Texas A & M University Brayton Fire Field/Disaster city Wastewater Treatment Plant

Transcription

1 Texas A & M University Brayton Fire Field/Disaster city Wastewater Treatment Plant Prepared for: Dr. Heather Wilkinson Texas A & M University BESC Fall 2014 Prepared by: Michelle Barton

2 Table of Contents Page No. 1.0 Introduction Features of the site Location. 2.2 Primary operations and processes 2.3 Chemicals used at the facility 3.0 Relevant state and federal regulations associated with the site Permit type(s) 3.2 Required monitoring 3.3 Reporting schedule 4.0 General Comparison to a municipal or industrial version of this entity Population served 4.2 Production/Function volume 4.3 How these distinctions affect the threshold for regulation of this entity 5.0 References Cited Appendix of photographs

3 1.0 Introduction On October 9 th, 2014 a team of 13 environmental health and safety (EHS) professionals in training, and Dr. Heather Wilkinson, Professor at Texas A & M University visited the Brayton Fire School/Disaster City Wastewater Treatment Plant. Bill Latham, Environmental Coordinator for Texas A & M Engineering Extension Service, and Jeff Truss, Environmental Safety Manager at Texas A & M University conducted the informational tour of the facility and answered all questions raised by the team. This report details the site visit with emphasis on the EHS Compliance features. 2.0 Features of the Site 2.1 The Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant (IWWTP) is located at 1595 Nuclear Science Road, College Station, TX The facility is situated on 297 acres of land in the West corridor of the City of College Station. White s Creek, which is a tributary to the Brazos River, runs along the eastern side of the facility and serves as the effluent discharge accepter (Figure 1). 2.2 The IWWTP serves as the conventional activated sludge treatment facility for the Brayton Fire School, which is the largest live-fueled firefighting Training facility in the World 1. The IWWTP recycles 80% of the water used during the training sessions for reuse at the training facility 4. A system of drains and ditches collects all water used at the facility and connects to the IWWTP. (Figure 2) The initial treatment step utilizes a Rotary Drum Screen (Figure 3-Left) for the removal of any large substances that flow into the facility and a Grit Removal System (Figure 3-Right) to remove any heavy or non-biodegradables that flow into the facility. 4 These non-biodegradables are then sent to a landfill for proper disposal. 4 The wastewater is then pumped into 1 of 2 equalizing tanks (Figure 4) where jet mixers are used to agitate the water, ensuring complete chemical equalization before treatment is conducted. 4 Wastewater flows out of the equalizing tanks by gravity into the flocculation basins (Figure 5) where aluminum of ferric sulfate are sometimes added to encourage flocculation of larger remaining solids. 4 Polymers are added to increase coalescence of oils. 1 P a g e

4 2.2 Continued Wastewater flows into 1 of 2 Dissolved Oxygen Chambers (DAF) units (Figure 6) where air is added to create bubbles which rise through the wastewater and create a float layer of oils and surfactants. 1 The solids are collected from the DAF chambers are held in sludge holding tanks before they are sent for proper disposal 4. The treated water is gravity fed into 1 of 2 Sequencing Batch Reactors (SBR s) where the water is aerated and biological solids are added. (Figure 7) The treated water is skimmed off the top in the SBR and pumped into the first 2.5 million gallon holding pond. 4 (Figure 8) The water level in the pond is maintained by means of a float system, water is automatically pumped in as the water level in the pond drops. The treated water is finally moved into the second pond (Figure 9) where is will be recycled into the watering system used during firefighting training 4. When levels arise beyond this tanks holding capacity water may be discharged into White s Creek from this point The fires at the training facility are fueled by propane gas and extinguishing agents are used to put these live-fueled props out 1. Aluminum or Ferric Sulfate are used as flocculation agents during the wastewater treatment process Relevant State and Federal Regulations 3.1 The facility holds a Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) permit which permits a maximum of 2 million gallons effluent discharge per day into White s Creek. 4 The facility has an allowance from Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEG) to divert rainwater in the event of a major rain event. 2 A first flush on the collection system is completed before the collected rainwater is discharged from the facility directly into White s Creek without passing through the treatment facility. 4 The facility maintains an Air Permit but is considered a training facility and is regulated as such. 3.2 To maintain compliance under the TPDES permit the effluent outflow must be metered on a daily basis. 2 The Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Petroleum, 2 P a g e

5 Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Dissolved Oxygen (OD), Aluminum, Copper and ph must be selfmonitored weekly via grab samples The facility is self-monitored and required to report monthly to TCEQ. Any noncompliance must be reported within 24 hours to TCEQ General Comparison to a municipal or industrial version of this entity 4.1 The amount of water treated varies on a daily basis and is dependent on number and type of training activities occurring at the facility The facility is permitted for 2 million gallons per day effluent flow and daily maximum flow not to exceed 2.4 million gallons per day. 2 In comparison, the City of College Station operates two WWTP s, Carter Creek and Lick Creek. Together they have a total wastewater treatment capacity of 11,500,000 gallons/day The facility is comparable in size and service capacity to a small industrial facility. The use of the facility as a training facility (SIC Code 8249) with the continued use of live-fueled props and recycling of water within the system does qualify the facility to maintain the less stringent regulations References Verbal information shared by Bill Latham during tour 3 P a g e

6 Fig. 1 Aerial photograph of the Brayton Fire School IWWTP 1595 Nuclear Science Road College Station, TX The WWTP (labeled) releases effluent into White s Creek (labeled) which is a tributary to the Brazos River. Fig. 2 System of drains and ditches run throughout the school and facilitate the movement of water into the IWWTP for treatment 4 P a g e

7 Fig. 3 Initial entry point into the IWWTP. This is 1 of 2 collection tanks where large debris will be removed before treatment begins (on left). The grit removal system (on right) connected to a hopper (solids moved into hopper for proper disposal into a landfill) Fig. 4 The 2 equalizing tanks where wastewater is agitated to ensure chemical equalization 5 P a g e

8 Fig.5 Flocculation basin where metallic salts are added to encourage flocculation of larger remaining solids, and polymers added to encourage coalescence of oils Fig. 6 1 of 2 DAF chambers where oils and surfactants are forced to create a float layer by pushing bubbles through the wastewater 6 P a g e

9 Fig. 7 The SBR (1 of 2) where biological solids are added and water is aerated to facilitate biodegradation of solids Fig. 8 Holding pond ( flotation pumps in center that maintain water levels) where water is stored after leaving the SBR. This tank can hold 2.5 million gallons of treated water. 7 P a g e

10 Fig. 9 Final 2.5 million gallon holding tank. Water will either reenter the firefighting water system or be discharged from here into nearby White s Creek. 8 P a g e