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Sanitation crews retrofit Terminal Island gas holder and redesign biosolids hoppers, yielding significant savings
Summary
City sanitation and engineering staff at the Terminal Island Treatment Plant repaired a deteriorated low-pressure methane gas holder and redesigned truck-loading hoppers for biosolids in-house, avoiding higher contractor costs and producing estimated savings of $78,000 and about $200,000 annually, respectively.
City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works staff on June 16 were recognized by the City Council for in-house repairs and redesigns at the Terminal Island Wastewater Treatment Plant that produced measurable cost savings.
Council members were told the plant treats about 17,000,000 gallons of wastewater daily. Plant personnel repaired corrosion and replaced rails, piping and valves on a 24-ton low-pressure methane gas holder using two smaller cranes instead of an expensive single large crane; the in-house repairs avoided outside-contractor costs and yielded an immediate savings to the city of $78,000, according to council remarks.
Separately, staff redesigned and fabricated improvements to the large hoppers used to load trucks with dewatered biosolids. As water content of biosolids decreased, hopper failures increased; plant staff, working with the Bureau of Engineering, fabricated new shafts, relocated bearings, redesigned the hopper exit chute and improved maintenance access. That redesign, tested for over a year, has reduced trucking and maintenance costs by roughly $200,000 per year, the council was told.
Councilwoman Goldberg introduced the teams and noted the plant converts captured methane into electricity that partially powers the treatment process and sells excess power for city use. Plant staff present and identified during recognition included Otis Wilder, Tom Eatman, Alfonso Garland, Terrence Montgomery, Haesong Kim, Gerald Peppers, Dennis Perkins, DJ (new team member), and Larry Miller.
Council remarks emphasized that completing the repairs in-house not only saved money but also restored plant operations more quickly, avoided environmental violations and injuries, and increased staff knowledge and teamwork. Council members presented certificates of congratulations to staff and asked for photographs at the dais.
The council recognition described the projects as examples of cost-saving innovation by city employees and noted the potential for reprogramming the savings for other city needs.
