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The purpose of the paper is to demonstrate the value of using genetic algorithm optimization, an artificial intelligence (AI) tool, in the master planning of a utility’s wastewater network. The approach is designed to find the most cost-effective combinations of improvement alternatives that meet the utility’s planning criteria which can range from the critical hydraulic performance through to community stakeholder and environmental impact. In addition, the paper will show how AI optimization can be further used to prioritize selected improvements into a schedule of works that maximizes return on investment while satisfying objectives such as manhole flooding, and controlled overflow structure discharges.

MSDGC's collection system has four satellite, unstaffed real-time control facilities (RTCs) commissioned between 2008 and 2010 as part of the consent decree stipulations. These in-line storage facilities were designed to maximize the use of existing infrastructure for storage and conveyance of wet weather flow to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to reduce the volume and frequency of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) by hundreds of millions of gallons (MG) annually. However, their remote location and unstaffed, intermittent operation under harsh wet weather conditions present operations and maintenance (O&M) challenges. Until a few years ago, they lacked remote visibility for detecting failures and analytical tools to uncover and address deficiencies. These challenges were eroding their effectiveness over time. In part, to address these challenges, MSDGC implemented a Smart Sewers program – an innovative cloud-based remote monitoring and control system dedicated to wet weather operations including that of RTCs. It uses sensors throughout the collection system, a remote monitoring platform for visualizing information, and data storage and analytics to optimize collection system operation. This paper shares ways in which MSDGC's Smart Sewers program has addressed many of the challenges associated with remote, unstaffed RTC facilities, served as a catalyst for change for these facilities, and made them more resilient. Lessons learned from the four facilities highlighted in this paper were incorporated into the design of two new RTC facilities – the Bloody Run RTC and the Wooden Shoe RTC that came on line in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

WEFTEC, the largest water event of its kind in North America, offers water quality professionals the best in water quality education and training. With almost 200 technical sessions, workshops, mobile sessions, local facility tours and 1,000+ exhibitors, it is the premier water conference! The WEFTEC technical program is selected through a rigorous, peer-review process, ensuring that attendees experience the highest-quality education. WEFTEC speakers are experts and innovators, leading the way in water quality. The following paper was presented at WEFTEC 2020.

Since the emerging production and usage of plastic products in the 1950s, the environmental pollution by plastics and microplastics increased. Water Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRFs) may be pathways for microplastics entering limnic systems because of insufficient retention of particles and accumulation in sewage sludge. Therefore, the identification and quantification of microplastic particles in wastewater becomes more important. As there are no standard methods for sampling or analysis yet, there is a need for developing these. A sampling system for wastewater samples had to be developed. This includes the avoiding of plastic materials, sampling of the necessary volume for analysis and enrichment of the particles

WEFTEC, the largest water event of its kind in North America, offers water quality professionals the best in water quality education and training. With almost 200 technical sessions, workshops, mobile sessions, local facility tours and 1,000+ exhibitors, it is the premier water conference! The WEFTEC technical program is selected through a rigorous, peer-review process, ensuring that attendees experience the highest-quality education. WEFTEC speakers are experts and innovators, leading the way in water quality. The following paper was presented at WEFTEC 2020.

In this study, a deep neural network (DNN) modelling method was used to develop a quantitative structure-activity relationship between microbial community composition and anaerobic digestion (AD) methane production rate. Lab-scale digesters (149 digesters) were seeded with biomass from different full-scale anaerobic digesters and then operated under identical conditions. Although the digesters were operated identically, their methane production varied significantly, ranging from 0.09 to 0.98 L-CH4/LR-day (LR = Liter of reactor volume). The microbial relative abundance values from 149 digesters were used as descriptors in a quantitative DNN model to predict the methane production rates. The DNN model explained over 74% of the variance in the methane production rates of 149 anaerobic digesters, which is higher than the multiple linear regression model used in a previous study. This study provides a basis for relating complex microbial community with the performance of engineered biological systems.

The City of Omaha conducted an optimization study to support its upcoming Long Term Control Plan update. The goal of the study was to identify whether no-tunnel alternatives to the current tunnel-based plan existed, and to identify the most cost-effective ways of achieving 85% wet-weather volume capture. A transparent, inclusive approach maximized the City’s knowledge throughout the optimization process. Over one hundred fifty potential projects were identified as inputs to the optimization and were added to the City’s calibrated hydraulic collection system model. Lifecycle costing was performed to represent capital, operations, and maintenance costs of projects. Optimatics’ Optimizer software was used to evaluate over 100,000 distinct alternatives, including both tunnel-based and no-tunnel alternatives. No-tunnel alternatives providing significant savings potential over Omaha’s current LTCP were identified. Five high-performing alternatives were identified, considering additional decision factors such as flood risk benefits and City preferences. These alternatives will be vetted to make a final LTCP update recommendation.

WEFTEC, the largest water event of its kind in North America, offers water quality professionals the best in water quality education and training. With almost 200 technical sessions, workshops, mobile sessions, local facility tours and 1,000+ exhibitors, it is the premier water conference! The WEFTEC technical program is selected through a rigorous, peer-review process, ensuring that attendees experience the highest-quality education. WEFTEC speakers are experts and innovators, leading the way in water quality. The following paper was presented at WEFTEC 2020.

WEFTEC, the largest water event of its kind in North America, offers water quality professionals the best in water quality education and training. With almost 200 technical sessions, workshops, mobile sessions, local facility tours and 1,000+ exhibitors, it is the premier water conference! The WEFTEC technical program is selected through a rigorous, peer-review process, ensuring that attendees experience the highest-quality education. WEFTEC speakers are experts and innovators, leading the way in water quality. The following paper was presented at WEFTEC 2020.

Start-up of the first full-scale, spirally-wound membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) installation began in July 2019. The hybrid process is operated with both biofilm and suspended sludge to treat domestic wastewater. Retrofit of the MABR modules into the activated sludge anoxic zone, combined with a low dissolved oxygen (DO) control strategy in the aerobic zone, achieved increased treatment capacity and improved energy efficiency. The MABR nitrification rate (NR) ranged from 1.3 to 5.5 g/m2/day (10th -90th percentile), with the average being 3.1 g/m2/d. Rates of SND in the MABR zone were high as little nitrate accumulated in the MABR zone. Overall, the MABR zone contributed to 22% of the total ammonia removal and 27% of the total TIN removal experienced across the MABR train.