SUSTAINABLE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FOR A SCENIC AREA

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SUSTAINABLE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FOR A SCENIC
AREA

• Ron Clemmer, PE, LEED

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BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK
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SCENIC AREA IN TEXAS?
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Decision Goals for the VA Study

• Treatment of wastewater
• Disposal of wastewater
• Location of facilities

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Positive Outcomes of the VA Process

• Value-based Decision Making
• Required Performance, Reliability, Quality, and
  Safety
• Lowest Life-Cycle Costs

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What is Sustainability?

• Sustainable Development is development that
  meets the needs of the present without
  compromising the ability of future generations to
  meet their own needs.
• Our Common Future
• The Brundtland Commission Report
• 1987 UN World Commission on Environment and
  Development

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Sustainability

• Sustainability is measured by the
• triple bottomline
• Economic
• Society and Community
• Environmental

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Ford Rouge Dearborn Facility
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Sustainability in a Village
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Sustainability of Treatment System

• Life-cycle Cost Analysis
• Flexible Operations
• Efficiency of Water Resources
• Operator Training Support
• Energy Efficiency
• Appropriate Technology
• Integrated Design
• Sustainable Building Design

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Processes

• Flexible Operations
• Efficiency of Resources
• Appropriate Technology

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FUNCTION ANALYSIS PHASE
VERB NOUN
Dispose Waste
Treat Wastewater
Minimize Ground disturbance
Minimize Visual disturbance
Minimize Noise
Minimize Smell
Minimize Impact on natural process
Minimize OM requirements
Minimize Energy use
Maximize Useful life
Minimize Evaporation
Control Impact on Panther Junction wastewater treatment plant
Meet Applicable TCEQ requirements
Maintain Public health and enjoyment
Minimize Impact on cultural resources
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Creativity Phase DISPOSAL

• Surface Discharge into the Existing Surface
  Discharge Drainage
• Infiltration/Evaporation Ponds
• Leach Field
• Spray Field
• Potable / Non-potable Reuse
• Panther Junction Wastewater Treatment Plant
  Discharge
• Effluent Pipeline to Oak Springs
• Surface Discharge from Oak Springs Treatment
  Facility
• Effluent Pipeline to the Window

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Creativity Phase LOCATION

• Existing WWTP
• Uphill from the Existing WWTP
• Existing Effluent Ponds
• Remuda
• Panther Junction WWTP
• Oak Springs
• Septic Tanks in Locations within Basin that are
  More Convenient for Maintenance

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Creativity Phase TREATMENT

• Evaporation Ponds
• Recirculating Sand Filter System
• Textile Media Recirculating Filter System
• Constructed Wetlands Treatment System
• Mechanical Wastewater Treatment Plant
• Intermittent Sand Filters
• Lagoon System (non-aerated or aerated)
• Septic Tanks and Leach Fields

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Initial Evaluation PhaseDisposal Alternatives
Rejected

• Percolation field Large disturbed area
• Spray Field - Change of habitat issues, public
  relations, visual impact
• Reuse Large expense, inadequate need to reuse
  all of the water (stock use and flushing toilets
  only)
• Surface Discharge at the Window pipeline in
  high visitor use area, visitor experience, public
  health concerns, public relations concern,
  resource damage, does not return water to the
  source
• Oak Springs may not be technically feasible to
  do directional drilling of pipeline, resource
  damage, inadequate budget for this approach
• Panther Junction Wastewater Treatment Plant Too
  expensive for existing budget, maintenance issues
  for lift stations

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Initial Evaluation PhaseLocation Alternatives
Rejected

• Existing Treatment Plant Location Geotechnical
  problems, problems with construction
• Remuda Area Near residence area, visual impacts

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Initial Evaluation PhaseTreatment Alternatives
Rejected

• Intermittent Sand Filter Larger area needed,
  problems with keeping the sand wet and the
  microbial population viable
• Aeration/Non-aerated Lagoons Potential effluent
  quality problems, larger area needed
• Septic Tank/Leech Field Less rigorous
  wastewater treatment
• Export to Panther Junction Wastewater Treatment
  Plant Cost prohibitive
• Evaporative Ponds Visual intrusion, ground
  disturbance

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Initial Evaluation Phase ALTERNATIVE DISPOSAL

• Surface discharge into the existing surface
  discharge drainage
• Infiltration/evaporation ponds

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Initial Evaluation Phase ALTERNATIVE LOCATION

