st Virginia April 1,2019

Transcription

1 st Virginia 201 Brooks Street, P.O. Box 812 Charleston, West Virginia Phone: (304) Fax: (304) April 1,2019 Electronic Service Only Aretta Johnson 7994 Deepwater Mt. Rd. Kincaid, WV Barton Jackson, Jr., General Manager Page-Kincaid Public Service District PO Box 165 Kincaid, WV RE: Case No PWD-C Aretta Johnson V. Page-Kincaid Public Service District Dear Ms. Johnson and Mr. Jackson: The Staff Memorandum issued today was served via on the above-listed parties. Any responses must be submitted to the Executive Secretary s Office in writing within 10 days of this date, unless directed otherwise. You will not receive a copy of the Staff Memorandum by regular mail. Your failure to respond in writing to the utility s answer, Staffs recommendations, or other documents may result in a decision in your case based on your original filing and the other documents in the case file, without further hearing or notice. When you provide an address, you will automatically receive electronic docket notifications as documents are filed in this proceeding. The notifications allow recipients to view a document within an hour from the time the filing is processed. If you have not done so, you are encouraged to file the Electronic Mail Agreement, previously mailed to you, which allows the Commission to serve all orders issued in this matter via electronic docket notification. Please note - the Public Service Commission does not accept electronic filings. Sincerely, IF/tg Enc. - Memo Ingrid Fkrell, Director Executive Secretary Division

2 INITIAL AND FINAL JOINT STAFF MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: INGRID FERRELL Executive Secretary LAUREN GATES Staff Attorney DATE: April 1,2019 Staff recommends that this case be dismissed. Background and Relevant Filings On February 27, 20 19, Aretta Johnson ( Complainant ) filed a formal complaint against the Page-Kincaid Public Service District ( District ). The Complainant stated that the filters at the District s water treatment plant are not working. The tap water is red and gravel is passing through the lines. The Complainant requested that the District repair or replace the filters. On March 7, 2019, the District filed its Answer in this case. The District stated that it is currently working with The Thrasher Group, Inc. to complete the rehabilitation project ( Project ). The purpose of the Project is to remove and replace the existing pressure sand filters, replace the roof covering the filters, adding a dehumidifying system to the filter room, adding two dual chlorinators and residual chlorine monitoring system, upgrading the current electrical system, and replacing high service pumps. The District has also proposed an emergency project to install a new filter prior to seeking bids for the Project. The emergency project will address customer needs and enhance water quality immediately. Staff Review and Recommendations Attached is the Initial and Final Memorandum prepared by Mansour Mashayehki, Technical Analyst with the Commission s Engineering Division ( Technical Staff ). Technical Staff conducted a site visit on August 7, 2017, and January 17, Technical Staff found that the clarification system may not have adequate clarification capacity to complete the oxidation reaction and clarify suspended solids. Technical Staff observed that 65% of the clarifier was covered in sludge, allowing only 35% for oxidatiodclarification. Staff also noted that the oxidation of iron requires a longer hydraulic retention time.

3 Case No PSWD-C April 1,2019 Page 2 Technical Staff provided short-term recommendations to address the water quality issues that will not be repeated in detail in this memorandum. The District should consider addressing its water quality issues through the Staff recommendations. Technical Staff recommends that the District evaluate other alternatives to assess and compare which alternative is more economical and reliable for the long-term. Legal Staff notes that the District does not have a pending application for a certificate of convenience and necessity at the Commission pursuant to W.Va. Code Staff anticipates that the District will be filing the application as soon as funding is secured for the Project and Staff will evaluate the Project at that time. The Complainant is welcome to evaluate the progress of the certificate application, once it is filed, on the Commission s website. The Complainant will have the opportunity to file a protest letter in that case and raise his concerns about the proper evaluation of the alternatives. The District will be ordered by the Commission to provide notice of filing its application within thirty days. The Complainant is encouraged to watch for the notice. Staff notes that the District is aware of its water quality issues and is actively working on solutions. The District has been working on an emergency project with the WVIJDC to expedite the improvement of water quality in the area. A long term solution will be addressed with the certificated Project. Staff anticipates both filings from the District in the near future. LG/cs Attachment Staff recommends that this case be dismissed. H:\LGates\Cases\20 19\ PSWD-C Johnson v. Page-Kincaid PSD\Initial and Final Memorandum.doc

