Results

Climate change and escalation in the severity of storms, the need to reduce the carbon footprint of truck operations and chemical use, and the labor shortages due to the aging workforce have compelled utilities to engage smart sewer technology to gain the advantage of having 24/7/365 'eyes and ears' of their collection systems. From the arid desert to coastal communities, smart sewer technology has saved municipalities hundreds of thousands of dollars and protected public health by pinpointing I&I issues, preventing SSO's and reducing cleaning costs related to H2S and FOG. To better understand the operation of existing collection system infrastructure, minimize costs, and target high risk areas, many utilities have leveraged innovative real-time monitoring technology. Attendees will learn how three (3) different utilities utilize the multipurpose capabilities of smart sewer technology to combat issues within their collection systems, in turn, optimizing resources, protecting public health, and preserving utility assets. Multiple Uses for Multiple Utilities Many collection systems adhere to the EPA's comprehensive capacity assurance, management, operations and maintenance (CMOM) programs to prevent CSOs and SSOs. Such measures include backup pumps, frequent cleaning in high-risk areas, capital projects and flow reduction measures that maintain the pipes at their design capacity. While effective, these programs often don't allow utility staff to be proactive in the face of rapidly evolving events. To provide that next level of understanding, control and response, the San Antonio Water System (SAWS), Charlotte Water, and KC Water looked to smart sewer technology to gain real-time visibility into the status of their underground infrastructure. Each utility used the same instant infrastructure to combat different issues within their collection system, showcasing the multipurpose capabilities of this technology. SAWS wanted to reduce H2S and optimize their cleaning; Charlotte Water needed to reduce SSO's; and KC Water is looking to both real time control and optimizing cleaning. The backbone of these utilities' technology deployment is instrumentation and data analytics provided by SmartCover Systems. SmartCover provides real-time sewer level and trend analysis information to a centralized, online dashboard and mobile app. Designed with the unique challenges of a collection system in mind, the technology transmits data from a sensor in the manhole to a satellite network to relay reliable sewer information throughout all conditions, including intense wet weather events like Category 3 hurricanes. The patented sensors are purpose-built to withstand the harsh conditions in sewer systems and can be installed and serviced without confined space entry. SmartCover provided each utility with an event management platform with localized weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to rapidly respond to issues before they become environmental, public health and financial emergencies. This system architecture has revolutionized the utility's response, allowing changes in conditions to be monitored in real-time, while reducing the uncertainty around the conditions in the network. Knowing the level trends in the sewers has helped the utilities schedule maintenance when and where it is needed most, been critical in preventing overflow events. Charlotte Water Challenge: Charlotte Water, the largest water and wastewater utility provider in the Carolinas, received an Administrative Order from the US EPA mandating the reduction of sewer overflows occurring throughout the system. Near the beginning of the order, SSO's numbered 419 for FY2007 corresponding to 10.8 overflows per 100 miles of pipe. To combat the overflows, Charlotte Water initiated massive rehabilitation and relief sewer projects. The completion of these projects and the release from the Administrative Order in 2012 caused a shift to a broader condition assessment and operations-based approach. Charlotte Water looked for a more automated way to proactively monitor hotspots in the system in order to preserve the utility's assets and resources. Solution: Charlotte Water deployed SmartCover's real-time satellite sewer monitoring technology in targeted creek basin hotspots to prevent SSO's, reduce I&I in the system and drive cleaning schedules. Results: Through the evolution of their team and program to include smart sewer technology, Charlotte Water has reduced the number of SSOs by nearly 70% through FY2022. The real-time alarms prevented 33 SSO's in FY2022 and 16, so far, in FY2023, preserving public health, the environment, utility assets and resources. San Antonio Water System (SAWS) Challenge: SAWS, the fifth largest collection systems in North America, received an EPA Consent Decree with an estimated cost of $1.2 billion. In response, SAWS adopted the EPA's CMOM guidelines and instituted high frequency cleaning (HFC) for their pipeline segments. SAWS established a program of cleaning high risk pipes with potential for overflows, and instituted routine cleanings at monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual