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Wastewater Division

Wastewater Plant Update

Posted: March 10, 2009

Update Febrary 2009: (Click on thumbnails to view pictures larger)

Update February 2009: (Click on thumbnails to view pictures larger)

Site Work As much of the western portion of the construction site was graded to final elevation, the contractor began installation of the final surface materials, in this case rock. Landscape fabric is first laid down for weed control then the rock material is installed, spread and compacted. In addition to rock, a new irrigation system will be installed and new, low maintenance perennial grasses planted.

The construction contractor had to move their trailers in order to do the final grading on the western end of the site. Fortunately, there was room for the trailers just off-site to relocate them. The finish elevation of the plant site will be higher than the 100-year flood level to ensure the facility will stay out of the floodway of the Santa Ynez river.

Landscape rock at Blower Building

Landscape rock at Influent Pump Station

Relocate Contractor Trailers
Old Trailer Location Being Graded

Secondary Effluent Equalization Pump Station (SEEPS) Since the pumps had been installed, work continued to install the pumps’ discharge valves and piping header. The concrete pad to support that equipment was poured. Then the valves and piping were put into place. This pump station will pump secondary effluent temporarily stored in the Secondary Effluent Equalization Tank (SEET) to the final phase of treatment: filtration and disinfection. The SEET will be constructed by modifying the existing aeration tanks during phase 2 of the project.

SEEPS Equipment Pad

Flying SEEPS Discharge Header Pipe
SEEPS Discharge Valves (red)
SEEPS Discharge Piping

Filter/Ultraviolet Disinfection (UV) In order to prevent air-entrainment problems for the flow meter on the water flow from the cloth media filters, a standpipe on the pipe from the filters to the UV channels was installed. This pipe will raise the water level in the overflow structure of the filters to keep air from entering the water as it leave the tanks. The magnetic flow meter doesn’t like air in the water flow it’s trying to measure.

Excavating to Pipe

Marking Where to Cut Pipe
Bolting In New Standpipe
Completed Standpipe

Wastewater Gas Burner (WGB) The existing plant utilized the anaerobic digester process to treat the solids that are produced in the liquid stream. These 2 digesters were designed and built as part of the 1959 plant project and have reached the end of their useful life. These digesters will be replaced by new digesters using an aerobic process to decompose the plant’s solids. The location for these new aerobic digesters required an existing WGB to be moved so construction could proceed and the burner could still be used as needed. City staff disconnected the WGB from the existing gas piping and moved it to a temporary location. (The WGB will not be needed to work with the new aerobic digesters as it did with the old anaerobic digesters.) They ran new gas piping and electrical/control wiring. This move saved the City much time and money and allowed for the construction of the new digesters to proceed unimpeded.

Preparing to Move WGB

Hooking Up New Gas and Controls

Lifting From Old Foundation
Moving to New Location

Training City staff received training on operating the diesel-fueled emergency engine/generator. To keep the equipment operating properly, staff will maintain the engine with oil and filter changes as well as air filter and fuel filter changes, among other items. The engine/genset will be exercised under the plant electrical load once per month.

Engine/Genset Training

Miscellaneous Some of the smaller tasks completed in February included installation of grated walkway for access to the emergency engine/generator, start of the framing for new walls and doors at the old chemical building (which will new storage), ducting at fans for Foul Air System, temporary piping for testing the new Storm Water Pump Station (SWPS).

Walkways Around Genset

Wall/Door Frame for New Storage

Foul Air Ducting at Fans
Ducting at DAFT
SWPS Temporary Testing Piping (white)

Check back in April to see what happened in March.

Update Febrary 2009: (Click on thumbnails to view pictures larger)

Update February 2009: (Click on thumbnails to view pictures larger)

Site Work As much of the western portion of the construction site was graded to final elevation, the contractor began installation of the final surface materials, in this case rock. Landscape fabric is first laid down for weed control then the rock material is installed, spread and compacted. In addition to rock, a new irrigation system will be installed and new, low maintenance perennial grasses planted. The construction contractor had to move their trailers in order to do the final grading on the western end of the site. Fortunately, there was room for the trailers just off-site to relocate them. The finish elevation of the plant site will be higher than the 100-year flood level to ensure the facility will stay out of the floodway of the Santa Ynez river.		Landscape rock at Blower Building Landscape rock at Influent Pump Station
Relocate Contractor Trailers	Old Trailer Location Being Graded

Secondary Effluent Equalization Pump Station (SEEPS) Since the pumps had been installed, work continued to install the pumps’ discharge valves and piping header. The concrete pad to support that equipment was poured. Then the valves and piping were put into place. This pump station will pump secondary effluent temporarily stored in the Secondary Effluent Equalization Tank (SEET) to the final phase of treatment: filtration and disinfection. The SEET will be constructed by modifying the existing aeration tanks during phase 2 of the project.		SEEPS Equipment Pad
Flying SEEPS Discharge Header Pipe	SEEPS Discharge Valves (red)	SEEPS Discharge Piping

Filter/Ultraviolet Disinfection (UV) In order to prevent air-entrainment problems for the flow meter on the water flow from the cloth media filters, a standpipe on the pipe from the filters to the UV channels was installed. This pipe will raise the water level in the overflow structure of the filters to keep air from entering the water as it leave the tanks. The magnetic flow meter doesn’t like air in the water flow it’s trying to measure.		Excavating to Pipe
Marking Where to Cut Pipe	Bolting In New Standpipe	Completed Standpipe

Wastewater Gas Burner (WGB) The existing plant utilized the anaerobic digester process to treat the solids that are produced in the liquid stream. These 2 digesters were designed and built as part of the 1959 plant project and have reached the end of their useful life. These digesters will be replaced by new digesters using an aerobic process to decompose the plant’s solids. The location for these new aerobic digesters required an existing WGB to be moved so construction could proceed and the burner could still be used as needed. City staff disconnected the WGB from the existing gas piping and moved it to a temporary location. (The WGB will not be needed to work with the new aerobic digesters as it did with the old anaerobic digesters.) They ran new gas piping and electrical/control wiring. This move saved the City much time and money and allowed for the construction of the new digesters to proceed unimpeded.		Preparing to Move WGB Hooking Up New Gas and Controls
Lifting From Old Foundation	Moving to New Location

Training City staff received training on operating the diesel-fueled emergency engine/generator. To keep the equipment operating properly, staff will maintain the engine with oil and filter changes as well as air filter and fuel filter changes, among other items. The engine/genset will be exercised under the plant electrical load once per month.		Engine/Genset Training

Miscellaneous Some of the smaller tasks completed in February included installation of grated walkway for access to the emergency engine/generator, start of the framing for new walls and doors at the old chemical building (which will new storage), ducting at fans for Foul Air System, temporary piping for testing the new Storm Water Pump Station (SWPS).		Walkways Around Genset Wall/Door Frame for New Storage
Foul Air Ducting at Fans	Ducting at DAFT	SWPS Temporary Testing Piping (white)

Check back in April to see what happened in March.