Use Case
Southern US utility used TDG to evaluate 30+ scenarios for Wastewater Facility Master Plan
Using TDG, a Southern US water utility expanded its Master Plan evaluation from the typical three options to a transformative 30 scenarios. This strategic shift enabled the utility to assess diverse wastewater treatment technologies and future challenges within existing time and budget constraints.
Introduction
The Transcend Design Generator (TDG) offers solutions for asset owners and utilities in capital planning. It streamlines the creation of engineering documentation for infrastructure assets, enhancing control over the process and reducing total ownership costs.
Key features include assessing multiple design options for sustainability and resilience, automating design generation for existing and new assets, and optimizing project development costs.
Here, we introduce a specific use case for TDG for utilities looking to transform their Master Planning process.
Situation
A mid-sized water utility in the Southern US, working on a Master Plan for its 18 MGD facility, faced the challenge of exploring numerous alternatives for upgrades, including new technologies and changing flow, loading, and effluent scenarios, due to potential population growth and industrial impact in the community.
Who
Leads the Master Plan development, focusing on long-term strategy and compliance.
(from Utility’s selected Consulting Firm). Provides technical expertise in evaluating and recommending wastewater treatment technologies and scenarios.
Task
The Master Plan Project Manager coordinated the overall planning, ensuring alignment with future utility goals and regulatory requirements.
The Wastewater Engineer conducted technical assessments of various treatment technologies and scenarios.
Action
They used TDG’s capabilities for conceptual wastewater treatment plant designs to:
Assess the impact of future flow scenarios tied to population growth.
Evaluate potential loading impacts from new industries in the area.
Explore the effectiveness of various technologies under more stringent phosphorous limits.
Results
Enabled the utility to evaluate up to 30 different scenarios, far exceeding the typical three, within the original deadline and budget.
The wastewater engineer shortlisted the top 5 scenarios in TDG to address future flow, loading, and phosphorous limits, considering both CAPEX and OPEX of each option. These scenarios all included biological phosphorous removal keeping either the existing Conventional Activated Sludge process or adding a new Membrane Bioreactor train.
Going Forward
The utility now has a digital representation of the facility along with 30 future scenarios in the Master Plan that they can refine and evolve going forward. TDG has become a key planning platform for the utility and they will be using it to conduct Master Plans for their 2 other wastewater plants in the next year.