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WASTEWATER DIVISION PAGE 11
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<br /> ~ SAMPLING TEAM
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<br /> ~ In July 2003, the Wastewater Sampling Team was created significant thermal increases to the waste stream. After ana-
<br /> l within the Wastewater Division to perform the Division's lyzing lots of data, we found the treatment process increases
<br /> sampling and monitoring activities. Creation of the Sam- the temperature of the waste stream between 3.6 and 3.9 F°.
<br /> piing Team was the result of an internal reorganization of the During summer months, the plant effluent increases the tem-
<br /> Division's technical services in response to the several retire- perature of the Willamette River at the edge of the regulatory
<br /> i ments in the Division. mixing zone 0.3 F°. DEQ and stakeholders continue to de-
<br /> velop policy for allocating the 0.5 F° human use allowance
<br /> The Field Sampling Team is responsible for ensuring that all under the new temperature standard.
<br /> sampling and monitoring activities, including those under the
<br /> I NPDES wastewater and stormwater permits, the Industrial We continue to collect data to evaluate plant effluent tem-
<br /> Pretreatment Program, Pollutant Management Program, Mo- perature effects during the winter months. A report on tem-
<br /> bile Waste Hauler program, Biosolids program, and Under- perature monitoring efforts during the winter months of 2004
<br /> j ground Injection Control program, are collected according to should be completed sometime in June. Plant and MWMC
<br /> required protocols and on an appropriate schedule. staff are also working closely with CH2M Hill engineers
<br /> during the facility plan update to ensure plant expansions and
<br /> Three members currently comprise the team who, in addition upgrades do not result in unacceptable thermal loads to the
<br /> to sample collection, are responsible for developing a budget Willamette River.
<br /> for the sampling and monitoring activities, reviewing and
<br /> interpreting any regulatory changes that affect the sampling
<br /> i or monitoring activities, and developing Sampling and Internal QA/QC Program
<br /> Analysis Plans and Standard Operating Procedures for the
<br /> j various sampling and monitoring programs. In March 2003, the Wastewater Division's Quality Assur-
<br /> I, ance Officer and Laboratory Supervisor developed a new
<br /> The sampling team has received positive feedback from all facet for the laboratory QA/QC program. The program
<br /> of the ro am mana ers as the are now able to focus re- stren hens the existin A/ C ro am b includin mter-
<br /> p Sr g Y St g Q Q p Y g
<br /> sources on other program requirements. nal blind samples from a vendor specializing in wastewater
<br /> j and biosolids standards. Internal blind samples are analyzed
<br /> alongside regular wastewater and biosolids samples by the
<br /> I Temperature Standard for Oregon Rivers and Streams laboratory analyst. The types of parameters include residual
<br /> li chlorine, cyanide, TOC, BOD, trace metals, nutrients, solids,
<br /> IT'S OFFICIAL! Well... somewhat official, there are a few organic carbon, hexane extractable materials, phenols, pH,
<br /> more hurdles to jump, but the State of Oregon has a new alkalinity, fluoride, sodium, potassium, and conductivity,
<br /> temperature standard for rivers and streams. The purpose of among others. Upon completing the sample set, analytical
<br /> i the temperature standard is to protect and enhance the cold data are submitted to the QA Officer for review and compari-
<br /> water habitat of salmon and trout who use the rivers and son with the known value. If results are within statistically
<br /> streams to spawn, rear their young, and, it is hoped, flourish. defined acceptance limits analysts are awarded atwo-week
<br /> It comes after very lengthy discussion and debate, and of holiday in Tahiti with all expenses paid by the Division Di-
<br /> course litigation, among stakeholders. Among the many rector and chaperoning provided by the QA Officer <ok, just
<br /> stakeholders is the Eugene/Springfield wastewater treatment kidding>. If results are outside the acceptance limits, the
<br /> III plant whose NPDES-permitted outfall discharges between 30 supervisor and analyst initiate a careful investigation into the
<br /> and 170 million gallons of treated effluent per day into the probable cause of the discrepancy and institute corrective
<br /> Willamette River. And since most Eugene and Springfield actions if necessary.
<br /> residents prefer warm showers over cold, there is concern all
<br /> of that warm effluent maybe degrading habitat for threat- To date, the laboratory achieved scores of 90.2% and, most
<br /> ened and endangered fish species. recently, 94.1% on the internal blind sample sets. This pro-
<br /> gram is one of several currently used to measure the quality
<br /> Over the last few summers, field sampling team members of data generated by the Division's laboratory analysts. The
<br /> deployed probes to measure temperature at locations up- scores indicate our analysts achieve high marks for technical
<br /> stream and downstream of the plant outfall, and at various proficiency.
<br /> treatment stages within the plant. These data were then used
<br /> to identify the effects of the plant effluent on Willamette - t o M M E N D E s
<br /> River temperatures, as well as identify processes that add
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