Sunday, March 10, 2024
Handling Changing Times and Impact of Consent Order
Joe Swaim, PE | 1:30pm
This presentation discusses how the Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority (OJRSA) has strategically evaluated its structure, staffing, and operations since the Consent Order in May 2021. Details will include the intricacies of navigating the Consent Order, negotiating with SCDHEC, and identifying key programs like FOG to enhance capacity reduction. The presentation will cover the political and community impact on OJRSA’s long-term structure as it prepares for upcoming growth.
One Size Doesn’t Fit All – Picking the Right Hydraulic Model for Your Utility
Earl Bingham, PE, GISP | 2:05pm
Hydraulic modeling for a water or sewer system can be an intimidating task for a utility to take on. Specialized training, costly software and large quantities of data are often assumed to be pre-requisites to even get a model off the ground. However, tailoring the model to the specific challenges of your system and leveraging the resources you already have available can provide a pathway to cost-effective modeling.
The presentation will draw on hydraulic modeling experience for numerous water and sewer utilities in the Southeast to demonstrate the process of selecting and developing a hydraulic model that is best suited for the specific needs of your organization. The steps in this process will be discussed in detail as follows:
- Understanding the general benefits and use cases of hydraulic models;
- Finding the best fit between your utility’s goals and potential model types;
- Identifying the best people for the job;
- Selecting the right modeling software;
- Leveraging the available data and efficiently filling data gaps;
- Using the model results; and
- Evolving the model into a long-term resource.
Whether your utility is just dipping its toe into hydraulic modeling or has already taken the plunge, this presentation will provide actionable information on how to efficiently utilize the resources at your disposal to assess and plan the operation of your system.
What Lead Service Line Inventories Have Taught Us About Asset Management
Michael Cameron, GISP | 2:40 pm
The Lead Service Line Inventory (LSLI) requirements, part of the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) administered by each state, have been an unprecedented challenge for water systems. For many, service lines have been an afterthought as they have built their GIS and Asset Management programs. That is no longer the case, as water utilities must account for known and unknown lead service lines and provide supporting evidence for lines that are not lead.
As water utilities prepare to submit their inventories by the October 2024 deadline, there are lessons to be learned in how data is collected and maintained that are worth heeding as we prepare for the next phases of the LCRR. In this presentation, we will review several case studies to see the challenges water utilities have faced in meeting the LSLI requirements, especially regarding supporting data. We will also discuss operational efficiencies in collecting and managing data that have been instrumental for some utilities to not only respond quickly but also to make the most of funding opportunities that have been described as “once in a lifetime.”
In this presentation, we will also discuss Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its role thus far, as well as how it is likely to revolutionize the next phases of the LCRR. For utilities that are not yet leveraging this technology, we will discuss steps that can be taken now to ensure you are not left out!
Board Basics: I’m a Board Member, Now What?
Angie Mettlen | 2:40 pm
This is a presentation as part of a new track at SCEC for board members. It will provide an overview of the role of a utility board member and what they can expect during their tenure.
Monday, March 11, 2024
Water Treatment Residuals – Managing the Creature from the Plant Lagoon
Bill Young, PE and Robert Scott, PE | 11:26am
This presentation will focus on the Belton-Honea Path Water Authority’s water treatment plant (WTP), which has been serving a 62-square-mile area in parts of Anderson County and Abbeville County, South Carolina, since 1962. The WTP, operating as a conventional surface water treatment plant, faces challenges identified in a recent evaluation, particularly in residuals management. The evaluation highlighted the need for improvements, focusing on managing sludge in the existing lagoon to prevent potential violations of the NPDES Permit. Various alternatives for WTP residuals management, such as onsite lagoons, spray field irrigation, and mechanical dewatering with landfilling, were assessed. The presentation will delve into the evaluation process, including considerations of existing and future residual flows, concentrations, and potential expansion to 6 mg. Filter backwash recovery facilities and recommendations will be integrated, with a thorough comparison of alternatives based on both cost and non-cost criteria, including capital costs and life cycle costs. Attendees can expect a comprehensive overview of the evaluation process, conclusions, and recommendations for enhancing the Belton-Honea Path Water Authority’s WTP.
Effective Communication for Efficient Construction Management of Utility Infrastructure at SC Gateway Park
Scott Tetrick, PE and Charles Bunton | 1:40pm
The presentation focuses on the development of the South Carolina Gateway Park in Orangeburg, SC, a substantial 1,100-acre logistics industrial park strategically located near the intersection of Highway 301 and Interstate 95. WK Dickson played a crucial role in the park’s development by designing and overseeing the construction of utilities. The presentation highlights the importance of effective communication for efficient construction management, particularly in obtaining permits within a tight timeline. The wastewater construction involved intricate components such as a wetwell, self-contained pump house, flow meter, backup generator, SCADA, gravity sewer, and force main, including a bore and jack under State Highway 301 and Interstate 95. The utility infrastructure also featured a 16-inch water meter designed for efficient water supply management.
The presentation outlines the challenges faced during construction, including weather issues, utility interruptions, and modifications. Successful project management was achieved through consistent communication with Orangeburg County’s project manager, acting as a liaison between county administration, utility staff, and project engineering design staff. The project encompassed extensive sewer and force main installations, a factory-built pump station, and a 16-inch water meter supported by a prefabricated structure. Coordination for water shutoff, property easements, testing, site inspections, and the intricate process of boring and jacking beneath I-95 and HWY 301 was crucial for the project’s efficiency. Attendees can expect insights into the successful coordination and management strategies employed to overcome challenges and ensure the seamless development of the South Carolina Gateway Park.
Federal Requirements (Funding Track)
Angie Mettlen | 2:15pm
This presentation will provide an overview of what to expect from federally-funded projects – from procurement to contracting through construction.
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
North Charleston Sewer District’s (NCSD) Force Main Rehabilitation Program
Jay Reigart, PE | 10:25am
The presentation highlights the North Charleston Sewer District’s (NCSD) 2021 initiative to rehabilitate force mains associated with four major regional pump stations using the Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) methodology. The force mains at Ingleside PS, Northwoods PS, Turkey Creek PS, and Noisette PS, constructed as far back as the 1960s, were targeted for rehabilitation. The bidding process occurred in January 2022, with Insituform Technologies, LLC being awarded the contract at $9,696,896.
Construction challenges were encountered, including bypassing the force mains with flowrates up to 19,000 GPM, complicated access due to various environmental features, and the need for special permits for transporting lengthy wet-out liners on the US Interstate System. A unique conveyor was deployed to accelerate the inversion process and prevent premature curing.
The rehabilitation of Northwoods and Turkey Creek force mains is complete, with the Noisette force main scheduled for completion by the end of October. The Ingleside rehabilitation is set to conclude by the end of June 2024. The presentation also sheds light on the permitting efforts involving SC DOT, the US Army Corps of Engineers, CSX Transportation, and the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control. The case study aims to explore the distinctive challenges faced during this ambitious project, offering valuable insights into the complexities of force main rehabilitation within a diverse environmental and logistical landscape.