APWA International Congress Expo August 19, 2014 · 2014 APWA International Congress & Expo August 19, 2014 2 4 What’s the Problem? SSS WDR Order in California Preventing sewer

2014 APWA International Congress & ExpoAugust 19, 2014

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City of Kirkland, WA - Department of Public WorksOrange County Sanitation District, CA

2014 APWA International Congress & ExpositionAugust 19, 2014 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada

FLUSHABLE BUT NOT RAPIDLY DISPERSIBLE PRODUCTS

CONGRESS SESSION #9175

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Overview

What’s the Problem ?

Non-Woven Products and Concerns

Those Involved

Legislative Efforts

The Summit at Costco

What can YOU do and next steps ?

3 Ps

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What’s the Problem?

Proliferation of convenience products that are flushed

Clogs in pipes and pumps

O&M costs

Debris disposal costs

Engineered solutions & CIP Costs


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What’s the Problem?

SSS WDR Order in California

Preventing sewer spills

Flushable vs. non‐dispersible confusion for consumers

Product labeling gaps

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How the Wastewater Industry Feels

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What are Nonwoven Fabrics?

Sheet or web structures bonded together by entangling fiber or filaments (and by perforating films) mechanically, thermally, or chemically. They are flat, porous sheets that are made directly from separate fibers or from molten plastic or plastic film.

They are not made by weaving or knitting like clothing and do not require converting the fibers to yarn.

“Spunlaced” “Meltblown”

“Hydroentangled” “Air Laid”

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Things Used in Bathroom SettingsAll can be flushed in a toilet


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Concerns

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Nonwoven Industry Guidelines

2003 WERF DOCUMENT #02CTS7P - “Protocols to Assess the Breakdown of Flushable Consumer Products” for Proctor and Gamble - did not fully address potential problems between the toilet and treatment plant – we know a lot more in 2014

Contains voluntary only guidelines for testing for “flushability”

INDA/EDANA’s 2nd ed. guidelines based on this desire–“become unrecognizable in a reasonable amount of time”

June 2013 INDA/EDANA 3rd ed. voluntary only guidelines released to INDA members – very limited comments taken from WEF & NACWA

Not all manufacturers belong to INDA/EDANA or follow their guidelines - this increases potential problems for retailers and consumers and WW industry

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Flushable vs. DispersibleOCSD Lab 2012

Wipes after 24 hours Toilet Paper after 5 min.


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INDA Slosh Box is not as gentle as a gravity sewer

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OCSD’s First Deragging Study2010-11

971 preventative or corrective deraggingtasks on 10 pump stations

Total labor cost $320,000

Ergonomic challenges

Occasional needle sticks add more risks

08/13/2012

New Plant 2 Headworks

40 large trash bags of debris removed from 3 plugged washer compactors took 6-8 hours and 10 staff to correct

Engineering the problem away just moves it down the line Debris doesn’t disappear $$$

Used SCAP Incident Report forms

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SCAP Non-Dispersibles Incident Report


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Why Not Re-engineer the Substrates for Improved Dispersibility?

HydraSpun® nonwoven substrate after 1 hour – some dispersion – some good news?

Product re-engineering is possible

OCSD Lab JAN 2013

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PARSA Potty - New Jersey – June 2013Does it really break apart after flushing like the package says ?

You can build your own and easily test items !

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City of Vancouver, WA Tests in Real Sewers August 2013 and Ongoing


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Wipes and Nonwovens Use Trends

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WEF, WEF CSC, WEF HOD & MAs, & WERF APWA NACWA INDA & EDANA Maine WWA & Portland Water District OCSD & PARSA New England WEA Kirkland & Vancouver, Washington California Clean Water Summit Partners Canadian Water & Wastewater Association A partial list of cities and agencies

Those Involved

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Legislative Attempts in the US

States (CA, NJ, Maine) proposed legislation

US National Legislation – Congressman Earl Blumenauer from Oregon

Should local municipal governments now implement bans or restrictions?

