WaterPow

erN

ovember2013

Since the Wastewater TreatmentPlant (WWTP) went operational in1940, incineration has been a majorcomponent of sewage disposalthere. Over time, the original“Complex I” incinerators wereaugmented by additional incinera-tors to handle more capacity.However, the WWTP, with an eye tolong-term cost-savings, intends toupgrade its technology and get“greener” by building a newBiosolids Dryer Facility to replacethe antiquated Complex I incinera-tors.

The goal: dispose of solids moreefficiently while enabling theDetroit Water and SewerageDepartment (DWSD) to more easilymeet increasingly-stringent Environ-mental Protection Agency stan-dards.

A proposed design-build-maintaincontract for the new facility,numbered PC-792, went out for bidearly this year and was awarded tothe New England Fertilizer Com-pany (NEFCO) at a cost of $683million. Of that amount, $143million covers construction; it’sexpected that the facility will befinished in three years. Up to $540million is earmarked for operationand maintenance for a 20-yearperiod.

The method of biosolid drying wasselected for DWSD’s next phase ofbiosolids management based oninformation presented at a 2012industry symposium. “Drying is a

well-established, reliable, eco-nomical, and environmentallybeneficial method of managingbiosolids,” said Sam Smalley,Assistant Director of WastewaterOperations. “Construction of thenew Biosolids Drying Facility isnecessary to replace the sixincinerators in Complex I that are60 to 70 years old. They’re sched-uled to be removed from servicewhen new federal air qualityregulations go into effect in March2016.”

The contract with NEFCO allowsDWSD to cancel or defer severalother planned/potential projectsat the wastewater plant, such asextensive rehab work on theComplex I incinerators and acentrifuge replacement. The self-contained Biosolids Dryer Facilitywill include eight centrifuges andfour rotary dryers.

The biosolid-drying method isexpected to be “substantiallymore reliable” and will producemuch less odor than incineration.Also, the new facility will reducetruck traffic and accompanyingnoise through the nearby Delrayneighborhood.

“It will provide significant opera-tional cost savings compared tothe current dewatering andincineration processes,” saidSmalley. It’s estimated thatannual operations and mainte-nance savings due to the upgradewill total $16.8 million per year.

1

Big changescoming forwastewaterplant

Welcome to the new format ofWater Power, the DWSDnewsletter for employees.Employees are encouraged tosubmit story ideas on interest-ing employee hobbies, activi-ties, sports, recreation, com-munity involvement, etc., byemailing those ideas (withcontact name and phone num-ber/email address) towaterpower@dwsd. org .DWSD Public Affairs plans topublish Water Power in a digi-tal format six times per year.

The Water Power TeamS.R. Boland – Editor/Writer

Gregory Smith – DesignerMary AlfonsoLinda Philson

Dorian Wilson

Welcome

Detroit Water & Sewerage Department November 2013 Vol. 30 | No. 2

WaterPow

erN

ovember2013

2

DWSD Water Power Walkerscovered a lot of ground in down-town Detroit on Oct. 12 for theannual Making Strides AgainstBreast Cancer Walk.  On a 5-kilome-ter route along city streets, morethan 20 walkers raised $2,820 forthe American Cancer Society. It wasthe first year ever that the depart-ment team surpassed its fundraisinggoal of $2,000 for the benefitevent. 

The DWSD team was not onlycomprised of walkers from thedepartment; it also included mem-bers from the City of Detroit LawDepartment and Police Department.Friends of City employees alsoparticipated on the team. 

