Winter is just around the corner,and daylight will soon begin to expand. To me this symbolizes hope rising for an expansive new year.
This hope for a better 2021 is amplified by the COVID-19 vaccine's approval by the FDA and the beginning of shipments. Understanding that the broader distribution will take many months, it is the vital beginning. More vaccines are on the horizon, which will only enhance our ability to end the coronavirus.
We’ve lived in a pandemic world for 10 months now, and we’ve all struggled to varying degrees. Our workforce continues to be resilient and flexible as we fulfill our responsibilities. As essential infrastructure workers, our staff show up day in and day out, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, such as our sewage workers, who operate in the background most of the time. Each time you flush your toilet, take a shower, and use your kitchen sink, remember there are wastewater professionals behind the scenes ensuring that your service remains uninterrupted. They are the unsung heroes that we at SVCW don't take for granted.
On the topic of wastewater vigilance, there have been news stories related to tracing the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 through a community’s wastewater. SVCW is participating in regional and national studies by providing influent wastewater and sludge samples. Studies haven’t evolved enough to enable pinpointing the virus’ presence in a particular community, but strides are being made. The good news is that, when the threat of COVID-19 is behind us, these studies and the related work being done will be very fruitful for identifying, and mitigating, other potential health threats to our communities.
As we bring 2020 to a close, I hope we all celebrate what we are grateful for, and the strides we have made this year.
I hope you enjoy reading about some of those developments, and other important updates, below!
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SVCW Finds Innovative Ways to Finance Infrastructure Projects for Community Growth |
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SVCW has always made fiscal responsibility a priority, and has continued to find creative ways to fund important infrastructure projects to help plan for future community growth. With a pandemic going on, this mission has become even more important and challenging. Here are two important milestones we just reached in this area.
SVCW Continues to Lower its RESCU Financing Costs
On November 17, 2020, Silicon Valley Clean Water refinanced a $218 million loan from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Loan terms allowed for a one-time reset of interest rates, and SVCW seized the opportunity to reduce its interest rate from 2.40% to 1.41%. This refinancing will lower annual debt service payments by $1.69 million, with total net savings estimated at $37.8 million over the course of the loan.
SVCW Negotiates Favorable Terms for New State Revolving Fund Loan
Silicon Valley Clean Water continues to pursue the lowest-cost source of funds for its Capital Improvement Program. The State of California, through the State Water Resource Control Board State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan Program, offers low interest rates and favorable terms to significantly reduce financing costs. The loan has a “borrow when needed” structure, which reduces the amount of interest accrued during construction and allows for deferred payments that start a year after construction is done.
SVCW is pleased that it has reached a verbal agreement to close on a $169 million SRF Loan at an interest rate of 0.90%. The loan will be used to fund a significant portion of the RESCU program. As compared to earlier estimates from last year, this new loan will reduce annual debt service payments by $1.14 million, saving us approximately $22.2 million net over the course of the loan. Read more about our Finance Department here.
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Every month SVCW shares an insider's glimpse behind the scenes into cool, innovative technologies and processes we're using that are transforming the water treatment industry. |
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In this two-part segment, we will answer the question “How does the wastewater treatment process work at the SVCW plant?”
Wastewater treatment is one of those "hidden” necessities of life on the Peninsula. We serve over 200,000 people and businesses in our service area, so keeping up-to-date with the most efficient treatment technology is vital.
Our treatment plant
uses microorganisms to remove organic material and toxins from the wastewater it treats. Sewage from your home or business is conveyed to the plant and arrives through a series of pipelines and pump stations. The sewage then passes through physical and biological processes which result in high quality effluent that’s discharged to the deep-water channel of the San Francisco Bay. The SVCW facility is designed to remove more than 97 percent of all solids, organic material and pathogens from the wastewater.
