IMPROVING
OPERATION AND
MAINTENANCE
OF MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER
TREATMENT PLANTS IN
THE GREAT LAKES BASIN
Sponsored jointly by:
The Great Lakes National Program
Office of The United States
Environmental Protection Agency
and The Review Board
of The Canada/Ontario Agreement
on Great Lakes Water Quality



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                    IMPROVING
         OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
     OF MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS
               IN THE GREAT LAKES BASIN
An Opinion Paper Derived From The Canada-United States Great
Lakes Workshop On Operation And Maintenance Of Municipal
Wastewater Treatment Plants, Held In Itasca, Illinois, USA, On
March 15-17, 1978.
                         -1-

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                      TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
PREFACE
JOINT ACTION MEMORANDUM
EXECUII¥E SUMMARY
                                                   4

                                                   5

                                                   6

                                                   9
CHAPTER 1  :             AND INTRODUCTION
             Formation of the Workshop
             Opening Remarks at the Workshop
             Background Papers
                                                  19
                                                  21
                                                  21
                                                  24
CHAPTER 2 :  GROUP DELIBERATIONS BY THE WORKSHOP
             PARTICIPANTS
             The Great Lakes O&M Issues for Sewage
             Treatment Plants
                                                  29
                                                  29
CHAPTER 3 :  A PLAN FOR ACTION
CHAPTER 4 ;  PRINCIPLES FOR ACHIEVING EFFECTIVE O&M
BIBLIOGRAPHY
                                                  35

                                                  40

                                                  42
APPENDIX I  :
APPENDIX II :
APPENDIX III:
WORKSHOP AGENDA                                   43
MEMBERSHIP OF STEERING COMMITTEE AND ADVISORS     44
WORKSHOP PARTICIPATION:  PARTICIPANTS,            45
OBSERVERS, CONSULTANTS, AND STAFF
                            - 3 -

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                       ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

          The joint support of the Review Board of the Canada/Ontario
Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and of the Great Lakes Hational
Program Office of the U.S. Environmental Proteciton Agency in making
this program possible, is gratefully appreciated.  The valuable assistance
of many departments in both the United States and Canadian organizations
is acknowledged.

          We also gratefully acknowledge the dedicated efforts of the
Great Lakes O&M Workshop Steering Committee members before, during and
after the Workshop, which made this program possible.

          Most of all we especially recognize the dedicated efforts and
interest of over 60 participants in the Workshop who brought their
diversified experience together to find joint solutions to common opera-
tion and maintenance problems in municipal wastewater treatment plants
in the Great Lakes Basin.

          We also acknowledge the efforts of our consultant, Mr, Norman
Wei of Norman S. Wei & Associates Limited in Toronto, for the preparation
of this report and of Ms. Jan Pickett and the 'E' Company of Chicago
who made the necessary arrangements for the conference including the
management of an extensive library at the Workshop.
                            - 4 -

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                           PREFACE

          The Joint U.S.-Canada Workshop on the Operation and Maintenance
of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants in the Great Lakes Basin was
established by the Joint Action Memorandum of the Director General,
Ontario Region, Environmental Protection Service of Environment Canada,
and the Regional Administrator, Region V of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency.  The Joint Memorandum is reproduced on the following
pages.

          These officials, and the organizations which they represent, are
responsible for environmental control in the Great Lakes Basin,  They
sought recommendations for more effective operation and maintenance of
municipal treatment facilities.  The Workshop accomplished that in a model
inter-disciplinary review and discussion of the combined opinions of the
representatives of the constituencies and disciplines involved in this
profession.  By this means, the Workshop succeeded in formulating practical
recommendations for more effective operation and maintenance of municipal
treatment facilities.

          The opinions and recommendations of the Workshop participants
as described in this report, are advisory and do not necessarily reflect
the official positions of any of the governmental organizations.

          We are hopeful, however, that those who are in a responsible
position to make changes will adopt the recommendations of this Workshop
to improve plant operation and maintenance.
                            - 5 -

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  v-,i~ «M>x
         :,                          UNITED STATES
          I                ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
          3                             REGION V
                                230 SOUTH DEARBORN ST.
"*%)£ pROl^"^                       CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60604
        JOINT ACTION MEMORANDUM                 August 22,  1977

        SUBJECT:  Joint U.S.-Canada Workshop on Operation and Maintenance of
                  Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants in the Great Lakes Basin

             TO:  Max Hanok, Great Lakes National Program Office
                  Region Vs U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

                  Alex Redekopp, Training and Technology Transfer Division,
                  Environmental Protection Service, Fisheries and Environment
                  Canada

        BACKGROUND

        In recognition of the complexity and diversity of common problems
        and issues associated with the operation and maintenance of municipal
        waste treatment plants in the Great Lakes Basin of the U.S. and Canada
        a workshop on the subject had initially been considered under the spon-
        sorship of the IJC.  Subsequently, in March 1976, the Honorable Jean
        Marchand, Minister of the Environment in Canada, and the Honorable
        Russell E. Train, Administrator of EPA, under sponsorship of the U.S.
        Department of State, and the Canadian Department of External Affairs,
        entered into a broad agreement providing for the direct exchange of
        technical information between the two Governments,  With the consum-
        mation of that agreement, it seemed to be more appropriate and in
        keeping with the responsibilities of the two Governments, to sponsor
        the workshop as a joint undertaking.  Participation and input to the
        workshop shall be from a broad cross-section of interests involved in
        municipal waste treatment facility operation.  The general goals,
        objectives and format for the workshop as initially proposed to the
        Water Quality Board should serve as a guide to the Steering Committee
        under this joint undertaking.

        JOIMT ACTION

        Pursuant to the Train-Marchand Agreement in keeping with the responsi-
        bilities of the Governments, it is hereby concluded that the subject
        workshop should be conducted under joint U.S.-Canadian sponsorship as
        follows:

             A.  On the part of the U.S., the Regional Administrator of
                 Region ¥ of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
                 will provide the necessary personnel to organize and
                 conduct the workshop and will provide approximately
                 two-thirds of the funding necessary.


                                       - 6 -

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      B.  On the part of Canada, approximately one-third of the
          necessary funds will be provided by the Review Board
          of the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water
          Quality.  In addition, Canada will pro-vide membership
          on a Steering Committee, to be appointed, which members
          will participate in deliberations of the Steering Com-
          mittee and will also make initial arrangements for
          participation of Canadian personnel in the workshop
          itself.

APPOINTMENT AND DELEGATION OF RESPONSIBILITY

      A Steering Committee is hereby created for the purpose of providing
      overall direction and consultation for planning and coordinating
      the Seminar.  The Steering Committee will consist of ten members,
      five from Canada and five from the U.S.

           A.  One member from each country is hereby designated
               as co-chairman of the Steering Committee as follows:

               For Canada:  Mr. Alex Redekopp
                            Training and Technology Transfer Division
                            Environmental Protection Service
                            Fisheries & Environment Canada

               For the U.S.:  Mr. Max Hanok
                              Great Lakes National Program Office
                              Region ¥
                              U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

           B.  The co-chairmen shall have overall responsibility for con-
               ducting the business of the Steering Committee and shall
               share responsibilities for conducting the workshop com-
               mensurate with the "Joint Action" paragraph above. The
               co-chairmen shall have the responsibility for arranging
               for participation of the other four members from their
               respective countries.  The co-chairmen shall report
               periodically to their respective jurisdictions, orally
               or in writing as directed, regarding the progress of  the
               planning, organization, and conduct of the workshop.

