Water & Wastewater

Water and wastewater optimization and troubleshooting involve the systematic evaluation, improvement, and resolution of operational issues within water and wastewater treatment systems to ensure efficient performance and regulatory compliance. Our process requires a combination of technical expertise, data analysis, problem-solving skills, and effective communication. Some key steps involved in water and wastewater optimization and troubleshooting include performance evaluation, data analysis, process optimization of the treatment processes, troubleshooting to identify operational issues which include equipment assessment, regulatory compliance, operator training assessment, and evaluation to assess if continuous improvement is incorporated. The process of optimization and troubleshooting the operation will improve the overall efficiency of the system while reducing ongoing operation and maintenance cost, while extending the life of the infrastructure.

FFEC provides customized Operation Plans that are specific to your operation, providing the operator a tool for addressing any issue that arises at the water treatment plant or wastewater facility. The plan will address any operational issues identified in previous inspections or the Water Security Agency’s permit requirements, moreso this will be a tool which can be referenced at any time directing staff on tasks that must be completed on a daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis and will be helpful in preparing the annual report. Emergency Response Plans (ERP) are customized to assist staff should an emergency arise at your facility and will satisfy the Water Security Agency’s permit requirement. The ERP, is a systematic approach to managing a series of emergency situations that may be encountered at the water treatment plan throughout the life of the facility.

Our customized operator training will compromise of theoretical training as well as plant specific training. The training will be delivered in two phases for both water treatment and wastewater treatment; first is the classroom or virtually, and the second stage will be in the field - onsite. The theoretical portion will teach about either water treatment or wastewater treatment and the latest practices for managing the daily functions of water treatment and wastewater treatment. The theoretical component at the facility will be specific to the water treatment or wastewater treatment facility and shall address the requirements outlined in the Permit to Operate. Phase two, will focus on applying the information learned in phase one, and making operational changes where required. If the facility has an Operations Plan, the training will verify the plan addresses all operational activities appropriately, and if not, the Operations Plan will be updated.

It is one thing to operate a water treatment or wastewater treatment plant, it is another to understand and interpret the data collected from annual monitoring. We work with clients to assemble, consolidate and interpret data providing them the learning environment to understand what the data are indicating is happening with the water treatment process. We help them interpret the data and how to troubleshoot, providing the needed information to make system adjustments that will improve the overall quality of water produced. Those clients wishing to not burden their operator with this task, we’ll analyze the data on behalf of the client, and direct the operator to make the appropriate system adjustments, document the adjustments and their findings. Our work is in conjunction with the operator which helps reduce travel costs while educating the operator.

Our compliance program focuses on recent or previous inspections/audits to identify non-compliance or recommendations. We will confirm as to why the non-compliance/recommendations remain unresolved, and identify the necessary steps required to satisfy the non-compliance. Our approach will provide actual steps to address the compliance/recommendations, along with appropriate timelines, and work on behalf of the community with the regulator to ensure the non-compliance/recommendations have been addressed achieving compliance. For communities that do not have the time or resources to address the non-compliance, FFEC will assemble the required information, submit it to the regulator, and develop a plan that will help the community collect the required information that will be submitted annually to the regulator as part of the annual report.