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A Report Pe-1
A Report Pe-1
Engineering Report
as part of Application for Registration as Professional Engineer
Employer: City of Sacramento,
Sacramento California, Self-
USA(September 2013 till present) evaluation
Position: Senior Civil Engineer
(Applied Research)
Signature:
1
Principle of open channel flow
The water treatment process which includes; a) Pre-screening,
Pre-chlorination, b) Addition of coagulant, c) Mixing physics at
the flash mix, d) Flocculation( theory and design),
e)Sedimentation (theory and design), e) Filtration ( theory and
design), f) Chlorine disinfection.
Particle stability
Particle solvent interaction
Process chemistry
Drinking Water regulations
Gravity separation
Granular filtration (design and theory)
AWWA B 100 code of practice
Knowledge of finite element hydraulic modelling using St
Venant’s Equation for open channels.
Principle of mass transfer
Stability analysis of structures using plate theory
Knowledge of Fisher’s separation and financial theory
Fundamental of rate settings
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Evaluate the changes in raw water characteristics which could be
a pre-cursor for increased TTHM formation in both periods.
Evaluate the inactivation provided by the filter in both periods.
Phase 2: Perform jar tests to mimic both the base and study
Periods using low and high turbidity water.
:
Pass Collect
Prepare finish
Perform water
stock water
testing through
solutions samples
pilot filter
For the Phase 1 part of the research, I compared the baseline and the
study period data for the treatment plant and distribution system. In this
regard, I investigated the treatment chain which included pre-
disinfection, pre-sedimentation, coagulation/flocculation, sedimentation
and clarification, filtration, secondary disinfection, and storage for any
anomaly. The investigation covered the period between August 2011
and July 2013 as well as between August 2013 and July 2014.
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a. 1% NaOH Solution using Sodium Hydroxide solid pellets
i. I used the following materials:
1. (1) I filled 250 mL Volumetric Flask to approximately
1/3 of the way with laboratory grade reagent water.
2. (1) Weigh Boat, (1) Analytical Balance, (1) Spatula,
and (1) Container of Reagent Grade Sodium
Hydroxide (NaOH) solid pellets.
3. (1) Squirt Bottle containing laboratory grade reagent
water.
ii. Procedure
1. Using the spatula, I accurately transferred exactly 2.5
g of NaOH solid pellets to a weigh boat resting on a
tared analytical balance.
2. I quantitatively transferred the entire contents of the
weigh boat into the 250 mL volumetric flask by rinsing
the interior surface of the weigh boat with the
laboratory grade reagent water squirt bottle.
3. I swirled the contents of the volumetric flask until
completely dissolved and filled to the mark 250 mL
mark using the same squirt bottle in the previous step.
4. I Inverted gently several times, then labelled as “1%
NaOH Solution” with date of preparation and aliquot to
a second 250 mL plastic titrant container.
b. I performed the following procedures for the 1% Alum Solution
using concentration alum from the Day Tank at SRWTP.
i. I utilized the following materials:
1. (1) 1000 mL Volumetric Flask filled approximately 1/3
of the way with laboratory grade reagent water.
2. (1) Weigh Boat, (1) Analytical Balance, (1) glass
Pasteur pipette with rubber bulb, and (1) Container of
Concentrated Alum Day Tank Solution; note the
percentage of “active alum” in solution from the Safety
Data Sheet (SDS); was 48.5% Active Alum or
Aluminum Sulfate.
3. (1) 50 mL Graduated Cylinder.
4. (1) Squirt Bottle containing laboratory grade reagent
water.
ii. Procedure
1. I determined the specific gravity of alum due to any
differences in viscosity, density, or concentration of
alum solution due to evaporation, temperature, and/or
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variations of a specific batch of alum from the
manufacturer; by direct measurement of the mass of a
specified volume; i.e.: mass of 50 mL of concentrated
alum day tank solution.
2. With a 50 mL graduated cylinder resting on a tared
analytical balance, I accurately dispense 50 mL of
concentrated alum day tank solution to the 50 mL
mark using the glass Pasteur pipette, and recorded
the exact mass. I divided the recorded mass by the
volume to obtain the specific gravity or relative density
of the solution.
3. Using a glass Pasteur pipette and rubber bulb, I
accurately transferred exactly 27.3443 g of
concentrated Alum Day Tank Solution to a weigh boat
resting on a tared analytical balance.
4. I quantitatively transferred the entire contents of the
weigh boat into the 1000 mL volumetric flask by
rinsing the interior surface of the weigh boat with the
lab grade reagent water squirt bottle.
5. I swirled the contents of the volumetric flask until
completely dissolved and filled to the mark 1000 mL
mark using the same squirt bottle in the previous step.
6. I inverted gently several times, then label as “1% Alum
Solution” with the date of preparation, Relative
Density, and mass of Concentrated Alum Day Tank
Solution added.
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I determined the hydraulic retention time for average flow of 80 MGD
and peak flow of 160 MGD.
