OWEA The Splash – Issue 4 2025

Address Service Requested. Oklahoma Water Environment Association – 4500 S Garnett Rd. Suite 110 Tulsa, OK 74146

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INSIDE

Oklahoma Water Short-School Training Event

ISSUE 4 2025

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE OKLAHOMA WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION

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contents

departments

features

14 2025 WEFMAX Recap 21 OWEA at WEFTEC 2025 25 Oklahoma Water Short-School Training Event OKLAHOMA WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION P.O. Box 700534 Tulsa, OK 74170 www.owea.org/contact/

EXECUTIVE BOARD President: Amber Wooten, Carollo President Elect: Crystal Kowalik, Ardurra Vice President: Cole Niblett, Garver Past President: Emily Rowland, City of Broken Arrow

Treasurer: Joy Kotey, City of Edmond Secretary: Karen Steele, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality WEF Delegate: Mary Elizabeth Mach, Garver

Address Service Requested.

Oklahoma Water Environment Association – 4500 S Garnett Rd. Suite 110 Tulsa, OK 74146

7 Letter from the President 9 Committee Report 11 Operator’s Corner 27 Local Technical Report 33 Advertiser Product & Service Center CRAIG KELMAN & ASSOCIATES Tel: 866-985-9780 Fax: 866-985-9799 www.kelman.ca

Managing Editor: Mathias Leiendecker Design/layout: Kellee Breckman

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Letter from the President

A Recap of our Board and Committee Retreat

Amber Wooten, Project Manager, Carollo Engineers Executive Board President

W

elcome to the fall, a season filled with pumpkin spice and conferences. Another great WEFTEC is in the books, and abstracts are being accepted for our 2026 Joint Technical Conference & Trade Show.

You can find more information at www.owea.org/conference.

In this issue, we highlight a variety of local and national events, including Oklahoma’s first-time hosting WEFMAX, Operator Short-School training held in collaboration with the Southwest Section of American Water Works Association (SWAWWA), the Water Leadership Institute, and Ops Challenge. Also, be sure to check out what our Young Professionals have been doing – and look for an opportunity to get engaged in one of their upcoming activities!

But before you move on to the rest of the issue, here is a recap of our Board and Committee Retreat held in Oklahoma City on September 12. About 25 representatives gathered to plan for the upcoming year. As an organization, we selected the following key goals to pursue: • Expand Ops Challenge • Have one or two Oklahoma teams compete in the next competition.

• Send one Oklahoma team to WEFTEC to compete.

• Add one event to the next competition, bringing us up to competing in three of the five available events.

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• Conduct Intentional Member Outreach • Grow membership.

• Clearly communicate membership benefits.

• Increase outreach (schools, projects, training, ops challenge events, etc.).

• Improve Communications • Make LinkedIn account public.

• Hire a virtual assistant to help with outreach.

• Increase committee involvement.

• Investigate Better Financial Investment Opportunities • Form an ad hoc committee that

evaluates investing OWEA funds and develops recommendations for Board consideration.

• Investigate Eliminating OWEA-Only Membership • The Membership Committee will evaluate eliminating the OWEAonly membership, bridging options to connect existing OWEA-only members with full WEF membership, and develop recommendations for Board consideration.

OWEA offers 11 committees and associated focus areas (owea.org/committees/).

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Each committee is developing their action plan, which is designed to support the overarching organizational goals.

Look for these updated “Manuals of Practices” to be posted on our website in the coming months. We have open positions on all committees. If you are interested in getting involved in a committee or if you have questions, please reach out at awooten@carollo.com.

Are you interested in learning about OWEA and committees? Join us at our next Quarterly Board Meeting on Friday, December 5, in Oklahoma City. Email me at awooten@carollo.com for more details or to RSVP. OWEA’s mission seeks to “connect and enrich the expertise of Oklahoma’s water environment professionals.” Our members are operators, laboratory specialists, maintenance technologists, engineers, contractors, suppliers, and managers who are “dedicated to sustaining Oklahoma’s water environment through advocacy and education.” Thank you for helping us achieve our mission!

