87 ANNUAL MEETING
TH
50th Anniversary of New York’s Pure Waters Program
10/27/14
Sustainable Water Resource
Management in the 21st Century
February 2–4, 2015 NYC Marriott Marquis
26 TECHNICAL SESSIONS COVERING TOPICS:
• Wet Weather Issues
• Energy • Resiliency
• Green Infrastructure
Technical Program Table of Contents
2015 Annual Meeting, New York City, New York
February 2–4, 2015, Marriott Marquis
Opening General Session. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
NYWEA
Executive Office
525 Plum Street,
Suite 102
Syracuse, NY 13204
315/422-7811
www.nywea.org
Session 1
CSO/SSO/Wet Weather Issues –1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Session 2
Energy – 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Session 3
50th Anniversary of New York’s Pure Waters Program
Sustainable Water Resource Management in the 21st Century . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Session 4
Utility Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Session 5
Wastewater Best Management Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Session 6
Research and New Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Session 7
Manufacturers Forum – 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Session 8
Plant/Facility Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Session 9
Resiliency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Session 10
Public Education and Outreach Programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Session 11
Collection Systems (Inspection/Rehab/Corrosion) – 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Session 12
Young Professionals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Session 13
Manufacturers Forum – 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Session 14
Operators’ Forum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Session 15
Flood Prevention, Mitigation and Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Session 16
University Forum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
University Forum Poster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Session 17
CSO/SSO/Wet Weather Issues – 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Session 18
Residuals Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Session 19
Collection Systems (Inspection/Rehab/Corrosion) – 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Session 20
Energy – 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Session 21
Sustainability/Green House Gases/Climate Change/Green Energy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Session 22
Plant Modeling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Session 23
Information Technology and Automation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Session 24
Facility Planning in the New Millennium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Session 25
Ethics (first half). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Integrated Resiliency Modeling (second half) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Session 26
Green Infrastructure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Hotel Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Life Style Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Cover Photo Credit –
These images are from the
NYCDEP Archives’
collection. The DEP
Archives collects, preserves
and makes available records
having long-term business
and historical value to DEP
and NYC.
Exhibitors
NEW YORK WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION
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Pending: Engineering PDHs, Wasterwater CEUs and Water Hours
2
EIGHTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING / 2015
Monday, February 2, 2015
Opening General Session
Welcome – Steven A. Fangmann, NYWEA President
8:30 am
8:45 am
Water Environment Federation Update – Paul Bowen, WEF President-Elect and
Director of Sustainable Operations Coca-Cola
9:00 am
A Dialogue Acknowledging the 50th Anniversary of New York’s Pure Waters Program and
Discussion on Sustainable Water Resource Management in the 21st Century
Our Commitment
Our Accomplishments
Our Game Changers (e.g., Climate Change, Nutrients and Asset Management)
Our Goals for Water Resource Recovery Facilities of the Future
10:30 am Coffee Break
10:45 am
NYCDEP Update – Commissioner Emily Lloyd
11:00 am
Rockefeller Award Presentation
11:15 am
Scholarship Presentation
Session 1
CSO/SSO/Wet Weather Issues – 1
Moderators
Elliot Sachs, Boswell Engineering; Douglas Daley, SUNY ESF
1:30 pm
(1 Hour )
Save the Rain’s Balanced Green-Gray Approach Pays Dividends for Onondaga County
Robert Kukenberger, CDM Smith; Matthew Marko, CH2M HILL; Tom Rhoads, Onondaga County, NY
Onondaga County, New York, became the first community in the U.S. to sign a consent judgment requiring green
infrastructure (GI) to abate combined sewer overflows (CSO). This historic ruling in November 2009, followed a
long list of gray infrastructure improvements totaling approximately $350 million over ten years. The Amended
Consent Judgment (ACJ) now strikes a balance between Green and Gray Infrastructure and has become known
across the country as the Save the Rain program. This presentation will cover engineering and management
successes to balance green and gray infrastructure.
2:30 pm Coffee Break in Exhibit Hall
3:30 pm Clinton CSO Facility Start-up Operations
Ryan Fisher, Bruce Munn, GHD Consulting Services Inc.;
Nicholas Capozza, Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection
The Clinton Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Storage Facility is a 6.5 MG state-of-the-art facility located in
Syracuse, NY. The facility came online on December 31, 2013. This presentation will focus on the unique aspects
of the initial startup and operation of the facility including:
• Brief background of project
• Work required for meeting the target operational date
• Start-up operation of the facility
• Lessons learned from the first year of operation
4:00 pm Cost Saving CSO Control Measures
Greg McCorkhill, GHD Consulting Services, Inc.; OJ McFoy, Buffalo Sewer Authority
The Swan Trunk (96-inch diameter) is a major component of the Buffalo Sewer Authority’s (BSA) collect system.
The development of the BSA’s Long-Term Control Plan (LTCP) identified opportunities to optimize the flow
conveyance and reduce combined sewer overflow (CSO) through weir raising, increasing the size of underflow
sewers and off-line storage. This presentation will describe the design process which resulted in regulator specific
improvements that resulted in a substantial cost saving for the BSA.
NEW YORK WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION
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EIGHTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING / 2015
Monday, February 2, 2015
Session 2
Energy – 1
Moderators Donna Hager, AECOM; Jennifer Franco, AKRF
1:30 pm Development of New York City’s Food Waste Co-Digestion Program
Robert Sharp, Hazen and Sawyer; Anthony Fiore, Keith Mahoney, NYC DEP;
Jeanette Brown, Manhattan College
New York City DEP is developing a food waste co-digestion program to enhance biogas production utilizing
egg-shaped digesters at the Newtown Creek WWTP. To develop this program, DEP is carrying out lab studies and
a NYSERDA sponsored pilot study to determine the effectiveness of co-digestion and its possible impacts on:
1) digestion performance; 2) solids handling and solids production; and 3) plant operations and performance. This
presentation will discuss results from these studies.
2:00 pm An Innovative Approach to Organics Management:
Co-digestion at Harvest Power Orlando at Reedy Creek Improvement District
Kelly Saikkonen, Alexander MacFarlane, Harvest Power; Ted McKim, Reedy Creek
Harvest Power Inc., is operating a new anaerobic co-digestion facility at Reedy Creek Improvement District
(RCID). “Harvest Power Orlando” (HPO) converts approximately 120,000 metric tons per year of organic
feedstock including municipal waste-activated sludge, grease trap waste, and institutional, commercial and
industrial (IC&I) food wastes (collected from both within and outside RCID) into 3.2MWe, 2MWth and over
5,000 metric tons per year of Class AA fertilizer products.
2:30 pm 3:30 pm 4:00 pm Coffee Break in Exhibit Hall
Harvesting More Energy from Your Wastewater
Mark Greene, O’Brien & Gere
Improved primary treatment means lower loading to secondary treatment and the capture of more readily
degradable solids that are then available for anaerobic digestion to produce more biogas for energy use. Four
100-gallon, continuous flow mini-digesters were operated with different feed sludges to measure and compare the
biogas generation rates. This presentation will describe the findings of the demonstration project, BMP testing and
the impacts of using the ClearCove EPT unit for the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility.
Proper Characterization of High Strength Feedstocks and Impacts to Co-Digestion Facilities
Vincent Apa, CDM Smith
The proper characterization of high strength feedstocks is often overlooked when compared to designing a nutrient
removal process for an energy recovery facility. The details of the variability in the data from the high strength
feedstocks along with impacts to operations and life cycle cost analysis will be discussed.
Monday, February 2, 2015
Session 3
50th Anniversary of New York’s Pure Waters Program
Sustainable Water Resource Management in the 21st Century
Moderators
1:30 pm–4:00 pm
David Comerford, Buffalo Sewer District; Steven Robbins, Woodard & Curran
Program Forthcoming
2:30 pm Session 4
Moderators
1:30 pm Coffee Break in Exhibit Hall
Monday, February 2, 2015
Utility Management
Jon Ruff, City of Plattsburgh; Bob Albright, CDM Smith
Building a Statewide Program for Implementing Wastewater Infrastructure Asset Management
Koon Tang, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
This presentation is an overview of the current effort of NYSDEC in building a sustainable statewide program to
implement wastewater infrastructure asset management for every municipal treatment facility and sewer system.
