RCAP's Drop of Knowledge: Article Roundup #5

Drop of Knowledge is a monthly digital article from Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP.) The articles focus on topics like wastewater, drinking water, policy, and infrastructure in rural America. It contains how-to’s, tips, and guidance from more than 300 technical assistance providers (TAPs) across the country. Some featured articles are linked below:

• Pembroke Township Public Water System Training and Assistance for Drinking Water Operators
• Communicating About Lead in Drinking Water
• Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck – GIS Mapping
• Board Relationships: Navigating the Waters of Governance and Operations
• The Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) Helps Island Community Retain Local Water System Ownership
• Big Changes for a Small Water System

Looking for something else? Find more articles and subscribe to A Drop of Knowledge.

RCAP's Drop of Knowledge: Article Roundup #4

Drop of Knowledge is a monthly digital article from Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP.) The articles focus on topics like wastewater, drinking water, policy, and infrastructure in rural America. It contains how-to’s, tips, and guidance from more than 300 technical assistance providers (TAPs) across the country. Some featured articles are linked below:

• Resolving Inflow and Infiltration Issues in a Growing Community
• The Beginner’s Guide to Geospatial Asset Management
• How Smoke Testing Can Help Your Small Wastewater Collection System
• Red Cliff Wastewater Treatment Plant Compliant Treatment Process
• Meeting the October 2024 Deadline: A Quick Guide for Water Utilities Struggling to Get Started with Lead Service Line Inventory Compliance
• What is the Most Important Business in Your Community?

Looking for something else? Find more articles and subscribe to A Drop of Knowledge.

RCAP's Drop of Knowledge: Article Roundup #3

Drop of Knowledge is a monthly digital article from Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP.) The articles focus on topics like wastewater, drinking water, policy, and infrastructure in rural America. It contains how-to’s, tips, and guidance from more than 300 technical assistance providers (TAPs) across the country. Some featured articles are linked below:

• Assessing Your Collection System with a Pipeline Camera System
• Water System Achieves Compliance In One Year With Communities Unlimited’s Assistance
• Administrative Professionals and Their Continuous Contributions to Water and Wastewater Systems
• Staff in Nebraska is Helping to Build a Sustainable, Resilient Utility Workforce
• System Vulnerability Assessments and Emergency Response Plans
• Effective Communication with the Community

Looking for something else? Find more articles and subscribe to A Drop of Knowledge.

How to Abandon a Septic System

There’s a number of situations in which a septic tank/system might need to be abandoned: replacing it with a new system, connecting to a city sewer, or abandoning a property altogether. Septic tanks, cesspools, leaching pits, dry wells, and everything related must be properly cared for and not simply left as they are. Most important is to ensure that access for future discharge from the system will never be possible.

Many states or localities will have specific requirements for procedures on abandoning a septic system. For example, you can take a look at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s guidance on abandoning a sub-surface sewage treatment system, where several state codes are referenced.

According to Sara Heger, septic educator at the University of Minnesota, there are three common practices for what to do with the empty tank:

1. Remove and dispose of the tank at a landfill.
2. Crush the tank entirely and backfill the hole. Water has to be able to drain through it, so it must be completely broken.
3. Fill the tank with a material like concrete that won’t let liquids flow through. There must be no risk of collapse in this scenario.

Basically, you never want to have an abandoned septic tank lying out exposed like in the photo above! Before codes and regulations for old septic systems came into place, it was common practice to simply leave the tanks where they were and forget about them. But this is quite dangerous. Old homes that were hooked into a sewer system long after construction should be inspected for old septic systems when sold.

An improperly abandoned septic system poses several possible risks. They could collapse into sinkholes, spread disease if untreated waste comes into contact with groundwater, or release toxic gasses like methane and hydrogen sulfide.

Be on the lookout for these signs of an abandoned septic system that is leaking, from B&B Pumping in Fort Worth: excessive weed growth on a lawn or algae on a pond, a perpetually soggy patch of lawn, an area of lawn that smells like human waste, unstable and sinking land, or pipes physically protruding from the ground.

Building over the top of even a properly abandoned septic tank isn’t a good idea, since sinking problems or leaked pollution could still occur if the area isn’t handled with care.

Can A Septic Tank Float?

As crazy as it might sound, the answer is yes: Septic tanks can float out of the ground. Any buried structure will float when empty if it weighs less than the water that displaces it. That means that when installing any sort of septic system in an area with a high water table and/or that is prone to flooding, you must conduct buoyancy tests and determine if the system will remain stable.

