United States Washington May 1978 4982 Environmental Protection DC 20460 Agency 810R78101 Water SEPA Operation, Maintenance and Management of Wastewater Treatment Facilities A Bibliography of Technical Documents ------- ------- OPERATION, MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES A Bibliography of Technical Documents by Dottie Himes Program Analyst (WH-596) EPA Project Officer Lehn J. Potter \ May, 1978 Prepared for Municipal Operations Branch Office of Water Program Operations U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Chicago, Ilanols ------- ------- FOREWORD The Municipal Operations Branch, under the direction of Mr. Lehn J. Potter, develops program strategies and related guidance documents on muni- cipal wastewater treatment facilities in coopera- tion with the Environmental Protection Agency's ten Regions and the 50 States. A prime objective of the Branch is to assure adequate consideration of operation and maintenance characteristics in the planning, design and construction of new plants. The Branch is also responsible for action plans to assist States and municipalities in identifying and correcting wastewater treatment plant operational problems. Effective performance of these functions depends on a strong coordinated program involving Federal, State and local agencies, combined with the professional expertise of the consulting engi- neering communities. 111 ------- ------- ABSTRACT Efficient operations and maintenance saves money! Since 1956, nearly $20 billion has been spent through EPA's Construction Grants Program to build new waste- water treatment facilities or to upgrade existing plants. If a plant fails to do the job it's supposed to, or de- teriorates , these tax monies are wasted. There is con- clusive evidence that one-third to one-half of existing plants are not operating effectively and efficiently. Under the sponsorship of the Municipal Operations Branch, the Operation, Maintenance, and Management manuals described on the following pages, were prepared by operations specialists with years of in-plant experience. The manuals were developed in cooperation with EPA regional technical staff, as well as State and local governmental personnel. This Bibliography presents a summary description of the data included in the manuals. It will be noted that a broad spectrum of key information is covered, ranging from descriptions of process components and guidelines for plant start-up, to troubleshooting, preventive maintenance and laboratory testing procedures. Aerobic and Anaerobic Sludge Digestion are addressed, and include case histories of op- erational experiences and problem-solving techniques. The materials are designed to assist the operators, plant owners, consulting engineers and educators. Copies of the manuals may be obtained by writing direct to the U.S. Government Printing Office or the National Tech- nical Information Service. Appropriate data for direct orders are included as Appendices I and V respectively. Questions relating to any of these documents should be directed to the appropriate EPA Regional Office. A listing of these mailing addresses is shown on the inside back cover of this Bibliography. Inquiries may also be submitted to the Municipal Operations Branch (WH-596), Office of Water Program Operations, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 401 "M" Street, S.W., Washington, B.C. 20460. v ------- ------- ]L A B L E OF CONTENTS Page Foreword iii Abstract v A Planned Maintenance Management System for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants 1 Aspects of State-Wide Emergency Response Programs for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities 2 Aerobic Biological Wastewater Treatment Facilities, Process Control Manual 3 Anaerobic Sludge Digestion, Operations Manual 4 Considerations for Preparation of Operations and Maintenance Manuals 5 Emergency Planning for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities 6 Estimating Laboratory Needs for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities 7 Estimating Staffing for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities 8 Maintenance Management Systems for Municipal Wastewater Facilities 9 Package Treatment Plants, Operations Manual 10 Performance Evaluation and Troubleshooting at Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities, Field Manual 11 Sludge Handling and Conditioning, Operations Manual 12 Stabilization Ponds, Operations Manual 13 Start-Up of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities 14 Appendices Information for direct orders to: U.S. Government Printing Office I National Technical Information Service thru (with Order Forms) VI1 EPA Regional Office Addresses. . .(inside back cover) VI1 ------- ------- A PLANNED MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS This information was developed and successfully demonstrated as a Planned Maintenance Management Sys- tem (PMMS) at the 18-mgd Lower Potomac Wastewater Treatment Plant of Fairfax County, Virginia. It out- lines a model maintenance management program for waste- water treatment plants throughout the United States. Specifics of maintenance needs on each item of plant equipment are provided and instructions on the maintenance of complex equipment are reduced to simple procedures. For each procedure, the system includes details of the methods, materials, tools and personnel required; schedules the task, and provides for data recording and feedback. 