SPECIAL WORKS
drain TRADER
True teamwork enables homeowner’s association to protect delicate waterway
Managing two ageing adjacentwastewater treatment plants that are nearing the end of their days……This can be a tall order at the best of times – but howaboutwhen discharge is into one of themost diverse and sensitivewaterways in theworld – home to more species of fish than any other river of its size in thewhole of North America. Some might choose to steer clear of this very sizeable challenge.
The need tomeet increasingly tight restrictions, particularly on phosphorus levels - and a site so downright awkward that at one point it looked like helicoptersmight be needed for the delivery of newequipment! – but no. The very determined Lockerbie Homeowner’s Association inMountain Brook, Birmingham, Alabama decided to invest in - and take responsibility for a brand-new treatment plant.
When consulting state-widewastewater company, LivingWater Services, one option put forwardwas to create a newlift station where effluent could be pumped to the Jefferson County Sewer. Owning,managing or serving 58wastewater facilities all over Alabama and carrying out lab tests for another 49, LivingWater consulted their key contacts for the best solution, including Krebs
Engineering.
“The old plants just weren’t designed for today’s needs”, said Tyler McKeller, Co- owner of Living Water Services. “Discharge levels were being met, but only by adding large volumes of chemicals – around 15-20 types, which all came with significant cost and labour. The first plant – around 30 years old – couldn’t cope very much longer – and the adjacent plant, some 22 years old, was pretty basic at best. With discharge into a tributary of such a delicate waterway as the Cahaba River, the pressure was really on to find a dependable, long-term, cost-effective solution”.
There was no government funding or grants. Expectation of the Lockerbie Homeowner’s Association for its new wastewater treatment plant to meet all requirements, was exceptionally high, as Gary Huffman, President of Krebs Engineering, explained:
“People paying for such an important service out of their own pockets understandably want it to be right. They don’t want to have constantly worry about the day-to-day operation or the implications of not meeting their permit. They want complete peace of mind”.
30 drain TRADER | October 2020 |
www.draintraderltd.com
He added; “Wewere all concerned about the existing systems – and howwe could bring about a smooth-running, long-lasting treatment plant – aswell as get round the severe constraints of such a small and awkwardly located site. The old systems did not have the capability to remove phosphorus without additives, so Tyler and Krebs looked at a treatment plantwhich themore it could achieve biologically, the less dependence therewould be on chemicals.We both knew for sure that restrictions on dischargewould become increasingly tighter in the future”.
Both Krebs and TylerMcKeller knewof the reputation of Lakeside Equipment Corporation, so this iswhere their agent Ed
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