Dr. Sara Heger, instructor at the University of Minnesota’s Onsite Sewage Treatment Program, has broken down the calculation to determine tank stability at Onsite Installer. The basic steps are below, but Dr. Heger’s walk-through explains each step in detail and shows example calculations. You will need to know the individual weights of the following: the empty tank, the minimum amount of water and media in the tank, the soil directly above the tank, and the maximum volume of water that is displaced.

Here’s the calculation:

1. Calculate the weight of water displaced by the tank (buoyant force B).
2. Calculate or look up the weight of the tank (WT).
3. Calculate the weight of the water in the tank (WW).
4. Calculate the weight of the soil cover (WS).
5. Evaluation of net forces.

So if your calculations indicate that the tank will float, what do you do then? Thankfully, there are anti-floatation measures that can be added to the system design plans. Perhaps the most basic is to use concrete, which weighs 85 pounds per cubic foot and can be added into the design in a few different ways. Some fiberglass tanks may also have an anti-floatation lip built onto them.

It’s important to consider that any anti-floatation measure will increase stress forces on the tank, so the tanks must be able to withstand the extra force. Read more from Dr. Heger at Onsite Installer on anti-floatation.

If you ever do need to deal with a flooded septic system, whether the tank has emerged from the ground or not, refer here:

• “Faced with a Flooded Septic System?” also from Dr. Heger at Onsite Installer
• “Protecting a Septic System During and After a Flood” at WaterOperator.org
• Contact the Onsite Sewage Treatment Program at UMinn.

Water and Wastewater Operations & Maintenance

The operation and maintenance (O&M) category encompasses the broad spectrum of services required to assure the built environment will perform the functions for which a facility was designed and constructed. Operation and maintenance typically includes the day-to-day activities necessary for the system to perform its intended function.

We have 2,786 resources (and counting) on Operation and Maintenance in our Documents Database that provide valuable information on this topic. You can search for documents that explain how utilities can maintain economic and social health for the community, compliance tips for small, mechanical wastewater treatment plants, knowledge retention spreadsheet for small water systems, and many other useful guides that will help you to deliver safe and clean water to utility customers. 

To access the wealth of knowledge on O&M within our database just select "CATEGORY" in the dropdown then choose "Operation & Maintenance." Once you make that selection, a second dropdown will appear where you can choose "HOST," “TYPE,” or “STATE” to narrow the search even further. If you have a specific search term in mind, use the “Keyword Filter” search bar on the right side of the screen.

This is part of our A-Z for Operators series.

RCAP's A Drop of Knowledge: Recent Article Roundup #1

A Drop of Knowledge is a monthly digital article from Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP.) The articles focus on topics like wastewater, drinking water, policy, and infrastructure in rural America. It contains how-to’s, tips, and guidance from more than 300 technical assistance providers (TAPs) across the country. Some recent featured articles are linked below:

• Flushable Wipes Causing Pump Clogs? Pump Flow Tests Can Alert Operators Faster
• A Look Inside RCAP’s Fly-In: Meeting With the Team Behind the Fly-In
• “To Pump, or Not to Pump, that is the question…”
• Changing Temperatures Can Set Back Wastewater Lagoons
• How to Determine the True Cost of a System When Conducting a Rate Study
• Getting the Lead Out - Lead and Copper Compliance in New Jersey

Looking for something else? Find more articles and subscribe to A Drop of Knowledge.

RCAP’s Free Monthly Articles for Water and Wastewater Operators

A Drop of Knowledge is a monthly digital article from Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP.) The articles focus on topics like infrastructure, capacity building, and economic development in rural America. It contains how-to’s, tips, and guidance from more than 300 technical assistance providers (TAPs) across the country. Some recent featured articles are linked below:

• Small South Dakota City Leverages Funds to Complete Expensive Sewer System Upgrade 
• Cross Connection Control – A Holistic Approach
• Are Your Utilities Prepared for the Upcoming Winter?
• Water Utility Digital Transformation
• Ohio Site Visit Shows Wastewater Potential of Sand Bioreactors
• Understanding Onsite and Decentralized Wastewater in America

Looking for something else? Find more articles and subscribe to A Drop of Knowledge.
 

Additional Free Test Prep Training Resources for Operators

Below is a list of free test prep training resources to supplement our previous articles: Free Test Prep Training Resources for Operators, Operator Math Part 3: Continuous Education, and Featured Video: Water Exam Success. These resources can help prospective water and wastewater operators prepare for certification exams. 

Operator Licensing Requirements Across the United States

The 125-page report outlines licensing requirements for water and wastewater operators across all 50 states to determine opportunities for and barriers to cross-training. 

