Wastewater Training, 1 of 3

NEIWPCC・2 minutes read

Jim Li Li Liberty is moderating a webinar series on wastewater treatment, covering various aspects of the field and emphasizing proper management and regulations. The training program includes essential topics, historical developments, treatment methods, regulations, and specific processes like grit removal and disinfection.

Insights

Jim Li Li Liberty, a chemical process engineer with extensive experience, leads a three-part Wastewater training program focusing on different aspects of treatment.
Historical developments in Wastewater treatment, from ancient civilizations to modern innovations, emphasize the progression towards cleaner water management.
The Clean Water Act of 1972 and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System significantly impacted wastewater treatment, aiming to make rivers fishable and swimmable.
Various treatment methods, such as bar screens, grit removal processes, and disinfection techniques like UV radiation, play crucial roles in wastewater treatment plants' operations.

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Recent questions

What is the purpose of wastewater treatment?
To remove pollutants before water disposal.
How has wastewater treatment evolved over time?
From ancient civilizations to modern innovations.
What are the key components of wastewater treatment?
Collection systems, treatment methods, and disposal.
Why is certification important in wastewater treatment?
To ensure proper management and expertise.
How has legislation impacted wastewater treatment?
Through regulations and standards for water quality.

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Summary

00:00

Wastewater Training Webinars with Jim Li

Drew Youngs is moderating the first of three Wastewater training webinars for new PIIC internal staff, led by speaker Jim Li Li Liberty.
Tips for using the system during the webinar include muting participant lines, using the chat function for questions, and navigating full screen mode.
The webinar will be recorded and available for future access on the website, with contact information provided for further inquiries.
Jim Li Li Liberty is a chemical process engineer with over three decades of experience, specializing in Wastewater and safety training programs.
The training program consists of three units, each covered in a standalone webinar of about three hours, focusing on different aspects of Wastewater treatment.
Unit one, covered on day one, includes reasons for treating Wastewater, history of regulations, sources and characteristics, collection systems, preliminary treatment, and disinfection.
Unit two covers Wastewater microbiology and biological treatment, while unit three, on day three in February, addresses nutrient removal, biosolids, and industrial pre-treatment.
Jim Li Li Liberty discusses his background in Wastewater treatment, highlighting the importance of certification and his experience in the field.
The evolution of Wastewater treatment is traced back to ancient civilizations, with a focus on the necessity of clean water for population growth and disease prevention.
Historical developments in Wastewater treatment, from Roman times to modern innovations like trickling filters and activated sludge systems, are discussed, emphasizing the progression towards cleaner water management.

15:39

Evolution of Wastewater Treatment in Massachusetts

The development of wastewater treatment methods was significant in Massachusetts, particularly at the Lawrence experimental station.
Despite the common use of these methods, there was a lack of regulation, leading to rivers being polluted with domestic and industrial waste.
The Meramac River in New Hampshire was severely polluted, making it unsuitable for activities like fishing or swimming.
The Clean Water Act of 1972 brought about significant changes in wastewater treatment, aiming to make rivers fishable and swimmable by 1983.
The Act led to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, regulating all discharges into US waterways.
Wastewater operators undergo competitions to showcase their skills and knowledge, emphasizing the importance of proper wastewater management.
Wastewater consists of domestic waste, industrial waste, and stormwater, with collection systems playing a crucial role in managing these.
Different components of wastewater, such as biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids, require specific treatment methods.
Various organisms, including aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, are involved in wastewater treatment processes.
The flow of wastewater to treatment plants fluctuates throughout the day and week, influenced by human activities and weather conditions.

31:35

Managing Wastewater Treatment for Environmental Protection

95% of organisms in wastewater treatment are single-cell bacteria, and increasing flow can disrupt their movement, risking their loss to the river.
In high-flow situations like combined sewer overflow, untreated wastewater can lead to public health issues and beach closures.
Efforts to address combined sewer overflow have led to the closure of 32 out of 84 CSOs, with improved treatment capabilities.
The collection system undergoes regular scrutiny and maintenance to address leaks, tree roots, grease, and other issues.
Wastewater entering treatment plants varies in color, odor, and temperature, requiring different operational approaches based on the season.
Different types of solids in wastewater, including settleable, floatable, suspended, and dissolved, necessitate specific treatment methods.
Testing for settleable solids involves a simple hour-long process using a cone to assess the wastewater's solid content.
Biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand tests help gauge the organic strength of wastewater, crucial for treatment plant operations.
Various factors like alkalinity, nitrogen, phosphorus, sand, grit, and pH levels impact wastewater treatment processes and efficiency.
Publicly owned treatment plants (POTWs) play a vital role in treating wastewater to ensure it doesn't harm the water bodies it discharges into, following a biological, chemical, and physical treatment process.

48:00

Managing Industrial Wastewater: Pre-Treatment Regulations

Soils and greenery can cause blockages in water pipes, leading to costly repairs and potential basement flooding.
Pre-treatment involves a cyclone system to remove grit and disinfect wastewater before discharge into the system.
Pre-treatment includes actions like dosing lift stations with chemicals to control odors and keep the system functioning properly.
Industrial certification in Massachusetts helps control inorganic substances that could harm bacterial treatment processes.
Municipalities oversee industries to ensure they don't send harmful substances to wastewater treatment plants.
Pre-treatment programs are mandatory for plants with a design flow of 5 billion gallons per day or more.
General prohibitions prevent industries from sending pollutants that interfere with treatment plant operations.
Organic matter in treatment plants is converted into biodegradable matter, which must be properly disposed of to avoid violations.
Discharges with temperatures above 104 degrees Fahrenheit are prohibited to protect treatment plant organisms.
Pollutants that pose safety risks or interfere with treatment plant operations are strictly prohibited.

