Researcher Team: University of Central Florida

Funding Sources: Tampa Bay Water/American Waterworks Research Foundation (AWWARF) /Pascoe County, Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, Pasco County, Tampa, St. Petersburg, and New Port Richey

Participated in the construction, operation (managed and supervised fellow researchers), sampling and testing for the $3 million dollar pilot-scale study project to study the impact of Blending significant different water quality on drinking water distribution system water quality.  The pilot research project consisted of 18 aged pilot distribution systems with varying pipe materials and multiple treatment trains (reverse osmosis, nano-filtration, ozonation, coagulation, softening, biologically activate carbon filtration and disinfection) for groundwater, surface water and saline water to produce nearly 50,000 gallons per week of 10 significantly different finished waters for 2 years. Each distribution system received finished water of specific chemistry for a 3-month period before switching to a significantly different chemistry. During each three-month phase, changes in water chemistry and microbiology at the end of each pipe were monitored, recorded and analyzed.

Results of this research were a critical decision-making tool for Tampa Bay Water which supplies water to more than 2,000,000 consumers in Tampa, Florida The research led to a better understanding of corrosion-related physical-chemical and biological factors in drinking water distribution systems that have potential adverse water quality problems and to the development of several models to alleviate those potential adverse water quality problems. Research findings are available through AWWARF and several journal publications including AWWA and ASCE.

Using this research facility, Dr. Mutoti developed and set up experiments to developed and verify a Flux model that can be used to predict the release of iron (red water) in drinking water distribution systems.  The flux model incorporates pipe material, pipe geometry, hydraulic conditions, and water chemistry.

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Capacity: 0.544 MGD, Integrated Greensand Filter/Reverse Osmosis (RO)

Owner: Virginia Department of Corrections, Chesapeake, VA

Scope of Work:

Phase I: Preliminary engineering, final design of water treatment plant, a new 500 gpm Well, modifications to an existing 600 gpm well, 500,000-gallon elevated Storage tank, SCADA and sequence of operation, construction period services and start-up and O&M manual.  Dr. Mutoti was involved with construction period services, SCADA and sequence of operation, start-up and prepared O&M manual for the plant.

Phase II:  Troubleshooting Aquifer water quality issues, prepared preliminary engineering report and design modifications, necessary to deal with changing aquifer water quality conditions and to improve treatment efficiency. Key design changes included reconfiguring plant flow by uncoupling the greensand filter and RO feed water and recombining the two treated water streams to produce finished water, replace existing membranes, use of new anti-scalant and changes to SCADA sequence of operation.  

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Capacity 3.0 MGD, Surface Water Treatment Plant,

Owner: Town of Farmville, Location: Farmville, Virginia

Scope of Work: Produced a Preliminary Engineering Report for required upgrades for the Farmville water treatment plant to treat water from Sandy River Reservoir with higher Total Organic matter (TOC), algae, iron and manganese. Reviewed seasonal water quality monitoring data and treatability studies conducted by Gary Schafran or Old Dominion University and provide input to the report for the Sandy River Reservoir. Evaluate Sandy River Reservoir water quality data versus Appomattox River water. Evaluate Farmville Water treatment plant performance, capacity and capabilities. Developed and compared treatment schemes that included: oxidation of iron and manganese, TOC pre-oxidation, membrane treatment and MIEX® and compare capital and operational cost estimates. 

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Capacity 450 gpm, groundwater well system

Owner: King William County, Virginia

Scope of Work: The project consisted of two new wells to augment water supplies to existing water system due to the development of the new Kennington and McCauley Park residential subdivisions.  The new Wells would pump directly into the existing distribution system.  Work included, review of Well water quality test results and recommending required treatment for compliance with the Virginia drinking water guidelines and for corrosion control, design of Well system components, including hydraulic design, chemical feed system, telemetry/SCADA, construction inspections, water treatment plant start-up, hydraulic/pressure balancing, O&M manual and operator training.

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Purkins Corner (0.12 MGD) & Oakland Park (0.14 MGD) Wastewater Treatment Plant

King George County, Virginia

Evaluation of operations and conversion of existing extended aeration package plants to Modified Ettinger-Ludzack (MLE) process for enhanced biological nitrogen removal, optimized chemical feed systems, reduce metal discharge and increased effluent hardness. Provided operator training and developed a training manual. Summary of results is shown on chart below. 

