TAC Presentation

Optimizing Biological Process Control through I&C

Thursday, January 20, 2022

 
Luncheon description:

Advancements in wastewater instrumentation and controls (I&C) have allowed Water Reclamation Facilities (WRFs) to gain both valuable insight and greater operational control of their treatment process. This presentation will provide a broad overview of how online analytical instruments are being implemented at wastewater facilities. This will include a refresher on the basics of how process automation works within the water/wastewater industry.

The presentation will focus more specifically to WRF operation, a few special use cases will be discussed to showcase how I&C logic can be configured to enhance treatment performance and/or operability. The special use cases will pertain to aeration basins and biological data that can be relayed into controls that assist operators to make real time adjustments that will save on energy, chemical costs, and time. Finally, some considerations for how to implement and optimize instrumentation at your own facilities will be discussed.

 
Speakers

The speakers for this month include Dmitriy Zinchenko, Bill Cassity and Nohemi Almaraz from the HDR Denver office. Dmitriy Zinchenko works as the Wastewater Technical Process Lead. He is a Colorado University and Colorado School of Mines graduate, with 12 years of experience in the industry spanning international projects in municipal wastewater, drinking water, and industrial water treatment.

Bill Cassity is a Senior I&C Engineer with 30 years’ experience in industrial automation in water, wastewater, mining and industrial sectors. He has a varied background and understands mechanical systems due to his experience in Naval Nuclear power. Bill and his team design and integrate systems including PLC and HMI programming, virtualization and cybersecurity.

Nohemi Almaraz works as an Instrumentation & Controls EIT. She graduated from CSM and has 2 years of experience in water and wastewater where she works with designing and commissioning control systems. She enjoys interfacing with all stakeholders of a project as it provides a better understanding of how to better integrate control systems to meet the needs of a plant, operators, maintenance staff, and engineers.

 
Luncheon Format:

In light of continuing COVID restrictions on gatherings, this luncheon will again be conducted online. Instructions on how to register are provided  in the next paragraph. The presentation will begin at 12 noon on the above date (Mountain Standard Time). The presentation will be broadcast using Microsoft Teams.

Registration:

TAC Registration: A registration fee of $10 is being requested for each attendee. This is reduced from our typical charges in the past to reflect the online nature of the event. Registration and payment for TAC luncheons is handled online at: TAC Registration. Registration may be made for a single attendee or for multiple attendees in a group. It is requested that each individual in a group either register individually or are included in the count for a group registration, and that multiple parties are not partaking in the presentation without registering. If for some reason you are unable to register online, please contact Steve Polson (either by phone: 303-748-0931; or by email: steve.polson@jacobs.com) to arrange for paying with check or cash. 

The registration deadline for this event is Wednesday, January 19, at 3:00 pm MST. We will send out the link for the luncheon to the email addresses per the registration site by the end of the day on Wednesday or first thing Thursday morning. Please note the Teams program does not need to be installed on your computer to participate. When you click the link provided in the email, an option to participate through your browser is offered. There will also be a call-in number, but it is hoped that nobody is forced to do that, as you will only receive the audio. If you registered but do not receive the email on Wednesday, please call Steve Polson (303-748-0931) on Thursday morning to determine how to get you the link.

Please note that the online approach will only be used as long as we are not allowed to meet in person. We look forward to the time when we can return to our normal format with lunch and opportunities for folks to socialize before and after the presentation.

2022 RMWEA Winter Planning Meeting

Hosted in Denver, CO the purpose of the 2022 Winter Planning Meeting is to develop RMWEA Committees goals and execution plans for 2022, which support our vision of Elevating Water Professionals. At the end of this meeting, committee leaders along with members will walk away with a clear direction and an action plan ready to make a positive impact in our communities!

If you are new to RMWEA, this is the perfect time to get involved with committees and join a community of passionate water professionals. 

Covid Protocol
​WEF’s priority in all meetings and events is the safety and welfare our attendees, exhibitors, partners, and staff. To enable in-person events to take place with lower risk to participants, WEF is implementing the following health and well-being protocols.

Show proof of full vaccination or negative COVID-19 test
To attend in-person events, all participants must provide either proof of full vaccination* or proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 48-hours before arriving to pick up their badge or to register onsite.

Participants can bring a hard copy of their vaccination card or present a digital copy. Experts recommend taking a photograph of both sides of vaccination cards and keeping the photos on smartphones so they are accessible when needed.

There are also some app-based options to show proof of vaccination, including Clear, which accepts U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccination cards. Learn more.

Rapid Antigen or Rapid Molecular (PCR) test results generated from an official medical agency/clinic are acceptable. Antibody tests are not acceptable.

Masks must be worn
While at the meeting, all participants are required to wear a mask. This is to maximize protection for each individual participant and reduce the possibility of spreading COVID-19. The CDC provides information on the different types of masks and respirators that can be used. Learn More.

These protocols were developed based on guidance and recommendations issued by the CDC and other public health authorities. WEF will comply with all public health authority protocols applicable to where WEF meetings and events are held, which may be more stringent than our protocols detailed here. Therefore, WEF reserves the right to adjust our health and well-being protocols as needed.

WEF’s intention is to create a safe environment for attendees and participants. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Siphon Do's and Don'ts

RMWEA Collections System Committee

Siphons have been used for decades throughout the Rocky Mountain region to transfer sewage across a stream or creek. The majority of operators find them to be a maintenance nightmare while a handful prefer them over a lift station. This session will have three parts.

Siphon Design: What are they, how do they work and why would I want one in my collection system?
O&M: Who’s genius idea was this to construction a siphon in my collection system?
Virtual Site Visit of Siphon: The good, the bad and the…. gone!