Fitzpatrick, James

Jim has over 30 years of experience on wastewater treatment projects ranging from planning, studies, pilots, design, startup, and optimization for facilities from 0.05 to 400+mgd around the world. Hes a licensed professional engineer and has focused the last 20 years on best practices for sustainable nutrient management and wet-weather treatment resiliency. He is happiest when hes outdoors on, in, or near the water with family and friends.

Titles from this speaker

Better Pathogen Removal by EHRT than Activated Sludge Alone

Abstract

Multiyear, side-by-side, full-scale studies at the Bay View Water Reclamation Plant in Toledo, Ohio demonstrate that leading-edge, non-biological enhanced high-rate treatment (EHRT) technologies provide equal or better reduction of pathogens and pollutants of concern from peak wet-weather flows as conventional activated sludge treatment. In particular, the EHRT train demonstrated statistically higher reductions of Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium and Giardia than the parallel activated sludge train. In many cases, such as densely populated urban areas, wet-weather flow capacity expansions with EHRT technologies are significantly less costly and more resilient than other alternatives. Wastewater, stormwater and water reclamation utilities should continue to consider EHRT alternatives as they develop and implement plans to control wet-weather flows and manage water quality.

SpeakerFitzpatrick, James

Presentation time

10:30:00

10:50:00

Session time

10:30:00

11:30:00

SessionKilling Me Softly: Disinfection for Pathogen Control

Session number522

TopicDisinfection and Public Health, Research and Innovation, Water Reuse and Reclamation

Author(s)

K. GordonJ. FitzpatrickR. IvesJ.B. RoseJ. FitzpatrickC. McGibbeny

Author(s)K. Gordon1; J. Fitzpatrick1; R. Ives2; J.B. Rose3; J. Fitzpatrick1; C. McGibbeny4;

Author affiliation(s)Black & Veatch, MO1; Michigan State University, MI2; Michigan State University3; City of Toledo Div of Water Reclamation, OH4

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Oct 2020

DOI10.2175/193864718825157533

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count10

Description: Early Adopters Prove Resiliency of Auxiliary Treatment Strategy and Effectiveness of...

Early Adopters Prove Resiliency of Auxiliary Treatment Strategy and Effectiveness of Latest Generation of Multi-Purpose Filtration

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Many utilities face increasing challenges from (A) high wet-weather flows and (B) stringent effluent limits. Some also aspire to (C) decarbonize and increase resource recovery. Filtration was previously considered feasible only for tertiary polishing (B); however, filter technologies have evolved to address (A) and (C). These can improve performance and resiliency as POTWs mitigate climate change, aging infrastructure, and growing populations. Previous generation pile cloth filters have successfully helped solve (A) and (B) for over 10 years (Fitzpatrick et al, 2018). Adaptations emerging for (C) enhance the capture of influent carbonaceous materials to recover bioenergy, bioplastics feedstock, or other renewable resources and lower downstream energy demands (Hengel-Prom et al, 2022). Several facilities in the US and UK have operated primary filters since circa 2017, more are being installed/designed, and dozens have piloted successfully. The latest generation technologies further increase the viability of multi-purpose applications.

Regulatory policies on (A) vary nationwide and around the world. Within the United States Eighth Circuit Court's jurisdiction, USEPA honors the Court's 2013 decision upholding blending and auxiliary enhanced high-rate treatment (EHRT) technologies, such as pile cloth filters (Iowa League of Cities v EPA). Utilities outside the Eighth Circuit have regulatory precedence for case-by-case permitting, such as USEPA's 1994 CSO Control Policy and NPDES permits for other EHRT facilities outside of the Eighth Circuit. Efforts continue for consistent federal policy that more clearly allows pile cloth filters and other EHRT technologies for auxiliary wet-weather treatment nationwide.

METHODS AND RESULTS
Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority (LRWRA) and Johnson County Wastewater (JCW) successfully overcame these challenges, inside and outside the Eighth Circuit, respectively. Both utilities began operating multi-purpose pile cloth filter facilities in 2021 following comprehensive evaluations, applied research, onsite piloting, design, value engineering and construction. The alternatives evaluations included triple-bottom-line assessments, reference facility visits, and onsite piloting of leading EHRT technologies (Szerwinski et al, 2023).

JCW saved $200M in construction costs with a multi-purpose filtration strategy compared to wet-weather flow storage and equalization. Design and CMAR collaboration saved an additional $40M in construction costs through 60% design value engineering for wet-weather treatment and nutrient removal. The multi-purpose filters are part of improvements that achieve annual average nutrient goals of TP<0.5mg/L and TN<10mg/L at an average design flow rate of 19mgd with peak wet-weather capacity up to 172mgd. A 115mgd AquaStorm MegaDisk filter facility provides direct filtration of coarse-screened influent during peak wet-weather flow events and is also used during normal flow conditions to enhance capture of phosphorus-bearing solids. This system is the largest capacity dual-purpose pile cloth disk filter facility in the US. Monitoring data demonstrate that the multi-purpose filter consistently achieves TSS < 5mg/L during normal conditions and < 20mg/L during peak wet-weather conditions.

LRWRA realized similar advantages as JCW at their Adams Field WRF. Improvements include (1) nitrification and denitrification retrofits and clarifier upgrades to the existing 36mgd activated sludge process and (2) new 58mgd multi-purpose filter, 94mgd UV disinfection expansion, and 94mgd effluent pump station. The filters used for auxiliary parallel wet-weather treatment are also used for effluent polishing during normal flows to improve effluent quality and downstream UV performance and O&M. The stormiest month was March 2023, when four wet-weather events required auxiliary treatment for 16 of 31 days. Effluent TSS and BOD remained at or below 10mg/L.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Results from JCW and LRWRA agree favorably with reference facilities at over 40 POTWs nationwide and over 100 worldwide operating a variety of EHRT technologies for over 30 years. These data show that pile cloth filters and other EHRT technologies are consistently able to provide 'non-biological secondary treatment' of wet-weather flows, further supporting the US Eighth Circuit Court's 2013 decision and 2021 clarification upholding EHRT applications to wet-weather blending practices for both combined and separate sewer systems. Both facilities co-thicken and anaerobically digest carbon-bearing solids captured by the filters, thus these facilities' operations also add to the knowledgebase for emerging enhanced primary treatment applications aimed at increasing decarbonization and resource recovery.

