Water and Wastewater Treatment:

Chris Benton, Li Huang, Megan Owens, and Jonathan Young

PA 780April 28, 2011

RoadmapRole of the local governmentResponsibilities of administratorsWater and Sewer Innovations

Clearwater, FL – Integrated Water Resource Management

Portland, OR – Biogas Fuels

Why do local governments provide water and wastewater service?Natural monopolyNegative externalitiesCritical for health and welfareDevelopmental policyManaging common pool resources

What do water and wastewater agencies do?

East Bay MUD

Collection

Storage

Treatment

Distribution

Collection

Water

Wastewater

What are common service arrangements?Special DistrictsCity or County AgenciesPrivate Utilities

Public-Private Partnerships

Usually funded with user fees, not taxes

Local providers responsible for complying with state and federal regulationsU.S. EPACalifornia Department of Public Health

EB MUD Wastewater Service Area

What are the roles of public administrators?Construct, maintain and operate systems to

ensureSafetyReliabilityEmergency Planning and Response

Manage relationships and contracts with other agenciesBuy or sell waterRegulators

Interact with the users of the systemsEncourage conservation and responsibilityCommunicate about rate increases

Plan for future supply and treatment needsBudgeting and finance

What are the roles of public administrators?

East Bay MUD Organizational Chart

Board of Directors

General Manager

Water & Natural Resources Dept.

Operations & Maintenance

Dept.

Engineering & Construction

Dept.

Administration Dept.

Wastewater Dept.

Finance Dept.

What are some current challenges?Increasing environmental requirementsAging infrastructurePopulation shifts/

developmentEnergy costs

EBMUD “Digester” Converts Food Waste to Biogas

What innovations are being implemented?New technologies

GISSCADARemote meter reading

Outsourcing non-core functions Watershed approaches to improving water

qualitySecurity and contingency planningPerformance indicators and measurementReclaimed Water/IWRMEnergy Efficiency

What is IWRM?Alternative Water Source Development

Reclaimed WaterDesalination

Resource ManagementStable QuantityStable Quality

Regional Demand Management

How Does IWRM Apply in Clearwater Florida?Reclaimed Water System

Commercial, residential, wholesaleCurrently no reclaimed water in potable supplyReduces demand for potable water and

wastewater dischargesPlanning/Implementation

Intergovernmental FundingPublic education campaign“Master Plan” issued in 2001 and 2007

How Does Portland Use Bio-Fuels?

Biogas from decomposing sewage powers electrical generators

Provides almost 50% of electricity for the wastewater treatment plant

Provides power during power outages, improving reliability

How Does Portland Pay for Biofuels?

Year 1: 1999

Year 2: 2000

Year 3: 2001

Year 4: 2002

Year 5: 2003

Year 6: 2004

Year 7: 2005

Year 8: 2006

Year 9: 2007

Year 10:

2008

Year 11:

2009

Year 12:

2010

Year 13: 2011

-700000

-600000

-500000

-400000

-300000

-200000

-100000

0

100000

200000

Biofuel Capital Investments

Biofuel Invest-ment Payoff Status

Questions and Answers