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For more
information, contact David Eppstein by email at
deppstein@masco.harvard.edu,
or by calling 617-632-2860.
4.0 SELECTING A CONSULTANT
4.1
General Considerations
As
mentioned in the previous section, in response to a sewer
discharge compliance problem, a facility may develop a plan of
action that consists of a series of multi-faceted and complex
steps. In each of these steps, an experienced consultant or
consulting engineering firm can provide invaluable services.
If it
has been determined that an existing pretreatment system needs
to be modified or upgraded or that a new pretreatment system
needs to be installed, owners/operators of a facility should
understand before selecting or engineering a pretreatment system
what initial steps should be undertaken, what information should
be gathered, and what technical, regulatory, and permitting
issues should be addressed.
A
three-step sequence of feasibility and treatability testing of
pretreatment technologies is an accepted practice of the
engineering community in the selection of a particular
pretreatment technology. For each application, the sequence
begins with a technology and system supplier search, goes on to
bench-scale feasibility testing (and possibly treatability
testing) by several suppliers, and concludes with the selection
of one or more suppliers for pilot system installation, testing,
and optimization.
An
experienced consulting engineering firm can significantly help
in this process. The firm can specify feasibility, treatability,
and pilot testing protocols; evaluate test data; recommend a
process technology supplier for the full-scale pretreatment
system; design the system interfaces with the facility; and
perform oversight roles during system installation, testing,
start-up, and operation.
The
selection of the proper consulting firm for a particular project
is an important issue and is not always an easy task. The
consulting firm should ideally have recent experience in the
design of pretreatment equipment and systems similar to the type
being planned. Since the firm will use various staff members to
do the design work, it is important to obtain the names and
qualifications of the firm’s proposed project manager and all
key supporting personnel. Also, it is a good practice to ask for
and check references regarding the design and project management
ability of the consulting firms that are being considered.
Beyond
the necessary technical expertise, your engineering consultant
should have superior knowledge about the regulatory and
permitting issues that will affect the system design,
installation, operation, and possible effluent monitoring.
Knowledge of the proper procedures and regulatory requirements
can prevent delays and additional costs. As an example of
special requirements, the regulating authority may require the
installation of effluent pH and flow monitoring equipment that
may not be required by local building codes.
In
Massachusetts, wastewater piping systems for laboratories and
industrial activities are also required to meet the
Massachusetts State Plumbing Code as codified in 248 CMR 2.13.
The "special wastes" from these activities can
contain, besides mercury, organisms with recombinant DNA
molecules, radioactivity, acids, alkalies, solvents, volatile
organics and other chemical wastes that may be detrimental to
the public sewer system and do not comply with the discharge
limitations established by the local POTW.
The
consulting engineer who is responsible for the design of the
pretreatment system should be a registered Professional Engineer
(PE) licensed by the state in which the project is located. In
Massachusetts, the licensing and practice requirements for
PE’s are codified in 250 CMR 3.00. The PE is required to limit
his practice to the particular branch of engineering in which he
is licensed. It is highly advisable that drawings of
pretreatment system components and of associated facility
modifications be certified (stamped) by a PE licensed in the
appropriate specific discipline. For instance, a PE licensed in
electrical engineering would certify the electrical system
design needed to support the pretreatment system.
Proper
communication between the company and the pretreatment system
consulting engineering firm is critical to the success of a
pretreatment project. The proper selection of a pretreatment
system is dependent upon the accuracy of the information given
to the consulting engineer. For example, all company individuals
that operate processes generating wastewater must be informed of
the project and how their activities may relate to its success.
They should be asked to provide accurate information to the
consulting engineer about all individual process operation
schedules and associated wastewater quantities and
characteristics. The personnel should also understand that all
expected changes in operations should be reported to, and
approved by, the individuals who will be responsible for
pretreatment system operations after the system is installed.
4.2
Required Engineering Documents
The
design of pretreatment equipment and systems, whether for a new
installation or for renovations or upgrade of an existing
system, will require the production of engineering drawings and
specification documents to meet construction, permitting, and
other regulatory requirements. In general, engineering design
documents should include:
-
Facility
and pretreatment system layout drawings
-
Piping
& instrumentation diagrams
-
Equipment
foundation drawings and support system details
-
Mechanical,
piping, electrical, instrumentation, controls, and
operational drawings and specifications
-
Specifications
for installation coordination, testing, and demonstration of
system performance.
Design
drawings and specifications should be prepared in a format also
usable for permitting purposes. This insures that documents will
be available for timely submissions to pertinent regulatory
agencies. If document submittals are required, this dual use of
the prepared documents may reduce costs.
Engineering
drawings are often electronically prepared using a
computer-assisted design (CAD) system. CAD drawings allow for
rapid, inexpensive retrieval and reproduction when design
modifications or additions are needed.
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