water reuse and required treatment processes include the following: 1. What water quality is needed for reuse? Potential water reuse options include land application/disposal, landscape irrigation, cooling, industrial reuse, and many other options. These uses vary in required water quality and treatment cost. 2. What are the water flows at the facility? Facilities should start with a water survey that considers daily and seasonal use variations, assesses current and future water use (both quality and quantity), and determines potential combined uses of recoverable water. Reuse for cooling and irrigation, for example, will vary considerably depending on the season and weather conditions. 3. What are future water demands? Reuse considerations should include a water-needs study to predict future demands and determine opportunities on a communitywide basis. This will help predict total treatment needs and capacities for design purposes and help determine the return on investment. 4. What is the public perception and acceptance of the type of reuse? The reuse of treated water will rely on acceptance of the end user of the quality and reliability of the treatment technology, plant operations, and continuity of “guaranteed quality,” including removal of unknown constituents that may be harmful. This is a critically important consideration and needs a businessbased approach, as well as public education and programmatic methods, to confirm acceptance—before implementation or construction of reuse technologies. 5. What’s in the wastewater? Sampling and analytical testing are needed during various process conditions to determine minimum, maximum, and average loadings on the treatment system. These may include nontraditional analytical parameters, salinity, hardness, alkalinity, silica, cations, and anions, especially if membrane treatment systems are considered. These process streams can vary considerably in biochemical oxygen demand; chemical oxygen demand; fats, oils, and grease; total suspended solids; pH; temperature; and salt concentrations.

Table 1. Categories of water reuse applications (adapted from USEPA Guidelines for Water Reuse, 2012)

6. What waste disposal options are available? Water reuse must be compared to traditional discharge options. In reuse scenarios that use reverse osmosis (RO) and other membrane-based processes, the concentrated stream must be carefully managed and disposed. If this stream cannot be discharged into the publicly owned treatment works or surface water, then onsite evaporation or further concentration of the reject may be required, significantly increasing costs and the space required. 7. What are the potential costs and savings? Reuse scenarios should be considered from a life cycle cost perspective. Costs can include those for capital and operation and maintenance (with labor, electric/energy, chemicals, and residuals disposal being the primary ongoing operational costs). Water reuse treatment costs depend on the water quality required. As the quality increases, the costs increase somewhat exponentially, and the level of technical competence re-

quired of facility operators likewise increases. Treatment technologies are available to achieve any desired level of water quality, and the level of treatment required depends on the reuse application. For most land application uses of reclaimed water, conventional processes involving secondary treatment, filtration, and disinfection steps are sufficient to achieve necessary water quality. In applications where the chance of human contact increases, or root crops are harvested, advanced treatment may be required. It’s important to note that not all constituents have negative impacts for all uses. For example, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) may be beneficial in reclaimed water when used for landscape irrigation to offset the need for fertilizers. The highest water quality (i.e., drinking water quality) may require activated carbon or RO membranes. The RO can remove salts and Continued on page 60

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Continued from page 59 specific ions, while granular activated carbon can adsorb potential fouling compounds prior to RO membranes. The RO systems are often tubular or spiral-wound flat plate systems and are already used in desalination and many food industries. An alternative treatment option for reuse is natural treatment using filtration into groundwater (rapid infiltration basins) providing indirect potable reuse (IPR), followed by traditional treatment of groundwater. As technologies have advanced to reduce facility water and energy use, industries and municipalities have increasingly embraced the use of reclaimed water for a wide-ranging suite of purposes: preventing salt water intrusion (as Orange County in California is doing) or using it as industrial process water, boiler feed water, and cooling tower water, as well as using it for flushing toilets and site irrigation. Current technologies produce reclaimed water without degrading the performance of the intended uses when compared to more expensive potable water. As water resources become increasingly valued around the world, water reuse is anticipated to expand.

References • Kenny, Joan F.; N.L. Barber; S.S. Hutson; K.S. Linsey; J.K. Lovelace, and M.A. Maupin (2009). Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2005. United States Geological Survey. • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2012). Guidelines for Water Reuse. EPA/600/R-12/618, Washington, D.C. The information provided in this article is designed to be educational. It is not intended to provide any type of professional advice, including, without limitation, legal, accounting, or engineering. Your use of the information provided here is voluntary and should be based on your own evaluation and analysis of its accuracy, appropriateness for your use, and any potential risks of using the information. The Water Environment Federation (WEF), author and the publisher of this article, assumes no liability of any kind with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness of use for a particular purpose. Any references included are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute endorsement of any sources.

Al Goodman is a principal with 42 years of experience serving clients in water reuse projects at the Louisville, Ky., office of CDM Smith (Boston). S

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FWEA FOCUS

The Unspoken Heroes Lisa Prieto President, FWEA

ost every company and utility has a safety coordinator, safety director, or safety program manager. They may be known by different titles—in a small utility or business it may be a shared role, or in a larger utility there may be a team—but whatever the configuration or size, the mission is still the same: keep people safe and minimize injuries and property damage. We often do not see their work first hand; we go through safety training, fill out the necessary paperwork, and often complain about having to do it. We forget the value of safety in our everyday lives. Since the creation of the

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Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the rate of reported serious workplace injuries and illnesses has declined from 11 per 100 workers in 1972 to 3.6 per 100 workers in 2009 (www.osha.gov). Safety directors always get the first call after an accident or at the scene of an injury. They take their jobs personally and hate to see anyone injured or property damaged. They serve as counselors, teachers, mentors, and administrators in their utilities, and for most of them, being a safety official is not even their full-time job! The FWEA Safety and Security Committee is led by Judd Mooso of Destin Water Users (DWU) and Scott Holowasko of Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU). The committee has quarterly Judd Mooso conference calls and an annual in-person meeting at the Florida Water Resources Conference. In 2017, the committee is also putting on a technical session at the conference, being held in West Palm Beach, and plans on presenting the session as a seminar later that year in north Florida. Judd is currently the safety programs and training coordinator for DWU, a memberowned, not-for-profit utility located in Destin. He has been employed with DWU for over 18 years and has been actively involved in the safety program for 16 years. In March 2005, he was designated as the company safety committee chair and charged with the general oversight and management of safety at our utility. Although safety can at times be a tremendous responsibility, Judd says he enjoys both the experience and the education it has provided over the years. Like many safety professionals, Judd can appreciate the challenges that come with being a dual-hat employee. In addition to his responsibilities to safety, Judd is also the superintendent for DWU’s drinking water operations department. He is a dual-licensed operator in both water and wastewater. He has also been serving in the U.S. Army for over 25 years and continues today with the Army Reserve as a battalion command sergeant major. In his down time, Judd enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.

July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Scott has been with GRU for 10 years and was most recently named the safety director for the entire organization. He has been serving in the environmental health and safety sector since 1984 and has worked in both Scott Holowasko the public and private sector in environmental consulting and chemical manufacturing, prior to working at GRU. Originally from Michigan, Scott moved to Florida in 1982 and still refers to himself as a “transplant.” He has been married for 30 years and has three children and three grandchildren that keep him busy. Scott stated that what he enjoys most about his job is helping people change their habits—not only at work, but carrying those safety habits into their personal lives. He told me that it gives him joy to know that people are not only making changes because they have to at work, but are consciously making the change and choice in their personal lives to be safer. The FWEA committee is a great place for utilities to exchange ideas and safety programs. Since the programs are all put together by municipal utilities, they are free to be shared—saving utilities time and money, as well as sharing life-saving ideas. The committee members are also encouraged to participate in FlaWARN, which is a network of utilities that can share resources during time of disaster and/or need (www.flawarn.org). In addition to local programs, the committee discusses hot topics in the safety arena, including the updated Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) that is now aligned with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals and the updated OSHA confined space standard. I encourage you, or someone in your organization, to get involved with the FWEA Safety and Security Committee—it’s a great return on a small investment of your time. To join, you can go to the committee’s website at http://www.fwea.org/safety_security_committee.php, and/or email Judd at jmooso@dwuinc.com, or Scott at HOLOWASKOWS@gru.com. At a minimum, you will get to meet two great folks who care about the safety of their staffs and promoting safety in our industry. S


Operators: Take the CEU Challenge! Members of the Florida Water & Pollution Control Association (FWPCOA) may earn continuing education units through the CEU Challenge! Answer the questions published on this page, based on the technical articles in this month’s issue. Circle the letter of each correct answer. There is only one correct answer to each question! Answer 80 percent of the questions on any article correctly to earn 0.1 CEU for your license. Retests are available. This month’s editorial theme is Stormwater Management and Emerging Technologies. Look above each set of questions to see if it is for water operators (DW), distribution system operators (DS), or wastewater operators (WW). Mail the completed page (or a photocopy) to: Florida Environmental Professionals Training, P.O. Box 33119, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33420-3119. Enclose $15 for each set of questions you choose to answer (make checks payable to FWPCOA). You MUST be an FWPCOA member before you can submit your answers!