frequencies, identifying 200 high risk sites for regular monthly cleanings whether the pipes needed cleaning or not. Solution: SAWS deployed SmartCover sensors to collect real-time sewer data which helped them transition from a routine, calendar-based cleaning system, to a prescriptive 'as needed' cleaning program when the data notified them of a potential blockage. Results: SAWS was able to reduce their collection system cleaning by 95% with ZERO SSO incidence and 216 SSO 'saves.' Nearly 1,300 cleanings were scheduled, but only 65 cleanings were identified and performed. This saved the utility an estimated $1 million in savings. This reduction in routine cleaning led to reduced wear and tear on pipes and preserved operators time and resources which could be allocated to other activities. KC Water Challenge: In 2010, a federal judge signed an EPA Consent Decree requiring KC Water to reduce the volume and frequency of wet weather sewer overflows into local creeks, streams, and rivers. Originally planned as a 25-year, $4.7 billion program, the Consent Decree is in its Third Amended stage to address the significant burden on ratepayers to fund federally mandated infrastructure improvements. The Third Amended Consent Decree has provided opportunities for KC Water to shift priorities to take advantage of newer technologies and practices. Solution: KC Water implemented a Smart Sewer program to ensure that their sewer system continues to work reliably and effectively. The Smart Sewer program uses strategic, data-driven solutions and innovative overflow control technologies to ensure infrastructure improvements and investments will last for generations. The smart solutions capitalize on enhanced sewer system asset condition and performance data and innovative technologies to minimize cost and maximize benefits. Results: KC Water has deployed a combination of technologies to monitor and assess system performance, predict sewer overflows under a wide variety of weather conditions, prioritize improvements, and reduce risk. These technologies enable KC Water to determine the performance and condition of their sewer system and support the prioritization of system improvements to prevent sewer overflows and disruptions in service. Conclusion Each utility will share their success in leveraging Smart Sewer technology to address infrastructure needs.

The well-worn saying 'the solution to pollution is dilution' has been thrown out for years as the approach to minimize and control air and odor pollutants through the use of stacks and vents. And while there is validity in diluting the strength of exhaust gases with ambient air, how successful that dilution is, along with how effective it is at reducing the impact of those odors and gases on the surroundings depends on a number of parameters that should be considered when designing exhaust systems. This is especially true for wastewater and collection processes, which due to the character of their exhausts, and their typical placement within the communities they serve, have the genuine potential to effect the quality of life and health in those communities. This paper will discuss the factors that affect the dispersion and dilution of exhaust gases from wastewater processes, and the methods used to determine the most effective odor exhaust design. These parameters include not only the strength and volume of odorous emissions, but also the size of the structures enclosing the processes and the proximity of surrounding buildings to the process systems (for downwash and reentry consideration), local meteorology (for the effects of wind direction, speed, and stability), the location of nearby sensitive receptors (residential areas, schools, parks, hospitals) and nearby terrain features to assess the potential for high impacts. The paper will discuss the relevant effects that each of these factors has on the dispersion and dilution of odor, and also the techniques that can be used to assist in selecting the best options for facilities that take these factors into account. Frequently, considerations other than the potential for high impacts result in stack designs that can actually lead to higher offsite (and onsite) impacts. When stack design is selectively based on operational concerns about drainage during heavy rainfall events with a rain cap, for example, it can result in the need for expensive redesign. The paper will provide real world examples of such designs, and their negative effects on the goal of dispersing odors. Also described are alternative designs and the odor dispersion modeling methods that can be used to determine the optimal design for exhaust systems. The paper will discuss: the principles important to designing appropriate exhaust systems at wastewater and collection facilities in order to prevent high odor impacts, how to evaluate the effectiveness of a proposed exhaust design using odor dispersion modeling, and how that modeling can be used not only to assist with design, but also with community outreach, and with regulatory compliance and permitting requirements. Odor dispersion modeling of real-world examples of factors relevant to effective dilution and dispersion in the design of process exhaust systems at wastewater and collection facilities will be shown to provide an important and cost-effective method for the design of exhaust stacks and vents.