SE TIMES
Sanitary Engineer Department Newsletter
Top 10 Issues Facing the Water and Wastewater
Industries
In June, global water consulting engineering firm Black & Veatch
released its second annual report highlighting the top 10 concerns for
the water and wastewater industries.
1. Aging Infrastructure - includes pipelines, tunnels, dams,
pumping, storage and treatment facilities, and specifically
buried assets, ranked No. 1 among respondents.
2. Management of capital expenses – by determining
priorities to address the most pressing needs
3. Managing operational costs – ongoing expenses
related to maintaining operations
4. Funding or availability of capital - A reduction in nonrevenue water and water main breaks could substantially
affect a utility’s bottom line and future resource needs.
5. Increasing/expanding regulations - such as nutrient
removal and drinking water quality requirements
6. Information technologies - refers to cloud computing,
virtualization and hosted applications, which improve
operations and potentially reduce costs
7. Treatment technologies - Energy recovery is becoming
much more important for wastewater treatment, which
means those entities are shifting in function
8. Aging workforce - On a positive note, the study showed
that an increase in technology platforms will help the
industry through the upcoming “brain drain,” as older
employees move into retirement.
9. Water scarcity - Regardless of locale, the “wise and
efficient use of water” is becoming a cultural norm.
10. Water loss - However, non-revenue water could play a
more important role as it relates to operational and capital
funding challenges.
13TH AFTER HOLIDAY GATHERING
South End Sports Bar & Grille
5101 Glendale Avenue
Friday, January 17, 2014
7:00 p.m. - ???
Full menu and bar (at your expense)
JANUARY, 2014
Excellent efforts by staff in battling the elements to
benefit our customers in this extraordinary weather! The
Commissioners also express their thanks to all staff
working in the elements on Monday & Tuesday. They
have been briefed on those efforts and were told that
employees would be informed of the Commissioners’
appreciation.
Thank you, thank you, thank you
“Successful and unsuccessful people do
not vary greatly in their abilities. They vary
in their desires to reach their potential.”–
John Maxwell
BIRTHDAYS
January
Terry Storer (WW)
3
Don Seely (SE)
5
David Haugh (WW)
17
Tom Kralovic (SE)
24
Jim Shaw (SE)
25
Lou Posadny (SW)
31
DEPT ANNIVERSARY
David Vincent (SE)
Matt Watt (SE)
Mike Snavely (SE)
Pam Lawson (SE)
Stephanie Swan (WW)
Val Robinson (SE)
Larry Temme (WW)
Bob Hornic (WW)
Tom Henneman (WW)
*** MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR DAY HOLIDAY, Jan 20, 2014***
29 years
17
14
8
5
5
4
2
1
SECTION HIGHLIGHTS
Administration (Next NBU mtg: Monday, Feb 3, 2014 @ 3:00pm)
Budget – The 2014 budget is underway. PO creations will ensue for the new year.
General –Personal time will be available when it appears on your pay stub. Keep track of vacation balances (as of Anniversary Date).
Maintenance (Next mtg: Crew Leaders & Others – Tue Jan 21 & Mon Feb 3 @ 8:30am;
Pump Crew – Tues, Jan 14 @ 8:30am; Staff - Tue, Jan 21 @ 8:30am)
General – New phones have been distributed. If you have issues, please let your supervisor know.
Training – WTR & WW classes starting in February, 2014.
Pump Stations – In addition to the spare pumps, we plan to utilize the pumping trends as reported on Mission and
maintain 2 pumps per location. The new pumping stations are being designed and bid with partial OPWC funding.
Utilities – Fire hydrants are exempt from the “no lead brass” law. We plan to order FHs based on depth of bury.
Fleet – New camera system in existing truck is complete with training planned for Feb/March.
Projects (Next mtg: Inspectors – Wed, Jan 15 @ 8:30am; Staff - Wed, Jan 15 @ 10:00am)
Inspection - W209R Harborview Waterline – Restoration, milling and resurfacing in the spring.
Projects - W1661 Eber Rd. – Drafting/Design from south of Turnpike to Maumee Western is underway. (easements needed)
- WWTP Waterline Replacement – OPWC Project – Paschal Bihn apparent low bidder.
- Hidden Harbour PS Replacement – Advertising soon.
- Whiteford PS Replacement – Advertising soon.
- Design of Bentbrook, Garden Creek, Manley and Lincoln Green PSs underway.
- Goodhue between Moffat & Warner – In house reviews/approvals complete. Advertising soon.
- WMs (Angola between Meilke & Crissey - being drafted & designed.
- Elevated Water Tanks to be rehabilitated in 2014 – OPWC loan funds.
- Canberra sewer on Holland-Sylvania, east side (reroute) – Design complete. In house review.
- S901 Medbury St. sewer – Design underway.
- S759 Cherrington sewer ON HOLD until petitions in the area are returned.
Survey - Mockingbird Waterline Replacement and Pumping station replacement projects
WWTP (Staff meeting, Mondays)
Dec, 2013 Flow Data: Total 400.043 MG Min 12.33 MGD Max. 16.53 MGD Avg. 13.335 MGD
- This month’s training session will be held on Tues Jan. 21, 2014, at the Wastewater Plant, 7:30 AM, and 3:15 PM. This
month’s topic is “Blood Borne Pathogens”. The course will cover 1 hour and has a one contact hour value for
Wastewater Treatment License Renewal.
- The wastewater plant has managed to stay operating efficiently during the recent severe weather conditions. Thanks
to all who helped during this period.
- The Wastewater Laboratory will be getting a new electronic microscope for use in the lab to observe the bio activity
on an as needed basis to compliment operational reactions to maintain compliance.
SWMD (Next Driver’s meeting: Mon, January 27 @ 1:00pm @ the MAT)
- ReCommunity B&C composition study complete – monthly revenue share down 60%
- Annual District Report – project planning to commence
- MRF development project on-going – agreement to secure material stream in-process
- UTBWRAP – new semester – new projects
th
- Rick Cajka to San Engineer maintenance division – Jan 13 – good luck !
- Driver 1 and Clerk 2 interviews to be conducted
- Commodity prices for #8 News , stable @ $55/ton, #11 OCC, down @ $95/ton – global economic outlook remains fragile
- City of Toledo curbside collection w/ Republic Services going well. Cart assistance options for elderly/disabled under review.
- District received $100,000 from OEPA for funding support to purchase new recycling trucks - 2 trucks on order
- CCAO/OSWDO meetings concerning OEPA HB592 (Solid Waste Law) Review on-going – no legislative initiatives to date
- Drug Take-Back/disposal now available at Sylvania and Sylvania Twp. Police stations (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm)
st
st
- Rates and Charges funding mechanism in place for collection in 2014 – 1 half tax bills due Jan 31 ($2.50/half)
- Arrangements for access to Hepatitis B and Tetanus shots complete – shot regimen underway
- OEPA 2014 Recycling Grant proposals – due Feb. 3, 2014 – funding strategy discussions underway
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Thanks to the contributors of this newsletter and to ALL employees for your continued hard work.