King County in Washington has embarked on a 148.3 million capital improvement project designed to improve the wastewater management system in the county, modernize the existing facilities and guarantee sustained compliance with established environmental laws (King County 1). This capital improvement project is financed by ratepayers through capacity charge bills and monthly rates. The continued funding of this capital improvement project is dependent on sustained improvement in the efficiency of the wastewater treatment plants.
It is important to note that efficiency in this case does not just entail the economic aspects, but also the quality of the wastewater treatment processes. On the economic front, King County wastewater management division appears to be doing exceptionally well. King County saved 37.3 million in utilities after refinancing for a total worth of 271 million dollars in sewer revenue bonds (King County 1). The county also saved 2.7 million dollars in bond sales in 2013 (King County 1). I reckon that improvements in the efficiency of the wastewater treatment plants are necessary in order to match the improvements in the economic elements of the capital improvement project.
The proposed improvement to the capital improvement project entails the use of YSI technology to improve the efficiency of wastewater treatment plans. The efficiency of wastewater treatment system is dependent on its health. As such, it is important to accurately determine the conditions in a wastewater treatment system and with expediency in order to sustain the optimum conditions. In this regard, I propose investing in an YSI 6820 ‘stethoscope’. This device is fitted with sensors for dissolved oxygen, potential for hydrogen, conductivity, ammonia, oxidation reduction potential, temperature, and nitrate. This device will provide information on the processes in the wastewater treatment system, information that is important in making diagnostic changes in wastewater treatment processes (YSI Environmental 1).
One of the measures of efficiency in a wastewater treatment system is the quality of the effluent. One of the indicators in the effluent that describes the efficiency of the plant is biochemical oxygen demand. Using this device, the King County wastewater treatment division can reduce the biochemical oxygen demand for the effluent water. This is by measuring the dissolved oxygen among other parameters in the system to ensure that optimal health is restored at all times, thereby ensuring efficiency in removal of nitrogen and phosphorous in the wastewater. This device ensures sustainability in the wastewater treatment process because it ensures the efficient use of resources, reduces eutrophication of ambient waters, and reduces the biochemical oxygen demand in the ground and ambient waters (YSI Environmental 1).
This idea can achieve some credits outlined in the LEED v4 for neighborhood development checklist. One of the credits that this proposed improvement to the capital improvement project will achieve is the waste management credit (US Green Building Council 1). By enhancing the efficiency of wastewater management systems, King County will improve the sustainability of its wastewater management processes. Another credit that the proposed improvement achieves is the water body conservation management credit under the LEED v4 for neighborhood development checklist (US Green Building Council 1). As espoused earlier, the proposed improvement leads to sustained improvement in the quality of the effluent. When effluent that is high in biochemical oxygen demand is discharged into water bodies, it leads to the depletion of the dissolved oxygen, thereby affecting the quality of the water in the water body. The proposed improvement enhances the conservation management by preempting conditions that lead result in this situation. Overall, the proposed improvement is not only innovative but is also sustainable.
Works cited
King County. Bond sale brings $2.7 million in savings to sewer utility ratepayers. 3. Oct 2013. Web. 28. Oct 2014.
King County. Capital improvement projects. 23. Jul 2014. Web. 28, Oct 2014.
King County. King County bond refinancings save $37.3 million for sewer utility ratepayer. 22. Jul 2014. Web. 28, Oct 2014.
US Green Building Council. LEED v4 for neighborhood development checklist. 6. Jun 2014. Web. 28. Oct 2014.
YSI Environmental. YSI Technology Used to Improve Wastewater Treatment Plant Efficiency and Effluent Quality,2009. Web. 28. Oct 2014.
