TheSplash ISSUE 3 2025

the splash

Wastewater operators across the country are seeking cost effective solutions in aeration technology with the benefits of lower maintenance and higher efficiencies. The OxyStar® aspirating aerator meets these requirements and can easily upgrade existing systems with supplemental treatment or as the sole source for aeration and mixing.

OxyStar aerators are ideal for activated sludge systems (including oxidation ditches), lagoons, equalization basins, sludge holding and aerobic digesters.

• Only three moving parts and no lower shaft module to maintain

• No re-greasing of motor bearings

• No basin dewatering required (mooring dependent)

• Aeration and linear mixing in one unit

• Subsurface operation eliminates misting and cooling effects

• Units available in 3-30 HP

National potable reuse expertise

Thinking about water reuse? Garver’s experts have unparalleled expertise in indirect and direct potable reuse (IPR and DPR). We’re implementing tried and true technologies and we’re actively delivering reuse projects in Oklahoma and across the country. We’re ready to be your most trusted advisor.

ENGINEERING

Water/Wastewater

Groundwater Systems

Civil/Electrical/I&C

Hydraulic Modeling/Master Planning

Value Engineering

DESIGN

New Construction

Refit/Rehabilitation

Assessments/Studies

PROJECT/ CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT Inspection Design Build Services

MUNICIPAL,

Excited to Serve as President

Join me in congratulating and recognizing the OWEA Board members for the upcoming year:

• Past President, Emily Rowland, City of Broken Arrow

• President Elect, Crystal Kowalik, Ardurra

• Vice President, Cole Niblett, Garver

• WEF Delegate, Mary Elizabeth Mach, Garver

• Secretary, Karen Steele, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality

• Treasurer, Joy Kotey, City of Oklahoma City

I am excited to serve as President this year. I have learned so much from our previous leaders and hope to continue and advance their vision for growing our organization.

In May, OWEA participated for the first time in the Water Appreciation Day at the Capitol. Emily Rowland, Crystal Kowalik, Cameryn Edwards, Rebecca Poole, Sarah Jones, and I enjoyed talking with legislators, other water exhibitors, and Capitol visitors about our organization, the training that we provide for a variety of water professionals, and critical water challenges. We shared the video from our 2024 Annual Conference along with an informational flyer and delicious cookies.

Also in May, we hosted the 2025 Annual Conference in partnership with APWAOK. We had a wonderful turnout of participants, exhibitors, speakers, sponsors, and for the first time, hosted our own Ops Challenge event! Thank you all for making this the largest water conference in

Oklahoma. Make plans to join us next year in Tulsa on May 4-6, 2026.

In June, we partnered with Southwest AWWA Oklahoma for a one-day operator training event. We had two full water and wastewater training sessions that offered both classroom and field learning opportunities. Thank you, Jacob Brumbaugh, Josh Muskopf, Emily Rowland, and Mary Elizabeth Mach, for your leadership in this event.

On September 12, we will hold our second Annual OWEA Retreat. This will give us time to plan for the upcoming year as a whole group as well as offer time for focused committee discussions. This event will be held in Oklahoma City. Look for the agenda and more details soon on owea.org.

OWEA offers 11 committees and associated focus areas. As we look forward, we want our committees to more actively engage with our members. For example, the Water Specialties Committee may achieve this by informing members about trends, technologies, and regulatory changes coming. We have open positions on all committees. If you are interested in getting involved in a committee or if you have questions, please reach out to me at awooten@carollo.com.

These are the committees and focus areas:

• Awards

• WEF/OWEA Awards

• 5S Society

• Competition

• Nominating

• Communications

• The Splash

• Website

• Social Media

• Email

• Membership

• Affairs

• Planning

• Strategic Planning

• Constitution & Bylaws

• Annual Conference

• Stockholm Junior Water Prize

• Students and Young Professionals

• Water’s Worth It

• Young Professionals

• Scholarship

• Water Specialties

• Public Wastewater Operator

• Wastewater Treatment

• Water Reuse

• Stormwater

• Collections

• Laboratory Practices

• Women in Water

Our website says, OWEA is “dedicated to knowledgeable professionals striving to preserve and enhance the water environment of America’s heartland.” If this describes you, become an active member! Help us achieve our vision of being “essential to all professionals dedicated to sustaining Oklahoma’s water environment through advocacy and education.”

