(ALEXANDRIA, Va.) — The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) recognized the City of Los Angeles with its Award for Excellence in Innovation on Tuesday afternoon for the Bureau of Sanitation’s Terminal Island Renewable Energy (TIRE) project. TIRE has offered numerous environmental solutions and a successful diversified biosolids management program while potentially saving millions of dollars annually since the facility began operating in 2008.
This new WERF award recognizes organizations that have made improvements to wastewater and stormwater collection, storage or treatment operations, facilities, or processes by applying WERF research. The City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works is one of two organizations to receive the award in its inaugural year.
The TIRE project is the nation’s first full-scale demonstration project of an innovative technology to convert biosolids into clean energy by deep-well placement and geothermal biodegradation. “The Bureau of Sanitation is honored to have been selected by the Water Environment Research Foundation for this award. The Terminal Island Renewable Energy project improves air quality and reduces greenhouse gases by using wastewater treatment byproducts as a renewable resource in an innovative and environmentally safe manner,” said Bureau of Sanitation Director Enrique C. Zaldivar.
Placing biosolids in deep subsurface formations using state-of-the art technology further protects groundwater as opposed to land application. TIRE also reduces truck traffic and associated exhaust emissions, pollutants, odors, and dust by 520,000 miles per year. There is a reduction in land application of biosolids in an exposed environment of 54,750 tons per year. Also, there is elimination from the atmosphere of 84 tons of NOX and 13 tons of carbon monoxide (CO) per year. Currently, WERF is working with the Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation and others to identify other parts of the country where this work can be replicated.
A team of WERF volunteers, who themselves are some of the most recognized individuals in the water quality industry, selected the award recipients from a field of many well-qualified organizations. “We encourage those applicants who did not receive this year’s award to re-apply next year, emphasizing the progress they have made in their implementation efforts,” states Selection Committee Chair and WERF Board Member Joseph Zuback of Global Water Advisors, Inc.
Additional information on this award can be found at www.werf.org or www.lacity.org.
Los Angeles County is likely to appeal to the Supreme Court after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit denied a rehearing of Natural Resources Defense Council, et al. v. County of Los Angeles, et al. on July 13. The landmark appellate ruling, made in March, stated that cities with municipal separate storm sewer (MS4) permits are strictly liable for all stormwater runoff pollution at their monitoring stations, regardless of whether the pollutant originated outside the MS4 system. Even if the municipality is working to address known violations—an iterative process—penalties may be incurred.
The lawsuit was brought against the county because the county’s flood control district exceeded the pollutant limits of its MS4 permit. However, the county claims that upstream neighbors are responsible for some of the pollutant loads. There are concerns that this ruling could lead to litigation between municipalities regarding who is responsible for stormwater pollutants.
The biggest conference and exhibition in the wastewater and stormwater world is coming to Los Angeles Oct 15-19. WEF has kindly compiled a list of the California presenters (wow over 100 people !) – how many CWEA members can you spot?
Click here for a list of California speakers and session numbers (Excel) >
Click here to access My WEFTEC Planner >
CWEA headquarters put out this blast announcement for members…
“Wednesday October 19th is packed with forty powerful technical sessions on the hottest topics for Southern Californians, everything from emerging contaminants to bioenergy and my session, Green LA Stormwater! If members in the Southern Region of CWEA only go to one day of WEFTEC in Los Angeles – this is it! Registration is open at www.weftec.org – What’s in store on Wednesday?
- For treatment people the talks cover fixed film, foaming, air emissions, clarifiers and modeling.
- Recycled water proponents will discuss emerging contaminants, industrial conservation and reuse.
- Sustainability strategies, climate resilience, renewable energy and bioenergy are important now.
- Membranes, brine, nutrients and microconstituents round out the advanced treatment needs.
- In today’s economy, the sessions on CIPs, elected officials future forecasts and revenue structures will help us “do more with less”.
- Making the most in existing collection systems, new technology and modelling protects our buried assets.
- Urban runoff, wet weather treatment and green infrastructure are the big challenge as the rainy season begins.
- Industry has specialized biological, anaerobic and reuse treatment technologies.
- Scientists will discuss advances with nitrous oxide,microconstituents, algae, pathogensand disinfection.
Let’s bring out the locals — See you downtown at the convention center!”
