Deco, Rachel

Rachel Deco is an Engineering Associate at the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts. For the past 8 years she has worked in the Technical Services Department in the Wastewater Research Section. She has a Bachelor of Science in Geochemistry from the California Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Loyola Marymount University.

Titles from this speaker

Description: Leveraging Densified Activated Sludge and Partial...

Leveraging Densified Activated Sludge and Partial Nitrification/Denitrification/Anammox within an Integrated Advanced Water Treatment Facility for Large-Scale Potable Reuse

Abstract

The Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (Districts) have been exploring options for implementing nitrogen removal at the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant (JWPCP), a 400-MGD capacity high purity oxygen activated sludge (HPOAS) facility, due to potential reuse and regulatory drivers. This paper summarizes pilot-scale demonstrations of a secondary BNR (Densified Activated Sludge, DAS) and a tertiary BNR (tertiary moving bed biofilm reactor, TMBBR). These approaches has proven successful at meeting the nitrogen removal targets and provide program enhancements, including densification and PANDA/PdNA.

The Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts are exploring nitrogen removal options at the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant (JWPCP), a 400-MGD capacity high purity oxygen activated sludge (HPOAS) facility, to address potential reuse and regulatory drivers. Two potential approaches developed were a three stage A2O configuration and a tertiary moving bed biofilm reactor. Both approaches were successfully pilot tested and demonstrated the ability to meeting nitrogen removal targets.

SpeakerSun, Yewei

Presentation time

13:30:00

14:00:00

Session time

13:30:00

15:00:00

SessionReconsidering Biological Treatment for Water Purification: Reuse-nutrient Removal-nexus I

Session locationRoom S404c - Level 4

TopicIntermediate Level, Municipal Wastewater Treatment Design, Nutrients, Potable Reuse, Water Reuse and Reclamation

Author(s)

Sun, Yewei

Author(s)Y. Sun 1; B. Danker 2 ; R. Deco 3; H. Long 3; M. Liu 4; A. Laleian 5; N. Melitas 4; B. Mansell 5; P. Ackman 6; P. Pitt 7; W. Khunjar 8; R. Latimer 9; H. Noteboom 10; R.M. Deco 3; H.C. Long

Author affiliation(s)Hazen & Sawyer 1; Hazen & Sawyer 2 ; Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts 3; Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts 3; Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts 4; Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, 24501 Figueroa Street, Carson, CA, 90745 5; Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts 4; Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts 5; Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts 6; Hazen & Sawyer 7; Hazen & Sawyer 8; Hazen & Sawyer 9; 10; Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts 3; Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts 3;

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Oct 2023

DOI10.2175/193864718825159099

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count19

Description: Pilot-Scale Investigation of Stormwater Treatment at Various Los Angeles County...

Pilot-Scale Investigation of Stormwater Treatment at Various Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts' Solid Waste Facilities

Abstract

Pilot studies were conducted at the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts at multiple solid waste facilities to evaluate treatment to remove stormwater contaminants. The study found that influent metal concentrations were correlated with influent TSS. Study results showed that granular media filtration, microfiltration, and granular activated carbon was the most effective treatment system to remove the contaminants of concern at each facility.

The following conference paper was presented at WEFTEC 2021, October 16-20, 2021. To read the full abstract, see "Abstract" tab below.

SpeakerDeco, Rachel

Presentation time

9:30:00

09:50:00

Session time

08:30:00

10:00:00

SessionIndustrial Stormwater: Emerging Requirements, Historical Challenges, and Cutting-edge Treatment Technology

Session number408

TopicFundamental Level, Industrial Issues and Treatment Technologies, Policy and Regulation, Stormwater, Green Infrastructure, and Wet Weather

Author(s)

Rachel Deco

Author(s)R.M. Deco1; P. Ackman2; N. Melitas3;

Author affiliation(s)Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Whittier, CA1,2,3

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Oct, 2021

DOI10.2175/193864718825158090

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count16

Description: Pilot-scale Validation of Tertiary MBR Design Concepts for Potable Reuse in Southern...

Pilot-scale Validation of Tertiary MBR Design Concepts for Potable Reuse in Southern California

Abstract

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan) and Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (LACSD) are jointly exploring the potential of implementing the Pure Water Southern California (PWSC) program, which would include building an Advanced Water Treatment Facility (AWTF) capable of producing a 568 MLD (150 mgd) of purified water at LACSD’s Joint Water Pollution Control Plant (JWPCP) in Carson, CA. A series of studies conducted by both agencies have identified the application of a tertiary membrane bioreactor (tMBR) as a promising approach to provide nitrogen removal downstream of the JWPCP. This pilot study focused on evaluating tMBR design concepts with an emphasis on demonstrating successful operation of nitrification-denitrification (NDN) tMBR concepts. This study showed that NDN operated in a pre-anoxic configuration either utilizing supplemental carbon or primary effluent provides a promising approach for PWSC and potential future ocean discharge requirements for JWPCP

Pure Water Southern California is a potential reuse program to provide substantial water resiliency to Southern California. A series of studies identified use of a tertiary membrane bioreactor as a promising approach to manage nitrogen prior to advanced water treatment. The Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts initiated this pilot study to refine design and operational characteristics of the process.

SpeakerDeco, Rachel

Presentation time

16:00:00

16:20:00

Session time

15:30:00

17:00:00

SessionRefining Wastewater Effluent for Purification: Reuse-nutrient Removal-nexus II

Session locationRoom S404a - Level 4

TopicIntermediate Level, Municipal Wastewater Treatment Design, Nutrients, Potable Reuse, Water Reuse and Reclamation

Author(s)

Deco, Rachel

Author(s)R. Deco 1; B. Mansell 2 ; M. Liu 3; N. Melitas 3; C. Fitzgerald 4; T. Constantine 5; P. Swaim 6; R. Deco 1;

Author affiliation(s)Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts 1; Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts 2 ; Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts 3; Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts 3; Jacobs Engineering Group 4; Jacobs Engineering 5; Jacobs Engineering 6; Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts 1;

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Oct 2023

DOI10.2175/193864718825159134

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count14