1 - WEAT-NTS Newsletter January 2016 www.weat-nts.org
Thank you to our
Sponsors!!!
Platinum Sponsors:
Carollo CDMSmith CP&Y, Inc Hazen & Sawyer Jacobs
MWH Global Pacheco Koch Perkins Engineering Consult-ants, Inc. TTI Laboratories AECOM Municipal Valve and Equipment Company
Gold Sponsors:
Freese & Nichols, Inc. Gupta & Associates Hartwell Environmental Corp.
Classic Sponsors:
Cardno Garver
Volume 28, Number 1 January 2016 Newsletter
January 2016 Lunch Meeting
Date: January 21, 2016
Location: Village Creek Water Reclamation Facility
Speaker: David R. Jackson, P.E., BCEE – Freese and Nichols
Jerry Pressley – Village Creek Water Reclamation Facility
Dr. Farida Goderya – Fort Worth Water Department
Time: 11:00 – 11:45 Networking;
11:45-1:00 Lunch and Presentation
Presentation Title:
“Putting Filtration to the Test—New Filter Doubles Peak Flow Capacity”
Presentation Synopsis:
This presentation will be co-presented by the City of Fort Worth and FNI, and will focus on the design criteria and operation of the filters during an extreme peak flow event caused by Tropical Storm Bill and extreme flooding in early Summer 2015. We will review the design criteria development, piloting, hydraulic modeling and construction of the filters that helped achieve expansion of the filters from a pre-renovation capacity of 110 MGD to the sustained peak wet weather capacity of 220 MGD achieved during the recent peak event. We will also review the operational procedures for managing the VCWRF flow during this wet weather event, challenges faced by the VCWRF staff, operating procedures used by the plant to handle the peak and push the filters to their maximum sustained capacity, and discuss the operational successes achieved.
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Leadership Message - by Eva Gorgi
Happy New Year,
I hope you had a joyful Holiday Season and enjoyed your time with
family and friends. Well, another year has gone by (too quickly for
me), so let’s take a moment to reflect on the numerous events and
activities successfully conducted during 2015. It was another remark-
able year for WEAT-NTS: we learned a lot and welcomed new mem-
bers at the meetings and seminars, we got cold and wet at the Sporting Clays event and OPStober-
fest, we collected many bags of trash cleaning the Trinity River, we participated and supported the
public outreach and education program, and we had fun at Daryl Hall golf tournament and YPs’ so-
cial events.
I applaud all our members, presenters, sponsors, and officers for the great job you have done. Con-
gratulate yourselves!
Furthermore, as we look forward to what 2016 brings us, I want to assure you, WEAT-NTS has
plenty in store for this year and I will see you in:
January - at the lunch meeting. It will be hosted by Village Creek WWTP staff and Jerry Presley
will present on rehabilitation of the deep media filters at Village Creek and their importance dur-
ing rain events
February- at the February Seminar. Fred Holmes and his team have prepared a wonderful pro-
gram on “Taking Control”.
March- at the 7th Sporting Clays Tournament and the dinner meeting for the interesting topic
“Public Relations”
April – in Fort Worth at the Texas Water
May- at the dinner meeting and Upper Trinity Doe Branch WWTP plant tour
Please check our website weat-nts.org for any details, news, updates, and events registration. Andy Paulson and Nicole Connor have been doing an exceptional job keeping our website up-to-date….thank you! If you would like to get involved in any Section activities or have any ideas and suggestions, please
contact me, another officers, or committee chairperson. We are always looking for more volunteers
and new ideas.
I wish all of you a wonderful and blessed new year!
Eva Gorgi
WEAT-NTS President
3 - WEAT-NTS Newsletter January 2016 www.weat-nts.org
WEATANNOUNCEMENTS
It’s Easy to Join Our Mailing List... We will e-mail you our newsletter, organization announcements, and other relevant information. Just send
your email address by text message: Text WEATNTS to 22828 to get started OR scan the QR code with your mobile device.
In This Issue...
Leadership Message 2 WEAT Announcements 3 Sponsors & Sponsorship 4 Event and Meeting Recaps 7 Announcements 8 Public Outreach 9
E&I Committee 10 Young Professionals 10 February Seminar 11 Calendar of Events 13 WEAT-NTS Contacts 13
GET INVOLVED WITH WEAT!
