JIM SCISSON, DESIGNER AND OPERATIONS SPECIALIST






4617 Elmhurst                                    phone 419-474-7697
Toledo OH 43613                                    cell 419-367-2749
Email jscisson@aol.com

Overview

Mr. Scisson is a senior designer and operations specialist.  He has 30 years of practical experience in the design and operation of wastewater treatment plants, operator training, optimization and troubleshooting.  He is an innovative designer of treatment plants, a noted educator and troubleshooter who can calm the water at any troubled plant.  He has worked on several projects where regulatory agencies and noted experts in the field have said that a pragmatic solution was “impossible”, yet came up with workable solutions.  As an educator he is an award-winner and in demand as a conference speaker. As a designer and troubleshooter, he is well-known for his innovative solutions to activated sludge and solids handling problems.  

OPERATIONS EXPERIENCE, SELECTED PROJECTS
Operations Specialist, Cincinnati MSD, 1991-2004 Mr. Scisson was the incinerator operator for research team that developed an innovative NOx reduction process for Multiple-Hearth Furnaces (MHF), which was said to be “impossible” by several distinguished MHF experts. He developed the performance envelope that enabled compliance with the NOx and THC limits.  Mr. Scisson was part of a WERF research team to evaluate and quantify incinerator emissions, especially the relationship between NOx and THC.  He provided 400 hours of training to improve incinerator operation and upstream solids handling processes, and 300 hours of training on secondary treatment at Mill Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.  In 2004 he returned to provide additional training and monitored the emissions testing.  The Mill Creek incinerators have not failed an emissions test since the first successful testing in 1991.

Mr Scisson provided incinerator operator training for the operators at the Little Miami and Muddy Creek WWTP’s

Mr. Scisson wrote 2 O&M manual chapters and two operator training manual sections for the incinerator and ash handling systems.  He condensed the original “Incineerator Operators Mini-Manual to a more useful form, and revised it again in 2004. He wrote an activated sludge process control manual for the Mill Creek WWTP.


Operations Specialist, Toledo WWTP, Toledo, Ohio (various projects, 1988-2000): Mr Scisson provided start-up services and training on all unit processes at this 104 MGD secondary treatment plant.  He assisted the management and operators to change the operations from one that was in continual non-comliance to continual compliance.  Conducted study for successful conversion to nitrification, which the USEPA said would be "impossible" (the plant has now been in compliance with the ammonia limit for 15 consecutive years, with the exception of one month).  Conducted 700 hours of hands-on and classroom training on all unit processes.  Wrote or revised 20 O&M manual chapters and 22 operator training manuals.  Wrote and directed 10 operator training videotapes.  Wrote activated sludge process control manual.  Evaluated and quantified key belt filter press operating variables, reducing polymer coagulant dose 45%.  He developed SCADA process control algorithms for numerous plant processes.

Mr Scisson wrote the wet weather operating plan for the Bay View Water Reclamation Plant, a critical part of the consent order for eliminating the discharge of incompletely treated water during storm events
Operations Specialist and Designer, Battle Creek WWTP, Battle Creek, Michigan (1998-2000):    Studied multiple-hearth incinerator operation and trained operators to reduce fuel costs and redesigned incinerator airflow to reduce fuel costs by 70%.  Redesigned aeration tank diffuser pattern to provide sufficient DO, and assisted with the redesign of the secondary clarifier weirs from serpentine weirs to straight weirs.   After redesign, SVI fell from 150-200 to 75 and effluent TSS fell from approx. 20 mg/L to <10 mg/L. Provided standard operation procedures for multiple hearth incineration.

Operations Specialist, Bowling Green WWTP, Bowling Green Ohio (2008): The Bowling Green WWTP has plug flow aeration tanks and suffered from excessive clarifier solids loss at high flows.  Mr Scisson suggested using the step feed option he had designed into the 2002 improvements.  Under pure plug flow operations, secondary effluent TSS were 200 mg/L at a flow of 20 MGD.   Under step feed operation, secondary effluent TSS were 20 mg/L at 24 MGD.
Interim WWTP Superintendent, Delhi Charter Township, Michigan (1997):  After superintendent left, Mr Scisson was interim superintendent for several months.  He wrote standard operations procedures for 13 unit processes, a chemical hygiene plan, and a process control manual.  Mr. Scisson restored laboratory-reporting procedures to provide defensible data.