It is expected that the final product of the workshop will result in
recommendations in the form of a published report which will be useful
to municipal, State and Federal and Provincial agencies in furthering
their programs for more effective operation and maintenance of municipal
treatment facilities in the International Great Lakes Basin.   It is  also
anticipated that such a report will provide valuable assistance to
                                - 7 -

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jurisdictions outside of the Basin since, in addition to problems
peculiar to the Great Lakes Basin, many of the problems of operation
and maintenance are common to other areas of the two countries.  This
Joint Action Memorandum is intended to assign broad responsibilities
and to provide a broad latitude of action and decision to the Steering
Committee and to the co-chairmen to produce a viable report which will
provide a guide to improve operation and maintenance of municipal waste-
water fcfeatmdnf facilities in the Great Lakes Basin,
Robert W. Slater
Director General
Ontario Region
Environmental Protection Service
Department of Fisheries & Environment
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
George R. Alexander, Jr.  f
Regional Administrator  /'
Region V
Environmental Protection Agency
Chicago, Illinois
                                 - 8 -

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                      EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

          The experience of both Ontario and the United States in
building and operating effective municipal wastewater treatment
facilities as a part of maintaining good water quality in the Great
Lakes Basin, has shown that actual application and experience are the
best teachers.

          The problems with performance of municipal treatment plants
have been known for some time in the United States,  For example, the
General Accounting Office (GAO) in 1975 pointed to the need for improved
performance of municipal wastewater treatment plants in the Great Lakes
to resolve the high costs of operation.  In 1977, the GAO specifically
identified areas where O&M of treatment plants can be improved.  The
U.S. EPA has also been active in promoting the importance of O&M,  Agency
components include the Regional Office staff; Office of Water Program
Operations in Washington, D.C.; the National Training and Operational
Technology Center in Cincinnati, Ohioj and the Municipal Environmenal
Research Laboratory in Cincinnati.  In 1977, the U.S, EPA appointed an
intra-agency Task Force to define problems and recommend solutions to
improve O&M of municipal wastewater treatment plants in the United States,

          In Canada, when Ontario implemented its subsidized plant
construction program in the 1950's, there was an immediate and extensive
expansion of the entire system and similar problems to those identified
during the recent O&M Workshop were experienced.  As a means of overcoming
some of these problems•, Ontario set up a bid depository and also instituted
a practice of preselecting major mechanical equipment.  At the time, the
Province also experienced a similar critical shortage of trained staff,
at all levels.  To meet the agency requirements, the then Ontario Water
Resources Commission began to send new staff back to the universities for
post-graduate training in Sanitary Engineering and instituted an operator
training program to staff the new facilities.  However, there is no complete
substitute for on-the-job experience, and it was some years before a fully
                            _ 9 .

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experienced staff was established in the plants, at the agency, municipali-
ties, and with consultants and equipment suppliers to service the higher
level of activity.

          The United States and Canadian participants at the Great Lakes
O&M Workshop defined over 30 major issues or problem areas encountered
in municipal wastewater treatment plants.  These were developed by each
of the major groups of experts involved in various aspects of treatment
plant operation.  The groups included consultants, equipment manufacturers
and suppliers; treatment plant operators; municipal officials and regulatory
officials; public interest groups, and environmental and management
scientists.  The Workshop was unique in the use of organized homogeneous
(participants of similar disciplines) and heterogeneous (participants of
dissimilar disciplines) work sessions to reach concensus on issues.

          The Workshop participants distilled the issues to 13 major
areas of concern and proceeded to propose mutually acceptable solutions
to each of the issues.  These 13 major O&M issues and their recommended
solutions represent the combined opinions of the Workshop participants
as to how O&M can be improved.  They are summarized in Table 1,
                           - 10 -

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                           TABLE 1

                   WORKSHOP OPINIONS ON O&M
Identified Issues
Recommended Solutions
   Formulation of O&M policies re-
   quires sufficient inputs from
   operators, consultants, municipal
   officials, equipment manufacturers
   and the public,
   Need for maintenance management
   programs to prevent O&M problems,
   Uncontrolled industrial waste
   discharges cause O&M problems
   at treatment plants.
*  Provide incentives for above
   average O&M performance.
*  Need for clear definition of
   responsibility between consultant,
   owner, and regulatory agencies.
*  Need for sufficient supply of
   competent staff.
   Utilize more external technical
   input into the development of
   O&M policies.

   Ensure that more qualified
   engineers, who have significant
   O&M experience5 are in key
   decision-making positions.

   Consultants and equipment manu-
   facturers should design main-
   tenance programs and establish
   responsibility for their operation.

   Development of programs for
   monitoring non-conventional
   parameters.

   Require industrial waste surveys
   and characterization of wastes as
   prerequisite to design.

   Establish a sewer charge system
   for industrial wastes.

   Use the U.S. EPA's NPDES reporting
   system for identifying O&M or
   process problems, implementing
   control programs and setting
   priorities for construction grants.

   Modify existing guidelines to
   clarify the responsibilities of
   the owner, contractor, consultant,
   and equipment suppliers,

   Mandatory and meaningful certifi-
   cation of operators.

   Hands-on training for operators.
                           - 11 -

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TABLE 1 (CONTINUED),  .  .


Identified Issues	

*  Need for plants that are flexible,
   reliable, easy to control and
   maintain,
   Proper equipment selection and
   maintenance,
   Equipment manufacturers need to
   supply technically trained personnel
   in installation and plant operation.
   Need for in-plant monitoring
   systems.
Recommended Solutions
*  Increase awareness and under-
   standing of design consultants
   to incorporate consideration of
   plant operations features,

*  Provide continuing eduction for
   design engineers through feedback
   of operator problems and experience.

*  Improve communication between
   operators and design engineers.

*  Require specifications to ensure
   proper life cycles equipment
   selection, supply or spare parts.

*  Require pre-qualification of
   equipment.

*  Consider life cycle, quality, and
   price in equipment selection,

*  Consulting engineers should specify
   adequate technical services during
   installation and start-up of equip-
   ment,

*  Provide adequate process data
   collection, monitoring devices,
   and laboratory facilities for
   process control and effluent
   monitoring,

*  Require certification and training
   of laboratory personnel,

*  Accelerate research and develop-
   ment of sensors that will record
   different plant operational
   parameters.
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TABLE 1 (CONTINUED) .  .  ,
Identified Issues
Recommended Solutions
   Need for more definitive support
   at the municipal administrative
   level,
   Require greater interest and under-
   standing on the part of elected
   officials and the general public in
   supporting O&M programs.
   Need to significantly improve
   the public's image of the high
   skill requirements of treatment
   plant operators.
*  Plant owners should provide
   adequate O&M budgets and minimize
   political interference, consider
   performance incentives in agree-
   ments, and provide adequate,
   qualified, and trained personnel,

*  Provide awareness training to owners.

*  Expand O&M public awareness programs
   at the Federal, State and local
   levels by promoting plant operation,

*  Invite elected officials from all
   levels to treatment plants.

*  Improve publicity on the cost-
   effective nature of good O&M
   programs,

*  Provide incentives for outstanding
   plant performance and penalties
   for poor performance,

*  Offer public O&M recognition awards,

*  Upgrade working conditions for
   operators (e.g., provide uniforms,
   safety equipment, etc.),

*  Improve operators' image through
   active public awareness programs.

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          Some of the key issues are as follows:  availability and adequate
supply of qualified plant personnel; improved operator training; proper
selection, supply and operation of equipment; better communications among
all disciplines; and improved awareness of the benefits of good O&M.
Availability of technology did not surface as an issue although greater
automation of treatment plant equipment and consideration of reduced cost
phosphorus removal techniques were mentioned as possible aids in improving
O&M.  The consensus was that better application of available technologies
is required.

          Essentially, all of the major issues identified can be totaled
to a need for more effective management of a complex system of independent
decision points.  Wastewater treatment plants are conceived as having all
of the management functions:  training, personnel, equipment, etc., of any
complex manufacturing plant with some additional requirements superimposed
by the social and economic impact of good O&M on the water quality of the
Great Lakes.

          The workshop first derived a series of specific solutions for
each of the issues which had been identified.  These were then synthesized
into recommendations for municipal officials, consultants, operators,
regulatory officials, equipment suppliers and manufacturers, and public
interest groups.