Maintenance Technologist Training

OVERVIEW

Maintenance professionals in the water and wastewater industry are confronted with increasing technology challenges and changes requiring an extensive knowledge of the many types of equipment and maintenance strategies of industrial maintenance. Oklahoma Water Environmental Association (OWEA) has implemented a continual program of education, reinforcement and validation of the skills necessary to sustain the industry, by providing training for the workforce.

This maintenance training and certification program provides the ability to raise and validate knowledge and skills required to successfully maintain, repair, and replace equipment and to perform maintenance activities according to current professional standards. The training will be over a variety of subjects and will not teach you how to pass the test.  It is the responsibility of the student to read the suggested study material prior to the training.  Each training session will consist of 2.5-days of instruction culminating in the opportunity for attendees to become certified by taking the Plant Maintenance Technologist exam on the afternoon of the last day. The certification exam taken will correspond with the Class level taught at a particular training.

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Class I

Class I instruction covers the basics of Preventive Maintenance (PM) and Corrective Maintenance (CM). Subjects covered will include the importance of lubrication, the importance of frequent equipment monitoring followed by routine PMs, along with other basic principles of maintenance work. Class I is geared toward the entry level person needing a basic knowledge of terminology and the basic principles of PM. Class I consists of lubricating, performing readings, conducting rounds, performing routine preventive maintenance, and other basic skills. Basic math skills are required. Maintenance mechanics and technicians with experience may consider this level a review and preparation for the Class I exam to validate their knowledge.

Eligibility Requirements

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent; and

• Successful completion of an OWEA Class I Maintenance Technologist Training, and

• One year of acceptable maintenance experience.  Acceptable maintenance experience and duties for Class I includes lubricating, performing readings, conducting rounds, and performing routine preventive maintenance on equipment or systems.

Approved Training Hours

• The Class I training is approved for a minimum of 13 contact hours for Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) training for operations licenses.

Class II

Class II instruction will build on the principles of preventive maintenance covered in Class I by examining routine methods of equipment tear-down, performing repairs and installing or reinstalling equipment.  This level is a more challenging for both new and more seasoned maintenance personnel.  Students preparing for Class II should review the suggested readings well in advance of the training session. Prior knowledge of intermediate shop math concepts will be helpful for this and subsequent certification levels.

Eligibility Requirements

• Hold an active Class I maintenance technologist certificate, and

• Successful completion of an OWEA Class II Maintenance Technologist Training,

• A minimum of three years of acceptable maintenance experience, including a minimum of six months of acceptable maintenance experience in water or wastewater systems.  Acceptable, related maintenance experience may be used for the balance of the three year requirement, but in any case such experience shall include a minimum of two years performing Class II duties. Acceptable maintenance experience and duties for Class II include tearing down equipment, performing repairs, installing and reinstalling equipment.

Class III

Class III certification implies competence in the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the Core Competencies of an advanced skilled and journey working level Maintenance Technologist. This level tests the advance skills of performing maintenance activities.

“Oklahoma Water Environmental Association (OWEA) has implemented a continual program of education, reinforcement and validation of the skills necessary to sustain the industry, by providing training for the workforce.”

Eligibility Requirements

• Hold an active Class II maintenance technologist certificate, and

• Successful completion of an OWEA Class III Maintenance Technologist Training, and

• A minimum of five years of acceptable maintenance experience, including a minimum of one year of acceptable maintenance experience in water or wastewater systems.  Acceptable, related maintenance experience may be used for the balance of the five year requirement, but in any case such experience shall include a minimum of two years performing Class III duties. Acceptable maintenance experience and duties for Class III include inspecting or supervising Class I and II duties, performing predictive maintenance tasks and analyzing the results of such tasks.

SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION & CERTIFICATES OF ATTENDANCE

Successful completion of these training sessions constitutes attendance at a minimum of 80% of the training session’s total class hours (not including the exam). Participants who attend 80% of the training session, but do not take or do not pass the certification exam will receive a Certificate of Attendance. This certificate will document attendance for use in demonstrating continuing education credits.

Participants who attend 80% of the training session AND pass the certification exam will receive a Certificate of Attendance for use in documenting continuing educating credits, and a Maintenance Technologist Certificate that will include their new certification number.

STUDY MATERIALS

It is imperative that students have access to the following books and have studied these references prior to attending the training session. Books may be ordered directly from the publisher using the information provided below.

Both of the following books are recommended: Pumps and Pumping (10th Edition)

Author: Skeet Arasmith

Publisher: ACR Publications

Publication Date: January 1, 2011

ISBN-13: 978-9970049011

Web site: www.acrp.com/acrp_publications.html

Industrial Maintenance and Troubleshooting (4th Edition)

Authors: Denis Green and Jonathan F. Gosse

Publisher: American Technical Publishers

Publication Date: September 6, 2018

ISBN-13: 978-0826936868

Web site: www.atplearning.com/product/1537/industrialmaintenance-and-troubleshooting

One of the following books is recommended: Water Treatment Plant Operation, Volume 2 (7th Edition)

Author: Office of Water Programs

Publisher: Pearson Custom

Publication Date: January 1, 2020

ISBN-13: 978-0136710653

Web site: www.owp.csus.edu/cart/add-course. php?id=1770&fee14607=1

Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants, Volume 2 (8th Edition)

Author: Office of Water Programs

Publisher: Pearson Custom

Publication Date: January 1, 2022

ISBN-13: 978-0137865635

Web site: www.owp.csus.edu/cart/add-course.php?id=1768

Industrial Waste Treatment, Volume 2 (4th Edition)

Author: Office of Water Programs

Publisher: Pearson Custom

Publication Date: January 1, 2023

ISBN-13: 978-0138266004

Web site: www.owp.csus.edu/cart/add-product.php?id=337

Water Distribution System Operation and Maintenance (7th Edition)

Author: Office of Water Programs

Publisher: Pearson Custom

Publication Date: January 1, 2018

ISBN-13: 978-1323938914

Web site: www.owp.csus.edu/cart/add-course. php?id=1777&fee14605=1

EXAM REGISTRATION FORM

Instructions

Before registering, please take time to completely review the General Registration Information. Fill in all required fields and Submit when completed. You will be contacted via email regarding payment options.

The 2025 APWAOK/OWEA Joint Technical Conference & Trade Show is in the books and goes down as another great event! We had approximately 575 folks participate in conference events – Golf Tournament, Equipment Road-eo, Ops Challenge, Technical Sessions, Exhibit Hall, and Socials. There was something for everyone.

This year, we had an amazing group of speakers who provided over 48 hours of technical discussions spread across two days and five technical tracks. Thank you to all of the speakers for your preparation and for sharing your experiences with us!

Thanks to our more than 80 exhibitors who provided valuable knowledge, demonstrations, and treats that filled our stomachs and bags!

Golf tournament champions were Tommie Heltcel’s team, followed in second place by Ethan Edward’s team. Michael Graves was closest to the pin on hole #4, and Devin Randall was closest on hole #15. Mitchell Ross had the longest drive on hole #8, and Allan Beer had the longest drive on hole #12. Special thanks to golf tournament sponsors Archer Western Construction and Garney Construction!

Thanks to Warren CAT for sponsoring the Equipment Road-eo by providing the facility, equipment, and lunch for the competitors. The event winners were: First place – Jon Brown, City of Broken Arrow; second place – Justin Cole, City of Tulsa; and third place – Stuart Perkins, City of Broken Arrow. OWEA and APWAOK provide funds for Jon to compete at the national event. Good luck Jon!