• Existing effluent pond area
• Septic tanks in locations within Basin that are
  more convenient for maintenance

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EXISTING POND
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EXISTING POND
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CHOOSING BY ADVANTAGES (CBA)

• Mechanical Wastewater Treatment Plant
• Constructed Wetlands Wastewater Treatment System
• Recirculating Sand Filter System
• Recirculating Textile Media Filter System

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ASPECTS OF EVALUATION FACTORS
FACTOR 1 Protect Public and Employee Health, Safety and Welfare Employee Health and Safety
FACTOR 1 Protect Public and Employee Health, Safety and Welfare Visitor Health and Safety
FACTOR 2 Protect Natural and Cultural Resources Ground Disturbance
FACTOR 2 Protect Natural and Cultural Resources New Ecosystem
FACTOR 3 Provide for Visitor Enjoyment through Improved Educational and Recreational Opportunities Wetlands
FACTOR 3 Provide for Visitor Enjoyment through Improved Educational and Recreational Opportunities Septage
FACTOR 3 Provide for Visitor Enjoyment through Improved Educational and Recreational Opportunities Visual
FACTOR 3 Provide for Visitor Enjoyment through Improved Educational and Recreational Opportunities Education
FACTOR 4 Improve Operational Efficiency, Reliability and Sustainability Septic Tanks
FACTOR 4 Improve Operational Efficiency, Reliability and Sustainability Modify Panther Junction for Septage Receiving Station
FACTOR 4 Improve Operational Efficiency, Reliability and Sustainability O M requirements
FACTOR 4 Improve Operational Efficiency, Reliability and Sustainability Reliability / Plant Upset
FACTOR 4 Improve Operational Efficiency, Reliability and Sustainability Energy Use / Consumption
FACTOR 4 Improve Operational Efficiency, Reliability and Sustainability OM Costs
FACTOR 4 Improve Operational Efficiency, Reliability and Sustainability TCEQ Design Requirements
FACTOR 4 Improve Operational Efficiency, Reliability and Sustainability Generation of Non-biodegradable Wastes
FACTOR 4 Improve Operational Efficiency, Reliability and Sustainability Replacement Flexibility
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Mechanical Wastewater Treatment
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MECHANICAL TREATMENT PLANT

• ADVANTAGES
• Least Land Area Required
• More Familiar Treatment Operations for Big Bend
  Staff
• Less Solids Management Issues than Recirculating
  Filter or Wetlands Alternatives
• More Operational Control than Recirculating
  Filter or Wetlands Alternatives
• Listed in TCEQ Design Criteria for Sewerage
  Systems

• DISADVANTAGES
• More Operation and Maintenance
• Higher Energy Costs
• More Mechanical Equipment

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Recirculating Filter Systems
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Recirculating Sand Filter
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Recirculating Sand Filter
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Textile Media Recirculating Filter System
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Textile Media Filter

• Uses hanging textile sheets
• Can withstand occasional abnormally high loading
  conditions
• Has outstanding serviceability

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Textile Media Recirculating Filters

• Well-Constructed Facility under Variable
  Conditions
• Typically Longer Life of Media
• Higher Filter Loading Rate Less Area Required
• Easier Replacement

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RECIRCULATING FILTER SYSTEMS

• ADVANTAGES
• Minimal Operation and Maintenance
• Minimal Mechanical Equipment
• High Quality Effluent
• Resilience to Variable Wastewater Loading

• DISADVANTAGES
• Septage Generation Requiring Disposal
• Less Operational Control than Mechanical
  Treatment Plant
• Not Currently Listed in TCEQ Design Criteria for
  Sewerage Systems

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Constructed Wetlands
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CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS SYSTEM

• ADVANTAGES
• Minimal Operation and Maintenance
• Minimal Mechanical Equipment
• Generally Attractive System
• High Quality Effluent
• Listed in TCEQ Design Criteria for Sewerage
  Systems

• DISADVANTAGES
• Septage Generation Requiring Disposal
• Less Operational Control than Mechanical
  Treatment Plant

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CHOOSING BY ADVANTAGES
Mechanical Treatment Wetland RSF System TMRF System
Health Safety 0 20 20 20
Natural/Cultural Resources 70 40 0 60
Visitor Enjoyment 60 50 10 0
Improve Operations 0 75 75 100
TOTAL Importance of Advantages 130 185 105 180
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SUSTAINABILITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
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Questions?