NEW YORK WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION
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EIGHTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING / 2015
2:00 pm How to Build a Successful Wastewater Management Program: Lessons Learned from New England
Thomas Groves, New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC)
Evidence suggests that many communities have not adequately planned for the need to replace facility management
staff. Facilities are threatened with the loss of their managers – and, with them, valuable institutional memory
that is not documented. Until recently, there were no established training programs in place to develop the next
generation of managers for the industry. This presentation will share success stories and lessons learned from
successful New England state wastewater management program case studies.
Coffee Break in Exhibit Hall
2:30 pm 3:30 pm Capturing Operations Knowledge Today, Sharing It Tomorrow
An Innovative Electronic Solution to Sustainable Knowledge Management
Bryon Wood, Carter Strickland, HDR
When success of the utility relies heavily on the personal knowledge of a few individuals within the utility staff,
future operations may be in jeopardy, specifically considering the imminent wave of retirement. Capturing existing
unrecorded information and operations procedures from these key staff members, managing and organizing
the information, documents and photos, and effectively transferring the knowledge to new hires will create a
foundation for long-term success of a utility through a collaborative team environment.
4:00 pm Data Security – Issues Wastewater Treatment Plants Need to Consider
Libby Ford, Linn Freedman, Nixon Peabody LLP
Wastewater treatment plants are increasingly connected to the massive “electronic highway”. This presentation
will cover: 1) What wastewater treatment plants should be doing to protect the integrity of the information it
generates, stores and transmits electronically. 2) What are the ramifications if information is lost, stolen or hacked?
3) Identifying and protecting high-risk data. 4) Why WWTPs should conduct a data security risk assessment. 5)
Best practices for e-mail, electronic records and laptops. 6) Responding to a possible data security breach.
Monday, February 2, 2015
Session 5
Moderators
1:30 pm 2:00 pm 2:30 pm 3:30 pm Wastewater Best Management Practices
Cliff Pomerantz, Greeley & Hansen; Brian Hilts, CDM Smith
Nutrients – Friend or Foe?
Paul Pitt, Hazen and Sawyer, P.C.
Increasingly stringent regulations on receiving waters have resulted in required upgrades to wastewater treatment
facilities to produce higher quality effluent. The upgrade of base-level treatment plants to BNR facilities has
encouraged operators to seek methods of optimizing their upgraded facility while balancing costs. Five methods
are presented through four case studies: optimized carbon use, supplemental carbon use, side stream treatment,
modeling to increase capacity, or fermentation to generate a carbon-rich mainstream.
BNR Froth Control for Anaerobic Digestion
Alexander Lopez, Caitlin Hunt, Natalia Perez, Patrick O’Connor, NYC DEP
Increased growth of froth during BNR retrofits poses challenges if it penetrates anaerobic digesters and becomes
trapped, as it can create process upsets, health issues and equipment damage. Using research from nine New
York City plants and operating staff at all levels, the authors evaluated more than 15 froth mitigation techniques
including preventative, physical and chemical measures and used this research to recommend those strategies
best-suited for the Coney Island WWTP BNR upgrade while avoiding excessive cost.
Coffee Break in Exhibit Hall
Demonstration of the Innovative CAST Wastewater Treatment Process
for High-Strength Organic Wash Waters
Karl Scheible, HDR Engineering, Inc.; Tyler Masick, George Bevington, Gloversville-Johnstown Joint
Wastewater Treatment Facility; Kathleen O’Connor, New York State Energy Research and
Development Authority (NYSERDA)
Major expansions at a yogurt manufacturer will more than double the quantity of washwater sent to the
Gloversville-Johnstown Joint Wastewater Treatment Facility for treatment. An innovative Contact Adsorption
Settling Thickening (CAST) process will use the plant’s waste-activated sludge to adsorb BOD from the wash
water stream prior to processing in the anaerobic digesters. This presentation will discuss the 2014 project that is
underway to implement the CAST process, including pilot studies to demonstrate and develop the process design.
NEW YORK WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION
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EIGHTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING / 2015
4:00 pm Full-Scale Demonstration of Mainstream Nitrite-Shunt with Biological Phosphorus Removal
Jose Jimenez, Brown and Caldwell
Nitrogen removal via nitrite-shunt may yield up to a 25 percent reduction in aeration and 40 percent reduction
in COD requirements when compared to conventional nitrification-denitrification. Due to the potential savings
in aeration and external carbon demand with short-cut nitrogen technologies, many are undertaking research to
determine how feasible it may be to promote these processes in mainstream treatment facilities. This presentation
will review these findings through a case study in St. Petersburg, FL.
Monday, February 2, 2015
Session 6
Research and New Technologies
Moderators
1:30 pm
Adam Cummings, Barton and Loguidice; Frank Russo, H2M
A Novel, Low Capital Approach for Performing Separate Centrate Deammonification
at New York City Facilities
Sarah Galst, Robert Sharp, Wendell Khunjar, Hazen and Sawyer; Allen Deur, NYCDEP
Existing commercial deammonification processes use patented approaches for producing nitrite and retaining
the slow growing anammox bacteria. Given the existing configuration of separate centrate treatment processes
at New York City treatment facilities, conversion will require substantial capital upgrades and modifications. In
this presentation, we will present results from the development of a novel separate centrate deammonification
process for New York City that exploits the existing infrastructure and uses glycerol-based denitritation to achieve
N removal.
2:00 pm Upgrading Lagoons to Remove Ammonia, Phosphorus and Nitrogen
Todd Latchaw, Nelson Environmental Inc.
Historically, most lagoon systems were designed to remove BOD and TSS from the wastewater stream. Increased
focus on the effect of effluent toxicity in the receiving stream, along with possible eutrophication of lakes and
rivers, has resulted in new requirements for nitrification of ammonia and removal of both phosphorus and nitrogen.
The SAGR has proven to be an effective nitrification module which can be added to the tail end of any lagoon
system.
Coffee Break in Exhibit Hall
2:30 pm 3:30 pm High Solids Anaerobic Digestion Process to Treat High Strength Municipal and
Industrial Organic Waste
Jong Min Kim, Sudhakar Viswanathan, Ky Dangtran, Infilco Degremont Inc.
The high solid anaerobic digestion (HiSAD) system is a combination of a first stage plug-flow solid digester
and second stage attached growth anaerobic filter packed with porous media. Organic wastes of 20 percent or
more solids content can be digested with this process operating at mesophilic/thermophilic condition while liquid
digestate is recirculated continuously between the anaerobic filter and the solid digester. Detailed design and pilot
study data will be presented in the presentation.
4:00 pm
City of Tacoma: Organics to Energy Program Development
Christopher Muller, Brown and Caldwell; James Parvey, City of Tacoma
In the City of Tacoma, WA, evaluation of the wastewater plant processes and equipment indicated that the plant
could support an integrated food waste to energy program. To better understand this process, the City executed
a full-scale demonstration project. This presentation will discuss the operating fundamentals of a food waste
to energy program, identify potential pitfalls and protect its facilities and biosolids products integrity, while
simultaneously moving the program in a direction to meet City goals.
NEW YORK WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION
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EIGHTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING / 2015
Session 7
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Manufacturers’ Forum – 1
Stephen Rozewski, Bendlin, Inc.; Peter Pastore, GA Fleet
Moderators
9:00 am Raketec, a Revolutionary Multiple Rake Screen Solution
Erwan Ouattara, Aqualitec Screening Equipment
Raketec, a Revolutionary Multiple Rake Screen Solution Growing wastewater debris volume, including millions
of non-dispersible cleaning wipes discarded daily into the wastewater system, has led to epidemic treatment
facility damage due to ragging and clogging. Raketec, Aqualitec’s innovative multiple rake screen solution, is
highly resistant to damage because it has absolutely no submerged moving parts. Raketec increases debris capture
efficiency, prevents costly clogging and repairs, and allows safer and more affordable wastewater treatment plant
operation.