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Committee Report

Water Specialties Committee: Maintenance Technician Training Recap

T

he latest session of the OWEA Maintenance Technologist Training course was held at the Metro Tech South Bryant Campus from July 28-30. Around 28 wastewater professionals from across the state attended the Level 1 and Level 2 courses. Testing was conducted on July 30 and there was an 89% pass rate for Level 1 and 100% pass rate for Level 2, resulting in 26 new licenses being awarded for this session.

The maintenance training program has been running successfully for over four years now, and we would like to welcome some new instructors that joined the curriculum this time. Geoff Shaw, Julian Torres and Brock Bennet with the City of Oklahoma City, as well as Julie Williams with Tulco Oils.

While the course is titled ‘Maintenance Technician’ we want to acknowledge that in our industry, our operations staff

“The maintenance training program has been running successfully for over four years now, and we would like to welcome some new instructors.” often perform maintenance in addition to keeping the plant operating. With this, we want to encourage all of our operators to attend and expand their maintenance skills. There will be one more training session held in 2025, a Level III class in December is planned, and the first training session in 2026 will be a Level 1 and 2 around April 2026.

October 27-29, 2025

Join us for the 6th Annual Sanitary Sewer Expo Stride Bank Center 301 S. Independence Ave. Enid, OK 73701 DEQ Hours will be available for attendees Day 1 (October 27) – Kick off the Expo with a golf tournament, providing a great opportunity to network and connect with peers in a relaxed setting.

Days 2 & 3 (October 28-29) – Join us for expert-led sessions, hands-on learning, and valuable discussions from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Don’t miss the indoor vendor showcase featuring sewer equipment, tools, and services—ideal for attendees and vendors alike.

Connect with fellow municipal professionals, gain valuable insights, and kick things off with a fun round of golf!

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Use Your phone camera and scan to Register to Attend

If you can’t scan, please visit link.omag.org/sewer-expo

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Operator’s Corner

Ops Smart Challenge

Can you do it? Let’s see…

Questions 1. TSS that collect on top of a filter are: a. Dissolved solids b. Non-filterable residue c. Volatile solids d. Soluble solids e. Filterable residue

Match Game 1. Fe

A. Manganese

2. O

B. Chlorine

2. The minimum concentration of oxygen in a confined space must be: a. At least 18.7 mg/l and less than 23 mg/l b. At least 22mg/l and less than 29 mg/l c. At least 25 mg/l and less than 28 ppm d. At least 19.5 mg/l and less than 22 mg/l

3. Mn

C. Sulfur

4. Na

D. Hydrogen

5. C

E. Calcium

6. CI

F. Iron

3. If an operator of an activated sludge plant wanted to increase the amount of solids under aeration, he would: a. Decrease the amount of waste and increase the return b. Increase the amount of WAS c. Increase detention time and amount of air

7. H

G. Oxygen

8. Mg

H. Sodium

9. Ca

I. Magnesium

10. S

J. Carbon

4. What is used to detect chlorine leaks? a. 10% solution of aluminum sulfate b. 10% solution of calcium hydroxide c. 10% solution of ammonia hydroxide d. 10% solution of sodium hydroxide 5. What is the number of lb/day of dry alum used, if the flow rate is 51 mgd and the dosage is 13.8 mg/L? The alum is 48% pure.

Answers on the next page!

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Answers on the next page!

Behold the turtles; they make progress only when sticking their neck out.

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Operator’s Corner

Ops Smart Challenge Ops Smart Challenge Answers to Questions: 1. E 2. D 3. A 4. C 5. Convert the percent of purity to decimal form: 48%/100% = 0.48; (mgd) (dosage) (8.34 lb/gal) = (51 mgd) (13.8 mg/L) (8.34 lb/gal) = 12,000 lb/day %Purity (0.48) Note: Remember, 1 mg/L = 1ppm

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Answers 1. Fe

F. Iron

2. O

G. Oxygen

3. Mn

A. Manganese

4. Na

H. Sodium

5. C

J. Carbon

6. CI

B. Chlorine

7. H

D. Hydrogen

8. Mg

I. Magnesium

9. Ca

E. Calcium

10. S

C. Sulfur

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www.owea.org

Learn more at stvinc.com/water.