At this year’s Annual Water Taste Contest, Norman, Hefner Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Oklahoma City, Mohawk WTP in Tulsa, and Broken Arrow went head-to-head in competition. Judges Karen Steele (ODEQ), Kretchen Olmeda (OWRB), and Josh Muskopf (Carollo) selected Norman as the winners for the second year in a row! Norman supplies its customers, including the University of Oklahoma, with a combination of water from Lake Thunderbird, Garber-Wellington Aquifer, and purchased treated water from Oklahoma City. Join us in wishing Norman good luck as they travel to Hot Springs to compete in the Southwest AWWA Regional Water Taste Contest.

Check out our Conference Recap Video with the QR Code!

Thanks to our conference sponsors, without whom we would not be able to host this event. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Platinum sponsors:

Archer Western Construction

Carollo Engineers

Environmental Improvements, Inc.

Freese and Nichols

Garney

Hartwell Environmental Corporation

Haynes Equipment

Jacobs

RJN

STV

Warren CAT

American Public Works Association, Oklahoma Chapter (APWAOK)

Gold sponsors:

BKL, Inc.

Black & Veatch

CEC

Edwards Equipment, LLC

Garver

HDR Engineering, Inc.

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

Olsson

Parkhill

PEC

Utility Technology Services

Wright Water

Silver sponsors:

Crossland Heavy Equipment

Ferguson Waterworks

Tetra Tech

Victaulic

Bronze sponsors:

Ground Water Protection Council

Hazen Sawyer

Newman Regency

Poe & Associates, Inc.

Save the date and make plans to attend the 2026 Conference, May 4-6, at the Marriott Tulsa Southern Hills!

See you next year!

Check out our Conference Recap Video with the QR Code!

This vertical turbine pump is engineered to meet a variety of applications.

FEATURES:

Available in sizes 4” – 28” with flows from 50– 18,000 GPM

Certified NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 and NSF/ANSI 372 from NSF International

Available with packing gland or mechanical seal arrangements

2025 WEF and OWEA Awards

IRecap

t’s not every day that we get to say we hosted a “first-ever” event for our organization. In January 2025, OWEA and our Awards Committee did just that! Our inaugural OWEA Awards Luncheon was a resounding success, and we were able to spend a few hours sharing accolades and well-earned recognition for the plants, operators, maintenance technicians, and other leaders who are making great things happen across our great state. We also recently awarded our annual WEF Member Association (MA) Awards at the spring OWEA conference. See the following table for the full roster of award winners this year, both in our OWEA Award categories as well as the WEF Member Association (MA) categories. Congratulations to all of our award winners this year! Also, please see the upcoming call for nominations for the upcoming year at the end of this article.

Award Category Winner

Plant of the Year – Category 1 (< 1 MGD)

Plant of the Year – Category 2 (1-10 MGD)

Plant of the Year – Category 3 (> 10 MGD)

TMUA Lower Bird Creek WWTP

Duncan WWTP

OKC Hefner WTP

Operator of the Year Paul Hendricks (Chisholm Creek WWTP)

Automation, Instrumentation, or Electrician of the Year

Line Maintenance Technician of the Year

OWEA Awards

Brandon Williams (North Canadian WWTP)

Brandon Butcher (Tinker AFB)

Maintenance Technician of the Year

WEF Member Association Awards

Tristen Kelley (North Canadian WWTP)

Emerging Leader Award Emily Rowland (Broken Arrow)

Exemplary Employer Award Inframark

Environmental Sustainability Award

Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers (5S Society)

City of Norman Division of Environmental Resilience and Sustainability (DoERS)

William Waller (OKC)

Joy Kotey (OKC)

Crystal Kowalik (Ardurra)

Cole Niblett (Garver)

William D. Hatfield Award David Handy (Broken Arrow)

Burke Safety Award Duncan WWTP

Arthur Sidney Bedell Award John Bannen (STV)

