Frederick County Water / Sewer Facilities IDQ

Task 3: College Run Sewage Pumping Station Upgrade

This project involved providing preliminary engineering analysis and design for upgrading the existing 2,380 gpm pumping station in Fredrick County. The pumping station was built in the 1970’s but the pumps, piping and valves were recently updated by the County. GMB was retained by Fredrick County to perform a visual inspection of the pumping station and provide a preliminary engineering study for additional upgrades to the station. Project tasks included providing recommendations for the addition of flow monitoring for the station, addition of a sewage comminutor with lifting device within the existing wet well or in a new manhole, safety upgrades for the existing building and wet well access hatches, replacing the motor control center, replacing the existing generator with an outdoor pad-mounted generator, replacing the fuel storage tank, updating the existing building HVAC system, various electrical lighting upgrades, site improvements including adding a security fence, and cost estimate analysis and construction feasibility for all upgrades.

Tasks 7 & 10: Ceresville Sewage Pumping Station Upgrade

GMB initially prepared a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) to evaluate and make recommendations for the most cost-effective solution to address the operational problems at the station (i.e., pump clogging due to rags).  The three (3) alternatives that were evaluated in the PER included installation of a new headworks chamber immediately adjacent to the existing wet well to house a new mechanical influent screen, installation of a new mechanical influent screen within the existing wet well structure, and investigation and evaluation of pump technologies to determine if alternate pumps and/or pump impellers could operate without clogging.

GMB then provided design and construction phase services for upgrading the existing sewage pumping station.  This project involved removal of the existing generator, fuel tank and associated components; removal of an exterior concrete pad; removal of concrete pump pedestal; removal of electrical panels, wiring and conduit; replacement of Pump No. 2 with a new 3,150 gpm dry-pit submersible non-clog wastewater pump including concrete supports, associated piping and controls; upgrade of electrical and control systems; modifications to the existing MCC; new pad mounted and enclosed 500KW diesel back-up power generation system with sub-base fuel tank and access platform and associated structural and architectural modifications.

Task: Lewistown WWTP Improvements Study

Frederick County Division of Utilities and Solid Waste Management (DUSWM) owns and operates the wastewater treatment facility at Lewistown Elementary School (ES) in Lewistown, Maryland. The treatment facility consists of an 8,000-gallon septic tank, pumping station, and underground sand filter that were installed in the early 1960’s. Ultraviolet disinfection equipment was added in the mid-1970’s. In 2013, a sanitary survey conducted by the Frederick County Health Department identified various public health issues due to problems with on-site sewage disposal systems (i.e., septic tanks). In October 2016, Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) approved a Frederick County Water and Sewer Plan Amendment to establish a new sewer service area in Lewistown that would address the public health issues.

In 2017, Frederick County DUSWM retained George, Miles & Buhr, LLC (GMB) to develop treatment options for replacing the existing treatment facility at Lewistown ES with a new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The new WWTP will include advanced micro-bio-reactor (MBR) treatment technology designed in accordance with Maryland’s guidelines for Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR). GMB analyzed three (3) treatment options capable of producing high-quality effluent suitable for direct discharge to nearby Fishing Creek. GMB recommends replacing the existing septic tank and sand filter with a the mini-MBR^TM manufactured by Innovative Treatment Products, LLC (ITP). The new MBR treatment process will be housed in a new wastewater treatment building located behind the elementary school. Other treatment plant upgrades will include a new flow equalization tank, mechanical screens, chemical storage and feed equipment, new electrical service, automated process controls and alarm system, new UV disinfection equipment, new sludge storage tank, post-aeration facilities, effluent flow meter, and emergency generator. Construction costs for the proposed treatment plant upgrade are estimated at $2,195,000 with annual operating costs estimated at $291,000 per year.