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in widespread illness, taken the lives of nearly five million people worldwide, and caused many other disruptions to daily life. The pandemic has also presented several challenges to disease surveillance and epidemiological risk mitigation. Addressing these challenges requires novel decision support methods to satisfy multiple and sometimes competing goals of risk reduction, securing private data, and preserving personal liberties. In this presentation, we will describe our contributions to the development of a SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance monitoring program, subsequent data analyses to interpret results, and modeling to evaluate the predictability of this novel method that emerged during the pandemic. Weekly grab samples of wastewater were initiated in May 2020 for SARS-CoV-2 analysis at four locations. Three of these were on-campus building-level locations, with one off-campus catchment-level location. Preliminary results indicated elevated concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 co-occurring with new outbreaks in the community. As a result, sampling was continued through the Fall semester, expanding the program to monitor four specific residence halls at the building level. In January 2021, sampling was expanded to a total of six residence halls and one off-campus catchment-level location, sampling frequency was increased to twice weekly, and the temporal composition of these samples was modified with the installation of automatic composite samplers. The sampling protocol was again expanded in August 2021 to include a total of 18 composite samples at twice-weekly resolution. This included 15 on-campus locations yielding building-level samples and three off-campus catchment-level locations. Methods to model this type of data to establish public health implications are rapidly developing and have required ongoing research. Some preliminary approaches have been published to correlate wastewater concentrations with COVID-19 cases at the community level from samples taken at wastewater utility plants. These methods allow for a larger population (i.e. those contributing to wastewater) to be analyzed using a single test. Further, this style of testing captures results from communities without differentiating between symptomatic or asymptomatic cases. However, these methods have not been well-established at the building level where factors such as fluid mixing, transit time, sewer geometry, dilution with wastewater streams largely free of viral RNA (e.g. laundry), and more transient populations are assumed to negatively impact the interpretation of results. Additionally, fecal shedding rates SARS-CoV-2 variants are not well-established, potentially calling into question the application of preliminary models based on the original strain of the virus. To support decision-making on campus, we have created a data analysis plan using monitored wastewater concentrations and positive or presumptive cases identified through clinical sampling, screening-based saliva sampling, and contact tracing. Building-level data such as occupancy counts, the percentage of vaccinated residents, and building water use volume are being collected to better support modeling and interpretation of results. Wastewater samples are collected from manholes corresponding to building wastewater discharges, and analyzed for a variety of gene targets from known variants. We will present results of these analyses for data collected during the 2021 calendar year. Several analyses will be presented including (i) cross-correlation between wastewater signal and the number of known or presumptive cases contributing to samples; (ii) a Poisson regression to determine the predictability of the number of infections from wastewater concentrations; and (iii) variable selection to determine factors driving the relationship between case counts and wastewater signal which will best inform deterministic modeling. These results will provide a unique perspective into the challenges and benefits of conducting a wastewater surveillance program at the building-level, and will support future efforts to model case counts from building-level wastewater concentrations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Municipal stormwater permittees in Orange County are implementing watershed management programs to meet MS4 Permit requirements. As part of these programs, Permittees are responsible for inventorying and inspecting private and public stormwater assets as well as reporting on progress toward watershed planning goals and regulatory requirements. To help address these requirements, the Permittees, Geosyntec Consultants, and Sitka Technology Group worked together over the last three years to develop an open-source web platform for stormwater asset management — OC Stormwater Tools (www.ocstormwatertools.org). This platform is intended to help manage and