New Technologies and Split Treatment Result in Increase Production Capacity and Improved System Performance for Clearwater David Richardson, Tony Cunningham, and Steve McElroy (Article 1: CEU = 0.1 DW/DS)

1. In the enhanced split treatment process, the use of proprietary adsorptive media allowed the use of ferric chloride to be discontinued for the treatment of a. b. c. d.

2. Which of the following is not identified as a critical success factor for this project? a. b. c. d.

a. b. c. d.

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

Sodium thiosulfate Sodium hexametaphosphate Sodium bisulfite Copper sulfate

4. Following implementation of split treatment, the frequency of reverse osmosis membrane chemical cleaning is a. b. c. d.

SUBSCRIBER NAME (please print)

LICENSE NUMBER for Which CEUs Should Be Awarded

Reduce operating cost Reduce pressure filter backwash volume Increase operating intervals between reverse osmosis system chemical cleaning Reduce arsenic concentration of blend and finished waters

3. Which of the following chemicals is used to eliminate residual chlorine upstream of the reverse osmosis project?

___________________________________________

Article 1 ________________________________________

arsenic. chloride. total organic carbon. total dissolved solids.

monthly. weekly. every two to four weeks. every six to 10 weeks.

5. Since the proprietary adsorption system was commissioned, the two pressure vessels have operated a. b. c. d.

in series. in parallel. in rotation without any media replacement.

___________________________________________ (Credit Card Number)

Earn CEUs by answering questions from previous Journal issues!

___________________________________________

Contact FWPCOA at membership@fwpcoa.org or at 561-840-0340. Articles from past issues can be viewed on the Journal website, www.fwrj.com.

(Expiration Date)

Florida Water Resources Journal • July 2016

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FWRJ COMMITTEE PROFILE This column highlights a committee, division, council, or other volunteer group of FSAWWA, FWEA, and FWPCOA.

Drop Savers Committee Affiliation: FSAWWA Current chair: Melissa Velez, P.E., environmental engineer, CDM Smith Year group was formed: 2008

Scope of work: Every year the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (FSAWWA) sponsors the "Drop Savers” Water Conservation Poster Contest. Students from Kindergarten to 12th grade are encouraged to create a poster depicting a water conservation idea, in slogan form, drawing form, or both. The contest allows students to promote water awareness and the importance of water conservation in their daily routines.

Posters are designated under one of the following categories: Division 1–Kindergarten and First Grade Division 2–Second and Third Grade Division 3–Fourth and Fifth Grade Division 4–Middle School: Grades Six, Seven, and Eight Division 5–High School: Grades Nine, Ten, Eleven, and Twelve S Poster shall be drawn on an 8 1/2 x 11-in. white paper (horizontally or vertically). S Each poster must portray a water conservation idea in a slogan, drawing, or both. Students may use crayons, paint, color pencils, or markers. No highlighters, photos, or computer graphics are permitted. S Students must work on posters individually, otherwise posters will be disqualified. S Only original artwork will be accepted (i.e., no trademarked or copyrighted materials). The Drop Savers Committee’s responsibility is to invite and provide each water utility in Florida with the guidelines for running their own poster contest. Once water utilities selects their winners, they will send the firstplace winner’s poster to the Drop Savers Committee, where they will participate in the state competition.

Water Conservation Kit

Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department poster contest judging.

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July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Martin Santos, junior judge.

Poster winners from Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department.


Recent accomplishments: This year, there were 97 poster participants in the contest from 29 water utilities. The prizes included: S First-Place Winners: • $100 Amazon gift card • Plaque displaying the poster • $25 gift card for a pizza party • Calendar displaying the poster • Note cards displaying the poster • Water conservation kit • Tote bag • Certificate S Second-Place Winners: • $75 Amazon gift card • Calendar displaying the poster • Note cards displaying the poster • Water conservation kit • Tote bag • Certificate S Third-Place Winners: • $50 Amazon gift card • Calendar displaying the poster • Note cards displaying the poster • Water conservation kit • Tote bag • Certificate S All other participants: • Calendar displaying the poster • Water conservation kit • Tote bag • Certificate Future work: Typically, there are approximately 30 utilities around the state that participate in the event. The goal is that each year more utilities will get involved and make the contest more recognized throughout Florida. Group members: I am the only official group member. Each year I find some volunteers to judge and assist with a variety of tasks. Melissa Cairo (2016 volunteer) CDM Smith Martin Santos (2016 volunteer) My son ☺

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F W R J

New Technologies and Split Treatment Result in Increased Production Capacity and Improved System Performance for Clearwater Colin Hobbs, Craig Montgomery, Jorge Arevalo, Fred Hemerick, and Lan-Anh Nguyen he City of Clearwater (City) owns and operates the reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment plant No. 1 (plant) that was originally constructed in 2003. Similar to many brackish water RO facilities, the City blends pretreated raw water with RO permeate to maximize production while minimizing operational costs. In the case of this plant, the City blends 1 mil gal per day (mgd) of pretreated blend water with 2 mgd of RO permeate; however, the City’s potable water demands exceeded the permitted capacity of the plant. As such, the City relied on Pinellas County to augment its potable water supplies. Concerned with losing more control over the treatment, quality, and cost of its potable water supplies as demands increase, the City sought to increase its potable water independence. To this end, it retained the services of CDM Smith to increase the production capacity of the plant by 50 percent. While the consulting engineering firm that originally designed the plant considered its future expansion, CDM Smith’s vision of the expansion differed significantly. Per the original design, expansion of the plant was predicated upon the in-

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stallation of additional treatment units, including two new dual-media pressure filter units, one new membrane feed pump, one new RO train, one new blended water transfer pump, and other ancillary systems. As this approach simply called for the duplication of existing treatment processes, no improvements in plant performance or operational enhancements were expected. Furthermore, in order to accommodate the new membrane process equipment, extensive and costly modifications to the existing pre-engineered membrane process building would be required. Following a comprehensive evaluation of the existing plant, CDM Smith developed an alternate approach to the expansion, one that focused on improving and enhancing plant operations while simultaneously increasing its production capacity. Through a series of extensive studies designed to evaluate the performance of various processes, an enhanced split-treatment process emerged as the best approach to meet the City’s needs. Unique features of this project include the implementation of a new arsenic adsorption system, the use of new 440-sq-ft

The reverse osmosis water treatment plant No. 1 arsenic adsorption system.

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Colin Hobbs, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, is senior environmental engineer; Craig Montgomery, P.E., is senior environmental engineer; and Jorge Arevalo, Ph.D., P.E., is environmental engineer with CDM Smith. Fred Hemerick is water production coordinator and Lan-Anh Nguyen, P.E., is senior professional engineer with City of Clearwater.

membrane elements to eliminate the necessity of a new RO train and associated building modifications, and the elimination of the ferric chloride coagulation process. This article presents and discusses the original treatment process, factors that were critical to the success of the project, the approach to the process performance studies, the data collected throughout these studies, and the approach to the design of the expansion. In addition, challenges encountered and overcome throughout the course of this project, lessons learned, and select full-scale operating data will also be presented.

The reverse osmosis water treatment plant No. 1 decant and residual holding system.


The feed, with expanded stainless manifolds, on the reverse osmosis skids.

The then-new membrane feed pumps.

The new reverse osmosis cleaning pump.

Original Treatment Process

mated the average and maximum sodium hypochlorite dosages to be 2.5 mg/L as chlorine (Cl2) and 5.0 mg/L as Cl2, respectively, as limitations of the instrumentation and control system precluded the direct measurement of prechlorination dosages. Coagulation. The coagulation of oxidized arsenic was accomplished through the injection of ferric chloride (FeCl3) into an above-grade section of piping downstream of the prechlorination sodium hypochlorite injection point, with mixing accomplished by a static plate mixer. Uncontrolled flocculation occurred in the subsequent piping system and in the headspace of the dual-media pressure filter vessels. Plant staff reported the average and maximum ferric chloride dosages to be 0.9 mg/L as FeCl3 and 1.8 mg/L as FeCl3, respectively.

