Results

Water utilities are at the forefront of providing clean, reliable drinking water to communities. To bolster the region's water supply, Portland Water Bureau (PWB) is making a significant investment in the construction of a state-of-the-art Filtration Facility. This endeavor harmonizes with PWB's broader Strategic Plan and Smart Utility Plan, serving as a technological roadmap for optimizing PWB operations. A pivotal component of the Smart Utility Plan is the implementation of an Enterprise SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system, unifying control and oversight across PWB's water distribution and filtration facilities. This abstract delves into the strategic planning and meticulous execution of this crucial SCADA system integration. Key Planning and Execution Phases: 1. Strategic Planning: The foundation of PWB's SCADA journey lies in understanding the existing SCADA system conditions and evolving standards. This phase also entails identifying user requirements for the SCADA system, envisioning a conceptual SCADA system that harmonizes these requirements, and conducting a rigorous technology evaluation and selection process. Lessons learned from interviews with peer utilities shape the technology choices. 2. Public Procurement: A vital milestone is the initiation of a public procurement process. PWB explores avenues for securing long-term SCADA software and system integration services, positioning a sole source supplier for future construction endeavors. This strategic move streamlines procurement and reinforces the stability of the SCADA infrastructure. 3. Roadmap Updates: The pinnacle of PWB's planning phase culminates in the creation of a comprehensive roadmap report. This document encapsulates design and implementation strategies, meticulous risk assessment, consideration of installation alternatives, planning-level cost estimates, and the formulation of a project schedule for seamless SCADA system implementation. The roadmap report is continuously updated as PWB progresses its Smart Utility Plan. Introduction: PWB's SCADA systems have been the backbone of real-time data monitoring, remote control, and data archival, spanning both water distribution and treatment facilities. With the impending addition of the Filtration Facility in 2027, the opportunity to unify PWB's SCADA systems presents itself. A critical aspect of this transformation is the evaluation of the Human-Machine Interface (HMI) platform and associated technologies to meet the evolving needs of the Smart Utility program. Objectives: The primary objective of our SCADA System Roadmap is to navigate the modernization of PWB's automation systems, ensuring alignment with the Smart Utility program's requirements. Furthermore, this roadmap aims to provide a unified platform for managing both distribution and filtration seamlessly. It identifies gaps between PWB's current-state and desired future-state automation systems, offering invaluable planning-level cost estimates and a well-structured implementation schedule. The roadmap serves as a repository for essential planning elements, including technical memorandums, drawings, conditions surveys, concept designs, and technology selections. This cohesive package establishes the foundation for standards development and project design. In summary, PWB's pursuit of a unified SCADA system represents a seminal step in safeguarding a sustainable supply of clean drinking water for the community. The strategic planning and execution detailed in this abstract underscore the significance of meticulous preparation in the integration of complex technologies and systems.

High hydrogen sulfide (H2S) concentrations are commonly seen in biogas produced from anaerobic digestion process in municipal water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). These H2S concentrations cause the corrosion of concrete and steel, increases biogas conditioning costs, compromises the functions of cogeneration units, and leads to sulfur dioxide emissions. In addition, elevated dissolved sulfide levels in the sludge can inhibit the overall digestion process. Traditional methods of removing the sulfide have relied on chemical dosing into the digesters or biogas scrubbing, both increasing the costs of biogas utilization, often maintenance intensive and can present relatively high environmental impacts. This may lead to other issues including unnecessary adverse odours and less efficient operation of power generating assets. Biotechnologies (i.e. aerobic or anoxic biotrickling filtration) have recently emerged as cost-effective and more environmentally friendly alternatives (Munoz et al. 2015). Nevertheless, these biotechnologies are still limited by their high investment costs and their generated byproducts such as sulfuric acid and/or elemental sulfur slurry that need further processing or disposal (Kraakman et al. 2019). This paper explores the full-scale implementation of a relatively new process called 'micro-aeration' (MA). MA is a process integrated technology that employs a very small amount of air introduced into the anaerobic digester to raise the redox potential to partly oxidize the sulfides to elemental sulfur and remove it from the digester together with the digested sludge. Traditionally, exposure of the anaerobic digestion process to oxygen has been avoided due to its perceived negative effects on growth and activity of obligate anaerobes, especially methanogens. However, in recent years numerous studies have reported the potential beneficial effects on anaerobic digestion in terms of digestion process stability and