Multi-Family Submetering and Allocation Billing Program Study

438 Pages·2005·9.95 MB·English

East Bay Municipal Utility District
2014 Biosolids Performance Report
http://www.ebmud.com/water-and-wastewater/wastewater-treatment/biosolids March 2015
EBMUD Maintains Platinum Certification
Inside this
issue: In October 2014, EBMUD completed nonformance, which includes
an internal, partial-program audit. documenting preventive maintenance
Progress Toward 2
This was the first year that the activities and providing additional
Goals and Objectives
annual Interim Audit was conducted training for use of
internally, and it marks the eighth newly-installed
Outreach to 2 annual program audit. equipment. Minor
Interested Parties nonconformances do
Program strengths identified through
not represent a
the audit process included:
Environmental 3 systemic problem, but
 Effective tracking of permits
Performance do require corrective
issued through the pretreatment action. Actions to
permit program correct these
Contractor 3
 High-level of cross-training nonconformances are expected to be
Performance News
among pretreatment inspectors verified during the next annual
 Strong link between daily program audit (September 2015). A
Regulatory 4
copy of the full 2014 audit report is
activities and strategic planning
Compliance
available at www.ebmud.com (see
 Improved awareness of biosolids
link above).
Program 4 management through the
Improvements Environmental Management EBMUD will continue to conduct
System (EMS) program annual program audits over the next
How to Contact 4 One minor and zero major program few years. The September 2015
EBMUD nonconformances were identified audit will be a Year 9 mandatory
during the audit. The third-party audit. If you would like
nonconformance was related to the additional information or are
corrective and preventive action interested in observing the next
(CAPA) process used to address gas audit, please contact us using the
releases and flare failures. An action information provided in the “How to
plan was developed to address this Contact EBMUD” section.
The National Biosolids Partner-
ship is operated by the Water
Environment Federation (WEF),
in collaboration with the National
Association of Clean Water
Agencies (NACWA) and with
advisory support from U.S. EPA.
EBMUD biosolids land application site in Merced County
PAGE 2 2014 BIOSOLIDS PERFORMANCE REPORT
Progress Toward Goals and Objectives
EBMUD has established specific goals and
objectives to drive continuous improvement. The
 Struvite Control Investigation: In August
2014-15 goals and objectives are available on our
website, and we invite public input. 2014, EBMUD initiated an investigation to
develop near- and long-term strategies to
EBMUD is upgrading various infrastructure control struvite formation, which is a common
elements to sustain effective and reliable problem in dewatering facilities. The study
operation, as described below: will address operational problems and
dewatering capacity limitations caused by
 Digester Upgrade Projects: The second
struvite accumulation, which results in pipe
phase of this project is nearly complete after
deposits that restrict hydraulic capacity. Near
five years of construction, which included
-term improvements include centrate line
rehabilitation of the eight first-stage digesters
modifications to improve operational
with new fixed covers and enhanced mixing.
reliability. New piping materials with low
friction were selected to reduce struvite
EBMUD
deposits. Construction is scheduled to begin
conducted
in May 2015.
internal
planning
 Gas Flare Improvements: In 2013, two
workshops in
digester gas releases occurred at
the spring of
the Main Wastewater Treatment
2014 to
Plant (MWWTP). Following these
prioritize
incidents, EBMUD used the CAPA
future digester
process to identify the root cause
improvement
of the failure as insufficient flare
projects within
capacity. In response, a flare
the 10-year capital improvement program,
expansion project was initiated to
which includes third and fourth project phases
provide sufficient gas flare
to rehabilitate the remaining three digesters.
capacity when the turbine or
This work will include improving seismic
engines are out of service. Until
resiliency, installing dual-membrane covers
the new flares are operational
for digester gas storage, and enhancing
(targeted for mid-2016), EBMUD
mixing.
will use operational adjustments to reduce
the potential for digester gas releases.
Outreach to Interested Parties
EBMUD’s public outreach efforts related to its EBMUD welcomes questions and opportunities to
Biosolids Management Program include: speak to the public about biosolids. Our haulers
and inspectors carry fact sheets on biosolids in
 Providing updates on program activities at
case a member of the public has any questions.
West Oakland neighborhood and business
association meetings. EBMUD strives to continue building credibility
and trust in the community by demonstrating our
 Responding to inquiries from interested
commitment to environmental performance and
parties via email and telephone calls
continuous improvement through high quality
regarding EBMUD’s biosolids management
and sound biosolids management practices.
