Welcome to TRA's monthly newsletter! | |
With a focus on people, places, processes and projects, inTRA will highlight the faces of TRA, the communities we serve and the innovative processes and projects that drive the Authority toward its mission to promote conservation, reclamation, protection and development of the natural resources of the Trinity River basin for the benefit of the public. | |
|
The board of directors met on Dec. 7, for the final meeting of 2022. Here is a summary of the meeting.
Lake Livingston Project
Lake Livingston Project laboratory supports all Southern Region facilities and provides services to local cities and water entities. The lab tests more than 9,000 samples of bacteriological, chemical and metals analyses per year. The board agreed to raise the cost of services to about $2.01 per analysis to offset material cost increases associated with testing.
Mountain Creek Regional Wastewater System
The board approved an engineering services agreement with K Friese & Associates for the MCRWS Strategic Regionalization study.
MCRWS is currently undergoing plant expansions; however, the customer cities are experiencing significant growth and that is expected to continue. The purpose of the Strategic Regionalization study is to identify a potential site for a second wastewater treatment plant in the Joe Pool Lake watershed and explore multiple transportation and treatment options.
Tarrant County Water Supply Project
Improvements to Tarrant County Water Supply Project are on the horizon. The board of directors awarded the construction of the filter rehabilitation and disinfection improvements to RAVA Construction. The upgrades include a chlorine contact basin, mixing chamber, upgrades to the SCADA system, modifications to 24 filters, and additional control capabilities for the filters, which increase the water quality level. The board also approved a construction administration agreement with Hazen and Sawyer, DPC and a materials testing services agreement with D&S Engineering Labs.
The board selected AECOM Technical Services, Inc. to provide engineering services in connection with the design of a fourth ozone generator and transfer pump station No. 1 upgrades. The proposed fourth generator will increase operational efficiency and capacity and will allow the facility to mitigate taste and odor events.
The board also approved an engineering services agreement with Lockwood, Andrews & Newman, Inc. for services related to the raw water transmission improvements.
LAN will supervise the design of a new raw water transmission system from Lake Arlington to the Tarrant County Water Supply Project facility. The proposed project will replace 16 miles of the 30-inch pipeline (installed in 1972) with a 72-inch pipe that will have a capacity of 106 million gallons per day. The existing 54-inch pipeline will remain in service.
Ten Mile Creek Regional Wastewater System
The board approved upgrading the security surveillance system for the Ten Mile Creek Regional Wastewater System. The upgrades include video surveillance monitoring, artificial intelligence software, and wireless integration for instant alerts and notifications.
The next board meeting is Wednesday, Feb. 22.
| |
TRA employees tour Northern Region facilities | |
|
After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, TRA employee tours are back! The tours, which were initially part of the new employee orientation, help employees understand the importance of the services TRA provides.
The Organizational Development team hosted the first tour on Jan. 4. The group consisted of employees from different facilities and occupations.
The group visited Tarrant County Water Supply Project, Denton Creek Regional Wastewater System, Central Regional Wastewater System, and Ten Mile Creek Regional Wastewater System. Managers at each facility took the time to show the group around and the various operations and various technologies used to clean the water and treat the wastewater.
Don't miss the next tour, sign up through UltiPro, or contact Organizational Development at TRAUniversity@trinityra.org
| |
Dallas College students tour Denton Creek
A group of environmental science students from Dallas College toured Denton Creek Regional Wastewater System.
The students got a behind-the-scenes look at the wastewater process. They learned about the rag removal process, the three P's (pee, poop and toilet paper) the only things that should go in the toilet, and how TRA cleans and treats wastewater.
Andrew Moore, DCRWS manager, said the goal is to expose them to the water and wastewater industry and encourage them to pursue a career at TRA.
| |
Generosity abounds in Southern Region
As an organization whose mission is rooted in service, The Lake Livingston Project and Livingston Recreational Facilities staff represent some of the best of the Authority.