'to During the 12-month demonstration of the PMMS, a steady downward trend was noted in the frequency of mal- functions in various mechanical equipment. In many cases, the early detection of danger signs led to positive cor- rective action in preventing breakdowns. This report describes the system in technical de- tail; thoroughly explains the installation of the system, including acceptance by the mechanics and coordination with plant operations, and outlines an application of the system to other wastewater treatment facilities. ------- ASPECTS OF STATE-WIDE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAMS FOR MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES The material provided in this document is designed to assist in the development of State emergency programs in responding to spills of raw or inadequately treated municipal wastewater. It emphasizes the legal aspects of spill reporting, the definition of a reportable spill and State-wide aspects of emergency response planning. Preliminary steps, in this work included a review of existing and proposed Federal statutes and current State water pollution control laws and regulations. Over 55 State and interstate agencies were asked to provide in- information on existing or future water pollution contin- gency plans; over 200 wastewater treatment facility mana- gers provided data on emergency actions. Each State response plan must, of course, be adapted to the local situation. ------- PROCESS CONTROL MANUAL FOR AEROBIC BIOLOGICAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES This document will provide an on-the-job reference for operators of activated sludge and trickling filter wastewater treatment plants. It will also assist opera- tors in establishing process control techniques and in optimizing the performance of these two aerobic biological treatment systems. The manual, presented in three major divisions, in- cludes : The Activated Sludge Process; The Trickling Fil- ter Process, and Appendices. Major subject matters are divided into the following sections: Troubleshooting; Process Control; Fundamentals; and Laboratory Control. These sections emphasize the fundamentals of operating and controlling aerobic biological treatment processes. Each section is presented in sufficient detail to allow the reader to use them independently. ------- OPERATIONS MANUAL ANAEROBIC SLUDGE DIGESTION Included in this manual are comments solicited from treatment plant operators throughout the country on the operation, control and troubleshooting of anae- robic sludge digesters. Major contributions are also included from scientists and engineers. Case histories of operational experiences and problem-solving form a section of the publication which will be useful to plant operators, designers and engi- neers who are interested in digester operation and theory The subject of anaerobic digester operation in mu- nicipal wastewater treatment plants is presented by covering the area of troubleshooting, general operation, safety, start-up of units, basic theory, sampling, lab- oratory testing and other subjects relevant to day-to-day operations. The document is intended for plant operators who have anaerobic digesters as part of their total treat- ment process. It is structured so that each section is complete within itself and indexed for quick reference. ------- CONSIDERATIONS FOR PREPARATION OF OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE MANUALS This material provides basic considerations for the preparation of complete and adequate municipal wastewater treatment plant operation and maintenance (O&M) manuals. Proper utilization of these guidelines will assist the user in complying with the eligibility requirements of EPA's Construction Grant Program. Some of the information included was extracted from the appendix of the "Federal Guidelines for De- sign, Operation and Maintenance of Wastewater Treat- ment Facilities", (1970). Information was gathered from individuals experienced in the preparation of plant O&M manuals and data compiled from existing O&M manuals. The document contains separate sections on each major topic recommended for inclusion in an O&M manual and detailed discussions on the type of information to be included. A suggested manual outline is presented for treatment plants; another for pumping stations and pipelines. The guidelines are not intended to present a rigid format; each manual must be adapted to the local situation. ------- EMERGENCY PLANNING FOR MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES Information provided in this document is designed to assist those responsible for developing comprehen- sive emergency operating procedures and systems for wastewater treatment facilities. It provides assist- ance for treatment plant staffs to use in explaining to local governing bodies the need for additional funds to remedy malfunctioning units at their plants. The material is also useful for municipal department heads and staff in developing plans suited to the peculiari- ties of their plants. It assists regulatory agencies in evaluating the emergency operating program sections of the O&M manuals. Consulting engineers may use it as a guide for writing the emergency operating portion of an O&M manual for any municipal treatment system. Guidance is provided to ensure each plant's discharge of pol- lutants does not exceed the effluent