DWSD walkingteam topsfundraisinggoal forCancer Society

• Deborah Knight, DWSD (WaterBoard Building)

• Anjanette Myers, DWSD(Westside Customer ServiceCenter)

• Mini Panicker, DWSD (Wastewater Treatment Plant)

• Lori Smith, DWSD (WastewaterTreatment Plant)

• Barbara Turner, DWSD (WaterBoard Building)

• Xiaowei Zhang, DWSD (Wastewater Treatment Plant)

• Layla Armstong, Detroit PoliceDepartment

• Lourie Prybys, DWSD (Wastewater Treatment Plant), retiree

• Lori Harrison• Yvette Nealy• Melissa Nolan• Sue Sims• Mary Theison• Falsy Williams• Danielle Wooten

Walkers raised money by asking forpledge amounts to support theirefforts. The top three fundraisersfor the team were:

• Michelle Walker, Detroit LawDepartment, $1,047

• Nicolette Bateson, DWSD (WaterBoard Building), $635

• Crystal Stokes, DWSD (Wastewater Treatment Plant), $384

Receiving Honorable Mentionstatus were those walkers whoraised $100 or more:

• Tashia Kelly, Team Captain, DWSD(Water Board Building), $310

• Leslie King, DWSD (Water BoardBuilding), $300

• Alma Harris, DWSD (CentralServices Facility), $122

• Marsha Sawyer, DWSD (WaterBoard Building), $100

Other DWSD team walkersincluded:

• Sharon Jordan, DWSD (WaterBoard Building)

• Darlene King, DWSD (CentralServices Facility)

Xiao

wei

Zha

ng

Xiaowei Zhang, Senior WaterSystems Chemist – Xiaowei Zhangwas part of a team that evaluatedretention treatment basin (RTB)treatment methods to developadditional guidance factors foroperators to use during wet-weather events to optimizetreatment. As part of a team ofSenior Chemists, she supervises

crews who perform testing at theOperations Laboratory at theWastewater Treatment Plant(WWTP) to monitor the plant’streatment processes. The crewsalso analyze the fecal coliformsamples collected at RTBs and atscreening and disinfectionfacilities (SDFs) during rainevents.

On The Job

In each issue of Water Power, On the Job will spotlight DWSDemployees who are doing good work to help our organizationcontinue to exceed customer expectations.

WaterPow

erN

ovember2013

35 YearsFebruary 2013Frederick B. SmithGeneral Auto MechanicCentral Services Facility

July 2013Martin P. CraigSuperintendent of Plants,Buildings, andMechanical MaintenanceCentral Services Facility

Mark SmootEngineering Support Specialist IIWastewater Treatment Plant

30 YearsOctober 2013Antonino ReavesHead Sewage Plant OperatorWastewater Treatment Plant

Richard V. HarvinHead Sewage Plant OperatorWastewater Treatment Plant

25 YearsMay 2013Rodney J. WilliamsWater Systems ForemanCentral Services Facility

July 2013Brenda Jamison-KingPrincipal Construction InspectorField Services Building

Sherman CarterWater Systems MechanicCentral Services Facility

Alvin McCollinsWater Systems MechanicCentral Services Facility

Francis O’GradyPlant Maintenance Sub-ForemanCentral Services Facility

Jerome RussellGeneral Auto MechanicWastewater Treatment Plant

August 2013Xavier ArteagaSewage Plant OperatorWastewater Treatment Plant

Pawan KapilaWater Treatment Plant ManagerSouthwest Water Treatment Plant

Emery J. KishFinish PainterCentral Services Facility

Frank BenedictHead Governmental AnalystCentral Services Facility

Janice DowdellSenior Sewage Plant OperatorWastewater Treatment Plant

Renee CulverSenior Construction InspectorField Services Building

Bryant MartinPlant Maintenance MechanicSpringwells Water Treatment Plant

Jerome TarverSewage Plant OperatorWastewater Treatment Plant

Keith LindsayGeneral Auto MechanicCentral Services Facility

September 2013Andrea MartinService Guard - Public UtilityWestside Customer Service Center

