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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.a.1) Update on Field Verification of Primary Sedimentation Basin Baffles6-a-0 Central Contra Costa Sanitary District August 15, 2013 TO: HONORABLE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FROM: CURTIS W. SWANSON, PROVISIONAL GENERAL MANAGER SUBJECT: SCHEDULE OF BOARD REPORTS ABOUT THE NUTRIENT REMOVAL FACILITY PLAN AND SITE CHARACTERIZATION Overview Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit issued by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) on February 16, 2012, the District is required to evaluate alternative treatment technologies to remove ammonia from its discharge to Suisun Bay, including nitrification technologies. The District developed a Facility & Site Characterization Work Plan in June 2012. The three elements of the Work Plan are listed below: An Existing Plant Optimization for Ammonia Removal Evaluation to determine the extent to which ammonia - nitrogen (NH3 -N) removal can be achieved with relatively modest changes to the existing process and improvement of facilities in the near -term; and 2. A Nutrient Removal Facilities Plan to investigate the applicability of both conventional and emerging innovative technologies for the removal of ammonia and nitrate /nitrite- nitrogen from the District's wastewater discharge in the long -term with acceptable generation of greenhouse gases (e.g. nitrous oxide); and 3. A Site Characterization Study to evaluate the suitability of property owned or controlled by the District to provide land necessary for ammonia and /or nitrate plus nitrite removal facilities. Results from the Existing Plant Optimization for Ammonia Removal Evaluation, Nutrient Removal Facilities Plan, and Site Characterization Study will be presented in the Facility Plan and Site Characterization Report to be submitted to the RWQCB by February 28, 2014. Board Report Schedule Staff will present a summary of the three elements of the Facility Plan over the next six months. The schedule for the staff presentations is: i ig Field Verification of Primary Sedimentation Basin Baffles Treatment Plant Optimization Evaluation for Ammonia Removal Site Characterization — Part 1 Soil Investigation Site Characterization — Part 2 Remediation Alternatives Long -Term Ammonia Removal Evaluation Facility and Site Characterization Report Board Meeting Date August 15, 2013 September 19, 2013 October 17, 2013 November 21, 2013 December 19, 2013 January 16 or 23, 2014 Field Verification of Primary Sedimentation Baffles Report (first report) The first staff report to be presented at the August 15 Board meeting will be about the results and conclusions of the field testing of the Primary Sedimentation Basin Baffles. Previous studies found that the removal levels for solids and particulate -bound organic material by the District's primary treatment process were at the lower end of the ranges cited in the research and industry literature. Low organic and solids removal affect the downstream secondary treatment process. Increasing the removal levels in the primary treatment process would reduce operational costs, aeration demand, and make capacity available in the secondary treatment process for ammonia reduction.