9:30 am Water and Wastewater Membrane Protection
James Impero, OVIVO Water
A headworks trend which began with simple in-line grinding has slowly evolved into headworks screenings capture
with finer and finer screening apertures. Similar trends are prevalent with fresh water intake and downstream fine
and ultra-fine screening at many drinking water plants. Whether the drivers are regulatory or simply to improve
downstream process efficiencies, the trend has been to remove all non-biodegradable solids from wastewater
and/or aquatic debris and sediments from fresh water flow. As populations grow and plant footprints shrink,
technologies have spawned to accommodate market trends. As these technologies have been utilized and refined,
the quality of water has improved, making reuse more and more prevalent throughout the country.
Coffee Break in Exhibit Hall
10:00 am 11:00 am Contingency Planning for Temporary Pumping
Ryan Booth, Godwin Pumps, a Xylem Brand
Based on the experiences of Godwin Pumps and our customers during natural disasters and other emergency
situations in the region, we are presenting some of the critical lessons learned in an effort to increase the knowledge
base of the membership of the NYWEA and assist with emergency preparation and management.
11:30 am Addressing Ragging Issues in WWTP and Collection Systems
with Effective Grinding and Shredding
Joseph Macula, Franklin Miller
Increasingly, solids like flushable wipes and rags are causing serious issues for wastewater treatment and collection
systems. High volumes of theses solids plug pumps, valves, piping and other equipment, imposing a significant
burden on wastewater equipment. The solution to this problem is the use of grinders and shredders. Grinders
and shredders reduce the size of solids in the wastewater to keep pumps and other process equipment running
effectively.
Session 8
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Plant/Facility Operations
Moderators
Wendi Richards, Siewert Equipment; Ron Delo, D&B Engineers + Architects
9:00 am Better Denitrification Through Process Control
Sean Scuras, Dmitriy Zinchenko, Tetra Tech
This presentation describes improvements to a traditional approach and an alternative approach to achieving
nitrogen removal. The improvements increase nitrogen removal while decreasing energy usage.
9:30 am The Wide World of Biosolids Thickening:
Narrowing Down Alternatives at the Newtown Creek WWTP
Bryan Atieh, Paul Saurer, Hazen and Sawyer; John Sexton, Jim Mueller, NYC DEP – BWT
The NYC DEP Bureau of Wastewater Treatment (BWT) evaluated the feasibility of alternative sludge thickening
processes at the Newtown Creek WWTP. The objective was to analyze the potential cost savings of sludge
thickening alternatives in comparison with the current costs of operating the plant’s thickening centrifuges.
BWT advanced the feasibility study with mass balances, a comparative matrix, constructibility reviews and cost
estimates. Select alternatives emerged as economically viable and are currently being scheduled for pilot testing.
NEW YORK WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION
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EIGHTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING / 2015
10:00 am
Coffee Break in Exhibit Hall
11:00 am Improving Operational Reliability and Resiliency with Secondary Screens at Newtown Creek WWTP
Dharmin Desai, Sundaram Solai, Greeley & Hansen, LLC; Nat J. Federici, NYC DEP
The Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade provided for the installation of fine bar screens for
primary treatment in lieu of the more conventional primary settling tanks. This presentation discusses the basis
of design for the bar screens, the challenges faced during the construction and start-up of the screens, the field
observations after the screens were placed into operation, the subsequent revisions to the screens operational
strategy and modifications to the screenings equipment design.
11:30 am Vertical Start-up of a 6.5 MG Anaerobic Reactor
for Industrial Wastewater Pretreatment and Energy Production
Wenguo Feng, Shawn Veltman, Matt Goodman, CHA Consulting Inc.; Daren Kaiser, General Mills Inc.
A vertical start-up for a 6.5MG anaerobic digester achieved full operation within six weeks, saving significant
off-site waste disposal cost. Experience gained and lessons learned are summarized in the presentation through
replaying the start-up process. Addition of aerobic waste-activated sludge helped to speed up the start-up process.
Session 9
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Resiliency
Moderators
9:00 am
Janine Witko, ARUP; Donna Hager, AECOM
Multiple Lines of Defense Approach to Flood Mitigation at the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant
Khanhtran Do, Michelle Lacks, ARCADIS-US, Inc.
The presentation will discuss the Multiple Lines of Defense (MLD) strategy developed for Bay Park Sewage
Treatment Plant, including advantages and disadvantages. We will further elaborate on how MLD can apply to
other sectors, not just wastewater treatment plants.
9:30 am Community and Infrastructure Flood Resiliency in Oakwood Beach, Staten Island, New York
after Superstorm Sandy
Rahul Parab, Ozlen Ozkurt, Dewberry;
Susan McCormick, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
As a response to Superstorm Sandy’s devastation in the Oakwood Beach area, Dewberry performed a comprehensive
flood protection feasibility study comprised of coastal analysis, stormwater management, environmental restoration
and community development to provide environmental/recreational benefits and help to improve flood resiliency
by protecting thousands of houses along with DEP’s critical infrastructure within Oakwood Beach community. The
Design Plan includes constructing revetments, levees, tide gates, ponds and wetlands to offer benefits in habitat
restoration and flood protection.
Coffee Break in Exhibit Hall
10:00 am 11:00 am Westchester County’s Vulnerability Assessment Study for Pumping Stations
and Combined Sewer Overflow Facilities
Julie Stein, HDR, Inc.; Angelo Sgebo, Thomas Lauro, Michael Coley, Westchester County
Wet weather, storm surge and sea level rise conditions threaten wastewater infrastructure including sanitary sewage
pump stations and overflow facilities throughout Westchester County. Depending on the magnitude of a particular
wet weather event, structures; mechanical, electric and communication equipment; emergency power and facility
access may be affected. This may be the case for Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities’ 31
pump stations and two overflow facilities, three of which facilities were impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Together
with the Department of Public Works, a study of each of these facilities and vulnerabilities to climate change and
different natural hazards is being completed.
NEW YORK WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION
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EIGHTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING / 2015
11:30 am Implementation of the New York City Wastewater Resiliency Plan:
Opportunities And Lessons Learned
Pinar Balci, Alan Cohn, Mikeal Parlow, Ken Moriarty, NYC DEP
In October 2013, DEP released the New York City Wastewater Resiliency Plan, the nation’s most detailed and
comprehensive assessment of the risk climate change posed to a wastewater collection and treatment system,
recommending protective measures totaling an estimated $315 million in improvements. This presentation will
discuss the steps taken for implementation of the Plan as part of repairs and other planned capital improvements
as well as funding mechanisms available through various federal and state programs.
Session 10
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Public Education and Outreach Programs
Beth Petrillo, NYC DEP; Ken Kohlbrenner, Woodard & Curran
Moderators 9:00 am Onondaga County Save the Rain and Onondaga Earth Corps Green Infrastructure, Green Jobs and Public Education and Outreach
Madison Quinn, Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection;
Gregory Michel, Onondaga Earth Corps
Onondaga County Save the Rain (STR) has a variety of public education and outreach activities in partnership
with other community organizations, including Onondaga Earth Corps (OEC). STR and OEC work collaboratively
toward green infrastructure implementation and maintenance, tree planting, and outreach. Syracuse youth
employed by OEC are trained in green infrastructure installation and maintenance best practices. OEC members
are valuable STR team members, communicating the value of green infrastructure to their friends and neighbors.
9:30 am Engaging the Public in Green Infrastructure
Khris Dodson, Environmental Finance Center at Syracuse University
Onondaga County’s Save the Rain program, and others around the state, offer creative and innovative ways to
not only educate the public on the value of green infrastructure but allow multiple-sectors of the public to be an
active part of the solution. This presentation will discuss the specific ways that Save the Rain and other programs
are doing just that. Some of these ways include public-private partnerships, innovative maintenance partnerships,
workshops, rain barrel programs and grant funding. Traditional public education and outreach activities, as part of
the program, will also be discussed. Similar programs throughout the state will be shared as well.
Coffee Break in Exhibit Hall
10:00 am
11:00 am
Water Quality Training and Technical Assistance Programs
Brad Allen DeFrees, Environmental Finance Center at Syracuse University
The Environmental Finance Center (EFC) at Syracuse University is working on many programs related to water
quality, utility management and finance and planning, and public engagement. Specifically, a few of the programs,
which the speaker will overview, include US EPA Trash-Free waters campaign, Managerial and Financial
Assistance for Small Systems, the EPA Waters of the U.S. initiative, as well as activities focused more specifically
on Long Island and New Jersey. The presentation will also include an overview of all EFC services offered
including resiliency planning, sustainability in the face of climate change and more.