Lifetime Achievement Award

Shellie Chard (ODEQ)

The Hatfield Award is presented to operators of wastewater treatment facilities for outstanding performance and professionalism. He serves as the Water Reclamation Facility Manager at the Lynn Lane Water Reclamation Facility in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Since joining the plant in 2012, Handy has been instrumental in implementing sustainable practices that have significantly reduced the facility’s environmental impacts and operational costs. Under his leadership, the plant transitioned from using approximately 220,000 gallons of potable water daily to utilizing treated non-potable water for most of its processes, including UV disinfection, biosolids processing, and equipment cleaning. This shift not only decreased potable water usage by 84% between 2020 and 2021 but also resulted in annual savings of up to $96,000 for the city. Handy holds over a decade of experience in water resource management and wastewater treatment. Handy’s commitment to safety and excellence was recognized in 2022 when the Lynn Lane Wastewater Reclamation Facility received the Burke Facility Safety Award from the OWEA. Looking ahead, Handy is exploring projects aimed at converting the city’s biosolids for reuse, emphasizing the importance of public education and acceptance in advancing sustainable wastewater practices. Congrats David!

Duncan WWTP is the George W. Burke Award winner. The Burke Award encourages an active and effective safety program in municipal and industrial wastewater facilities. The Duncan WWTP team demonstrates a clear commitment to excellence and safety, all while not having the benefit of modern automation systems. That’s right, this plant relies totally on manual processes. Despite these hurdles and facing extreme weather events over the last several years, the Duncan team has continued to uphold a remarkable 24.5-year legacy, or more than 9,000 days of safety without a recordable incident – an achievement that speaks volumes about their commitment to safety and dedication to one another. Congratulations Duncan!

John Bannen is the Arthur Sidney Bedell Award winner. The Bedell Award is presented for outstanding member

association service. John is well known in the Oklahoma water industry and has over 34 years of experience in the water and wastewater industry. John is currently an Operations Engineering Manager with STV and has previously held roles managing wastewater facilities from the municipal side as well. John served as the OWEA President in 2022-2023 and has been an instrumental and tireless advocate for our organization. Whether it is serving on the OWEA Board, helping to implement our renewed Ops Challenge program, stewarding our 5S Society, or any number of activities John has had his hands in, John’s passion for volunteerism within the water industry makes our group better! Congratulations John!

Emily Rowland is our Past President. Emily has worked tirelessly to make it another successful year for our organization. Emily has overseen the realignment of several committees, led our first-ever WEFMAX in Oklahoma, and helped implement and develop content for the OWEA The Splash periodical. Emily also oversaw our first-ever standalone OWEA Awards event, where we revamped several historical awards such as the Municipal Plant of the Year, Maintenance Technician of the Year, and many other great awards. Thank you Emily!

Congratulations Winners!

Shellie Chard received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Shellie is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with degrees in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology. With over 30 years of experience in the water and wastewater industry, Shellie has been the Water Quality Division Director for ODEQ since 2010. Shellie has been a tireless and consistent advocate for the water industry and has served in numerous Board and committee positions for the OWEA over the last two decades. On top of our organization, Shellie also currently or previously held leadership positions in the Association of Safe Drinking Water Administrators, the Groundwater Protection Council, the Association of Clean Water Administrators, the Water Environment Federation, and the OU Gallogly College of Engineering Advisory Board. Shellie has clearly embodied everything this Lifetime Achievement Award is intended to celebrate. Congratulations Shellie!

The City of Norman won the Oklahoma Water Taste Contest. Norman won the prestigious Water Taste Contest in 2025. Chris Mattingly accepted the award on behalf of the Norman Utility Authority.

