Conference Detail

Monday, March 31, 2008
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Best Management Practices
Maximize Existing BMPs to Reduce Maintenance & Overall Costs
Jamie Aderhold, Partner, J2A Environmental

California Department of Transportation studies have shown that removal of trash and debris by street sweepers is about 10 times less expensive than removing it after it’s entered a catch basin. By utilizing existing street sweeping best management practices (BMPs), curb screens become a very cost-effective BMP. This presentation will cover lessons learned in the installation of recycled plastic curb screens in 15 cities in California.
Maintenance Inspection of Post-construction Stormwater BMPs
Daniel Cook, Civil Engineer, GASA (Graef, Anhalt, Schloemer & Associates)

The frequency and method of inspection are crucial to proper operation of stormwater BMPs after they are implemented. Inspection procedures and checklists will be presented for detention basins, infiltration basins, infiltration trenches, wetland basins, underground storage, mechanical treatment devices, catch basins, porous pavement, swales, and other devices.
Our Wet Basins Are Too Big
Gary Minton, Consulting Engineer, Resource Planning Associates

Some wet ponds and wetlands have been oversized, by as much as 400% depending on the region. The author will explain the implications of oversized wet basins; how this came about; what is wrong with the current sizing method; what is the appropriate sizing method; and field performance data supporting the author’s conclusions.
GIS/Mapping
Impervious Area Analysis Using Infrared Aerial Photography
Stephen Sticklen, Civil/Sanitary Engineer, Greeley and Hansen

The rising cost of meeting stormwater regulations has forced many communities to develop innovative approaches to assessing property owners for stormwater management fees. The city of West Lafayette, IN, developed a low-cost method of fairly assessing property owners for stormwater collection using aerial infrared orthoimagery. This presentation will discuss how it was done, as well as the benefits of this technology.
GIS Database and Mapping—Tools for Watershed Management
Lois George, Vice President, P.E., LaMoreaux Associates Inc.

Lake Tuscaloosa is the reservoir for the city of Tuscaloosa’s drinking water supply and is also a significant public recreation center. The city has recently completed a detailed land use assessment of about 85 square miles of the watershed. The GIS mapping, interpretation of mapping components, and testing data are part of the city’s ongoing efforts toward protection and preservation of Lake Tuscaloosa. The author will discuss how these tools are being used to support implementation of city policies and ordinances relative to zoning, conservation, and land development, as well as the adoption of new policies and ordinances; educational outreach for the general public; and more.
Developing a Comprehensive Storm Drain Asset GIS for a Phase I MS4
Teri Landrum, Sr. GIS Specialist, Carter & Burgess Inc., and JC Wood, Dir. of Maintenance, North Texas Tollway Authority
The North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) undertook the development of a GIS storm drain infrastructure network to support its MS4 compliance efforts and general system maintenance protocols. The author will discuss the NTTA’s goals, the project approach and the process timeline, as well as demonstrate the value of using a GIS for asset inventory and mapping.
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

BMP Research
Proper Stormwater Quality Treatment Design—Impact of Particle Size
Scott Perry, Stormwater Specialist, Imbrium Systems

Current stormwater quality design practice relies on evaluation of total suspended solids (TSS) removal to assess and select stormwater BMPs. While particles in stormwater vary in size, references to particle size distribution (PSD) in relation to the common performance requirement of 80 percent TSS removal is often neglected. This presentation will examine the effect of PSD on the design and performance of hydrodynamic devices using full scale TARP-certified laboratory testing for several manufactured BMPs.
The Need for Improved Characterization of Sewer Solids in Urban Water and Wet-Weather Flows
R.Y.G. Andoh, Director of Innovation, Hydro International

This presentation will discuss current approaches to wastewater settling characterization and will present results of ongoing work comparing settling velocity distributions from North American sites with European sites, highlighting the importance of both settling characterization and particle size distribution analysis in determining appropriate control measures to mitigate adverse impacts of CSOs and other polluted urban wet-weather impacted flow sources.
Calculating First-Flush Flow Rates for Stormwater Quality Control
Flint Holbrook, Consulting Engineer, Woolpert Inc.