11:30 am
Stakeholder Engagement: Process, People and Product
Melissa Young, Environmental Finance Center at Syracuse University
Aside from improving water quality, appropriate and effective stakeholder engagement is an important, and often
underutilized, activity. Who are stakeholders? What level of engagement is right? What do I do, ask or share?
Operators may have the most power to affect the daily lives of the constituents who rely on these services – though
the decision-making often happens elsewhere and can include multiple stakeholders. This presentation will provide
an overview of the types of communications and decision-making strategies that are available to not just reach,
but to provide understanding to, ratepayers, board members, regulators and many others. The presenters will also
offer “Ten Tips to Successful Communications”.
NEW YORK WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION
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EIGHTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING / 2015
Session 11
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Collection Systems (Inspection/Rehab/Corrosion) – 1
Moderators
Jeff Butler, D&B Engineers + Architects; Lisa Derrigan, ARCADIS
9:00 am Using Acoustic Inspection to Prioritize Sewer Cleaning
George Selembo, InfoSense, Inc.
Rapid acoustic inspection technology for sanitary sewer lines is a new methodology for performing blockage
assessments. Use of this technology as a preliminary screening tool for cleaning operations has resulted in
substantial cost savings and significant reduction in sanitary sewer overflows. Multiple case studies will be
discussed. Limitations of the technology will be reviewed as well, so that an understanding of what acoustic
inspections can do (and what they cannot do) will be developed.
9:30 am Septic Tank Replacement Using A Low Pressure Sewer System –
Operation and Maintenance History
Clark Henry, Environment One Corporation; Wayne Ackart, Town of Jerusalem, New York
The transition from a decentralized subsurface treatment system using independent septic systems to a centralized
Low Pressure Sewer System (LPS) collection system has economic, environmental and altruistic advantages to
communities. This presentation provides ten years (2003 – 2013) of Operation and Maintenance (O&M) data and
a hydraulic performance analysis comparing expected design flows to quantitatively measured flows for a 265 unit
septic tank replacement project in the seasonal Town of Jerusalem, NY. Project related feedback is included from
public (Town of Jerusalem) and private (consulting engineering firm) perspectives.
Coffee Break
10:00 am 11:00 am High Tech Tools for Inspection and Condition Assessment of Pressure Pipelines –
Both Water and Wastewater
Henry “Kelly” Derr, Brown and Caldwell
Brown and Caldwell has been actively involved over the last decade in the inspection and condition assessment
of pressure mains. Much of the early work was in sorting through competing claims and marketing hype. We now
have a toolbox of well tested and reliable tools for pressure main inspection. This presentation will present several
recent case studies in the use of these advanced technologies for the inspection of water transmission mains and
wastewater force mains.
11:30 am A Recipe for Disaster! Challenging Sanitary Sewer Interceptor Design and Construction
Jon Putnam, GHD Consulting Services, Inc.
This presentation will discuss the engineering, design and construction challenges for a new 42-inch diameter
gravity-type sewer interceptor pipeline for Oneida County Sewer District. The District’s existing interceptor was
at capacity and required upgrades to convey existing flows and future anticipated flows, to include large industrial
users. Project included 8,500 linear feet of open cut pipeline installation, and 1,500 linear feet of trenchless
construction utilizing micro-tunnel technology in some of the most challenging geologies in New York state,
including environmental and site conditions and constraints.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Session 12 Young Professionals
Moderators
9:00 am Bill Nylic, CDM Smith; Tucker Cox, CDM Smith
Expansion/Upgrade of Great Neck WPCD for Nitrogen Removal to Meet the Requirements
of the Long Island Sound Study
Christopher Lehanka, D&B Engineers and Architects, P.C.
Trials and tribulations of consolidation, start-up and optimization of BNR treatment at the Great Neck WPCD
will be discussed.
NEW YORK WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION
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EIGHTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING / 2015
9:30 am 10:00 am
Designing for the Challenges of Meeting Nutrient Removal under High Flows and
Low Temperatures
Alissa Diminich, Scott Crosswell, GHD; Jerome Loftus, Pennoni Associates;
Christine Wesolowski, Scranton Sewer Authority, Scranton, PA
This presentation will describe how the project team selected a process upgrade alternative for the 20.0 mgd
Scranton WWTP to meet the new BNR treatment limits while also addressing the challenges of high flows and
low wastewater temperatures. The BNR process was put into service in September 2013 under manual operation
and was automated in the fall of 2014.
Coffee Break in Exhibit Hall
11:00 am Surface Water Discharges: Mixing for Efficient Compliance
David Railsback, ARCADIS
Outfall renovation and relocation are efficient methods for minimizing environmental impacts of surface water
discharges to achieve permit compliance. Several case studies are provided for industrial and municipal discharges,
ranging from simple pipe outlets to multiport diffusers. CORMIX is emphasized as an efficient tool for outfall
design. When complex channel geometry or flow patterns exist, the analysis can instead be performed using CFD,
so the boundary between CORMIX and CFD applicability is discussed.
11:30 am Using Algae to Clean Wastewater and Create a Biofuel in New York City
Laura Bendernagel, Hazen and Sawyer; Peter May, Biohabitats, Baltimore, MD;
Kathleen O’Connor, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority;
John McLaughlin New York City Department of Environmental Protection
An Algal Turf Scrubber system was piloted at the New York City Rockaway Wastewater Treatment Plant as
a method for removing nutrient pollution from secondary wastewater effluent. The pilot showed that algal
growth could be achieved at a low cost, with demonstrable removal rates of 2.13kg/m2 of nitrogen, 0.32 kg/m2 of
phosphorus, and 13.65 kg/m2 of carbon over the course of 2012. Scale-up of the pilot and production of butanol
(biofuel) from the algae was also explored.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Session 13 Manufacturers Forum – 2
Moderators
1:30 pm Randy Ott, G.P. Jager; William Pfrang, AECOM
A Pilot Study of CSO Treatment Using Cloth Media Filtration Technology
Jia Ma, Aqua-Aerobic Systems, Inc.
To verify whether cloth media filtration (CMF) is suitable in combined sewer overflows treatment, a pilot study
was conducted at Rock River Water Reclamation District. CMF removed more than 80 percent TSS ranging
from 120 to 450 mg/L, attaining a solids loading rate greater than 10 lbs/ft2 day at a hydraulic loading rate of
3.25 gpm/ft2. CMF is able to take less than 10 percent footprint of conventional primary settling basin while still
providing better quality effluent.
2:00 pm HYBACS Process for BOD Removal, Nitrification, Denitrification and Phosphorus Removal
Brian McGovern, Degremont Technologies – Infilco
Hybrid Activated Sludge (HYBACS) system is a process utilizing two biological stages in series. The first stage is
comprised of a Shaft Mounted Advanced Reactor Technology (SMART) unit with attached biomass and a second
stage consisting of an activated sludge process with suspended biomass followed by secondary clarification. This
process will be detailed focusing on increased treatment capacity, nutrient removal upgrades, capital expenditures,
and operating and maintenance costs associated with the HYBACS process.
Coffee Break in Exhibit Hall
2:30 pm NEW YORK WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION
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EIGHTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING / 2015
3:30 pm Proper System Configuration and Long-Term Operational Data of Bipolar Ionization Odor and
Corrosion Control Technology
Stuart Humphries, Aerisa
Bipolar air ionization has been effectively utilized for over 15 years at wastewater facilities in the U.S. for odor
control, corrosion control and workplace air quality improvement. Contaminants treated through ionization include
hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, amines, mercaptans, reduced organic sulfur compounds, volatile organic compounds,
surface bacteria and virus. Case studies from installations in Hauppauge NY, Attleboro, MA, Goodyear, AZ, and
Santa Paula, CA will be presented.
4:00 pm Use of Compressed Gas for Cost-Effective Mixing and Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR)
Tyler Kunz, EnviroMix
Compressed gas mixing provides an attractive alternative to conventional, mechanical mixers in a wide variety
of applications, including anoxic and anaerobic mixing for Biological Nutrient Removal, delivering common
advantages of reduced energy consumption and maintenance.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Session 14 Operators’ Forum
Moderators
John Petito, NYC DEP; Swagata Biswas, Woodard & Curran
1:30 pm Health and Safety Issues of an Aging Workforce
Nellie Brown, Cornell University – Industrial & Labor Relations
The number of workers 45 years of age and older has doubled since 1950 – in fact, the fastest growing group in
the workforce is workers over 55 years of age. Total injury rates are actually lower among older workers; but time
away from work is greater for older workers. This workshop examines aspects of the normal aging process, the
impact of aging in the work environment, and the strategies to reduce the risk of injuries and accidents.
