HighPointe at RiverTown Sanitary Sewer System Improvements

Q. What current actions are JEA taking to eliminate the odor? Is elimination of the odor or merely its reduction JEA’s attainable goal? 

A. Optimize current equipment at the pump station site:

• Improving vapor phase treatment based on airflow.
• Modify discharge of existing vapor phase treatment until implementation of better performing equipment (currently awaiting proposal from vendor). 
• Modify the controls of the pumps.

Modify chemical treatment to target morning and evenings (i.e. peak flow events from the community) at site(s) upstream of 40 Shinnecock. 

Upgrade the chemical phase treatment upstream of the pump station located at 40 Shinnecock. 

JEA will continue to monitor odor levels at the site and adjust the system as flow conditions change. 

Q. What is the current maintenance schedule for the lift station i.e. days/times JEA services the station?

A. The station is serviced weekly, typically on Mondays but the day and time may vary based on other needs in the system. Residents may see increased activities at this and nearby stations while we work to resolve the odor issues.  

Q. What are the names and position titles of the major players involved in the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the lift station? Can we request a public meeting to discuss the O&M?

A. Michael Dvoroznak, PE – Manager, Water/Wastewater Reuse Treatment Maintenance Planning and Engineering 

    John Sgambettera – Director, Water/Wastewater Reuse Treatment 

    A public meeting can be scheduled if requested  

Q. Are there health risks associated with repeated and long term inhalation/exposure to Hydrogen sulfide? Is this what we are smelling?  https://www.osha.gov/hydrogen-sulfide

A. Residents may be smelling sewer gases with H2S (hydrogen sulfide) as the predominant type of odor in any sanitary sewer system. The existing odor control equipment is designed to remove greater than 99% of all hydrogen sulfide from the system. The current proposed upgrade to the vapor phase equipment will allow for further removal of the remaining odor compounds.   

Q. If JEA is unable to eliminate the odor, can the lift station be relocated? – other FL neighborhoods have successfully removed/relocated lift stations.

A. The sanitary sewer system was designed and pump station site location(s) determined by the developer. The water and sewer systems are then inspected and turned over to JEA for daily operations and maintenance. 

The master sewer pump station located at 40 Shinnecock serves a much larger section of the overall River Town community, including future phases of the subdivision. We do not have the ability to phase out this pump station. As the community grows, flows through the system will increase allowing the system to work faster thereby reducing the odors that can form in the system over time. JEA will continue to enhance/improve the odor control systems within the entire River Town community. 

Q. What P&IDs (Process and Instrument Diagrams) do they have of the system, both of the current Shinnecock Drive lift station system, any future proposed modifications to the system (and their associated schedule) and any directly adjacent systems both upstream and downstream? 

A. We don’t have PIDs, per se, for the odor control systems. We work with our contractor/vendor to recommend and install appropriate systems upstream (chemical treatment) and we have some requirements for designing/sizing the bio-trickling filters, ozone systems and carbon units. 

Q. What CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management Software) is being used and what maintenance schedules and service logs are available? 

A. We use Oracle eAM for the CMMS and the O&M group visits the station regularly to check overall operation of the site. Work orders are tracked in eAM and there is a logbook on-site for record keeping.  

Q. Age of all system components of the Shinnecock Drive lift station? 

A. The as-builts for Shinnecock are noted Jan 20, 2010. That makes the majority of the pump station system components 14 years old. The bio-trickling filter is about 1 year old. The carbon vessel we reassigned from another pump station is greater than 10 years old. The carbon gets replaced as needed, usually every 2-3 years. A new carbon vessel has been ordered with expected delivery in Summer 2023. 

Q. How much control does JEA have over the surrounding landscaping and fencing? We would like to engage our HOA about making changes to improve the "look" of the lift station; however, we want to know if there are JEA protocols to be considered or if JEA performs this work. For example, a few ideas/concerns shared by homeowners: make a tall wall(s) to surround the facility instead of the current fence. 

A. The current fence is the JEA standard fence installed by the developer and is common throughout our service territory. A wall would not assist with the odor control. It would be logical to better screen with taller, thicker, and more strategically placed vegetation further from the station on the berm.  

Q. Possibly paint all the structures the same color so it blends more with the environment? 

A. We can review with our engineers and facility staff to see what we might be able to do. The odor control equipment may be painted a solid color. However, some of the equipment is not suitable to paint due to the surface(s). Are we thinking green/tan? We would need direction and agreement from the CDD/HOA. 

Q. Landscaping - needs to be a mid-size evergreen option planted there or maybe cypress trees to better obscure the facility as the trees mature. 

A. JEA owns the property a few feet outside the perimeter of the fence. JEA can replace any bushes that may have dies or do not exist around the perimeter. We could also let them grow higher (do not cut and lower level. Other areas are owned and maintained by the CDD. The CDD could plant additional trees and bushes strategically to block any structures from view. Many of the trees and bushes have not matured. Cypress trees would screen well along the berm over time. A reminder that the station entrance must remain accessible at all times.

Q. Is the Facility in Highpointe only a lift/pump station or is it a treatment facility that then sends water back for irrigation systems?

A. It is only a pumping facility.

Q: At what point in the build out process of Rivertown do you expect inherent odor reduction?