Drinking Water C & D Level Certification Review

This 434-page document contains a collection of 22 presentations that will help operators prepare for their C & D level certification exams. Topics discussed include: how to improve your exam score; filtration; water treatment; the Safe Drinking Water Act; Florida drinking water rules; water sources; well requirements for PWSs; storage systems; chlorination and disinfection; disinfection and disinfection byproducts; water treatment plant maintenance; taste, odor, aeration, iron removal, and stabilization; sedimentation; demineralization; coagulation & flocculation; corrosion control; water softening; water transmission & distribution; basic chemistry; laboratory methods; math; and treatment plant safety.

Need-to-Know Criteria Wastewater Treatment Operator Class I 

This 11-page factsheet was developed to assist operators in understanding the content that will be covered in (a previous version of) ABC’s Standardized Wastewater Treatment Operator Class I exam. A methodical and comprehensive international investigation was conducted to determine the most significant job tasks performed by wastewater treatment operators. The content covered on the exam represents the job tasks identified through this research as essential operator competencies and is not limited to the practices of your system/facility. 

Regulatory Resources

Handbook for Water Distribution System Operators

This 39-page handbook contains useful information on approved training courses, related regulations, and associations that assist in training or technical programs.

Drinking Water Training System

This U.S EPA website provides training on the federal requirements of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. 

Chemistry Resources

ABC Formula/Conversion Table for Water Treatment, Distribution and Laboratory Exams

ABC Formula/Conversion Table for Wastewater Treatment, Industrial, Collection and Laboratory Exams

This 5-page document lists formula, conversion factors, and abbreviations needed to prepare for the Wastewater Treatment, Industrial, Collection and Laboratory Exams.

Water Treatment and Distribution Operator Chemistry Reference Sheet

This 3-page factsheet includes frequently used formulas and conversions for water treatment and distribution operators.

Math Resources

Absolution Water - Conversions

This 12-minute video offers a tutorial on math conversions noting special tips for finding the correct answer without any mistakes.

Water Treatment and Distribution Operator Math Reference Sheet: Frequently used formulas and conversions

This 15-page factsheet contains frequently used formulas and conversions for water treatment and distribution operators.

Additional Resources for Management of Dissolved Oxygen in Activated Sludge Plants

Below is a list of free resources on the management of dissolved oxygen in activated sludge plants to supplement our previous article Managing Dissolved Oxygen in Activated Sludge Plants. 

Troubleshooting Noncompliance at Small Wastewater Treatment Plants

This is a 171-page presentation from the Ohio EPA on Troubleshooting Noncompliance at Small Wastewater Treatment Plants that features information on activated sludge process control.  

Operating Tools and Measurement Techniques for Troubleshooting Activated Sludge Systems

This 29-slide presentation discusses tools that can be used to troubleshoot activated sludge systems. The presentation will introduce some simple tools, talk about some that are a little more advanced, and show operators that this is not the realm of only the laboratory or the engineer.

Activated Sludge Process Control Manual

This is a 106-page Activated Sludge Training Manual that was prepared by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality with information on operating the activated sludge process, including nutrient removal, and troubleshooting. 

Holistic Aeration and Chemical Optimization Saves Big Money from 1 MGD to 600 MGD

This 36-slide presentation outlines automated dissolved oxygen control, which includes reduced operator labor/attention, improved process stability, and energy savings; automated biomass control; and automated chemical feed control for P removal, which includes a 95 percent reduction in chemical usage. 

Troubleshooting Activated Sludge Processes

This 32-slide presentation discusses how to troubleshoot activated sludge processes and covers process types & kinetics, influent monitoring, process monitoring, and control and nitrification.

Convert Activated Sludge to BPR

This 48-slide presentation discusses improving Bio-P performance by getting to know the system, initial assessment, expanding a zone for increased BPR performance, learning D.O. control, and more.

Efficient Nutrient Removal under Low Dissolved Oxygen Concentrations

This 25-slide presentation discusses the City of St. Petersburg Southwest WRF, City of Rochester WWTF, and more. 

Activated Sludge- It’s About Efficiency and Optimization

Doom & Bloom: Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) in Wastewater Treatment

This website from the Environmental Finance Center Network provides an overview of the function of biochemical oxygen demand in wastewater treatment plants. 

A Tale of Two Filaments: BNR System Recovery from a Major Process Upset

This 7-page article discusses the Glendale Wastewater Treatment Plant in Lakeland, Florida that had a power outage that caused the dissolved oxygen concentrations in the aeration basins to drop very low. 

These resources and more can be found in our document library.