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OWEA had the opportunity to host our first WEFMAX this year in Oklahoma City. Each year, WEF selects three Member Associations (MAs) across the country to host that year’s WEFMAX events – WEFMAX stands for WEF Member Association Exchange. Each event has a designated topic. These gatherings bring together smaller groups of 50-100 people from various MAs to exchange ideas on what has worked well, what hasn’t, and how to strengthen their own associations.

The WEFMAX that we hosted turned out to be an incredible event! We kicked things off with gift bags filled with Oklahoma goodies and a networking social featuring the Oklahoma Fancy Dancers, who performed traditional Native American dances in full regalia. Of the 75 or so attendees, at least half were from out of state – Virginia, Arizona, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Texas, Washington, and more! Most of these attendees had never seen a demonstration like this before – it was an amazing chance to share a piece of Oklahoma’s rich heritage with our fellow MAs. 14

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Oklahoma Fancy Dancers at Welcome Networking Social.

The next two days were packed with insightful sessions, Q&A discussions, and service activities built around the topic, “Building Bonds: Cultivating Community and Culture in Member Associations.” OWEA members were heavily involved in the program. Emily Rowland gave the conference’s welcome message. Cameryn Edwards, Sarah Jones, and Amber Wooten participated in a panel discussion bridging generational gaps in the water industry. Andy Doerflinger and Crystal Kowalik provided attendees with a recap of what OWEA is doing for the water industry in Oklahoma.

Many attendees participated in a service event in collaboration with the Downtown Oklahoma City YMCA. Participants were split into groups to collect trash in the areas surrounding the facility (i.e., Automobile Alley and near the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum). Separately, participants were invited to bring children’s books for donation to local schools.

Attendees also got to see one of Oklahoma City’s newest attractions – Riversport OKC – as a part of the conference. This facility offers whitewater rafting and other water sports activities.

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OWEA attendees after the OKC 2025 WEFMAX closing session (left to right: Amber Wooten, Cameryn Edwards, Andy Doerflinger, Emily Rowland, Crystal Kowalik, Karen Steele, Sarah Jones).

WEFMAX participants after the service event in collaboration with the Downtown Oklahoma City YMCA.

It will be the location of several events in the Summer 2028 Olympics. Before having dinner at one of their on-site boat houses, participants were given the opportunity to tour the pump station and treatment facility that they have on-site. It was a great event for fun and fellowship!

Overall, this was an especially exciting experience for our OWEA Board, since only one of the members had ever attended a WEFMAX before. Experiencing it together for the first time made it even more special.

We went in not quite knowing what to expect, but came away with valuable insights that we are excited to implement within our own MA. Some of the key takeaways included: • New ideas on how to better structure and support our committees.

• Potential strategies for expanding our board to help distribute responsibilities, especially since we operate without paid staff.

• Opportunities to increase engagement with local schools and universities, helping students transition into our organization as they begin their careers.

One of the biggest benefits was simply the chance to network with members from other MAs across the country. We learned how they operate, shared challenges, and encouraged one another to keep pushing forward. Everyone left inspired, eager to bring new ideas back to their organizations.

This is absolutely an event OWEA members want to keep participating in – and after seeing how impactful it is, we cannot wait to attend again in the future.

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OWEA at WEFTEC 2025 WEFTEC

2025 was held in Chicago at McCormick Place Convention Center, bringing together an estimated 20,000 water professionals from around the world.

The conference began Saturday morning with the House of Delegates meetings, where OWEA was represented

by Mary Elizabeth Mach. That evening, several OWEA members attended the Jammin’4Water charity event, which highlighted the musical talents of water quality professionals while raising funds for the WEF Community Service Project and WASH-related charities.

Five OWEA members – C. Hunter Nelson, Afiya N. Wilkins, Andy Doerflinger, Charles (Beau) Howard III, and Krysten Marshall – graduated from the Water Leadership Institute (WLI) during WEFTEC. The WLI Class of 2025 included 83 water professionals representing 27 US states, Canada, and New Zealand. The program develops emerging leaders through management training, leadership development, and opportunities to RETURN TO CONTENTS

collaborate with peers across the public and private sectors.

