Cape Cod Wastewater Forum - Clean Water Action Cod Wastewater Forum ... Can Decentralized Systems...

Sustainable Water and

Wastewater Infrastructure… for Today and Tomorrow.

Cape Cod

Wastewater

Forum



Cape Cod

Wastewater Forum

Background – NCS Wastewater Solutions, a division of

Northwest Cascade Inc., Puyallup, WA designs, builds and

operates water and wastewater infrastructure for small

communities and commercial development across the

country.

• Focus is on systems in the 10,000 to 500,000 gallons per day range

• Experience with many/most wastewater technologies now available

• Collection

• Treatment

• Dispersal

• We also now operate as a private utility in Virginia and Georgia

• Sustainability is our overriding design criteria



Cape Cod

Wastewater Forum



Cape Cod

Wastewater Forum

Key Questions:

1. Can Decentralized Systems Achieve Advanced

Nitrogen Reduction TMDL Targets?

2. Are Decentralized Systems Affordable?

- Capital Costs

- Life Cycle Costs

3. What Do Decentralized Systems Look Like

and are they Acceptable to the Community?

4. How Can We Assure Performance?



Wastewater

Infrastructure Choices

• Home Based (e.g., Well & Septic)

• Subdivision/Sub-Watershed Based

• Community/Watershed Based

• Municipal/Centralized



Wastewater

Infrastructure Choices



Treatment Levels

Treatment Performance Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

BOD 30 10 10 5

TSS 30 10 10 5

Total Nitrogen N/A 15 - 20 < 8 < 5

Total Phosphorus N/A N/A N/A < 1

Fecal N/A N/A 200 2.3

Turbidity N/A N/A N/A < 1

Groundwater Standards

Fecal N/A ND ND ND

Nitrate N/A < 5 Anti-Degrade Anti-De

Typical Performance Requirements



Technology Choice

Puzzle

Collection Technology Choices

Vacuum Sewer

Low Pressure Sewer

Grinder Pumps

STEP

Gravity

Treatment Performance

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

Typical Treatment Technologies

Aerobic Treatment Units (ATU) X X

Packed Bed Recirc Filter (Recirc) X X

Trickling Filter (TF) X X

ATU + Anoxic Reactor X X

Recirc + Anoxic Reactor X X

TF + Anoxic Reactor X X

Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) X X

Membrane BioReactor (MBR) X X

Dispersal Technology Choices

Drip

Spray

Low Pressure Trench

Groundwater Injection Well



Typical Level 2 Treatment

Systems

Fox Glen

Fluvanna County

Virginia

25 Homes

Gravity Collection

< 15 TN

Total Capital Budget

$15,750/EDU

$45/Month




Systems

Gilfield CommunityCharles City County VA

Indoor Plumbing Rehab

25 Homes

Low Pressure Sewer w/

Grinder Pumps

Total Capital Budget =

$14,340/EDU

$30/month




Systems

Georgia Tech ClubCherokee County GA

235 Single Family Residences

STEP Collection

< 15 TN

Total Capital Budget = $12,125 / EDU

$50/month




Systems

Stillwater Coves

384 Homes 116,000 GPD

STEP Collection 18.8 Acre Drip Fields

Total Capital Budget $12,812/ EDU

$45/month



Is Central Sewer the

Only Way to Level 4?



Is Central Sewer the

Only Way to Level 4?

Conclusion:

Decentralized

Sewer is a Valid

Option



Decentralized Installations

< 100,000 GPD



Anne Arundel County MD

Study Conclusions



Is Decentralized

Level 4 Affordable?

400 Home WatershedTreatment Level 4 Example

• 400 Home Onsite Systems

• 5 – 80 Home Clusters (20,000 gpd each)

• 1 – 400 Home Community Sewer

(100,000 gpd)

• Pump to Municipal Sewer



Is Decentralized

Level 4 Affordable?

Treatment Level 4 Example

Note: Budget numbers based on actual NCS projects in Virginia and Maryland.

Comparisons will vary considerably from site to site.