Are you interested in helping our organization and industry? Please contact any of the WEAT-NTS
Officers for opportunities to help your community!
INTERESTED IN MENTORING/EDUCATING?
Are you interested in educating college students about our industry? Contact Jason Crawley at [email protected] to speak at Universities and Colleges around the state!
4 - WEAT-NTS Newsletter January 2016 www.weat-nts.org
Interested in having an ad on this page?
Find information on sponsorship at https://squareup.com/market/weat-nts and support this organization. If you would like more information please contact Mark Perkins at treasurer@weat-nts. org
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Black & Veatch
Hartwell Envi-
ronmental
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MWH
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Classic $250
For one dinner meeting
Recognition of Classic Sponsors
✓ Announcement on front page of newsletter (name of firm)
✓ Announcement in meeting reminder emails (name of firm)
✓ Sign at meeting listing the sponsors (name of firm)
✓ Verbal recognition of sponsors by President at the
beginning of the meeting
Gold $1,250
Recognition at ALL six meetings (for the price of five)
Recognition of Gold Sponsor is the same as Classic
Sponsors at ALL six meetings
Platinum $1,850
Recognition at ALL six meetings
Recognition of Platinum Sponsor is the same as a Gold
Sponsor plus
✓ Company name included in newsletter
announcements, reminder emails, and sign at
meeting
✓ Display of digital banner at meeting (if supplied) via
PowerPoint
✓ Recognition of Platinum Sponsor by Prestident at the
beginning of the meeting
✓ Includes Sponsor Ship of
✓ February Seminar
✓ Weat NTS Scholarship
✓ Daryl Hall Scholarship
✓ Business card ad in the NTS newsletter
Fall BBQ Picnic Cook-off $250
Sporting Clay Station $150
Weat NTS Scholarship Fund (annual
contribution) $100
Daryl Hall Scholarship Fund (annual
contribution) $100
Newsletter Advertising (6 issues) and
website link $150
NTS February Seminar $300
NTS February Seminar Table $500
NTS February Seminar Break Area $1,00
0
NTS Young Professionals $100
Individual Sponsorship Opportuniites:
WEAT-NTS offers three levels of sponsorships for the July 2015—June 2016 year, plus multiple individual
sponsorship opportunities
The sponsorship will support:
WEAT-NTS and Darryl Hall Scholarship Funds
Meeting Dinners
Sections activities (fall BBQ and Sporting Clays Tournament)
February Seminar
Young Professionals
Outreach Program (Science Fair, Future Cities, etc.)
Dinner Meeting Sponsors:
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ByErinFlanagan
NOVEMBERMEETINGRECAP
The November WEAT-NTS meeting was held at Texas Star, which is located in Euless, on Thursday, Novem-ber 19, 2015. This was the first lunch meeting for the Section in several years and turnout was great.
Phil Spitzer, P.E., Wastewater System Engineer for the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) and Secretary for the WEAT-NTS, presented on sampling and analysis conducted at the NTMWD’s Wilson Creek WWTP as part of the plant’s BIOACTIFLO® system. The BIOACTIFLO® system has the ability to operate in both wet weather and dry weather modes. Because of the prolonged drought in the North Texas region, the sys-tem had not been tested in full, wet weather mode. With the record setting rains in the spring of 2015, the sys-tem was finally put to the test, and allowed NTMWD to capture sampling data to review and compare process mechanics in both the wet and dry weather conditions. Thank you Phil for your time and commitment to our or-ganization!
WEAT-NTS President Eva Gorgi presents Phil Spitzer with a statuette of appreciation.
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Theonlynewsthat’sgoodwhenitstinks
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Want to submit an announcement?
Submit on relevant news items such as new hires, acquisitions, project awards, recognition, and other new announcements. Submit your 100 word announcement to [email protected]
Perkins Engineering Consultants, Inc. is excited to announce that David B. Hawkins, P.E. has joined the firm in its Richardson office. David brings 44 years of experience with a wide variety of water and wastewater treatment, pipeline, and civil projects throughout the region. David holds BS and MS degrees in civil engineering from the University of Arkansas and is licensed in Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Award for Excellence in Innovation for VCWRF
On Tuesday September 29, The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) recognized the City of Fort Worth – Village Creek Water Reclamation Facility (VCWRF) with its Award for Excellence in Innovation for its use of WERF research to guide the implementation of a series of sustainable facility upgrades. In its fifth year, the WERF Award for Excellence in Innovation acknowledges or-ganizations that have made improvements to wastewater and stormwater collec-tion, storage or treatment operations, facilities, or processes by applying WERF research. The award was presented at WEFTEC in Chicago, Illinois during a cele-bration of WERF’s subscribers.