Water for People is having two fun and exciting fundraising events at WEFTEC. Help support the great folks at Water for People and have some fun too!
Monday night will be their big fundraising party at the The Conga Room at LA Live.
You can purchase tickets directly from Water for People:
- Sun – Oct 16th – Water for People Bike ride Fundraiser
When: Sunday, October 16, 2011
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: Bikes and Hikes U.S.A.
Cost: $75 for riders with bike & helmet / $100 for riders renting a bike & helmet
http://www.waterforpeople.org/get-involved/special-events/weftec-2011/weftec-bike-ride.html
Email contact: georgepatrickatl@bellsouth.net - Mon – Oct 17th – Water for People’s Party With a Purpose
Time: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Conga Room at L.A. Live
Tickets: $45 in advance, $50 at the door
Click here to purchase tickets on their webstore
The 2011 WEF Wastewater Challenge is a national competition that’s both
challenging and fun. This hands-on competition requires teams of students to
build a wastewater treatment system from an assortment of household products
in an effort to protect a sensitive wetland ecosystem from being
contaminated. This event offers students an opportunity to compete and
problem solve with fellow students from schools throughout North America.
Please help share the news of this event to your student chapters.
The competition will take place in Sacramento, California, at the 2011 WEF
Residuals and Biosolids Conference on May 25, 2011, at the Sacramento
Convention Center. To be eligible to compete, your team must submit a Design
Report to the WEF Students and Young Professionals Wastewater Challenge
Sub-Committee, and the top 12 teams will be selected to compete. The
deadline to submit reports for entry is April 1, 2011, at 5 PM PST. There
is a limit of one team per student chapter. The WEF Wastewater Challenge
Guidelines provide complete details on how to participate in this event.
Information is also posted on wef.org under the Public Information/College
Students. A monetary award will be presented to the top two teams. The
Case Scenario below provides a brief look at the challenge at hand.
A. Case Scenario
A 200 acre Biosolids Compost Facility that has 100,000 cubic yards of
composting, curing, and finished compost on site sits next to an earthen
levee and just up-gradient from a sensitive wetland type ecosystem. The
levee is expected to breach and for several hours 5,000 CFS of agricultural
runoff and snow melt will run through the site with the normal runoff
controls getting overloaded. It is expected that most of this now further
contaminated water will reach the site fence line and if not stopped or
successfully treated will devastate the wetland. The Army Corps of Engineers
will be repairing the breach within 12 hours and therefore the solution to
the problem should be considered temporary. The natural slope of the
facility would channel the flow to an area of no more than 100 yards wide at
the fence line.
Your team has been asked to design a system to control and treat the runoff
for solids, nutrients and bacteria before releasing it to the wetland, if
necessary. You are asked to design a system to control and mitigate the
nutrient rich water, and you and your team will be asked to construct and
run the emergency water treatment system component of the overall design at
the competition to demonstrate the system’s removal efficiencies. The
overall design will have to demonstrate the control strategies and removal
efficiencies of your system, in addition to the emergency water treatment
system.
Questions: WEFWastewaterChallenge@wef.org
WEF Staff: Dcrilley@wef.org
As a tenured member of UCLA’s distinguished faculty, Stenstrom has spent the majority of his 35-year career as a researcher at the university’s School of Engineering and Applied Science. After earning a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Environmental Systems Engineering from Clemson University (Clemson, S.C.), he worked for two years as a research engineer and project manager for Amoco Oil Co. (Naperville, Ill.) before joining UCLA as an assistant professor at the School of Engineering and Applied Science in 1977. Since then, he has steadily risen within the department as an associate professor, academic director of SEASnet (School of Engineering and Applied Science Network), and the assistant dean for the school’s Computing Resources. A Distinguished Professor within the department since 2006, he currently teaches at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.
Stenstrom’s extensive editorial background includes having authored or co-authored 160 papers in peer-reviewed journals (including 37 in WER), authored or co-authored more than 50 technical reports, presented or co-authored 279 papers at field-related conferences and seminars, developed 70 research grants and contracts, as well as serving as a WER editor since 2001 and as chair of the WER Board of Editorial Review since 2006. He also has received numerous water quality awards, holds five patents, and is a member of WEF and many other water quality organizations. He has been a registered professional civil engineer in the State of California since 1982 and has been a board-certified environmental engineer of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers since 1989.