Dual-Media Pressure Filtration. Arsenic-containing ferric hydroxide floc particles were removed from the process stream through four 12-ft-diameter pressure filters. Each vessel consisted of 9 in. of support gravel, 32 in. of silica sand, and 18 in. of anthracite. Through a series of extensive studies, the City determined that backwashing the pressure filters every 36 to 48 hours optimized the performance of the plant. Backwashing the pressure filters at this frequency prevented the breakthrough of turbidity, minimized headloss development across the pressure filters, extended the life of the cartridge filters, and extended the operating time between chemical cleaning events for the RO system. When the plant was operated at its maximum permitted finished water production rate Continued on page 68

The plant was originally designed and constructed to produce a maximum of 3 mgd of potable water from brackish groundwater supplies obtained from the Upper Floridan aquifer. Water withdrawn from this region was characterized as mildly brackish (total dissolved solids concentration ranging from 600 mg/L to 1,000 mg/L) with elevated concentrations of iron (0.3 to 0.5 mg/L), arsenic (20 to 40 ug/L), and total organic carbon (2.4 to 3.9 mg/L). As such, the treatment process was tailored to remove these specific constituents and generally consisted of pretreatment (prechlorination, coagulation, and pressure filtration); RO membrane treatment (antiscalant addition, dechlorination, cartridge filtration, and RO); post-treatment (permeate pH adjustment, blending, primary disinfection, corrosion control, and secondary disinfection); and finished water storage and high-service pumping (Figure 1). Pretreatment Prechlorination. Naturally occurring arsenic in the native groundwater existed as undissociated arsenite (trivalent arsenic in the form of H2AsO3) at ambient pH values. As the compound’s neutral charge significantly hindered its removal, the arsenite was oxidized to arsenate (pentavalent arsenic in the form of either H2AsO4- or HAsO42-, dependent on pH) through the addition of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), which was injected into an above-grade section of piping downstream of the raw water booster pump station. Turbulence induced by fluid flow through the piping system dispersed the chemical through the process stream. Plant staff esti-

From left to right: the four existing dual media filters, the arsenic adsorbers, the backwash holding tank, the booster pumps, and decant system. Florida Water Resources Journal • July 2016

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The modified and expanded reverse osmosis skids.

Continued from page 67 of 3 mgd, each of the four pressure filters operated at a filtration rate of 5.5 gal per minute (gpm) per sq ft. This filtration rate increased to 7.3 gpm/sq ft when one filter was removed from service for backwashing. Immediately following the filtration process, the filtrate was divided into two separate process streams: the blend stream, which was directed to the blend tanks for blending with RO permeate; and the RO feed stream, which was directed to the RO process for additional treatment. Reverse Osmosis Membrane Treatment Antiscalant Addition. The addition of a proprietary antiscalant product (AWC A-102 Plus, as offered by American Water Chemicals Inc.) prior to membrane treatment reduced the potential for sparingly soluble salts to precipitate within the RO process. Antiscalant was injected into the RO feed stream immediately upstream of an above-grade stainless steel static mixer located within the process bay of the membrane building. Plant staff reported the average and maximum antiscalant dosages to be 2.9 mg/L and 4.5 mg/L, respectively. Both dosages were as 100 percent product. Dechlorination. Any chlorine residual present in the filtrate was eliminated prior to RO membrane treatment through the addition of sodium bisulfite (NaHSO3), which was injected into the RO feed stream immediately upstream of an above-grade stainless steel static mixer located within the process bay of the membrane building. Plant staff reported the average and maximum sodium bisulfite dosages to be 2.7 mg/L as NaHSO3 and 6.6 mg/L as NaHSO3, respectively. Cartridge Filtration. Fine suspended solids were removed from the RO feed stream through cartridge filtration, which was provided by two stainless steel cartridge filter vessels, each of

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The new ground storage tanks.

which was equipped with 86 cartridge filters (30 in. long and 2.5 in. in diameter) with a nominal pore size of 1 micron. Cartridge filters were removed and replaced when the differential pressure across the filters reached approximately 5 pounds per sq in. (psi) to 7 psi which, for this facility, generally occurred on a monthly basis. When the plant was operated at its maximum permitted finished water production rate of 3 mgd, the cartridge filters operated at a filtration rate of 3.45 gpm per 10 in. of filter length. Reverse Osmosis. The RO process produced a high-quality product water (i.e., permeate) through the rejection and concentration of dissolved solids and dissolved organic carbon on the feed/concentrate side of the membranes. This process consisted of two, two-stage RO units, each with a dedicated feed pump. Each feed pump was designed to deliver 924 gpm to its RO unit at a total dynamic head of 409 ft and was equipped with a 150-horsepower (HP) motor and a variable frequency drive. Each RO unit was designed to produce a maximum of 1 mgd of permeate at a recovery rate of 78 percent and contained a total of 30 pressure vessels. The vessels were arranged in a 22:8 array and each one housed seven 400-sq-ft thin-film composite membrane elements. The performance and productivity of the RO units were maintained by periodic chemical cleaning events. Historically, chemical cleaning events occurred on a monthly basis. When the plant operated at its maximum permitted finished water production rate of 3 mgd, each of the RO units operated at a flux rate of 11.9 gal per sq ft of active membrane surface area per day (gfd). Post-Treatment Permeate pH Adjustment. The reduction in the corrosive nature of the permeate stream was

July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

accomplished, in part, through the addition of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and the subsequent increase in pH. The sodium hydroxide was injected into an elevated composite permeate header within the process bay of the membrane building; plant staff reported the average dosages to be 7.5 mg/L. Limitations of the instrumentation and control system precluded the direct measurement of the maximum sodium hydroxide dosage; however, plant staff estimated the maximum dosage to be 15 mg/L as NaOH. Blending and Transfer Pumping. Blending of RO permeate and pretreated blend water also reduced the corrosive nature of the permeate stream. Blending occurred in two 10,000-gal blend tanks, which were arranged in series. When the plant operated at its maximum permitted finished water production rate of 3 mgd, the blend tanks provided a theoretical hydraulic retention time of 9.6 minutes. Transfer of the blended water from the second blend tank to the ground storage tank was provided by three end-suction centrifugal transfer pumps. Each transfer pump was designed to deliver 1,000 gpm at a total dynamic head of 47 ft and was equipped with a 20HP constant-speed motor. Primary Disinfection. Primary disinfection of the blended water was accomplished through the addition of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), which was injected into the first blend tank, and turbulence induced by falling water and fluid flow dispersed the chemical throughout the blended water. Plant staff reported the average sodium hypochlorite dosage to be 2.5 mg/L as Cl2. Limitations of the instrumentation and control system precluded the direct measurement of the maximum sodium hypochlorite dosage; however, plant staff estimated the maximum dosage to be 5.0 mg/L as Cl2. Continued on page 70


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Continued from page 68 Corrosion Control. Corrosion within the distribution system was controlled through the addition of a proprietary polyphosphate-based corrosion inhibitor (Linear2, as offered by Sper Chemical Corp.). The corrosion inhibitor was injected into an above-grade section of piping upstream of the high-service pump station, and the turbulence induced by fluid flow through the piping system and by the high-service pumps dispersed the corrosion inhibitor throughout the blended water. Plant staff reported the average corrosion inhibitor dosage to be 3 mg/L as 100 percent product. Limitations of the instrumentation and control system precluded the direct measurement of the maximum corrosion inhibitor dosage; however, plant staff estimated the maximum dosage to be 6 mg/L as 100 percent product. Secondary Disinfection. Secondary disinfection (i.e., monochloramination) of the blended water was accomplished through the addition of

sodium hypochlorite and ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH). Secondary disinfection chemicals were injected into an above-grade section of piping upstream of the high-service pump station, and the turbulence induced by fluid flow through the piping system and by the high-service pumps dispersed these chemicals throughout the blended water. Plant staff reported the average sodium hypochlorite and average ammonium hydroxide dosages to be 3.5 mg/L as Cl2 and 0.9 mg/L as NH4OH, respectively. Plant staff estimated the maximum sodium hypochlorite and ammonium hydroxide dosages to be 5.0 mg/L as Cl2 and 1.5 mg/L as NH4OH, respectively, as limitations of the instrumentation and control system precluded their direct measurement. Storage and High-Service Pumping. A single 5-mil-gal (MG) ground storage tank provided storage of blended water supplies, and finished water was pumped into the distribution system by three horizontal split-case centrifugal pumps. Each high-service pump was designed to deliver

1,850 gpm at a total dynamic head of 125 ft and was equipped with a 100-HP constant speed motor.

