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[MEMO] Odor Control Update
Published: 2022-08-24

In late spring early summer 2021 and 2022, the Odor Control Stations were updated with the necessary maintenance and were appropriately feeding chemical into the LPS system as the temperatures and weather changed. Roamingwood Sewer and Water Association (RS&W) has always and will continue to maintain an inventory of the necessary odor oxidizing chemicals.

In June 2021, the PA DEP Technical Assistance Department was on site at the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) along with a chemical product vendor to run trials with Odor control products. The PA DEP, Vendor, and RS&W all supplied products. Seven products were trialed in raw sewerage from the RS&W collection system. The same trials were rerun in the same raw sewerage from the RS&W system that was allowed to turn septic and therefore producing a much higher Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) level. All these samples and data were evaluated. A third-party vendor was again on-site with RS&W employees to further trial odor control chemicals.

Shortly after the PADEP visit, the department sent their results in a report to RS&W on their recommendations. As a result of the above testing and these PA DEP results/recommendations, RS&W is feeding two different chemicals at three separate locations. Endimal SH is being fed through a programmed matrix in our Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system at the two existing locations of the odor control stations (dosing is following diurnal flows). The third location is feeding Sodium Permanganate at the head of the WWTP to address breakthrough odors.

With the assistance of Keystone Engineering a H2S monitoring system was installed at the head of the WWTP to read any potential breakthrough H2S odors. At this time RS&W has begun a major WWTP upgrade project requiring tanks to be drained, cleaned and old sludge to be removed from the WWTP site. Tanks are being rebuilt and put in and out of service to keep this upgrade project in motion. Additionally temporary tankage is being utilized with temporary blowers and temporary air lines to keep biological treatment ongoing to meet permit requirements through this project. All this activity is extensive, complicated, and difficult work. To minimize any odors, RS&W has also more frequently begun removing sludge, instead of digesting, decanting, and storing on-site. There is also inventory of oxidizing chemical on-site to dose potential breakthrough odors through the WWTP upgrade project in the event additional odors arise.

Another result of working with PA DEP Technical Assistance Department was the possible use of a new chemical, magnesium hydroxide, to address hydrogen sulfide from forming and creating odors. After a series of onsite testing with the PA DEP and the chemical vendors technical team, we found that this chemical may help on controlling odors. This new chemical, magnesium hydroxide, works by adjusting the systems pH to a specific level so that hydrogen sulfide cannot form. In September 2021, RS&W purchased a small amount of this chemical to trial. In October 2021 RS&W made a few attempts to utilize this magnesium hydroxide to address odors. Due to the heavy particulate in the chemical slurry, our existing feed systems would not feed without issues. A few modifications were made to attempt to address these blocking issues, but RS&W was not able to feed the heavier product effectively with the existing equipment. The chemical manufacturer was notified, and they will try to locate a heavier slurry pump to trial their product in our system. RS&W will further pursue this opinion once the WWTP upgrade project is completed, because this project is redirecting flows and biological activities throughout the WWTP for the next 2 years. These changes may impact H2S odor generation, which we believe to be for the better. Once the WWTP upgrade is near completion, RS&W will be prepared with the possibility of utilizing the installed H2S technology to auto feed chemical and a Magnesium Hydroxide trial if needed.

RS&W has the ability to monitor air and wastewater liquid for H2S odor and odor causing parameters today and will continue to monitor and utilize as required.

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The Final Piece of the Project To Begin This Year

• rehabilitation of two 1.0-million-gallon equalization tanks and associated aeration system
• rehabilitation of two secondary clarifier units
• replacement of two aerobic digesters
• replacement of emergency generator
• replacement of electrical equipment, which power all plant operations and related electrical controls
• rehabilitation and repurposing of the existing Control/Operations building
• the addition of a maintenance garage
• new chemical feed for copper removal
• replacement of chorine disinfection with ultraviolet (UV) disinfection
• miscellaneous pumps, valves and ancillary equipment replacement and Odor Control.

It has been a long road, as we prepare this final stage of construction for commencement. Our goal is to break ground by mid to late summer 2022. The estimated duration of the project construction will be approximately 2 years. As we near the end of this Water & Sewer replacement project, it is important to note that of the $81 plus million dollars needed to complete this project, over $19 million dollars of this was from grants awarded to South Wayne County Water & Sewer Authority. An overall 24% reduction in our loan debt service, spanning all 4 stages. In this final stage alone, of the almost $14.9 million dollar price tag, $4.7 million dollars is a grant, reducing the loan to $10.2 million dollars. A cost reduction of 32%!

