1:
INITIAL OPERATIONS CHALLENGES

2: PROJECT
BACKGROUND

3: ALLIANCE
ACHIEVEMENTS

1: Initial Operations Challenges

• 
  Problems with the SBR system were causing
  the City to rely on the use of expensive polymers to keep
  within DNR limits. There was an operational and financial
  need to reduce, if not eliminate, the need for polymer feed
  to the SBR system.
• The City was also in need of a contract
  operations firm that had experience keeping operations
  running smoothly
  during a plant rehabilitation and expansion program,
  and who could effectively work with engineers through
  the design
  and construction phases of the development project
  to ensure reliable and operable facilities.
• Preventive maintenance measures were
  limited to problem areas.

2: Project Background

Alliance was selected to provide contract operations and management of the water and wastewater systems to the City of Maquoketa in a competitive procurement process in 2001. Alliance was selected over the incumbent firm and was able to retain two employees and hired three new ones to start operations. At that time, the water system included four wells, with chlorine and fluoride added at each. In 2006, a new treatment plant using an ion exchange softening process was completed and began operations.

The CityÕs wastewater system included an SBR system that was operating beyond capacity. The City planned to expand the plant and convert it to a conventional activated sludge process.

3: Alliance
Achievements

• Improvements at the wastewater treatment
  facilities involved the majority of the treatment
  process and piping in some manner. The Alliance team worked
  with
  the City, the engineer, and the construction crews
  to keep the plant in service, yet provide the flexibility
  necessary
  to complete the construction.
• Our team saved money
  for the City by assisting with the closing
  and demolition of an old abandoned well as
  well as cleaning the SBR, chlorine contact,
  and sulfur dioxide tanks.
• Alliance has developed
  and implemented an electronic based preventive
  maintenance program for both
  the water
  and wastewater systems.
• In the Spring
  of 2002, Maquoketa experienced severe flooding
  that threatened to close
  the WWTP. The
  staff was
  able to prevent major damage
  by use of pumping and sandbags. As noted
  by the DNR when they visited to
  assess the damage,
  the plant remained in compliance
  throughout the flooding.
  Flooding also caused damage to the collection
  system. A
  new camera system was purchased,
  allowing the televising of
  City sewer lines to assess damage and
  determine repair
  needs.
• Engineers and operations experts from AllianceÕs home office were in attendance to troubleshoot the switch from SBR wastewater treatment to a 24-hour conventional activated sludge process. Having those expertise on hand (at no extra cost to the City) helped ensure a smooth transition.
• Even when water plant construction demanded much attention, Alliance crews worked diligently to locate outdated private wastewater pipelines so they could be replaced in step with a road resurfacing project.
• Unknown valves and lines throughout the CityÕs infrastructure needed to be tracked and recorded. Alliance saved money by retrofitting an old ambulance with cameras and equipment to televise the sewers. The City also traded in a trailer-mounted sewer jet and purchased a Jet/Vac truck. Together, these changes saved the City more than $25,000 in cleaning and televising costs.
• Alliance saved $20,770 over the previous sludge hauler by negotiating with a new vendor. Unnecessary travel and gas expenses were also avoided by finding new land for sludge application closer to the treatment plant.