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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-07-14 City Council (11)TO: FROM: City Manager’s eport HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS DATE:JULY 14, 2003 CMR:334:03 SUBJECT:ANNUAL REPORT ON THE PROGRESS OF THE LONG-TERM GOALS FOR THEPALO ALTO REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL PLANT This is an informational report and no Council action is required. DISCUSSION The Palo Alto ReNonal Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP) stated the Long-Term Goals Stud?; in July 2000 with the vision that the future RWQCP will be consistent with the concept of sustainabilib~. During the course of the study, the RWQCP hosted a series of seven w-orkshops that led to the development of the long-term goals and decision tools by stakeholders. These goals are consistent with the City’s sustainability pro~am, and will guide the development of the plant improvements and future planning. The RWQCP is malting consistent profess in its daily activities towards these goals, although complete implementation will take man?; years. The attached report is prepared by the RWQCP on current activities towards achieving the goals. ATTACHMENTS Attactmaent A: Ammal Report - RWQCP Long-Term Goals PREPARED BY:Daisy Stark, Senior Engineer RWQCP William D. Miks, Manager RWQCP GLENN S. ROBERTS Director of Public Works CITY M~NAGER APPROV ~ Assistant City Manager CMR:334:03 Page 1 of 1 PALO ALTO REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL PLANT Long-term Goals Annual Report July 2000 thru December 2001 Establish Goals 7/2000 - 12/2001 4/2002 - 12/2002 Goals Phase 2 of the Goals Study was started in April 2002 to develop a decision process with the stakeholders. The decision process was then evaluated by applying it on a case study - disinfection. The evaluation showed that the potential synergies between the disinfection process and other processes at the plant couldn’t be captured when studying disinfection as a stand-alone activity. The RWQCP will first perform an assessment on the conditions of the plant facilities before launching the master plalming effort. The assessment will evaluate the remaining life of the plant and serve as the basis to detem~ine the Plant- Wide Master Plan timeline. The RWQCP will re-engage the stakeholders in the future. The RWQCP was awarded a State grant to perform a focused recycled water facility study plan for the southern region of the RWQCP service area (Mountain View- Moffett field). The facility will consist mainly of a reclaimed water distribution header that would replace the existing broken header to Shoreline, plus a new extension to Moffett field. The RWQCP will re-engage the stakeholders on this study plan this fall. $150,000 State Grant Take leadership role in promoting beneficial reuse and enviro~kmental elzhancement Maximize recycled water as a supplemental water source Minimize or justi~~ financial impacts on ratepayer RWOCP service area Approximate reclaimed ~ater study area The RWQCP is looking forward to provide in-kind services to support the research on membrane tectmology for treatrnent of reclaimed or brackish water. The partnership arrangement for the research project is underway. Take leadership role in promoting beneficial reuse and envirolm~ental enhancement Maximize recycled water as a supplemental water source As one of the partners to the research project, the RWQCP would host the pilot plant and perform laboratory analyses. The goals of the research project include: o Develop more efficient membranes and procedures for the treatment of reclaimed or brackish water to potable standards Study the fouling of membranes under conditions specific to the South Bay o Develop a more cost effective process The Palo Alto Landfill is situated next to the RWQCP. The RWQCP has initiated a project to utilize the waste gas from the landfill in its furnaces. This project is presently in the design phase for implementation this winter. Immobilize or beneficially reuse persistent toxins Minimize or eliminate total release of toxins to the environment Minimize energy consumption Take leadership role in promoting beneficial reuse and environmental enhancement Specific benefits of the project include: The methane of the waste gas will replace approximately 50% of the natural gas needed to operate the furnaces Using the landfill gas in the furnaces provides an alternative to flaring. The pollution control devices of the furnaces would substantially reduce the pollutant emission from the landfill to the atmosphere Minimize total release of toxins to the environment Under the leadership of the Public Works Director, the RWQCP will host a test and demonstration hydrogen f~leling station for fuel cell vehicles. The t\~el cell vehicles are hydrogen-propelled vehicles that are designed to be quiet and envirom~entatly friendly. The exhaust of the vehicle is distilled water in the form of steam that e-~aporates and does not adversely affect air quality. This research project is sponsored by the California Fuel Cell Partnership to explore the potentials of fuel cell vehicles as a safe, practical, clean and efficient transportation alternative. The goals of the research are: Test the fuel cell vehicles under day-to-day driving conditions Test and demonstrate the vehicle perfox~nance and efficiency Demonstrate the viability of fueling infrastructure o Address commercialization challenges o Increase public awareness of the technology Permitted Industry (incl Stanford) 8.3% Human Waste (Food) 7.8% Human Waste (Amalgam) 17.4% Stormwater 4% Other 0.4% Dental Offices 62.0% Residential Products 0.1% I Minimize total release of toxins to the environment. The Regional Water Quality Control Plant has worked cooperatively with the Midpeninsula Dental Society to reduce the Mercu~’ coming from dental offices to the Plant. Best Management Practices (BMPs) were written, distributed, and site visits were conducted to assist dentists in implementing BMPs. Further reductions will be needed however, and planning is underway for the next step. This next step is likely to be the installation of wastewater treatment units ("amalgam separators") at the dental offices. Old amalgam removed from teeth is one of the major sources of mercury to the Plant and contributes to a build up in fish tissue which is occurring in San Francisco Bay. The schedule for the amalgam separator installation will be worked out with the Midpeninsula Dental SocieD~ to insure that the program can be as cost efficient as possible. Take Leadership Role in Promoting Beneficial Reuse and Environmental Enhancement. Plant Staff continued to develop "Sewer Science." reaching new high schools. Sewer Science is the weeklong laboratory for high school science classes developed by Palo Alto which replicates the physical, biological and chemical processes of the Regional Water Quality Control Plant. Students make up their own simulated xvastewater and run it ttv’ough primary settling tanks, aeration tanks, further settling and filtration, testing it all along the way. In 2002, the program won awards from the California Water Enviromnent Association, the Water Environment Federation, and the Association of Metropolitan Sewer Agencies. The Water Environment Federation is featuring Sewer Science at this year’s national conference and training 100 teachers in the Los Angeles area to utilize the program in their schools. Updates on projects featured in previous annual report Blower Replacement The blowers and control system were placed in service last year. Field tests showed that the estimated energy’ saving has been achieved. The project managers from the State inspected the installation, observed the operations, and were satisfied with the project. Ash Handling, System The ash handling system has been in operation for a year, and is successful in accommodating the various mode of transportation of the customers. Presently, the size of the ash cannot consistently meet the stringent requirements of the paving stone manufacturer. The system was designed to incorporate a screening device that could sort out the different size ash. The RWQCP will be working with the paving stone manufacturer to explore the screening and other options. Disinfection Study The study has successfully demonstrated that the decrease in chlorine dosage tbr the disinfection of the plant effluent did not affect the health of the Bay. The RWQCP has submitted the report to the Water Quality Control Board and is awaiting the Board’s decision. It is hopefl~l that the new permit would result in reducing the use of chlorine.