Water System Design - The Role of O&M Staff Cheryl Capron Seattle Public Utilities

Why Include Operators and Maintenance Staff? Incorporating their knowledge makes a project more successful. Better integration of project with existing system Better integration of project with existing system Reduces the amount of work re-done by O&M staff once project is closed Reduces the amount of work re-done by O&M staff once project is closed Potential reduction in CIP & O&M costs Potential reduction in CIP & O&M costs

What Kind of O&M Staff? System Knowledge System Knowledge Detail-Oriented Detail-Oriented Ones who notice subtle changes or discrepancies in data Ones who notice subtle changes or discrepancies in data Inquisitive Inquisitive Ones who ask why Ones who ask why Analytical & Persistent Analytical & Persistent Ones who figure out why Ones who figure out why Bill Nye

What Should They Know About?

Infrastructure Trouble Spots That’s pretty soggy ground for a flex coupling… That’s pretty soggy ground for a flex coupling… We need another isolation valve; that one’s awfully close to the excavation zone. We need another isolation valve; that one’s awfully close to the excavation zone. That 80-year-old valve hung up last week at 30% open... That 80-year-old valve hung up last week at 30% open...

Infrastructure Trouble Spots It’s 80 psi down there and most of those gate valves leak – we should replace them when we reline….. It’s 80 psi down there and most of those gate valves leak – we should replace them when we reline…..

O&M Practices & History Why this way? Why this way? Staffing levels Staffing levels How long it takes How long it takes Constraints Constraints Why it’s done How it’s done

Instrumentation & Control Needs Identify desired level of I&C and automation Identify what’s appropriate for the operator’s level of accountability Ed Harris as Gene Kranz in Apollo 13

System Water Quality Knows normal and seasonal variations Knows normal and seasonal variations Good, bad or normal?

System Water Quality Can identify probable impacts of events or changes in operation Can identify probable impacts of events or changes in operation Four impacts that can result from high velocities are...

Their Perspective

How Will It Work? Will the design allow the project to function as required? Will the design allow the project to function as required? How will the project change the way my system operates? Is that acceptable? How will the project change the way my system operates? Is that acceptable?

To bring it on line To bring it on line To operate it To operate it To maintain it To maintain it What Will It Take to Make It Work?

What Happens With Pieces Out For O&M? What Happens With Pieces Out For O&M? An automated pump station starts when pressure drops below 90 psi. The gauge needs to be replaced. It is isolated, causing the input to the PLC to drop out. Does the PLC 1)interpret the missing point as a valid reading <90 psi & start a pump? 2)flag the data as invalid and hold last valid status? 3)have a manual over-ride or bypass mode?

Worst-Case Scenario What could go wrong? What could go wrong? How hard would it be to rectify? How hard would it be to rectify? How long will it take? How long will it take? Is it even a big deal? Is it even a big deal?

What Can O&M Staff Do For You?

Pre-Design Functional Requirements Analysis Functional Requirements Analysis For the project For the project For system during construction For system during construction For start-up & commissioning For start-up & commissioning For O&M For O&M

Pre-Design Draft shutdown & start-up plans Draft shutdown & start-up plans Draft a pressure zone or system operating plan for the construction period Draft a pressure zone or system operating plan for the construction period Identify bypass needs & constraints imposed by the loss of the facility Identify bypass needs & constraints imposed by the loss of the facility Identify major system maintenance that should be done prior to NTP Identify major system maintenance that should be done prior to NTP

Zone Base Map Boundaries Storage Supply Major Feeders Shut Down Valves Primary Backup

Zone Map for Backup Inlet Shutdown Zone Map for Backup Inlet Shutdown South end isolated, needs new relief point South end isolated, needs new relief point South end PS has reduced service area, throttling capability on discharge needed South end PS has reduced service area, throttling capability on discharge needed

De-Watering Identify blowoff points Calculate volumes If the whole thing sits for a month, can I disinfect & flush the required volume? Requires either a short-term shutdown or a new isolation valve before the reservoir is demolished.

Why Do This During Pre-Design? The answers to these questions will identify whether there are elements that need to be incorporated into the design. The answers to these questions will identify whether there are elements that need to be incorporated into the design. Is a new isolation valve required? Is a new isolation valve required? Are air valves, blow-offs and sample points where they are needed? Are air valves, blow-offs and sample points where they are needed? Is a specific construction sequence required? Is a specific construction sequence required?

Challenges of Replacement Projects Capacity reduction may require bypass Capacity reduction may require bypass Connecting new to old may be difficult Connecting new to old may be difficult Old valves leak or break easily Old valves leak or break easily Disturbing old pipe or bedding may cause leaks Disturbing old pipe or bedding may cause leaks Long, large dead ends for extended periods Long, large dead ends for extended periods Flushing, disinfection, no sample points Flushing, disinfection, no sample points

Sequencing Multiple Shutdowns Maintaining service & fire flows Maintaining service & fire flows How many blocks to the nearest hydrant? How many blocks to the nearest hydrant? How many streets in a row on temporary? How many streets in a row on temporary? Diurnal & seasonal demand Diurnal & seasonal demand What happens to your shutdown if you have to back up another valve? What happens to your shutdown if you have to back up another valve?

Pre-Design Draft O&M review checklists Draft O&M review checklists Do this early and give them to the designers so they know what you’ll be looking for. Do this early and give them to the designers so they know what you’ll be looking for.

Design Review Include O&M staff at all stages of review. Include O&M staff at all stages of review. As design becomes more refined, their review becomes more specific & focused on how they will operate & maintain project. As design becomes more refined, their review becomes more specific & focused on how they will operate & maintain project. If items are deleted, include O&M staff in the decision-making process. If items are deleted, include O&M staff in the decision-making process. Reduction in CIP $ frequently means increase in O&M. Make sure your staff can handle what you’re committing them to. Reduction in CIP $ frequently means increase in O&M. Make sure your staff can handle what you’re committing them to.

Start-up & Commissioning Acceptance Testing (Not the manufacturer’s & contractor’s equipment testing & commissioning) Acceptance Testing (Not the manufacturer’s & contractor’s equipment testing & commissioning) Does the project work with your whole system like it’s supposed to? Does the project work with your whole system like it’s supposed to? Documentation Documentation Test results/findings Test results/findings Operating procedures Operating procedures

Post-Implementation Go back & talk to the O&M staff Go back & talk to the O&M staff What’s working well? What’s working well? What’s been changed? Why? What’s been changed? Why? What would they do differently next time? What would they do differently next time?

Questions?