October 2016
1. In setting up a BOD test, the 300 mL bottles contained the following amounts of sample and initial Dissolved Oxygen (DO):
Raw influent, 6 mL, 7.8 mg/L
Primary, 10 mL 7.7 mg/L
Final effluent, 50 mL, 7.6 mg/L
Blank, 300 mL, 7.9 mg/L
After 5 days incubation at 20°C, the DO results were:
Raw influent, 2.3 mg/L
Primary, 2.8 mg/L
Final effluent, 3.2 mg/L
Blank, 300 mL, 7.9 mg/L
1.1. Calculate the BOD of the samples.
1.2. What is the percent reduction between raw and primary?
1.3. What is the overall plant removal efficiency?
2. Fifty mL of wastewater is filtered through a properly tared Gooch crucible, which is dried at 103°C, cooled and weighed. The crucible is then placed in a muffle furnace at 550°C, cooled and reweighed. The weights are as follows:
Empty crucible - 34.3328 grams
After drying - 34.3550 grams
After ignition (ash) - 34.3374 grams
2.1. What is the Total Suspended Solids (TSS) of the sample?
2.2. What is the Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS) of the sample?
2.3. What is the percent of Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS)?
3. From a 2 mL sample of effluent, 40 colonies are counted using the Membrane Filter method. What is the reported bacteria result?
In August the CWSRF program received its 2016 Capitalization Grant of $10,343,000 from EPA. Add this to the $2,068,000 in state match that the program received in June and another $27 million in repayment funds received in 2016, and you can see that the program has approximately $40 million in additional funding to loan for wastewater infrastructure and water quality projects. With a slight surplus, $11 million, of non-committed funds from the previous year we have a little in excess of $50 million in available loan money. Our Final 2016 Intended Use Plan (IUP) lists 17 projects totaling $36 million in funding requests. This is a healthy start to the year and puts us in a good position to fund additional projects as they come in throughout the year.
We are pleased to say that of the projects on the 2016 IUP we were able to offer $4,137,200 in loan principal forgiveness. $3,852,200 went to communities that would have a significant hardship in raising the revenue necessary to finance their project, $225,000 went to communities to develop a Fiscal Sustainability Plan (asset management plan) or improve an existing one, and $60,000 went to communities for the development of a Climate Adaptation Plan to improve their operational resiliency.
For more information, please contact John True at 287-7808, john.n.true@maine.gov or visit our webpage at SRF Loan Fund, Maine Department of Environmental Protection .
The Department’s Division of Water Quality Management has recently undergone some staff changes.
New Staff
Jodi Meader - As in any organization the people that provide the administrative support and keep the office running from day to day often go overlooked. You might call in and be directed to your caller in a most efficient manner; however you might not know who that pleasant person on the other end of the phone was. At the end of August our Office Associate II (OA II), Tristan Taber, went back to graduate school. We were fortunate enough to fill this position with Jodi Meader. Jodi comes to us with over 15 years of State service and has worked for the Secretary of State’s Office, as well as the Department of Motor Vehicles. She began her employment with the Department in January of this year as an OA II in the Bureau of Remediation and Hazardous Materials file room. Jodi is self-motivated, so I know she will pick up quickly on what needs to be done and how. We look forward to working with Jodi and hope she enjoys working with us – I know she will!
Mike Riley - At the end of June, Dave Breau retired as the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Coordinator. Once again I have been fortunate in the hiring process and have filled this Senior Environmental Engineer position with Mike Riley. Mike has over 27 years of experience in the water and wastewater field and will be a valuable asset to our team.
Mike has a BS in Biology with a minor in Ecology from Bates and a BS in Civil Engineering from UMO. He comes to us most recently from JW Sewall Co. as their Director of Water/Wastewater Services. Prior to that he was the Superintendent for the City of Brewer Water Department, a Vice President at Woodard & Curran, and a Project Engineer/Manager at A.E. Hodsdon Engineers. In the past he has worked on the design and construction engineering for some of the wastewater treatment facilities that have been funded through our Division.
John True at 287 7808, john.n.true@maine.gov.
The Eastern Maine Regional Office is welcoming 2 new compliance inspectors:
Gary Brooks comes to us with over 30 years of wastewater experience. Many of you already know Gary as he has been an operator in Maine for many years. He has extensive knowledge in all facets of wastewater treatment and has hit the ground running with inspector duties. He brings a unique perspective to the DEP as he has been on the regulated side of the fence and is now gaining perspective as a regulator. I expect Gary to be a great asset to the Department and the wastewater community as he gets settled in his new role.
Nina Caputo comes to us as a recent graduate from the University of Maine Chemistry Program. She is full of energy and has a true desire to learn about the wastewater industry in Maine. Nina is quickly coming up to speed with her wastewater knowledge and is already actively involved with inspection duties. She brings a fresh set of eyes to our processes and has already made great contributions with her computer skills and attention to detail.
