Gupta, Sophia

Sophia Gupta is a water/wastewater process engineer at AECOM, based in Vancouver, Canada. She has a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from McGill University in Montreal. Prior to joining AECOM, Sophia spent 3 years working in the field as a commissioning specialist for a process equipment supplier. Her travels took her to water and wastewater treatment plants in municipalities across North America, where she enjoyed learning about the diverse places, practices, and people across the Canada and the US. When she is not deep in treatment plant design projects at AECOM, you'll find Sophia learning about her own backyard in the Pacific Northwest - exploring its forests, mountains, and particularly, the ocean, which her work in wastewater treatment aims to protect.

Titles from this speaker

Description: Mr. Floatie Has Retired: Lessons Learned During Commissioning of a Greenfield...

Mr. Floatie Has Retired: Lessons Learned During Commissioning of a Greenfield Wastewater Treatment Plant in Victoria BC

Abstract

The McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant (MPWWTP) in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, is a greenfield tertiary treatment plant that services the Capital Regional District. The MPWWTP was commissioned and brought into service in autumn 2020, replacing an existing preliminary treatment system. During the commissioning effort at MPWWTP, challenges were posed by the small plant footprint and compact design, combinations of treatment technologies, stringent regulatory compliance requirements, decentralized facilities for residuals handling and screening, and the tight timeline for startup and commissioning. These challenges incited fastpaced problem solving, collaboration, and real-time learning for the project team. The successful commissioning of the MPWWTP was a result of strategic planning, consistent and thorough communication, and practiced flexibility. Despite various hurdles, the project was delivered to the client on schedule, and the resulting lessons learned are widely applicable to future full-scale commissioning efforts.

The McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, is a greenfield tertiary treatment plant servicing the Capital Regional District. The plant was successfully commissioned in autumn 2020 as a result of strategic planning, consistent and thorough communication, and practiced flexibility. Despite encountering several challenges, the project was delivered on schedule; the resulting lessons learned should be considered for future full-scale commissioning efforts.

SpeakerGupta, Sophia

Presentation time

11:00:00

11:30:00

Session time

10:30:00

11:30:00

SessionProject Delivery Challenges: Continued Operations and Commissioning

Session locationRoom S404c - Level 4

TopicFacility Operations and Maintenance, Intermediate Level, Municipal Wastewater Treatment Design, Utility Management and Leadership

Author(s)

Gupta, Sophia

Author(s)S. Gupta 1; R. Craig 2 ; M. McCoy 3; S. Gupta 1;

Author affiliation(s)AECOM 1; AECOM 2 ; Onyx Environmental Ltd. 3; AECOM 1;

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Oct 2023

DOI10.2175/193864718825159186

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count18

Protect the Fish: Predicting Ammonia Toxicity Risk in the Fraser River

Abstract

Ammonia is known to be acutely toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms at low concentrations. In effort to predict regulatory non-compliance due to ammonia discharged from two of Metro Vancouver’s wastewater treatment plants, regression models were developed to project final effluent ammonia concentrations at each facility over a 25-year period. These ammonia projections were compared with regulatory requirements, and the risk of non-compliance was quantified over the period under various operational scenarios, such as increased centrifuge operation and per capita flow reduction. The risk assessment concluded that some degree of noncompliance was observed in most scenarios evaluated; to target full compliance with the regulations it is estimated that a 13% reduction in effluent ammonia at LIWWTP and a 22% reduction at AIWWTP under baseline conditions is required. At both facilities, implementing side stream ammonia removal on the dewatering centrate stream would increase compliance to 100% at baseline conditions.

Federal regulations are enacted in Canada to protect aquatic life from wastewater effluent with toxic ammonia concentrations. This study uses regression models to predict the final effluent ammonia toxicity risk at two facilities in Metro Vancouver over a 25-year period. The study finds that a reduction in effluent ammonia at both facilities may be required in the future to ensure compliance with federal regulations; this could be achieved with ammonia removal in the dewatering centrate stream.

SpeakerGupta, Sophia

Presentation time

14:30:00

14:50:00

Session time

13:30:00

15:00:00

SessionFrom Fish Passage Design to Ocean Discharges: Going Coastal

Session locationRoom S402a - Level 4

TopicIntermediate Level, Watershed Management, Water Quality, and Groundwater

Author(s)

Gupta, Sophia