Every year, LLP and LRF team up to raise funds and donations for various community programs. 2022 was no exception. They participated in a quarterly food drive through a food bank called MannaFest. In November and December, they donated funds to the Empty Stocking program in Polk County. For their annual charitable project, they hosted two events: a skeet shoot in the spring and a corn hole tournament in the fall. In total, LLP and LRF employees raised $6,300 for Childrenz Haven. The nonprofit organization is the Polk County Children's Advocacy Center.
Pictured above: LLP and LRF present Childrenz Haven with the funds raised.
| |
|
1. Update default passwords for all internet-connected devices immediately. This includes routers, smart TVs, game consoles, and anything that requires a login.
2. Every device and every account needs a strong and unique password. Or, even better, a passphrase!
3. The admin account is for one person: you. Don’t give those credentials to other members of your household.
4. When setting up your wireless router, be sure to use the proper encryption, such as WPA2. Older versions, like WEP, are no longer secure.
5. Enable automatic updating for software and firmware. You’ll want all of your devices on the latest and greatest so as not to miss out on important security patches.
6. Disconnect any devices that are no longer being used or whose internet connection is rarely used.
7. Physically protect your devices! Use surge protectors, power things off during strong thunderstorms, and be careful with liquids near any technology.
8. Back it up! Your phones, your laptops, your tablets all store data that you probably want to keep. Back those devices up both locally and remotely.
9. Create a family security policy. Develop a set of rules for you and everyone in your household to follow. Remember that policy violations should come with consequences!
10. Use internet monitoring software to know what your kids are doing online. And explain to them why it’s important!
How do you protect your kids from online threats?
Children of all ages are major targets for cybercriminals (and cyberbullying). Protecting them online is an especially difficult task these days considering how many avenues they have to connect. But we have a combination of tools and real-life lessons at our disposal to assist us. It starts with knowing what we’re up against (identifying the threats). Then, we can leverage the tools and technologies designed to mitigate those threats. Did you know, almost 10% of kids aged 18 and under have had their identity stolen and most don’t even know? Know their credit scores and consider an ID Protection monitoring service for them, too. Eventually, we’ll change long-term behavior and raise smart and safe digital citizens.
| |
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
"Lights, Foul Air & Clean Skies," by Jay Shannon, plant engineer II, CRWS
| |
Ed Mach, Project Manager at TMCRWS, graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree! | |
|
Robert Warren, risk and safety manager, completes his role as Texas PRIMA president.
Texas PRIMA is the largest state chapter of the National Public Risk Management Association. Warren has served on the Texas PRIMA board since 2018. His roles include director, secretary, president-elect and president.
PRIMA provides education and training, risk resources and networking opportunities for governmental agencies, political subdivisions and school districts.
Warren is most proud of Texas PRIMA for hosting the National PRIMA Conference, the Texas PRIMA's 33rd Annual Conference and Expo, which drew a record number of attendees, and Warren has been influential in growing the organization's social media presence. He is the first TRA representative to serve on the Texas PRIMA board as well as the first president.
| |
Timothy Slovacek's, sr. electrician at TMCRWS, is proud of his daughter, Kaley Almanza, who is a published author. Her first children's book, "When I Feel, I Go to God," was published in November. | |
Jameson Hapner, operator II at TMCRWS, welcomed a new baby girl on Nov. 23. Congratulations! | |
Andrew Jordan, security manager, and his wife traveled to the Philippines to celebrate their marriage with family. | |
CONGRATULATIONS!
Alex Jones, operator I at TMCRWS, earned his class D wastewater license Nov. 21.
Megan Etchegaray, operator I at MCRWS, earned her class C wastewater license Dec. 5.
Cyrus Anglin, operator III at LRWSS, earned his class A water license Dec. 6.
| |
Click HERE to see who recently joined TRA, and is celebrating a promotion or a work anniversary. | |
|
Trinity River Authority of Texas
www.trinityra.org
| | | | |