Critical Success Factors for the Project During CDM Smith’s evaluation of the original facility, and through a collaborative predesign workshop, the City identified the following factors as critical to the success of the project: S Increase the finished water production capacity of the plant from 3 mgd to 4.5 mgd. The increased capacity was to consist of 1.5 mgd of pretreated blend water and 3 mgd of RO permeate. S Reduce the arsenic concentration of the blend and finished waters. S Increase the filtration time/reduce the backwash frequency for the dual-media pressure filtration process. S Reduce the volume of spent backwash water generated by the dual-media pressure filtration process. S Increase the operating time between chemical cleaning events for the RO system.

Identification and Evaluation of Conceptual Treatment Processes

Figure 1. Original Treatment Process

Figure 2. Enhanced Split-Treatment Process

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As the expansion concept of the original design was based upon the installation of additional treatment units, no improvements in operations were expected. Therefore, the City and CDM Smith engaged in a series of collaborative workshops to identify conceptual treatment processes and/or process modifications that were expected to satisfy all of the City’s identified criteria. Conceptual treatment processes and process modifications identified for further evaluation are described as follows: S Modified Coagulation Process – Modifications considered for the existing coagulation process ranged from increasing the ferric chloride dosage and/or increasing the flocculation time to enhance arsenic removal to eliminating the addition of ferric chloride to increase filtration time of the dual-media pressure filters. S Modified Filtration Process – The primary modification considered for the existing filtration process focused on an alternate media configuration to reduce the fouling potential of the RO feed stream and to increase the filtration time of the dual-media pressure filters. S Arsenic Adsorption Process – This concept focused on a new adsorption process to remove arsenic from the process stream. S Modified RO Process – The primary modification considered for the existing RO process fo-


cused on operation at elevated flux rates. If implemented, this alternative would require the replacement of the existing 400-sq-ft membrane elements with new 440-sq-ft membrane elements, the replacement of the membrane feed pumps with larger capacity units, and other ancillary improvements to the RO skids. S Split-Treatment Process – This concept generally focused on splitting the treatment process into two separate treatment trains: one treatment train specifically designed to minimize the arsenic concentration of the blend water, and one treatment train specifically designed to enhance RO operations. If implemented, this alternative would allow each treatment train to be optimized independently of the other train. The performance of the conceptual treatment processes and process modifications identified was evaluated through a series of benchtop, pilot-scale, and full-scale studies. These studies were used to screen these concepts and guide the design of the expansion. Details of each of these studies are presented. Dual-Media Pressure Filter Pilot Study – The impact of critical operating parameters on filter performance was evaluated during a 12-week pilot study. Critical operating parameters included filtration rate, ferric chloride dosage, flocculation energy/time, and media configuration. Filter performance was measured in terms of arsenic removal, iron removal, turbidity removal, and filtration time. Significant results of this study are summarized: S The quality of the filtrate was generally independent of the filtration rate for the range of conditions evaluated (2.3 gpm/sq ft to 11.0 gpm/sq ft). S Arsenic removal percentages generally increased with ferric chloride dosage. S Increased flocculation time (up to 15 minutes of additional flocculation time) did not result in improved arsenic removal percentages. S Filtrate turbidity and filter headloss values increased more rapidly with time at elevated ferric chloride dosages. S Pilot-scale columns that utilized an alternate media configuration (i.e., 12 in. of sand overlaid by 38 in. of anthracite) generally produced superior quality filtrate at reduced headloss values when compared to pilot-scale columns, which utilized the existing media configuration (i.e. 32 in. of sand overlaid by 18 in. of anthracite). Reverse Osmosis Pilot Study – The primary purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of increasing the permeate production capacity of the plant by replacing the existing membrane elements (400 sq ft each) with similar

performing high surface area membrane elements (440 sq ft each) and operating the system at elevated flux-rates (i.e., 16.2 gfd). The 12-week study was conducted in three distinct phases: S The first phase of the study utilized chlorinated, coagulated, and pressure-filtered raw water from the full-scale facility as the source of feed water to simulate RO system operation at elevated flux rates utilizing current pretreatment processes. S The second phase of the study utilized untreated raw water from the full-scale facility as the source of feed water to simulate RO system operation at elevated flux rates utilizing minimal pretreatment processes (i.e., scale inhibition and cartridge filtration). S The third phase of the study utilized chlorinated raw water from the full-scale facility as the source of the feed water to simulate RO system operation at elevated flux rates utilizing reduced pretreatment processes (i.e., prechlorination, dechlorination, scale inhibition, and cartridge filtration). Significant results of this study are summarized: S Operation of the RO system at elevated flux rates utilizing the current pretreatment process (i.e., phase 1) did not show any significant signs of fouling or scaling. Dissolved and total arsenic concentrations of the permeate stream were consistently below the detection limit of 1 ug/L. S Operation of the RO system at elevated flux rates utilizing untreated raw water (i.e., phase 2) was feasible; however, arsenic concentrations in the permeate samples generally averaged between 3 ug/L and 7 ug/L. S Operation of the RO system at elevated flux rates utilizing reduced pretreatment processes (i.e., phase 3) resulted in rapid ferric hydroxide fouling of the cartridge filters and of the RO membrane elements. Increased Ferric Chloride Dosage Full-Scale Study – Results of the dual-media pressure filter pilot study indicated a direct correlation between ferric chloride dosages and arsenic removal percentages; however, operation of the plant at elevated ferric chloride dosages raised significant concerns related to the RO system. Of specific concern was the potential increase in the fouling potential of the filtrate due to increased iron concentrations and accelerated breakthrough of turbidity. As such, the City, with consent from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), conducted a full-scale study to assess the impacts of operating the plant at elevated ferric chloride dosages. The full-scale study was conducted at a ferric chloride dosage of 2.5 mg/L

as FeCl3 (approximately three times the average dosage of 0.9 mg/L as FeCl3) and lasted a total of four days. Significant results of this study are summarized: S The arsenic removal percentages of the pretreatment process increased from approximately 60 percent to 80 percent. S The differential pressure across the cartridge filters increased more than 4 psi. S The silt density index of the feed water increased from less than 1 to an unmeasurable value. S The membrane system feed pressure increased approximately 4 psi. S The differential pressure across the membrane system increased approximately 5 psi. Arsenic Adsorption System Benchtop Study – The feasibility of utilizing a proprietary adsorptive media (i.e., Bayoxide E33, as offered by Severn Trent) for arsenic removal was evaluated in a benchtop study. Significant results of this study are summarized: S The Bayoxide E33 adsorptive media effectively removed arsenic contained in the prechlorinated raw water to values below 5 ug/L. S Approximately 40,000 bed volumes of prechlorinated raw water were treated with the Bayoxide E33 media prior to reaching breakthrough (i.e., 10 ug/L of arsenic in the effluent). S Approximately 53,000 bed volumes of prechlorinate raw water were treated with the Bayoxide E33 media prior to reaching exhaustion (i.e., effluent arsenic concentration equal to the influent arsenic concentration). Elimination of Ferric Chloride Full-Scale Study – The impact of discontinuing ferric chloride addition upstream of the dual-media pressure filtration and RO processes was evaluated during a 12-day full-scale study. The City, with FDEP’s consent, suspended the addition of ferric chloride upstream of the pressure filters. With the exception of the discontinuation of the ferric chloride dosing, operation of all other pretreatment processes (i.e., prechlorination, dual-media pressure filtration, dechlorination, scale inhibition, and cartridge filtration) remained consistent with historical operating conditions. Significant results of this study are summarized: S The rate at which the headloss across the dual-media pressure filters increased was reduced after the discontinuation of ferric chloride addition. S The RO system rejected the oxidized arsenic and produced permeate with arsenic concentrations of approximately 5 ug/L, half of the regulated maximum contaminant level of 10 ug/L. Continued on page 72

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Continued from page 71 S The silt density index of the feed water remained consistent with historical values.

