EYE-SORE: A Sewerage Agency Summary of Rehabilitation Experience

P ublic awareness of the importance of the sewerage network is inevitably highlighted when the system suffers malfunction. Associated with surface collapse or increased pollution to a local watercourse the effects are more widely felt, whilst even programmed work is not without significant environmental impact. With its history of deteriorating and failed sewers, the rehabilitation work already implemented and the introduction of a strategic sewerage policy, the paper outlines aspects of the City of Manchester's experience and effort to eradicate the consequential scars of its heritage whilst also looking to the future.     

Economic Optimization of Distribution Leakage Control

E vry WATER DISTRIBUTION system has an economic optimum level of leakage. To maintain that optimum level of leakage there is a corresponding optimum level of leakage control activity.
Despite much work on this subject, particularly in recent years with publication of DoE Report No. 26¹, many undertakers remain unclear about their economic optimum leakage level and how much effort is required to maintain that level.
This paper describes development of an economic model which attempts to quantify optimum leakage through measurement of parameters which should be readily available or obtainable.
The model was originally developed specifically for routine sounding. However, extension of the basic principles allows development of a general optimization theory. The paper then shows how the theory can be applied to optimization of district metering     

Pilot Scale Aerobic Sequencing Batch Reactor for Pig Waste Treatment

A n existing aetated lagoon treating piggery waste was converted into an aerobic sequencing batch reactor (SBR). After the commissioning period, the SBR plant treated piggery wastewater containing BOD and suspended solids (SS) concentrations of 2881 mg/l and 1419 mg/1 respectively, producing an effluent having an average BOD and SS of 18.7 mg/1 and 12.3 mg/1 respectively. The volumetric loadings on the SBR and the process were similar. However, the SBR process operated at a lower mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) concentration and shorter sludge retention period. Although the capital and operating costs of the SBR are higher than for the aerated lagoon, the simplicity of operation, the high BOD and SS removal efficiency, and the small land requirement make this type of process an attractive treatment option, particularly in places where land supply is limited and expensive.     

The Effect of Borehole Sealing on the Southern Lincolnshire Limestone Catchment

The Southern Lincolnshire Limestone is an important groundwater resource; however, for many years water has been lost from the aquifer system through uncontrolled artesian flow from wild-bores in the Fenland area. During 1991–92, there was an extensive programme of sealing or controlling the wild-bores, and compensation flows for ecological and farming purposes were provided at some sites.
This paper describes a field study which was designed to identify the important features of part of the catchment; this was followed by the development of an existing groundwater model to provide an improved representation of the uncontrolled and controlled wild-bores. The model is used to assess the consequences of controlling or sealing the wild-bores.     

Ozone Treatment of Sewage Works' Final Effluent

This paper describes a laboratory-based study which was designed to investigate (a) the changes in selected physico-chemical properties of a sewage-works' final effluent after ozonation, and (b) the effect of ozone on the concentration of organic halides and effluent toxicity and mutagenicity. Different conditions were studied involving the application of ozone concentrations up to 13.5% w/w and the ozonation of the effluent under both constant and variable ozonation rates.     

Contractual Issues of Process-Plant Projects

The paper describes the structure of a process-plant contract and distinguishes it from other forms of design-and-construct contracts. The various tests used in process-plant contracts are highlighted, including performance tests relating to process guarantees and the remedies for failure to achieve such guarantees, with particular reference to the water industry. The differences between price-based and cost-based contracts are reviewed, together with three significant areas of contractor's liabilities for design, defects, and overall contract liability. The paper also briefly introduces the development of operation and maintenance contracts and design-build-finance-operate contracts.     

Comparison of RBC and SBR Systems for the Treatment of Sewage from Small Communities

This paper describes a study which was carried out to evaluate the performance of two types of small sewage-treatment plant which are commonly available in the UK, i.e. a rotating biological contactor and a sequencing batch reactor. Both systems produced an effluent quality of less than 20 mg/l BOD and 30 mg/l SS; however, the sequencing batch reactor was more consistent in producing a better effluent (i.e. BOD<10 mg/l and SS<20 mg/l) than the rotating biological contactor. The sequencing batch reactor also demonstrated a greater tendency to remove nutrients, although the special design features which were used in this study were believed to have enhanced the rate of nutrient removal     

Managing Water Services Through Service Differentiation and Pricing in an African City

A key challenge for managers of water utilities in developing countries is to provide services to the rising urban population in a financially sustainable manner. The paper examines the management of water services in an African city which piloted service differentiation and pricing. Among the key findings was that substantial improvement in the provision of water services to the urban poor was attained. Cost recovery was achieved through innovative structuring of public/private partnerships, an appropriate pricing policy, and flexible payment systems. The project demonstrates that (a) by structuring service delivery with appropriate pricing, utilities could serve more customers (including people living in informal settlements) at affordable cost and achieve financial sustainability, and (b) service differentiation and appropriate pricing has the potential to improve urban water services in low-income countries.