CROSS TRAINING FOUND NECESSARY TO MINE AUTOMATION SAVINGS AT THE BLUE PLAINS ADVANCED WASTEWATER PLANT

In 1996 the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DCWASA) was created by an Act of Congress. The Authority operates water distribution, and wastewater collection systems for the entire District of Columbia, and wastewater treatment for the District of Columbia as well as large portions of adjoining Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland, and sections of Fairfax and Loudon Counties in Virginia. DCWASA operates the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant (BPAWWTP) which is a 370 million gallon per day average daily flow facility that has a stringent phosphorus and nitrogen discharge limit. DCWASA celebrated the 10th Anniversary of its formation in 2006.One of the first actions of the new Authority was to conduct facility planning to define the scope of a Capital Program to re-invest in facilities that would be needed to ensure continuing permit compliance. The new program undertaken was estimated at 1.2 billion. In concert with the Capital Program, the Authority authorized a study titled “Blue Plains WWTP – Privatization Feasibility Study”. The study that was completed in April, 1999, indicated that if run efficiently, the Authority could operate the Blue Plains AWWTP at a cost competitive with a private entity.