When the raw sewage arrives at the treatment plant, it flows through the primary sedimentation (1) tanks where settling and skimming removes solids, floating grease and scum. The first stage of the biological treatment is when wastewater is pumped to the top of the fixed film reactors (2) where bacteria on the reactors consume most of the organic matter in the wastewater. Next, the microorganisms and biodegradable matter consume what are collectively called “activated sludge.” (3) Air is continuously mixed into the wastewater in our aeration basins, and activated sludge provides oxygen for the microorganisms to grow and consume the remaining biodegradable matter. The activated sludge flows to the secondary clarifiers for final settling to separate the activated sludge from the wastewater, which is sent back and reused at the aeration basins. At this point (4), about 90 to 95 percent of the solids and biodegradable matter has been removed from the wastewater.
Learn more about our wastewater treatment process here and look for the second part of this series in our January 2021 newsletter, which will include our use of sustainable practices.
New to SVCW? Sign up to receive our monthly eNewsletter here. |
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We're on track and continuing to make progress on the Regional Environmental Sewer Conveyance Upgrade (RESCU), the rehabilitation and replacement of SVCW's conveyance system. When complete, it will ensure that for many decades to come, SVCW can efficiently, reliably, and safely convey and treat wastewater from its four member agencies. Those include Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, and the West Bay Sanitary District (which serves the cities of Menlo Park, Portola Valley, and portions of Atherton, Woodside, East Palo Alto, and unincorporated areas of San Mateo County). |
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The final product of the RESCU Program will be a single, operational wastewater conveyance system that is fully upgraded to accommodate our growing population.
During construction, the different component projects below must be coordinated at the points of connection. One such point is the Surge-Flow Splitter (SFS) Shaft, which is in contact with the Receiving Lift Station (RLS) shaft at the Headworks Facility. The SFS shaft will be used to retrieve the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) at the completion of the second tunneling drive. After the TBM is removed, the SFS shaft will be converted to its permanent function, which is providing safe management of raw wastewater flows as they enter the RLS. The arrival of the TBM at the SFS shaft will occur while Shea Parsons Joint Venture (SPJV) is working on other elements of the Front of Plant project. The Gravity Pipeline and Front of Plant design-build teams are coordinating the TBM break-in at the SFS shaft so it's completed safely and on schedule.
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Connection System
SVCW's contractor partner, Barnard-Bessac Joint Venture (BBJV), installed the excavation support system, or secant piles, for the vertical access shaft being constructed at the San Carlos Pump Station. This vertical shaft will be used to build the connecting structure that will receive raw wastewater flows from the Cities of Belmont and San Carlos, and transport them to the Gravity Pipeline, which will convey the flows to the wastewater treatment plant. Twenty-four secant piles were installed, creating a ring-like structure that allows BBJV to excavate soil from within the enclosed secant piles to build a vertical shaft, which will be about 50 feet deep.
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Pipe Segment at Bair Island Shaft Waiting for Transport Into the Tunnel |
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Tunnel Boring Machine
Salus continues to be on target with its second drive. BBJV and SVCW continuously monitor tunneling activities, with teams reviewing proactive measures to ensure that operations are conducted safely.
In the tunnel where Salus dug during her first drive, BBJV is installing the first segments of the Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer (FRP) pipe, which will ultimately
carry the raw wastewater to the SVCW plant. The BBJV team installed cradles that will support the pipe as they prepare the shaft for receiving pipe segments and placing the final grout between the pipe and concrete tunnel walls. The grout will hold the concrete segments and FRP carrier pipe together and make the structure resilient during seismic activities. Connections between the pipe segments are also custom designed with gaskets that provide a water-tight seal. When complete, the tunnel will have the durability of a 100-year service life, which is a primary design criteria for the RESCU Program.
For more information about the Gravity Pipeline project, go here. |
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This month the Front of Plant (FoP) team is
completing installation of the 63-inch High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Interconnection Pipeline (IPL), which will convey wastewater from the new Headworks Facility to the existing wastewater treatment plant influent channel.
