WHO- Albany Public Works
WHAT- Water and Sewer Projects
WHEN- Currently Happening
WHERE- In Albany
There are a couple projects going on in Albany that will affect citizens for generations to follow. Both projects involve water, and both are on the forefront of technology.
The Albany Public Works Water Dept. is nearing completion of Phase 1 of a mainline upgrade that will access the 8 million gallon Broadway Reservoir in North Albany. The 30 inch pipe is being installed underneath both the Calapooia and Willamette Rivers, and will help the city distribute water more efficiently. I chatted with Civil Engineer Chris Cerklewski about the process and goals of the project.
The initial phase of analysis began in July 2010 with Mr. Cerklewski, surveyors, City of Albany, CH2M Hill, and contractors Kerr and Brotherton assessing the drilling process. Albany's existing mainline to North Albany is a 24 inch pipe that is attached to the Lyon Street Bridge. Cerklewski explained the high tech new line as a 30 inch HDPE- a "High Density Poly-Ethylene", a petroleum thermo plastic that has a very high density and specific strength, a pipe that will connect the area at 5th and Elm to Hickory and North Albany Road. The new line runs through a 46 inch hole underneath the two rivers.
The new line being installed.
The bore work and drilling was done successfully by Brotherton Pipe. The pipe was installed at the beginning of October with the new line to be on service by the end of November. The high tech flexible plastic pipe is a watertight, jointless, extremely durable, recyclable, and continuous pipe that will lay 50 feet below the bottom of the Willamette River. The crew from Brotherton and the main contractor, Kerr Construction, are busy now connecting that pipe at both ends and testing the connections, line, and structural integrity(pressure). The south end connects at SW 5th and Elm St., while the north side ties in at Hickory St. and North Albany Road.
Workers from Brotherton Pipe disconnect fittings.
Prepping a water-hose, Kerr Construction
The project was funded within the budget with money from water-bill revenue. The city has 8 storage reservoirs and strives to efficiently supply its customers with quality. The "edge of technology", continuing upgrades, and commitment to service attest to that.
The Reclamation Dept. is also using technology to provide cutting edge service to Albany Citizens.
The Reclamation(wastewater) Plant process actually begins at the home, as the water leaves the residential line and enters the city sewer line. All the 220 miles of Albany sewer line is "gravity flow", meaning the system runs on gravity with an assist from "lift stations" that lift and add pressure to maintain flow. As the wastewater reaches the plant, it enters a wet well, where it receives pressure and continues into the plant to be treated.
The Control Room, Awesome Safety Job!
The plant is a 4 year old marvel of intellect and innovation. It is called a "Cannibal System", and employs biological and mechanical processess to reduce the biosolid waste. In conventional systems, anaerobic(no free oxygen) and aerobic(pumps air in) have been the status quo. This new technology is aimed at reducing solids that are part of the water treatment process. Richard Johnson, Reclamation Plant Supervisor, explained the process as exciting and thought provoking, with the plant workers helping to design continuing new protocol.
The new system and the plant's goal, is designed to reduce the biosolids that are the result of the wastewater treatment, and to completely re-use the material as a Class A Biosolid. It is also designed to treat the wastewater above a federally mandated clean level. Johnson informs me "The water leaving the plant is 99% clean, and that the plant has treated 70 million gallons in a day during peak rain." One of his goals in the continuing innovation, he told me, is to reduce the amount of solids in the treatment, and this fact is obvious in his enthusiasm and expertise in the field.
Bio-solids being loaded for transport.
When the water leaves the plant, it doesn't go directly to the Willamette River, but rather into Talking Water Gardens Park. The following is the city's link to the park website: http://twg.cityofalbany.net/
The park is designed as part of the process, and serves to further clean the already treated water and to cool the water as it enters the river. The cooling process helps to cool the Willamette, a crucial step in restoring salmon to habitat.
Ducks at Talking Water Gardens.
Reclamations Operations Manager Chris Bailey explained even more Talking Water Gardens features that help with cooling the clean, treated water such as riparian projects. The trees and shrubbery help by shading the water. The placement of these projects was thought out and meticulous, helping in years to come as shade envelopes the beautiful park landscape and continues the cooling process. Location of planting was to accomplish riparian growth and cool the water more efficiently. As the water moves, that flow itself also helps to cool the water. The Director spoke of goals for water temperature as it leaves the plant, being lower, and the fact that temperature stats are slowly creeping down, as being encouraging. The current discharge temp. is 72 degrees Fahrenheit, not a bad number considering September as being the warmest water month, due to a summer of constant warming and lowered flow.
The cooling park has 2 miles of trails, many observation points, and an outdoor classroom. The views are spectacular.
The Weeping Wall at Talking Water Gardens, a re-used loading dock from the old log mill.
Two current projects being performed by Albany Public Works. The citizens in Albany are well off in this regard, as the approach from everyone in this story, from the guys laying the water pipe under the Willamette to the city workers and operators, the approach is dedication and commitment to excellence.
As a final note, there has been some speculation about practices by the manufacturer of the new Reclamation Cannibal System, and concerns over the value of the system. Any doubt in the treatment plant or the manufacturer of the Cannibal System, which is Siemans, is in reality a non-issue. The facts are that most of these systems work very well and the only drawback to this operation is the solids reduction is not what engineers had hoped. According to both the plant manager and operations manager, Siemans was helpful in the process to achieve a solids reduction goal. The company also reimbursed the city in a amicable settlement. The goal of super-efficiency, environmental awareness, and customer satisfaction are the plant objectives.
Links:
Siemans Cannibal System,
http://www.water.siemens.com/en/products/sludge_biosolids_processing/solids_reduction_process/Pages/envirex_products_cannibal.aspx
HDPE- High Density Poly Ethylene,
http://www.hdpe.com/
City of Albany, Public Works Dept.,
http://www.cityofalbany.net/departments/public-works
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