report on existing assets and plan for future assets (Figure 1). The tool caters to many user roles, from field crew to jurisdictional managers, across several modules. The Inventory Module maintains consistent BMP asset inventories across jurisdictions in the County. Geosyntec worked with early adopters to onboard their data and tailor the system to user needs. The Inventory Module supports mobile data entry, rapid condition assessment and maintenance tracking. It also allows users to inventory development sites and associated private BMPs. It now contains over 11,000 structural BMPs across 18 jurisdictions and is growing (Figure 2). The Trash Module supports Permittees in complying with statewide trash requirements. It also supports mobile visual surveys of the effectiveness of measures to reduce trash loading. Based on the inventoried trash BMPs, the tool calculates quantitative progress toward goals (Figures 3 and 4). The Modeling Module calculates the water balance and pollutant load reduction of inventoried BMPs for both dry and wet weather conditions (Figure 5). To do this, it runs algorithms in near-real-time as information about BMPs and their drainage areas is added. This is also supported by GIS resources and geoprocessing services provided by the OC GIS department. Although the network of BMPs in the County is complex, the algorithm recalculates the long-term stormwater capture efficiency, volume reduction, and treatment performance much faster than a continuous-simulation model. This presentation will provide an overview of the tool, key takeaways from the process, and a discussion of how this will support more streamlined reporting and planning in the future. We also hope to engage in an audience discussion about how this open-source code could benefit other stormwater and watershed managers.

The call to meet industry standards and operate according to best practices is one which all industry professionals can appreciate, but where standards are clearly outlined best practices is far less concrete. Within the residuals and biosolids treatment industry, that which constitutes best practices can vary greatly across facilities depending on a number of factors. In the spirit of diminishing this ambiguity, three case studies examining industrial dewatering and thickening systems at separate facilities will be presented. Two of the featured case studies will focus on dewatering; the first facility produces primarily inorganic residuals while the second facility's dewatering process treats starch-laden residuals. The third study also focuses on organic residuals and biosolids treatment, however their overall treatment involves a thickening process for relatively unique biosolids disposal which could be mutually beneficial for manufacturers and municipal processors alike. This presentation will include analysis of the technical aspects in each case study and a discussion of related findings. STUDY 1 DEWATERING INORGANIC RESIDUALS The subject of the first study is a facility which manufactures paint and coatings for electronic devices. In many treatment systems, flocculation is a vital step in dewatering solids. While this facility integrates flocculants, the waste stream composition poses additional challenges. Treatment begins in reactor tanks with coagulants, flocculants, and precipitants before being transferred to a clarifier. However, because this facility's residuals are predominantly inorganic, these residuals cannot effectively form the floc structure which renders a more manageable sludge suitable for common technologies like the belt filter presses or screw presses. Because popular technologies are ill-equipped to process this facility's distinctly tacky sludge, operators rely on a plate and frame filter press for dewatering (see Figure 1). Plate and frame filter presses are comparatively inexpensive, but despite cost-efficiency this press is subject to drawbacks which would typically disqualify its utilization in other facilities. These drawbacks, including reduced processing capacity and specific labor demands, are non-issues for this facility as operation occurs at a smaller scale. Because this sludge has a challenging consistency, the plate and frame filter press allows this plant to meet municipal limitations for proper disposal. Data obtained onsite reflected 2.0% feed solids was easily able to be dewatered to 28% cake solids, with a capture rate of 96%. STUDY 2 DEWATERING ORGANIC RESIDUALS The second study highlights a food processing facility which prepares potato chips. This facility's waste stream is marked by its high concentration of starch and starchy residuals. Due to the starch and water binding at an infinitesimal level, pressing alone cannot sufficiently dewater residuals. Therefore, this facility has incorporated a technology that may not adhere to wider perceptions of best practices. After its initial biological treatment in aeration basins, the waste solids are directed to a volute press. Onsite sampling reflected 2.1% feed solids was able to be dewatered to 17% cake solids but with a capture rate of only 79%. Figure 2 shows the cake from the volute press