2:00 pm Feeding the Dragon: Seeding an Anaerobic Digester at the Bay Park STP with No Seed Sludge
John Fortin, Eric Mills, Hazen and Sawyer; Joseph Davenport, Nassau County Department of Public
Works; William Donovan, Donovan OMC
The Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant was the first Nassau County Department of Public Works Sewage Treatment
Plant to recently clean a primary digester. With no clean seed sludge available, the decision was made to re-start the
first clean digester with no seed sludge. A brief description of anaerobic digester operation including procedures
used to seed the tank, the results of the process and the lessons learned will be presented.
Coffee Break in Exhibit Hall
2:30 pm 3:30 pm Dissolved Oxygen Control System Design and Optimization
Caitlin Hunt, Natalia Perez, Alexander Lopez, Patrick O’Connor, NYC DEP
Aeration systems account for 25 percent to 60 percent of energy usage at WWTPs. Effectively controlling the
dissolved oxygen (DO) in the aeration tanks can significantly lower this cost, but how does one design a new DO
control system that will result in the largest energy reductions? This presentation will focus on how these control
systems work, which have the largest energy and cost savings and how to design one, as presented through a case
study with Coney Island WWTP.
4:00 pm WERF Barriers to Energy Efficiency Project:
Current Energy Position of New York Wastewater Treatment Facilities
Nancy Andrews, Colin O’Brien, Brown and Caldwell; Kathleen O’Connor, Environmental Research and
Development, NYSERDA; Lauren Fillmore, WERF
Using a comparison of data sets from 2003 and 2013, WERF/NYSERDA research documents the current energy
position of the publicly owned New York water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) and quantifies the magnitude
of recent energy performance shifts based on the net effect of efficiency gains, increased electrical production, and
increased process equipment loads. Importantly, the research also incorporates electronic survey data to identify
the underlying organizational factors that correlate to improvements in energy performance.
NEW YORK WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION
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EIGHTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING / 2015
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Session 15 Flood Prevention, Mitigation and Recovery
Moderators
1:30 pm 2:00 pm Janine Witko, ARUP; Jeff Butler, D&B Engineers + Architects
Flood Mitigation Design during Construction at East 91st Street New York City
Department of Sanitation Marine Transfer Station, New York, NY
Edmund Lee, Greeley & Hansen
As a result of Superstorm Sandy an investigation into flood hazard mitigation measures was conducted to determine
impacts of revised FEMA standards and Advisory Base Flood Elevation modifications during construction. A
range of flood hazard mitigation options were evaluated and recommended for implementation.
Collaboration: The Secret Ingredient for Successful Mitigation in the Fema PA Process
Michael Bomar, Tetra Tech; Quentin Brathwaite, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey;
Jeff Shaw, Adjusters International
Superstorm Sandy had a devastating impact on the east coast, and in particular the Port Authority of New York and
New Jersey (PANYNJ). The damages to this critical infrastructure significantly hindered the recovery from the
storm. This presentation examines how different FEMA 406 mitigation concepts were derived and vetted by the
PANYNJ with a focus on infrastructure similar to most municipal water and wastewater utilities – pumps, controls,
electrical service, fire protection, communications, back-up power and buildings.
2:30 pm 3:30 pm Coffee Break in Exhibit Hall
4:00 pm Retrofitting Resilience and the Development of New Technology
Mike Hall, Christopher Taylor, ARUP
Vulnerabilities in the New York City Transit (NYCT) system became very apparent during Superstorm Sandy. The
system had numerous vulnerabilities to flooding from tidal surges. Flooding within the limits of the storm surge
quickly spread and caused extensive damage to structures, equipment and systems. The ARUP team has developed
deployable flood panels, a mechanical closure device and a tensioned fabric stairway protection canopy that is
permanently installed and derives from technology used in the aerospace industry. These solutions are currently
being rolled out across New York City and offer a new approach to retrofitting resiliency into existing vulnerable
assets.
Session 16
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
University Forum
Moderators
Stefan Grimberg, Clarkson University; Krish Ramalingan, City College of New York
1:20 pm–4:40 pm
2:50 pm Throgs Neck Pumping Station Redesign as a Result of Hurricane Sandy
Denzil Taffe, Michael Loehr, Patrick O’Connor, Gerry Cox, NYC DEP
The Throgs Neck Pump Station (TNPS) is the largest NYC DEP pumping station in the borough of the Bronx.
To provide protection from future flood events, the station reconstruction was designed (pre-Hurricane Sandy) to
withstand 100 year flood +14 inches. As a result of Hurricane Sandy, NYC DEP suffered significant damage to a
number of its wastewater treatment plants and pumping stations. Consequently, the Mayor’s office and the DEP
operating bureau’s Design Guideline for Crucial Equipment Flood Elevation for Climate Change modified the
design flood elevation for DEP’s wastewater facilities. The difficult process to make the necessary design changes
to accommodate these revised design parameters after the contract to reconstruct TNPS was bid will be discussed.
Program Forthcoming
Coffee Break in Exhibit Hall
University Forum Poster Session
Poster presenters will be at their poster from 2:40 pm–3:20 pm.
Posters will be set up by 1:00 pm and removed by 5:00 pm.
NEW YORK WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION
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EIGHTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING / 2015
Session 17
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
CSO/SSO/Wet Weather Issues – 2
Lisa Derrigan, ARCADIS; Camie McGraw, CRA
Moderators
1:30 pm Building Better Communities with Integrated Planning
Geoffrey Grant, Brown and Caldwell
Integrated planning marks a shift in regulatory compliance as it enables a municipality or utility to proactively
and cohesively manage permit requirements. In addition, it enables the introduction of green infrastructure which
protects human health, improves water quality, treats stormwater as a resource and supports economic benefits
and quality of life attributes that enhance the vitality of communities. This presentation will examine four large
integrated planning programs currently being developed by utilities across the country.
2:00 pm Alternative Disinfection Practices Targeting the Wet Weather/Nutrient Nexus
Isaiah Shapiro, Kimitri Katehis, Process Engineering Group, Greeley & Hansen;
Mauro Orpianesi, Bureau of Wastewater Treatment, NYC DEP
The combination of more stringent wet weather flow management requirements, the need to control disinfection
by-products (DBPs) and a new generation of nitrogen removal processes on the horizon has focused the industry on
identifying viable alternative disinfection techniques that are compatible with these, at times competing, demands.
This presentation will highlight a recent effort in the Northeast U.S. to apply high rate disinfection on wet weather
flows as well as the use of chloramination, UV and peracetic acid to meet reduced Total Trihalomethane (TTHM)
and brominated DBPs.
Coffee Break in Exhibit Hall
2:30 pm 3:30 pm Bending CSOs Out of New York City Waterways
Daniel Sheeran, Frank Ayotte, Hazen and Sawyer
Many municipalities are under the mandate of regulatory consent orders to reduce CSOs. Due to budgetary
constraints, everyone is looking for innovative and cost effective ways to fall into compliance with regulators. As
part of NYCDEP’s ongoing CSO Long Term Control Plan (LTCP) Project, the City and Hazen and Sawyer have
been working together to implement the installation of bending weirs into regulators in Queens, NY, to address
CSOs discharging to Jamaica Bay.