digested sludge dewaterability when a small volume of air or oxygen is injected into the sludge (Jenicek et al., 2014). The MA process has been shown to reduce H2S in the biogas and sulfides in the waste stream by more than 90% (Ngheim et al., 2014, Jenicek et al., 2017). For this reason, MA has the potential to revolutionise sulfide removal in anaerobic digestion. However, the basic mechanisms involved in micro-aerobic sulfide oxidation are not fully understood and control strategies for MA are still being optimised. Complex biological and chemical interactions occur between sulfur, oxygen, iron, and phosphorus throughout the anaerobic digestion processes, which are well characterized in literature (Batstone, 2006). Despite recent developments in whole plant process simulators (Hauduc et al., 2017), and modifications to the anaerobic digestion model (ADM) (Flores-Alsina et al., 2016), the implications of these interactions, including within the MA context, have not been fully explored. This paper presents an increased understanding of the MA process by specifically reviewing the performance of a full-scale MA application by Sydney Water and by proposing a process model capable of representing the performance observed at full-scale MA and considers biological and chemical interactions. A review of other full-scale MA applications is also presented. METHODOLOGY This investigation comprised the following steps: Literature review of the existing MA process configurations and performance. Including recently reported full-scale pilot testing (Kraakman et al, 2019). Critical review of over three years of process data for a Sydney Water installation including MA conditions, solids and biogas balances and analysis of the sulfur balance around the digestion treatment process. Development of a process model for an existing installation using the SUMO platform with integrated sulfur chemistry. This involved developing an anaerobic digester process unit with capabilities to set up aeration conditions and calculate oxygen transfer for uptake by digester biomass and use in oxidative processes such as sulfide oxidation by Sulfur Oxidizing Organisms (SOOs). Figure 1 shows the Sumo process schematic of the modelled installation. RESULTS Analysis of the process data on the MA trials showed that normal H2S concentrations in the biogas of approx. 1,000 ppmv can be reduced by up to 92%. However, there is a clear trend when studying air flow rates and H2S removals where a normal removal of around 50% was achieved at air flows of 177 NL/m3 reactor volume-day or higher, with a maximum observed oxygen consumption of 6.65%/m. Moreover, increasing the oxygen to sulfide ratio did not necessarily increase H2S removal. Results for biogas H2S removal and impacts on methane content due to the dilution mostly by the nitrogen in the MA air injected are summarized in Table 1. These sulfide removals translate in an increased biogas quality for energy recovery in WRRFs with potential to lower costs of biogas conditioning. In terms of digestion performance, no statistical differences were observed in total solids reduction, biogas production and cake solids achieved when the MA was performed compared. General process model calibration was performed following the International Water Association's Good Modeling Practices Unified Protocol and the SUMO Process Simulator (Dynamita, Lyon, France). Calibration of the sulfur chemistry in the raw sludge and the digesters without MA was first achieved by estimating the particulate fraction in the influent sulfur speciation, and by considering the collection system operation in terms of iron addition, discharge of biological sludge from a neighboring treatment plant, and internal sulfur recirculation from a chemical scrubber targeting H2S. To calibrate the process model, model parameters needed to be adjusted to match the observations from the MA trials. Most critical seems the affinity constants and its related rate of sulfide oxidation in the model compared to default microbial and chemical kinetic parameters when applied to full scale digestor systems. Two sulfide oxidation pathways are identified for oxidation of H2S, one mediated by SOOs and another chemically mediated in the presence of a metal. From literature in the subject, it is still unclear which pathway would dominate, and simulations using the developed model in this project showed that both mechanisms have the potential to yield the oxidation rates needed to match results obtained. Given the research conducted by Van der Zee et. al. (2007), Jensen et. al (2009), and Ruan et. al. (2017), the MA model currently considers the biological oxidation as the most significant mechanisms for sulfide reduction during air injection. A better understanding of the residual iron-ion levels in the digester feed sludge and actual mass of the different sulfur species will be useful to refine the model. CONCLUSION This investigation presented a process model for a better understanding of the sulfur chemistry during the digestion process, with biological oxidation likely to be the most significant mechanisms for sulfide removal during the MA process. MA is a promising technology for sulfide control in anaerobic digesters; this investigation showed that up to 92% H2S removal can be achieved, although the performance to date has been variable for various reasons. Lower H2S level in the biogas decreases biogas treatment cost for energy recovery thus contributing to the economical and sustainable performance of the energy recovery process of waste sludge digestion at wastewater treatment facilities.

