Siczka, John

John Siczka is a Senior Technologist and Jacobs ' Wet Weather Treatment Global Technology Leader. He has 20 years ' experience with much of it...

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About Siczka, John

John Siczka is a Senior Technologist and Jacobs ' Wet Weather Treatment Global Technology Leader. He has 20 years ' experience with much of it involving wet weather treatment technology evaluation, studies, pilot testing, and design. He has supported wet weather projects throughout North America and several countries overseas. He has authored and co-authored a number of articles and is currently co-chair of WEF's Wet Weather Treatment Work Group.

Siczka, John

Titles from this speaker

Description: First of Its Kind Multi-Tiered Wet Weather Flow Management at a Trickling Filter...

First of Its Kind Multi-Tiered Wet Weather Flow Management at a Trickling Filter Facility

Abstract

The cost of wet weather flow management is high, requiring both major capital expenditures along with increased operational costs. Wet weather treatment facilities at wastewater treatment plants can remain idle for long periods of time resulting in stranded assets for much of the year. The City of Baton Rouge’s South Wastewater Treatment Plant (SWWTP) installed a first of its kind multi-tiered wet weather flow management solution at a trickling filter facility that optimizes the use of existing and new facility assets during dry and wet weather. Four solids contact basins were constructed, with one of the four basins configured to be either a re-aeration or contact basin, depending on which of three alternative treatment modes are in operation. The improvements essentially double the secondary treatment capacity of the plant during wet weather events. The optimization affords operational staff flexibility to cost effectively manage wet weather flow while maintaining permit compliance.

The City of Baton Rouge’s South Wastewater Treatment Plant installed a first of its kind multi-tiered wet weather flow management solution at a trickling filter facility that optimizes the use of existing and new facility assets during dry and wet weather. Four solids contact basins were constructed, with one of the four basins configured to be either a re-aeration or contact basin, depending on which of three alternative treatment modes are in operation. The improvements essentially double the secondary treatment capacity of the plant during wet weather events. The optimization affords staff flexibility to manage flows while maintaining permit compliance.

SpeakerSiczka, John

Presentation time

14:20:00

14:30:00

Session time

13:30:00

15:00:00

SessionWet Weather Treatment Innovations

Session number506

TopicFacility Operations and Maintenance, Municipal Wastewater Treatment Design, Resilience, Disaster Planning and Recovery

Author(s)

John Siczka

Author(s)J.S. Siczka1; M. Bizot2; A. Smith2; O. Watts3; J. Sandino4;

Author affiliation(s)Jacobs, Milwaukee, WI1City of Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge, LA2Jacobs, Baton Rouge, LA3Jacobs, Kansas City, MO4

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Oct 2021

DOI10.2175/193864718825158167

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count15

Vision to Reality: Building Community Through a Wet Weather Treatment Facility

Abstract

BACKGROUND King County is executing a Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Long Term Control Plan (LTCP) aimed at reducing CSOs into local water bodies and protecting public health and the environment. The Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment System (GWWTS) is one of 14 Consent Decree projects in the LTCP. The remote GWWTS improves the resiliency of the regional King County wastewater system by capturing and treating 95 percent of the CSOs at two CSO outfalls into the Lower Duwamish Waterway. The GWWTS will operate an average of approximately 20 times per year, processing about 265 megaliters (70 million gallons) of wastewater annually. Construction began in late 2017 and achieved substantial completion in December 2022. The GWWTS is located in a dense urban neighborhood (Figure 1) surrounded by residential housing, commercial businesses, and light and heavy industrial facilities. Georgetown is a close-knit community that is diverse and home to many artists. King County's goal was to design a station that not only improves water quality in the Lower Duwamish waterway but also builds community by addressing the County's equity and social justice goals. King County developed a proactive community engagement plan to design a facility that reflected neighborhood values. OBJECTIVES The objectives of involving the community in the design of the GWWTS were: (1) identify community goals, and issues, (2) align the project vision and goals to the needs and goals of the community, and (3) implement design features that address those needs and goals. METHODOLOGY Two plans were developed at the beginning of the project to take into account community needs, goals, and issues.