4:00 pm From Rain Drop to Hockey Puck Drop: Reusing Rainwater for Sustainable Ice Production
at Onondaga County’s Historic War Memorial Ice Arena
Michael Wilson, Matthew Marko, Mark Supplee, CH2M HILL; Archie Wixson, Onondaga County
The collected rainwater and snow-melt from the roof of the arena is being treated and reused to produce and
maintain the ice required for the ice rink, home of the Syracuse Crunch hockey team. The innovative WMRR
system is located within the basement of the Arena and involved the construction of approximately 15,000 gallons
of rainwater storage, in addition to the installation of pressure filtration, disinfection and water quality monitoring
of the treatment process.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Session 18 Residuals Management
Moderators
1:30 pm Jeff LeBlanc, WeCare Organics; Mark Greene, O’Brien & Gere
Case Study – Geneva, New York
Gordon Eddington, City of Geneva; Robert Wooldridge, Thermal Process System
In a fourth case study, Geneva, NY, there are many biosolids handling choices for municipal plants. After a long
evaluation process, the City of Geneva decided to convert their anaerobic digesters to Thermal Process Systems’
ThermAer ATAD process. There were many reasons for this change. This presentation will discuss the benefits
received by the City after choosing the ThermAer ATAD process.
NEW YORK WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION
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EIGHTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING / 2015
2:00 pm Some Like It Hot
Lawrence Hentz, HDR Engineering Inc.
Three case studies will be presented where a thermal hydrolysis process (THP), thermal drying and incineration
were considered for long-term biosolids management. The drivers for considering these technologies will be
identified and discussed for each case study. The competing alternatives will be discussed and the reasons for
selecting the preferred options will be provided. All three projects are currently in design. Information on design
issues will also be presented.
Coffee Break in Exhibit Hall
2:30 pm 3:30 pm Energy Production through Brown Grease Receiving in San Francisco, CA
Natalie Sierra, Brown and Caldwell; Karri Ving, Bonnie Jones, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
San Francisco has numerous grease generators within its service area and embarked on a comprehensive program
to address grease collection at the source and creation of facilities at one of its treatment plants for the receipt of
grease trap waste. The receiving station has evolved into a full grease receiving program and has led to increased
biogas production at the treatment plant.
4:00 pm Wastewater Facility Upgrade to Meet Co-Digestion Challenges
Using Advanced Anaerobic Digester System Producing Class A Biosolids
Jong Min Kim, Sudhakar Viswanathan, Infilco Degremont Inc.;
Tom Darby, Hermitage Municipal Authority, Hermitage, PA
This presentation details the upgrade of the mesophilic anaerobic digestion system to a phased digestion system
integrated with a combined heat and power system and the anticipated benefits of the selected technologies.
Specifically, focuses are on the potential benefits of increased biogas production by co-digestion and Class A
biosolids production by the phased digestion system. Secondary benefits such as energy savings using integrated
heat recovery system and a CHP will be discussed.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Collection Systems (Inspection/Rehab/Corrosion) – 2
Session 19
Contact Hours: Engineer Wastewater Water
Kara Pho, Ch2M Hill; David Stahl, HDR
Moderators
9:00 am Sewage Pollution Right-to-Know Status Update
Micah Fish-Gertz, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
This presentation will cover the basics of the Sewage Pollution Right to Know law, including reporting require
ments, how to report, and what to report. It will also cover DEC’s work to implement the law, the status of the
regulations, and the status of the permanent reporting system, NY-Alert.
9:30 am Electronic Reporting and the SPDES Program
Robert Wither, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
EPA is promulgating new regulations that will require SPDES permittees to submit certain paper-based reports
electronically. This rule will significantly change the amount of information that NYSDEC must enter into EPA’s
data system and how permittees submit SPDES compliance reports to NYSDEC. This presentation will outline the
reporting changes and the tools NYSDEC is developing to meet the electronic reporting requirements.
Coffee Break
10:00 am
10:30 am Developing Updated Water Quality Advisory Data for New York City
Alan Cohn, Ryan Fleming, Anand Kumaraswamy, NYC Department of Environmental Protection
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection, in collaboration with the NYC Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene, is updating the statistical relationships between rainfall, tides, ensuing combined sewer overflows
(CSO) and other atmospheric conditions to better predict water quality impacts in the waterways of New York
City. The goal of this project is to provide more robust public advisories regarding the location and duration for
which deteriorated water quality conditions may occur following a CSO event.
NEW YORK WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION
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EIGHTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING / 2015
11:00 am Challenges to Achieving Compliance with Future NY State Enterococci Criteria
Richard R. Isleib, HDR, Inc.
In December 2012, USEPA released Recreational Water Quality Criteria recommendations for enterococci
criteria. In response to these recommendations, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
(NYSDEC) is considering new enterococci standards. While working on projects that consider these new criteria,
it has become apparent that there are considerable challenges regarding compliance with the enterococci criteria
being considered. This presentation will present some of the challenges and nuances in dealing with these future
criteria.
Session 20
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Energy – 2
Moderators
Donna Hager, AECOM; Mark Greene, O’Brien & Gere
9:00 am Buy One, Get One: Energy Efficiency Based Capital Improvements Planning
Jamie Johnson, Brian M. Sibiga, Wendel Companies
Treatment plants in New York State experience challenges related to balancing increasing energy costs while
meeting stricter discharge limits, placing further demands on aging infrastructure and fixed capacity treatment
facilities. Further, the cost to implement capital improvements is often too daunting for municipalities to undertake
without impacts to tax payers. These challenges have emphasized the need for an energy efficiency based approach
to capital improvements planning, which will be discussed in this presentation.
9:30 am BNR Aeration System Design, Management and Optimization
Caitlin Hunt, Natalia Perez, Alexander Lopez, Patrick O’Connor, NYC DEP
Optimization of the aeration system for the Coney Island BNR Upgrade can significantly reduce energy. This
presentation will focus on how BioWin modeling was used to design, optimize and integrate the aeration system
to offer passive DO control and greater operator flexibility. This integrated design approach included analyzing
the BNR process air needs, the capacity and efficiency of the existing blowers, integration of the channel mixing
and introducing a DO control system.
Coffee Break
10:00 am
10:30 am Barriers to Energy Efficiency and Utility Experience with Solutions
John Willis, Nancy Andrews, Brown and Caldwell; Kathleen O’Connor, Environmental Research and
Development, NYSERDA; Lauren Fillmore; WERF
Some wastewater utilities are implementing process and equipment innovations that enable them to use less energy,
but many utilities face tradeoffs or barriers to maximizing operations energy efficiency. This presentation will
share the results of a comprehensive, national WERF/NYSERDA survey and focus-group process that identifies
barriers for various types of energy efficiency initiatives, including capital projects, maintenance practices, and
operational optimization. Solutions and successful organizational approaches to overcome these barriers will be
presented.
11:00 am Going Green with Channel Mixing
Anthony Elberti, Gannett Fleming
The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) owns and operates three large WWTPs in their service area. The largest
is the Southwest Water Pollution Control Facility (200 MGD dry weather). PWD has been using conventional
coarse bubble diffusers to mix their floc tanks, primary influent channel and mixed liquor channels. Pneumatic
mixing using the Enviromix system has been installed which uses about 20 times less air and is three times more
energy efficient. The pneumatic mixing system uses pulsed high pressure air to achieve mixing.
NEW YORK WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION
16
EIGHTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING / 2015
Session 21
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Sustainability/Green House Gases/Climate Change/Green Energy
Moderators
Vin Rubino, CH2M Hill; Megan Messman, CDM Smith
9:00 am Biogas Utilization: Raising the Bar via Resource Recovery
Edward Weinberg, ESSRE Consulting, Inc.
Novel approaches provide an economic jolt to anaerobic digester owners/developers via focus on resource recovery
approaches that 1) produce more biogas using unique co-digestion of food related wastes; 2) profitably mitigate
GHG emissions of NOx, CO2 from biogas engine exhaust via carbon capture and recovery (CCR) technology
that involves the growth and harvesting of microalgae in specialized photobioreactors; and 3) provide enhanced
nutrient reduction and recovery to support microalgae growth or as “green” fertilizer offsite.
9:30 am Sustainable Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements Using Envision™
Nishant Shah, John Lenti, Greeley & Hansen Architects;
Daniel A. Solimando, Robert J. D’Attile, NYC DEP – BEDC
This presentation discusses the use of Envision™ for sustainable improvements at a wastewater treatment
plant. The project design took into consideration the green codes and the owners’ commitment to sustainable
development. This presentation will discuss use of Envision tools and the major sustainable features of the project
that were evaluated against Envision™ credits. The resulting rating score will be discussed along with the major
advantages of using Envision™ for analyzing infrastructure projects.