These numbers are unprecedented in our area. It would not take much research to reveal that in the scope of the national crisis on water and sewer infrastructure, the Hideout Community is in the best shape it can be in. In the past 10 years the Management and both the RS&W & South Wayne Boards have sought out every available resource, securing a future for this community.

The reality is, we have pledged and will continue to create a system that is sustainable, maintained and protected going forward.

So, we will ask once again, to be patient for a bit longer once this final stage of construction gets underway.

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USDA Invests $14 Million in Infrastructure Project for People in Rural Wayne County

Name: Daniel Blottenberger
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: (717) 237-2153
City: Harrisburg
Release Date: Mar 16, 2022

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) State Director of Rural Development Bob Morgan today announced the Department is investing $14 million on infrastructure in rural Wayne County, Pa.

The South Wayne County Water and Sewer Authority will receive a Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant of $14,879,000 to upgrade their wastewater treatment plant for their public sewer system. The plant currently serves residential communities located in Salem and Lake Townships, Pa. The plant is more than 40 years old, and the components have reached the end of their useful life.

“An investment in infrastructure of this magnitude will directly impact the lives of rural Americans in Pennsylvania,” Morgan said. “President Biden has created a roadmap for how we can build a better America, and this project is another milestone in that plan. With the build a better America agenda, USDA will be able to fund more critical projects in Pennsylvania like those announced today in the coming months and years.”

Since 2020, USDA Rural Development has invested $28 million in Wayne County through its more than 40 programs. In addition, more than $103 million was obligated in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District.

“Upgrading our aging infrastructure is a top priority and an important part of how we bolster opportunity and prosperity,” said Rep. Matt Cartwright, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “I have been and will remain a strong advocate for programs like this and will do all I can to help our communities get the funds they need to be attractive and safe places to live, work and play.”

The project will receive additional funding of a $3,879,000 loan and a $539,000 grant. The investment follows a more than $10 million loan and grant combination that was obligated in 2019.

Planning for the project began as early as 2003, and the Authority was happy to see the project come to fruition.

“[We] are very excited to have received the grant, as well as the low interest loans for our facility upgrades,” Jack Lennox, executive director for Roamingwood Sewer and Water, agent of, South Wayne County Water and Sewer Authority wrote in an email. “[The communities] will have one of the most state-of-the-art facilities in the country along with having a brand-new infrastructure.”

Background:  
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care facilities; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities by building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate, smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

Final Approval Granted from USDA and Regulating Agencies to Bid Treatment Plant Facility Upgrade Project

We are VERY EXCITED to be making the following announcement:

Roamingwood Sewer and Water Association Agent of South Wayne County Water and Sewer Authority has received formal approvals from regulating agencies and USDA (funding sources) to advertise bidding for the upgrading to the wastewater treatment plant upgrades. All project documents and engineering designs have been reviewed and approved to be compliant with all State and Federal requirements and, as required, has been reviewed to be compliant with Open and Free Competition.

This project is estimated at a cost of $10,500,000 including an awarded a $4,210,000 grant to assist Roamingwood Sewer and Water Association. This project includes extensive upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant facility, that has been in operation for nearly 40 years now and serves over 4,000 properties within the Hideout Community. Most of the treatment equipment and facility buildings are original and will be updated in this 10.5-million-dollar renovation.

The project includes upgrades and replacement of equipment at the wastewater treatment plant, which includes:

• rehabilitation of two 1.0-million-gallon equalization tanks and associated aeration system
• rehabilitation of two secondary clarifiers units
• replacement of two aerobic digesters
• replacement of emergency generator
• replacement of electrical equipment, which power all plant operations and related electrical controls
• rehabilitation and repurposing of the existing Control/Operations building
• the addition of a maintenance garage
• new chemical feed for copper removal
• replacement of chorine disinfection with ultraviolet (UV) disinfection
• miscellaneous pumps, valves and ancillary equipment replacement and Odor Control.

With these treatment plant updates, and in concert with the recently upgraded low pressure sewer & water infrastructure, this puts these systems as one of the most advanced systems in the country.

These wastewater treatment plant upgrades can improve operations and continue to provide reliable State and Federal regulatory complaint service to the community. In addition, the grant will provide for stable rates in the near future.

—Jack Lennox, Executive Director, RS&W

www.roamingwood.com/docs/pdf/press/RSWA_Article_FinalApprovalUSDAGrantWWTP_20210730.pdf