As WER’s Editor-in-Chief, Stenstrom will be responsible for guiding the editorial policies of the journal and ensuring that these adhere to the highest standards of quality and integrity. In addition, he will work with Associate Editors and an Editorial Board to attract the highest quality papers from around the world and oversee timely review of manuscripts. He also will work with a staff Managing Editor to achieve monthly publication of the journal in both print and online formats.
Mike Selna, AAEE Vice President (lt) Attendee (ctr) Joseph S. Cavarretta, AAEE Executive Director (rt)
By Wendy Wert
LABS Director
On October 13, 2009 the American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE) hosted a breakfast and networking event at WEFTEC09 in Orlando, FL. The AAEE/AIDIS/WEF “Trends in Wastewater Treatment” event drew attendees from a broad spectrum of the environmental profession. AAEE President, Debra R. Reinhart Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, welcomed attendees and introduced the featured speaker, James L. Barnard Ph.D., P.E., BCEE. Dr. Barnard is recognized internationally as “the Father of Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR).” A celebrated 40-year career includes groundbreaking work that forms the basis for all BNR process configurations in use today. His current research on membrane and biofilm technology is leading to innovations that may reduce BNR plant size by more than two-thirds.
Dr. Barnard led environmental professionals on an entertaining historical journey through wastewater treatment. His presentation highlighted the discovery of the activated sludge process, major trends in wastewater treatment, drivers for Research and Development, wastewater as a resource, and possible future scenarios.
James H. Clark, Vice President, Black & Veatch (credit: CWEA)
The Water Environment Federation earlier this month announced Jim Clark, Black & Veatch Vice President and LABS’ President in 1991, as this year’s winner of the Engelbrecht International Achievement Award. The award will be given next month during a ceremony at WEFTEC in Orlando.
According to WEF “the Engelbrecht International Achievement Award is named in memory of Richard S. Engelbrecht, WEF President from 1977-1978. The award recognizes sustained and significant contributions to the furtherance and improvement of WEF’s international activities.”
Jim is Past-President of WEF and active in many of the Federation’s activities, including supporting the expansion of student and young professional outreach and activities.
Black & Veatch is a LABS’ sponsor.
Read Jim’s complete profile on the WEF website.
WEF is reminding attendees they have a Utility Partnership Program to help municipalities during the current economic crisis. Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts and the City of Los Angeles are already members of the discount program. WEF writes…
WEF recognizes the importance of utility participation in making WEFTEC “The Water Quality Event” of the year, and is aggressively working to ensure that utilities can participate. Only WEFTEC has a discount program specifically designed to ensure that utilities can participate.
WEF Utility Partnership Program
WEF has set-up an information web page about the Federal stimulus and possible funding for wastewater projects.
WEF’s leaders are urging industry professionals to write to their Congressional representative and posted a sample letter here.
WIN and WEF are calling on Congressional leaders to set aside $20-billion from the proposed stimulus package and dedicate it to the EPA’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF). As WIN points out both the EPA and the General Accountability Office have written long reports about the shortfall in funding for the nation’s clean water infrastructure and predict the investment gap will grow to $500-billion over the next 20 years.
There are thousands of wastewater projects and hundreds of thousands of jobs that can be created by adding additional funding to the EPA’s CWSRF program. WIN wrote to Congressional leaders:
Again, we are confident that including $20 billion for wastewater and green infrastructure in the economic recovery package will create approximately 700,000 needed jobs in the short term, enhance America’s competitiveness in the future, and dramatically improve water quality and the environment
View California’s SRF Priority List of wastewater projects.
Who knew such a pretty color could cause such an ugly fight. According to WEF’s blog this morning, new Plumbing Codes set to go to the printer this past summer from the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) would have designated “purple pipe” as the color for any greywater application – a potential source of confusion since the Water Reuse industry has branded purple pipe as clean, fully treated reclaimed wastewater. A joint Task Force has been formed by all of the Associations (IAPMO, WEF and AWWA) to look into pipe colors.
WEF Reuse Chair Don Vandertulip, PE of CDM writes in his blog post:
The bottom line is that technical solutions will be developed for consideration by both reclaimed water utility interests and plumbing code enforcement officials. Water utilities and professionals have done a good job of “branding” purple pipe and educating constituents within the immediate service area about the value of reclaimed water.