          It was not surprising that consulting engineers as a group were
called upon by the participants to play a pivotal role in many phases of
O&M, from the design stage, to equipment specification, to start-up and to
on-site training.  The participants also recommended that public interest
and environmental groups play a primary role in fostering the image of
wastewater treatment plant operation as a highly skilled and socially
beneficial profession.
                            - 14 -

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          Municipal officials were advised to provide the necessary
statutory incentives to promote good treatment plant operator training
and certification, and to effectively regulate the discharge of indus-
trial wastes into sewage treatment plants.

          The Workshop recommended that the regulatory agencies at the
State, Federal, and provincial levels act as focal points for the efforts
of the various groups and to provide the funding and regulatory emphasis
to promote effective O&M at the plants,

          The Workshop also recommended that equipment manufacturers and
suppliers ensure that the best equipment is designed and manufactured for
the treatment plants through closer interrelationships with plant personnel
and with regulatory agencies on matters of technical assistance and training.
These recommended roles are outlined in greater detail in this report.

          In an attempt to make our recommendations more readily applicable
to improving O&M of sewage treatment plants, we have derived a series of
management principles, based on the combined experience of the Workshop
principles.  Three key samples of the participants which we derived deal with
the accomplishment of a programmatic approach to good O&M, the means for
enlisting support of elected officials for these programs, and the good
practices evolved from industry to ensure improved equipment performance
at the wastewater treatment plants.  These principles are as follows:
          1.  O&M at the treatment plant must be a delivered
          program that is supported by and has participation from
          all the different groups of professionals involved in the
          management system.

          2.  The interest and understanding of elected officials
          and the general public in improving O&M of municipal
          wastewater treatment plants is best enhanced through
          educational and public awareness programs and through
          incentives that instill a desire or need to emphasize
          the significance of O&M.
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           3.  Equipment  supply and performance  can be  significantly
           improved  for municipal wastewater  treatments plants  if the
           suppliers and  the users employ  the same kind of design,
           training  and service programs that are typical at other
           industrial plants.

           These and other management principles are given in greater detail
in Chapter 4 of this report.

           The recommendations in this report are advisory.  They represent
the best opinions at the time of the meeting, of the people in the United
States and Canada most concerned with all aspects of operating efficient
wastewater treatment plants.  The participants  at the  Workshop were acutely
aware that not only does greater efficiency  translate  into lower costs, it
also means an improved effluent quality from the treatment plants.

           We have defined the major problems confronting good operation and
maintenance of municipal wastewater treatment plants in the Great Lakes
Basin.  ¥e have also presented the most considered recommendations, dictated
by experience, for  resolving these problems.  As an aid in using these
recommendations, we have attempted to make them equally applicable to both
Ontario and the United States by presenting  them as a  set of recommended
"management principles or rules for achieving good O&M,
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          The participants, advisors, and steering committee for the
Great Lakes 0 & M Workshop, join us in hoping that you will find our
recommendations useful in achieving optimum operation and maintenance
of municipal wastewater treatment plants in the Great Lakes Basin.
   Respectfully
Max Hanok
U.S. Co-Cha irman
Joint U.S.-Canada Great Lakes
       Workshop for Improving
0 & M of Municipal Wastewater
Treatment Plants
Alex Redekopp

Canada Co^Chairman
Joint U.S.-Canada Great Lakes
       Workshop for Improving
0 & M of Municipal Wastewater
Treatment Plants
                              -  17  -

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           CHAPTER 1:  BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION

          Since 1971, the Federal, State and provincial governments in
Canada and the United have spent over $4,5 billion in the construction
of municipal wastewater treatment plants in the Great Lakes Basin.  It
is important that such expensive facilities be maintained and operated
at their optimum design efficiences in order to produce the best possible
effluent quality.  Unfortunately, this is often not the case.  Both the
United States and Canadian governments have recognized that there are
common problems and issues associated with the operation and maintenance
of sewage treatment plants in the Great Lakes area which need to be
addressed.  For example, in its 1976 Research Needs Report , the Research
Advisory Board of the International Joint Commission identified as "critical"
the need to evaluate the performance of wastewater treatment facilities in
the Great Lakes Basin.

                   2
          A summary  of three annual surveys of United States municipal
wastewater treatment facilities conducted by the U.S. EPA from 1973 - 1975
showed that about one-third of the Nation's publicly owned treatment
plants were not meeting original design criteria for BOD removal, and
about one-half failed to meet the criteria for total suspended solids
removal.  Problems with operations and maintenance (O&M) were the prime
causes.  For example, there were problems with infiltration and inflow,
lack of O&M manuals, insufficient follow-up to correct operational problems,
shortage of parts in inventory, lack of laboratory facilities, and hydraulic
overloading.  Specifically, the surveys showed that the ability to evaluate
plant operational performance was often seriously affected by inadequate
process data and/or inadequate laboratory programs.  Plants that were
performing efficiently generally had O&M manuals written specifically for
them.  There has been inadequate attention given to regular attendance of
training programs by plant operators.   The surveys concluded that the plant
operator is the key to success and that technical assistance to the operators
should be strengthened at the State level and in the private sector.
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The provision of an adequate operating budget at the local level was also
considered to be important to efficient and reliable plant operation.
Results from the surveys suggested that a much greater level of effort
should be placed on controlling and understanding the treatment process.
There was also a need for instrumentation and automation for process
monitoring and control.

                       3
          A 1977 report  to the U.S. Congress by the General Accounting
Office (GAO)  was equally critical of the operation and maintenance of
publicly owned sewage treatment plants in the country.  Problems identified
in the GAO investigation were quite similar to those revealed in U.S. EPA's
own annual surveys.  The office visited 28 plants in six States and noted
that there were insufficient qualified plant operating personnel, inadequate
budgets, inadequate controls over industrial wastes, inadequate laboratory
controls, inadequate plant design and equipment, and infiltration/inflow
                          4
problems.  A 1978 analysis  of 140 treatment plants by U.S. equipment
manufacturers also identified problem priorities.  The 1977 GAO report
noted that U.S. EPA was aware of these O&M problems and had identified
corrective actions in many instances.  However, the GAO was concerned that
U.S. EPA's Regional Offices were too slow in effectively implementing the
corrective actions.

          In Canada, problems with O&M were identified in a 1974 survey
of 162 treatment plants in the Province of Ontario.  This study was carried
out under provisions of the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water
Quality.  The survey showed that the major problem area was hydraulic
overloading.  It also identified a need for revised design considerations
for grit removal facilities, heat exchanger capacities in sludge digesters
and more flexible flow distribution between process units in large treatment
plants.  The Ontario survey showed that equipment performance, maintenance
and reliability were satisfactory.  However, there was a need for additional
flow measuring devices at the treatment plants.  There was a considerable
                            - 20 -

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need for further operator education in plant testing procedures, inter-
pretation and application of laboratory results, wastewater treatment
processes, and safety and equipment repair.  There was also considerable
misunderstanding on the degree of process testing required and the minimum
hours of supervision necessary for proper process control,

Formation of the Workshop
          In recognition of the O&M problems and in keeping with the spirit
of friendship and cooperation between Canada and the United States, the two
countries decided in late 1977 to sponsor a Workshop to identify issues and
solutions that are pertinent to sewage treatment plants in the Great Lakes
Basin.  This joint Workshop was carried out under the authority of a formal
agreement between the Canadian Federal Minister of the Enviornment and the
Administrator of the U.S. EPA which provides for the direct exchange of
technical information between the two countries.  The responsibility for
planning and organizing the Workshop was delegated to the U.S, EPA, Region V,
Great Lakes National Program Office, and the Review Board of the Canada-
Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality.  A Steering Committee with
members from both countries was formed to plan and manage the O&M Workshop.