In the early stages of storm runoff from urban watersheds, the land surfaces, particularly the impervious areas such as roofs and paved roadways, are cleansed by the stormwater. The initial flush of contaminants from the catchment, known as the “first flush” or “first foul flush,” has been confirmed by experimental studies for both pollutant concentrations and pollutant quantities. In this presentation, the author will discuss a procedure for calculating the first-flush design flow rate based on National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) rainfall-runoff computation methods.
Stormwater Treatment
Innovative Method for Eutrophication Control in Detained Stormwater & Wastewater Infiltrated Surface Water
John Di Turo, CEO, Aqua Dynamic Solutions, LLC

The need for alternative methods of preventing eutrophication in surface waters grows as demand for urban potable water increases. This presentation will explore the causes and evolution of the process and how to combat the onslaught of non-point source pollutants. It will discuss a new treatment method that incorporates the use of unique environmentally friendly botanical compounds that are capable of settling suspended particulates and removing dissolved solids as well as phosphates.
Ballasted High Rate Clarification Process Removes City of Greenfield, IN, as a CSO Community
Jeffery Ponist, Sr. Vice President, Commonwealth Engineers Inc.

The city of Greenfield was one of the 104 typical CSO communities until 2004 when it became the first community in the state of Indiana to implement state-of-the-art wet weather flow technology using micro sand-ballasted high rate clarification (HRC). With this new side stream process, Greenfield has been removed from the CSO community list. This paper will review the design and operations and discuss the actual performance observed.
TARP—Stormwater Testing & Certification of Hydrodynamic BMPs
Scott Perry, Stormwater Specialist, Imbrium Systems

Considerable effort is being expended to assess the effectiveness of urban BMPs for stormwater quality enhancement. Multiple stormwater hydrodynamic devices were evaluated for TSS removal capability in accordance with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) TARP laboratory protocol, which has offered the most comprehensive stormwater testing comparison to date. This paper will present the procedures, results and conclusions from this full scale evaluation.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

CSO Control
Implementation of RTC in Wilmington
Kash Srinivasan, Public Works Commissioner, City of Wilmington, DE

In December 2003, the city of Wilmington, DE, developed a Draft Enhanced Long Term Control Plan (LTCP) according to the Presumption Approach of the Environmental Protection Agency National Combined Sewer Overflow Policy and recommendations of the CSO Task Force. This presentation will discuss the objectives, approaches, and implementation of the plan.
Optimal CSO Control & Treatment at the Saco Wastewater Treatment Plant Using Advanced Vortex Technology
R.Y.G. Andoh, Director of Innovation, Hydro International

Communities are experiencing increasing pressure to deal with increased volumes of combined sewage and other wet-weather impacted flows, which is resulting in costly plans to upgrade collection systems and wastewater treatment plants. The city of Saco, ME, faced with similar challenges, opted for the implementation of a CSO treatment system that utilizes an advanced hydrodynamic vortex separator (HDVS). The paper will describe Saco’s application of this technology, including recent results from post construction compliance monitoring.
There’s No Use Crying Over Spilled Sewage: Using Standby Lift Station Pumps to Prevent CSOs Before They Happen
Michael Delzingaro, Engineer, Godwin Pumps

Power outages and unforeseen mechanical failures create the potential for system distress and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) in wastewater collection and treatment systems. This presentation will discuss the benefits of back-up pumping as a strategy for ensuring system reliability.
Low Impact Development
LID Stormwater Credit Calculation for New Development
Lorin Hatch, Sr. Water Quality Specialist, HDR Engineering Inc.

The Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization (VRWJPO) is encouraging developers to reduce stormwater volume between preconstruction and post-construction. The ultimate goal is no net runoff through a combination of traditional and low impact development (LID) techniques. Various LID techniques were assessed and the reduction in runoff calculated as a stormwater credit. This paper will discuss the calculation of stormwater credit and will present site-specific requirements for each of the LID techniques selected.
Town of Cary LID Pilot Project
Fred Royal, Principal, Royal Water Resources, LLC

In summer 2006, the town of Cary initiated an innovative LID pilot project in their Southwest Planning Area. The LID project aims to demonstrate LID implementation in a municipality currently using conventional stormwater management practices and located in the less-permeable Triassic Basin soils. This presentation will discuss developer and town policy and implementation issues as well as LID techniques for the pilot residential development.
Using Benefit-Cost Analysis to Access Low-Impact Development
Ed MacMullan, Sr. Economist, and Sarah Reich, Policy Analyst, ECONorthwest

Studies that compare the cost-effectiveness of LID and end-of-pipe (EOP) systems report that LID techniques can help reduce infrastructure and development costs as well as minimize operations and maintenance costs. Some researchers, however, note that a lack of information on the economic benefits of LID can impede adoption. A proper benefit-cost analysis of the two systems would consider the benefits and costs of stormwater management in the area or geography in which the benefits and costs occur. This presentation will examine drivers and strategies for good benefit-cost analysis of LID strategies.
Stormwater Management
Severe Storms, Urban Flooding & Climate Change—The City of Hamilton’s Strategic Approach
Chris Gainham, Water & Wastewater Planning Technologist, City of Hamilton

From 2004 to 2006, the city of Hamilton experienced no less than 5 severe storms, resulting in widespread basement flooding, erosion and near catastrophic treatment plant upsets. City staff responded by forming a multidisciplinary Independent Community Panel and Storm Event Response Group (SERG) to review the effects of these storms, the state of infrastructure, best practices, design guidelines and meet with the public. The author will discuss how SERG can serve as a model for other medium to large cities trying to cope with aging infrastructure and increasingly unpredictable weather. Technical and engineering studies generated by SERG will also be presented.
Nutrient Uptake of Floating Wetlands in Stormwater Ponds
Dick Schuck, Owner, Maryland Aquatic Nurseries

Maryland Aquatic Nurseries, in conjunction the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, recently completed a field study of the nutrient uptake capability of floating wetlands in a stormwater pond. There was a strong indication from this study that the use of bottom diffusers with floating wetlands accelerates the nutrient removal power of floating wetlands. This presentation will describe the floating wetland system and quantify the nutrient uptake achieved. Data from a number of other studies using these wetland systems in agricultural wastewater and fish effluent venues will also be presented.
Invisible Mitigation
David Peters, Vice President, and Ron Meyers, Sr. Project Manager, CivilTech Engineering

No two rainfall events are exactly alike, nor are the antecedent ground moisture and vegetation the same during the year. Nonetheless, many stormwater detention mitigation facilities are constructed with static pipes and weirs that always react the same. This paper explores creative solutions using actively controlled inlet and outlet configurations instead of the static elements normally used in the design of detention facilities.
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Watershed Management
Protecting Drinking Water Sources with a Bar of Soap & a Truck That Smells Like French Fries,br> Rob McElroy, General Manager, Daphne Utilities

To combat sewer spills, Daphne Utilities (Daphne, AL) began an integrated program involving oil recycling, biodiesel production and creative marketing that has reaped significant benefits in a short time. This presentation aims to educate utility providers on how integrated “green” initiatives such as oil recycling and biodiesel production can dramatically reduce sewer spills in their service area, save the utility money, and create successful partnerships between the customer and utility.
Elm Fork Corridor Flood Control, Recreational & Environmental Enhancements
Mikel Wilkins, Project Manager, Freese & Nichols

The city of Dallas is preparing for the implementation of three major multi-discipline projects that were identified in the Elm Fork Floodplain Management Study completed in 2004. The projects will provide additional flood protection for existing businesses important to the vitality of the city, while protecting and enhancing the natural environment and creating recreational opportunities for the community. The presentation will discuss the four year history of the project as well as its goals and benefits.
Infiltration, a Watershed Solution
Jo-Walter Spear, Engineer, J. Spear Associates

