Introduction One of the most insidious threats to the longevity of large-scale pumping systems is the phenomenon of air entrainment caused by intake vortices. For municipal and industrial engineers, the challenge is compounded when geotechnical constraints force the use of deep, circular containment structures. Diaphragm Wet Well Design and Minimum Submergence to Prevent Vortexing is […]
FACILITY BASIC INFORMATION Plant Name: Morris Forman Water Quality Treatment Center (WQTC) Location: 4522 Algonquin Parkway, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky Operating Authority: Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) Design Capacity: 120 MGD (Average Daily); 350 MGD (Peak Wet Weather Treatment) Current Average Flow: ~100-105 MGD Population Served: Approx. 770,000 residents (Metro Louisville) Service […]
Introduction Chemical dosing accuracy is the silent guardian of water quality compliance and the hidden driver of operational expenditure. In municipal and industrial treatment plants, the failure to properly understand hydraulic behavior results in millions of dollars lost annually to chemical waste, premature equipment failure, and process instability. A surprising industry statistic suggests that over […]
FACILITY BASIC INFORMATION Plant Name: North Canadian Wastewater Treatment Plant (NCWWTP) Location: 2313 N Eastern Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73111 Operating Authority: Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust (OCWUT) Design Capacity: 82.0 MGD (Average Daily Flow) Current Average Flow: ~55-60 MGD Peak Flow Capacity: ~160 MGD Service Area: Central Oklahoma City, Nichols Hills, The Village, and […]
Introduction One of the most frequent points of failure in municipal pumping infrastructure involves the misapplication of pump geometry to the wet well environment. While submersible non-clog pumps dominate small to medium sewage lift stations, engineers frequently turn to vertical turbine pumps (VTPs) for high-flow, high-head, or footprint-constrained applications. However, a staggering number of these […]
Biosolids Management: Best Practices for Treatment Plants Biosolids management is where regulatory pressure, operational cost, and community risk collide—get the decisions right and you control disposal costs and recover resources; get them wrong and you face fines, complaints, and rising hauling bills. This practical guide gives treatment plant operators and engineers a technical roadmap for […]
FACILITY BASIC INFORMATION Plant Name: Max Rhoads Wastewater Treatment PlantLocation: Owensboro, Daviess County, KentuckyOperating Authority: Regional Water Resource Agency (RWRA)Design Capacity: 15.0 MGD (Average Daily Flow)Peak Hydraulic Capacity: ~32.0 MGDPopulation Served: ~100,000 (Regional System)Service Area: City of Owensboro and parts of Daviess CountyReceiving Water Body: Ohio RiverKPDES Permit Number: KY0022713Year Commissioned: 1960s (Major expansion/renovations in […]
Introduction The failure of a chemical feed system or sludge transfer unit in a water treatment plant often isn’t caused by a defective pump; it is caused by a failure in the commissioning process. In municipal and industrial applications, up to 60% of early-life equipment failures can be traced back to improper installation, inadequate pipe […]
FACILITY BASIC INFORMATION Plant Name: Town Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant Location: 301 Lisle Industrial Avenue, Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky Operating Authority: Lexington Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) – Division of Water Quality Design Capacity: 30 MGD (Average Daily), 64 MGD (Peak Hydraulic) Current Average Flow: ~22-25 MGD Population Served: ~320,000 (Combined with West Hickman service […]
INTRODUCTION One of the most persistent causes of premature equipment failure in municipal and industrial fluid handling systems is the disconnect between the design point and the actual operating reality. Engineers frequently specify pumps for a peak flow condition that occurs less than 5% of the time, leaving operators to manage equipment that runs inefficiently—and […]