RE: Ammonia

From: Andy Peters

Sent: Fri Dec 21 14:17:54 2018

To: Bob Dillard

Cc: 'S Major'; 'R Quigley'; Jake Ehredt; Gerald Fisher

Subject: RE: Ammonia

Importance: Normal

Attachments: image001.jpg;

Bob thanks for getting back to me! I will start assembling this information next week. I’m am completely burnt and not sure I’ve got what it takes to go through last years’ DMRS just now! I’m also talking to Biolynceus about nitrifying bac-t options, so I’ll gather what they give me next week too.

Thanks!

Andy Peters

City of Molalla

Public Works Operations Supervisor

(503) 829-6855 x220

Cell: 503-793-0507

apeters@cityofmolalla.com

117 N Molalla Ave

Molalla, OR 97038

From: Bob Dillard <b.dillard@charter.net>

Sent: Friday, December 21, 2018 1:54 PM

To: Andy Peters <apeters@cityofmolalla.com>

Cc: 'S Major' <smajor@dyerpart.com>; 'R Quigley' <rquigley@dyerpart.com>; Jake Ehredt <jehredt@cityofmolalla.com>

Subject: RE: Ammonia

Andy,

Could give me your ammonia readings for the last year? Along with the following information if you have it.

* Water temperature
* pH.
* Any changes in the treatment process-dredging- flow changes- placing DAF – filters on and off line.

Lagoons usually nitrify in the summer due to nitrifying bacteria available, warm water temperatures >70 F. and long detention times. The nitrifiers will usually stay in the system unless inhibited. Are your ammonias matching up with the outside lab? The ammonia probe can fail or become fouled? It will be a challenge to get the system to nitrify during the cooler temperatures and higher flows. Sometimes one can not discharge to allow some growth in the bacteria. I doubt you have this option.

Even though your permit has limits set for ammonia it does not dictate sampling. I would think DEQ would give a lot of lenience in this matter. If you don’t won’t to clarify with DEQ we can review the information you provide and identify what might have caused the problem and look for other solutions that may include the following;

* Bioaugmentation – I have some more information on this.
* Evaluate short circuiting
* Check river ammonia limits up and down stream of outfall.
* Run a profile through the treatment plant for Ammonias, ph, d.o., nitrates, and nitrites.

We can also evaluate what actual benefit you’re getting from the aeration basin.

I hope you have a great holiday! Merry Christmas.

Bob Dillard

2470 Ash St.

North Bend Or. 97459

541-290-9908

From: Andy Peters <apeters@cityofmolalla.com>

Sent: Thursday, December 6, 2018 2:31 PM

To: Bob Dillard <b.dillard@charter.net>

Cc: Gerald Fisher <gfisher@cityofmolalla.com>; Jake Ehredt <jehredt@cityofmolalla.com>; James Clifton <jclifton@cityofmolalla.com>

Subject: Ammonia

Bob, we are running into Ammonia issues this month. Ever test we’ve done is coming in over the daily limit. We’ve sent a split sample in to Edge Laboratories, but the test is not rocket science, and our equipment was just calibrated. We have two questions (copying Ryan Q for help).

1. Based on the permit it’s not clear how frequently we should be testing for Ammonia (NH3-N)
2. Assuming we have high ammonia, how do we troubleshoot the plant?

Thanks,