activities.
 Providing updated information on the EBMUD In 2014, EBMUD conducted several community
meetings and tours of the MWWTP for West
website and encouraging feedback from the
Oakland residents and business owners.
public.
2014 BIOSOLIDS PERFORMANCE REPORT PAGE 3
Environmental Performance
In addition to establishing a goal of 100% January to December 2014
beneficial reuse of biosolids produced at the
 203 average wet tons per day (8 trucks per day)
MWWTP, EBMUD has also established
environmental performance goals and objectives  Average biosolids cake dryness = 23% total solids
including the following:  73,922 total wet tons
 Maintaining two different reuse options  100% beneficial reuse
 Maximizing land application during dry  Landfill ADC = 52%
weather  Land application = 48%
 Developing technology evaluations Landfill
Land ADC @
Beneficial Reuse: Biosolids produced at Application
EBMUD’s MWWTP are beneficially reused for @ Merced
either land application at non-food crop sites in County Potrero
48% 28%
Merced County or as alternative daily cover
(ADC) at nearby landfills. EBMUD met the goals
Newby
of 100% beneficial reuse, maintaining two
10%
options, and maximizing land application.
Altamont
In addition, EBMUD continues to assess options
10% Vasco
for a range of technologies and alternatives for
5%
biosolids beneficial reuse.
Energy Production: In 2014, the MWWTP )dn 160%
a
produced 135% of the electricity required m 140%
e
D
to operate the facility. Methane gas produced tn 120%
during anaerobic digestion of biosolids is a
lP 100%
captured and used to produce renewable energy. fo
Electricity and heat are produced by three 2.1- % 80%
megawatt (MW) engine-generators and a 4.6- ( n 60%
o
MW gas turbine. Electricity is utilized onsite and itc 40%
u
exported to the Port of Oakland. Heat is utilized do 20%
r
onsite to maintain digester temperatures. P
y 0%
gr 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014
e
n Calendar Year
E
Contractor Performance News
In 2014, a total of 3,034 trucks transported per month for each driver. EBMUD notifies its
EBMUD biosolids to landfill and land application hauling contractors if any follow-up or corrective
sites. As part of the EMS process, each driver is actions are required.
trained and prepared with the proper equipment
and reference information in case there is an
accident during transit.
An EBMUD inspector also performs random audits
of the truck hauling process during biosolids
loading, unloading, and transporting to ensure
that its hauling contractors are following correct
procedures and complying with established
standards. Each landfill ADC and land application
site is routinely inspected by EBMUD throughout
the year. Inspections at the MWWTP occur once
Staging area for biosolids land application in Merced County
PAGE 4 2014 BIOSOLIDS PERFORMANCE REPORT
Regulatory Compliance
EBMUD’s biosolids management
practices comply with all applicable Pollutant Concentrations (Percent of EPA Limit)
federal, state, and local
requirements, as well as other
voluntarily-adopted requirements.
EBMUD biosolids have consistently
met all standards required by U.S.
EPA for use as Class B biosolids.
They are well below the regulatory
limits for metal concentrations and
average concentrations from a
2001 Association of Metropolitan
Sewerage Agencies (AMSA) survey
of 159 other wastewater treatment
facilities (see figure). Fecal coliform
levels (indicators of pathogenic
organisms) averaged 12 most
probable number per gram (MPN/g)
total solids, which was well below
the regulatory limit of 2 million
MPN/g total solids.
Program Improvements
The EMS approach has helped improve and clarify roles and
responsibilities for determining the overall apportioning of
biosolids between the two end uses (land application, landfill
ADC) and hauling contractors. In addition, EBMUD has
improved the daily coordination of biosolids handling
activities and communications with its hauling contractors.
EBMUD continues to use its BMP to help identify
opportunities to diversify its biosolids management options
Did you know?
by staying abreast of alternative technologies and end use

options. EBMUD will continue to identify and develop
 Beginning in July 2016, source-
management options to ensure continued sustainable,
separated commercial food waste from
environmentally-friendly, and cost-effective reuse of its
the City of Oakland is expected to be
biosolids product.
delivered to the MWWTP for processing,
anaerobic digestion, and onsite energy
How to Contact EBMUD production (0.5 to 1.0 MW of additional
renewable energy).
If you have any comments or input regarding our program,
 The MWWTP is located next to the Bay
please contact Alicia Chakrabarti, Biosolids Management
Bridge Trail, which now has three
Program Coordinator, at [email protected] or
interpretive signs highlighting key
[phone].
activities at the MWWTP.

 Treated wastewater is conveyed in a
If you would like more information, please visit the Biosolids
108-inch outfall pipe from the MWWTP
Management Program website at: http://www.ebmud.com/
to approximately one mile offshore
water-and-wastewater/wastewater-treatment/biosolids
where it is discharged to SF Bay.