Oregon flow meters to reduce excess storm water

        Oregon City Council recently approved a purchase order to HACH Company - Flow Products & Services, Loveland, Colorado to provide materials and equipment for the Inflow and Infiltration (I/I) Reduction Program – Sanitary Sewer Flow Monitoring for $34,689.60.
        In order to reduce or eliminate excessive storm water I/I from getting into the city’s wastewater collection system, a program of flow monitoring, video detection and smoke testing was established in 2008 to identify I/I sources.
        In addition to previous I/I investigations, the need for additional flow monitoring is warranted to help determine the effectiveness of I/I removal efforts in subdivisions of the city where sanitary sewer rehabilitation projects have been completed and to determine areas of focus for future I/I removal and sanitary sewer rehabilitations efforts.
       
Flow meters
        The quote from HAC Company – Flow Products & Services was reviewed by the Oregon Public Service Department and was determined to be fair and reasonable for the work required. The quote is for equipment rental, which includes the flow meters, mounting assemblies, data transfer and cabling, and data consistency evaluation. It also includes the installation/removal of 10 temporary sanitary sewer flow meters in specified locations in the sanitary sewer collection system. These will be installed for a total of four months. Monitoring is expected to begin in March and conclude in June, according to Donald Nelson, Environmental Specialist with the public service department.
        The quote also includes wireless transmitting capabilities for real-time data capture and analysis during rain events.
        One of the goals of this project is to determine the effectiveness of I/I removal efforts in subdivisions of the city where sanitary sewer rehabilitation projects have been completed. These include Old Eastmoreland, Euclid Park, Woodville Heights, East Hollywood, Ketchams Little Farms, Moundview, and South Shore Park subdivisions.
       
NPDES
        “This year, we will be renewing our NPDES permit with the wastewater plant,” said Public Service Director Paul Roman. “It’s good to show what you’ve done in the past is effective.”
        A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) permit must be obtained from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) Division of Surface Water whenever there is a discharge of treated or partially treated water to a surface water of the state. NPDES permits exist to regulate wastewater discharges by placing limitations on the quantity of pollutants that may be discharged and to establish monitoring requirements and other conditions.
        Another goal is to determine areas of focus for future I/I removal and sanitary sewer rehabilitation efforts. These areas include subdivisions east of Wheeling Street in the Wheeling Street Sanitary Sewer District and South Shore Park, south of Bay Shore Road.
        City council appropriated the funds required for the work as part of this year’s municipal budget.