Call for Nominations

Looking forward to next year, we are calling all OWEA members to help us identify those in our industry deserving of acknowledgement. Please submit your nominations for those to be recognized for their outstanding contributions within our organization! As of the publication of this edition of The Splash, we are officially opening the call for nominations for our annual awards. This is your opportunity to highlight individuals and teams who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, innovation, and leadership over the past year. Please keep an eye out for an OWEA Awards packet (emailed to your inbox) describing the criteria for each award. The award categories are summarized below. Your nominations are crucial in ensuring that all deserving efforts are acknowledged. If you have any questions on who among your colleagues and departments is eligible for these awards, or would like to submit a nomination, please reach out to Cole Niblett at mcniblett@garverusa.com or Crystal Kowalik at ckowalik@ardurra.com

The deadline for all nominations is Wednesday, November 19, 2025.

Award Categories:

• OWEA Chapter Awards (awarded at the January OWEA Awards Luncheon)

• Plant of the Year – Category 1

• Plant of the Year – Category 2

• Plant of the Year – Category 3

• Operator of the Year

• Automation, Instrumentation, or Electrician of the Year

• Line Maintenance Technician of the Year

• Maintenance Technician of the Year

• Emerging Leader Award

• Exemplary Employer Award

• Environmental Sustainability Award

• WEF Member Association Awards (awarded at the OWEA Spring Technical Conference)

• Hatfield Award

• Burke Award

• Bedell Award

• Lifetime Achievement Award

OWEA Awards Luncheon Event Details

Date: Friday, January 23, 2026, 11 am to 1 pm

Location: Will Rogers Theatre (4322 N Western Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73118)

Registration: Email Cole Niblett at mcniblett@garverusa.com

See you next year!

OWEA Committee Training & Planning

Friday, September 12

City of Oklahoma

City Consolidated Maintenance Facility, Bldg. 3, 3738 SW 15th Street, Oklahoma Cit y

Please join us to learn more about OWEA and get involved!

Contac t Amber with any questions at awooten@carollo.com

Like water itself, innovation flows through every challenge and shapes new possibilities. For over 90 years, Carollo has pioneered breakthroughs in water technology – from resilient infrastructure protecting growing communities to groundbreaking solutions safeguarding public health and ecosystems. At Carollo, innovation isn’t just about what’s new – it’s about what’s necessary. Every advancement, every improvement, and every solution flows from a single purpose: shaping a future where water enriches every community it touches.

Performance Efficiency Get Your Weekends Back.

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Learn more about Sulzer’s HST go.sulzer.com/trusted-xfp

The Value of Young Professionals Getting Our Hands Dirty:

Th e City of Bartlesville, OK, has partnered with Tetra Tech and S2 Engineering (S2E) to design improvements to Chickasaw WWTP, including the addition of an Indirect Potable Reuse Treatment Process.

The IPR system will augment the City’s raw water supply by diverting a portion of wastewater effluent to discharge to the Caney River at a point several miles upstream of the raw water intake. The diverted wastewater effluent will undergo additional treatment at the wastewater treatment plant, including dual-media filtration, granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration, and ultraviolet disinfection, before it is discharged to the river. The IPR train would be used in times of extreme drought.

Chickasaw WWTP will be the first IPR facility in the state of Oklahoma. In 2024, a pilot study was conducted to test the viability of treatment processes for indirect potable reuse (IPR).

There were two main goals for the pilot study. The first was demonstrating that the proposed treatment scheme will meet the benchmark criteria defined by the Oklahoma Department

of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) for an indirect potable reuse application. The second was demonstrating the effluent water quality achievable with and without chemical addition ahead of the filters, and for chemical addition, with and without the flocculation step.

The pilot unit study ran from February through June 2024. The pilot unit equipment was provided by Intuitech and included all treatment components assembled together in a single shipping container, allowing for the streamlined installation and and operation. The pilot unit was installed on concrete pavers at the WWTP, between the chlorine contact tanks and the circular secondary clarifier.