          The Great Lakes Workshop on Improving Operation and Maintenance
of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants was held on March 15-17, 1978,
in Itasca, Illinois, U.S.A.  The Workshop Agenda appears in Appendix I,
The members of the Steering Committee and technical advisors are listed in
Appendix II and the participants observers and the staff in Appendix III,

Opening Remarks at the Workshop
          Mr, George R. Alexander, Jr., Regional Administrator
          U.S. EPA, Region V.
          The following are excerpts from a speech made by Mr. George R.
Alexander, Jr., at the Workshop:
                            - 21 -

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"The purpose of this Workshop is to come up with ways
of improving the operation and maintenance of municipal
wastewater treatment plants.

Just as one of the major sources of automobile pollution
is the failure to keep motor vehicles tuned, one of the
major problems with the enormously expensive new sewage
treatment plants we are building is our inability to keep
then tuned and operating at peak efficiency.  In the case
of the automobile, we find that problems can be caused by
poor operator training, which is true with sewage treatment
plants as well.  But . . . there are some real problems
also arising from the instructions given by those who
designed the plants, and there may even be some service
design problems in the plans themselves.  In other words,
maybe they weren't built right to begin with.  We need to
look at this.

I want you to be expansive in thought.  To develop strategies
and recommendations on training; manpower; administration;
process control; technology and technical support; public
awareness, and legislation development.

We at the U.S. EPA are very committed towards ensuring that
there will be well-run and efficiently-operated sewage treat-
ment plants on the Great Lakes.  We will, if necessary, take
enforcement action against municipalities that run sloppy
treatment operations.  I think action taken previously to
deal with municipal problems in Detroit and Milwaukee under-
score our commitment.  At the same time, we want to help
those who need it to determine why the system is not per-
forming as it was intended; not only to protect the taxpayers'
investment, but also to protect the health and welfare of all
the people in this Basin."
                   - 22 -

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          Mr. Max Hanok, U.S. Co-Chairman of the Workshop.
          The following are remarks made by Mr. Hanok of the U.S. EPA, who
was U.S. Co-chairman of the Workshop, on behalf of himself, the Canada
Co-chairman, Mr. Alex Redikopp, and the Workshop Steering Committee,

          "You, the invited delegates to this Workshop, represent
          a prominent cross-section of all disciplines and interests
          involved in wastewater treatment in the Great Lakes Basin
          as well as from other parts of Canada and the United States.
          Included are consultants, municipal decision-makers, equip-
          ment manufacturers, regulatory officials, plant operators,
          environmentalists, research and development scientists,
          physical and management scientists, public sector represen-
          tatives, training experts, and government officials.

          As we proceed through all of the deliberations in this
          Workshop, it is our opinion that we should ask ourselves
          a number of hard questions if we are to develop the most
          meaningful answers.  Questions such as these should be asked:
          0  What is the quality of O&M that we are trying to
             achieve for the Great Lakes Basin?
          0  What is the impact of an improved O&M expected to be on
             the water quality of the Great Lakes?  How long can we
             expect such an improved O&M to stay improved?
          0  What new and practicable approaches can we suggest for
             Improving O&M while making it more cost-effective?
          0  What management principles of efficient O&M can we
             formulate from successful experiences that could form
             a basis for improving other less efficient wastewater
             treatment plants in the Great Lakes?"
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Background Papers
          The purpose of the Workshop was to develop strategies and
recommendations necessary to improve operation and maintenance of
municipal wastewater treatment plants in the Great Lakes Basin to a
level mutually desired by both the United States and Canada,  The pro-
ceedings of this Workshop are to provide valuable assistance to municipal,
State, Federal and provincial agencies in improving their own O&M programs,

          Over 60 persons, representing various disciplines and responsi-
bilities were invited to participate at the Workshop.  They included
design engineers, equipment suppliers and manufacturers, plant operators
and managers, municipal officials, administrators and officials from
regulatory agencies, environmentalists and public interest groups.  An
official from the General Accounting Office also attended as an observer.
The participants and advisors and observers and their affiliations are
presented in the Appendix.

          Six background papers were presented at the Workshop by speakers
from the U.S. EPA, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, consulting
engineers, municipal officials and representatives from the public sector.
Mr. Robert Fuller was the luncheon speaker at the Workshop.  Some of the
highlights are given below:
          0  Mr. Bob Hegg, consulting engineer, presented the results
          of a U.S. EPA research study  on the O&M factors limiting
          municipal wastewater treatment plant performance.  The study
          ranked 70 different potential operations factors in order of
          severity and frequency of occurrence.  The highest ranking
          cause of poor plant performance was "operator application
          of concepts and testing to process control."  The second
          highest factor was "sewage treatment understanding."  The
          study showed that plant personnel are an untapped resource
          for achieving improved plant performance.   The third highest
          factor was improper technical guidance which the plant operator
                           - 24 -

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received from "authoritative sources" such as design
engineers, State and Federal regulatory personnel,
plant O&M manuals, operator training programs, other
plant operators, and equipment manufacturers.

Many of the present O&M problems were found to be process
design oriented.  These problems are:  sludge wasting capa-
bility, process flexibility, process controllability, secondary
clarifier, sludge treatment and aerator capability.

This EPA study showed that in order to improve O&M, existing
training programs must provide operators with a basic level
of sewage treatment understanding.  Once that is achieved,
an operator's skill will then be developed through proper
technical guidance from qualified personnel.  To ensure
proper technical guidance and improved plant design,
"authoritative sources" must also receive special training.

0  Dr. Peter Seto of the Ontario Ministry of Enviornment
presented a paper  on Ontario's experiences with O&M.  The
paper included an overview of Ontario's administrative
procedures as they related to sewage treatment plants'
operators, statistics on plant sizes, sludge production
and disposal practices, phosphorus removal programs, educa-
tional profiles of operators, costs of O&M, and some
specific O&M problems.

0  The other background papers were presented by Mr. Richard
         Q
Dougherty  of the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission of
                                       9
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Dr. Robert Zeller  of the U.S. EPA,
Mr. Joseph Hanlon  , consulting engineer and Mr. Robert Fuller,
                 -  25  -

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Milwaukee River Restoration Council.  The key points made
by the speakers from their respective points of view were:
0  Current U.S. Federal funding program for new plant
construction should encourage local concern for improving
O&M of existing plants;

0  EPA's construction grant process should provide adequate
emphasis on O&M;

0  A one time grant to correct operational deficiencies at
existing plants may be a viable solution;

0  The U.S. National O&M Inspection Program should provide
more efficient feedback to design engineers and plant owners;

0  There should be more stringent enforcement against
municipal discharge permit violators by U.S. EPA and the
State agencies.  This would give incentives to local decision
makers to scrutinize operations more closely;

0  U.S. EPA has started development of private sector O&M
expertise through seminars, on-site technical assistance
demonstrations, fiscal incentives, technical guidance
documents and regular meetings with national associations
of public and private sectors;

0  There should be extensive public awareness programs to
encourage municipalities to accept ownership responsibilities.
Other comments were of a more general nature:
0  A major contributing factor to poor plant performance
is the design engineer's failure to select the proper
equipment that will perform satisfactorily for long periods
of time.

0  Discussions with the chief plant operator at the early
plant design stage as to space requirements, and accessi-
bility of equipment for maintenance are very important.

0  There is widespread apathy and lack of understanding
about O&M among local elected and appointed officials.
Many communities, particularly the smaller ones, are also
faced with real fiscal and institutional constraints.
                 - 26 -

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          0  There is an adequate appreciation and understanding of
          the importance of process controls in sewage treatment
          plants at the operator level.
          0  New plants are needed which depend less on the number
          and skills of operators.
          0  Municipalities need to recognize that well paid and
          well trained treatment plant personnel can be very cost
          effective.
          0  Each community needs an O&M plan or a Plan of Operation.
          0  One of the persistent O&M issues is the need for profes-
          sional development, training and certification of plant
          operators.  Adequate funds are generally not available for
          professional development.
          The background papers presented at the Workshop showed that there
are certain basic O&M issues common to both Canada and the United States
in the Great Lakes Basin,

          There appeared to be a wider range of O&M problems in the United
States.  This is due mainly to the administrative complexity in the United
States and the fact that there are a greater number of State and local
governments involved in plant operation than in Ontario,  Although Canada
and the United States share the Great Lakes, there are differences in
constitutional and administrative arrangements between the two countries,

          The Province of Ontario expanded its municipal wastewater treat-
ment plant construction program in the 1950's and experienced many of the
problems identified at the O&M Workshop.  A partial solution to these problems
was the establishment by the province of a bid depository and a policy of
preselecting major mechanical equipment.  The province did experience a
similar critical shortage of trained staff at all levels.  This problem
was lessened considerably by returning new staff to the universities for
postgraduate training in sanitary engineering and instituting an operator
training program.
                            - 27 -

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ro
CO
   Joseph  Hanlon, a consulting  engineer, addresses the Workshop  Participants on
   Process Design and Equipment Selection and Performance.

