Meet the Wastewater Staff
Linda Capach, Wastewater Technician - Linda provides on-site technical assistance to small rural municipal wastewater systems with a population under 10,000 and rural systems in unincorporated areas within a state/jurisdiction.
Don Layne, Wastewater Technician - Provides technical, managerial and maintenance assistance primarily to publicly owned, Rural Development eligible rural and small wastewater systems in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Nancy Carr - Provides technical, managerial and maintenance assistance primarily to publicly owned, Rural Development eligible rural and small wastewater systems in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Wastewater Training Program provides:
ÜOn-site
technical assistance to municipal wastewater treatment facilities
ÜTraining
programs on wastewater related subjects
ÜInformation
for VRWA publications
The Wastewater Training Program Must:
ÜMake
at least 360 on-site contacts to eligible systems per year
ÜGeographically
cover the Commonwealth of Virginia
ÜProvide
at least 60 hours of training programs per year
Wastewater On-site Assistance
ÜSmoke testing
ÜLab training &
troubleshooting
ÜLab procedures
ÜTroubleshoot &
assist with process control problems
ÜOn-site operator
certification assistance
ÜInflow &
Infiltration (I&I) flow monitoring
ÜAssist with regulatory
issues
Taking the Certification Exam
Passing the certification is not easy and requires a lot of hard work and dedica-tion to the wastewater profession. As a wastewater professional you not only operate your plant as safe and efficient as possible you are protecting the health of your community and downstream users.
Certification examinations are intended to test every aspect of an operator’s involvement in wastewater treatment. Because mathematical problems dealing with detention time, flow rates, chemical dosages, tank volumes and so forth, it’s a good idea to memorize the most common conversion factors (constants) used in wastewater math. Keep a copy of formula/conversion tables handy. As a wastewater professional you are responsible for knowing all aspects and types of wastewater treatment processes not just the facility you are presently operating.
Keep in mind that examinations are changed frequently, don’t try to learn the answers that you have heard about from other operators. Concentrate on learning how to work various types of problems, such as detention times, chlorine dose and feed rates, how to adjust chemical feed pumps and process adjustments, safety and management. This way you will be prepared to handle any question that shows up on the test. When preparing for the test, allow enough time to prepare for the test. Don’t try to "cram" all the information a few days before the test. Relax the day before the test "if you haven’t studied and are prepared by now you are wasting your time and money".
On the day of the test be at the location well ahead of time. Be sure you have the necessary reference materials, pencils and a spare calculator in case one doesn’t work. You can waste valuable time by performing mathematical questions by hand. Before starting the test, skim through the types of questions that are on the test. By seeing the questions and math problems you need to answer at the start, you will have a better idea about how to use your time. It is a good idea to answer all the easy questions first and the more complex problems that will take longer to work last.
The certification test is multiple-choice questions. Never leave a multiple-choice question blank, you can determine that one of the two obviously are not the right answer. If you narrow your choice to two possible answers, you have a 50-50 chance of getting the right answer no matter which answer you choose.
Take the test systematically and deliberately, avoid the temptation to rush through the test, be relaxed and take a break periodically to ease the stress.
1- "Read the question, read the question, read the question be sure what answer is required".
2- Simplify the problem, if the problem is complex break it down in small pieces and solve separately.
3- Be sure the decimal point is in the right place.
4- Make sure all necessary conversions are correct, such as feet to inches, gallons to million gallons.
5- Give your answer to the nearest significant figure.
6- Check to see if your answer makes sense.
Remember, if you have properly prepared for the certification test and can perform your work well, you should pass the test.
Smoke testing has been used for over forty years for inflow and infiltration studies. Smoke testing is a cost effective method way of locating sources of storm water inflow and should be a part of the CMOM program for most collection systems. For a complete evaluation of the collection system other test methods such as dye testing, manhole inspection, flow monitoring, and sewer camera inspection are available.
The principal sewer problems that can be identified by smoke testing include:
·
Broken sewer lines. Providing there is an exit for the smoke to reach the surface and the breaks are above the groundwater table.
· Leaking manholes.
· Illegal connections such as building roof drains, sump pumps, yard and foundation drains.
· Abandoned lines that were not plugged.
· Cross connection between storm and sanitary sewers.
· Broken or missing sewer cleanout plugs. A cleanout without a plug located in a low lying area will allow a substantial amount of storm water to enter the sanitary sewer.
Depending on local conditions this writer’s experience has found that in most cases the smoke test can be successfully performed without the need of blocking the sewer line at one or both ends and saves a lot of time. Once the smoke blower is set on the manhole, smoke will start flowing from roof vents in a couple of minutes. If smoke starts to backup into the blower at the start of the test, this indicates there is a line blockage.
Smoke testing works best with at least a crew of three, one watches over the smoke blower while the other two check the buildings, grounds and streets for signs of smoke. These crew members should be provided with cans of spray paint and flags for marking locations of smoke coming from lawns, clean- outs, cracks in pavement or any other sign of smoke coming from the ground. They should also be provided with a record form on a clip board for making a written record of all smoking roof drains or other signs of smoke.
