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Norwalk WPCA reports April operations, scum-pump rebuild and a failed VFD needing replacement
Summary
At the May 18 meeting staff reported April plant metrics (11.0 MGD average flow, 546 lb/day nitrogen), described a multi-day repair and rebuild of a scum pump and proposed replacing a failed VFD on influent pump No. 2 after repeated tripping; staff also noted two posted staffing vacancies.
At the May 18 meeting of the Norwalk Water Pollution Control body, operations staff reported April operational metrics and described recent repairs and near-term maintenance needs.
Operations reporting attributed to Mr. Steve Rock (per meeting discussion) said the collection system completed 3.1 miles of CCTV, 3.02 miles of sewer cleaning, 10 manhole inspections, 2.59 miles of hot-water cleaning and responded to 11 service calls in the reporting period. The IPP inspection program logged 32 inspections in April. On the plant side staff described a troubleshooting, repair and reinstall of a scum storage tank scum pump that required roughly a week and a half of work; the team said the pump was rebuilt and reinstalled.
Staff reported the facility’s average daily flow for April was 11.0 million gallons per day and that the facility’s nitrogen performance averaged 546 pounds per day; April rainfall was reported at 2.36 inches. Staff said required monthly reports (DMR, MOR, NAR) were submitted to Connecticut DEEP and EPA for April.
During the maintenance update staff described an operational issue with influent pump No. 2, which had been tripping repeatedly at very low loads. Investigation found the pump’s variable frequency drive (VFD) had failed; the original supplier told staff similar units from that era are beginning to fail. Staff said they had obtained a supplier quote to replace the unit with a newer model and presented that as a proposed major repair/replacement project.
Staff also informed the board the WPCA currently has two vacant positions: the position vacated by Nelia Bauer remains unfilled and has been downgraded to an assistant civil engineer (the job is posted on the city website), and the storm-water systems manager position vacated by Mario Pisigalli is also posted for recruitment.
No formal action was taken at the meeting because the board did not have a quorum; staff said they would bring any required approvals back for vote when a quorum is present.