As part of their capstone project, the WLI 2025 cohort created a YouTube series titled “Turning Challenges into Strengths Through Resilient Leadership.” The videos can be viewed on the WLI playlist: YouTube – WLI 2025 Series, and some feature OWEA members. The WLI class was recognized during a ceremony on Sunday, September 28.

On Sunday evening, OWEA hosted a networking happy hour, “A Touch of Home in Chi-Town,” with more than 30 members in attendance.

On Monday, Shellie Chard was honored as a WEF Fellow. The WEF Fellows program recognizes members who demonstrate outstanding professional achievement, leadership, and lasting contributions to the water sector. Since its inception in 2009, the program has celebrated individuals for excellence across design and consulting, education, operations, regulation, research, and utility management – as well as dedicated service to WEF and its Member Associations.

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Shellie, of the Oklahoma Water Environment Association, is nationally recognized for her leadership in advancing practical, science-based water quality solutions and fostering collaboration across the industry. With more than 20 years of impact, she has served on the WEF Board of Trustees and received both WEF’s Volunteer Service Award and the Arthur Sidney Bedell Award.

Throughout the conference, OWEA members were actively engaged – participating in workshops, recruiting at the career fair, attending technical sessions, cheering on teams in the Operations Challenge, and exploring the exhibit hall to see the latest innovations in water technology.

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Where do you find Carollo

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Like water itself, innovation flows through every challenge and shapes new possibilities. For over 90 years, Carollo has pioneered breakthroughs in water technology – from resilient infrastructure protecting growing communities to groundbreaking solutions safeguarding public health and ecosystems. At Carollo, innovation isn’t just about what’s new – it’s about what’s necessary. Every advancement, every improvement, and every solution flows from a single purpose: shaping a future where water enriches every community it touches.

In our culture In our solutions In our communities 800.523.5826 / carollo.com

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Oklahoma Water Short-School Training Event

O

n June 3, 2025, OWEA held our first Oklahoma Water Short-School training event. For this event, we partnered with the Southwest Section of the American Water Works Association (SWAWWA). The event offered a full day (eight hours) of water and wastewater presentations, including some field and hands-on activities.

Oklahoma DEQ approval was obtained for all presentations and demonstrations for water and wastewater operator license renewal hours. Attendance was just over 80 persons. The event was a success, and we look forward to more collaboration with AWWA in the future.

“We look forward to more collaboration with AWWA in the future.”

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Our CONCERN for the ENVIRONMENT is MORE THAN JUST TALK This publication is printed on Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified paper with vegetable oil-based inks. Please do your part for the environment by reusing and recycling.

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Local Technical Report

Large Diameter, No Problem!

A Case Study in Large Diameter Condition Assessment and Rehabilitation

Jacob Brumbaugh, PE Project Manager, RJN Group

T

he Tulsa Metropolitan Utility Authority (TMUA), a municipality in northeastern Oklahoma, provides water and sanitary sewer service to more than 650,000 people.

Like many utilities, TMUA must manage aging assets while continuing to prioritize its Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) against a wide variety of competing projects. To assess and plan for the future rehabilitation of large-diameter gravity sanitary sewer interceptors, a project was initiated to evaluate the condition of TMUA’s interceptors. In June 2016, TMUA retained RJN Group, Inc. (RJN) to perform a comprehensive multi-sensor inspection (MSI) of approximately 59,550 linear feet (LF) of pipe, ranging from 18 inches to 54 inches, and the associated manholes for interceptors across the City of Tulsa in five separate locations. The program was intended not only to quantify the structural integrity of the pipe but also to identify manholes at high risk of failure, particularly those contributing significant inflow and infiltration (I/I).

The pipeline assessment relied on a combination of highdefinition closed-circuit television (HDCCTV), sonar scanning, and laser/LiDAR profiling. Each technology addressed a different challenge: the HDCCTV provided a detailed visual record of cracks, joint separations, and other structural issues; sonar measured sediment accumulation in submerged sections; and LiDAR quantified ovality and wall loss caused by corrosion.

Together, these tools delivered both qualitative and quantitative data that could be directly compared with original pipe specifications.

Manhole assessment followed the Level 2 MACP standard.