INTRODUCTION The heart of any organization's strategy is what it actively chooses to do and not do and how effectively it executes those choices. However, strategic plans often fail because organizations tend to go through the motions of developing the plan simply because common sense says 'every good organization must have a strategic plan', or because the organization doesn't appropriately focus on specific results, has only partial commitment of executives and staff, doesn't have the right people involved in the plan's creation, or has difficulty accepting the change that often results when a strategic plan is implemented. PURPOSE This presentation will showcase the dynamic and long-range strategic planning toolkit and process components that the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) used to explore and prepare for future known and unknown driving forces, adapt to emerging trends in the industry, and leverage innovative scenario planning to prepare for a wide variety of potential futures to remove much of the uncertainty associated with the implementation of typical strategic plans. This has enabled HRSD to continue to deliver the highest level of service to its customers in a flexible and dynamic manner. ORGANIZATIONAL ASSESSMENT Methodologies for conducting an organizational PESTEL assessment, to evaluate HRSD's current internal and external environmental drivers, will be shared. PESTEL is a strategic framework that breaks down opportunities and risks into Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal factors (see Figures 1 and 2) and can be an effective framework to prioritize and organize corporate initiatives and strategic actions. SCENARIO PLANNING HRSD used Scenario Planning to examine external forces that can impact the way it may need to operate in the future, determining the external drivers of change that may be difficult to predict (but that should be incorporated into the strategic planning effort) and developing strategies and actions that benefit HRSD and its stakeholders under a variety of potential futures. Scenario planning is a disciplined way of describing uncertainties and anticipating a wide range of future outcomes and making choices today that best position HRSD for those outcomes. Figure 3 presents HRSD's Scenario Planning Process. From the results of the PESTEL assessment, HRSD identified its primary drivers of uncertainty and identified Regulations and Community Perception as the two drivers that were most uncertain relative to HRSD's future, and also the two that had the largest potential impact to HRSD's future operations (see Figure 4). Once these primary drivers of uncertainty were identified, HRSD plotted them in a scenario matrix, named each scenario (see Figure 5) and worked to describe each of the four resulting scenarios (see Figure 6). These scenarios were then used to guide the development of Strategies and Actions that would most appropriately position HRSD for an uncertain future. Those Strategies and Actions that were identified to be appropriate in all four potential operating scenarios were deemed as 'Must-Do's', as they would work to strengthen HRSD's position in any of the four potential operating futures. Those that were identified in two or three of the four scenarios were also reviewed, validated, and prioritized before adoption into the Plan to ensure alignment with the developed Goal Areas and key Objectives. IMPLEMENTATION HRSD successfully unveiled its completed Strategic Plan in March 2023 at an internal 'HRSD Live' Conference. The first of its kind at HRSD, the conference consisted of 54 staff presentations across several concurrent sessions with attendance by over 75% of the organization. The review of the completed Strategic Plan was the highlight of the keynote address provided by HRSD's General Manager. As the success of HRSD's Strategic Plan will ultimately be determined by the HRSD employees required to implement the Plan, a proactive change control strategy was developed to get staff at all levels of the organization involved in the planning process at the appropriate points and levels of development, to accept the changes that will be brought about by the new Plan, and to implement strategies to remove barriers to the Plan's acceptance. To that end, HRSD created a detailed implementation roadmap for each of the Plan's Actions, including identifying all necessary steps, deliverables, deadlines, budget, and Action owners, along with targeting an 18-month timeframe for the completion of each of the Plan's Actions. This helps to ensure that individual accountability is inherent in the Plan, and that it is revisited every 18-24 months to validate Action progress and completion, develop new Actions for each Objective (as necessary), and track implementation progress and success. Finally, to ensure that its new Strategic Plan becomes a 'living plan' to help drive its activities and budget for the next decade and well into the future, HRSD developed its Plan in a digital/dynamic format (using Microsoft PowerBI), so it could remain current, be accessible to staff across the organization, and stay attuned to HRSD's changing needs throughout implementation.

Carbon and glass fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) have been used for infrastructure for more than three decades, and applications in pipeline rehabilitation has gained momentum in recent years. The advantages these systems can provide include high strength, light weight, and ability to be installed on essentially any type of pipe material, size, and geometry. The common practice for an FRP system design entails accounting for carbon layers only. While carbon fiber is extremely strong in tension (200,000 psi ultimate tensile strength and above), it is not as strong in compression (typically about 50 percent of tensile strength or less). As such, if the external loads on a pipe is significant, such as deeper gravity sewers, then a stand-alone design CFRP system will result in too many layers of carbon with a price greater than other alternatives by multiple folds. This has been the primary reason for FRP systems not being able to find many applications in the wastewater and stormwater infrastructure rehabilitation. This is changing with latest advents in the FRP industry. One such example is sandwich structure system developed by QuakeWrap based on one of the co-authors' (Dr. Mo Ehsani) idea of utilizing the I-beam concept for the FRP liner profile to increase ring stiffness without using excessive layers of carbon fiber laminae. This concept was developed into a pipe (StifPipe®) and has been used in a number of applications over the years. The first tier StifPipe® applications were made using a 'mini I-beam' fabric sandwiched between glass and carbon fiber polymer layers. Then after much testing and evaluation, the manufacturer (QuakeWrap) moved onto a proprietary 3D fabric that has the capability to absorb more epoxy resin, thereby giving it more ring stiffness without a significant increase in weight. The first installation of StifPipe® with the sliplining method dates back to 2012 for a 48-inch wastewater pump station discharge line in Avalon, California. The outside diameter (OD) of the StifPipe® segments used was 47-inches and the one-inch annular space was filled with non-shrink grout. This first installation was followed by multiple other sliplining applications mostly in stormwater lines and culverts up to 70-inches of diameter. In 2018, QuakeWrap started entertaining the idea of building a StifPipe® inside a pipe as cured-in-place installation. In other words, this would be applying the conventional FRP installation technique (wet layup) with the resin