NO DRAIN DOWN REQUIRED TO CLEAN OUT YEARS OF BUILT UP MATERIAL IN CENTRAL FLORIDA WASTEWATER FACILITY An oxidation ditch at a Central Florida Wastewater Treatment Plant was in need of cleaning, having built up a significant amount of sand and grit.  The facility’s treatment process is comprised of a Type 1 Oxidation Ditch operating as a conventional activated sludge treatment facility measuring 320-feet by 70-feet. How U.S. Submergent Technologies removed sand and grit from the tank without performing a drain down USST Foreman, Michael Kisling, led the USST crew through the project from start to finish, utilizing the powerful Combination3® Truck and GritGone Process® to tackle the job. The truck’s extended boom and downhole pump were used to reach and remove sand and grit from the tank without having to perform a drain down. “One of the advantages of our equipment that makes it so unique is that we can remove very large amounts of material while the whole facility remains in operation,” said Michael. “Plants don’t have to shut down or alter treatment flow, and we can reach and remove material quickly.” Another advantage of using the Combination3® Truck to perform the cleaning is that confined space entry … Read More

WHY EVERY CITY & COUNTY UTILITY SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR COLLECTION SYSTEM & THE CHALLENGES OF CLEANING LARGE-DIAMETER PIPE Water and wastewater collection and treatment processes are largely out of sight, out of mind. Our society often takes this infrastructure for granted and is largely unaware of what’s happening below their feet, even though every person in this country uses it every day at home or at work. Large-diameter pipe (LDP) is generally treated the same way throughout our industry; we don’t see it regularly, so we assume it is functioning properly. LDP infrastructure is primarily only cleaned or rehabilitated when issues arise, such as overflows or collapse that force attention. Once an emergency situation arises, utilities typically scramble to solve a large and complicated issue that they are unprepared to handle, exacerbated by the fact that large-diameter pipe is difficult to clean under flow while in service. Managing Flow in Large vs Small Diameter Pipe Large-diameter pipe is generally described as 24-inches in diameter or larger. Typically, utility systems have regular maintenance plans for smaller pipe systems 18-inches or smaller that involve a vacuum-only approach. Because of the smaller size of the pipes, cleaning this infrastructure is routine … Read More

39-TONS SAND AND GRIT REMOVAL PERFORMED ON DIGESTER Cleaning sand and grit from a digester at a wastewater treatment plant A digester at a Central Florida Wastewater Treatment Plant was due for cleaning, having built up an accumulation of sand and grit. The structure was cleaned in operation with the aid of funding from Florida’s Sand & Grit Grant Assistance Program. See if your facility is eligible for similar funding by reading more about the program here . Measuring 100-feet in diameter with approximately 18-feet high tank walls, the digester was cleaned using the versatile Combination3® Truck. Due to the size of the facility, the structure had to be cleaned while remaining in full operation. No bypass or shut down was necessary to remove the material and no confined space entry was required to complete the job due to the adaptive technology of USST’s equipment and skill of the crew members. Led by USST Foreman Charles Harrington, the crew utilized the Combination3® Truck’s extended boom and downhole pump to remove sand and grit while navigating around coarse air diffusers found on the bottom of the tank. “This kind of precision cleaning is difficult to accomplish while a structure remains in … Read More

As you may or may not be aware, Florida has funding available through a grant assistance program for qualifying utilities to remove sand and grit from their facilities. We’ve got answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the Sand & Grit Grant Program below. When did the program start? The program began in 2014 and is administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) developed to assist wastewater treatment plants in the removal of sand and grit to increase capacity, reduce energy use, and improve effluent quality. How do I qualify? Your facility must be a public utility with an average annual daily flow of 3MGD or under, and a portion of the plant must remain online during removal. What is the process? A simple, 1-page information sheet must be filled out; once it has been submitted to the FDEP, they begin to draft the grant agreement. How much funding can I receive? If eligible, your facility will be reimbursed 50-100%. There is no limit to the amount of funding your facility can receive through the grant program. How many structures can I get funding for? As many as needed that qualify. There is no limitation to the … Read More

300-FEET OF BLOCKAGES REMOVED INCLUDING WOOD, LAWN CHAIRS, YARD DEBRIS & MORE After experiencing a series of overflows in a residential area, a West Florida city was looking to clean up a severely blocked stormwater box culvert.  Due to a fluctuating tide schedule creating a surcharged environment, the stormwater structure was cleaned in both wet (high tide) and dry (low tide) conditions. Paul Stephenson, one of USST’s experienced Foremen (read more about Paul here!), led the USST crew on the project, cleaning more than 300-feet.  “Having our Combination3® Truck allowed us to get everything done in one go,” said Paul. “We used a number of setups to remove material with one truck, including the vacuum, downhole pump and jetter, depending on whether the tide was in or out and the resulting conditions in the structure.” The USST crew utilized the downhole pump and jetter when water was present in the structure to remove sand and grit and switched to vacuum to remove remaining material during dry conditions. In total, 12-yards were removed and disposed of at an offsite city facility.  Lawn chairs, wood, and yard waste were some of the larger debris removed from the structure. There was minimal intrusion … Read More