Oftentimes water quantity is not considered when establishing urban stormwater solutions, but water quantity and quality go hand in hand, as the reduction of one is commonly related to an increase in the other. This presentation will discuss the implementation of a pervious parking lot and the impact of infiltration galleries in watersheds where water quantity and quality are an issue. The author will examine the removal of contaminants, flooding concerns, and maintenance issues.
Low Impact Development II
Water Reuse in LEED Buildings
Herschell Winfrey, Product Manager, General Electric

Reclamation and reuse of water are strategies for reducing water costs and maximizing the use of existing infrastructure in urbanized regions. In order to do so, however, it is important to use technologies that ensure public health protection and are reliable and cost effective to own and operate. This presentation will discuss one such strategy, an onsite membrane bioreactor system (MBR), which offers a simple, compact and easy to maintain solution by providing a reliable wastewater treatment process to treat highly variable and high strength wastewater to the highest quality.
Using Slow Biofiltration as One Solution to Water and Wastewater Issues in Large Urban and Residential Building Planning
Humphrey Blackburn, President, Blackburn Associates

Slow biofilters, or slow sand filters, have been recognized as highly effective water treatment systems for nearly two centuries. In recent years, the technology has mostly been associated with rural use, but new technical developments and environmental realities suggest that slow biofilters may have an important new role in urban water treatment as well. This presentation will examine the use of slow biofilters in a number of urban applications such as groundwater treatment, rainwater catchments, and treatment of contaminated tap water in urban areas of developing countries.
The Effects of Green Initiatives on Water Quantity Issues
Kari Mackenbach, Water Resource Specialist, URS

Many U.S. metropolitan areas are facing CSOs and flooding issues, as well as the high price tags associated with addressing them. This presentation will discuss the growing interest in green infrastructure and how it can be used to help reduce the amount of runoff generated by urban and suburban landscapes. The author will present data on the effectiveness of BMPs across scales of subwatersheds located within urban, suburban, and urban sprawl communities as a means of evaluating the technical and cost effectiveness of using green techniques for reducing runoff.
Stormwater Management II
Striebel Pond: Proactive Water Quality Approach to a Flood Control Project
Alan Walus, General Manager, Sanitary District of Michigan City, and David McCormick, Managing Engineer, Christopher B. Burke Eng. Ltd.

In 2003, the Sanitary District of Michigan City, IN, initiated a project to reduce the risk of flooding and the associated financial burden of flood insurance for several hundred homes in the city. This session will present an overview of the project goals, intent, roadblocks, and status. The author will present details from initial facility planning to design and permitting to project completion.
Planning to Mitigate Urban Flooding Problems
Mary Shaw, Principal Planner, URS Corp.

As the amount of impervious surface in a community increases, the problems presented by stormwater are exacerbated. As a result, communities often develop hazard mitigation plans to maintain eligibility for certain federal funds, but often the mitigation actions outlined in the plans are weak and do not satisfy FEMA requirements. The author will present research results summarizing typical mitigation actions and make recommendations for integrating them into existing planning mechanisms so that updated plans successfully meet FEMA criteria for plan integration.
Urban Stormwater Management in Georgia
Charles Absher, Sr. Engineer, JJG

The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District was created in 2001 to establish water management policy for its members, create water management plans, and promote intergovernmental coordination. As a result, communities have developed various approaches to meeting the stringent management responsibilities mandated by the District’s guidelines. The author will present case examples of how various communities are meeting—and funding—the requirements.
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Hydraulic Modeling
Boulder Colorado’s Stormwater Strategic Plan—An Efficient Use of GIS for Development of an Integrated Conveyance/Water Quality CIP
Richard Thornton, Water Resources Engineer, HDR

The Boulder Stormwater Strategic Plan (SSP) was developed to be more in line with present-day storm drainage issues and the city’s overarching environmental, economic, and social goals. Its goal is to proactively manage stormwater runoff to protect water quality and minimize impacts of localized and downstream flooding. This presentation will discuss some of the major activities undertaken in the development of the SSP, including leveraging and expanding GIS data; evaluating the collector system and ranking conveyance and water quality problem areas; evaluating alternatives; and developing a recommended plan.
SWMM Hydrology for Stormwater Quality Non-Point Source (TSS) Pollution Removal Modeling
Scott Perry, Stormwater Specialist, Imbrium Systems