Coffee Break
10:00 am
10:30 am A Cost Model to Quantify the Triple Win Bottom Line of Organic Waste Co-Digestion
Margaret Hopkins, Nabeel Mishalani, Eric Spargimino, CDM Smith; Tami Lin, NYC DEP
New York City, along with many other municipalities, cities and states, will soon ban the disposal of organic
wastes in landfills. One potential disposal alternative for these organic wastes is co-digestion in existing anaerobic
digesters at wastewater treatment plants. CDM Smith created a model for the New York City DEP to evaluate the
economic and environmental costs and benefits associated with introducing organic wastes to the sanitary waste
stream at New York City wastewater treatment plants.
11:00 am Energy
Neil Webb, O’Brien & Gere
Energy master plans, climate action plans, investments in efficiency, retrocommissioning, and especially demand
response are all uncovering the significance of submetering energy use for many public and private entities.
Capturing this information and translating it into actionable value propositions is fundamental for the promotion
of every energy program. O’Brien & Gere will present how two large New York City municipal energy users,
the NYCDEP wastewater operations and City College of New York are utilizing data collection, monitoring and
visualization to measure progress towards energy goals.
Session 22
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Plant Modeling
Moderators
Robert Frost, Hazen and Sawyer; David Railsback, ARCADIS
9:00 am Wastewater Process Modeling Pitfalls and Lessons Learned
Ron Latimer, Paul Pitt, Hazen and Sawyer
Advanced activated sludge process simulation models such as BioWin and GPS-X have increasingly been used
for design of BNR/ENR plants. Utilization of a properly developed and calibrated model using site specific waste
water characterization is recommended. This presentation will summarize the results of these efforts, provide a
comparison of the site specific data to BioWin defaults, illustrate some of the impacts and key issues to BNR/ENR
modeling and design, and potential pitfalls.
NEW YORK WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION
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EIGHTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING / 2015
9:30 am Are You Spending Quality Time with Your Final Clarifiers during Design and Operation?
Samuel Jeyanayagam, Vincent Rubino, Kara Pho, CH2M HILL
This presentation will be of interest to plant operators, design engineers, regulators and anyone wanting to learn
about or refresh their knowledge regarding designing and operating final clarifiers.
Coffee Break
10:00 am
10:30 am Avoiding Sediment Export during the Reactivation of the Gowanus Canal Flushing Tunnel
Masa Takamatsu, Thomas Newman, Stephen Ertman, HDR Engineering, Inc.;
Kevin Clarke, New York City Department of Environmental Protection
Recently completed renovations of the Gowanus Canal Flushing Tunnel system increased maximum discharge
rates by 40 percent compared to the previous system. DEP assessed the potential re-suspension of bed solids
resulting from increased flow rates through CFD modeling and other analyses conducted prior to the reactivation.
Study results enabled DEP to take precautions to minimize solids re-suspension and export. The presentation
covers the CFD approach and results, together with available post-reactivation observation.
11:00 am Use of CFD Modeling for Optimal Wet Weather Flow Distribution System Design
Jay Lovelass, Nishant Shah, Greeley & Hansen; Robert J. D’Attile, NYC DEP – BEDC
This presentation will discuss the hydraulic issues and detailed design of a new flow distribution structure (FDS) at
NYC DEP’s 26th Ward WWTP. The new FDS was designed to split the flow and grit evenly to the six preliminary
settling tanks. This study will discuss the design goals, CFD modeling results and measures taken to optimize the
performance of the new FDS under peak wet weather flow conditions.
Session 23
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Information Technology and Automation
Moderators
Camie McGraw, CRA; Ely Greenberg, Erg Process Energy
9:00 am IT and SCADA Automation, a Modern Mixture: SCADA with Mobility
Mick Jones, Tetra Tech
This presentation provides highlights of a state-of-the-art SCADA system improvements project that utilizes
mobile platforms to allow global monitoring of over 250 facilities via modern SCADA system components and
how it has proven that standardization can provide great economic benefit on large scale systems. It captures the
planning, design, and implementation phases of a successful SCADA with mobility project with an existing utility.
9:30 am Real Time Optical Monitoring of BOD and eColi for Process Control in a 10 MGD Plant
Robert Dunbar, TC Tech; Chris Russo, Nathan Klinkhamme, ZAPS Technologies, Inc.;
Dan Hanthorne, City of Corvallis Wastewater Treatment
Photon spectrometry can be used to enable the precise characterization of water quality parameters without
surrogate microbial seeds, reagents or other sample disruptions. The end result is real time monitoring of BOD,
eColi, ammonia and nitrates, TOC, and TSS, among many other parameters, directly from the sample stream.
Continuous online measurement saves resources devoted to manual sample collection and lab processing and
enables process control that has never been possible before.
Coffee Break
10:00 am
10:30 am Leveraging SCADA Systems to Optimize Chemical Efficiency
Joseph LaRosa, Matthew Lick, CDM Smith
Municipal water and wastewater treatment facilities are continually looking to improve reliability and minimize
operating cost. An important component of any treatment facility is the chemical addition that provides for
coagulation, disinfection, pH adjustment and odor control of plant processes. Incorrect dosing can have substantial
impacts on treatment facilities including environmental contamination, permit violation and increased chemical
costs. The advancement of automation systems has provided complex algorithms that optimize control of the
chemical feed systems.
NEW YORK WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION
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EIGHTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING / 2015
11:00 am New York City’s New Collection Facilities SCADA System – Challenges and Successes
Frank Kulcsar, James Mueller, Anthony Maracic, NYC DEP; Vatche Minassian, ARCADIS
NYC DEP deployed a new citywide SCADA system to provide monitoring and reporting for the over one billion
gallons per day sewage collection and treatment system. Engineering challenges were considerable given the land
area and variety of facilities to be monitored. As the new system became operational and one year shakeout period
ended, the system and collected data is being used more and more as a management tool and to satisfy regulatory
reporting requirements.
Session 24
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Facility Planning in the New Millennium
Moderators
John Petito, NYCDEP; Ron Delo, D&B Engineers + Architects
1:30 pm Costs, Benefits and Risks of Consolidating Rockaway WWTP with 26th Ward WWTP
versus Reinvesting in Treatment at Rockaway
Norman Bradley, Hazen & Sawyer; James G. Mueller, Anthony Maracic, Mike Kalliangas,
NYC DEP – Bureau of Wastewater Treatment
Rockaway is DEP’s smallest and least energy efficient WWTP in its portfolio. It has been 40 years since the
last major “state of good repair” upgrade at Rockaway. Significant capital enhancements are needed to maintain
operations, and DEP is exposed to several treatment and infrastructure risks if the plant remains in service. This
presentation focuses on facility planning that evaluated the costs, benefits and risks of consolidating two plants
versus reinvesting in treatment at Rockaway.
2:00 pm
Master Facility Plan for the Bowery Bay WWTP
Robert Frost, Benjamin Levin, Anni Luck, Hazen and Sawyer; James Mueller, NYC DEP
This presentation will discuss development and finalization of the Bureau of Wastewater Treatment’s (BWT)
first comprehensive Master Facility Plan for the Bowery Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant, addressing their new
priorities and challenges: planning for the replacement of key assets through the analysis of criticality, risk,
and condition through effective asset management; meeting more challenging treatment standards that require a
finer level of process control and performance; and identifying business cases for improved energy management
offering BWT lifecycle payback.
Coffee Break
2:30 pm
3:00 pm Seeing Red, but ‘In the Black’ – Diverse Case Studies Demonstrate Substantial Cost Savings
by Converting to Deammonification
Tim Constantine, Dwight Houweling, Paula Sanjines, Julian Sandino, CH2M HILL
Municipalities are continually searching for ways to reduce costs that are ultimately borne by their ratepayers,
and this includes wastewater treatment. In particular, the provision of nitrification and total nitrogen removal
has significant impacts on the capital cost of infrastructure and operating costs for treatment. This presentation
will describe three rather diverse applications of sidestream deammonification that have distinct benefits to the
mainstream system.