Melvin MurphySewage Plant SupervisorWastewater Treatment Plant

Denise Donelson-WilliamsWater Meter ForemanCentral Services Facility

Michael ColesSewage Plant OperatorWastewater Treatment Plant

Eugene EllisSenior Water Systems MechanicCentral Services Facility

Ida E. FulksEngineering Support Specialist IILivernois Center

Ronald HarrisSenior Water Systems MechanicWestern Yard Services Facility

October 2013John MillerMaintenance MillwrightWastewater Treatment Plant

Ashok R. PatelConstruction InspectorField Services Building

Steven BorellaSewage Plant OperatorWastewater Treatment Plant 3

Service anniversaries

WaterPow

erN

ovember2013

4

reat entertainers alwaysinspire imitators, andoften, the impersonators

become experts in their chosenartist’s style. In the case of DWSDemployee Gerald Moore, it was theimmortal Michael Jackson’s dancingthat thrilled him.

Moore, 44, a Principal Governmen-tal Analyst in Contracts and Grants,has been duplicating the moves ofJackson for 21 years now, much tohis audiences’ delight. “I grew up aMichael Jackson fan,” said Moore.“I had listened to his music – myfavorite song was ‘PYT (Pretty YoungThing)’ — and I practiced some ofhis moves. I also liked watchingdancers like Gene Kelly and FredAstaire in old movies, so theyinspired me too.”

Moore said he was in college at theUniversity of Detroit, “foolingaround” with Jackson’s style ofdancing, when a fellow student sawhim and urged him to enter a talentshow. He did, and his skit was asuccess. “That was in 1992, and I

started practicing more of Michael’smoves and working up a routine,”Moore said.

Moore started performing atbirthday and Christmas parties,executing MJ-trademark circular,sideways, and moonwalk steps. Hedonned the iconic black shirt, silversocks, and glove to achieve at leastpart of the Jackson look.

Meanwhile, he began working forthe City of Detroit with the Housingdepartment in 1994 and joinedDWSD four years later. Soon, hisreputation spread among DWSDand he was performing at variousfunctions connected to the depart-ment.

Now, after a hiatus of a couple ofyears, Moore is ready to get backinto action. He’s tuned up his stepsand has a DVD recording availableof some of his dancing that wasmade on the steps of Hitsville USA,the old Motown studio on WestGrand Boulevard. He’s planning toperform at some upcoming partiestoo. “It makes me feel good toentertain people,” he said.

Why is the appeal of MichaelJackson’s music and dancing souniversal? “What he did was sounique,” said Moore. “Michaelreached across age groups and racebarriers. His performing touchedpeople’s hearts. I hope I can do alittle of that, too.”

Employee’s dancing inspired by the Thriller

Gerald Moore

Wilma Yarber-Laster, Telecommuni-cation Center Supervisor, andBonita Flowers, Service InformationClerk – both in Asset Maintenance –were acknowledged by their super-visor, Donovan Walton, for superiorcustomer service. Walton receivedan anonymous voicemail in Septem-ber from a customer lauding bothemployees’ professionalism.

Michaela Cleckley-Williams,Customer Service Representative III,and Kannita Calloway, both ofCommercial Operations, werecommended by a customer inSeptember. They demonstrated

professionalism and attentivenesswhile resolving a long-standingcustomer account issue.

Nicolette Bateson, Chief FinancialOfficer, Mildred Morris, Head Clerkin Accounting, and the entireFinance team ensured that DWSD’svendors were paid in a timelymanner during the hectic weeksfollowing the filing of the City ofDetroit’s bankruptcy petition.

Andrea Blakely-Ukpabi, SeniorAccountant, Financial Services, andTammy Parker, Customer ServiceRepresentative II in Commercial

Operations, were singled out by acustomer on Oct. 11, who refer-enced the “great job” byboth employees. The customer saidthat they were pleasant, profes-sional and knowledgeable.

Mihai Facaeanu, CommercialOperations Specialist II in Commer-cial Operations, was praised by arepresentative from a Detroitbusiness on Oct. 4. The customersaid that the DWSD employee was“very helpful” in explaining invoicesand in settling various accountissues.

KUDOS

G