rich 3D core fabric. Upon a couple of successful mock installations at QuakeWrap's R&D facility, the first project with the wet layup was carried out in New Jersey (for Middlesex County) to repair a 66-inch storm sewer pipe. The installation went smoothly and QuakeWrap has completed several projects ever since with this method including a 12-ft diameter, 100-120 ft. deep stormwater tunnel under I-35 in Minneapolis, Minnesota (see the image below). The latter case required a 1.47-inch thick StifPipe™, which is designed to withstand the entire soil and groundwater pressure at that depth. FRP systems' high stiffness, hence low thickness along with their smooth surface (Manning's n between 0.009 and 0.010), often results in improved hydraulic capacity in a sewer line after lining. A typical StifPipe® has a pipe stiffness (PS) value of 75 and weighs about a tenth and fifth of concrete and centrifugally cast glass fiber reinforced pipe (CCGFRP) of equivalent strength, respectively. This enables installation of StifPipe® without any jacking equipment for diameters up to 72-inch. Design considerations include factoring in any excessive axial forces, which could require additional layers to prevent axial buckling in a pipe that is otherwise has a small wall thickness to withstand external and internal pressure (for force mains and surcharge conditions). The main installation challenge for the wet layup installation of StifPipe® is making sure the surface prep is done properly. This applies to all types of FRP installation; nevertheless, a unique challenge for StifPipe® is making sure the thick and heavy 3D core layer is saturated with epoxy completely and applied properly on the preceding layer. There is no saturating machine produced for this type of thick fabric; and therefore, the current practice is infusing the resin with ribbed rollers. Quality assurance is performed by weighing the saturated fabric. FRP systems are continuing to provide a viable alternative for pipeline rehabilitation, and the use of FRP systems for particularly large diameter pipelines is growing. Nevertheless, better design practices and education of the end users are needed to get the best out of these high-tech materials in achieving cost competitiveness. With such design practices it is fair to assume that the use of these materials will also grow in the gravity flow pipe systems (mainly storm and sanitary sewers) given the advantages they provide such as high strength, minimal thickness, smooth surface, and ability to accommodate any geometry. Right design and installation practices will enable engineers and owners to enjoy the great benefits of these materials to maximum extent. This presentation will present design and installation practices for composite, as well as proprietary, FRP systems used for sewer rehabilitation. The presenter will also provide insight into NASSCO's Guideline Specification for sewer rehabilitation with FRP, which was published recently. (https://www.nassco.org/resources/guideline-specs).

Summary This paper will share the progressive evaluation and selection of a thermal drying technology for application at the Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities Department (ACCPUD) North Oconee Water Reclamation Facility (NOWRF). The progressive evaluation and selection process was conducted in multiple phases and included: - Confirmation of Sizing Criteria - Evaluation of the 'World of Options' for Thermal Dryers - Screened Technology Assessment Site Visits - Technology Type Selection and Competitive Pre-Procurement Process - Detailed Design and Bidding This paper and presentation will share the progressive process utilized by ACCPUD for the selection of a dryer technology and a technology provider using a combination of cost and non-cost evaluation factors in a multi-criteria procurement process. Confirmation of Sizing Criteria The current plant is permitted for a 14-MGD capacity and uses an advanced activated sludge process for treatment coupled with high solids centrifuge dewatering to produce a cake for landfill disposal. Future plans are to expand the plant by adding primary treatment and anaerobic digestion. Dryer sizing was confirmed against current and future residuals production rate scenarios and a design evaporation of of 4,500 lb-water per hour was selected. Evaluation of the 'World of Options' for Thermal Dryers The first phase assessment included a preliminary screening of the following thermal dryer technologies for possible application of at NOWRF: - Belt Dryers, - Rotary Drum Dryers, - Indirect Paddle Dryers; and - Fluid Bed Dryers Based on the preliminary screening of technologies the belt dryers and indirect paddle dryer technologies were selected for additional screening assessment. Screened Technology Assessment Site Visits Following the preliminary screening site visits were arranged for plant operating and maintenance staff to visit operating installations of the belt and paddle dryer technologies. Site visits were conducted in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Tennessee to view operating installations and have discussions with facility operators. Results of these site visits will be summarized in the paper and presentation. Technology Type Selection and Competitive Pre-Procurement Process Following the site visits and discussions with facility operators of belt and paddle dryers ACCPUD operations and maintenance staff selected the indirect paddle dryer technology as the most appropriate technology for application at the NOWRF. Based on the preliminary screening of technology suppliers a competitive procurement process was designed that would consider both cost and non-cost factors in the final selection of a technology vendor. The competitive procurement was conducted between the Komline-Sanderson Paddle Dryer and the Andritz-Gouda Paddle Dryer systems based on development of a detailed technical specification describing the system and the minimum required system elements coupled with a preliminary general arrangement drawing for location of the facility on the plant site and integration with the existing dewatering system. The competitive procurement scoring allocated 25% of the scoring points to cost factors and 75% of the scoring points to non-cost factors. Cost based scoring criteria considered the following: (1) equipment capital costs, (2) estimated building costs to house the equipment, and (3) system operating and maintenance costs based on power consumption and thermal energy efficiency of the dryer system. The non-cost factors were allocated to the following major criteria: (1) manufacturer experience; (2) operability and maintainability; (3) air permitting and air emissions rates; and (4) process safety. The paper and presentation will share the results of the cost and non-cost scoring for the selection of the technology supplier. Detailed Design and Bidding Following selection of the technology supplier detailed design activities were initiated for the project. Preliminary design activities included sending a large sample (~ 15 cubic feet) of dewatered cake to the selected technology supplier to test in their pilot plant to confirm heat transfer coefficients and the minimum ignition temperature (MIT) for the paddle dryer. The sludge-specific heat transfer coefficient was utilized to confirm adequacy of the proposed heat transfer surface area. The minimum ignition temperature was used to confirm the paddle dryer thermal oil operating temperature. Results of the pilot testing will be shared in the paper and presentation. Detailed design has progressed through the 'bid ready' stage and the project has been bid and will begin construction in late 2021 / early 2022.