Step 2: I determined the velocity gradient of the SRWTP from as- built
drawings, I used this value to calculate the no of revolutions per minute
for the jar testing experiment taking into consideration the possible
operational modes due to adjustment of the stop logs.
Step 4: I collected enough water to fill the jars, I also measured and
recorded all the required parameters (temperature, pH, turbidity,
alkalinity, total organic carbon (TOC), etc.)
Step 6: I positioned the jars under the stirrer so they are centered with
respect to the impeller shaft.
Step 7: I lowered the impeller such that each impeller was about one-
third from the bottom of the jar.
Step 8: I began flash mix based on the retention times that simulated full
plant processes.
Step 12: I flocculated for the time necessary to simulate full scale plants
Step 13: I stopped the stirrer, pull of the impeller, and allowed
sedimentation to occur for the required time to simulate full plant.
Step 14: I took samples for the required analysis, (turbidity, TTHM,
residual chlorine, TOC, DOC, etc.)
Stet 15: I pumped the settled water sample through the pilot filter at a
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pressure of 4PSI to simulate full plant hydraulic grade line conditions.
Step 17: I allowed chlorinated water to rest for the required time to
simulate contact time in the chlorine contact basin.
I sent the raw and finished water samples to the laboratory for spore
bacillus. I calculated the inactivation of cryptosporidium and Giardia
from the spore bacillus sample results.
I designed the pilot filter to replicate the granular filter of the Sacramento
River Water Treatment Plant. Listed below are the design criteria that I
used for the pilot filter. The activity referred to meets complex
engineering activity as described on Table A1, RO3 PE Document .
Listed in Table 1 are the comparisons between the plant filter and
the pilot filter.
I used the same media that was used on the plant filter on the pilot plant
filter, I also placed the media at the same depth as the actual plant filter.
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In addition, I pressurized the pilot filter to match the hydraulic grade line
of the plant filter unit under service conditions. I designed the granular
material of the pilot filter to conform with the requirement of AWWA B-
100. I coordinated the research work with operations, ensuring that
samples are representative of water quality changes throughout the
study. I calculated the media backwash rate for the sand and anthracite
to ensure that there is media compatibility between the media using the
following formula:
I analysed the base and study periods water quality data for following
parameters:
Parameters Taps
Average Turbidity All Taps
Average Alkalinity All Taps
Average Temperature All Taps
Average pH All Taps
Average Filter Head Loss All Taps
Coagulant Dosages All Taps
Chlorine Usage All Taps
Lime Usage All Taps
Polymer Usage All Taps
TOC All Taps
Cryptosporidium All Taps
Giardia All Taps
Virus All Taps
Spores Bacillus All Taps
Total Dissolve Solid (TDS) All Taps
TTHM All Taps
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Specific Ultraviolet Absorbance Raw Water
(SUVA)
Langlier Index Finished water
Aggressive index Finished water
Streaming current monitoring Tap 3
The inactivation of the bacillus spores in both cases was between 1.1
and 1.15. The activities referred to above meets complex
engineering activity requirements as described on Table A1, RO3
PE Document.
I have attached with this report a table listing the actual values of the
water quality parameters analysed.
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component of the treatment plant.
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I defined the purpose and goal of the study
I defined the information required for the study
I defined the existing plant conditions
I defined the chemicals to be used
I defined the order and point of application of the
chemicals
I defined the actual tests procedures.
I defined the sampling monitoring schedule
I prepared the final report of findings.
The objective of the research is to figure out a way to use ACH in place
of alum at the SRWTP to produce finished water that meets California
Title 22 Code of Regulations. I presented the findings of the research to
the District Engineer of the California Department of Health Services. .I
complied with the laboratory safety rules in the implementation of this
research work. The research work is categorically exempt from
environmental impact assessment. The research work did not study
unregulated contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and personal care
products. The regulations require that the terminal TTHM in the
distribution system not to exceed 80 ppb.
Risk and uncertainty associated with the work and its product
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The hydraulic model I developed for the study was not fully calibrated at
the conclusion of the research study, thus there was a tendency for the
hydraulic retention time of the finished water in the distribution
system to be slightly over or underestimated.
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I presented the following findings pursuant to the research work I
performed:
The change in coagulant from ACH to alum did not affect the
inactivation of cryptosporidium and Giardia provided by the filter
media.
More TOC was removed in the flash mix in the base period
compared to the study period.
Less chlorine was required for disinfection in the base period
compared to the study period.
The treated water had a higher terminal TTHM formation in the
study period compared to the base period.
ACH application requires less lime for acidic neutralization
compared to alum.
The filter loading in the study period was higher with higher
turbidity water compared to the base period due to higher pre-
filtered turbidity.
Available filter run time in the study period was lower compared
to the base period due to high pre-filter turbidity in the study
period when the raw water turbidity was at its peak.
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which are the precursors for TTHM cost of treatment.
formation.
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