Two WEAT-NTS Scholarship Recipients Receive Diplomas!
Claudia Gorgi, daughter of NTS President Eva Gorgi, and Kara
Frantzen, daughter of Mark and Brenda Perkins, both received
diplomas from the University of Arkansas on December 19th.
Claudia, a recent WEAT-NTS scholarship recipient, received a Bachelor of
Science degree in Kinesiology. Kara, a safety engineer for Lockheed Martin
in Fort Worth, received a M.S. degree in Operations Management. Kara
was a WEAT-NTS scholarship recipient while earning her BS in Biology
from UTA in 2012.
Vikas Bhaskaran Awarded 2015 Ingenuity Contest
at WEFTEC
Vikas Bhaskaran, senior skilled trade technician at the Village Creek Reclamation Facility in Fort
Worth, was one of four inventors who received awards from the 2015 Ingenuity Contest at WEFTEC
2015 in Chicago. He created a plasma and oxy-acetylene cutting machine using parts salvaged from
old traveling bridge filters. The machine cuts metal precisely to enable operators to fabricate metal
pieces for custom repairs. He also created a ratchet to help remove and attach the stator from screw
pumps more safely. The ratchet enables a single person to do a task that, before, took five people.
9 - WEAT-NTS Newsletter January 2016 www.weat-nts.org
Comeon...doitforthekids
PUBLICOUTREACH
Career Day K-12—VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? Career Day encourages children to begin thinking about what they might want to be when they grow up. As another school year begins, so does the opportunity for us to participate in Career Day at our children’s school. Career Day gives students an opportunity to learn about different careers and vocations by exposing them to fascinating, important, and COOL careers, opening their minds to exciting worlds they may not normally see. Plus, our children are proud to have their parent talk to their friends about what they do. Many school districts have al-ready scheduled their Career Day events, so check out your child’s school district website or ask their teachers about how you can get involved. Let’s make a difference in our community and teach our children and their friends about what we do for our community and environment. Contact Amy Robinson at [email protected] or 817.916.2927 for more information or ideas for Career Day presentations or activities.
Dallas Redeem the Stream Recap
The Water Environmental Association of Texas – North Texas Section (WEAT-NTS) organized a cleanup of the Trinity River near Fishing Hole Lake on Stemmons Freeway and Harry Hines Boulevard (the Elm Fork Green Belt section of the Trinity River) on November 14th as part of the Texas River Cleanup Challenge. Over 56 volunteers came out early on Saturday morning to clean up the Trinity! Volunteers gathered at the CP&Y, Inc. Dallas Office on Regal Row and were shuttled to the cleanup site. They worked the banks of the river, around the highway crossing, and even waded into the river to reach debris. After several hours of trash abatement, volunteers were shuttled back for an appreciation luncheon at the CP&Y, Inc. Dallas Office. While cleaning up, volunteers documented the most interest-ing trash found and a frog. Thank goodness we didn’t encounter any snakes (see Redeem the Stream on Facebook for interesting trash pics).
Thanks to the partnership with Groundwork Dallas, the WEAT-NTS Redeem the Stream event was a complete success. Together, we were able to remove over 3,000 lbs. of trash. In addition we collected
380 lbs. of recyclables. That added up to 224 bags of trash! The positive environmental impact our cleanup had on the Trinity River is amazing, and should be shared and celebrated. Special thanks to everyone who contributed to make this happen. We couldn’t have done it without you! Check out our Facebook page for photos: https://www.facebook.com/redeemthestream For more details or feedback about this event, please contact Elle Holbrook at [email protected].