Regional flooding has been controlled within the Coachella Valley in Southern California since 1915, with existing facilities built or improved in the 1970s following severe floods. The Coachella Valley Water District provides stormwater protection for a 590 square mile area within the valley by using approximately 135 miles of channels along with a number of dikes and retention basins that can convey approximately 80,000 cubic feet per second of flow from the surrounding mountains into the Whitewater River. In 2017, the District partnered with Black & Veatch to launch an extensive asset inventory and support implementation of their asset management system. This presentation will show how the rapid growth of CVWD's asset management system has benefited their stormwater management program by: 1) Showing the importance of data structuring and establishing a data collection protocol for a successful asset management program. 2) Engaging stakeholders across their business to create an expansive and robust registry which supports current and future programs. 3) Providing data to justify capital improvements and preventative maintenance decisions; shifting away from reactive maintenance and developing defendable investment prioritization. The Project has completed a field-based inventory, baseline full-system condition assessment, development of risk-based prioritization criteria, and mapping business processes. The stormwater assets were collected over a 4-week field effort with zero injuries. To execute these efforts, Black & Veatch leveraged an off-the-shelf ESRI product tailored so the final asset inventory seamlessly integrated with the District's CMMS software. CVWD staff were involved in each step of the project, helping structure data hierarchies and dictionaries, collecting field data, and incorporating institutional knowledge into business process mapping and prioritization criteria development. Data management was key as the final inventory contained over 80,000 data points including sub-meter accuracy GPS coordinates, field documented asset specifications, over 1,500 photographs, opinions of replacement costs, and baseline likelihood of failure and consequence of failure criteria. Post collection, the District's forces now have verified asset locations and attributes that provide reliability to day to day efforts. Scalability was built into the implementation to support on-going and future development of the asset management system.

Our presentation will summarize the importance of incorporating resiliency and condition assessment into regional wastewater master planning to develop a balanced long-term capital improvement plan. The plan addresses traditional master planning considerations such as growth, hydraulic capacity and level of service, but also addresses asset condition, remaining useful life of critical assets, and system resiliency. Broward County Water and Wastewater Services provides drinking water for 59,000 customers while serving as a regional wastewater authority for over 600,000 residents in South Florida, with treatment at its North Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. The plant and the regional transmission system are presented in Figure 1. The regional system is a pressurized transmission system receiving wastewater from both local systems and large wholesale customers, with eleven master pump stations that serve multiple gravity collection systems. The root need for the master plan is to address the aging infrastructure in the regional system and ensure reliable service for both the local and wholesale customers. While traditional master planning activity including hydraulic modeling and capacity assessment were performed, the traditional evaluation was augmented by the following modern master planning activities:
1. Condition assessment of the eleven master pump stations was performed for individual architectural, structural, building mechanical, process mechanical, and instrumentation and control assets. Figure 2 presents the asset score for one of the pump stations, with lower scores assigned to better asset conditions. As shown in the figure, the pump station was evaluated on nearly eighty individual assets to develop specific recommendations for each key asset in the station.
2. The hydraulic capacity assessment included a system resiliency evaluation to determine which branches of the transmission system have adequate redundancy in the event of a main break, and which branches can be more reliably served with a parallel relief main. In the example presented in Figure 3, a transmission main break downstream of four master pump stations can be mitigated by a regional relief main to the east. The evaluation determined that the majority of the central system has adequate redundancy to maintain service in the event of a break, following the installation of isolation valves to route the flow to the Northwest plant via one of the looped mains.
3. Transient modeling was performed to identify potential hydraulic issues from a sudden shutdown of a master pump station. In the example presented in Figure 4, the addition of a combination air and vacuum valve can mitigate the potential for vacuum conditions in the transmission mains following the sudden shutdown of the pump station.

From the elements of the planning process, a capital improvement plan that addresses hydraulic capacity, transient mitigation, asset condition, and resiliency was developed for the County's long-term implementation. By addressing each of these elements together, the plan is holistic and adaptable as the County moves forward. At the time of this abstract, the condition assessment, hydraulic modeling, transient modeling, resiliency analysis, and capital improvement plan development are final and complete. The overall master plan will be complete by November 2020. Our presentation will benefit any wastewater utility that is in the master planning process or considering developing or updating their master plan. While the case study is applicable to any wastewater utility, there will be additional benefits to any utility that operates regional transmission mains or manifold force mains with multiple pump station inputs.

