Inframark Report

Ebensburg PA Municipal Authority: June 2022 Management, Operations & Maintenance Report

Report Date: July 25, 2022 Prepared by: Inframark Water Infrastructure Operations

Executive Summary & Key Events

• Water Treatment Volume: The Ebensburg water treatment plant treated 23,593,000 gallons of reservoir water in June. This averages to 786,433 gallons per day, a decrease from previous months due to recent leak repairs in the distribution system.
• Power Outages: Two power outages occurred, causing a fault in the DAF recycle pump motor VFD. The issue was resolved by resetting the VFD, though it caused mild settled turbidity issues. A concern was noted regarding the lower reservoir VFD's inability to start/stop automatically.
• Swimming Pool Issue: On June 13, the director of recreation reported chlorine level issues at the public pool. Inframark identified a failed chlorine feed pump and missing components. They installed a spare pump from the WTP, restoring normal conditions within 24 hours. A new pump was ordered and installed on June 27.
• DEP Site Visit: On June 16, representatives from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Bureau of Safe Drinking Water visited to collect a sample for cyanotoxin analysis in the raw source water.
• Hold Study: Inframark conducted a hold study to determine if the produced water could meet all quality parameters after 10 days. Results indicated that the water meets all standards even after 10 days of age.
• Presentation: On June 23, Inframark’s senior technical manager presented options to the borough manager and Stiffler McGraw to address recurring disinfection by-product issues.

Operations & Compliance

• Daily Flow: The plant is currently treating between 750,000 and 850,000 gallons of water per day.
• Reporting: 2021 Chapter 110 reports and the Consumer Confidence Report have been submitted to PA DEP.
• Monitoring: Backwash flow rates, filter media, and online instrument flow are monitored daily. Flows and chemical feed rates are adjusted daily to meet system demands.
• Compliance Reporting: Monthly compliance reports (Monthly Operating Report) are compiled from over 20,000 data points and sent to the state. The July report will be submitted by August 10, 2022.
• Sampling:
  • Samples for Inorganic, Volatile Organic, and Synthetic Organic Compounds were collected; all results were non-detects or well below Maximum Contaminant Levels.
  • Nine bacteriological samples were collected in June, with zero total coliform positives.
  • Four chlorine samples were collected in the distribution system, all meeting the minimum requirement of 0. 20mg/L free chlorine.
• Instrument Calibration: Online and lab instrumentation were calibrated to meet PA DEP requirements. Comparative grab samples were collected for chlorine analyzers, turbidimeters, and pH analyzers.
• Filter Evaluation: The second quarter filter evaluation for Filter #1 was completed, finding it in excellent condition and meeting all design specs.

Maintenance & Repair

• Work Orders: Inframark staff completed 75 work orders in June.
• Preventive Maintenance:
  • Daily equipment checks and plant rounds were performed.
  • Plant safety inspection was completed for the month.
  • Centrifuge was run weekly.
  • Grass and weeds were cut around the plant.
  • Control building floors were swept and mopped weekly.
  • Mixers in basin #4 were pulled due to debris caught in blades.
• Specific Tasks Completed:
  • Lubricated blower motor, DAF recycle pump, and DAF scrapper.
  • Performed ladder inspections and annual fire extinguisher inspection.
  • Installed new battery backups for SCADA.
  • Exercised sump pumps.
  • Conducted eye wash/safety shower inspections.
  • Greased clarifier drives and finished water pumps/motors.
  • Tested chlorine room alarm.
  • Removed lagoon vault sludge.
  • Alternated finished water pumps weekly.
  • Cleaned pH and turbidity meters weekly.
  • Performed jar testing to optimize chemical usage.
  • Cleaned lab glassware.
  • Monitored filter beds for deficiencies.
• Borough Crews: Summer maintenance crews completed about 50% of the grass-knocking-down task around the facility.

Financial Update

• Maintenance Expenditures (Wastewater):
  • Total spent in June: $1,974. 38
  • Major expenses included Lubrication Engineers ($915. 33), Ace Hardware ($272. 36), and State Chemical ($535. 04).
• Maintenance Expenditures (Water Treatment Plant):
  • Total spent in June: $1,251. 05
  • Major expenses included Home Depot ($510. 23), Amazon ($218. 26), and LB Water ($198. 76).
• Caps (WTP):
  • Contract Total per Year: $26,010. 00
  • Previous Balance: $20,952. 60
  • Remaining Balance: $19,701. 55

Health & Safety

• Wastewater Facility: Employees have worked 6,358 days without a lost time injury or recordable incident. Daily tailgate meetings were held.
• Water Treatment Plant: No accidents occurred in June. Personnel have worked 881 days (2 years, 5 months) without an accident/injury.
• Training: Weekly tailgate meetings, COVID-19 updates, Personal Protective Equipment training, and Lead and Copper SOP reviews were conducted.

Personnel

• Wastewater Facility:
  • Jerry Shupe Jr. : Vice President, Mid-Atlantic Region
  • Mike Montgomery: Plant Manager (PA Class A, E Subclass 1,2,3,4)
  • Sharon Burkett: Lab Manager (PA Class A, E Subclass 1,2,3,4,5)
  • Randy Lauer: Operator (PA Class A, E Subclass 1,2,3,4)
  • Ryan Lanzendorfer: Operator in Training (None)
  • Kyle Smiley: Operator in Training (None)
• Water Treatment Plant:
  • Luke Byrne: Water Plant Manager (PA Class A, E, Water Subclass 1,7,8,10,11)
  • Kyle Smiley: Operator (PA Class A, E, Subclass 1)
  • Ryan Lanzendorfer: Operator in Training

Appendix

• June’s 2022 Discharge Monitoring Report is available upon request.