Crews performed confined-space entries where necessary to record wall pH values, evaluate liner conditions, and measure corrosion penetration. The amount of corrosion was measured by using a screwdriver to determine how far it penetrated the wall.

In some instances, these inspections revealed not only widespread deterioration but also serious safety concerns for workers due to aggressive corrosion within the concrete structures.

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The five project locations were treated as separate assessments and reports within this project. Through analysis and prioritization, RJN identified the Southeast Basin West Leg Interceptor as the highest-priority project area due to significant corrosion and concerns about a potential failure in the near future. This interceptor was installed in 1998 and consisted of approximately 4,493 LF of 36-inch and approximately 13,636 LF of 48-inch Prestressed Concrete Cylinder Pipe (PCCP) with a coal tar epoxy liner and eight-foot diameter precast concrete manholes. The interceptor accepts flow from a nearby lift station on the upstream end of the line and was installed at extremely flat slopes. Due to the pipe material, incoming force main, and flat slopes, the segments had experienced severe corrosion, with reinforcement exposed in several areas and wall loss far beyond acceptable limits.

Additionally, an offset joint along the interceptor was discovered, which added another level of concern. This interceptor is located in south Tulsa, following along the Arkansas River and nearby neighborhoods, which resulted in a high consequence of failure.

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Local Technical Report

For the manholes, seven-foot diameter fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) liners could be inserted into the existing eight-foot diameter structures, restoring structural integrity, eliminating I/I, and providing long-term corrosion resistance. Utilizing FRP liners would limit the amount of bypass pumping required for a full-depth manhole replacement and also poses as a more cost-effective solution than epoxy coating the existing structures.

To determine whether segmental sliplining would still provide adequate capacity to serve the basin, RJN developed a hydraulic model of the Southeast Basin. The analysis confirmed that capacity could be maintained even if the existing 36-inch and 48-inch pipes were reduced to 30 inches and 42 inches, respectively, through the use of sliplining. The proposed pipe diameters were selected to ensure they fit within the existing host pipe. This led RJN to determine that the existing interceptor was oversized for the drainage basin it was serving. This basin was nearly fully developed at the time this model was developed, and limited future additional flow was anticipated.

Considering the existing conditions of the interceptor and the high consequences of failure, RJN ultimately recommended proceeding with rehabilitating this line as soon as possible. To get the Southeast Basin West Leg Interceptor rehabilitation into TMUA’s CIP budget as quickly as possible, the rehabilitation was split into three phases, with each phase being approximately 6,000 LF. The first phase began at the downstream end of the interceptor, and subsequent phases progressed further upstream, being completed in consecutive years.

Due to the existing conditions and consequences of failure, RJN developed rehabilitation recommendations in the assessment report. There were two primary options available to rehabilitate the interceptor: complete replacement through open-cut excavation or rehabilitation using trenchless techniques. Open-cut replacement was quickly deemed not to be cost-effective. The interceptor was located deep in sandy soils that could behave like quicksand, and it passed near ponds and neighborhoods, which limited the working space. Excavation would have been disruptive, costly, and timeconsuming, and it would have required extensive bypass pumping to maintain flow. A new route for the interceptor was not feasible due to other existing utilities and neighborhoods.

Rehabilitation offered a more attractive alternative. Segmental sliplining of the pipe with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) liner sections could provide a structural renewal, reduce the diameter slightly while preserving most of the existing capacity, and be installed with relatively little surface disruption. Segmental sliplining involves inserting a new, smaller-diameter pipe into an existing, deteriorated pipe to restore structural integrity and extend the service life.

Another option considered was Cured-in-Place-Pipe (CIPP), which provides a structural repair with minimal diameter reduction.

A point repair was needed at an offset joint regardless of which trenchless method was ultimately selected.

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Local Technical Report

RJN developed plan sets for each phase, allowing for segmental sliplining and CIPP as the two options. Ultimately, the contractor selected segmental sliplining of the interceptor using 42-inch and 32-inch pipe. The contractor selected Vylon PVC as its pipe material for this project rather than FRP. Segmental sliplining was chosen not only for its cost-effectiveness but also because bypass pumping was not needed. The annular space was then filled with cellular concrete to prevent the pipe from shifting.