This paper will present a project in Novi, MI where 300 feet of 10-inch sanitary sewer was installed over a Peat and Marl Zone using a trenchless stabilization process and the pilot tube method of guided boring (PTM). The study is a comparison between the originally designed 'open excavation' project and the value engineered project using PTM and grout injection for the Grand River Road project (adjacent to two busy thoroughfares and a Cadillac Dealership). In 1996, the City of Novi, permitted development of a 10-acre parcel which included a sanitary sewer line that was added to their existing collection system. Located in Oakland County, this installation was originally constructed using PVC Truss Pipe at cover depths ranging from 10 to 12 feet. Below the pipe, the soil consistency was layers of peat and marl. In 2006, the site was redeveloped with an additional 10-foot of fill added to the area above the sanitary sewer line. This surcharge load affected the flexible pipe / soil structure as well as the peat / marl foundation below the pipe zone; the result was a failed pipeline. A new sanitary sewer line was proposed, designed, and bid as a conventional open trench excavation with 'over-excavation' of the marl zone. Soil borings indicated the existence of a peat/marl zone within the sewer elevation (on the west end) and below that, was a 5-foot layer peat zone above a 7-foot layer of marl. Moving to the east, the marl zone was just 2 foot below the sewer invert. The initial bid design required over-excavation of the peat and marl, the addition of a geotextile wrap, and 1-3 inches of backfill with crushed stone. This foundation improvement was required for pipeline support using conventional open-trench installation methods. This paper outlines the soil stabilization and installation method of PTM used to replace the sanitary sewer. The project was originally specified conventional open-excavation and the Contractor value engineered the project using grout injection and then used Pilot Tube Method of Guided Boring install the sanitary pipe.

In Indianapolis, Indiana a developed neighborhood was seeing localized flooding during smaller rain events. When the neighborhood was built in the 1960's, almost no storm water infrastructure was built as the neighborhood was established. HNTB Corporation was selected to help the Indianapolis Department of Public Works(DPW) solve the neighborhood's drainage issues. At the start of the project, the goal was to improve the neighborhood drainage, introduce green infrastructure where feasible and provide a lasting solution. This presentation will focus on how the project came together, starting with the planning phases of the project. The presentation will focus on the collaborative effort to develop multiple alternatives and work with stakeholder groups to develop a preliminary solutions. As the presentation continues, we will discuss how we transitioned from planning to design. As we shift to the design portion, we will continue to focus on the collaborative process developed to ensure that all stakeholders were happy with the final product. As we start the design portion of the project, we will talk about the community involvement, design issues encountered, and schedule that resulted in the final product. While working through the design, the DPW reinforced its desire to include green infrastructure where feasible. We will step through the design process of including permeable pavers, rain gardens and other aspects of green infrastructure into the project along with the calculations involved to ensure that Indianapolis Standards were met. We will also discuss the areas where green infrastructure was not feasible and talk about why those options were not feasible. In the last phase of the presentation, we will discuss issues that came up during construction of the project and how those issues were resolved during construction. We will focus again on how the team worked collaboratively to ensure a final product. We will talk about some of the challenges faced and highlight how the project was finished. We will walk through how the project team was able to accomplish the initial goals of the project and provide a long-lasting, sustainable solution to the neighborhood's flooding problems.

Decentralized stormwater reuse is emerging as a sustainable approach to mitigate urban runoff issues while promoting resource efficiency. This abstract highlights the benefits of such a decentralized system, exemplified by the Arbor House Affordable Housing complex project in the Bronx. The Arbor House project successfully deployed a real-time stormwater management solution to address the challenge of combined sewer overflow (CSO) in New York City. By capturing and storing rainwater in cisterns, the system optimizes water use for rooftop urban agriculture and minimizes untreated wastewater discharges into local waterways. Key advantages of decentralized stormwater reuse, as demonstrated by this project, include: Reducing CSO Impact: Decentralized systems like the one at Arbor House significantly reduce CSO discharges by retaining and reusing rainwater. This proactive approach aligns with sustainability goals and helps protect aquatic ecosystems. Maximizing Resource Efficiency: The captured rainwater serves as a valuable resource for irrigation, reducing reliance on potable water sources and conserving this precious resource for essential needs. Environmental Compliance: The project's monitoring and reporting capabilities ensure compliance with environmental regulations, facilitating transparency and accountability in stormwater management. Community Benefits: Decentralized stormwater reuse projects often have the added benefit of enhancing community well-being. In Arbor House, the reclaimed water supports urban agriculture, contributing to local food production and quality of life. Scalability and Adaptability: Decentralized systems are versatile and can be scaled to suit the needs of various developments, making them a flexible solution for urban areas facing runoff challenges. Decentralized stormwater reuse, as demonstrated by this project, offers a sustainable solution to urban runoff challenges. It reduces CSO impact, optimizes resource efficiency, ensures environmental compliance, enhances community well-being with urban agriculture, and provides scalability for diverse urban environments. This approach sets a sustainable precedent for global urban water management. The Arbor House Affordable Housing complex project goes beyond stormwater management; it actively addresses equity and inclusion by providing affordable housing, supporting urban agriculture, creating jobs, mitigating environmental challenges, engaging the community, and promoting sustainable practices. These efforts contribute to a more equitable and inclusive urban environment. The Arbor House project exemplifies the transformative potential of decentralized stormwater reuse, offering a sustainable blueprint for urban water management. As cities worldwide grapple with stormwater issues and water scarcity, this approach showcases the feasibility and benefits of implementing decentralized systems to achieve water resilience and environmental stewardship. Learning Objectives: 1. Explore the concept of decentralized stormwater reuse and its significance in addressing urban runoff challenges and promoting resource efficiency. 2. Examine the project as a real-world example of successful stormwater reuse, focusing on its key benefits and impact on sustainability. Recognize the role of decentralized stormwater reuse in enhancing community well-being, promoting urban agriculture, and creating opportunities for local residents. 3. Assess the versatility of decentralized systems and their potential applicability in various urban settings, emphasizing their flexibility and adaptability. 4. Consider the broader implications of decentralized stormwater reuse as a sustainable solution with global relevance for urban water management and environmental stewardship.