An EPA SWMM-based model was developed to estimate TSS removal of an oil/sediment separator. The model, which is based on several non-proprietary elements that take into account local hydrology, basic settling principals, dynamic pollutant loadings and site parameters, has been validated through comparison to laboratory studies and various field studies conducted across North America to date. The author will present details of the model and how it can be used across the country to properly size and design BMPs.
How Unusual Gage Data Can Impact Rainfall Data In Hydrologic Models
Ilse Gayl, CEO, and Jim Moffitt, Dir. of Software Development, OneRain Incorporated

Accurate rainfall estimation is key to producing an accurate, well-calibrated hydrologic and hydraulic model of a storm sewer system. Rain gage data is used to calibrate radar to produce Gage Adjusted Radar Rainfall, but rain gage data can have anomalies in both rainfall volume and timing that in turn have a large impact on volume and timing data used as input into models. The author will present examples of these anomalies, methods for detection, correction, and how to avoid the use of uncorrectable data.
Stormwater Treatment II
The Nuts & Bolts of Manufactured Treatment Systems: An In-Depth Look at Critical Design Variables
Derek Berg, Regional Regulatory Manager, CONTECH Stormwater Solutions Inc.

As the demand for manufactured treatment systems has increased, the number of available options has also grown, with myriad performance claims, sizing methodologies and other supposed benefits. With the general lack of standardized sizing criteria, direct comparison of competing technologies is nearly impossible. This paper explores the fundamental unit processes that govern the performance of manufactured devices. Common sizing methodologies and associated assumptions will be presented, as well as standardized sizing methodologies that are already in use by a number of state and local agencies.
The Future of Aeration
David Pipkin, Director of Sales, Advanced Industrial Aeration

The efficiency of any aeration system depends on the amount of surface contact between the air and liquid and the amount of energy needed for the oxygen transfer. Previous advancements in aeration efficiency evolved around decreasing the bubble size to increase the air/water contact ratio, but this requires reducing the diffuser’s pore size, which in turn increases energy spent. This presentation will describe a new air injection technology that transfers oxygen at a superior rate and does so using 40% less energy than current aeration methods.
Successful Structural BMPs Require Better Site Analysis
John Moll, CEO, CrystalStream Technologies

Although some parameters (such as weather and pollutant loading) are mostly beyond the control of the BMP designer, it is important to understand how differing site conditions affect performance. Some parameters—such as the size and configuration of the structure—are within the control of the BMP designer. In this session, the author will present data from a study—derived from over 2,500 cleaning and maintenance operations on 185 water quality vaults—that normalizes, as much as possible, these factors by concentrating on sediments as the pollutant of concern, and by using data within one particular geographical area.
Stormwater Management III
An Innovative & Multifaceted Approach to Urban Flood Mitigation
Suresh Hettiarachchi, Water Resources Engineer, HDR Engineering

The city of Minneapolis has been working on flood mitigation continuously over the years. In this session, the author will present details on one of these projects, which focuses on a neighborhood northeast of Lake Hiawatha that has three locations that have experienced frequent flooding. The design approach focused on a mutifaceted localized effort rather than providing relief to all three zones with one project.
Stormwater Control: Local Implementation
Asavari Devadiga, Sr. Associate/Environmental Scientist, ESA Water

This presentation will describe the regulatory tools for stormwater control implementation and trace the steps taken at a local level once the federal stormwater pollution control stipulations are in place. In particular, the author will describe how Contra Costa County has adopted and implemented federal regulations for effective stormwater control.
Big City Urban Water Management in a Growing Texas University Town
Steven Veal, Principal, Carter Burgess Inc.