This paper was presented at WEFTEC 2025, held September 27-October 1, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

Presentation time

15:30:00

16:00:00

Session time

15:30:00

17:00:00

SessionResiliency and Effectiveness of Wet Weather Flow Management and Treatment

Session locationMcCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, USA

TopicLiquid Stream Treatment Technology - Preliminary, Primary, and Wet Weather Treatment

Author(s)

Fitzpatrick, James, Gupta, Vedansh, Hengel-Prom, Christine, Kadava, Anjana, Kerr, Tracy, Szerwinski, Alexander, Thompson, John, White, Nathan

Author(s)J. Fitzpatrick1, V. Gupta2, C. Hengel-Prom1, A. Kadava3, T. Kerr4, A. Szerwinski3, J. Thompson4, N. White1

Author affiliation(s)Black & Veatch1, Aqua Aerobic Systems Inc2, Johnson County Wastewater3, Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority4

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Sep 2025

DOI10.2175/193864718825160078

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count17

Description: Improve Secondary Clarifier Performance with "Secret" Design...

Improve Secondary Clarifier Performance with "Secret" Design Resurrected from Yesteryear

Abstract

A clarifier inlet design conceived in the 1970s significantly improves hydrodynamic performance compared to most contemporary inlet and internal baffle configurations. This inlet design has improved operations and performance of peripheral-drive clarifiers in Great Britain and Germany since about 2005. The 1250-MLD (330-mgd) O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) in Chicago, Illinois; the 470-MLD (124-mgd) Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in Adelaide, Australia; and the 136-MLD (36-mgd) Adams Field Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) in Little Rock, Arkansas are among the first of a growing number of facilities to successfully adapt the design to center-column cage-driven mechanisms. Design considerations, operational benefits, and demonstration data from three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (3-D CFD) modeling and full-scale field testing are discussed.

SpeakerFitzpatrick, James

Presentation time

13:00:00

13:20:00

Session time

13:00:00

14:00:00

SessionSettle Down! Case Studies of Secondary Clarifier Improvements

Session number604

TopicFacility Operations and Maintenance, Municipal Wastewater Treatment Design

Author(s)

J.L. BarnardL. DowningJ. FitzpatrickJ. FitzpatrickJ. ThompsonJ. TurnbullA. Kaufman

Author(s)J.L. Barnard1; L. Downing2; J. Fitzpatrick3; J. Fitzpatrick3; J. Thompson4; J. Turnbull5; A. Kaufman6;

Author affiliation(s)Black & Veatch, KS1; Black & Veatch, WI2; Black & Veatch, MO3; Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority, AR4; Black & Veatch, Surrey5; Hawkins-Weir Engineers, Inc., AR6

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Oct 2020

DOI10.2175/193864718825157569

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count11

Description: Two Years Operating World's Largest Capacity Facility of Latest Generation...

Two Years Operating World's Largest Capacity Facility of Latest Generation Wet-weather Disk Filters

Abstract

The recently expanded and upgraded Tomahawk Creek WWTF continues JCW’s success eliminating wet-weather overflows and complying with new nutrient limits. After comprehensive evaluations of source control, equalization, conveyance, and treatment alternatives, JCW implemented an auxiliary treatment strategy with dual-purpose filters as the most resilient, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative. This strategy initially saved JCW $200M in construction costs compared to storage and equalization alternatives. Design collaboration with a construction manager at risk (CMAR) saved another $40M in construction costs through value engineering studies at the 60% design stage that optimized site usage and technologies for auxiliary treatment and biological nutrient removal. The renewed WWTF started operating dualpurpose pile cloth disk filters in 2021 for tertiary treatment of flows up to 216 ML/d (57 mgd) and auxiliary treatment of wet-weather flows up to 435 ML/d (115 mgd) for a total peak flow capacity of 651 ML/d (172 mgd).

Renewal of the Tomahawk Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility is a major milestone in Johnson County Wastewater's Integrated Plan to identify, assess, and prioritize infrastructure initiatives and investments. Among its innovations, the updated facility uses an auxiliary treatment strategy with dual-purpose pile cloth disk filters that polishes effluent and cost-effectively treats peak wet-weather flows up to 651 ML/d (172 mgd) for year-round benefits to local streamways.

SpeakerFitzpatrick, James

Presentation time

16:00:00

16:30:00

Session time

15:30:00

17:00:00

SessionThinking Outside the Basin: Auxiliary Wet Weather Treatment

Session locationRoom S504a - Level 5

TopicIntermediate Level, Municipal Wastewater Treatment Design, Wet Weather

Author(s)

Fitzpatrick, Jim

Author(s)J. Fitzpatrick 1; A. Szerwinski 2 ; J. Dyson 3; G. Miller 4; A. Ruther 5; N. White 6; A. Szerwinski 2; J. Fitzpatrick 1;

Author affiliation(s)Black & Veatch 1; Johnson County Wastewater 2 ; Aqua-Aerobics 3; Black & Veatch 4; Black & Veatch 5; Black & Veatch 6; Johnson County Wastewater 2; Black & Veatch 1;

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Oct 2023

DOI10.2175/193864718825159050

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count14