10 - WEAT-NTS Newsletter January 2016 www.weat-nts.org
E&ICOMMITTEE
The WEAT E&I Committee held its last technical seminar of 2015 on Wednesday, 18th November. This session presented three different topics. The presenters were:
1. Polly Porter, Compliance Specialist; Small Business & Local Government Assistance; TCEQ | Region 9, “TCEQ Compliance and Resources”
2. Bill Popp, National Sales Manager, Analytical Technology, Inc, “Chlorine and Chlorination Technologies”
3. Cathy Sieger, Compliance Coordinator for TRA, “TRA Reporting Procedures”
We had about 20 attendees from across the Metroplex representing owners, consultants, and contractors. A copy of each presentation is available for download from the WEAT website at the following link:
https://weatnts.wordpress.com/events/weat-ei-seminars/
The seminar was held at the Graybar’s Facility in Fort Worth and Graybar provided lunch immediately following the seminar. As you know, we have not charged, nor do we plan to begin charging any fee for participation in these seminars. It is through the generosity and support of organizations (such as Graybar in this case) that we are able to host the meeting and provide a meal for free.
Our next seminar is scheduled for 20th January and the preliminary topic is “UPS / ATS / HVAC for Data Center Wiring”. More information will be forthcoming later in a few weeks.
On November 19th, The NTS WEAT YPs hosted an Educational & Social Happy Hour Tour at USCP’s (U.S. Composite Pipe) Plant in Alvarado, TX. The event was a success and everyone had a really good time. Our goal was to try and combine both the learning and fun aspects of our industry all at once. We kicked off the evening by everyone participating in a Sporting Clays Contest on site. Afterwards, Pump Solutions provided drinks, pizza, and prizes while we learned the importance of corrosion resistance in our customers’ wetwells & manholes and what benefits polymer concrete materials have to offer.
Sporting Clays Contest
1st place – Kyle Kubista with Kimley Horn & Associates
2nd place – John Logan with Freese & Nichols
3rd place – Charles Norman with Pump Solutions
ByCharlesNorman
YPCOMMITTEE
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FEBRUARYSEMINAR
Fred to send flyer to insert
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FEBRUARYSEMINAR
Fred to send flyer to insert
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WEAT-NTS 2015 - 2016 Contacts
Date Event Location (*Tentative) Topic/Speaker (*Tentative)
1/21/16 (Th) January LUNCH Meeting Village Creek WWTP “FTW Filters”, Jerry Pressley (FTW), Dr.
Farida Goderya (FTW), David Jackson
(F&N)
2/16/16 (Tu) February Seminar CityPlace “Taking Control” *
3/17/16 (Th) March Dinner Meeting Texas Star, Euless “Public Relations”, Various Utilities
3/18/16 (Fr) Sporting Clays TBD
5/26/16 (Th) May Plant Tour Dinner Doe Branch WWTP Jody Zabolio, UTRWD
Officer Name Phone E-Mail
President Eva Gorgi 214.671.2804 [email protected]
President-Elect Brigit Buff 972.533.2499 [email protected]
Vice President Matt Jalbert 817.493.5133 [email protected]
Treasurer Mark Perkins 817.719.0372 [email protected]
Secretary Phil Spitzer 972.442.5405 [email protected]
Past President Jeff Sober 972.377.7480 [email protected]
Section Rep Erin Flanagan 214.217.2261 [email protected]
Past Section Rep Darryl Corbin 972.239.9949 [email protected]
Committee Chair Phone Email
Audit Jeff Sober 972.377.7480 [email protected]
Awards Nash Reddy 214.920.8166 [email protected]
Constitution/Bylaws Amy Robinson 817.332.8727 [email protected]
Finance Mark Perkins 817.719.0372 [email protected]
Fundraising Jeff Sober 972.377.7480 [email protected]
Communications Brigit Buff 972.533.2499 [email protected]
Historian Betty Jordan 817.806.1703 [email protected]
Nominations Jeff Sober 972.377.7480 [email protected]
PWO Jerry Pressley 817.392.4926 [email protected]
Photography Malcolm Cowdin 972.262.5186 [email protected]
Programs Matt Jalbert 817.493.5133 [email protected]
Public Education/Science Fair Amy Robinson 817.332.8727 [email protected]
Scholarshiop Fund Chris Young 214.346.4300 [email protected]
Seminar Fred Holmes 817.870.2630 [email protected]
Andy Paulson 469.619.1241x108 [email protected]
Nicole Connor 214.360.9929 [email protected]
YP - Dallas Grace Wike 512.363.0611 [email protected]
Robbie Staton 469.513.3208 [email protected]
YP - Fort Worth Charles Norman 817.684.0900 [email protected]
Wesley Tait 817.806.1700 [email protected]
Website
WEAT-NTS 2015 - 2016 Calendar of Events