Cecilia V. Estolano, chief executive officer of the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles, has been tapped by President-elect Obama’s transition team to advise them on EPA matters including policy, budget and personnel, according to WEF’s This Week in Washington.
Mrs. Estolano was a Special Assistant LA City Attorney from 2001-2004 and was the top negotiator on the landmark Clean Water Act settlement regarding the City’s wastewater collection system.
The EPA is a major supplier of low interest rate loans for wastewater treatment plant upgrade and construction via the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. State environmental agencies then approve grants and loans each year based on the SRFs available funds.
WEF’s This Week in Washington.
KCET Los Angeles will air the documentary Liquid Assets at 10:30pm on Saturday night. I guess water infrastructrure doesn’t rate as a prime time viewing experience and gets bumped to late night.
A PBS documentary about America’s crumbling water and wastewater infrastructure is coming to television in October. The series, called Liquid Assets – The Story of Water Infrastructure, focuses on 10 cities, including Los Angeles, struggling to repair, replace and expand their water and wastewater treatment plants in order to keep pace with growing populations and maintain the quality of life and health that clean water provides all of us.
The series was produced by Penn State with funding from ASCE and NACWA among others.
WEF is publicizing the series as part of their Water is Life public outreach campaign.
Newly installed President Rebecca F. West calls on Congressional leaders to invest $6.5-billion in the nation’s clean water infrastructure sooner rather than later. Mrs. West writes:
Investment in our nation’ s aging wastewater infrastructure not only protects public health and the environment, but each $1 billion invested in such projects generates more than 47,000 jobs. The House recently approved economic stimulus legislation (H.R. 7110) that provides $6.5 billion for wastewater infrastructure… and we urge this level of funding be considered in a new stimulus package. The National Association of Clean Water Agencies has identified nearly $3 billion in ready-to-go infrastructure projects that could be funded immediately.
Read the WEF President’s full letter here.
First it was LA Times writer Susan Carpenter re-piping washing machine water into her front yard, now WEF’s Water Environment & Technology highlights the greywater trend in an article.
Widespread graywater reuse holds strong potential for reducing the load on collection systems. “Less volume entering the system translates to lower electricity requirements for pumping at wastewater treatment plants,” said Chase Broward, director of development for homebuilder Brock Built. “A higher amount of graywater reuse also would work to concentrate the [wastewater], leading to more efficient treatment.”
WE&T article here (‘Shades of Gray’ about half-way down the page).
A busy month is coming up:
- The month starts out fast with the Blue Planet Run‘s 30-day challenge to raise money for clean water projects. Details here.
- On Oct. 4th CWEA launches the statewide “No Drugs Down the Drain” media campaign. Local districts are encouraged to join the campaign.
- “Liquid Assets” a documentary about America’s crumbling water infrastructure is scheduled to debute on PBS stations nationwide; however, none in our area have picked up the program. Keep writing them e-mails!
- WEFTEC exhibition starts on Oct. 18th in Chicago. Over 1,000 exhibitors – my feet hurt just thinking about all that walking!
- On Oct. 23 LABS has our annual Industrial Waste tour at the Miller-Coors Brewing facility near Irwindale. Details coming soon…
- LABS also starts accepting nominations for industry awards – nominate a person or plant today!
- October, after all, is the 36th anniversary of the passage of the Clean Water Act.
This annual worldwide event is coordinated by WEF and the International Water Assoc. (IWA) of Europe and allows thousands of school children and grown-ups to participate in a water quality monitoring event today.
Participants receive a test kit and analyze temperature, acidity, clarity and dissolved oxygen. Results are then posted on the WWMF website and shared with the local community. The event is also a celebration of the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972.
In related news, WEF and IWA have announced a memorandum of understanding about further integrating their research databases so members of both groups can access data, results, studies and more from researchers around the world. Press release here.
WEF announced today that LACSD has won an Excellence Award for their public education program called the Clearwater Program. The Public Education Award is given to organizations which excel at reaching out to the public. The award will be presented at the 2008 WEFTEC conference in Chicago in October.
LACSD’s Clearwater outreach program has been honored by LABS (pictured above), CWEA and now WEF. The Public Affairs office also won an award from NACWA this year.
Congratulations to the outstanding Public Affairs staff of LACSD.
