10/27/2006
Kelso Water Treatment Plant, Operations overview, 2000 to present.

The City of Kelso operates and maintains a Group 3 Water Treatment Plant. This division of Public Works employs two full time Water Treatment Plant Operators and a part time Relief Operator. The raw water supply is received from a well located on the east bank of the Cowlitz River and is rated as ground water under the influence of surface water and therefore is subject to surface water treatment regulations. The treatment plant is designed to produce 3.6 million gallons of water per day. Treatment includes disinfection, filter aid addition, iron and manganese removal through direct filtration, fluoridation and corrosion control. The Water Treatment Plant is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the treatment plant and all source and distribution water quality monitoring and is accountable for providing a safe and adequate water supply into the distribution system.
In addition to routine operation and maintenance the following are some of the City of Kelso Treatment Plants larger projects since 2000.

Treatment Plant upgrades. 2000 thru 2003, approximate cost of $5,500,000
" This was a huge project for the water plant staff engineering and operations. Many needed upgrades were made to the treatment facility.

Finished water pumps upgrades. 2003, approximate cost of $600,000
" This was a continuation of plant upgrades using a different general contractor.

Water master plan update. 2004 thru 2005, approximate cost of $30,000
" This year long project required many hours of water plant staff, engineering and operations involvement. (Required by Department of Health every 6 years)

Water System Vulnerability Assessment. June 2004, approximate cost of $25,000
" This study was required by State and Federal laws and involved engineering, operations and the water treatment plant.
Water System Emergency Response Plan. December 2004 approximate cost of $25,000
" This study was required by State and Federal laws and involved engineering, operations and water plant staff.
Catlin Pool 2000 thru 2004
" Water plant staff were involved with the pool O & M and took care of the mechanical and chemical feed systems and also provided training to the pool staff.

Ranney Well lateral cleaning. Spring of 2003 and 2006, approximate cost of $42,000 for both cleanings.
" These ongoing maintenance projects are needed to maintain well capacity and require considerable water plant staff time.

Professional Growth 2000 thru 2006
" The Department of Health requires mandatory certification levels and relevant continuing education and for water plant operators. The City of Kelso promotes continuing education for its employees and overall water plant staff certification levels currently exceed State minimum standards. (Note: it takes a minimum of six years out of high school to gain the education and experience necessary to be licensed to run a water plant of Kelso's size and complexity)

Annual Water quality report. July 2000 thru 2006
" The water plant staff prepares the annual water quality report summary that is required to be mailed to each city customer.
Lead and copper monitoring, reduced monitoring. 2004 and 2005
" 60 homes were sampled each year and all samples were below the action level for lead and copper and this allows us to go to reduced monitoring in 2008 when we will sample again for 30 sites. (This program took about 65 hours of water plant staff time in 2005)

Replace Minor Rd Reservoirs Roofs. About $135,000 dollars (almost all paid by insurance)
" Unexpected roof collapse in April 2004 started a year long project to get new roofs installed. Water Plant staff were greatly impacted because of the reduced capacity of water storage which required increased system monitoring. Our experienced administration and engineering departments were instrumental in obtaining insurance money to pay for the project.

The creation of 14 new standard operating procedures. 2005 and 2006
" Starting in 2005, plant staff was given direction, and extensive staff time was allotted to work on programs.

Operations and Preventative Maintenance Description and Goals

Revision: 4-14-06
Overview:
These O&PM programs are intended to assist in providing, quality operations and maintenance, for the City of Kelso's water treatment facility. They complement the extensive WTP O&M manuals and clarify needed maintenance programs. They are also designed to communicate staffing needs and material costs, this helps with scheduling and prioritization of limited resources.
Standard Operations Procedures (SOPs) included in many of the O&M programs help provide valuable consistency.
All treatment plant personnel assist in the identification, writing, and updating of these programs.

Goals:
" Identify needed programs and SOPs
" Prioritize.
" Write, develop and implement working programs.
" Review, update and improve programs.

The complexity of treatment plant operations require clear, detailed, programs and procedures. They are invaluable for training and essential during times of staff turnover. The treatment plant personnel goal is to show monthly progress towards improvement of these programs.
We are assisted by administration, they help with review, training, provide access to mapping and other functions outside our department and also direction on prioritization.

" O & M programs and SOPs are very valuable tools in striving to continually improve operation, maintenance, cost efficiency, safety, training and accountability. They are a work in progress, following is a list of programs that were created or updated in the past two years.
1. Coliform Monitoring Program
2. Computer Data Maintenance Program
3. Distribution Chlorine Monitoring Program
4. Filter Inspection Program
5. Grounds Maintenance Program
6. HVAC Maintenance Program
7. Bleach Storage Tank Dilution Program
8. Key Control Program
9. Lead and Copper Monitoring Program
10. PH and Chlorine Probe Calibration Program
11. Optimal Filtered Water Program
12. Turbidimeter Calibration Program
13. Water Quality Monitoring Program
14. Well Chlorination Program

Met water quality monitoring requirements. 2000 thru 2006
" Water quality monitoring is an important function of water plant staff.
1. Daily
" Combined filter Turbidity, PH, Temperature and Chlorine residual are all recorded continuously and reported daily.
" Distribution chlorine sample minimum one daily.
" Fluoride sample
2. Monthly
" Fluoride verification sample
" Iron, Manganese and Raw TOC
" Bacteriological, 10 distribution and 1 raw
3. Quarterly
" Disinfection By Products Monitoring (distribution)
4. Yearly
" Nitrate
5. 1 to 9 years. Volatile Organic Compounds, Lead and Copper, Asbestos, Radium 228, General Pesticides, Inorganic Contaminates, Insecticides, Herbicides, & Radionuclides.

Tracer Study and Detention Time Evaluation 2006
" This project, required by the state, will allow us to lower the amount of chlorine we deliver in the water to our customers. Engineering oversaw and provided direction for this study. Plant staff provided data collection and a draft report. This enabled us to do this project with out hiring a consultant and saved upwards of $10,000.

Talley Way Test Well 2005-2006
" Plant staff provided water quality data collection for this project.

MSDS and Chemical Hazard Communication 2005
" Plant staff completed a needed update of these valuable safety resources.