3:30 pm
BNR Benchmark Study and Asset Management for an Integrated BNR Retrofit Design
at the Coney Island WWTP
Natalia Pérez, Caitlin Hunt, Alexander Lopez, Patrick O’Connor,
NYC Department of Environmental Protection
The Coney Island Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) level one upgrade, anticipated for 2020, is intended to
be a cost-effective means of reducing effluent total nitrogen with limited capital expenditures. Accordingly, the
design approach is focused on integrating as many existing plant assets as feasible to meet the desired treatment
results while saving capital and providing operational flexibility. A benchmark study of all existing BNR facilities
provided the foundation for most of the design decisions.
NEW YORK WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION
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EIGHTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING / 2015
Session 25
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Ethics (first half)
Integrated Resiliency Modeling (second half)
Moderators
Vin Rubino, CH2M HILL; Joseph Corrado, ARCADIS
1:30 pm (1 Hour )
Roles and Responsibilities of Wastewater Operators (Ethics and Labor Relations)
John Mancini, New York State Conference of Mayors (NYCOM)
Municipal employees now more than ever are under the proverbial microscope. The public is watching and they
demand that municipal employees hold themselves to a high standard. Topics of discussion will include: municipal
ethics, nepotism, use of municipal equipment, use of e-mail and other forms of electronic communication, as well
as a discussion regarding the use of GPS and surveillance monitoring of employees and employee discipline.
2:30 pm Coffee Break
3:00 pm Innovative Stormwater Management Modeling at the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant
Martha Cardona, Pradeep Rayaprolu, Hazen and Sawyer;
Joseph L. Davenport, Nassau County Department of Public Works; Jason J. Borne, ARCADIS-US, Inc.
After Tropical Storm Sandy, protection of the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant (BPSTP) from storm surge
consisted of a large perimeter floodwall with gates/valves on floodwall penetrations such as stormwater outfalls.
To handle runoff within the BPSTP, two stormwater pumping stations were considered. Autodesk Storm and
Sanitary Analysis were utilized to develop a model to evaluate alternatives for stormwater management at BPSTP
and design two pumping stations rated for conveyance of the 10-year design storm.
3:30 pm Integrated Urban Drainage (IUD) Modeling at a City Scale
Louise Ellis, ARUP
ARUP produced a Surface Water Management Plan for Bristol (UK) which included the largest integrated urban
drainage model in the UK. The outcome of the study was not only a dynamic flood hazard map showing the
movement of hazard (depth and velocity) through the catchment, but also, two key conclusions about the practice
of flood modeling: the importance of integrating drainage systems into flood models and the advantages of dynamic
flood maps in emergency planning.
Session 26
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Green Infrastructure
Cliff Pomerantz, Greeley & Hansen; Toby Siegman, NYC DEP
Moderators
1:30 pm Adapting Green Infrastructure for Bedrock Areas in the Bronx
Ray Hyland, Matthew O’Connor, Greeley & Hansen; Derick Tonning, Miki Urisaka, NYC DEP
DEP will be constructing thousands of standard right-of-way bioswales (ROWB) over tens of thousands of acres.
However, limitations occur when attempting to site standard practices in challenging areas where bedrock is
prevalent, such as in the Bronx. Through design modifications and alternative green infrastructure (GI) practices,
DEP was able to increase the impervious area managed in the Hutchinson River drainage area. The project
represents a case study for successfully implementing GI in an urban environment with significantly shallow
bedrock.
2:00 pm Long-Term Performance Monitoring and Assessment of the Ranaqua Green Roof
Nitin Katiyar, Thomas Newman, HDR; Brian Aucoin, NYC Parks;
Elizabeth Bowler, (former) NYC Parks
The Ranaqua Green Roof facility is specifically designed as part of a project to monitor and evaluate long-term
green roof performance in reducing roof runoff. This presentation will focus on the characteristics of the green
roof, the monitoring program and the results of the performance analyses. Results of the analysis show that the
green roofs capture about 52 percent of the annual incident rainfall and reduce rooftop runoff by approximately
42 percent versus a regular bare roof.
NEW YORK WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION
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EIGHTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING / 2015
Hotel Information (Make your reservations early to get the Group Rate!)
New York Marriott Marquis
1535 Broadway, Reservations Dept.
8th Floor, New York City, NY 10036, (800) 266-9432
Hotel link to reserve room: https://resweb.passkey.com/go/NYWater2015
To make your hotel reservation, simply call the toll free number, and state that you are with the New York Water
Environment Association. The meeting dates are February 2–February 4, 2015.
Check-in Time:
3:00 pm
Check-out Time:
12:00 noon
The following rates will apply:
Early Bird Room Rate: $235 (Only available until October 31)
Reservations will not be held unless accompanied by a deposit (check) or an accepted credit card.
For Room Service Hospitality, please call (212) 704-8823.
Confirmation Number for your records: ___________________________________
Deadline for hotel reservations is January 2, 2015.
Life Style Program
Sunday February 1, 2015
3:00 pm
If/Then
Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 W. 46th St.
If/Then is a contemporary new musical that follows two distinct storylines in the
life of Elizabeth, a city planner who moves back to New York to restart her life in
this city of infinite possibilities. When her carefully designed plans collide with
the whims of fate, Elizabeth’s life splits into two parallel paths. If/Then follows
both stories simultaneously as this modern woman faces the intersection of choice
and chance.
Please call or email Maggie to purchase tickets ($68)
315-422-7811 ext. 1 or [email protected]
Monday February 2, 2015
Lunch (TBD)
12:00 pm
2:00 pm
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Museum Highlights: An Introduction to the Met’s Collections
Take a journey around the world, experiencing highlights of the
Museum’s vast collections of master paintings, sculpture and decorative arts from ancient times to the present.
This one-hour tour will lead you through time and across cultures in
an exploration of the Museum’s encyclopedic collection. Works of art
by some of the greatest artists in the history of art are included as are
works whose creators are unknown or anonymous. Two members of
our staff designed this itinerary to reflect their favorite works in our
collection as well as those of our visitors.
To register for Lifestyle Program, please see registration form.
NEW YORK WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION
21
EIGHTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING / 2015
Join Us and Exhibit! 87th Annual Meeting Exhibitors
(as of October 27, 2014)
ADVERTISERS/
EXHIBITORS
Adler Industrial Service
Hayes Pump Inc.
Synagro
ADS Environmental
Heiner
TC Tech LLC
Allied-Locke Industries
Hobas Pipe
Tec Solutions
Amwell
J Blanco
Tek Sales
Applied Analytics Inc.
G.P. Jager
Atlantic Fluid
Kemira
Troup Environmental Alternatives
LLC
Augusta Fiberglass
KG Power Systems
BENDLIN
Koester Associates Inc.
Brentwood Industries
Limitorque
Brunel Corporation
Marine & Industrial Hydraulics
Burt Process Equipment
Maser Consulting
Casella Organics
Mercer Rubber Co.
Clean Waters
Merrick Industries Inc.
Clear Flo Technologies
Metrofab
Control Sales Inc.
NSI Neal Systems
CST Covers
NY National Water Main
Cues Inc.
Onyx Valve Company
DOER Products & Services, Inc.
PCS Pump & Process
Doetsch Environmental Svc.
Pentair
Earth Repair LLC
Philadelphia Gear
Elliott International
Equipment Corp.
Preload
Valley Tech
Wastecorp
WeCare Organics
XERO
PSI Process & Equipment
Emerson Process Management
Quality Controls
EMI Valve Actuator
Rapid Pump
Enecon Northeast APS
Raritan Group
Environmental Operating
Solutions Inc.
Reiner Pump
Erdman Anthony
Rodney Hunt
Excelsior Blower Systems
Rotork
GA Fleet
RPT
GNA
Savin Engineering PC
Godwin Pumps, a Xylem Brand
Schnabel Engineering
Green Mountain Pipe
Schulz Electric
GT Smith
Sherwood Logan & Assoc.
Harper Control Solutions Inc.
SNF Polydyne, Inc.
Harper Haines Fluid Control Inc.
Spectraserv
Interested in exhibiting at 87th Annual Meeting? Contact Darlene Ciuffetelli at (914) 641-2478
or [email protected]. Interested in advertising or sponsorship? Contact
Maureen at [email protected] or 315-422-7811 for more information.
NEW YORK WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION
Tully Environmental
22
For Sponsorship & Advertising Form, go to
http://nywea.org/meetings/ConfDocs/Advertising_SponsorshipOpportunities.pdf
or visit www.nywea.org
EIGHTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING / 2015