of this process. While volute presses may not meet high capture rates (see Figure 3), the resulting sludge does meet minimum requirements for municipal disposal. This choice could be seen as a failure to meet industry standards or best practices; however, this case study offers a fair example of a facility achieving balance between efficient operation and regulatory compliance. STUDY 3 THICKENING ORGANIC RESIDUALS The final case study features a second food processing plant. This plant, which produces a variety of sauces and condiments, has a waste stream with a high concentration of fats, oils and greases (FOGs). Processing FOGs can create undue strain on equipment, leading to wear and potentially shortening its operational lifespan. In this case, a complex system of treatment and retreatment is employed to maximize separation. The waste stream processing begins with an oil and water separator. After undergoing a biological process to remove contaminants, the waste stream moves to two dissolved air flotation devices (DAFs) which take 0.98% feed solids and thickens it to a 9.10% thickened solids product. Skimmed floatate, a gel-textured product shown in Figure 4, is transferred to a hopper. But what occurs next makes this study particularly noteworthy. Rather than disposing the end-process gel, this facility stores it in a silo onsite. Daily, the material is transported offsite to a nearby farm where the gel is applied as crop fertilizer. This stands out as an instance beneficial reuse, which is rare for industrial biosolids. This practice results in lower disposal costs for the facility. This beneficial reuse simultaneously benefits the municipal processers because the receiving POTW need not process FOG-laden wastewater or fine the facility for exceeding allowable effluent pre-treatment parameters. At a time when manufacturers in all areas are finding new and creative ways to meet corporate and social demands for sustainability, this type of process is an exemplar. However, as the previous case studies demonstrated this may not be in other manufacturer's' operational capacity or best interests. CONCLUSION Ultimately, the combination of unique waste streams, facility production capacity and local disposal options function in concert to outline best practices on an individual basis. The value of efficient operations cannot be overstated, but to truly thrive facility operators must be able to achieve maximum efficiency while also complying with oft-changing regulations. Failure to achieve this balance risks company resources and a cooperative relationship with municipal waste processors. By examining and comparing facilities' pre-existing treatment systems to post-upgrade systems against prevalent norms in the wider treatment landscape, we gain greater insight regarding the fluidity of best industry practices. This comparison will also yield a greater technical understanding for industry professionals as we compare capture rates and efficacy of various techniques across diverse waste streams' compositions. Finally, in addition to generating insights through analysis, this presentation will highlight how residuals and biosolids treatment systems impact municipal treatment facilities and vice versa. This discussion is intended to help reposition municipalities as a cooperative partner with a vested interest in the treatment process and industry.

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.

Background and Project Goals: Material Matters supported the Applied Technologies Inc Team (Applied Technologies, Inc. GHD Group, and Veolia Water Milwaukee) in developing an Advanced Biosolids Facilities Plan for the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (the District). The Advanced Biosolids Facilities Plan will identify and evaluate a variety of biosolids treatment alternatives that the District will consider, adopt, and implement. The project sought to answer the following three questions: 1. What is the best way to make Milorganite®? 2. What drivers influence the long-term viability of Milorganite®? 3. How can the District adapt to changing drivers? To answer the project questions, Material Matters developed an Operational Risk Register, with the support of the project team, to identify market risks most critical to maintaining the District's nationally acclaimed and distributed dried biosolids product - Milorganite®. Project Approach: The Operational Risk Register was developed to identify regulatory and market-based risk events associated with the Milorganite program. A risk register is a risk management tool that identifies potential risk events, assigns the probability of the risk event occurring (likelihood of failure [LOF]), and quantifies the resulting consequence if the risk event occurs (consequence of failure [COF]). Risk events include internal risk events (i.e., risk events that can be controlled by the operating entity), as well as external risk events (i.e., risk events that are outside of the control of the controlling entity). A risk register is a unique and innovative tool for evaluating a biosolids management program because it is dynamic and can be updated to