Case Study #4 - Easton Pennsylvania
Compliance Achieved, Consent Decree Removed
The City of Easton, PA, wastewater system serves a population of
55,000 and has peak flows over 20 MGD. A history of problems prior to U.S. Water’s
management included chronic permit violations, a consent decree, controversies between the
city and authority, management labor situations, two supervisors convicted of
environmental crimes who were imprisoned, and being on the EPA’s blacklist for
violations. For the consent order the City paid $389,000 in fines and $120,000 of the
plaintiff’s legal fees.
The wastewater facility had been managed during this time by a different private
contractor but its single manager had no rights of discipline. When Mayor Tom Goldsmith
proposed a private company completely take over operation of Easton’s water and sewer
systems in 1993, not only were some Council members concerned but the union opposed
concessions they were asked to make to retain jobs. After a formal Request for Proposals,
review of seven proposals, and months of negotiation, council approved U.S. Water L.L.C.
as the manager of the two utilities. However, the existing labor agreement covered City
workers in many departments not just the water and sewer utilities. After much negotiation
and two votes, Local 447 of American Federation of State and Municipal Employees voted to
amend its agreement to specifically allow U.S. Water to assume the City’s discipline
rights and to work rule efficiency changes. A Council representative was present during
all labor negotiations.
U.S. Water replaced the previous manager at the wastewater plant in December 1993 and
assumed full operational management responsibilities under this innovative contract for
both the wastewater and water systems in May of 1994.
These are the results:
Preceding U.S. Water, the wastewater effluent exceeded its permit limit for phenol in 7
out of 12 months. Since U.S. Water’s management, there have been no phenol
violations. No capital was required to achieve this.
U.S. Water helped initiate a
permit modification in conjunction with the Authority and City. A professional,
cooperative relationship with the PA DER and USEPA was established.
Consent decree dropped
$660,000 of savings per year
Improved safety standards
Installed computerized
maintenance management system
Revised belt press operations
Changed aerobic digesters
into gravity thickeners
Improved anaerobic digester
performance
Developed standard operating
procedures
Operators are now performing
pH testing and routine maintenance tasks
Initiated an electrical
curtailment program
Won a citation of merit from
the PA DER
Established an improved
working relationship with AFSME
Received accolades from the
Mayor and Council. This was reported in an Easton Express Times, July 13, 1995
article. See the Mayor’s comments in Section 8.
Case Study - City of Easton
In the
City of Easton, U.S. Water recommendations led to the replacement of polymer feed pumps
and belt filter press wash pumps which resulted in increased efficiency in the sludge
dewatering operation, including significantly reduced polymer costs. In addition, our
recommendations to refurbish the plant’s engine generator have led to reduced
electric expenditures after initiation of an electrical curtailment program at the Easton
Wastewater Treatment Plant. Our capital recommendations for the Easton wastewater system
have been well received, and have been adopted by the Authority’s Engineer as the
basis for continued planning and preliminary design efforts for which receipt of
engineering proposals will occur in the near future. U.S. Water personnel will continue to
work with the Authority and their engineer throughout the design process, and any
construction activities that may follow.
U.S. Water has worked extensively with the City of Easton and its
consulting engineers to identify all overflows in the collection system. U.S. Water
developed a monitoring and reporting program in response to the regulators concern over
dry weather overflows. The sewer maintenance crews under the direction of U.S. Water work
to proactively control blockages or clear obstructions that might produce overflows. U.S.
Water initiated an overhaul of Easton’s pump station generators and pumps to improve
efficiency and reliability during storm events. In total these activities have managed to
substantially reduce dry weather overflows.
U.S. Water has a ten (10) year OM&M contract which includes a 10 MGD wastewater
treatment facility. Capital upgrades undertaken at the facility during U.S. Water’s
tenure have included replacement of primary sludge pumps and major rehabilitation of the
primary digester. U.S. Water directed and coordinated all impacted operations to maximize
plant performance, expedite construction schedules, and mitigate financial impacts of
additional labor costs during construction
In addition, our recommendations to refurbish the plant’s engine generator have
led to reduced electric expenditures after initiation of an electrical curtailment program
at the Easton Wastewater Treatment Plant. Our capital recommendations for the Easton
wastewater system have been well received, and have been adopted by the Authority’s
Engineer as the basis for continued planning and preliminary design efforts for which
receipt of engineering proposals will occur in the near future. U.S. Water personnel will
continue to work with the Authority and their engineer throughout the design process, and
any construction activities that may follow.