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 CHAPTER 2:  GROUP DELIBERATIONS BY THE WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS

          After the presentation of the background papers, the attendees
were divided into six homogeneous discussion panels on the basis of their
specialties and job responsibilities.  The six homogeneous panels were:
          1)  operators and plant superintendents
          2)  consulting engineers
          3)  municipal decision makers
          4)  regulatory officials
          5)  equipment manufacturers and suppliers
          6)  public interest group representatives

          Each of these panels discussed the significant O&M issues and
possible solutions from its own point of view.  For example, the panel
of consulting engineers discussed the various O&M problems and solutions
as perceived by their own profession and experiences.

          After the homogeneous panel discussions, the attendees were
reorganized into five heterogeneous groups, each with a cross-section of
different disciplines and job responsibilities.  The O&M problems and
possible solutions as developed by the homogeneous groups were then
critically reviewed by the heterogeneous panels in terms of significance,
priorities, solutions and recommended strategies for action,

The Great Lakes O&M Issues for Sewage Treatment Plants

          The Workshop participants in group discussions identified a series
of major O&M issues or problem areas encountered in municipal wastewater
treatment plants in the Great Lakes Basin which require immediate attention.
These problem areas are all related to the many different groups of people
whose work is connected with wastewater treatment plants.  These groups
include plant superintendents and operators; consultants; municipal, State,
provincial and Federal decision-makers; regulatory officials; equipment
manufacturers and suppliers; public interest groups; and environmental
research and management scientists.
                             - 29 -

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         "t»—
Andy Ungar guides a group of decision makers toward arriving at O&M issues and solutions.
Consultants, directed by Sid Dutton, arrive at O&M issues.




                                    -  30 -

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CO

I
      Jerry Rupke directs a heterogeneous group to the definition of broader O&M issues and
      solutions.

-------
          The Workshop, in identifying the major O&M issies of immediate
concern and their potential solutions, focused on the following problems.
The O&M of municipal wastewater treatment plants in the Great Lakes Basin
would be significantly improved if these problems were resolved:

          1)  Adequacy, Qualifications and Image of Plant Personnel
          There is a need to provide adequate operator and plant
          management training.  The public, plant owners, decision-
          makers, and operators must recognize that treatment plants
          require highly skilled and technically competent staff.
          The Workshop consensus was that there is an insufficient
          supply of competent management and staff to improve O&M.
          All interest groups can help to resolve this problem.

          2)  Improving the Administrative and Management System
          There is currently no clear definition of roles and
          responsibilities for consultants, owners and government
          authorities.

          3)  Facility Design Flexibility
          Many treatment plants are not adequately designed to allow
          for process flexibility, control, maintenance, safety and
          reliability.  Faulty design is an expensive problem to correct
          once a plant has been constructed.  Responsibilities for
          improved facility design and flexibility rest with the consul-
          tant who must work closely with all other groups.

          4)  Support of Adequate O&M Budgets at the Municipal,
              Administrative, Local, and Public Levels
          A major need exists to develop support for adequate O&M
          budgets at the local levels and among the public.  Plant
          performance frequently suffers due to inadequate or unbudgeted
          funds, such as in phosphorus removal.
                            - 32 -

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5)  Uncontrolled Discharge of Industrial Waste
Indiscriminate discharges of industrial wastes into treat-
ment plants often cause serious O&M problems.  Hydraulic
overloading and variable discharges of non-conventional
pollutants into the sewers are also contributing factors.
Among the solutions recommended by the Workshop participants
are better characterization of wastewaters design for
pollutant surges and enforcement at sources.  Industrial
waste surveys should be prerequisite to the approval of
facility design and prior arrangements be made between
industrial dischargers and owners of wastewater treatment
plants for treatability studies for new industrial wastes
of unknown quality.

6)  Improving Equipment Reliability
Inadequacies in equipment selection and the lack of trained
personnel for installation are major O&M problems.  There
should be appropriate equipment specifications, over their
life cycle, maintenance training by the equipment suppliers
and an established maintenance program for plants.  The equip-
ment suppliers at the workshop recommended improved equipment
quality control and consultant/owner approval of supplies after
bids.  A management mechanism is needed for owner/operator,
consultants and equipment suppliers to improve procurement
regulations and co-ordinate plant start-up.  Regulatory
officials should institute and co-ordinate the new methods.

7)  Establishment of O&M Management Programs
Specific O&M programs for equipment are essential to effective
plant operation.  Certification of laboratory personnel and
delegation of responsibility for proper, regular and preventative
maintenance programs at the municipal levels are essential.  It
was also recommended that agencies such as EPA consider one-time
O&M grants, and scrutinize O&M programs under existing permit
systems.
                  - 33 -

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 8)  O&M Experience in SettingEPA's Policies
 EPA should utilize as much as possible appropriate technical
 expertise and experience when preparing guidelines for O&M.
 There should be more effective input of external expertise
 to EPA.

 9)  Improving the Utility of the NPDES Reporting System
 Current EPA NPDES reporting system does not appear to encourage
 above average O&M performance and does not require reporting of
 non-conventional pollutants.  The permit system should be
 developed to its full potential so that O&M problems can be
 readily identified.

10)  Technological Developments andApplications
 The Workshop took the position that available technologies for
 wastewater treatment did not present an obstacle to improvement
 of O&M.  As a result, only one direct issue on phosphorus
 removal technology surfaced.  However, the participants did
 explore interest in the automation of wastewater treatment
 plants as a possible aid in improving O&M,  In addition, adequacy
 of technology as a factor was intimately associated with other
 issues such as training.
                  - 34 -

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                CHAPTER 3:  A PLAN FOR ACTION

          Many studies on the problems of operation and maintenance at
sewage treatment plants have been carried out by pollution control
agencies and other government institutions.  Most of these studies
reviewed the technical aspect of O&M and recommended specific remedial
actions,

          While it is true that the Great Lakes Workshop on O&M had
confirmed what had been known for some time in the profession, it was
unique in that it brought together for the first time all the different
disciplines and groups in our society that are responsible for or have
influence over the operation of wastewater treatment plants in the Great
Lakes region.  What sets the Great Lakes Workshop apart from the others
is that it did not address the O&M issues from the point-of-view of one
single group.  The deliberations from the Workshop made it quite clear
that resolution of all the well-known O&M problems requires action from
many groups and professional disciplines.  There is no one single action
plan that can be implemented by any one group to solve all the problems.
Actions are required from all levels of regulatory agencies, elected
officials, design engineers, equipment manufacturers and supplies,
municipal associations, and public-interest groups.  Each group hasa role
to play.  The Workshop synthesized a role for each discipline in the over-
all complex management system which makes municipal wastewater treatment
plants run effectively.