A. It is hard to predict. It can depend on the development of the community. As the subdivision grows the wastewater will spend less time in an anaerobic condition reducing the time for odor formation. We will continue to monitor and make adjustments. The operations and maintenance staff is collecting odor data on a weekly or sometimes daily basis.

Q. What happens if the smell becomes unbearable shortly after one of the regular maintenance days? Is our only option to get a JEA associate on site to call customer service?

A. You can call JEA customer service. We will create a ticket and get a technician on-site to verify the odor and confirm equipment is operational.. The next day a supervisor will make any adjustments if needed.

Q. Is total elimination of the odor attainable?

A. This may not be feasible on a regular basis. Elimination is certainly the goal. Our odor logs indicate that odor control is removing >99% of the hydrogen sulfide. We do want to control the odors so that it does not affect our customers. We use the best available technologies to treat what we can. Most of the technology is targeted at hydrogen sulfide removal. The carbon units are used for polishing other odors in the system.

Q. Can maintenance days be increased until odor is completely controlled?

A. Increased site visits is something JEA would entertain. The pump station is visited at a minimum once a week or more. The station is monitored remotely 24/7 by mechanics, team leads, and a maintenance coordinator by a SCADA system. The stations SCADA system has alarm set points that will trigger if any major equipment is not working properly. The alarms will notify our team and a technician will be dispatched for the issue.

Q. Is JEA aware of the odor at the sidewalk next to the Watersong entrance sign?

A. JEA will check our trouble tickets, but we will certainly have someone check to see if this odor is JEA related.

Q. Has JEA considered bipolar ionization technology as a permanent odor remediation solution?

A. JEA is open to additional discussions and treatment methodologies. We do have a standard process to go through and evaluate. We do not know if this method has been considered in the past. We do use ionization technology in some places in JEA’s system to treat odors. However, it is not the best available technology to treat the odors at 40 Shinnecock.

Q. What is the “trigger event” for remediation activities that are less cost efficient? In other words, is someone testing the “odor level” each week or is this purely based on customer complaints?

A. Complaints do help and are appreciated. JEA will be monitoring the logs on a regular basis. If our staff notices any differences in odor during routine site visits they will make the necessary adjustments to the system.

Q. Is it impossible to predict how many homes would reduce the odor?

A. This can all be based on time. More homes will increase the flow from the pump site. As the sites get increased flow the wastewater holding times in the force main will reduce improving odors.

Q. Once the community is fully developed, are we expecting no odor?

A. As the community develops, flow through the system increases which can decrease the amount of time wastewater is in an anaerobic condition. Less time wastewater is in the pipes without oxygen will decrease the formation of odors.

Q. The brief stated performance improves as load increases. What is the reason?

A. As the community develops, flow through the system increases which can decrease the amount of time wastewater is in an anaerobic condition. Less time wastewater is in the pipes without oxygen will decrease the formation of odors.

Q. Does the Shinnecock station service all of Rivertown?

A. Yes, all of Rivertown and a few communities outside of it.

Q. What and where is the next direct stop in JEA’S system for the output from the Shinnecock Drive lift station?

A. The wastewater will go to Blacksford JEA water reclamation facility. That is where the water is treated and sent back out for reclamed irrigation.

Q. Can JEA make the system pump at a more frequent interval so that the waste is not staying stagnant for a long period of time?

A. We have made improvements at the current site. We have adjusted pump set points along with installing equipment that allows for more consistent pumping so that the wastewater is moved on a more consistent basis then just 2-3 times a day.

Q. Why would JEA consent to a site within a multi-million dollar residential community for a treatment plant with the impossibility of odor elimination?

A. The station was designed by the master developer and was dedicated to JEA upon its completion.

Q. I would assume given the regularity and strength of the odor that it is occurring even when the odor log reads 99%. If that is the case, how can 99% odor removal be a success?

A. The bio-trickling filter is removing over 99% of hydrogen sulfide. This biological treatment can be impacted by large swings in temperatures, which may temporarily result in more odors. There also may be other odors that would be removed through a second stage of treatment such as carbon polishing. The carbon polishing was not originally installed but has since been added. The carbon polisher will be upgraded in the summer of 2023. JEA is committed to controlling odors until they do not impact the community. The system is being monitored and improvements will be made as needed.

Q. So JEA not predict when odor reduction will occur? Is that because JEA is not working with the developer to understand demand/usage of the system?

A. The facility was built and dedicated to JEA in 2008. We are working with the developer on future phases. The timeline is up to the developer.

Q. Will JEA consider relocation of the master pump station due to real harms of not being able to enjoy our properties and economic/financial harms such as decreased property values?

A. At this point it is not a consideration. It would require significant rerouting of several other pump stations. Along with working with the developer on available land to build on which is not available to purchase to relocate stations.

Q. It was indicated that much of the equipment for the station is quite old. Is their newer equipment that would enable better management of this situation?

A. The original equipment that was built and installed in 2008 such as pumps, drives, electrical equipment, pipes, and odor control equipment is considered relatively new. The odor control equipment is relatively new. We installed a new bio-trickling filter last year. We will also be installing a new carbon unit very soon. Some of the other equipment installed at the site is only a year old.