project assignment _3

7/30/2019 Project Assignment _3

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SAMPLING AND

OPERATIONALPROCEDURES &

SAMPLING FOR WASTE

WATER TREATMENT

FACILITYWritten by Derek A. Martin

Fall2011-EVR1190 10/24/11

Environmental Samplg-350653

Project Assignment #3

JEA W/ WWRT -So ut h

Grid

10828 Hampton Road

Jacksonville, Florida 3225

Contact: Prentiss Garraw

Phone: 904-665-8125

Email: [email protected]


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position in JEA is W/WW RT Operations Coordinator, Water/Waste Water & Reuse Treatment

South Grid. He has been working with JEA for the past 10 years and in the WWT business for

an overall time period of 32 years. We discussed where the sampling was done which he

answered at the facility and also upstream from their discharge points as well as downstream.

Some of these test samples are performed quarterly and some are done semi-annually whether

they are governed by the state or federal government. I specifically asked what type of testing

they performed at the facility and he explained that it is a mixture of composite testing and also

grab tests. Automated computer testing is a regular thing at these facilities and is a 24 hr.

process. Workers perform grab test using what he called dipoles. These were made from plastic

materials and ranged in size, I guess depending on where the sample needed to be taken. All

these sample were permit requirements. The automated systems used were performing test on

the reuse or reclaimed water. These test were performed daily or every 24 hrs.

JEA has its own lab governed by JEA and also the DEP. This lab has to be certified every

year. Outside labs are used from time to time. He said that they are used for special testing that

may require a shorter suspense after a significant event. There are many things that the facility is

looking for on a daily basis. When asked what the tests were for, he gave me a list consisting of

Nitrogen limits to the river, mercury, cyanide and carbon to name a few. When performing the

grab samples they have to make an effort to get samples to the lab ASAP. These are fecal

samples that have a hold time of 6 hours. These fecal tests are done to make sure that the natural

enzymes are doing their job and ingesting the fecal matter. Its also to make sure that the system

is limiting that matter it lets pass onto the next level of treatment. All tests are put together in a

BNR Report which stands for a Biological Nutrient Removal report. This allows overseeing

permitting agencies that the system is operating in the most sufficient manner. The other report is


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a DMR report which stands for Discharge Monitoring Report. This report is used for

wastewater facility permitting. However, on a routine basis, self-monitoring information consist

of daily, weekly, and monthly effluent quality data. This information is generally reported on

either a monthly or quarterly Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) which is issued to the

permitted wastewater facility.

All operation money comes from revenue by way of your JEA bill. No money comes

from the state or federal government. It takes at least a year to start and finish one of these

facilities, and they are grand. This particular facility is considered an A plant which means it

takes a high rate of flow coming in and handles a lot of wastewater material. This material come

through those large effluent pipes into the first facility called the grit system where particles are

filtered and hydrogen sulfide is monitored. The sludge material goes through a secondary

chamber where they are filtered one more time before being sent to the aeration chambers.

Within these chambers which are at least twenty feet deep and have pumps that constantly turn

the materials to keep the buildup of foam from getting too high. Mr. Prentiss called this area of

the system the scum system. The materials in these chambers look like sludgy chocolate;

however, dont be fooled, its someones dinner from yesterday with tampons for skewers. Not a

pretty site or a good smell either I might add.

Throughout this entire system are these huge 40+ grey ductile iron pipes called the

Biomass Reduction System, it is in place specifically for odors. If this system wasnt in place it

would stink even worse. In the last aeration chamber there are pipe all slotted with pressured air

that bubbles the material like a hot soup, allowing the breakdown of particulates to be achieved.

This was really unpleasant! When the material or what he called Mixed Liquor leaves this

area it is sent to the primary clarifier, some of the material is sent back through the system from


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secondary pump systems to start the process all over again. The remainder that is sent to the

primary clarifiers is now in a process that nature usually does, its just sped up a lot! The solids

settle out and the water then skims over and sent to another stage where it is then forced pumped

or syphoned up and sent through a sand filter. Half of this material is sent through as Reuse or

Reclaimed water and the other is sent through and discharged back into the Saint Johns River.

Here in Jacksonville, JEAs plants collect the solids once they have gone through a large UV

system. This system sterilizes the viruses in the sludge therefore it doesnt allow them to grow or

multiply and they die. It is then processed with polymers to bind the material and is hauled to a

facility downtown where it compost and they make pellets which are used by agriculture

industries as fertilizer.

The name of the game is to have the lowest amount of nutrients enter back into the

environment, whether its through reuse lines or the Saint Johns River. This facility was top

notch and everyone I met knew there information. They were a tight knit group. I found out that

this particular facility has a track record of removing 95.6% of material waste and nutrients from

the water they allow to be introduced back into the system. Even though this facility has millions

of gallons a day, they do their job and are compliant with local, state, and federal regulations. I

had a fantastic time learning about these facilities and hope that we continue to find ways that

help clean our environment for a better tomorrow.


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Sources

JEA Contact: Prentiss Garraway

Phone: 904-665-8125

Email: [email protected]

project assignment _3

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