PROJECT SUMMARY
Vancouver, a community set within the scenic beauty of the Northwest and proud of its responsive government and vibrant economy, has entrusted Veolia Water North America (formerly USFilter Operating Services, Inc.) to develop customized solutions to meet its changing wastewater needs for a quarter century.

The relationship has grown with the community's needs and now includes the management of three separate wastewater treatment facilities and additional pump stations. This partnership has fostered the following for Vancouver:

• An experienced operations company assuming full responsibility for compliance and environmental issues;
• A guarantee to meet or exceed all permit requirements and correct any problems with no cost to the city;
• A fixed contract price for the term of the agreement;
• Significant cost savings;
• State and national recognition for outstanding safety, environmental and performance achievements; and
• The ability to focus on the community's current issues and concerns, rather than city officials having to deal with the ongoing management of its wastewater facilities.
  

To The Rescue
In 1978, the city recruited Veolia (then Wheelabrator EOS) to help remedy its struggling 12 MGD (million gallons per day) Westside activated-sludge facility - that was confronted by heavy industrial loads, internal solids buildup and frequent equipment breakdown since a 1975 startup. Failing to meet discharge standards, the city was faced with fines and a sewer connection ban by the Washington Department of Ecology. USFilter assumed operations and maintenance of the facility and utilized a computerized process control system to analyze data and set a strategy for achieving effluent quality. Within six months, 100 percent compliance was reached.

Shortly thereafter, the city commission installed an industrial pretreatment lagoon and gave Veolia responsibility for managing the lagoon's systems, including performing industrial monitoring and spot-checking. Veolia worked with the city's industrial permitting program and industrial users to ensure cost-effective and reliable pretreatment of industrial waste. Process control and operational expertise resulted in the elimination of odor problems and the prevention of filament bulking.

Partnership Grows with the City's Expanding Needs
Working closely with the city, local industry and design consultants, Veolia has played a fundamental role in both the planning and construction of Vancouver's major wastewater facility expansions.

"The city values our experience and involves us in decision-making and review processes," said Veolia Project Manager Tom Burns. "It's a real testimony to Vancouver's confidence in our expertise."

In the mid-80s, Veolia performed a detailed process analysis of the Westside facility, which resulted in a 25 percent increase in the plant's capacity with no capital cost to the city. In 1994, the city's solids incinerator was upgraded to meet new federal regulations and Veolia provided the necessary Supervisory Controls and Data Acquisition (SCADA) programming.

A year later, Veolia was given the responsibility for bringing the new 8.0 MGD Marine Park Water Reclamation Facility on line. "We realized SCADA systems were essential to cost-effective facility management and dedicated a team of employees to develop an effective system," said Burns. "In addition, we provided design, construction and startup expertise, which resulted in meeting NPDES standards from the very first day of operations." Today, Vancouver continues to expand and improve its wastewater facilities. During the last several years, the city has been fully engaged in a major expansion effort called "Westside 2000." The effort involves an investment of over $60 million to the city's Westside facility.

Veolia's experienced team has provided critical operation and design input for the expansion. In 1998, the design flow of the treatment plant was increased from 15.2 to 17.1 MGD. In addition, $25 million worth of new process equipment, including a primary clarifier, three aeration basins, three secondary basins and a RAS/WAS pump station, was brought on line and in compliance. And, this is only part of the "Westside 2000" expansion plan. The final phase of the expansion, completed in summer 1999, increased the plant's capacity to 21 MGD and included the startup of a new solids handling system, including a 2.2 dry tons per hour Zimpro fluidized bed incinerator.

Award-Winning Partnership
Together, the City of Vancouver and Veolia make a strong team, as evident from the partnership's awards:

• Water Environment Foundation - George W. Burke Safety Award (2001)
• National Council for Public-Private Partnerships Partnership Award (2000)
• Washington Department of Ecology - Outstanding Wastewater Treatment Plant Award (2000)
• Pacific Northwest Pollution Control Association - Award for Ten Years of No Lost-Time Accidents (2000)
• Washington Department of Ecology - Exemplary Performance Award for Wastewater Treatment Operations (1997 and 1998)
• Environmental Protection Agency's Safety Award for Collections Systems Operations & Maintenance Excellence Award Finalist (1993)
• Department of Ecology - O&M Excellence Award (1989)