Enhanced Split-Treatment Process Based upon the results of the studies presented, the City and CDM Smith concluded that a split-treatment process for the expanded plant (i.e., one treatment train specifically designed to minimize the arsenic concentration of the blend water and one treatment train specifically designed to enhance RO operations) was the best approach. The blend water treatment train was to consist of prechlorination (existing) and adsorption (new) processes to maximize arsenic removal prior to blending. The RO treatment train was to consist of prechlorination (existing), pressure filtration (existing), antiscalant addition (existing), dechlorination (existing), cartridge filtration (existing), and RO (modified) processes. As the enhanced split-treatment process no longer relied on a coagulation process for arsenic removal, the addition of ferric chloride was discontinued; figure 2 shows the process flow diagram for the enhanced process. As many of the treatment processes are similar to existing processes described previously, the subsequent narrative will focus on new and/or modified processes. Blend Water Treatment Train As with the original treatment process, oxidation of naturally occurring arsenic was accomplished in the prechlorination process through the addition of sodium hypochlorite. Following that addition, the prechlorinated groundwater is divided and directed to two separate treatment trains. Oxidized arsenic contained in the blend water is removed through a new adsorption process. The new arsenic adsorption process consists of two 14-ft-diameter pressure vessels, each of which contains 3.3 ft of Bayoxide E33 adsorptive media and associated appurtenances. In order to provide maximum operational flexibility, the arsenic adsorption system was designed and configured to operate in series (to maximize media usage and minimize effluent arsenic concentration) and in parallel (to maximize water production and minimize pressure loss). Since the arsenic adsorption system was commissioned in November 2013, it has operated in series and has consistently produced a blend water with an arsenic concentration below 5 ug/L (greater than 80 percent arsenic removal). After treating more than 500 MG of water (approximately 67,000 bed volumes) over more than 500 days of operation, the Bayoxide E33 adsorptive media was replaced in the lead vessel. Following the replacement of the media, valves were manipulated to reverse the lead/lag position of the vessels, and the system was

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returned to service. On average, the arsenic adsorption system was backwashed every 30 hours. Reverse Osmosis Treatment Train Following the prechlorination process, a portion of the oxidized arsenic and a majority of the oxidized iron are removed from the RO feed stream in the dual-media filtration process. While the process still consists of four 12-ft-diameter pressure filter vessels with 9 in. of support gravel, 32 in. of silica sand, and 18 in. of anthracite, the discontinuation of ferric chloride addition increased the filtration time between backwashing events from 36 to 48 hours to 48 to 60 hours. In addition, the system continues to remove more than 95 percent of the turbidity contained in the influent stream (2.5 nephelometric turbidity units [NTU] on average) and consistently produces effluent with turbidity less than 0.1 NTU. Consistent with the prior treatment process, feedwater for the modified RO system is dosed with an antiscalant, dechlorinated, and cartridgefiltered prior to membrane treatment; however, both the membrane treatment process and equipment were modified in order to provide the required permeate production capacity. Modifications included: the replacement of the 400-sqft membrane elements with new 440-sq-ft membrane elements, the replacement of the membrane feed pumps with larger capacity units (each unit designed to deliver 1,328 gpm at a total dynamic head of 420 ft), increasing the permeate flux rate from 11.9 gfd to 16.2 gfd, and other ancillary improvements (i.e., piping, valving, etc.) to the RO skids. While each modified RO unit was designed and tested to operate at a permeate production rate of 1.5 mgd, the City elected to operate each RO unit at a permeate production rate of 1.25 mgd. This decision was based on the results of an extensive optimization study that focused on water quality, membrane cleaning frequency, and total cost of operation. Upon the completion of the optimization study, each of the modified RO units consistently produced 1.25 mgd of permeate, with less than 35 mg/L of total dissolved solids and less than 2 ug/L of arsenic, at a pressure of 125 psi. These values correspond to a specific productivity of 0.108 gfd/psi. In addition, operating times between chemical cleaning events generally range from six to 10 weeks. For comparison, prior to this project, each of the RO units produced 1.0 mgd of permeate, with 55 mg/L of total dissolved solids and 2 ug/L of arsenic at a pressure of 110 psi (0.108 gfd/psi), and were chemically cleaned on a monthly basis. Ancillary Systems While the project included modifications to numerous ancillary systems (i.e., the addition of

July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

a new raw water booster pump, the replacement of the three existing blended water transfer pumps and the addition of one new blended water transfer pump, the demolition of the existing 5-MG finished water storage tank, and the construction of two new baffled 3-MG finished water storage tanks, etc.), none of these modifications were associated with a significant change in the treatment process. As such, details of these modifications will not be presented.

Postconstruction Modifications Upon the successful completion of this project, normal operations resumed at the City’s newly expanded plant. During the initial operating period, the City identified several systems that warranted modification to enhance operations and performance. Concerns regarding the initial operation of each of these systems, as well as the modifications designed and implemented by the City to improve its operations and performance, are summarized. S Dual Media Filtration System – Modifications designed and constructed for the dual-media filtration system required the operators to manually close a butterfly valve in order to direct the filtrate to the RO system; however, during the commissioning phase of the project, the City discovered that start-up and shutdown procedures were significantly improved when this valve was throttled. As such, the City replaced this manual butterfly valve with a modulating v-port ball valve. In addition to improving start-up and shutdown procedures, this modulating valve allows the City to divert a portion of the filtrate to the blend stream, as allowed by water quality, in order to maximize finished water production. S Reverse Osmosis System – As previously stated, each modified RO unit was designed and tested to operate at a permeate production rate of 1.5 mgd; however, the City elected to operate each RO unit at a permeate production rate of 1.25 mgd to increase the operating time between chemical cleaning events and reduce the total cost of operation. S 4-Log Virus Inactivation – Following the completion of this project, the City revised and resubmitted its 4-log virus inactivation documentation to FDEP. As a result, the City was able to reduce the prechlorination dosage, the sodium bisulfite dosage for dechlorination, and the number of monitoring points. S Decant System – The City completed numerous modifications of the decant system to enhance its operation and performance. As a result, the city is able to successfully recycle more than 80 percent of the spent backwash water for maintaining the performance of the


dual media pressure filters and the arsenic adsorption system.

Recommendations for Similar Projects This project, as with any multidisciplinary project, was complicated. However, the degree of complexity was magnified due to several specific features. While the meticulous and methodical manner in which this team approached this project ensured its success, the following recommendations are offered to those who encounter projects with one or more of the following features: S Implementation of New Treatment Processes or Modification of Existing Treatment Processes – The design and execution of appropriate benchtop, pilot, and/or full-scale studies to verify process performance and enhance operations is crucial for projects of this nature, which involve the implementation of new treatment processes or the modification of existing treatment processes. Data obtained from these studies should be utilized to guide the design of the proposed improvements.

S Modification of Existing Reverse Osmosis Units – As RO skids are typically designed to operate within a relatively narrow range of conditions, the modification of an existing RO skid to increase its production capacity by 50 percent is not an insignificant undertaking. While major system parameters, such as flux, recovery, flow, pressure, etc., are quickly and easily defined by design engineers, parameters “internal” to the RO skid, such as pressure drops through feed/concentrate ports of the pressure vessels, flow profiles through the pressure vessels, and pressure drops through manifolds, etc., are often “out of sight, out of mind.” Nevertheless, it is imperative to analyze and evaluate these internal parameters when attempting to modify the operating conditions of an existing RO skid to ensure postmodification operations are balanced and stable. When attempting such modifications, it is strongly recommended to work with a qualified company that specializes in the design and fabrication of RO systems. S Expansion of Existing Facilities – During the course of the project, numerous issues related to instrumentation and control logic arose that could have had significant and adverse impacts

to the operation of the existing plant. As with any construction project of this type, close coordination among design engineers, system suppliers, system integrators, and plant staff is critical to the overall success of the project.

Summary Operation of the expanded plant over the past 16 months has clearly demonstrated the success of this project. Data collected during this period of time confirmed that each of the City’s critical success factors were realized. While numerous aspects contributed to the success of this project, those which most significantly influenced it include: a truly collaborative relationship between CDM Smith and the City; an open-minded approach to treatment alternatives; the willingness to deviate from the status quo, explore alternate treatment technologies, and modify existing treatment processes; the commitment to complete extensive benchtop, pilot-scale, and full-scale demonstration tests to confirm process performance; and the dedication of City personnel to optimize and enhance plant operations. S

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The Endura XL grease interceptor from Canplas is available in 75- and 100-gpm models. The unit has a dynamic inlet baffle that provides service access to the flow control. It includes an access system rated to AASHTO H20, a common extension riser solution for both models, and an outlet system that minimizes the risk of fats, oils, and grease being discharged downstream. Both units have dual access covers, which allow for ideal visibility for access and maintenance. A remote pumping option can be accommodated should the installation require it. (www.enduraxl.com0

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The high-resolution, digital CCTV, sidescanning Digital Universal Camera (DUC) from CUES is designed for rapid and detailed condition assessment. It can inspect and assess 5,000 ft or more per day, producing a high-resolution digital video scan of internal pipe conditions in a 6- to 60-in. pipe, and a flat unfolded view of the pipe to facilitate rapid assignment of observations and for measurement. The low-maintenance camera has no moving parts and is driven through the pipe without the need to stop, pan, or tilt. The unit can be driven

on cruise control to a remote manhole or through multiple manholes for maximum efficiency. (wwwcuesinc.com)

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Deployed in pipes 6 to 10 in. in diameter, the JetScan Mini video nozzle from Envirosight gives sewer cleaning crews visual feedback to select the proper tools, troubleshoot backups, identify buried safety hazards, and document successful cleaning. This simple, rugged device captures HD video footage from underground pipes for offline tablet viewing. It records up to 8 hours of 720-pixel HD MPEG video to an onboard 32 GB SDHC memory card. The card is easily removed to view video on an iPad or other SDHC-compatible device. (www.envirosight.com)

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The PX Revolver 63 from Arthur Products is designed for operators who have to travel a long distance in a line. It has three fixed rear jets dedicated to generating thrust for long runs, which allow the rotor jets to focus on penetration, polishing, and flushing. It’s manufactured from high-grade stainless steel and can be custom-drilled to current equipment. (www.arthurproducts.com) S Florida Water Resources Journal • July 2016

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FWRJ READER PROFILE thing new with every training, seminar, or conference I attend.

