I& I work paying off for WM Utility

I& I work paying off for WM Utility

Wastewater Plant weathers heavy rains

news@theeveningtimes.com

It was a gully-washer for sure.

“That’s the most rain I’ve seen in one week, said Waster Water Plant Manager Paul Holloway, “and, I’ve been here ten years.”

He reported results at the wastewater treatment plant as well as overcoming a malfunction during the storm. The Wastewater Manager reported some challenges Monday March 14 after the rainiest week in a decade.

“We took a lot of storm water,” said Holloway. “We had a problem with a bypass valve that broke. We had 10.7 inches since Thursday.”

Holloway had a good report of the city pumps he monitors.

“We are pumping all we can pump, no problem,” said Holloway who showed of his supervisory control screens at the plant. “We are up about six feet and we are still pumping water.

They all handled it good with no stations down. We had the pumps on and it never really even came up on 7th Street.”

Holloway attributed some of the good results to the utilities department maintenance and upgrades.

“We’ve spent over a million dollars on inflow and infiltration,” said Holloway, “and that effects how much and when it is coming to me. We still have a long way to go.”

Utilities Manager John Rimmer agreed and said it was too early to measure a huge impact. The city utilities have been doing work to prevent storm water inflow and infiltration (I& I) which creates an overflow in the sanitary sewer.

“We started the studies two years ago and then about a year ago started the contract work,” said Rimmer. “But, it is going to have a huge impact before we are done.”

Holloway weathered the storm and had just one itsybitsy

concern with the bypass gate as the sun was drying up all the rain.

“So far so good,” said Holloway. “We’ve got to get that gate fixed to be back on-line and in good shape.”

The plant normally handles about seven million gallons per day. With the rush from the storm water the effluent ponds filled.

That, along with the diversion gate malfunction, necessitated some untreated water to go straight into the Big Muddy.

“When the rain comes in it diverts over. The valve goes from that pond to the effluent structure. It’s in the open position and I’m getting it fixed right now.”

Holloway says the city permit accounts for these circumstances leading to the flow and the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) allows for exceptions but requires a notice be given by the city.

“When I made the call all their phones were busy,” said Holloway. “Almost everybody in the state must have been on that line for the same thing.”

By John Rech