Maine Legislature voted Ought Not To Pass (ONTP) and required INDA and MWWCA to work together on a data gathering and also a consumer education project targeted at Baby Wipes www.SaveYourPipes.org


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Maine’s Legislative History Timeline

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The Summit at Costco

Goals

Improvements needed to info on packaging

Actions and interactions

Plea for champions, role models, and replication

Outcomes

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COSTCO’s Newer Packaging

IMPORTANT FLUSHABILITY INFORMATION:Kirkland Signature™ Moist Flushable Wipes comply with all industry guidelines and are proven to pass through a home's well-maintained toilet, pump and drain line without clogging. The wipe is very different than other wipes and made of a special dispersible material that breaks apart into smaller pieces due to mechanical action of flushing process.

Are Kirkland Signature™ Moist Flushable Wipes really flushable?

Yes, Kirkland Signature™ Moist Flushable Wipes comply with industry guidelines and are proven to pass through a home's well-maintained toilet, pump and drain line without clogging. The wipe is very different than other wipes and made of a special material that breaks apart into smaller pieces due to mechanical action of flushing process.


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One Example: Costco Baby Wipes - June 2013 - some improvements on labeling

On the shelf?

Proposed

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COSTCO’s Latest Packaging

NEVER FLUSH MORE THAN ONE WIPE AT A TIME. * NOT RECOMMENDED FOR USE IN MOTOR HOMES OR WITH BASEMENT PUMP SYSTEMS.

BABY, FACIAL AND CLEANING WIPES, PAPER TOWELS, AND FEMININE HYGEINE PRODUCTS ARE NOT FLUSHABLE AND SHOULD BE DISPOSED OF PROPERLY.

On the shelf July 2014

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Bans Can Happen


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Collect and Document YOUR Data Use the “Incident Report” form developed by

SCAP CSC in CA: www.NACWA.org/flushables

Preventative and corrective maintenance tasks in sewers/pump stations/treatment plants

Labor hours/costs

Equipment repair/replacement costs

Debris hauling fees

Blockages, SSO events and any fines

Document your “deragging” costs and share with others

What Can YOU Do?

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Support improved and more prominent labeling for the consumer as well as more rapid dispersibility

Understand the Plumbing Code and help strengthen city and agency ordinances if needed

Advocate more outreach to retailers

Understand the role of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the U.S. www.FTC.gov

Understand Industry Canada and their consumer packaging and labeling act for consumers www.ic.gc.ca

Monitor consumer actions and litigation

What Can YOU Do?

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Monitor outcomes of NACWA/WEF/APWA and INDA /EDANA discussions: 3 facilitated meetings starting in May and ending August 14, 2014

Help APWA’s forward progress

Assist WEF Member Associations, including Europeans and Japanese

American Water Works Assoc. (AWWA) ?

Rural Water Associations? Vacuum sewer system operators ??

Onsite systems: www.cowa.org and www.nowra.org Your suggestions ??

What Can YOU Do?


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Sanitary and Combined Sewers are not an effective or proper way to move non-dispersibles to the landfill or incinerator Helps lower our maintenance labor

and added CIP needs

Conserves water in drought areas

Conserves energy in all areas

Long -term sustainability improved

Extended producer responsibility needed?

Flush only the 3 Ps !

Next Steps: Put Non-Dispersibles in the Trash, Not the Toilet

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OCSD’s Simple Message - What2Flush

Developed by staff for OCSD’s Public Outreach Campaign: It’s simple – the toilet is only

meant to flush the three Ps –o Peeo Poopo Toilet Paper

www.What2Flush.com

What’s your supportive message?

Also inform your Council or Board !

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Also Thanks To

Jennifer Leno, [email protected]

Barry Orr, [email protected]


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Questions?

Bobbi WallaceSurface and Wastewater ManagerCity of Kirkland, Department of Public [email protected]

Nick J. Arhontes, P. E. Director of Facilities Support Services Dept.Orange County Sanitation DistrictFountain Valley, [email protected] www.ocsewers.com

“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal” - Henry Ford

Documents

APWA International Congress Expo August 19, 2014 · 2014 APWA International Congress & Expo August 19, 2014 2 4 What’s the Problem? SSS WDR Order in California Preventing sewer