Howell, Michigan, is about 50 miles northwest of Detroit along the I-96 corridor, an area of significant residential construction in the past 10 years. The interstate connects Detroit in the east with the state’s second largest city, Grand Rapids, 160 miles away in the western portion of the state. With the capital, Lansing, in between, the interstate also is one of the state’s busiest highways.
In the mid 1990s, Howell and the neighboring townships of Marion, Howell, Oceola and Genoa together formed the MHOG (using the first four letters of the township names) Sewer and Water Authority to provide water services to the four townships. With each of the four townships incorporating approximately 36 square miles, the water system has more than 140 miles of pipeline ranging from 8” to 20” in diameter. The Authority utilizes four pressure districts and five elevated water towers holding 6.3 million gallons of water. The distribution system is complex and is computer controlled and monitored by the operators of the water treatment plant. The system also has interconnects with the cities of Howell and Brighton for use in emergencies.
Since the formation of MHOG, the Authority has managed an increase in the number of water and wastewater service connections averaging 13.6 percent per year since 2001, with a high of more than 21 percent in 2002.
In 1996, with growth on the outskirts of Detroit projected to overtake the capacity of its infrastructure, the Authority began construction of a 2 mgd groundwater lime softening and iron removal plant. By reducing calcium carbonate hardness from 250 mg/l to 100 mg/l and iron from ½ part per million to zero ppm, the plant would improve the taste of the water and reduce the possibility of stained plumbing fixtures.
The MHOG plant, which was constructed to be easily retrofitted to a 4 mgd plant if required, went online in January 1998, and it was anticipated that expansion to full capacity would be required after five years, in 2002. However, with residential construction booming and commercial enterprises flourishing in and around the four townships, it became necessary to expand the plant to 4 mgd in 2001. Construction costs were approximately $6 million.
By 2003, the plant was operating at more than 75 percent of capacity during peak usage days. With area growth continuing unabated, the Authority approved the development of plans for an 8 mgd addition to the existing plant. This was to be a stand-alone plant with connections to the original facility that would provide the flexibility to operate at a capacity of 4, 8 or 12 mgd – or up to 16 mgd when using blended water from other system sources. The new plant was to be constructed on a large tract of land adjacent to the existing plant and would incorporate the use of six existing wells, each of which was capable of producing 2 mgd. Construction of the new plant began in the summer of 2004 with planned construction costs of approximately $11 million.
In February 2006, as the plant was nearing completion, the Authority, which had been outsourcing operation and maintenance of the MHOG plant, hired Severn Trent Services as the new operator. The company brought 15 professionals to the job, including two with F1 licenses - individuals who are water treatment and distribution certified - and a maintenance expert. It became the staff’s responsibility to work with the engineers, builders and regulatory agencies to get the new plant operating and online before the high usage of the summer of 2006. With only four months to make the transition, the staff completed the punch lists, developed standard operating procedures for the plant, implemented process control procedures and completed staff training for the new facility.
According to Greg Tatara, utilities director for the MHOG Authority, “The Severn Trent staff had to come up to speed quickly, and I was impressed with their ability to make sure the plant’s procedures were in place in such a short time frame. With this area’s fast-growing population, the flexibility and responsiveness of the Authority and our partners is critical. From operating procedures to staff training and licensing, the entire start-up process went smoothly.”
For more information, email info@severntrentservices.com.
[ x ] Close Window