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Paradise Township Sewer Authority flags WWTP control gaps, approves lower-cost defoamer
Summary
Engineers reported automatic-transfer and VFD fault-detection gaps at the wastewater plant, recommended communications upgrades; the board also authorized a lower-cost defoamer purchase and directed follow-up on pump alarms and disabled callouts.
The Paradise Township Sewer Authority reviewed plant-control and pump issues raised in an engineer's report and approved a procurement to lower chemical costs.
Rettew consultant Aaron Dewald reported that Rettew and GES visited the wastewater treatment plant and found the automatic transfer switch logic implemented but bypassed because blowers were operating in manual mode. Dewald said the Veolia programmable-logic-controller setup appears to lack hardwired fault inputs for the plant's variable-frequency drives, which limits the SCADA/HMI system's ability to detect some VFD faults. Rettew recommended adding Ethernet communications to the VFDs and/or increasing the ATS delay to ensure full power loss is detected during transfers.
The report also noted ongoing problems with heat trace on the wasting and waste-activated-sludge lines; PSI confirmed the electric side was operational, and Rettew will coordinate with Lobar to determine whether the issue is covered under warranty. Rettew further reported seal-failure alarms on both pumps at the Oak Hill pump station and recommended pulling the pumps for inspection to check for debris or seal degradation before returning them to service. Board member Bryan Stoltzfus said he would make sure the inspection and any necessary repairs are handled.
Rettew advised that alarm callouts are currently disabled at Ola Way (Business Park); Stoltzfus said he will look into the issue and coordinate reactivation of the callouts.
The board also considered chemical procurement: Coyne Chemical submitted a quote of $3.10 per pound for defoamer compared with the current price of $3.62 per pound from Maryland Biochemical. Treasurer Kaitlyn Jones moved to approve the Coyne Chemical quote; J.B. Stoltzfus seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Next steps recorded in the meeting minutes include Rettew coordinating with Lobar on the heat-trace warranty review, pulling and inspecting the Oak Hill pumps to determine the cause of seal alarms, and Bryan Stoltzfus coordinating activation of alarm callouts at Ola Way.