*GWWTS Design Phase Public Involvement Plan (PIP) — The PIP was developed to identify and provide a profile of community needs, goals, and issues. The issues of the community were identified through a variety of methods including feedback at community briefings and drop-in sessions, direct verbal and written input, and Design Advisory Group (DAG) comments.

*Equity and social justice action plan (ESJ plan) — The plan sought to have the project team improve the determinants of equity in the Georgetown neighborhood through project commitments that relate directly to known community values, regulatory requirements and sustainability actions. Community values identified were documented through conversations and interviews with community members, community survey results, meetings with a community DAG and the Georgetown Neighborhood Plan. Implementation of these plans extensively involved the Georgetown community in the design process through:

*DAG meetings

*Community briefings

*Community surveys

*Community meetings

*Dozens of listserv communications, project updates, and newsletters

*Hundreds of phone calls, emails, and one-on-one conversations Through these many forms of communications, the project team learned that the top community issues were air and water quality improvements, pedestrian safety, and open or green space improvements. Community members highlighted the need for the site to serve as a 'gateway' to Georgetown. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The community engagement resulted in a number of design elements, measures during construction, and collaborations to benefit the community. These included:

*The GWWTS design fits in with the industrial character of the corner while highlighting architecturally innovative design.

*Water conservation through a green roof on the operations and education center is shown (Figure 2). Site wide water cisterns (Figure 3) collect rainwater which is then used to irrigate the landscaping.

*Facility landscaping includes trees specifically chosen for their air quality benefits.

*King County's collaboration with the community to improve air and water quality extended beyond the GWWTS. A 'green wall' of planters extends down a nearby city block. By partnering with a local community, a local grocery store has rain gardens and cisterns with interpretive signage (Figure 4).

*During construction, King County managed a 24-hour project hotline with a commitment to respond within one day to all issues and concerns.

*The community expressed a desire to understand when the station was operational and improving water quality. A piece of art called 'Theater of a Storm' developed by a lighting designer illuminates successive treatment processes as the station begins receiving wet weather flow and flow progresses through the station. The multi-colored LED lighting of facilities is shown in Figure 5. When the station is not operating, LED lighting is deployed to create a visually appealing station at night.

*Public art commissioned as part of the project connects the neighborhood to its own weather and experience of rain. The artwork, called a rain monument, is shown in Figure 5. During dry weather, rain falls down the inside of the cylindrical monument with the intensity of the previous storm. During a rain event, there is no rain in the monument. Public outreach to include the community in the design of the station resulted in many positive developments beyond improving the water quality in the Lower Duwamish Waterway. Through careful planning, listening to the community, and incorporating community identified design elements, the GWWTS is a gateway and community asset benefiting both the environment and the people who live, work, and play in Georgetown.

This paper will present the approach King County implemented and results to realize the vision of incorporating community needs and goals in the design of a remote wet weather treatment station located in a heavily populated, urban environment. Community outreach and workshops during design of the station brought a sense of ownership by the community, and resulted in a facility that represents neighborhood aesthetics and values and is a source of community pride.

SpeakerHastings, Tina

Presentation time

10:30:00

11:00:00

Session time

10:30:00

12:00:00

SessionStakeholder Engagement Strategies to Promote Green Infrastructure and Environmental Justice

Session number529

Session locationRoom 356

TopicIntermediate Level, Public Communication and Outreach, Resilience, Safety, and Disaster Planning, Stormwater and Green Infrastructure, Water Equity and ESG

Author(s)

Hastings, Tina, Matson, Elizabeth, Cramer, Kristine, Sowell, Heidi, Siczka, John, Dunne, Ryan, Rennhack, Claire, Fristensky, Jason, Johnson, Mark, Sandino, Julian

Author(s)T. Hastings1, E.K. Matson2, K. Cramer2, H. Sowell2, J. Siczka3, R. Dunne1, C. Rennhack4, J. Fristensky5, M. Johnson6, J. Sandino7

Author affiliation(s)1Jacobs, WA, 2King County, WA, 3Jacobs, WI, 4The Miller Hull Partnership, WA, 5Berger Partnership, WA, 6Signal Architecture + Research, WA, 7Jacobs, KS

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Oct 2024

DOI10.2175/193864718825159625

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count12

Base text size -

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