limitations dic- tated by the facility's discharge permit. ------- ESTIMATING LABORATORY NEEDS FOR MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES Because treatment processes and combinations of processes vary widely, laboratory needs must be specifically tailored to each installation. This manual provides data to make possible the rough estimation of laboratory needs for municipal waste- water treatment plants. Criteria for physical fa- cilities , staffing and laboratory services are in- cluded. Considerations for sampling and testing needs are presented for individual processes, and include the minimum and the best testing require- ments . The testing programs are designed to meet the needs of each process. Guidelines for equipment and supplies are di- vided into six categories: Major Equipment; Mis- cellaneous Equipment; Expendable Supplies, Glass and Plasticware; Test Kits; and Chemicals. The guidelines for Major Equipment and Chemicals are based on test- ing requirements, while the others are usually general and indicate items needed at any laboratory. Estimates for staffing needs are given as the annual base man-hours for laboratories serving the several types of treatment facilities, and include methods for adjusting the number of man-hours for local conditions. The manual describes two ways of optimizing laboratory services: regional laboratories serving several facilities, and local laboratories serv- ing both water and wastewater facilities. ------- ESTIMATING STAFFING FOR MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES Materials in this document are intended primarily for consulting engineers, plant management personnel, State reg- ulatory agencies and the Environmental Protection Agency. The manual describes a four-step method for preparing staff- ing estimates for sewage treatment plants. It covers plants with capacities from 0.5 to 25 million gallons per day (mgd) of sewage, using primary, secondary and advanced treatment processes. The four steps described provide guidance to: 1. Develop, using a "Table of Adjustment for Local Conditions", factors for increasing or decreasing staffing needs relative to those required for an "average" plant. 2. Develop the staffing for an "average" plant using staffing curves showing annual man-hour needs. Items cov- ered are: a. Supervisory, clerical, laboratory and yard tasks based on plant design capacity. b. Operation and maintenance work on the basis of both plant design capacity and types of process units or steps. The operation and maintenance man-hour needs for certain types of non-continuous processes on the basis of the time that the equipment for these processes is in operation. 3. Increase or decrease the annual manhour staffing for the above listed types of work using the factors taken from the "Table of Adjustment for Local Conditions". 4. Analyze and break-down staffing functions into specific tasks. Note: Staffing estimates prepared according to this manual should not be used as rigid or final requirements. The ulti- mate decision on staff requirements for a particular plant should be determined by personnel familiar with similar plants under similar circumstances. ------- MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER FACILITIES Basic information furnished in this document was obtained from individuals experienced in mainte- nance management systems at various-sized facilities. Existing systems were reviewed at different munici- palities, the private sector and defense establish- ments . The manual includes a number of recommendations covering each of the basic elements required to develop an effective maintenance management system. These rec- ommendations may be tailored or modified to meet spe- cific equipment and plant type requirements. The pro- cedures are comprehensive and will assist in the devel- opment of effective systems. ------- OPERATIONS MANUAL PACKAGE TREATMENT PLANTS Package treatment plants were originally designed to serve areas not easily connected to existing sewage treatment plants. Such areas include the subdivisions developed in the "fifties" and commercial establishments such as restaurants, motels and parks. More recently, package plants have increased in size so they can serve small municipalities. Many were installed with the con- cept the plants would operate with little or no operator attention. However, to meet today's more demanding pol- lution discharge regulations, these plants do require daily attention by a knowledgeable and conscientious op- erator thoroughly familiar with the plant. Materials in- cluded in this manual are designed to give the operator an increased knowledge of the basic principles in the effective operation of a package treatment plant. The document is also directed to the plant owner and the design engineer. The owner may be either the actual purchaser of the plant, if privately owned, or the indi- vidual (s) or group responsible for making policy decisions concerning the treatment plant, such as a city council. The owner is responsible for enlarging the treatment plant when necessary, controlling sewer construction practices in the service area, keeping supplies at the plant and super- vising the operator. Most importantly, the owner, in the final analysis, is legally and administratively responsible for the performance of the treatment plant. Detailed des- criptions are provided, which outline the duties and re- sponsibilities of the owner. Also, for the engineer, this manual provides informa- tion that can be used wholly or in part with an O&M manual, prepared for a specific plant. It may be valuable to the consulting engineer in plant selection, by alluding to various design problems inherent in previous package plant installations. 