80 home 20,000 GPD 100,000 GPD

Low Pressure Gravity Gravity/Lift

Capital Budget

Collection $560,000 $750,000 $2,502,500

Treatment $375,000 $390,000 $2,250,000

Advanced Nitrogen $140,000 $140,000 $0

Dispersal $73,000 $73,000 $300,000

Design and Permits $25,000 $25,000 $100,000

Total Capital $1,173,000 $1,378,000 $5,152,500

Cost/Home $14,663 $17,225 $12,881



• Electricity

• Biosolids

• Management

• Replacement Costs

(Amortization/Reserves)

Life Cycle Costs

What We Need to Measure



Life Cycle Costs

Operations & Management Hrs/Year $/Hr. # Units $/Year

Treatment Plant 24 $45.00 1 $1,080

Samples (BOD/TSS/TN) $125.00 4 $500

Drainfield Dispersal 24 $45.00 1 $1,080

Grinder Pumps 1 $45.00 10 $450

Lift Stations 8 $45.00 1 $360

Telephone/Vericom Service $60.00 12 $720

Emergency Response 24 $45.00 1 $1,080

VDH Reports $45.00 1 $45

Total $5,315

Electricity Kwh/Yr. $/KwH # Units $/Year

Lift Station 1,474 $0.12 1 $177

Treatment Plant 11,684 $0.12 1 $1,402

Drainfield Dispersal 3,935 $0.12 1 $472

Grinder Pumps 105 $0.12 10 $126

Total $2,177

Gal./Yr. $/Gal. $/Year

Sludge Pumping & Hauling 10,000 $0.10 $1,000

Materials/Equip Replacement Life (Yrs) Unit Cost # Units $/Year

Treatment Plant

Pumps 15 $1,980 2 $264

Control Panel 10 $4,100 1 $410

Drainfield Dispersal

Pumps 15 $1,500 2 $200

Hydrotek Valve 10 $450 2 $90

Control Panel 15 $1,500 1 $100

Sewage Pumps & Controls

Grinder Pumps & Controls 10 $1,009 10 $1,009

Lift Stations & Controls 15 $3,500 2 $467

Total Reserve $2,540

Operating Overhead & Profit $1,655

TOTAL $12,687

$/Mo./Residence $24.59

Example Life

Cycle Cost Analysis



Life Cycle Costs

Example Life Cycle Cost Analysis

Annual Costs Technology A Technology B

Operations & Management $5,315 $4,595

Electricity $2,177 $9,560

Sludge Pumping & Hauling $1,000 $1,500

Materials & Equipment Replacement $2,540 $3,315

Operating Overhead and Profit $1,655 $2,845

Total Annual Costs $12,687 $21,815

Monthly Cost/Residence $24.59 $42.28



Retrofit Installations



Performance

Assurance

Our Formula for Performance Assurance:

1. Design/Build/Manage• Public and Private

2. Use our own in-house design team

3. Use our own experienced construction crews• Lots of airplane miles

4. Over design (significant safety factors)• Particularly for nutrient reduction

5. Always flow equalize

6. Where we can, utilize standardized components

7. Life cycle costing

8. Utility Operating Structure• We hold the operating permit and are accountable to the state

• Post performance/maintenance bonds



Private Utility

Case Study

Coweta Crossroads Sewer LLC

• Formed October 2001 Coweta County GA

• 24,000 GPD permit through Georgia EPD

• 24 Tenants charged monthly rate negotiated

at time of Lease Signing

• Each Tenant allocated lbs./month BOD & FOG

• $154,000 Maintenance Bond

• NCS responsible to EPD for performance

Lightning!



Financial Security

Stillwater Coves116,000 GPD 18.8 Acre Drip Fields

NCS Maintenance Bond = $230,340



Utility Structure

Why It Works

• Design/Build/Operate Accountability

• Predictable Monthly Budget for

for Homeowners (no surprises or

discretion)

• Regulatory Oversight of Rates

• Rates include Reserves for Replacement

• Operating Permits through the State

• States are more apt to take Enforcement

Action against a Private Utility



Cape Cod

Wastewater Forum

What Questions?

Web site: www.ncswastewater.com

Email: [email protected]

[email protected]

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