City Awards Contract For Biofiltration SystemThe Binghamton-Johnson City Joint Sewage Treatment Plant in Vestal, NY, has awarded a $9.7 million contract to Ondeo Degremont for a three-stage biofiltration system integral to the expansion of its wastewater treatment facilities. Binghamton-Johnson City is required to meet strict effluent limits for discharge to the Susquehanna River, a Chesapeake Bay tributary. The plant upgrade will increase secondary treatment capacity during peak storm weather flows.
Ondeo Degremont will supply a three-stage arrangement of its Biofor® biological filters for carbon removal, nitrification and denitrification. The first two stages will treat a maximum monthly flow of 44 mgd and a peak flow of 70 mgd. The third stage will treat a peak flow of 49.5 mgd. The Biofor filters will fit within the existing plant site, with maximum use of existing basins.
A five-month pilot study at B-JC JSTP confirmed design criteria and operational requirements. In addition to system design, process equipment supply and installation, Ondeo Degremont will provide startup, commissioning, performance testing, installation supervision, and operational support. Construction completion for the first two stages of the system is expected in 2003. Construction of the third stage is scheduled for completion in 2004. WW/
DC Plans AMR DeploymentThe District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) has awarded North America's largest water utility fixed network RF system implementation to the team of ABB, United Metering and Hexagram.
ABB's $11 million portion of the $36 million, three-year project represents approximately 130,000 new ABB absolute encoder water meters. All meters will be equipped with Hexagram transmitters and the fixed network data collection system will be integrated with WASA's customer information and billing system. United Metering will manage the WASA project and perform equipment installation.
WASA's analysis indicated that its installed base of residential and commercial meters, many over 25 years old, required significant maintenance.
"As part of our ongoing capital improvement program, we've always viewed this project as an operational excellence initiative," said Jerry Johnson, WASA General manager. "The revenue improvement we will see from meter replacement covers the cost of the program."
Utility Selects Oxygen SupplierPraxair Inc. has signed a contract to supply oxygen to a wastewater treatment plant operated by the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, Kansas City, KS. Oxygen will be supplied via the company's Kansas City pipeline at up to 25 tons per day. Startup is set for March 2002.
The Unified Government facility uses aerobic biological treatment for it wastewater process. Benefits of using industrially pure oxygen — rather than air — as the dissolved oxygen source include: reduced volatile emissions, reduced tankage requirements, higher removal efficiencies, improved solids separation, quicker rebound from upset conditions and much lower electric power costs, according to a Praxair spokesman.
Pipeline oxygen supply is beneficial to wastewater treatment plants because of the high reliability of this mode of supply and its ability to make adjustments to the widely varying oxygen demands of the wastewater treatment plant, the spokesman said.
The contract is expected to run for five years. The plant has been using an on-site oxygen generation system, but was faced with the prospect of overhauling the generation equipment. The oxygen supply contract was seen as an alternative to costly capital repairs, according to Kimberly Dominic, Deputy Director of Public Works at the utility.
City Contracts for New Customer Management SystemSCT has signed a contract with the City of Kansas City, MO, for an SCT Banner® Customer Mgmt. System (CMS). The contract, which includes software and related services, totals approximately $3 million.
Kansas City Water Services Department chose SCT solutions to improve customer service and provide new products and services and advanced reporting for the municipal utility's 175,000 wastewater, storm water, and water customers.
Banner's CMS system offers the city enhanced billing services by enabling consumers to access account information online. This Web-based application also provides account details and other requested services, while helping the utility deliver efficient customer service and focus on the growing needs of its customers.