10 ------- FIELD MANUAL FOR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND TROUBLESHOOTING AT MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES This manual is considered useful as a technical field guide or reference document for improving the performance of municipal wastewater treatment plants. A primary objective of the document is to provide a troubleshooting guide for identifying, analyzing and solving operating problems. It is also useful in EPA and State training courses for plant inspectors and performance evaluations. Consulting engineers, de- signers, plant operators, educators and students may also find the information useful. A description is provided on procedures to evaluate the performance of treatment processes and equipment com- monly used in municipal wastewater facilities. The pro- cedures also cover other items related to the effective operation of municipal wastewater treatment plants. Troubleshooting and performance evaluation material is provided for each unit process commonly used in waste- water treatment facilities. The style, language and format of the manual are di- rected to the level and technical knowledge of a tech- nician having some experience in plant operation, design, inspection or performance evaluation. ------- OPERATIONS MANUAL SLUDGE HANDLING AND CONDITIONING This manual was initiated with the overall objec- tive of providing guidance to assist in the proper op- eration and maintenance of various sludge processing, conditioning and disposal systems at wastewater treat- ment plants. Emphasis is placed on the establishment of good operational procedures, proper testing, effec- tive measures for detection and correction of opera- tional problems. The style and format of the manual is tailored to the needs of the potential user. The processing and disposal systems presented in the document include those designed to treat various types of sludge generated from primary, secondary and chemical wastewater treatment processes. The principal sludge processes and unit operations are included such as sludge thickening, stabilization and conditioning, chemical and heat dewatering, heat drying, and ultimate disposal systems. Step-by-step operation and maintenance procedures are presented for the various systems. Each section contains explicit instructions on process control pro- cedures for detecting and correcting operational prob- lems . Plant type and size are considered where ap- plicable to operational procedures. Useful trouble- shooting guides, solutions to design shortcomings and descriptions of design variations of particular pro- cesses are also included. 12 ------- OPERATIONS MANUAL STABILIZATION PONDS Stabilization ponds for wastewater treatment were first used in the midwest for remote communities. They have since been used extensively in various parts of the country. In addition to domestic uses, ponds are now being used to treat various types of industrial wastes, including vegetable, oil refineries, slaughter houses, dairies, and rendering plants. The manual is intended to: A. Supplement the specific operation and maintenance manual prepared for municipal ponds. B. Provide basic information on the theory of stabili- zation pond requirements for the entry-level operator. C. Provide operation and maintenance suggestions for operators based on current pond experiences. D Provide a troubleshooting guide in handling various problems common to ponds. The document is divided into six major divisions: I. The Basics II. Control Information III. Operation and Maintenance for Ponds IV. Troubleshooting for Ponds V. Safety VI. App en di ce s 13 ------- START-UP OF MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES This document serves as a guide for establishing the initial outline for the operation of a new municipal wastewater treatment plant, a new addition to an exist- ing plant or a change in the mode of a plant's operation. Information is provided in preparing for actual treatment plant start-up, including: staffing, develop- ing standard operating procedures; establishing proced- ures when construction is continued during start-up; dry and wetrun testing of equipment; on-site operator train- ing; and safety training. Start-up procedures are described for some of the more common pre-treatment and primary treatment units. Methods are also provided for specific secondary treat- ment processes of activated sludge, trickling filters, stabilization ponds and aerated lagoons, as well as sludge handling units and the anaerobic digestion process 14 ------- INFORMATION FOR DIRECT ORDERS SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS U.S.GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20401 Title G.P.O. Stock Number A Planned Maintenance Management System for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants Aspects of State-Wide Emergency Response Programs for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities Aerobic Biological Wastewater Treatment Facilities, Process Control Manual Anaerobic Sludge Digestion, Operations Manual Considerations for Preparation of