01:15:54

Bar screens and grit removal in wastewater.

Bar screens are common in most plants, with steel bars ranging from a quarter inch to 3/4 of an inch, automatically cleaned to resist flow resistance.
Cleaning mechanisms in bar screens drag material off the bars, ensuring water drains back into the channel to prevent excess moisture and vector attraction.
Automatic systems for cleaning bar screens work based on head loss, with a control panel using ultrasonic level devices and PLCs to regulate cleaning operations.
Fine screens with tight spacing can replace primary treatment processes, such as tangential screens with triangular wedge wires shaving off water to separate solids.
Rotary screens with rotating drums and mesh screens separate solids from water, with screenings varying in composition and size.
Monster grinders like the Muffin Monster grind and dewater screenings before disposal in landfills, ensuring removal of organic waste.
Grit removal processes slow water velocity to allow dense materials to settle out, with non-aerated grid chambers facilitating settling and removal of grit.
Aeration grid chambers pump air to freshen wastewater and aid in grit settling, with some facilities using cyclones to concentrate solids before washing and disposal.
Odor control is crucial in wastewater treatment plants, with various methods like carbon absorption, biofilters, and chemical scrubbers used to manage odors.
Upper Blackstone's enclosed air-rated grid chambers utilize biofilters to effectively control odors, with some facilities opting for chemical scrubbing for odor management.

01:31:17

Wastewater Treatment: Key Processes and Equipment

Many households rely on septic systems for waste management, necessitating regular sludge removal to prevent issues.
Wastewater treatment plants handle concentrated wastewater, akin to espresso for bugs, requiring careful management.
Screening devices remove debris like Legos and toys from wastewater, with pH readings to ensure proper levels.
Solids entering treatment plants from raw wastewater are significantly higher than those from septic systems.
Flow measurement is crucial for reporting, plant operation, and process control, often done using a partial flume.
Primary treatment involves separating settleable solids and floatable materials, reducing BOD and suspended solids.
Primary settling tanks slow water flow to allow solids to settle and floatables to rise, with a baffle system for efficient separation.
Mechanisms like chain and flight systems help move solids and floatables out of settling tanks for further processing.
Circular clarifiers are common for primary treatment, with baffles and rake mechanisms aiding in solid and floatable removal.
Parameters like weir overflow rate and surface loading rate dictate the number of clarifiers needed based on flow rates and design factors.

01:47:32

Water Treatment: Skipping Biological, Focusing on Disinfection

Biological treatment will be skipped for now, moving directly to disinfection after a short break.
After biological treatment, clarification is necessary to remove generated bugs and achieve clean water.
Disinfection is crucial to eliminate pathogenic bacteria before water disposal.
Filtration, often needed post-clarification, involves methods like sand filters or cloth filters for phosphorus removal.
Disinfection aims to reduce organisms to safe levels, with common methods being chlorination, ultraviolet radiation, and ozone.
Chlorine gas, historically popular for disinfection, requires careful handling due to its toxicity and specific pH requirements for effective disinfection.
Chlorine can be purchased in different containers like 150-pound cylinders, one-ton cylinders, or rail cars, each with specific safety features.
Sodium hypochlorite, a safer alternative to chlorine gas, is commonly used for disinfection, offering ease of use and control.
Dosage of chlorine for disinfection is based on fluoride levels, with a safety factor included for residual protection.
Breakpoint chlorination is a complex concept where chlorine reacts with various compounds until free chlorine is achieved, crucial for effective disinfection in water treatment plants.

02:16:44

Water Treatment: Dechlorination, UV Disinfection, and Safety

Dechlorination is crucial for safety before discharging water, with upper limits like 12 parts per billion for residual chlorine.
Sulfur dioxide was once popular but is now replaced by alternatives like sodium sulfite and bisulfite for dechlorination.
Ultraviolet radiation is a popular method for water treatment, using light bulbs to disinfect water without hazardous chemicals.
UV light's range is 40 to 400 NM, with effective disinfection at 254 NM, disrupting organisms' DNA to prevent reproduction.
UV light bulbs need to be positioned correctly to ensure effective disinfection, with potential issues like turbidity blocking the light.
Ozone is a strong disinfectant but complex to handle, with some facilities using it successfully for water treatment.
Testing for dissolved oxygen content is crucial before discharging water into streams, ensuring it blends in quickly without harming the environment.
Whole effluent toxicity tests involve assessing the impact of wastewater on aquatic organisms like water fleas and minnows.
Treatment plants must operate continuously, with generators ensuring operations during power outages to maintain water treatment.
Contingency plans involve switching to alternative systems, managing flow rates, and ensuring continuous disinfection to handle emergencies effectively.

02:32:50

Water Treatment: Monitoring Demand and Storm Resilience

Monitoring chlorine demand is crucial in water treatment processes to prevent unexpected spikes in demand, which can be triggered by issues like nutrient removal or external factors like ammonia contamination.
Resilience to coastal storms is a significant concern for water treatment plants in coastal areas, with a focus on addressing potential flooding risks, even for existing facilities, through specialized training and planning sessions.

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