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Started removing cattails and decaying biomass in the WTS Cell 14, the final cell of the WTS before water discharges from the site. On March 7, 2017, the BCC authorized a $73,700 work authorization for Tim Rose Contracting. The final work will be to re -vegetate this cell once the maintenance clearing is compete. Hired an outside consultant, who specializes in unit process operations associated with Biological Nutrient Reduction (BNR) facilities, to review and analyze what is/is not occurring at the treatment plant. His preliminary findings, currently under review by staff, indicate that there may be operational inconsistencies at the West plant, possibly due to fluctuating nutrient dosing from other sources prior to entering the WWTF. Staff is currently gathering data with regard to this issue in order to explore viable solutions. Requested a proposal to assess and evaluate the operations of the biosolids facility from the same firm that helped analyze the West Regional WWTF operations. The biosolids facility appears to have inconsistent and periodically high organic nutrient loading demands sent to the West Regional WWTF. To better understand this impact to the West plant and to find corrective actions required by the FDEP in the consent order, staff is recommending the hire of a senior operations specialist and two process engineers from CH2M Hill. Although the FDEP has issued a consent order to address the permit excursions, it is worth noting that, based on the historical information reviewed by our consultant, "staff have done remarkably well operating a facility with erratic loading and limited monitoring tools to make process decisions." Even with the erratic loading fluctuations suspected from the biosolids facility, the wetland treatment system has done relatively well in removing nutrients. For calendar year 2016, the following removal efficiencies have been achieved: Quality Parameter Plant Removal Wetlands Removal Efficiencies Efficiency Total Nitrogen 90.15% 80.09% Total Phosphorus 96.71% 66.48% The Indian River County Biosolids plant was relocated from the Central WWTF to the landfill in 2010 after complaints and odor issues. In doing so, the site became a central point for business inside and outside of the county. The Biosolids facility, currently undergoing a FDEP permit renewal, accepts septage, grease and sludge from haulers. Such material comes from septic tank pump outs, commercial food establishment areas, smaller package treatment units and portable restrooms (aka porta-potties). Since 2010, the Biosolids facility has had an open door policy that has attracted haulers doing business inside Indian River County as well as from surrounding counties. While this may be good for business, staff is actively researching whether this policy is hampering the IRCDUS's ability to maintain permit compliance at our West WWTF. Our low rates and unchecked analyses of incoming septage and grease allows haulers to do business very cheaply. Thus, haulers from Brevard, IRC, Martin Port St. Lucie and other counties use this site. Staff has begun investigating instances whereby very high nutrient loads are brought in and sent onto the West WWTF site. Since March 20, 2017, staff has begun to take grab samples for laboratory analysis of all material brought into the facility. While this effort has been costly for staff time and laboratory expenses, it will ultimately allow us to track which loads may have an adverse impact on the facility and our West WWTF. Starting April 1, 2017, in accordance with Florida Administrative Code 64E, we have begun requiring all haulers to submit a log manifest of where their pump -out material is coming from, whether it is septage or grease, and if it is residential or commercial in nature. The results of these investigations and CH2M's findings may lead staff to recommend that either the facility be used only for Indian River County septage and grease, or implement some sort of out of county surcharge. The belief is that if the FDEP requires IRCDUS to implement C:\Users\GRANIC-1\AppData\Local\Temp\BCL Tech nologies\easyPDF 7\@BCL@00062301\@BCL@00062301.docx P43