Oper- ation and Maintenance Manuals Emergency Planning for Municipal Waste- water Treatment Facilities Estimating Laboratory Needs for Munici- pal Wastewater Treatment Facilities Estimating Staffing for Municipal Waste- Water Treatment Facilities Maintenance Management Systems for Mu- nicipal Wastewater Facilities Package Treatment Plants, Operations Manual Performance Evaluation and Trouble- Shooting at Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities, Field Manual Sludge Handling and Conditioning, Op- erations Manual Stabilization Ponds, Operations Manual Start-Up of Municipal Wastewater Treat- ment Facilities 5501-00756-6 055-001-01077-0 055-001-01071-1 055-001-01075-3 5501-00644-6 5501-00778-7 5501-00651-9 5501-00569-5 5501-00762-1 055-001-01072-9 055-001-01078-8 055-002-00167-0 055-001-01076-1 5501-00763-9 Price $2.75 2.20 4.75 3.25 3.10 1.25 1.45 1.75 1.60 2.50 5.50 5.75 2.30 1.40 ------- ------- ORDER FORM To: ^Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 Please send the following listed document(s): No. of Copies Title of Document G.P.O Stock Cost per Number Copy $ TOTAL: $" i i 1 My (check/money order), made payable to the Superintendent i of Documents, is enclosed. (NAME) (FIRM) (STREET ADDRESS) r (CITY) (STATE) (ZIP CODE) \ NOTE: DO NOT SEND ORDER REQUESTS TO EPA *A11 orders must be sent direct to the U.S. Government 1 Printing Office Appendix III ------- ------- INFORMATION FOR DIRECT ORDERS NATIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICE 5285 PORT ROYAL ROAD, U.S. DEPT. OF COMMERCE SPRINGFIELD, VIRGINIA 22161 Title Price PB Number Papercopy Microfiche A Planned Maintenance Management System for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants Aspects of State-Wide Emergency Response Programs for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities Aerobic Biological Wastewater Treatment Facilities Anaerobic Sludge Digestion PB233111/AS $ 6.50 PB279551/AS PB279474/AS PB250129/AS Considerations for Preparation of Operation & Maintenance Manuals PB227096/AS Emergency Planning for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities Estimating Laboratory Needs for Municipal Wastewater Treat- ment Facilities Estimating Staffing for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities PB256612/AS PB256613/AS PB227321/AS Maintenance Management Systems for Municipal Wastewater Facilities PB256611/AS Package Treatment Plants Performance Evaluation and Trouble- shooting at Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities Sludge Handling and Conditioning Stabilization Ponds Start-Up of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities PB279444/AS PB279448/AS PB279449/AS PB279443/AS PB256614/AS 5.25 12.00 9.00 9.50 6.00 $3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 7 6 6 6 13 12 6 .25 .00 .50 .00 .25 .50 .00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 6.00 3.00 Appendix V ftU.S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1978 724-065/1149 ------- ------- I I I I I I , ORDER FORM 1 To: ^National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department 1 of Commerce, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield i Virginia 22161 Please send the following listed document(s): ' No.of PB Indicate Papereooy Unit i Copies Title of Document No. or Microfiche' Cost ; $ i i i i * i , TOTAL: $ 1 My check/money order, made payable to the National Technical • Information Service, is enclosed. 1 (NAME) i i (FIRM)(STREET ADDRESS) (CITY) (STATE) (ZIP CODE) , NOTE: DO NOT SEND ORDER REQUESTS TO EPA ( *A11 orders must be sent direct to the National Technical Information Service i i , Appendix VII ------- ------- ------- ------- EPA REGIONAL OFFICES For the States of: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT Operation and Maintenance Section Municipal Facilities Branch Water Division EPA Region I JFK Federal Building Boston, MA. 02203 For the States of: AR, LA, NM, OK, TX Operation and Maintenance Chief Municipal Facilities Branch Water Division 1201 Elm Street First International Building Dallas, TX. 75270 For the States of: NJ, NY, PR, VI For the States of: IA, KS, MO, NB Municipal Permits Section EPA Region II 26 Federal Plaza New York, NY. 10007 Inspection Group Technical Services Branch Division of Surveillance & Analysis 25 Funston Road Kansas City, KS. 66115 For the States of: DE, MD, PA, VA, WV, DC Municipal Permits Branch EPA Region III 6th & Walnut Streets Philadelphia, PA. 19108 For the State of: CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY Operation and Maintenance Section Control Technology Branch Water Division 1860 Lincoln Street Denver, CO. 80203 For the States of: AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN Operation and Maintenance Unit Technical Support Branch Water Division EPA Region IV 345 Courtland Street, NE Atlanta, GA. 30308 For the States of: AZ, CA, HI, NV, American Samoa, Tr. Terr, of Pacific Islands, Guam Water Investigation Section Technical Support Branch Division of Surveillance & Analysis 215 Freemont Street San Francisco, CA. 94105 For the States of IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI Operation and Maintenance/Municipal Permits Section Construction Grants Branch Water Division 230 S. Dearborn Street Chicago, IL. 60604 For the States of: AK, ID, OR, WA Operation and Maintenance Unit Municipal Section, Water Branch Water Division 1200 Sixth Avenue Seattle, WA. 98101 ------- ------- |