Municipal Officials
          Most sewage treatment facilities in the Great Lakes Basin are
owned and operated by municipalities.  Elected officials at this local
government level are directly responsible for the quality of effluent
from their treatment plants.  Several specific recommendations were made
at the Workshop.
                             - 35 -

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          Municipal officials should require treatment plant operators
to attend regular training sessions  at regulatory agencies and local
educational institutions in developing good operator training programs,
Regulatory agencies should be urged to implement mandatory certification
programs for treatment plant operators.  Municipal officials can publicize
the benefits of good O&M at treatment plants by informing their own
citizens that effective O&M programs can save money in the long term.
They can also offer operator incentives towards better O&M through recog-
nition and monetary awards.  Furthermore, the working conditions for treat-
ment plant operators should be upgraded in recognition of their important
work.  This will help to improve the operator's public image and thus
attract more competent people into the profession.  Municipal officials
should also enact and rigorously enforce municipal bylaws governing the
discharge of industrial wastes into municipal treatment plants.  Finally,
municipalities should require consultants to develop O&M manuals and
purchase equipment based on reliability, in addition to price,

Regulatory Agencies
          This group includes regulatory agencies at the State, Federal
and provincial levels.  As enforcers of environmental control laws and
financial sources for many publicly owned sewage treatment plants, regula-
tory agencies can help to improve O&M in many ways.

          They can require municipalities to have O&M manuals for each of
their treatment plants.  This will necessitate close working relationships
with equipment manufacturers, suppliers and consulting engineers.  Adequate
financial and technical support should be provided to the municipalities.
The regulatory agencies should promote the benefits of good O&M with State,
Federal, and provincial legislative bodies.  Such action can result in
continuous and increased funding support from elected officials,

          The agencies should also establish a sewer charge system for
industrial wastes where necessary to minimize overloading.  They can
                           - 36 -

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provide leadership to develop effective operational training programs by
working with educational institutions, professional associations such as
the Water Pollution Control Federation, design engineers and municipal
governments.  This may lead to compulsory certification of operators.
Hiring of certified and trained laboratory personnel should also be
encouraged.

          The agencies must work with equipment manufacturers to ensure
selection of proper equipment.  This may take the form of prequalification
of plant equipment.  They should promote accelerated research and develop-
ment programs to improve monitoring and automated control devices for
treatment plants possibly through additional research and development funds,
The agencies should also provide O&M improvement grants on a. one-time basis,

          The U.S. EPA should consider the following recommendations from
the Workshop:
          0  Utilize more external technical input in the development
          of O&M policies and practices.

          0  Ensure that technical personnel in key decision-making
          positions have significant O&M experience,

          0  Use the NPDES compliance data as a basis for establishing
          incentives to plant owners and oeprators,

          0  Use the NPDES reporting system to identify O&M problems,
          implement control programs and set priorities for construction
          grants,

Equipment Manufacturers and Suppliers
          The equipment manufacturers and suppliers must ensure that the
best equipment is designed and manufactured for the plant.  Engineers with
O&M experience should be supervising equipment installations.
                           -  37  -

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The suppliers should also provide training and technical assistance to plant
personnel on their equipment.  Several specific recommendations were
suggested.  There should be opportunities for equipment manufacturers and
suppliers to gain first hand plant operation experience.  This will enable
the suppliers to provide well-trained personnel for plant start-ups and
operator training.  The manufacturers and suppliers should work with
consultants, regulatory agencies and municipal officials to improve equipment
specifications, procurement procedures, aid equipment reliability.

Consultants
          Consulting egineers have the on-site responsibility for planning
O&M training.  They should always be aware of the actual requirements for
operations and maintenance resulting from their designs,  They should work
closely with the operating authority during all stages of the project.  The
operators should be encouraged to relate areas of good design features back
to the consulting engineers.  The consultants should encourage their clients
to provide the necessary funds for O&M manuals.  Technical and operational
guidance from the consultants is essential after the construction start-up
period.  The design engineers can assist by suggesting to universities
specific areas of an O&M awareness in treatment plant design.  The consul-
tants should ensure that all equipment faults and any differences between
design data and operating results are brought to the attention of the
manufacturers.

Public Interest Groups
          The primary role of the public sector as represented by organiza-
tions such as the Water Pollution Control Federation, the League of Women
Voters, Association of Cities and Towns, etc., is to engage in more active
support of wastewater treatment as a significant profession.  Specifically,
the public interest groups should arrange trips to wastewater treatment
plants to improve the awareness of citizens and their own members on the
                           - 38 -

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importance of O&M.  They can also publish information pamphlets on treat-
ment plants for distribution to other citizens groups and assist regulatory
agencies and municipal officials in obtaining support from legislative
bodies for O&M funds.  Provision of recognition certificates for noteworthy O&M
and treatment plant performance can also serve to increase public awareness
of the  significance of the profession.  Finally, public interest groups
should promote proper O&M as a cost-effective management practice,

Plant Operators
          The operators of municipal wastewater treatment plants are the
most important group.  They have the on-site responsibility for effective
O&M,  It is very important for experienced operators to have a voice in the
selection of plant equipment.  They must maintain working relationships
with their consulting engineers and equipment suppliers.  These operators
can also advise municipal officials of new O&M initiatives and must establish
a preventative maintenance program as a prerequisite for good O&M,
                           - 39 -

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        4:  PRINCIPLES FOR ACHIEVING EFFECTIVE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

          The design, operation and maintenance of a wastewater treat-
ment plant can be adversely affected by many problems that have been
identified in the foregoing chapters.  These difficulties can be resolved
through the diligent efforts of the many different groups of professionals
who are both directly and indirectly involved with the management system
associated with treatment -plants.  These groups include consultants, equip-
ment manufacturers and suppliers, elected officials, regulatory officials,
public interest groups, plant managers and operators, and environmentalists.

          This chapter contains a list of principles that should be
recognized if effective O&M is to be achieved.
1.  A municipal wastewater plant is similar to any manufacturing plant.
    It too has a product to sell, namely, clean water.  Therefore, it
    it should be designed and operated in like fashion.

2.  Equipment supply and performance will be significantly improved for
    municipal wastewater treatment plants if the suppliers and the users
    will involve the same kinds of design, training, and technical
    service programs that are in effect for other industrial plants.

3.  The interest and understanding of elected officials and the general
    public in improving O&M of municipal wastewater treatment plants can
    best be enhanced through educational and public awareness programs
    and through incentives that instill a desire or need to emphasize the
    signifncance of O&M.

4.  Certification of managers and operators is necessary to ensure high
    quality staffing at the treatment plants.

5.  Review of the design of wastewater treatment plants at the initial
    stages with consultants and operating personnel is the most effective
    means of assuring optimum O&M design.

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6.  Public support is a necessary prerequisite to proper performance
    of treatment plants.

7.  The construction grants and NPDES programs of the U.S. EPA can be
    made more effective in encouraging safe, reliable and efficient
    plant operation by shifting more emphasis on O&M priority.

8.  An O&M program should be developed at the planning stage with all
    professional groups participating fully.

9.  All O&M programs developed by regulatory agencies should be designed
    by professionals with practical O&M experience.

10. An important difference between the O&M of municipal wastewater
    treatment plants in the Great Lakes Basin and those associated with
    other bodies of water is their long-range impact on the water quality
    of the Great Lakes system.

          The Workshop recommended these principles as rules for good O&M
management together with the roles and other specific recommendations.
These principles and recommendations should be used as a guide to action
in improving O&M at wastewater treatment plants in the Great Lakes Basin.
                           - 41 -

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                         BIBLIOGRAPHY
 1.  Research Advisory Board of the International Joint Commission.
     "Great Lakes Water Quality Research Needs 1976,"  July 1976

 2.  Gilbert, W.G., "Relation of Operation and Maintenance to
     Treatment Plant Efficiency."  Journal of Water Pollution Control
     Federation, 48_, 1922 (1976).

 3.  Comptroller General of the United States.  "Report to the Congress-
     Continuing Need for Improved Operation and Maintenance of Municipal
     Waste Treatment Plants."  April 11, 1977.

 4.  Olt, R.D. et al, Plant Operating Priorities,  Paper presented at
     the WPCF meeting, Anaheim, California, October 1978.  Available
     from Water and Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association,
     McLean, Virginia.