Darryl Parker Lee County Utilities, Fort Myers Work title and years of service. I have been with Lee County Utilities (LCU) since 2001 and currently am the lead operator for the Fiesta Village Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant (AWWTP). I began working with LCU after serving 10 years in the “real” U.S. Navy (submarine service) and a short period in the private sector! What does your job entail? I manage a great team that oversees daily operations at the AWWTP and the transportation of LCU biosolids for five wastewater treatment facilities. Our current focus is striving for increased reclaim use, meeting the new nutrient removal criteria, and supporting the many plant projects. Education/training you’ve taken. I have attended numerous regional and state FWPCOA short schools and many seminars and conferences put on by the Florida Rural Water Association and FWEA. I learn some-

What do you like best about your job? Specifically, I enjoy working with odor control projects as there is no one chemical or technology that works for everything, so taking the time to understand how and why the specific odor is being produced and looking at the goal you are trying to achieve will define the path you will take on your resolution. I also enjoy working with the LCU team to achieve common goals. The team consists not just of the AWWTP operations team, or even the combined operations and technical teams within LCU; it includes all departments of the Lee County board of county commissioners working together and utilizing each other’s specific talents to achieve common goals for the citizens we serve. A true team effort! What organizations do you belong to? FWPCOA, FWEA, and WEF.

What do you do when you’re not working? My wife, Julie, and I have been married for 26 years. We have raised two children, both now adults with families of their own, and we are enjoying our first granddaughter (Lilly, 6 months), with a second granddaughter coming in August (Mackenzie). We are at the stage in life where we realize it’s time to downsize homes. It has been fun sharing each other’s thoughts on home downsizing, so it’s looking like this may take a while to agree on what we both want. We enjoy all the islands in the Bahamas and get there every chance we get. I have gone from the love of offshore fishing, to freshwater fishing, to now inshore flats fishing, which means it’s time to enjoy filling another tackle box and shopping for another boat. S

How have the organizations helped your career? Technical knowledge was the main draw for me for attending association trainings, but I have found that my involvement in each association (FWPCOA: Region 8 chair, vice chair, and member; FWEA: Air Quality Committee chair, cochair, and member) has led to an even greater knowledge due to those professionals I am surrounded by who enjoy troubleshooting as much as I do and are always willing to share their knowledge because of the working relationships through the associations. What do you like best about the industry? The ever-evolving wastewater treatment requirements that push our treatment commu-

Up a lazy river.

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nity to always develop new technologies and ways to modify current equipment to exceed original design performance.

July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

Darryl with his wife, Julie.

Showing off a Permit caught in Nassau, Bahamas.

Darryl and granddaughter Lilly.



News Beat To improve flood mitigation for families and businesses in the 8.5-sq-mi area in south Miami-Dade County, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) began operating a second temporary pump adjacent to its S-357 flood control structure. Water levels in the area had been rising because of higher water levels in Everglades National Park, the result of emergency SFWMD operations to relieve flooding in Water Conservation Area 3 located in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Adding the second temporary pump doubles the pumping capacity adjacent to the S357 structure, now moving water to the east at up to 42,000 gal per min. This increases flood mitigation for the area while continuing to move clean water out of Water Conservation Area 3 and into Everglades National Park. Record rainfall in January had caused major impacts to wildlife in the flooded conservation area. To install the new pump, SFWMD crews from the Homestead, Clewiston, and Okeechobee field stations installed 240 ft of pipe and an earthen bridge over the pipe, and are preparing to construct a berm to block water from moving into the impacted area. With increased pumping capacity at the S-357 structure, these actions will maintain water levels for residents, while keeping clean water flowing into the park. Water managers continue to closely monitor levels in the area and look for engineering options to provide additional flood mitigation if needed. The SFWMD is also helping to lower Lake Okeechobee and benefit the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries with emergency operations to send lake water directly into a new reservoir designed to capture excess stormwater. Recent dry conditions lowered water levels in the new A-1 Flow Equalization Basin in western Palm Beach County, creating capacity for SFWMD to move 9.8 bil gal of water from the lake directly into the basin. A project in Gov. Rick Scott’s restoration strategies plan to improve the Everglades, the basin temporarily stores water for delivery to south Florida’s stormwater treatment areas in a manner that optimizes its ability to clean water before sending it into Everglades National Park.

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A recent partnership between the St. Johns River Water Management District and the City of Ocala has saved over 4 mil gal of water in five months. The savings were achieved after implementing a water-savings WaterSmart program in October 2015 across 5,000 residential utility customers. "We are passionate about collaborating on water conservation projects that help

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communities ensure sustainable use of Florida's water," said Dr. Ann Shortelle, executive director for St. Johns River Water Management District. "Not only has this project helped reduce water use, but it's also raised awareness for the need to conserve, and both are critical parts of protecting our water supply." "We are thrilled with the results and the upward trend in water savings attributed to the WaterSmart program," said Jeff Halcomb, Ocala's director of water resources. "We have to adopt new and innovative technology in order to address our water supply concerns and keep Ocala growing. We hope that other utilities will inquire into using WaterSmart's programs and see if it is right for them." Said Robin Gilthorpe, chief executive officer of WaterSmart, "Ongoing population growth and Silver Spring's fragile ecosystem make improving our water systems more important than ever. The District and Ocala's foresight to invest in new technological approaches continues to set a national example when it comes to better managing our water." Since the WaterSmart program launched, the City of Ocala has improved water efficiency by an average of 3 percent, a savings equivalent to over 12 football fields covered 12 in. deep in water. The savings percentage followed a positive trend in February as water savings averaged 4 percent. Partners anticipate an average of 5 percent water savings, totaling over 15 mil gal of water saved, over the one-year program. WaterSmart, which has partnerships with more than 50 water utilities nationally and has verified nearly 3 bil gal of water saved through its programs, utilizes social norms in conjunction with comprehensive data analytics and targeted messaging to modify water use behavior. Residents receive WaterSmart's mobile, print, and email home water reports, which outline each home's water use in relation to homes of similar size and climate. In addition, residents can log into a mobile and online customer portal, which provides personalized information about resident's household water use and tailored water-saving recommendations. The City of Ocala was selected for the yearlong program because of its proximity to Silver Springs, where a decrease in water use is expected to have a positive impact on the springs. The district committed $75,000 to the project as part of a cooperative cost-share program. The district offers several cost-sharing programs that assist in funding projects related to sustainable water resources, providing flood protection and enhancing conservation efforts. For more information about the current cost-

July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

share application process, floridaswater.com/funding/.

visit

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Samantha Jeffrey, from the University of Central Florida, recently received an American Membrane Technology Association–Affordable Desalination Collaboration Fellowship. It was presented at the Membrane Technology Conference and Exposition held February 2016 in San Antonio.

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Florida health officials are warning beachgoers about a seawater bacterium that can invade cuts and scrapes to cause a flesh-eating disease. Vibrio vulnificus—a cousin of the bacterium that causes cholera—thrives in warm saltwater, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If ingested, it can cause stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. It can also infect open wounds and lead to skin breakdown and ulceration. The Florida Department of Health states that since it is naturally found in warm marine waters, people with open wounds can be exposed through direct contact with seawater. The infection can also be transmitted through eating or handling contaminated oysters and other shellfish, according to the CDC. At least 11 Floridians have contracted Vibrio vulnificus so far this year and two have died, according to the most recent state data. In 2013, 41 people were infected and 11 died. The proportion of skin and gastrointestinal infections in Florida is unclear, but a CDC spokesperson said the ratio tends to be about one to one. Florida isn’t the only state to report infections. Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi have also recorded cases, and a 2013 outbreak linked to contaminated shellfish sickened at least 104 people in 13 states. Most people who contract the infection recover with the help of antibiotics, but severe skin infections may require surgery and amputation. People with weakened immune systems are also at risk for blood infections, which are fatal about 50 percent of the time.