4 PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OF WEST VIRGINIA INITIAL-FINAL MEMORANDUM DATE: March 15, 2019 TO: FROM: RE? Lauren Gates, Staff Attorney Legal Division Mansour Mashayekhi, Technical Analyst Associate Engineering Division Case No PSWD-C ARETTA Johnson \I. Page-Kincaid PSD On February 27,2019, Aretta Johnson (Complainant) filed a formal complaint against Page-Kincaid PSD (District). The Complainant alleges the following: Complaint: The Complainant alleges that the filters at the District's water treatment plant are not working. The tap water is iron-red and gravel is passing through the lines into residences. The Complainant wants filters repaired or replaced. 0 Response: The District responded on March 7,2019. The District is currently working with its engineer, the Thrasher Group, Inc., to complete a rehabilitation project to the existing water Treatment Plant (WTP) to address this concern. Staff Investigation: The engineering Staff conducted its first field investigation on August 7, 201 7, to gather information regarding the case No PSWD-C and second time on January 17,2019, to get an update whether the Administrative Law Judge's (ALJ) order (Staff recommendation) had been implemented? Water Treatment Plant System: Page-Kincaid PSD: The District currently has approximately 650 water customers. Source of intake water is a well. The water treatment system is designed to treat approximately 3 million gallons of water per day (MGD).

5 e Water treatment steps: Well water is pumped to a fixed tray aerator to eliminate odor and mix an oxidizing chemical with the incoming well water to achieve chemical oxidation reaction. During Staff field investigation, chlorine as an oxidizing chemical was added to the aerator to achieve oxidation of minerals. The water then enters into a double cell rectangular clarification system (40,000 gallon capacity) to allow metals hydroxides to form and settle out of suspension in the form of sludge as well as precipitate to the bottom of the clarifier. Method of sludge removal from the clarification tank has been by method of bag-filtration as Staff noted. The clarifier effluent is pumped into two multi-media filtration systems inside the building for removing fine particulate matter. At this stage water is considered treated and ready for use by customers. Field investigation findings (August 7,2017 and January 17,2019): Staff opined that adding chlorine as an oxidizing agent prior to the aeratiodmixing to achieve oxidation may not be an optimum method of treatment. Other oxidation processes should be evaluated. Staff noted that clarification system may not have adequate clarification capacity to meet both oxidation reaction completion as well as clarification of suspended solids (TSS). Additionally, it was discovered that the sludge level (blanket) in the clarifier was high (5 6 ) from approximately 8 6 total clarifier depth. Therefore approximately 65% of the clarifier was filled with sludge only allowing 35% for oxidatiodclarification to take place. Consequently, lots of TSS is escaping the weir due to overloading of water, sludge buildup, and lack of adequate sludge removal. Oxidation of ferrous Iron (Fe 2) to ferric Iron (Fe 3) requires longer hydraulic retention time (HRT) than currently the system is providing (currently it is approximately<45 min). Staff recommended the following in addressing water quality issues: Staff opined that hydrogen peroxide (H202) an effective oxidizing agent could be used instead of the chlorine addition. The hydrogen peroxide addition has been found to be very effective in treatment of heavy metals in well waters. To achieve optimum oxidation-clarification, adding a flocculent polymer could improve the process significantly. Coagulation is already taking place in the system by presence of positive iron ion. The flocculent polymer could help agglomerate fine solids by forming large cluster of solids and help settling easy as well as economical. 2

6 0 A vacuum truck could be used to remove sludge from the clarifier and the distribution tank. The clarifier should be cleaned completely to increase the clarification capacity. Sludge removed from the clarifier tank may be transferred to the District s sewage treatment plant for dewatering by the belt-press system. Hydraulic load to the rectangular clarifier could be slowed by increasing current operation time from 17 hours per day to 24 hours per day. This will allow longer HRT for oxidation of metals and proper clarification to take place. Clean water distribution tanks should be tested by the District to determine how much sludge build-up (sludge blanket) has formed inside the tank. The tank should be cleaned if necessary to prevent solids from leaving the tank and ending up at customer distribution lines. The District should consider in developing a Standard Operating procedure (SOP) in achieving recommended treatment and maintenance goals. Finally, the Staff opines that in addition to removing and replacing the filters, other areas of the treatment plant including selection of oxidizing chemicals via pilot work by its engineers, routine cleaning of clarificationdistribution tanks and addition of a sludge filtration system should be given serious considerations. In consideration of its upcoming project, the District should evaluate other alternatives such as obtaining a quotation from the WVAWC to assess and compare which system is economical and reliable in the long-run. MM: 3