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Plant Replacement, Southampton County, Virginia

Scope of Work: Master planning for the Courtland wastewater treatment plant collection system, Completing a preliminary engineering report for the new 1.25 MGD Carrousel Oxidation Ditch wastewater treatment plant (expandable to 3.75 MGD) to replace the existing 0.303 MGD Orbal oxidation ditch with a 1.25 MGD Carrousel wastewater plant, an equalization tank, two – 50 ft diameter clarifiers, disk filters, ultraviolet disinfection, post-aeration, RAS/WAS system, sludge digesters, centrifuge for sludge dewatering, chemical feed building. Performed process and equipment selection, sizing, hydraulic profile and facilitating DEQ approval. Applied and obtained a new tiered discharge permit.

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Virginia Department of Corrections, Chesapeake, VA

Capacity: 0544 MGD Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR)

Upgrade of existing 0.25 MGD, 2-tank SBR to a 4-tank SBR, conversion of existing SBR tanks to equalization and digesters, modification of existing digesters, design of new SBR filter feed system, a new cloth filter unit, replace chlorine/de-chlorination system with ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system, replace post-aeration diffuser system, upgrade to accommodate increased flow rates outfall, provide new SCADA system and design a new sludge dewatering system.

Services Rendered

Detailed re-design of the facility, sequencing of construction, SCADA sequence of operation, regulatory approvals, bid assistance, construction period services & plant start-up.

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Upgrade of existing 0.036 MGD extended aeration facility due to age and hydraulic surge and provide ultraviolet disinfection.

·        Capacity: 0.036 MGD

·        Owner: Virginia Department of Transportation, 

·        Location: Brunswick County, Virginia

Project Scope:

New headworks to replace existing non-function grinder; design new equalization tank to control surges due to nature of Rest Area wastewater flow pattern; design equalization tank blowers, pumps and flow monitoring; replace existing surface aerator with diffuser air system; convert existing extended aeration activated sludge to an Integrated Fixed Film (IFAS) system; design new RAS/WAS pumping system to replace existing air lift pumps and blowers; design new ultraviolet disinfection system to replace existing tablet chlorination /de-chlorination system; plant monitoring and control via SCADA system.

 Services Rendered:

Preliminary studies and preliminary engineering report and approvals; prepared P&I drawings & SCADA interface; detailed design and DEQ approvals; prepared specifications and bid documents.

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Capacity 1.0 MGD, Oxidation ditch

Owner: King George County Service Authority

Location: King George County

Scope of Work:

Phase 1 -2005: Preliminary design, detailed design, SCADA implementation, construction period services, start-up assistance and operation and prepare operations and maintenance manual and obtain certificate to operate.  Dr. Mutoti was involved with substantial and final inspection, preparation of O&M manual and issuance of CTO.

Identified and prepared components of the new upgrades that qualified for BNR credit, resulting in client getting over $1,000,000 in rebate from DEQ for installing BNR components.

Phase II - 2007: Convert from extended aeration to enhanced biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal, optimized chemical feed and reduced chemical usage and trained the operators.

 Dr. Mutoti successfully converted the facility from extended aeration mode to BNR mode and optimized chemical usage. The result was over 75 % increase in nutrient removal and more that 75% reduction in chemical (alum & soda ash) usage and significantly reduced operator time and has net operational savings of approximately $10,000 per month. 

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Kennington: 386 gpm

Central Crossing I:  76 gpm

Central Crossing II: 40 gpm

McCauley Park: 248 gpm (Balzer & Assoc.)

Location: King William County

Owner/Operator: HRSD

Developer: Home Town Realty

Above is a picture of the Kennington Pumping Station showing the generator, control panel, Bioxide® storage and feed system and the wetwell.

Design challenges including making sure that all will operate at their design point when all four pumping stations are running, provision of large enough wet wells at each station, without generated odor due to longer detention times, providing standby power where necessary, providing auto-dialers.  Bioxide® chemical addition was provided to detail with both station odor concern and to keep sewage fresh in the long force main.  A flow control valve was also provided at the force main discharge end to prevent force main from collapsing due to the low discharge point. System hydraulics were model using WaterCAD®.

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Owner: State Fair of Virginia Inc.

Water: 0.5 MG drinking water supply with pressure and chloramine booster station, plus 250,000 gallons potable water standby storage tank and 500,000 fire-flow storage tank, and generator

Wastewater: duplex 860 gpm and duplex 170 gpm pumps inside a single wet well; 10,600 feet of dual force mains (8” and 6” diameter) plus Bioxide® addition for odor and corrosion control at the Doswell wastewater treatment plant; control building and generator.

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