match any changes in program goals or to reflect known changes in the market. Ultimately, over 60 potential risk events were identified and evaluated resulting from changes to District's biosolids processing (internal risks) or changes in the market or regulatory climate (external risks). The risk evaluation was based on existing customer purchase data, interviews with a representative sampling of Milorganite direct customers, and interviews with regulators from the top distribution states (Figure A-1). Information collected was summarized and used to evaluate the likelihood of the risk events occurring, and the corresponding level of consequence to the District should the risk occur. The scoring matrix and risk rating used for the risk register is shown in Table A-1 and based on scoring methods developed with the District as part of the 2050 Facilities Plan. Project Findings: Project findings revealed five key market-based risks critical to consider for the ongoing dominance of Milorganite® in the natural fertilizer market space, including: 1. Changing the physical characteristics of the Milorganite product (Figure A-2), 2. Reducing the production of Milorganite®, 3. Change in nutrient content or ratios, 4. Change in product odor, and 5. Regulatory changes related to contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Mitigation measures and future consideration were provided to the District for operational risks identified as Medium or High overall risk. The risk register results will be used by MMSD to guide selection of process changes and technology choices for the remainder of the project. The outcome of the risk analysis concluded that technology decisions for wet-side treatment processes, digestion, thermal drying technology, and product diversification must be carefully considered in the next phase of the Advanced Biosolids Facilities Plan to avoid the highest rated operational risk. This paper will describe the risk register development process, including data gathering approach, scoring, and ranking process. The paper will also discuss the overall outcome, including mitigation measures to be used by the District to reduce risk impact on the program & and to preserve the Milorganite's unique position in the national fertilizer marketplace.

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.

Challenge
The Village of Arlington Heights, Illinois (VAH), is a community of approximately 75,000 residents northwest of Chicago. The Village, located in the Des Plaines River watershed, has a mix of separate sanitary sewers (≈920,000 lf)and separate storm sewers (≈1,100,000 lf) as well as a combined sewer (≈350,000 lf) in the older downtown area. The sanitary and combined flow discharges to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) for treatment while the separate storm sewer system discharges to area streams and waterways. In 2015, the Village's Utility Superintendent realized the Village did not have a robust storm sewer asset inventory and wanted to understand what infrastructure they had, where it was located, and what condition it was in. The Superintendent was planning to retire in four years, and wanted to prioritize building the storm sewer inventory before he retired. Solution/Approach The Village determined that a combination of storm sewer televising (CCTV) and select manhole and structure inspections and surveys would provide the information needed to update the Village GIS with accurate GPS locations, asset attributes, and condition data. RedZone Robotics (RZ), partnering with RJN Group, was selected to perform the CCTV work and the manhole inspections. RJN was responsible for the GIS data integration, manhole rim survey, and measurements at the manholes. The multi-phase project was initiated with a small pilot area and then expanded into four areas covering the rest of the separate storm sewer system, with the intent of completing the inventory in four years. Initially, RedZone's SOLO® pipeline inspection robot camera system was used to record conditions in the manholes and for the 8 to 12-inch sewers. Standard CCTV cameras inspected sewers larger than 12 inches, and multi-sensor inspections (MSI) were conducted in larger sewers with flows present. The primary Village goal for the program was to incorporate all captured findings-asset locations, details, and conditions, including NASSCO PACP ratings-in their in-house GIS to make it easily accessible to Village staff for operations and maintenance programming, and capital planning. This required conversion and integration of data from the standard RedZone ICOM® software deliverable. Work began in early 2016 in the pilot area and continued through the four phases shown in the exhibit above. -CCTV was performed using the SOLO camera, the standard CCTV camera, and the Profiler® (MSI). -Manhole inspections and locates were performed on selected structures designated by the Village. -Inspection data, including connectivity, diameters, materials, and NASSCO ratings, were updated in the GIS. Condition data was used to identify areas with issues and then plan sewer repairs. Challenges Developing a comprehensive storm sewer