Interim WWTP Superintendent, Fremont Indiana (1996):  Mr Scisson was interim superintendent at a small plant until a new superintendent was hired

Operations Specialist, Hamilton WWTP, Hamilton Ohio (2000-2001):  Mr Scisson wrote standard operating procedures for all unit processes and developed a wet weather operating plan that eliminated plant bypassing.

Operations Specialist, Carmel WWTP, Carmel, Indiana (various projects, 1990-2000):  Evaluated the solids handling train, and recommended adding centrifuges and an economical class A process (BioPasteur) to reduce solids handling costs.  Evaluated plant staffing and O&M costs to optimize staffing.  Discovered cause of intermittent nitrification and modified plant operation to bring plant into compliance with ammonia limit.  Evaluated digester gas use and the feasibility of additional gas reuse. Wrote sludge management plan.  Redesigned the solids handling train, adding centrifuges and economical class A process.

Operations Specialist, Kalamazoo MI WWTP (1996-98).  Kalamazoo has a Zimpro powdered activated carbon (PACT) activated sludge system.  The plant was plagued with the accumulation of inert materials, and Zimpro developed the differential sedimentation and elutriation (DSE) process to strip inerts for the mixed iquor. The process was unstable and expensive to operate.  Mr. Scisson studied the operation, and determined that each operator ran the DSE his own way, and that the Kalamazoo staff had to develop an operational definition of “perfect” or at least good enough.  The staff developed procedures that alllowed for better and more economical operation.

Operations Specialist, Clyde WWTP, Clyde, Ohio (1996):  The Clyde aerobic digesters processed thicker than normal WAS (3.5-10% TS) and suffered from odors and non attinment of class B fecal coliform levels.  Mr Scisson conducted rigorous testing on fecal coliform decay and odor generation.   Eiminated odors and lowered fecal coliform levels in digested storage tanks to 10,000 colonies/gram TS.

Operations Specialist, King AbdulAziz University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (1995) Started up all equipment for a 1 MGD secondary plant and trained plant operators.
Senior Operations Coordinator, Envirotech Operating Services (1994-98):  Provided operations assistance for start-ups at municipal POTWs.  Clients included: Sarasota FL, Fernandina Beach, FL, Jacksonville Beach, FL, Houston, TX, Battle Creek MI and San Antonio, TX.  Plant capacities range from approximately 1 MGD to 200 MGD.  Wrote numerous standard operating procedures and reports, two O&M Manuals

Instructor, Indiana Vocational Technical College (1983) Designed and taught one, 40 hour course on wastewater treatment plant operations.



OPERATOR AWARDS

5-S Society
W.D Sheets Award for excellence in Operator Education
Special Award from NW Section OWEA for Operator Education
Presidents’ Award, NW Section OWEA
Most Valuable Player, Dos Rios WWTP Startup
Award for Service above the Call of Duty, Envirotech Operating Services
Golden Camel Award, Fluor Daniel