When you see these two newbies out and about please welcome them and feel free to grill them with plenty of questions.
Clarissa Trasko 941-4572, clarissa.trasko@maine.gov
Retiring Staff
Dave Breau – CSO Coordinator
John Glowa – Enforcement Staff
Departing Staff and Their Former Positions
Bill Hinkel – license writer
Tanya Hovell – compliance inspector
Matt Young – compliance inspector
Charlene Moore – data management
Tristan Tabor – administrative assistant
Kurt Yuengling – stormwater inspector
Staff vacancies due to funding shortage
Permit writer
Enforcement
Stormwater Inspector.
Governor LePage has indicated that he is supportive of the introduction of a $50,000,000 bond request in the 2017 legislative session for three wastewater infrastructure /water quality programs at the Department of Environmental Protection. The programs provide pass through grants to upgrade municipal/ quasi-municipal wastewater infrastructure (treatment plants, pump stations, sewer systems), remove overboard discharges and repair/replace malfunctioning septic systems that impact surface water. All three programs have the potential to create jobs, improve water quality, and protect and/or open shellfish areas. The Department of Marine Resources is supportive of all of these programs.
These bond funds will leverage other federal and state funds to facilitate important wastewater infrastructure projects. An approximate estimate of the leveraging potential is 150% or more, resulting in total bond and leveraged funds of approximately $121,475,000.
It is estimated that 900 jobs (such as construction and engineering jobs) will be created or sustained from the bond funds and 2,186 total jobs will be created or sustained from the combined bond and leveraged funds. In addition to the jobs noted above, abating combined sewer overflows, removing overboard discharges, and repairing/replacing malfunctioning septic systems all have the potential to open closed shellfish areas so they can be harvested.
From 1992 through 2009, there had been consistent legislature and voter approved support for bonds for these programs. These programs have not been funded since 2009. A broad coalition of stakeholders are likely to support this bond due to the multiple benefits of job creation, environmental protection, improvement of shellfish harvesting areas, and municipal/ quasi-municipal infrastructure improvement.
Additional information on 2017 Water Quality Bond will be provided by the Department in the coming months.
October 5 - MRWA - Maine Utility Rodeo, Rumford, DEP: 3 Safety TCH & 3 WW TCH, WOB: 6 TCH
October 6 - MRWA - Maine Utility Rodeo, Limestone, DEP: 3 Safety TCH & 3 WW TCH, WOB: 6 TCH
October 11 - MRWA - Erosion Control Seminar & Field Day, Gardiner, DEP & WOB: 5 TCH
October 12 & 13 NEWEA - Northeast Residuals & Biosolids Conference & Exhibit, Cromwell, CT, WW 9.5 TCH
October 12-JETCC - Advanced Lubrication Techniques for Municipalities, Presque Isle, WW 6 TCH
October 13 - JETCC - Advanced Lubrication Techniques for Municipalities, Brewer, WW 6 TCH
October 14 - JETCC - Advanced Lubrication Techniques for Municipalities, Portland, WW 6 TCH
October 18 - JETCC - Polymer Application in Sludge Processing, Waterville WW 6 TCH
October 18, 20, 25, 27 & November 1 - MRWA -Class III / IV Treatment Prep Course, Farmington & Richmond, WOB: 25 TCH
October 19 - MRWA - Strategic Overview of Disaster Management for Water & Wastewater Utilities (MGT-342), Lewiston, DEP: 4 Safety TCH, WOB: 4 TCH
October 19 - JETCC - Basic Chemistry for Operators, Brunswick, WW 3.5 TCH
October 20 - MRWA - Strategic Overview of Disaster Management for Water & Wastewater Utilities (MGT-342), Hampden, DEP: 4 Safety, WOB: 4 TCH
October 25 - JETCC - Water Words That Work, Saco, WW 6 TCH
1.1. BOD of the samples:
Raw influent BOD = (7.8-2.3) * 300/6 = 275 mg/L
Primary BOD = (7.7-2.8) * 300/10 = 147 mg/L
Final effluent = (7.6-3.2) * 300/50 = 26 mg/L
1.2. Percent reduction between raw and primary:
(275-147)/275 * 100 = 47%
1.3. Overall plant removal efficiency?
(275-26)/275 * 100 = 91%
2.1. Total Suspended Solids (TSS) of the sample:
(Dried wt, gm – Tare wt, gm)/0.05 L * 1000 mg/gm
= (34.355-34.3328)/0.05 * 1000 = 444 mg/L
2.2. Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS) of the sample:
(Dried wt, gm – Ash wt, gm)/0.05 L * 1000 mg/gm
(34.3550-34.3374)/0.05 * 1000 = 352 mg/L
2.3 Percent of Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS):
VSS/TSS * 100 = 352/444*100 =79%
3. Reported bacteria result:
Find colonies per 100 mL = 40 colonies/2 mL* 100 = 20 colonies/mL * 100 = 2000 colonies/100 mL
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