Purpose: This is a case study of a sewer replacement that transformed into a strategic development initiative to enhance the image, character, and economic vitality of an urban center. Benefits of this Presentation: This presentation will benefit our industry by outlining the integrated approach to planning, building, and funding that made this complex project possible. It will present the challenges and the keys to success. Successful integrated infrastructure projects like this provide value to our industry by enhancing public perception of large-scale sewer work. Above-ground improvements offer citizens a solution they can see and touch while upgrading buried utilities they might not otherwise recognize as needing repair. Status of Completion: The construction was completed in 2018.

Abstract: The Downtown Renovation Phase 1 Project, aptly named 'ReNewark', began as an investment to replace aging sewers and meet EPA requirements in Newark, Ohio. The project was in the heart of a historic downtown square anchored by the Licking County Courthouse. This was a main trunk combined sewer - 48-inches in diameter and 15 feet deep. The primary goal was separation of this 130-year-old brick pipe to reduce overflows and reduce the risk of it collapsing. Since the sewer work was unavoidable, Newark leveraged the opportunity to also enhance the above-ground infrastructure. An integrated approach transformed this utility upgrade into a community redevelopment strategy. Multiple disciplines were engaged to separate the combined sewer, simplify the water piping, reconfigure traffic patterns, and add green infrastructure and pedestrian-friendly features. A multi-disciplinary funding solution was also devised which offset costs for each component of the project. One of the keys to getting this sewer project off the ground was leveraging a green infrastructure loan to pay for bioswales and a portion of the stormwater system. This ambitious sewer separation would not have happened without various entities collaborating to fund the work. Engagement with the public included extensive outreach to build consensus among citizens and the local business community. It happened informally while surveying the buildings as well as during structured events. Eight stakeholder meetings and three public meetings were held over a six-month period. They were attended by more than 500 residents who contributed their ideas to the future of Downtown Newark. The results were clear. The walkable character of the downtown was identified as a critical component for the ongoing viability of local businesses. The site investigations started with dye testing on more than 130 service laterals using remote-operated vehicle camera equipment. Arcadis also entered 90 businesses and residences to survey the existing utilities and perform a structural evaluation of the basements. A portion of the basement in many of the buildings extended beyond the exterior face of the building underneath the sidewalks. They were originally used as access points for coal or other supplies and some are still in use today. Other investigations included flow monitoring, hydraulic modeling, surveying, buried utility mapping with ground-penetrating radar, and geotechnical and archaeological investigations. Where possible, combined sewage inputs within the project area were separated. This diverts stormwater inputs away from the combined sewer and reduces overflows. The sewers were replaced with fiberglass-reinforced polymer mortar pipe with open-trench construction. The selection of this pipe material over a more traditional material like concrete allowed for faster construction in this busy downtown area. The water distribution system was simplified with dual pipes consolidated to a single 12-inch diameter ductile iron pipe. The design team set forth to improve the traffic pattern rather than replace roads in-kind after the sewer construction. The intersections surrounding the Courthouse Square were changed to mini roundabouts. The roundabouts achieved safer and easier pedestrian and vehicular traffic, improved urban aesthetic, and conversion of the traffic around the Courthouse Square from one-way to two-way streets. This provided easier access to downtown businesses. Roads were narrowed and sidewalks widened. More than twenty feet of total sidewalk width was added in some areas, creating outdoor space for events, dining, and retail. Green infrastructure improvements included 35,000 square feet of low-maintenance plantings, more than 130 shade trees, and 12,000 square feet of rain gardens and bioswales that flow into the new storm trunk sewer. The construction occurred in 13 phases over three years. Flexibility during construction was fundamental to maintaining utility and traffic continuity and keeping the downtown functioning. Bypasses of sewage flows and traffic maintenance plans were tailored for each phase to ensure minimal interruptions to the public. A project website www.wedignewark.com was created to keep the community in-the-know. Informational videos were created to promote key milestones, share progress updates, and educate the public on unique elements of the project including the benefits of bioswales and the efficiency of roundabouts. The public could see the results as the project progressed. This engagement during construction was key to getting public buy-in and cooperation. Since the construction commenced in 2014, Newark's urban center has experienced tremendous gains in population, jobs, downtown living, and economic growth. The $25M investment resulted in more than $60M in new private investment that transformed the Courthouse Square into a thriving district. The downtown was reborn with a pedestrian-oriented landscape and a safer, more efficient traffic pattern. It has become a source of community pride, energy, and revenue. The area has seen more than 100 built and planned downtown residential units, dozens of new businesses, and creation of the community-centric Canal Market District. Conclusion: An integrated approach to design and funding can move a large sewer project forward and yield economic benefits. Newark implemented this methodology and realized the benefits of enhanced traffic patterns, pedestrian safety, and stormwater quality. In addition to addressing an EPA mandate to reduce combined sewer overflows, the change to the aesthetic landscape has brought real value to the city and surrounding region.