UPDATED 12:57 PM: Kyle Wastewater Treatment Plant Suffers Malfunction, Crews Working On Solutions
The center well bearing system at the Kyle Waste Water Treatment Plant 1 suffered a significant component failure on Sunday.
Kyle, TX – Kyle wastewater treatment plant staff will install a pump system at Plant 1 this afternoon that will mimic the function of the center well system following a mechanical failure Sunday.
“A crew is bringing in the pump from Houston,” Division Manager Jason Biemer said this morning. “Our goal is to have the pump up and running by this evening.”
Biemer also said a new replacement part for the center well was located and a contractor will verify its compatibility with our existing structure.
“We anticipate having the components replaced and plant operations fully restored over the course of about a month,” Biemer said.
Original:
Kyle, TX – The center well bearing system at the Kyle Waste Water Treatment Plant 1 suffered a significant component failure on Sunday. The bearing system is the main part of the clarification process at the facility, which houses two circular plants. Plant 2 is online and functioning properly.
From a process standpoint, clarification is what removes the solids from incoming wastewater using a series of motorized rakes; those rakes help move the wastewater to the next phase of the system.
Division Manager Jason Biemer said, “Treatment and disinfection of wastewater is still occurring, meaning the outflow of effluent is still treated as it enters Plum Creek. If the solids are not removed at the same rate as normal, that could lead to treatment issues in Plant 1 and cause a disruption in Plant 2. The effect would be a release of partially treated effluent.”
Kyle’s wastewater plant permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) limits the amount of solids in the effluent released to 15 parts per million.
The window for repairing Plant 1 is short — several days at most — to prevent overtaxing Plant 2 and causing partially treated effluent to enter the creek.
Biemer said he believes the first step in repairing the plant is installing temporary pumps to mimic the circulation process to keep the solids moving through the clarification process. He said this option is the city’s most viable and cost-effective solution at this point in time. A secondary option would be to bring in a mobile, temporary wastewater treatment system.
Public Works Director Harper Wilder said the plant staff has been dealing with the issue since early Sunday morning.
“Our staff are working 24 hours a day to resolve the issue and get the plant back on track,” Wilder said. “They are doing continuous real-time monitoring including Dissolved Oxygen checks twice a day downstream.”
He recommended that people and animals downstream of the plant stay out of the water until the issue is resolved.
Wilder outlined the action steps city staff have already taken and continue to take to prevent untreated wastewater from entering the creek:
- Locating and installing pumps that would replicate the job of the bearing system
- Finding a center well to replace the one that failed
- Exploring the use of a mobile wastewater treatment service
- Notifying TCEQ about a potential release of partially treated effluent above the permit limit
- Notifying downstream neighbors about potential effects
- Continuous monitoring of the plant and effluent leaving the plant
City Manager Scott Sellers also reached out to Uhland City Manager Karen Gallagher this morning to apprise her of the issue.
“We’re working on plant repairs and maximizing our efforts to mitigate any negative impacts to our neighbors and the environment,” Sellers said.
Despite the potential for a larger issue if the plant can’t be brought back to full health within a few days, he remained positive about the situation.
“While this was a significant component failure, we believe the actions our staff already took and continue to take will allow us to overcome the challenges and maintain a properly functioning plant,” Sellers said.
The City of Kyle is nearing the completion stage of engineering for a plant expansion that has been on the books for approximately two years. Construction on that expansion is slated to begin in spring 2018.
UPDATED
NOTE: The information below was provided by the City of Kyle.
FAQ on City of Kyle Wastewater Treatment Plant
- What is the center well bearing system?
It’s the component in the middle of the clarification section of the plant that moves the rakes above and below the water line, around in a circular motion. Those rakes pass along the wastewater solids to the next phase of processing, and return them into the start of the treatment process.
- What is the age of Plant 1?
About 17 years.
- What is the age of Plant 2?
About 11 years.
- Is the effluent currently coming out of the plant safe?
Our effluent is permitted by TCEQ for up to 15 parts per million of solids. The treatment staff are collecting regular samples on the effluent but it takes several days or more to get back the laboratory results.
- What other options are city staff exploring to bring the plant back up to speed?
Finding a center well replacement is one of our top priorities. However, in the meantime, renting a pump system to simulate the rakes in the clarifier is critical for moving the solids. A third though less attractive and quite expensive option is to bring in a temporary mobile wastewater system (on trucks).
- What will happen if Plant 1 cannot be restored to health?
We would face the possibility of releasing about a million gallons or more a day of partially treated effluent into Plum Creek.
- What are the consequences of releasing partially treated effluent?
Partially treated effluent can cause an overgrowth of bacteria in the creek water. It could lead to a reduction in overall water quality which could impact fish and other organisms in the creek. This could lead to a potential fish kill situation downstream. It could also lead to fines from TCEQ for permit violations.
- Is there anything the public can do to help?
We don’t expect to get to the point of asking residents to change their wastewater usage habits. At this point, we just wanted to keep Kyle residents, and downstream partners, informed about the situation.