It is advisable to take pictures or videos of problem areas. Besides helping to define leak locations, pictures and videos are helpful in convincing property owners that they are responsible for correcting illegal connections.
Preparing for the smoke test:
It is unusual for smoke testing to create or cause any property damage, provisions of the liability insurance of the municipality should be checked before starting the test to make sure there is adequate coverage.
The key to efficient smoke testing is to have work well planed in advance. An experienced crew can test up to 10,000 feet of sewer in a day if the work has been well laid out. A map of the sewer system showing all manholes and sewer pipe details will save time later when recording information from the smoke test if the manholes are numbered. This will also make it easier to identify residences with problems when recording notes during the smoke test.
When laying out manholes for smoke testing, try to avoid busy intersections. The safety of the crew and the public must be considered at each setup. If a setup is in the street, it will be necessary to have appropriate signs and barricades and two or more crew members to direct traffic. All crew members must wear safety vests at all times, to alert drivers when they are in the street and to make it clear to the public that they are part of the smoke test crew when they must enter private property.
It will save a lot of time when conducting the smoke test if the crew goes around in advance and checks manhole covers that are to be opened to make sure they can be opened. Some covers that haven’t been opened for years or are the bolted type could take a lot of time to remove, you will probably find some that the paving contractor has paved over. Make a quick inspection for heavy flow conditions or other problems such as line blockage, the line may have to be jet cleaned or repaired before smoke testing. Advance public notice: It is essential that all county and municipal departments are aware of when and where the smoke test will be conducted. The fire and rescue department, police department, 911 operator, the people handling telephone inquires at the town or county office are likely to receive a call in spite of all efforts to fully inform the public in advance.
The residents in the area to be smoke tested must be informed on
·
What you will be doing, and why you are doing it
· What they might see during the smoke test
· What they do in advance of the smoke test
· What to do if smoke gets into their house
Start with general notices in local media, and follow up with a letter to residents of the affected test area. A personal visit or placing door hangers on all buildings before testing, the door hangers also helps reduce questions and complaints. It is important to remind occupants to place water in floor drains and other fixtures with drain traps that could have dried out since last being used otherwise they are likely to get smoke in their home or building.
Other than dry traps, other internal plumbing problems that could cause smoke to enter a building are
·
Vents connected to the sewer line are inadequate, defective or improperly installed.
· Traps under sinks, tubs, basins, washing machines, and showers are defective, improperly installed or missing.
· Pipe connections and seals of the drain system in and under the building are damaged, defective or disintegrated, plugs missing, or improperly installed.
It should be emphasized that if smoke enters their building during the smoke test they will probably also get sewer gas in the building. This can cause a disagreeable odor, and be potentially dangerous.
Sample Advance Press Release and door Hanger
Town /County/ City work crews will be conducting smoke test of sanitary sewers in your area on and will end on _________________________ .
The test will assist the town / county in locating breaks and defects in the sewer system. During the test you might see smoke coming from vent stacks on buildings and from manholes and holes in the ground. Don’t be alarmed. The smoke has no odor and is non-toxic, non-staining, does not create a fire hazard and will dissipate in a few minutes.
Before the town conducts the smoke test, please pour water into your basement floor drains and any unused sinks to fill the drain. If this is not done smoke could enter your building through the drain.
If smoke should enter your building during the test, it probably means there are defects in the plumbing that could allow DANGEROUS SEWER GAS to enter. Note the location of the smoke and call your plumber or the plumbing inspector at . And he /she will meet with you to discuss what should be done to correct the problem.
OPEN ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS TO VENTILATE ANY SMOKE THAT ENTERS THE BUILDING
Please notify us before we conduct the test if you have any of the following situations:
·
Dogs, birds, or other pets that will be confined alone in the building during the test
· A person who will be alone and is invalid or sleeping during the test
· Any individuals with respiratory problems who will be in the building
· Elderly persons who will be alone and might be alarmed or confused if they see smoke
· People who do not understand English
If you have any of these situations or have questions regarding the smoke test call. ( ) ____ - __________
Follow Up
Follow up on illegal connections immediately after the smoke testing, while it is still fresh in the minds of residents. They should be sent a letter, signed by an appropriate official, informing them of the illegal connection to the sanitary sewer system, citing the regulations and providing a reasonable time limit for the work to be completed. If the property owner challenges the findings, it may be necessary to prove the presence of the illegal connection. The best way of doing this is to have the still pictures or videos of the resident showing the source of smoke and the house number. Or if pictures or videos are not available, pour a gallon of water containing sewer tracing dye into the downspout or drain, have the resident observe the dye entering a downstream manhole.
Some municipalities will provide property owners with information on how the repair should be made and permits that may be required. Also there must be a systematic follow up to make sure the required changes are made.
Leaks in the sewer mains that were identified by smoke testing are usually best specifically identified by TV inspection. Unlike smoke testing TV inspection during wet weather will show actual infiltration points.