 5.  Azan, K.M. and Boyko, B.I., "Identification of Problem Areas in
     Water Pollution Control Plants."  Canada-Ontario Agreement Research
     Report.  No. 15.  1973.

 6.  Hegg, B.A., et al., "Evaluation of Operation and Maintenance Factors
     Limiting Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Performance,"  U.S.  EPA
     (Contract #68 - 03 - 2224).  In press.

 7.  Seto, P. and Van Fleet, G.L., "Experiences with O&M at STP's in
     Ontario."  Paper presented to the Joint U.S.-Canada Workshop on O&M
     of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants in the Great Lakes Basin,
     Itasca, Illinois.  March 15, 1978.

 8.  Dougherty, R.J.  "Management of Wastewater Treatment Systems for
     Compliance on Environmental Benefits."  Paper presented at the
     Joint U.S.-Canada Workshop.  March 15, 1978.

 9.  Zeller, R., "Manpower Training and Plant Administration - A Government
     View."  Paper presented at the Joint U.S.-Canada Workshop.  March  15,
     1978.

10.  Hanlon, J., "Process Design and Equipment Selection and Performance,"
     Paper presented at the Joint U.S.-Canada Workshop,  March 15, 1978.

11.  Fuller, R., "The Taxpayer's Stake."  Luncheon address to the O&M
     Workshop, March 15, 1978.
                           -  42 -

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                THE WORKSHOP
     The United States Environmental Protection Agency
and the Review Board of the Canada/Ontario Agreement
on Great Lakes Water Quality are jointly sponsoring this
Workshop on Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of Mu-
nicipal Wastewater Treatment Plants in the Great Lakes
Basin in order to discuss  the complexity and diversity
of  common problems and  issues and to facilitate long-
range solutions.
     FORMAT: Participants  will hear a series  of  short
introductory presentations designed to  give a broad  over-
view of the current status of  operation and maintenance
of plants and the main issues dealing with them. This will
be followed by task group and panel discussions, climax-
ing in  several plenary sessions.
     PURPOSE OF THE WORKSHOP: The purpose of
the Workshop is to develop  the strategy and recommen-
dations necessary to improve operation and maintenance
of municipal wastewater treatment  plants in  the  Great
Lakes Basin  to  a level mutually  desirable by both the
United States and Canada,
     WHO IS ATTENDING? Attendance at the Work-
shop  is by  invitation only. An intense effort is being
made to bring  together  persons  from the  many  diverse
areas which  influense  a plant's O&M  proceedings.
Persons participating will represent  operators and plant
superintendents, consulting  engineers, municipal decision
makers, equipment manufacturers and suppliers,  regula-
tory officials, public interest groups, and environmental
research and  management scientists.
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION: In March 1976,
the Minister of Fisheries &  Environment  Canada,  and
the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency,  under the sponsorship of the  U.S.  Department
of State, and the Canadian Department of  External Af-
fairs, entered into a broad agreement providing for direct
exchange of technical information between the two Gov-
ernments.  With the consumation of that agreement,  it
seemed to  be more  appropriate and in keeping with the
responsibilities  of the two Governments,  to  sponsor the
workshop as a joint undertaking. Participation and input
to the  workshop was to be from a broad  cross-section
of interests involved in municipal waste treatment facility
operation.
                    AGENDA
MARCH  14, 1978
8:00 pm        Registration:  Main Lobby
MARCH  IS
8:30 am        Registration
9:00 am        Opening Remarks and  Welcome:
                GEORGE R. ALEXANDER, JR.,
                Regional Administrator, Region V,
                U.S.E.P.A.
—              Workshop Directions and  Charge:
                MAX HANOK,
                Workshop U.S. Co-Chairman,
                Region  V,  U.S.E.P.A.
—              Evaluation of O & M Factors Limiting
                Performance:  ROBERT HEGG,
                M &  I  Consulting Engineers.
—              Experiences  with O  &  M  at  STP's
                in Ontario: GORDON  VAN FLEET,
                Ontario  Ministry  of  the Environment.
                Coffee Break
—              Management  of Wastewater  Facilities
                for  Compliance or Environmental
                Benefits: RICHARD DAUGHERTY,
                Metropolitan Waste Control
                Commission  of  Minneapolis/St,  Paul.
—              Process  Design  and Equipment
                Selection and Performance:
                JOE HANLON,
                Camp, Dresser  & McKee.
—              Manpower Training and Plant Adminis-
                tration—A Government View:
                ROBERT ZELLER,   Water  Program
                Operations, U.S.E.P.A.

Noon           Luncheon
                Guest Speaker;  ROBERT  FULLER,
                Milwaukee River Restoration  Council,
                speaking on • The  Taxpayers' Stake. •
2:00 pm        Homogeneous Groups Discussion
                Sessions:
                Six working panels in concurrent session
                establish O&M  issues,  significance,
                priorities and solutions.
                • Operators and Plant  Superintendents
                • Consulting Engineers
                • Municipal  Decision Makers
                • Regulatory  Officials
                * Equipment  Manufacturers and Suppliers
                • Public  Interest Representatives
7:00 pm        Dinner
8:30 - 9:00 pm   Homogeneous Groups  Session;
                Each  panel  completes  preparation  of
                reports.  Deliver to U.S.  and Canada
                Workshop Co-chairmen.
9:00 pm        Steering  Committee Review  and De-
                cision Meeting
                    AGENDA
MARCH 16
8:30 am        Plenary  Session—MAX  HANOK pre-
                siding.   Overview   of   homogeneous
                groups' findings. Assignment of panel-
                ists  to heterogeneous groups.
9:00 am -       Heterogeneous Groups Discussion Ses-
12:30 pm       sions.
                Four working panels in concurrent ses-
                sion deliberate on homogeneous groups'
                opinions. Finalize O&M issues, sig-
                nificance, priorities, solutions, and rec-
                ommended strategies "for action. Indicate
                desired uses of workshop product. Mem-
                bers  of  each  heterogeneous panel rep-
                resenting a  cross-section  of all O &  M
                disciplines.

12:30-2:00 pm  Lunch

2:00 - 5:30 pm  Heterogeneous  Groups Complete De-
                liberations.
5:30 pm        Work Adjourns for  the Day.
6:30 pm        Dinner
8:00 pm        Steering Committee and Advisors Meet-
                ing: Review Workshop Status  and Rec-
                ommendations.
MARCH 17
9:00 am        Plenary  Session: Workshop Issues/So-
                lutions Recap, MAX HANOK.
9:30-11:30 am  Plenary  Session:  JOHN1-CONVERY,
                U.S.E.P.A., Presiding, with PAUL FO-
                LEY, Ontario Ministry of the  Environ-
                ment.
                • Representatives of each of the hetero-
                 geneous working panels present their
                 respective panel's position.
                • Final discussion of  Workshop findings
                 by  all  participants.
11:30 am        Plenary Session: Closing Statements and
                Subsequent  Actions - MAX  HANOK,
                U.S.E.P.A.  and  ALEX  REDEKOPP,
                Environmental Protection Service, Can-
                ada,  Presiding.
                • Major  Uses  for Workshop Output.
                • Directions to  the  Workshop Report
                 Development Committee and Steering
                 Committee.
Noon           Workshop  Adjournment

2:00 - 4:00 pm  Analysis and  Decision Meeting. Work-
                shop Report  Development Committee
                and Steering Committee: ALEX REDE-
                KOPP  and MAX HANOK, Co-Chair-
                men.

