A Partnership for Success

Presented by Jean-Francois Berard, P.Eng. AWWA Director, Quebec Section

16th Canadian National Conference on Drinking Water (Gatineau, Qc)

Overview

• Partnership for Safe Water – History – Objectives – Treatment Program – Distribution Program

• Program steps (Phases) • Canadian Participation

Partnership for Safe Water

• Program established by AWWA in 1995 to address Cryptosporidium concerns – Ref. Milwaukee outbreak, 1993

• Over 400,000 people affected • Over 100 deaths related to outbreak

Culprit:

Partnership for Safe Water

• Partner organizations:

Partnership for Safe Water

• Partnership for Safe Water mission: – To improve the quality of drinking water delivered

to customers of community water systems by optimizing operations.

• Two different programs: 1) Treatment plant optimization (1995) 2) Distribution system optimization (2011)

Current Partnership Subscribers • Treatment Program

– 233 Utilities – 433 Treatment plants

• Distribution Program – 145 Systems

• 40 States, DC, and Canada since 2013 (QC*, NS, ON)

• 50% serving population <100,000 (Smallest serve populations of less than 1000)

Partnership Treatment utilities serve a

combined population of more than

85 million

Partnership Distribution utilities serve a combined

population of more than 38 million

Partnership Optimization Philosophy

The Partnership for Safe Water achieves continuous improvement by optimizing operational performance. Optimization, as defined by the Partnership, means that all the system processes are being performed at the highest level (all the optimization goals of the Partnership are being continuously achieved). Self-assessment is a tool used to determine optimization status and to identify areas for improvement over time. Systems should engage in the self-assessment process to identify opportunities for improvement and to advance their optimization status. Participating utilities embrace the opportunity to discover areas for improvement. Only when these are known can they be improved. This is the outcome of the self-assessment.

It is difficult to achieve fully optimized status as defined by the performance goals of the Partnership for Safe Water. These goals reflect operational superiority. Optimization efforts are used to advance system operation to attain performance nearer the Partnership goals. Continuous improvement is a process. Partnership utilities tirelessly strive for higher levels of performance. Even the elite systems that achieve fully optimized status are never satisfied, so they continue to tenaciously search for ways to improve. The Partnership for Safe Water is a philosophy that embraces the quest for excellence in water system operation to improve the quality of water and reliability of service provided to all users.

Complacency

Complacency

Webster’s – “Self-Satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies.”

“Beyond Regulations”

• Partnership for Safe Water subscribers strive to set and meet performance targets that go beyond regulatory requirements. – Additional level of public health protection

Treatment Program • Open to surface water filtration

plants of all sizes and configurations – Focus on applying the

multiple barrier approach for turbidity reduction ≤0.1 NTU

– Optimize all unit processes for particulate removal

– Conventional, direct filtration, membrane, DAF, softening

Why 0.1 NTU?

• EPA – Composite Correction Program Handbook cites the results of pilot work indicating: – 0.1 NTU filter effluent turbidity indicative of

effective and consistent Cryptosporidium removal

• PSW self-assessment based on EPA comprehensive performance evaluation

Turbidity Regulations vs. Partnership Goals

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

EPA MCL EPA 95th Percentile PSW 95th Percentile

NTU

EPA & Health Canada vs. PSW Turbidity Requirements

AND HEALTH CANADA MAXIMUM

HEALTH CANADA 95TH Percentile*

*For chemically assisted filtration – membrane systems have lower regulatory turbidity levels and are also welcome to join the Partnership program

Distribution Program

• How do we help utilities improve water quality and protect public health after the water leaves the plant?

• Distribution system challenges: – Multiple uses, priorities – Out of sight – Water age, water quality

Distribution Program

• Open to any distribution system that applies a residual disinfectant – Disinfectant = chlorine, chloramine, chlorine

dioxide – Goal is to optimize distribution system

operations to ensure water quality and safety – Started in January 2011

Key Monitoring Parameters

• Disinfectant residual – Water quality integrity

• Main break frequency – Physical integrity

• Pressure management – Hydraulic integrity

2006 National Academy of Sciences report on Drinking Water Distribution Systems – Assessing

and Reducing Risks

Performance Goals

• Disinfectant Residual (>95% of meas.)* – Free Chlorine: ≥ 0.20 and ≤ 4.0 mg/L – Total Chlorine: ≥ 0.50 and ≤ 4.0 mg/L – Chlorine Dioxide: ≥ 0.20 and ≤ 0.80 mg/L

• No consecutive residual measurements outside target concentrations at optimized routine sample locations

• DBPs within regulatory requirements

Performance Goals

• Minimum Pressure (≥ 99.5% of meas.) – Pressure: ≥20 psi for daily minimum

• Maximum pressure (≥ 95% of meas.) – Does not exceed utility specified maximum

• Pressure fluctuations (≥ 95% of meas.) – Does not exceed range specified by utility