At the Headworks Facility, exposed concrete surfaces along the influent channels will get a protective coating this month. This coating is also being applied to channels that extend between new automatic bar screens and grit removal equipment where inorganic sand and grit is removed from the flow, preventing damage to equipment at the treatment plant. Automatic bar screens prevent materials from interfering with the wastewater treatment process.
For more information about the Front of Plant project, go here.
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Installation of the 63-inch High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Interconnection Pipeline continues this month. |
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Pump Station Improvement Project
Redwood City Pump Station
Preliminary work, including mobilization to the Redwood City Pump Station (RCPS) site and initial preparations for construction, began this month.
Junction Boxes
Work underway includes starting repairs to the concrete junction boxes located along the 33-inch reinforced concrete pipeline (RCP). This pipeline carries raw wastewater from the Menlo Park Pump Station (MPPS) towards the SVCW treatment plant. Junction boxes act as inspection points along a pipeline to determine the pipeline’s existing condition and its remaining useful life.
Belmont Gravity Pipeline
Shea Parsons Joint Venture is preparing to start construction on the Belmont Gravity Pipeline, which includes use of a micro-tunnel boring machine (MTBM). Micro-tunneling will be conducted below Shoreway Road from the Belmont Pump Station to the San Carlos Pump Station. Within the tunnel that the MTBM creates, a 36-inch fiberglass reinforced polymer gravity pipeline will be installed. This construction method was chosen to minimize disruption to traffic for the public and adjacent businesses.
For more information about the Pump Station Improvement project, go here.
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Fun Ways to Celebrate Traditional and Offbeat Holidays this Month |
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December is a favorite month for many people, as there are so many wonderful holidays, from the traditional to offbeat. This year promises to be even more exciting because 2020 has been so challenging, and we're definitely ready to ring in a better year! We thought it would be fun to take a mini break from all the seriousness of the past year and note some of the meaningful ways we can celebrate life.
Hanukkah (December 10-18)
Today is the last day of Hanukkah, an eight-day celebration known as the Festival of Lights. Hanukkah events often include concerts, games and plays in the U.S., as well as eating traditional food fried in oil. If you're up for celebrating tonight you can try your hand at making a traditional dish. And don't forget, throw your used - and cooled - fry oil in the trash because it can cause clogs in your sink and sewage systems.
National Sangria Day (December 20)
In California, wine is a serious business, employing 325,000 people across the state and leading the world in sustainable winegrowing. With the pandemic restrictions, compounded by a record year for wildfires, the wine industry is also struggling. Why not use National Sangria Day as an opportunity to raise a glass with friends and family online to all the wonderful winemakers and winegrowers?
Look at the Bright Side Day / Winter Solstice (December 21)
Feeling a little blue on this day is quite normal, as it usually coincides with the winter solstice here in the northern hemisphere, when our daylight is its most limited, and the weather can be a bit gloomy. But all the clouds you see have a silver lining! This day is all about making an effort to see the glass as half full throughout the day. It might even become a habit!
National Christmas Movie Marathon Day (December 23)
A holiday that needs no explanation! While we can't celebrate with all our loved ones in person, now we have the technology to have online viewing parties!
Christmas (December 25)
Celebrating one of the most popular holidays of the year has gotten a bit more challenging due to the pandemic, but the spirit of it is very much alive. Click here for some ideas on how to celebrate safely during this period when the Bay Area is under the new Regional Stay At Home order. Many charities still need your support, and would appreciate any assistance. Check in with your favorite charities or click here for safe volunteer opportunities.
Kwanzaa (December 26 - January 1)
This African-American and pan-African seven day cultural holiday celebrates family and community. During the holiday, families celebrate with feasts, music, and dance. End the holiday with a day dedicated to reflection and recommitment to the seven principles of unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. One way to support the #BlackLivesMatter movement is to enjoy this important holiday. Here are some fun ways to honor it.
New Year's Eve (December 31)
Around the globe, this is a day of toasting a new year with sparkling wine, and making resolutions for living a better life. Here's how to make resolutions that stick!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM SVCW!
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