Tag: Monitoring
Plant Name: City of Bend Water Reclamation FacilityLocation: Bend, Deschutes County, OregonOperating Authority: City of Bend Utilities DepartmentDesign Capacity: 12.5 MGD (Max Month Flow)Current Average Flow: ~6.5 – 7.5 MGD (Seasonal Variance)Population Served: ~107,000 residentsService Area: City of Bend Urban Growth Boundary (UGB)Receiving Water Body: Groundwater (Deschutes Aquifer) via Evaporation/PercolationPermit Type: Oregon DEQ WPCF Permit […]
Introduction In the municipal water and wastewater sector, the “dry pit” is a misnomer that frequently leads to expensive equipment failures. While designed to separate mechanical and electrical equipment from the wet well, dry pits and valve vaults are notoriously hostile environments—characterized by high humidity, potential for accidental flooding, corrosive hydrogen sulfide gases, and confined […]
Location: Salem, Oregon | Operating Authority: City of Salem Public Works FACILITY BASIC INFORMATION Plant Name: Willow Lake Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) Location: 5915 Windsor Island Road N, Salem, OR 97303 Operating Authority: City of Salem Public Works Department Design Capacity (Peak Wet Weather): 155 MGD Current Average Dry Weather Flow: ~25 MGD Population […]
Introduction In wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) design, the clarifier is the hydraulic control center of the process, but its efficiency is entirely dependent on the accuracy of the feedback loops controlling it. A common challenge engineers face is the disconnect between mechanical clarification systems and the instrumentation required to optimize them. While mechanical failure is […]
Facility Profile: The authoritative technical resource for engineers, operators, and industry professionals regarding the Durham AWTF in Tigard, Oregon. FACILITY BASIC INFORMATION Plant Name: Durham Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility Location: 16060 SW 85th Ave, Tigard, Washington County, Oregon Operating Authority: Clean Water Services (CWS) Design Capacity (Dry Weather): 25.7 MGD Peak Hydraulic Capacity: 113 MGD […]
Plant Name: Eugene/Springfield Water Pollution Control FacilityLocation: 410 River Avenue, Eugene, OR 97404Operating Authority: Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC); Operated by City of EugeneDesign Capacity: 49 MGD (Average Dry Weather) / 277 MGD (Peak Wet Weather)Current Average Flow: ~30 MGDPopulation Served: ~250,000 residentsService Area: Eugene, Springfield, and unincorporated Lane CountyReceiving Water Body: Willamette RiverNPDES Permit […]
Introduction The secondary clarifier is often described as the most critical bottleneck in activated sludge systems, yet its performance is frequently limited by the quality of the data feeding the control loops. For municipal consulting engineers and plant directors, the “black box” nature of clarification—where settling zones and compression layers are hidden beneath the surface—presents […]
Also serving the Clark Regional Wastewater District (Bi-Jurisdictional Service Area) FACILITY BASIC INFORMATION Plant Name: Westside Wastewater Treatment Plant Location: 2323 W Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver, Clark County, WA 98660 Operating Authority: City of Vancouver Public Works Design Capacity (Max Month): 28.3 MGD Peak Hydraulic Capacity: ~60 MGD Current Average Flow: ~21-24 MGD Population Served: […]
INTRODUCTION In municipal and industrial water treatment, the “set it and forget it” mentality regarding chemical feed systems is a primary driver of operational inefficiency and compliance violations. While metering pumps and storage tanks are the muscles of the system, the instrumentation—specifically flow meters and level transmitters—acts as the nervous system. A surprising industry statistic […]
Introduction Cavitation is the silent killer of hydraulic efficiency and mechanical integrity in water and wastewater systems. For municipal and industrial engineers, the challenge is rarely just about selecting a pump; it is about selecting the instrumentation loop that can survive, detect, and mitigate the conditions that lead to cavitation. When incipient cavitation creates two-phase […]