EPA Region 4 Hosts AWOP Meeting in Decatur, Georgia

EPA Region 4 hosted an AWOP planning meeting and training event in Decatur, Georgia on April 16 – 18.  The event packed meeting included workshops on the Distribution System CPE and turbidity monitoring instrumentation as well as the strategic planning meeting.  There was an excellent turnout with representatives attending from Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, ASDWA, Region 4, TSC, and PAI.

In anticipation of introducing the DS CPE to the Region 4 AWOP participants starting in the fall of 2013, a half-day workshop was conducted on this new optimization tool.  Participants learned about considerations for selecting a utility to host a DS CPE, the CPE team structure, typical activities, and implementation considerations.  The first DS CPE will be hosted by South Carolina in September, and two other CPEs will be conducted within the region over the next 2 years.

To support the ongoing interest in data integrity and process optimization monitoring, a status presentation was giving on recent turbidity data integrity findings from field events followed by an instrumentation workshop facilitated by representatives from Hach Company.  Participants had the opportunity to ask questions on monitoring issues that they have identified in their field work.  Example discussion topics included differences between online and lab turbidimeters, calibration requirements of chlorine meters, and vendor calibration of instruments.  The workshop also included a demonstration and calibration of a laser turbidimeter.

During the strategic planning meeting, participants presented their annual AWOP reports.  Discussion topics during the meeting included lessons learned from implementing Enhanced Terminal Subfluidization Wash (ETSW), an update on bromide monitoring and impacts on DBP formation, development of optimization tools for managers, and engaging large water systems in optimization.

The next Region 4 AWOP event will be a multi-state DS CPE the week of September 23^rd in South Carolina.