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Development of Operation and Maintenance Plan and Training and Certification Framework for Direct Potable Reuse Systems

Project: 13-13
Type: Decision Making Tool

Program: Principal
Funding Partner: Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Total Investment: $335,000 (Cash: $250,000, In-Kind cash and service: $85,000)

Principal Investigator: Troy Walker, Hazen and Sawyer

Background

Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) is the next logical step to increasing the amount of water that can be beneficially reused throughout the United States. Like in drinking water, operations plans are required for quality control of DPR systems and to protect public health. Therefore, operation procedures, maintenance schedules and operator training and certification are examples of operation enhancements that help improve treatment reliability and consistency.

Goals and Objectives

The project will:

  • Develop a standard operations and maintenance plan for various DPR treatment processes, including appropriate portions of the upstream secondary wastewater treatment processes providing feedwater to the DPR processes.
  • Develop a DPR Training and Certification framework for DPR system operators.

Research Approach

Task 1.1: Evaluate California Code of Regulations and its Adequacy for DPR Systems and
Recommend any Changes. A thorough review of the current and draft future California Code of Regulations (Title 17 and Title 22, specifically) will be conducted to identify sections that may be applicable to DPR systems.

Task 1.2: Identify and Recommend a DPR Permit Structure, Operator Certification Program, and
Permitting Authority. The gaps in existing permitting and regulation will be identified followed by guidance as to where those requirements should be captured.

Task 1.3: Develop O&M Protocols/Framework for DPR Systems from Source to Tap. The objective of this task is to develop operation and maintenance (O&M) protocols for O3 – BAC –GAC – UV –Cl2 and MF/UF – RO – UV/H2O2 – Cl2 DPR systems with engineered storage as well as for the upstream wastewater and downstream drinking water treatment plants.

Task 2.1: Recommend DPR System Staffing. The project team will work with collaborating utilities/operators to establish the required staffing for DPR schemes, taking into account their size and process complexity.

Task 2.2: Develop Recommended Operator Staff Training and Certification Framework. The objective in this task is to develop a recommended operator staff training and certification framework, including recommendations on approaches to updating the curriculum in the future.

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