asset inventory presented unique challenges during data collection and management. -Data Collection Challenges --Dirty storm sewers required extra cleaning. The storm sewers were actually found to be dirtier than typical sanitary sewers. --The SOLO camera could not navigate past much of the debris, which required frequent communication between RZ and VAH. By the end of the project, RZ performed all the sewer televising with a standard CCTV camera instead of the SOLO. --Televising connections between catch basins, inlets, and manholes, proved to be difficult and time consuming; many of these were pulled out of the project. -Data Management Challenges --Coordination between RZ field staff, RZ coding staff, VAH GIS staff, VAH PW staff, RJN GIS staff, RJN field staff, and Village GIS consultant -Initially, three entities were involved in the data coordination: The Village of Arlington Heights (Owner) with two versions of the in-house GIS: one managed by the Public Works Department (PWD) and the other by the Engineering/GIS department. RedZone Robotics (Prime contractor)-CCTV and manhole inspections RJN Group (Sub-contractor)-Manhole survey and GIS -After the pilot phase, the Village GIS analyst retired, and the Village out-sourced their GIS, adding a fourth entity: Municipal GIS Partners (MGP-Village GIS consultant) --Poor initial maps, which are common in municipal storm sewer GIS layers --Map update volumes with complex, multi-party coordination -Incorporating updates involved extensive back-and-forth communications between all parties Updating AssetIDs for pipes, structures, updating connections, VAH field verifying questions, etc. -Making sure all parties are in sync after updates --Incorporation of data into Village GIS, not ICOM -- Staff turnover: VAH, RJN, RZ, MGP Because of the challenges, the program was not completed until December 2022. The Utility Superintendent driving the program did retire in Jan 2021, and the project continued. Only one team member that started the project in 2016 was still involved when the project was completed in 2022!

Conclusion/Recommendations
The asset survey, attribute, and condition data was collected and incorporated into the Village GIS at a slower rate than initially planned. The Arlington Heights storm asset inventory is much improved. The storm sewers were cleaned, and the Village has access to the video, inspection reports, pictures, and ratings provided by the PACP and MACP coding via a single GIS platform. Lessons Learned -Storm sewer CCTV has inherent challenges -Inspection technologies have operating limitations and should be selected with due diligence -Communicate, communicate, communicate -Map updates take time -Better to have the project engineer-led rather than contractor-led.

In water-stressed regions around the world, a dearth of resilient water utilities is jeopardizing access to basic needs such as piped drinking and irrigation water. The availability of this water is heavily tied to utility management of wastewater as a resource to reverse growing supply pressure on freshwater sources, something which the American Southwest has dealt with head-on with its established aquifer and reservoir infrastructure. However, wastewater treatment and reuse infrastructure has become even more challenging for utilities in the region due to the growing impact of climate change-proliferated droughts. While technologies like MBR (Membrane Bio Reactors) and MABR (Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactors) are being readily implemented as creative reuse solutions for the region, innovation in utility planning will be just as valuable. Further, the need for innovative infrastructure strategy applies to A) densely populated cities with limited space to add centralized utility infrastructure, B) new towns or suburban regions where utilities need to be quickly built and C) irrigation infrastructure that needs to be built or improved (i.e., 2021 Lake Mead crisis). Given these challenging scenarios, Modular Decentralized Wastewater Treatment (DWT) is a compelling new solution gaining traction globally. These systems are crucial for the Southwestern US and beyond in the fight against 'Day Zero' (including Cape Town itself) due to their associated affordability and speed of implementation. When implemented correctly, Modular DWT can also deliver the following benefits: - Augmented biological load removal capacity (depending on the technology used) o Can extend to nutrient removal in order to reduce coastal 'dead zones' - Minimized piping infrastructure and land usage based on accurate fulfillment of treatment requirement - Can be easily deployed in regions with Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) issues as a standby unit -Simplified sludge handling and disposal due to point source treatment - Impacts of system downtime can be reduced due to distributed approach and standardized IoT Integration (rather than relying on one custom, centralized system) Our paper will identify hotspots for the next 'Day Zero' scenarios and how what a modular DWT program there might look like.

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.