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus can be shed in the feces of persons infected with COVID-19. As a result, sewer surveillance can be used to identify the presence of COVID-19 infections in a particular sewershed. This study involved monitoring SARS-CoV-2 at strategic locations within a sewershed serving about 600,000 customers in Washington County, Oregon. Sampling was conducted at the four wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and at 25 manhole locations within this sewershed from spring 2020 to fall 2021. Samples were concentrated using electronegative filtration and analyzed using a ddPCR system. The 25 manholes were chosen to represent a range of characteristics in their micro-sewersheds including varying numbers of medical centers, industrial sectors, and residential demographics. The reported cases of COVID-19 from the Oregon Health Authority (by zip codes and outbreaks) were correlated with the wastewater virus concentrations. The virus concentrations in the influent to each of the four treatment plants correlated well with the reported COVID-19 cases in Washington County. All four treatment plants showed similar trends of a moderate peak of virus concentrations in summer 2020, followed by dramatic peaks over the holiday season and late summer and fall of 2021. SARS-CoV-2 concentrations at WWTPs appeared to be a leading indicator, with increases in wastewater observed two to three weeks before cases rose (Figure 1). At the manhole sites monitored during summer 2020, the frequency of high positive measurements was highest for several food-processing industrial sites where known outbreaks occurred. During the outbreaks, the virus concentrations in wastewater closely correlated with reported COVID-19 cases at the facilities. Sites with the highest virus concentrations also tended to occur in the zip codes with the highest prevalence of COVID-19. The demographics of residential areas have been shown to affect COVID-19 case prevalence, and a similar trend was also observed in virus concentrations in wastewater. Specifically, neighborhoods with high LatinX and high poverty populations also had higher SARS-CoV-2 concentrations. There was a surprising lack of detectable SARS-CoV-2 in the effluents of hospitals and health centers, even with a known presence of COVID-19 patients. The number of COVID-19 cases relative to the total number of patients in the hospital should have produced a clear signal, given previous positive signals detected from whole neighborhoods and industries with only a few documented cases. Quarternary ammonium compounds (QAC) disinfectants are commonly used to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces in hospitals, and they are known to destroy DNA and RNA. These disinfectants may be entering the hospital wastewater via routine disinfection procedures and degrading the SARS-CoV-2 signal, leading to concentrations below the detection limit. Experiments conducted with a QAC disinfectant used in the hospitals in this study showed that there was nearly total decay in the RNA targets at 0.1% concentration, equivalent to 0.128 ounces of disinfectant per gallon of wastewater. It is feasible that disinfectants in the hospital environments are entering the wastewater at concentrations at or above this level and damaging the RNA, thus making it undetectable with the current analytical method. This surprising finding has serious implications for WBE monitoring at and downstream of hospitals and health centers. WWTP influent samples with at least 10,000 N gene copies per liter were also sequenced to determine the SARS-CoV-2 variants present in the samples. Each surge in reported cases corresponded to the dominance of a new variant, and several region-specific sub-variants were identified. The most recent surge in cases during summer and early fall 2021 was associated with the near-total dominance of the Delta variant and its sub-variants. Interestingly, wastewater concentrations during the Delta surge were much higher per reported case than during previous surges, which corresponds to the known increase in viral load in patients infected with the Delta variant. This study has demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 can be successfully quantified at the micro-sewershed level by selection of appropriate key manholes and used as a surrogate or supplement to swab testing. Such a micro-sewershed approach can be used to identify hot spots of high infections such as industrial facilities and can correlate wastewater concentrations of the virus with community characteristics such as income levels. Such data may prove to be useful to the health care community to determine areas for increased testing or outreach and can be used to optimize data collection and reduce costs.