The pilot unit pulled secondary effluent from the nearby secondary clarifier effluent box. Inside the pilot unit, treatment was split into two modules: the dissolved air flotation (DAF) module and the filtration module. The secondary effluent flowed into the unit, then through a turbidimeter and pH meter attached to the DAF module. These readings provided a secondary effluent baseline. The DAF module also had a sampling port where effluent could be collected. The wastewater then entered a rapid mix basin. The DAF module also included chemical addition ports that could be calibrated to drip specified chemical dosages into the rapid mix basin. From there, effluent flowed into the flocculation basin. The last step, dissolved air flotation, was not necessary for this project and was bypassed. Intuitech included customized pumping so that the DAF module could be bypassed.

After the DAF module, which included chemical addition and flocculation testing, the effluent could then flow into the filtration module. Effluent could also enter the filtration module directly from the secondary clarifier effluent, therefore providing a way to test if chemical addition was necessary before filtration. The filtration module was comprised of four filter columns, each with a corresponding turbidimeter and sampling port. All filters shared a backwash and air scour system and could be set up to run in a variety of configurations. Both DAF and filtration modules were controlled through a user-interface dashboard that monitored the equipment and automatically logged data of key parameters. This data could be accessed virtually through a shared web browser, and in the event of a complication, identified users received an email alarm notification.

Prior to working in the pilot unit, our team established a Health and Safety Plan which discussed everything from driving hazards and biological hazards to first aid procedures and personal protective equipment.

A few other tasks had to be accomplished before the pilot unit could be up and running. First, the filter media had to be cleaned. This pilot study utilized sand, anthracite, and granular active carbon (GAC) as the filter media. The raw media was washed one bucket at a time by running water through the grains and mixing the bucket contents until the overflowing water ran clear. Pre-cleaning media is essential to maintaining the cleanliness of the filters and reducing the need for backwashing. Additionally, we assisted in jar testing to evaluate different coagulants and initial dosages for use in the pilot unit. A Phipps and Bird Jar Tester and Filter Column Unit was used to test a variety of chemicals. The small filter columns on the jar tester unit mimicked the pilot unit filters and provided a better understanding of how the selected chemicals would affect the filter media.

Once the pilot unit was installed, it was time to calibrate our tools. The unit came with pre-installed instruments, which included a pH probe, several turbidimeters, and a chemical dosing system. We brought our own handheld equipment into the unit, including a pH and temperature probe, a turbidimeter, a UV meter, and a colorimeter unit to test iron and phosphorus. We placed the pH probe that came with the unit right before the rapid mix in order to get pH and temperature readings as soon as the flow entered the pilot unit. We used five of the available turbidimeters throughout the unit. The first was located right as the flow entered the unit to provide a baseline reading. The other four were attached to each of the filter columns so we could get a reading from each individual filter. Lastly, there was the chemical pump. This was adjusted every time we added a new chemical or wanted to adjust the chemical dosage rate.

We collected data weekly for the duration of the pilot study. We collected pilot unit instrument readings, used our handheld tools for validation, and collected samples at specific draw-off points of the pilot unit that were sent off to a certified laboratory for testing.

When you are collecting field data, it is always good to have a way to determine the reliability of your data. With the added handheld tools, we were able to validate the data the unit captured and have a backup in case the data came back with any discrepancies. The two

tools that we used to test for any discrepancies were the UV meter and the colorimeter. The UV testing for this project was conducted with the UV254 meter. The colorimeter, gathering iron and phosphorus values, was used to check the results of weekly testing that was sent to a lab as a redundancy. Daily data were collected for the duration of the pilot study. We visited the pilot unit at least once a week and had the plant staff assist us in the daily data collection on the remaining days. We sampled from five sample locations once in the morning and again in the afternoon. The five testing locations included the baseline and effluent from the four filter columns.

The pilot unit’s remote connection capabilities meant we were able to download that data at any time to ensure consistent data collection throughout the entire study period.

Figure 6 – Daily Testing Report Form

Our weekly testing consisted of gathering samples that were sent to a lab. These tests covered benchmark parameters required in OAC 252:628. We had two separate testing lists: A and B. List A was done each week and List B was done bi-weekly. Each set of samples included the five testing locations. On average, we collected nine samples from each sample location for List A testing, and 44 for List B testing at each of the five sampling locations.