For the manholes, open-bottom FRP liners were specified at seven feet in diameter to fit inside the existing eight-foot concrete structures. The liners had composite frames and covers installed on them to ensure a corrosion-resistant structure. These liners were expected to eliminate infiltration, restore structural stability, and extend the service life of the manholes for decades. The annular space was then filled with grout to ensure the FRP liner did not shift.

The statistics for each phase are summarized below: • PHASE 1: o 5,846 linear feet of 42-inch slipliner o 10, seven-foot diameter manhole liners o $2.4 million o Construction completed in 2020 • PHASE 2: o 6,052 linear feet of 42-inch slipliner o 11, seven-foot manhole liners o $3.5 million o Construction completed in 2021 • PHASE 3: o 1,738 linear feet of 42-inch slipliner o 4,493 linear feet of 32-inch slipliner o 11, seven-foot manhole liners o $3.5 million o Construction completed in 2023 All three phases have now been successfully completed. The use of segmental sliplining enabled construction to proceed with minimal disruption, making bypass pumping unnecessary. This not only reduced costs but also eliminated one of the most significant risks associated with large-diameter sewer rehabilitation.

Several important lessons emerged from the program.

Perhaps the most critical was the value of preparation. Sliplining large-diameter sewers is not a straightforward process; joints, offsets, and bends all present challenges that must be addressed through careful pre-planning and field confirmation. The contractor must properly clean the existing interceptor before pulling a mandrel through the pipe. The mandrel ensures minimal debris is present and identifies potential areas where the slipliner pipe could get caught on an offset joint. This should be done prior to attempting to install the slipliner pipe.

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The project also demonstrated the importance of contractor experience. Installing segmental slipliners one piece at a time requires a skilled and knowledgeable crew, and the success of the rehabilitation relies heavily on their expertise. Having these types of projects completed by a contractor well-versed in segmental sliplining helps the projects run very smoothly.

Similarly, the installation of manhole liners required a high level of precision. Accurate field measurements were critical to ensure the fabricated FRP liners fit correctly and sealed as intended. One key lesson learned was the importance of specifying liner depth from the top of the bench of the existing manhole to the proposed rim elevation. In Phase 1, the liners were fabricated using the invert-to-rim dimension, which resulted in structures that were taller than needed. As a result, each FRP liner had to be field-modified by cutting down the excess wall height to achieve the proper elevation.

The rehabilitation program delivered substantial benefits to TMUA and its customers. Structurally, the interceptor and manholes have been renewed and are expected to provide reliable service for decades. Hydraulically, the required capacity has been preserved through model confirmation and selection of liner diameters. Operationally, the threat of potential failures has been eliminated with the new PVC liner.

Perhaps most importantly, the work was accomplished without the large-scale disruptions that would have accompanied open-cut replacement. Streets and neighborhoods were spared extensive excavation, and wastewater service continued uninterrupted. Financially, the trenchless approach provided a long-term solution at a fraction of the cost of replacement, a result that demonstrates the benefits of segmental sliplining.

Jacob Brumbaugh, PE, is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Oklahoma. He earned his MBA from Oklahoma State University and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Oklahoma. During his time at RJN, Jacob has provided pragmatic engineering solutions to Oklahoma utility owners to improve system performance and achieve regulatory compliance. He has worked on numerous assessment and design projects, including hydraulic modeling and master planning, large- and smalldiameter pipelines, force mains and lift stations, gravity lines, and manholes. He is also well-versed in using trenchless and traditional construction methods to deliver cost-effective and impactful solutions.

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2026 APWAOK/OWEA Joint Technical Conference & Trade Show Marriott Tulsa Southern Hills 1902 E. 71st Street Tulsa, OK 74136 May 4-6, 2026

Call for Abstracts Abstract submittals for the 2026 joint conference are now being accepted!

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Electronic Submission Form We will notify all speakers of acceptance by February 13, 2026. Speakers are required to register for the conference during early bird registration period. For questions, please contact the following: APWA Oklahoma Chapter Devin Randall, Vice President (918) 380-8868 Devin.Randall@kimley-horn.com

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