Design Experience, Selected Projects
Principal Designer, 7.5 Secondary Treatment, Lucas County, Ohio:  Principal designer for a 7.5 mgd secondary treatment addition to a 15 mgd treatment plant.  Plant improvements include: two-pass plug flow aeration tanks, peripheral feed-peripheral overflow clarifiers, blowers, RAS/WAS pumping, NPW supply, chemical feed, and an operator-friendly layout.
Designer, WWTP Improvements, Bowling Green, Ohio:  Designed and evaluated the biosolids processing and changed the biosolids digestion from aerobic digestion to a 2nd generation ATAD.  Expanded the aeration tank capacity and changed it from parallel tank operation to a plug flow operation with biological nutrient removal.  In addition, recommended a centrifuge be installed to dewater biosolids when land application was not possible.  This has proved to be an extremely popular improvement with the plant staff.  A topsoil blender uses the dewatered biosolids.  Biosolids treatment and beneficial reuse costs have been reduced by $400,000 per year.  The project received ACEC Award for Excellence in Design.
Principal Investigator and Designer, 24 MGD WWTP Improvements, Monroe, Michigan:  Principal investigator for the study phase and lead design specialist for design.  Mr. Scisson evaluated the plant operation and physical condition of this 24 mgd WWTP.  Found the plant to be in compliance, but with much of the equipment at the end of its lifespan and the aeration system grossly oversized.   Mr. Scisson designed numerous equipment replacements, including new PFPO clarifier internals that will improve effluent quality and allow for algae sweeps on the launders, new grit systems, new influent screens for the main plant and a remote pump station, and a new aeration system that will save over $150,000/yr. in energy costs.
Designer, WWTP Plant Improvements, Three Rivers, Michigan:  Designer for the aeration tank expansion and new aeration system and modified flow pattern to allow parallel or plug flow to aeration tanks. Evaluated and selected 2nd generation ATAD to replace anaerobic digesters. This is the first 2nd generation ATAD at a municipal WWTP.  Evaluated and selected odor control systems for plant processes.  Was Co-designer of innovative septage/thickener/sludge holding complex, utilizing existing buildings.  This project received an ACEC Award for Excellence in Design
Principal Investigator and Designer 12 WWTP Plants, Portage County, Ohio:  Evaluated the biosolids handling trains for the 12-plant Portage County wastewater system biosolids operation.  Studied 18 beneficial reuse options for the County and enumerated cost of each step in the biosolids handling process.  Selected a centrifuge and dryer as the best alternative.  Mr. Scisson was the lead designer in the current project to install a 56 dry ton per week biosolids dryer and 200 gpm centrifuge and related facilities for the Portage County Water Resources Division.
Lead Investigator, 2 WWTP Capacity Study, Pontiac, Michigan:  Mr. Scisson evaluated the practical capacity of the existing 2 WWTPs as part of a plan to make Pontiac a regional wastewater utility.  Improvements could take the city wastewater flow from its current 8 mgd to 72 mgd.

Project Manager and Principal Investigator, In-Vessel Composting Plant, Hamilton, Ohio:  Hamilton, Ohio has an in-vessel composting plant that is very expensive to operate and the cause of innumerable odor complaints.  Mr. Scisson evaluated alternatives to composting and determined that a second-generation autothermal thermophilic aerobic digester (ATAD) will reduce operating costs by at least $150/dry ton and produce an improved product and eliminate compost odor.
Project Manager and Principal Investigator Biosolids Study, Bowling Green, Ohio:  For this project he conducted a biosolids handling study to enumerate the cost of beneficial reuse.  The study proved that dewatering biosolids with the centrifuge and giving the biosolids to a soil blender saved $160/dry ton over liquid land application of biosolids.
Designer, Sequencing Batch Study, Dundee, Michigan:  Designed and analyzed plant capacity and recommended improvements keep apace of rapidly developing area.  Studied operating problems with the sequencing batch reactor and recommended a 1.5 mgd membrane bioreactor (MBR) for the expansion.  Design includes a recuperative membrane thickener/aerobic digester.
Lead Designer, New Aeration System, Luna Pier, Michigan:  Lead designer of a new aeration system (fine bubble tubular diffusers) to replace downdraft aerator with sparger.  System was designed for installation without taking the tank out of service.


DESIGN AWARDS

Nominee, Thomas Camp Medal, 2000, 2001
ACEC Award, Three Rivers, MI and Bowling Green OH design teams


PUBLICATIONS

Mr Scisson has published at least 50 separate presentations at National and State conferences as well as other workshops.  Five articles have been published by the Water Environment Federation.  A list of publications is available on request.


MISCELLANEOUS

Mr Scisson was the custodial father of his children, now grown.  He reads and speaks Spanish, and knows a smattering of French, German, Yiddish and Church Slavonic.  He is beginning study of Byzantine chant and is re-learning how to play the saxophone