The City of Stephenville, TX, a growing university town located about 60 miles southwest of Fort Worth, has long taken a proactive approach to stormwater management, implementing stormwater detention requirements before many of its larger neighbors. This presentation will discuss the city’s stormwater management program with an emphasis on the innovative Methodist Branch tunnel project and funding initiatives.
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Watershed Management II
Watershed Management in the 21st Century
Suresh Hettiarachchi, Water Resources Engineer, HDR Engineering

The South Washington Watershed District (SWWD) was created in 1993 to assess resources, propose solutions and mediate any potential conflicts among the communities that share its surface water resources within a 52 square mile watershed area in Washington County, MN. This presentation will discuss the development of a Data and Model Management System (DMMS) to handle the vast quantity of data for the watershed, develop the models, and then visualize the results.
One Utility’s Successful Approach to Sustainable Water Management
Peter Frost, Executive Director, Douglas County Water & Sewer Authority

In 2002, the Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority (WSA) acquired the responsibility of managing stormwater infrastructure within the city of Douglasville and Douglas County. As a result, a comprehensive stormwater management program was developed to meet various water infrastructure management needs. The author will describe WSA’s current effort: a series of countywide watershed studies utilizing the floodplain mapping and stormwater improvement protocols established in the Slater Mill Creek pilot program.
Short-Duration-Rainfall Intensity Equations for Urban Drainage Design
David Froehlich, Consulting Engineer, Woolpert Inc.

Minor drainage structures such as inlets, storm drains, and culverts are often sized using a peak flow rate computed from a well-known rational formula based on certain assumptions. Because application of the rational formula is limited to small drainage areas, times of concentration will also be small, typically much less than 1 hour. Thus, a relation that provides an accurate estimate of rainfall intensity for short durations is needed to apply the rational formula. This presentation will offer a practical method for developing rainfall-intensity equations for short durations for locations in the U.S. included in NOAA Atlas 14 Volumes 1 and 2.
Monitoring
High Density CSO Monitoring Using an Embedded
Sensor Network in South Bend, IN

Timothy Ruggaber, Director of Operations, EmNet LLC In 1994, EPA mandated that all CSO communities drastically reduce the number and severity of their CSO events. Understanding the hydraulics of the sewer systems is integral, but many municipalities cannot afford to invest in a SCADA system. This presentation will explore the use of an embedded sensor network (ESN) as an alternative. Details of an implementation project in the city of South Bend, IN, will be presented.
A Novel Passive Sampling Polymer Strip for Monitoring Pollutants in the Aquatic Environment
Donald Mabe, President, Attitude Technology Inc.

A passive sampling polymer strip has been developed for monitoring pollutants in the aquatic environment. It is designed to accumulate and concentrate over time both dissolved and total organic pollutants. The author will present details of the technology and how it can be used to help environmental professionals tasked with determining water quality in systems that are in a constant state of change.
Management of I/I in US-EPA Region 4—Estimated Using NPDES Monitoring, Reports
George Kurz, Sr. Technical Leader, Barge Waggoner Sumner Cannon

In this session, the author will present details of a study to evaluate the EPA’s Permit Compliance System (PCS) database and determine various parameters that may be useful in developing inflow and infiltration (I/I) control and sewer rehabilitation strategies for management on a state and regional level.
Post-Construction BMPs
Defining the Maximum Extent Practical
Beth Chesson, President of Southeast Chapter, International Erosion Control Association

In this extended session, the author will discuss post-construction stormwater treatment goals. NPDES Phase 2 regulations require communities to treat stormwater to the maximum extent practical (MEP) based upon local conditions. However, a prescriptive definition for what MEP means is not provided by EPA. Instead, EPA has noted that local receiving streams and pollutants of concern, as well as relevant BMP research, should be used to develop effective and practical post-construction stormwater treatment goals and strategies. This presentation will offer a step-wise approach to determining MEP for your community.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

MEGA-SESSION
Panel Discussion: Stormwater Program Funding

So much to do, and so little money: Funding is a monumental issue in urban water management, and it’s not always clear to utilities what their options are. Please join us for an extended panel discussion that will cover funding strategies and resources available to stormwater utilities. Our panel members will be: Tony Bagwell, Senior Economist and Vice President, HDR Engineering Inc.; Pete Yakimowich, Senior Consultant Water Resources, Arcadis; Steve Veal, Principal, Carter & Burgess; and Allen Mullins, Vice President, PROS Consulting LLC.