MASSIVE BUILDUP OF RAGS, DEBRIS, AND EVEN METAL HANDRAILS FROM TWO STRUCTURES Access issues had prevented two splitter box structures at a South Florida wastewater treatment facility from being thoroughly cleaned in years.  A large amount of accumulated rag material had built up over time, and the structure was experiencing significantly reduced capacity. The two structures in question consisted of an Auxiliary Secondary Clarifier Distribution Chamber with dimensions estimated at 30-feet by 45-feet as well as a Secondary Clarifier Distribution Chamber measuring approximately 40-feet by 40-feet.  These two structures function as splitter boxes for a secondary clarifier at the facility and serve to split flow from the clarifiers to oxidation tanks. “A drain down was necessary to evaluate and perform maintenance on the structures,” said Michael Kisling, USST Foreman on the project, “but once the water level was lowered, it was clear that the estimated 6-to-8 feet of rag and debris material was going to be difficult to remove.” The top level of the structures had been cleaned over the years, but rag material had built up due to the depth and position of the debris.  The USST crew developed a crane attachment to be used with the Combination3® Truck’s … Read More

SCROLL DOWN TO LEAVE A POSITIVE MESSAGE OR WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR FELLOW INDUSTRY FRIENDS As we navigate this unprecedented situation together, we want to recognize the essential work being done by our customers, suppliers, business partners, and so many others working to keep vital infrastructure flowing.  The work you’re performing in the wastewater and water sectors is critical to maintaining quality of life for our communities throughout this pandemic and beyond. While social distancing has required temporary measures to limit physical interactions, it doesn’t change the passion and respect we share for the work we do as industry friends. Join us in cheering on our fellow wastewater and water co-workers. Leave a positive message, a note of encouragement, recognize anyone you know who has gone above and beyond, or simply drop a line letting us know how you’re coping in the comments below.  We’ll share the shout outs on social and in our next newsletter. We are committed to staying positive, as well as practicing the highest health and safety standards throughout these circumstances, and we’d genuinely like to hear how you’re doing. From all of us at USST, we appreciate your role more than ever, respect the critical work you … Read More

PREVIOUSLY UNREACHABLE MATERIAL REMOVED FROM PUMP STATION Sand, grit, and other wastewater residuals had accumulated over time in a West Florida lift station, reducing its overall capacity.  As part of a larger rehabilitation and improvement plan, the City of Tampa’s San Carlos Pump Station required cleaning and had a buildup of material deep in the wet well that needed to be removed.  Due to the challenging depth of the material, previous companies had been unable to reach the material with conventional vacuums and equipment. A buildup of material in a wet well such as this has the potential to cause several issues, including increased pump run times and wear and tear on equipment.  A drain-down and confined space entry was necessary in order to efficiently access the wet well.  The Combination3® Truck’s powerful vacuum was used to remove sand, grit, sludge, and rags at approximately 37-feet depth from the bottom of the wet well to slab/grade elevation, without any issues.  USST’s vacuum is powered by a blower capable of delivering nearly double the CFM of a standard vacuum truck, allowing the crew to remove large amounts of wastewater residuals and complete the job quickly and on schedule.  In total, 12-cubic … Read More

U.S. Submergent Technologies cleans sand, grit, and other debris out of wet environments. We’re well known for our success in wastewater treatment facilities, but our Combination3® technology gives us the ability to clean the hard-to-reach places in a variety of submerged conditions.  Our innovative jetter and combined vacuum and downhole system enables the rapid removal of accumulated solids from wet infrastructure while it remains in operation. U.S. Submergent Technologies (USST) is able to restore capacity in numerous industries and other systems that can benefit from being cleaned while in service, with no bypass.   Pipes Large-diameter pipe systems can become clogged with sand or debris, causing blockage, reducing flow capacity, and causing potential upstream flooding. Over time, sand seeps into collection systems through cracks and seams, constricting pipe flow once it begins to accumulate. Other unwanted debris, both naturally occurring and manmade (litter), makes its way into pipe systems, adding to the problem and obstructing flow. Other unwanted debris, both naturally occurring and manmade (litter), makes its way into pipe systems, adding to the problem and obstructing flow. Since we are unable to see the accumulated material, the problem often goes unnoticed. When this impacts a lift station, energy costs can … Read More

Our wastewater collection and treatment systems remove the biological waste in our water by design. However, other waste — debris such as sand and grit — accumulates in collection and treatment infrastructure, but their systems are not designed to remove this type of material. This type of debris accumulates because most of the wastewater infrastructure is below the earth’s surface. Collection systems are comprised of pipe segments that have joints, seams, gaps, and cracks, which are exacerbated as the pipes shift over time. These gaps allow sand to enter the pipe.  The Damage Done by Grit Sand and grit, unmanaged, can wreak havoc on the treatment process by reducing the operating capacity of the system. Sand and grit cause abnormal wear and tear on pumps and other mechanical components. Hydraulically speaking, sand and grit can adversely affect operational aspects of the collection and treatment system including full or partial plugging of outlets and/or pump suctions. The Risks of Grit and Sand Accumulation Determining whether or not there is an issue is the real challenge. Pipes are below ground while tanks are made of concrete or steel and are not transparent. Accumulated sand and grit sits at the bottom of these … Read More