Successful Procurement, Design, Construction, and Operation of Five Washington State Parks MBR Facilities

As part of an ongoing initiative to decrease pollution in Puget Sound, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (WSPRC) identified for replacement lower performing wastewater treatment systems at five parks. In the interest of producing high quality effluent, particularly with respect to nitrogen, while minimizing footprint on historic property and maximizing remote operations potential, WSPRC decided on membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology to replace existing systems. WSPRC selected a consulting firm to draft a procurement document which standardized MBR systems across all parks which resulted in an Invitation for Bids (IFB) to select a single MBR supplier. Flow and load capacity requirements for each park were not developed, rather, only two MBR system sizes were defined, and representative influent criteria were applied. This paper provides a brief overview of the procurement process, identifies successes and challenges associated with this process, and assesses the performance of one MBR at Ft. Flagler State Park.