Another responsibility we had was assisting in the filter module’s on-site adjustments and maintenance. Halfway through the pilot study, the media was removed from the filters and replaced with new types and depths of media. This process involved more media washing, emptying and cleaning the filter columns, and refilling them with fresh media. For the first half of the study, the filters were set up to run in parallel, meaning effluent flowed into the column, through the filter media, and then out to the waste stream. At the halfway point, we adjusted the configuration of the filters to run in series. Now, effluent would flow into the column, through filter one, then filter two, then filter three, before finally flowing into the

waste stream and out of the unit. These changes allowed us to test effluent quality based on differing media depths, media exhaustion times, and other parameters. In addition to filter adjustments, we were involved with backwash and media expansion testing. The goal of an effective backwash is to expand the media sufficiently to flush out particles. Each media depth was measured, the filter was sent through a backwash cycle, and depth was re-measured to determine the percentage the media bed expanded.

In addition to backwash and media expansion testing, we assisted in other types of additional testing as part of the pilot study. First, we helped with total phosphorus versus phosphate (PO 43-) quantity testing. Total phosphorus concentration should be approximately three times the concentration of phosphate. Water samples were collected from the secondary clarifier effluent and analyzed by the wastewater treatment plant laboratory to determine phosphate. Total phosphorus was quantified as part of the daily testing procedures, and testing these samples helped confirm that our results were accurate.

Next, we helped with residual chlorine testing. UV light can deconstruct chlorine and the purpose of this testing was to determine how much the chlorine broke down naturally, without UV. Buckets were collected from the contact basin influent, just after chlorine addition, and from the contact basin effluent, downstream

of dechlorination. The buckets were kept covered to avoid light contamination. Influent samples were collected at 15 and 30 minutes after collection, and effluent samples were collected 80, 120, and 240 minutes after collection. This timing simulated effluent flowing through the contact basin. These samples were sent to a lab as part of the weekly sampling.

Lastly, we assisted with contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) testing. These samples were collected on a monthly basis and shipped to a second laboratory for testing. These samples were very sensitive and easily contaminated, so we had to avoid drinking caffeine and taking any medication for 48 hours before sample collection. CEC testing, including sampling, laboratory processes, and summarizing results, costs around $24,800 per round of testing. This was a big responsibility to be trusted with as a young professional, but through following the necessary procedures, the sampling was successful.

In summary, the pilot study was successful! The design team is currently moving into more detailed design for the IPR train and WWTP upgrades. More information about the specific results and corresponding project recommendations will be provided in future presentations and documentation.

Being able to apply textbook theories to this project expanded and enhanced our understanding of the project as a whole. It is one thing to read about how filter backwashing is supposed to

Leading with Science® to improve people’s lives

work or how to run a jar tester, and a whole other level to conduct backwashing testing or determine which chemical works the best from jar testing.

Real-world applications are essential in growing and expanding the minds of young professionals. The technical learning from working in the field on projects is one of the best learning tools for young professionals. When you can allow your young professionals to get boots on the ground at the start of projects, they can fully understand the process from start to finish. We were there when the pilot unit hit the ground, and we were there cleaning the unit before it was packed up and shipped out. We were there every week to help if anything went wrong or when things needed to be readjusted. We were allowed to dive into the project and learn all the detailed pieces of the unit and how all the puzzle pieces fit together.

We learned that something so detailed and honestly, a little intimidating, all works together to create a filter system that we worked with week after week.

The success of this pilot study can be largely attributed to a hardworking team. A huge thank you to our team – Srini Sundaramoorthy with S2 Engineering, Terry Lauritsen and the City of Bartlesville, and Jonathon Roberts and his staff with Veolia Water! As a young professional, it was invaluable to have in-person collaboration with the client and work in tandem with the plant staff to keep the unit up and running. Whenever possible, give your young professionals the change to be in the field. There is no substitution for hands-on experience and sometimes the best learning happens when they are allowed to get their hands dirty!

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