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      APPENDIX II:  MEMBERSHIP OF THE STEERING COMMITEEE

                    AND ADVISORS:  GREAT LAKES OS.M WORKSHOP


                      STEERING COMMITTEE
CANADA
Canada Co-Chairman.  ALEX REDEKOPP
Environment Canada, Ottawa

PAUL FOLEY
Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Toronto

J.W.C. RUPKE
Regional Municipality of York

S. DUTTON
Proctor & Redfern Ltd., Toronto

STEVE BLACK
Ontario Ministry of the Environment
UNITED STATES

U.S. Co-Chairman.  MAX HANOK
Region V, U.S. EPA, Chicago

JOHN CONVERY
U.S. EPA, Cincinnati

       T. UNGAR
Cleveland Regional Sewer District, Cleveland

ROBERT FULLER
Milwaukee River Restoration Council, Milwaukee

EUGENE CHAIKEN
Region V, U.S. EPA, Chicago
                           ADVISORS

MRS. LEE BOTTS                            N.W.
Region V, U.S. EPA, Chicago               Environment Canada, Ottawa

THOMAS HARRISON and ALVIN LIEBLING        JOSEPH TYNSKY
Region V, U.S. EPA, Chicago               Region V, U.S. EPA, Chicago

CLARENCE LASKOWSKI
Region V, U.S. EPA, Chicago
                           - 44 .

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            APPENDIX III:  WORKSHOP PARTICIPATION
                         PARTICIPANTS
George R. Alexander, Jr.
Regional Administrator
U.S. EPA, legion V
Chicago, USA

Earl Baldock
Dept. of Works
Municipality of Metro Toronto
Toronto, Ontario

Ernie Bennett
Certification & Training
Illinois EPA
Springfield, IL, USA

Steve Black
Pollution Control
Ontario Ministry of the Environment
Toronto, Canada

Paul Blakeslee
Water Quality
Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources
Lansing, MI, USA

James Brooker
Environmental Sales
Door-Oliver-Long Limited
Orillia, Ontario, Canada

James Bryant
Environmental Resources Training
  Center
Southern Illinois University
Edwardsville, IL, USA

Eugene Chaiken
Construction Grants
Region V, U.S. EPA
Chicago, IL, USA

John Convery
Wastewater R&D
U.S. EPA
Cincinnati, OH, USA
Guy Cnoop-Koopmans
James F, MacLaren Limited
Consulting Engineers
London, Ontario, Canada

Bill Cross
City of Peterborough
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Art Doran
Asdor Limited, Consultants
Downsview, Ontario, Canada
Richard Dougherty
Metropolitan Waste Control Commission
St. Paul, MN» USA
Sid Outton
Proctor & Redfern Ltd,
Consulting Engineers
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Lawrence A. Ernest
Jones Island Plant
Milwaukee Sewerage Commission
Milwaukee, ¥1, USA

Paul Foley
Research Coordinator
Ontario Ministry of the Environment
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Bob Forhan
Town of Newmarket
Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Robert Fuller
Milwaukee River Restoration
  Council, Inc.
Grafton, WI, USA
                          - 45 -

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APPENDIX III:  WORKSHOP PARTICIPATION (Continued)
                     PARTICIPANTS
Walt Gilbert
National Training Center
U.S. EPA
Cincinnati, OH, USA

Joseph Hanlon
Camp Dresser & McKee
Consulting Engineers
Boston, MA, USA

Max Hanok
Great Lakes Office
Region V, U.S. EPA
Chicago, IL, USA

Blair Hansler
Utility Operation
Ontario Ministry of the Environment
Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada

Thomas Harrison
Regional Counsel
Region V, U.S. EPA
Chicago, IL, USA

Bob Allen Hegg
M & I Consulting Engineers
Ft. Collins, CO, USA

William Hill
Floyd Browne & Associates
Consulting Engineers
Marion, OH, USA

Bob Jones
Donohue & Associates, Inc.
Sheboygan, WI, USA

William Konrad
Marketing Development
Envirex, Inc.
Waukesha, WI, USA

Earl W. Knight
Engineering
Metro Sanitary Dist. of Chicago
Chicago, IL, USA
                                          Tom Komline
                                          Komline-Sanderson Engineering Corp,
                                          Peapack,  NJ,  USA
                                          Robert M.  Krill
                                          Water Supply & Pollution Control
                                          Wisconsin Dept. of Natural  Resources
                                          Madison,  WI, USA

                                          Clarence  Laskowski
                                          Construction Grants
                                          Region V,  U.S. EPA
                                          Chicago,  IL, USA

                                          Peter Laughton
                                          R. V. Anderson & Assoc.  Ltd.
                                          Willowdale,  Ontario,  Canada
                                          Walter Mardis
                                          Planning & Evaluation
                                          U.S. EPA
                                          Washington, DC,  USA

                                          Joel Margolis
                                          Manpower Development
                                          Region V, U.S. EPA
                                          Chicago, IL, USA

                                          Andy Matwichuk
                                          Training and Certification - Pollu-
                                            tion Control
                                          Ministry of the  Environment
                                          Toronto, Ontario,  Canada

                                          Dr. Ross McKinney
                                          University of Kansas
                                          Dept. of Civil Engineering
                                          Lawrence, KS, USA

                                          Doug McTavish
                                          Ontario Ministry of the Environment
                                          London, Ontario, Canada
                            - 46 -

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APPENDIX III:  WORKSHOP PARTICIPATION (Continued)
                         PARTICIPANTS
J,E. Meers
J.E. Meers & Associates
Chicago Heights, IL, USA

Jim Mshar
Williams and Works
Consulting Engineers
Grand Rapids, MI, USA

Bob Olt
Union Carbide Corp.
Engineering Dept.
Tonawanda, NY, USA

Dale Patrick
Operations
Cleveland Regional Sewer District
Cleveland, OH, USA

Alex Redekopp
Technology Transfer & Training
Environment Canada
Ottawa, Canada

Terry M. Regan
T.M. Regan, Inc.
Lexington, KY, USA

Ken Richards
Consoer, Townsend & Assoc.
Chicago, IL, USA

M.D.R. Riddell
Greeley and Hansen
Chicago, IL, USA

Louise Rome
League of Women Voters of 111.
River Forest, IL, USA

Jerry Rupke
Engineering Department
Regional Municipality of York
Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Carl M. Schwing
Municipal Utilities Department
City of Galveston
Gavelston, TX, USA

Dr. Peter Seto
Ontario Ministry of the Environment
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Kim Shikaze
Environment Canada
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Carol Small
Indiana Assn. of Cities & Towns
Indianapolis, IN, USA

John Smith
Wastewater R&D
U.S. EPA
Cincinnati, OH, USA

James H. Suddreth
Water Pollution Control Federation
Washington, DC, USA

Mike Thome
South Peel Area System
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Joe Tynsky
Great Lakes National Program Ofc.
Region V, U.S. EPA
Chicago, IL, USA

Andy Unger
Cleveland Regional Sewer District
Cleveland, OH, USA

Kit Woods
Comm. of Works
City of Windsor
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
                           - 47-

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APPENDIX III:  WORKSHOP PARTICIPATION (Continued)
                         PARTICIPANTS
William Wankoff
Philadelphia Water Department
Philadelphia, PA, USA

Chester A. Warner
Precision Scientific Company
River Forest, IL, USA

Dr. Robert Zeller
Municipal Operations & Training
U.S. EPA
Washington, DC, USA
OBSERVERS

Carlton Edmonson
U.S. General Accounting Office
Washington, DC, USA

Wayne Irian, President
M & I Consulting Engineers
Ft. Collins, CO, USA

Raymond Kadukis, President
Cleveland Regional Sewer District
Cleveland, OH, USA
CONSULTANTS AND STAFF

Dr. John Masterson, Consultant
Dept. of Communications
DePaul University
Chicago, IL, USA

Jan Pickett, Consultant
The E Company
Chicago, IL, USA

John Squires
The E Company
Chicago, IL, USA

Cindy Tirrell
Catalyst Marketing Team
Villa Park, IL, USA

Marti Velasco
Public Affairs Office
Region V, U.S. EPA
Chicago, IL, USA
                                    48 -
                                                                     GPO 825—354

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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Region V
230 South Dearborn Street
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use
$300
                                                                Postage and
                                                                Fees Paid
                                                                Environmental
                                                                Protection
                                                                Agency
prepared by USEPA Region V Graphic Arts Section.

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