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Bonita Springs Utilities has appointed Steven Richards as finance director, responsible for maintaining the utility’s financial records, supervising investments, Continued on page 78


Florida Water & Pollution Control Operators Association

FWPCOA STATE SHORT SCHOOL August 8 - 12, 2016

Indian River State College - Main Campus – FORT PIERCE –

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

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

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

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

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

Utilities Maintenance III & II ..............................................$225/$255

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For further information on the school, including course registration forms and hotels, download the school announcement at http://fwpcoa.clubexpress.com/docs.ashx?id=257520

SCHEDULE CHECK-IN: August 7, 2016 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. CLASSES: Monday – Thursday........8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday........8:00 a.m. to noon

FREE AWARDS LUNCHEON P Wednesday, August 10, 11:30 a.m. P

For more information call the

FWPCOA Training Office 321-383-9690 Florida Water Resources Journal • July 2016

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Continued from page 76 and overseeing all accounting activities. A certified public accountant and licensed in the state of Florida, Richards directs the activities of BSU’s finance department, including preparing financial statements and budgets, and coordinating purchasing, disbursements, cash management, and debt administration. Richards joined BSU after nearly 10 years with CliftonLarsonAllen, the national public accounting firm. He previously spent five years as a staff CPA and auditor with a Naples firm. Steve holds a business administration degree from Ohio State University, a master’s of education from Xavier University in Cincinnati, and a master’s degree in accounting and taxation from Florida Gulf Coast University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. “CliftonLarsonAllen has been BSU’s independent auditor for the last several years. In that role, we grew to know Steve, and he got to know BSU. This familiarity with BSU, along with Steve’s qualifications in the field of finance, made him a great choice to handle the responsibilities of finance director,” said John Jenkins, BSU executive director.

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The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) governing board has signed an agreement that will transform the Ten Mile Creek Water Preserve Area into a functional

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water storage and water quality improvement project for the St. Lucie River and Estuary. Taking control of the project from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers allows SFWMD to make repairs to fill the long idle federal reservoir with 4 ft. of excess stormwater that would otherwise flow to the St. Lucie River. A wetland at the site in St. Lucie County will clean that water before it reaches the river. The Ten Mile Creek Water Preserve Area is located at the outlet of the 30,682-acre Ten Mile Creek Basin in St. Lucie County, situated immediately south of State Road 70 (Okeechobee Road) and west of the I95/Florida Turnpike intersection. The project was designed by the Corps to improve the timing and volume of water deliveries to the North Fork of the St. Lucie River by capturing, storing, and treating stormwater runoff from the Ten Mile Creek Basin.

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The Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (FSAWWA) named Bonita Springs Utilities (BSU) the winner of the 2015 Division 4 Outstanding Water Distribution Award for the fifth time in the last seven years. The award recognizes excellence in water quality, operations records, maintenance, professionalism, safety, emergency preparedness, and cross-connection control programs. “The utility is to be congratulated for its achievements in the area of water distribution,” said Mark Lehigh, past chair of FSAWWA.

July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

“This recognition by industry leaders is welldeserved.” With more than 2,800 members, FSAWWA began the award program in 1997. No more than eight awards are given in the state each year, one per division based on size. The utility also won the award in 2014, 2012, 2011, and 2009. “This award exemplifies the hard work and diligence of our employees,” said John Jenkins, BSU’s executive director. “We’ve built its reputation on reliability and quality, and our employees are the force that consistently delivers.” Drinking water production at BSU starts with raw water from two sources. The Lower Tamiami Aquifer is a relatively shallow groundwater source that is treated through lime softening. The deeper water source is poorer quality water that is treated through the reverse-osmosis process. The water from the two processes is blended for optimum taste and purity. During 2015, BSU produced 3.263 bil gal of potable water.

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Jones Edmunds and Associates Inc., a Florida-based engineering and environmental sciences consulting firm, was recently recognized as 2016 Consultant of the Year for Water/Wastewater by the Florida Chapter of the American Public Works Association. “We are honored to be recognized with this distinguished title for the second year in a row,” said Greg Perrine, P.E., vice president/director of utilities at the firm, who received the award for Jones Edmunds. Putnam County nominated Jones Edmunds for the award based on its utilities expertise, outstanding performance, and dedication to client service in the development of the county’s new regional water and wastewater systems. “Jones Edmunds has been working with Putnam County since 1999 to develop new water and wastewater systems,” said Rick Leary, Putnam County administrator. “I am deeply satisfied with their professionalism and dedication to delivering cost-effective, practical solutions.” Established in 1974, Jones Edmunds is a full-service engineering and architectural firm with services that include solid waste, utilities, water resources, environmental, geographic information systems, civil, construction, structural, mechanical, electrical, and architectural. The firm has seven offices throughout the state, including Gainesville, Jacksonville, Lake Worth, Sarasota, Tampa, Titusville, and Winter Haven. S



ENGINEERING DIRECTORY

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

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


CLASSIFIEDS P os i ti on s Ava i l a b l e

CITY OF WINTER GARDEN – POSITIONS AVAILABLE The City of Winter Garden is currently accepting applications for the following positions:

Utilities Treatment Plant Operations Supervisor $55,452 - $78,026/yr.

Utilities System Operator II $37,152 - 52,279/yr.

Water-Reuse Distribution Supervisor

- Traffic Sign Technician - Water/Wastewater Plant Operator – Class C - Solid Waste Worker II - Collection Field Tech – I & II - Distribution Field Tech – I & II Please visit our website at www.cwgdn.com for complete job descriptions and to apply. Applications may be submitted online, in person or faxed to 407-877-2795.

$55,452 – 78,026/yr.

Utilities Engineering Inspector $52,279 - $73,561.90

Utilities Treatment Plant Operator I $46,010 - $60,519/yr. Apply Online At: http://pompanobeachfl.gov Open until filled.

City of Temple Terrace Technical work in the operation of a water treatment plant and auxiliary facilities on an assigned shift. Performs quality control lab tests and other analyses, monthly regulatory reports, and minor adjustments and repairs to plant equipment. Applicant must have State of Florida D.E.P. Class “A”, “B”, or “C” Drinking Water License at time of application. SALARY RANGES: $16.59 - $24.89 per hour • w/”C” Certificate $18.25 - $27.38 per hour • w/”B” Certificate (+10% above “C”) $20.08 - $30.12 per hour • w/”A” Certificate (+10% above “B”). Excellent benefits package. To apply and/or obtain more details contact City of Temple Terrace, Chief Plant Operator at (813) 506-6593 or Human Resources at (813) 506-6430 or visit www.templeterrace.com. EOE/DFWP.

City of Winter Garden Construction Projects Manager The position acts as the City's project manager for all capital improvement construction projects including water, wastewater, roadways, parks, stormwater systems and other facilities; inspection of private development projects; and supervision of 3 construction inspectors. Salary DOQ. The City of Winter Garden is an EOE/DFWP that encourages and promotes a diverse workforce. Please apply at http://www.cwgdn.com. Minimum Qualifications: ~ High school diploma or GED equivalent and two years of college coursework. ~ 10 years of field experience in utilities and/or structural construction management ~ Working knowledge of general construction of above and below ground utilities. ~ Valid driver's license

Orange County, Florida is an employer of choice and is perennially recognized on the Orlando Sentinel’s list of the Top 100 Companies for Working Families. Orange County shines as a place to both live and work, with an abundance of world class golf courses, lakes, miles of trails and year-round sunshine - all with the sparkling backdrop of nightly fireworks from world-famous tourist attractions. Make Orange County Your Home for Life. Orange County Utilities is one of the largest utility providers in Florida and has been recognized nationally and locally for outstanding operations, efficiencies, innovations, education programs and customer focus. As one of the largest departments in Orange County Government, we provide water and wastewater services to over 500,000 citizens and 62 million annual guests; operate the largest publicly owned landfill in the state; and manage in excess of a billion dollars of infrastructure assets. Our focus is on excellent quality, customer service, sustainability, and a commitment to employee development. Join us to find more than a job – find a career. We are currently looking for knowledgeable and motivated individuals to join our team, who take great pride in public service, aspire to create a lasting value within their community, and appreciate being immersed in meaningful work. We are currently recruiting actively for the following positions:

Chief Engineer, Utilities Engineering Division $80,122-$91,614/year

Engineer I, II, III $43,285– $81,557/ year

Industrial Electrician I $36,733 – $48,464/ year Apply online at: http://www.ocfl.net/jobs. Positions are open until filled. Florida Water Resources Journal • July 2016

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City of Orange City Engineering Construction Manager Coordinates the construction projects of the Public Works Department which may include, but not necessarily be limited to: traffic control plans; stormwater, water, sewer, and reclaimed utilities; transportation projects including, sidewalks, trails, street improvement projects; and park construction and rehabilitation. Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering. Minimum of three (3) years professional experience in Construction, Engineering, or Project Management. Engineer in Training certification within the State of Florida. An equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered. For more information, visit www.ourorangecity.com HIRING RANGE:

$66,000 – $95,000 (DOQ)

Equal Opportunity Employer/Drug Free Workplace M/F/V/D

Pinellas County Utilities Distribution Manager Position $71,079 - $109,839 + excellent benefits This position is a trainee position that will shadow the current Manager until their retirement in December. At that point the trainee position will resume all the Maintenance Manger duties. Incumbent will manage the maintenance, repair, and construction of water and reclaim distribution systems as well the wastewater collection systems. This section has a staff of 104 employees and a budget of $14 million. The position is responsible for system-wide functions and activities. Duties also include section budget preparation, administration, technical investigations, maintenance activities, oversight assessments, project cost estimating, work scheduling, evaluation of maintenance, and repair activities before, during, and after activities are completed. The incumbent performs with considerable independence and reports to the Director of Maintenance. • Must have valid Level 1 Water Distribution System Operator License, prior to start date, in accordance with Florida Administrative Code, Chapter 62-602 and at least 5 years of advance experience in underground utility construction or maintenance of a large public water and sewer utility. 2 of the 5 years must be at a midlevel supervisorial position; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience. • Possession and maintenance of a valid Florida Driver's License or Florida Commercial Driver’s License. Assignment to work a variety of work schedules including compulsory work periods in special, emergency, and/or disaster situations. Apply by: July 17, 2016 To Apply Visit: https://employment.pinellascounty.org #1227 Certain service members and veterans, and the spouses and family members of the service members and veterans, receive preference and priority in employment by the state and are encouraged to apply for the positions being filled. EOE/AA/ADA/DFW/VP

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July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

City of Tampa - AWT Plant Tech - Operations Minimum Qualifications are graduation from an accredited high school or GED with two (2) years of utility operations or industrial experience. For more information and to apply go to www.jobaps.com/Tampa

Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida Position: Water Operator Full-time 40 hours per week, Day shift, ability to work flexible schedule & holidays as necessary. Performs work involving operation and maintenance of a small utility. Operator must possess a "B" License from State of Florida or equivalent. Must have valid Florida Drivers License. Backflow certification desired. Clean Criminal Background. Email resume to: BrinaA@miccosukeetribe.com or fax (305) 894- 2350. Work Location is 20 Miles west of Krome Ave on Tamiami Trail, Miami. (Salary, $45-$50K D.O.Q)

Woodard & Currran – Reclaimed Water Operations Project Manager Woodard & Curran is seeking a full-time Project Manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of the world's largest Reclaimed Water Facility of its type, a combination of irrigation and rapid infiltration basins (RIBs). The Project Manager will play an active role in the coordination and communication with the clients, customers, contractors, engineers and regulatory agencies to manage and coordinate the on-going daily operation of the utility system.

TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR The Dunes Community Development District located in Palm Coast is seeking qualified Applicants for a Certified Treatment Plant Operator to work at the District’s RO water treatment plant, wastewater treatment plant and reclaimed water systems. Applicant must have a minimum FL Class “C” Water or Wastewater Operator Certification (dual water/wastewater preferred, but not required). Must have high school diploma/GED, valid Florida driver’s license. Salary Range: $35,000-$55,000/yr DOQ, plus full benefits package. Job description and application for employment is available at www.dunescdd.org Send completed job application along with resume to: Utilities Manager, Dunes CDD, 5000 Palm Coast Pkwy S.E., Palm Coast, FL 32137; by fax at 386-447-9858; or e-mail at tsdcdd@bellsouth.net. EOE/DFWP.

LOOKING FOR A JOB? The FWPCOA Job Placement Committee Can Help! Contact Joan E. Stokes at 407-293-9465 or fax 407-293-9943 for more information.


Florida Water Resources Journal • July 2016

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Test Yourself Answer Key From page 56 January 2016

1. A) Anode

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

Display Advertiser Index Automeg ..................................78 Blue Planet................................87 CEU Challenge ..........................63 ConShield....................................6 CROM ......................................60 Data Flow Systems....................45 Franklin Miller ..........................27 Florida Aquastore ......................65 FSAWWA CONFERENCE Exhibit Registration ................47 Poker/Golf Tournament ..........48 Distribution System Awards....49 FWPCOA State Short School ......77 FWPCOA Training ......................53

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Garney ........................................5 Hudson Pump............................79 ISA Symposium ........................75 Lakeside Equipment..................41 PCL Construction ......................61 Permaform ................................38 Polston........................................9 Stacon ........................................2 Stantec ....................................57 UF Treeo Center ........................69 USA BlueBook ..........................19 Vaughn......................................33 Xylem........................................88

July 2016 • Florida Water Resources Journal

The anode is the point at which the electric current begins and where metal is lost from the wall of the metal pipe, usually iron. A pit will form in the pipe from the iron being dissolved into the water. The dissolved iron reacts with dissolved oxygen to form a film of ferrous hydroxide, later becoming ferric hydroxide or rust. The rust layer builds and becomes a tubercule.

2. D) Oxygen (O2) Dissolved oxygen reacts with dissolved iron in water to form rust at the anode. Increased system pressure increases the concentration of dissolved gases in water, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide.

3. B) Homes with lead solder installed after 1982. Homes built prior to 1982 contain either lead or copper pipe, with lead solder for connections. Both lead pipe and lead solder used to connect pipes contain lead that can leach out over time from corrosion and into the drinking water supply in a home. The material was banned in 1981 because of the serious health risks caused by lead exposure. Older homes that may contain these materials are the preferred tap-sample sites for testing because they will reveal the “worst case” results.

4. C) A sample that is the first liter of water collected from a tap that has not been used for at least six hours. If a water is corrosive and capable of leaching lead and/or copper from the pipe or plumbing fixture material over time, the dissolved metals will be captured in the first flush of water leaving the tap.

5. B) Encourage growth of biofilms on pipe walls. Products that contain reactive phosphorus (orthophosphate, PO43-) can stimulate the growth of microorganisms in the distribution system causing formation of biofilms on pipe walls. Biofilms can reduce or deplete disinfection residuals and cause taste and odor complaints from customers.

6. C) The initial water is saturated. When crushed marble (calcium carbonate or natural chalk) is added to an initial water sample in a marble test, the sample water can only retain a certain amount of dissolved calcium carbonate within itself. If the initial water already contains calcium carbonate and additional calcium carbonate is added, the water cannot hold onto any additional material. A sort of softening effect takes place, where the hardness already existing in the initial sample decreases as the excess calcium carbonate comes out of the solution. This result indicates the initial water was already saturated with calcium carbonate.

7. C) 10 percent Residential samples taken at the kitchen or bathroom sink tap must meet the action levels of less than 0.015 mg/L in 90 percent of the samples taken. If more than 10 percent of the samples taken exceed the action level, a treatment technique for corrosion control must be initiated or optimized.

8. D) 0.035 mg/L Calculate the 90th percentile: arrange the results of the samples in a list from highest (top number) to lowest (bottom number). Multiply the total number of samples taken (in this case 10) by 0.9 (90 percent) = 9. Count the sample results from the bottom up to the 9th sample result. This value is the 90th percentile result.

9. B) Electrochemical reaction This is the chemical change produced by electricity, or the production of electricity from a chemical reaction. In corrosion, two factors contribute to the deterioration of metal pipes or metallic equipment: a chemical reaction and the flow of electrons. Chemical reactions occur due to various factors, including pH, dissolved gases, system pressure, temperature, dissolved solids, system construction, stray electric current, and alkalinity.

10. D) 0.015 mg/L Lead primary MCL found in Table 1: Maximum Contaminant Levels for Inorganic Compounds of Chapter 62-550 FAC, “Drinking Water Standards, Monitoring and Reporting.”




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