Performance Goals

• Main Breaks and Leaks – ≤ 15/100 miles of pipe/year - for reported

leaks and breaks in utility-controlled distribution and transmission piping

• Or – declining 5-year main break frequency trend demonstrating progress towards optimization

Getting Started

• Partnership relies on creating an engaged workforce! – Obtain support from management – Buy-in from all levels of the organization is

essential • Commit resources to the program effort • Participate in self-assessment process

– Work towards a common goal

Getting Started

• Does it take a lot of time? Personnel? Expense? – Data: plants already have – Self-paced process

• Many utilities meet on a weekly/monthly basis to “divide and conquer” self-assessment questions

– Focused on operational improvements rather than major capital expenditures

• issues identified using the self-assessment process can help utilities plan for future capital needs

Program Phases

• Phase I – Commitment • Phase II – Baseline data reporting • Phase III – Self-Assessment completion • Phase IV – Demonstrated optimization

Subscribers are required to comply with all applicable regulations, regardless of program Phase.

Phase I

• Submission of registration form and payment of subscription fee

• Commitment to participate in the program through Phase III – No time limit, self-paced

• DO NOT need to meet goals to join • DO need to be in compliance with regulations

Phase II

• Submission of baseline data 1) Treatment turbidity 2) Distribution disinfectant residual

• Why? To measure improvement over time.

Control parameters

Phase III – Self-Assessment: Objectives

1. Identify Performance Limiting Factors

2. Develop feasible action plans for improvement

3. Prioritize and begin work

Self-Assessment Process

• Self-Assessment of: – Performance – System design – System operation – Administration

Guidance documentation steps utilities through the Self-Assessment process

Action Plan Development • Utilities develop action plans for high

priority areas that are not optimized – Specific action – Assigned to appropriate team – Due date/target date based on prioritization – Results can be measured

Filtration Action Implementation Plan Issue Short Term

Solution Responsible

Person(s) Date

Completed Long Term

Solution Person(s)

Responsible Target Date to be Completed

After Completion • Monitor progress against plan

– Partnership for Safe Water annual reporting • Adjust action plan as needed • Submit annual data and narrative optimization

report to Partnership = accountability • Fully optimized systems can apply for Phase IV

Partnership for Safe Water status – Systems demonstrate commitment to maintaining

optimization and continuous improvement

Partnership Benefits Improved Water

Quality: Directors Award

plants reduce turbidity by an average of over

60%! 95th Percentile of

0.1 NTU

EPA/Health Canada 95th Percentile

Directors Award

Annual Data Submission:

Maintain Directors Award status,

receive date tags, and become eligible for 5-, 10-, and 15-

Year “longevity” awards Tulsa, OK WTP

representatives accept the Directors Award

At ACE13

Phase IV - Optimization

• Plants meeting stringent water quality and performance goals and demonstrating optimization can apply for Phase IV – President’s Award – Excellence Award in Water

Treatment • Voluntary phase of program

Canadian Participation • Beginning in 2013

– Partnership for Safe Water open to direct international participation

• Reseau Environnement continues to administer program for Quebec Utilities and those communicating in French

• Utilities outside Quebec join the Partnership for Safe Water directly through AWWA

Canadian Partnership Subscribers Canadian Participants

Beauharnois - Station Joseph-Armand-Poupart

Montreal - Atwater

Riviere-du-Loup - Station Riviere-du-Loup

Becancour - Station de Bécancour Montreal - Charles J. Des Baillets Rosemere - Station de Rosemère

Gatineau - Aylmer Montreal - Dorval Rouyn-Noranda - Rouyn-Noranda

Gatineau - Buckingham Montreal - Lachine Saint-Eustache - Station de Saint-Eustache

Gatineau - Hull Montreal - Pierrefonds Joliette

L'Assomption - Jean-Perreault Montreal - Pointe-Claire Saint-Jerome - Saint-Jerome

Laval - Station Sainte-Rose Oka - Oka Sainte-Therese - Station de Sainte-Thérèse

Laval - Station Pont Viau Quebec - Beauport Trois-Rivieres - Trois-Rivières

Laval - Station Chomedey Quebec - Charlesbourg Victoriaville - Hamel

Quebec - Quebec Saint-Henri Halifax Water (Nova Scotia)

Chatham-Kent PUC (Ontario)

Partnership Benefits • Public health

protection – “beyond regulations”

• Optimized performance • Reduce operating

costs and major capital expenditures

• Utility teamwork and cohesiveness • Employee support,

culture of excellence

• Improved customer confidence • Funding, water

rates • Credibility

• Regulator confidence • Recognition • Guidance and best

practices

Partnership Benefits

Thank you!