Great Lakes Water Authority [GLWA] next steps ?

[Willi]

Thoughts on ""if"" this entity will actually do something or is it a ploy
to appease the courts and the public. It's been really really quiet lately.
Will business, universities and government transform the region for StormWater Management /

Warren got hit hard and there is nothing in the media regarding plans for the spring melt

[Willi]

Well, they had their first meeting and agreed to the State Appointed Rep from Snyder

Do you feel properly represented when rate negotiations begin in 2015 ?

Attachment 25235

[Willi]

Maybe people in Metro Detroit need better situational awareness of their community

Filmed in Detroit
http://youtu.be/aQSHsuZrccM

[Dumpling]

So there was an incinerator fire at the wastewater treatment plant yesterday.
It started on midnight shift. It apparently started at a conveyor belt at the
fourth floor in Complex II incineration.
On midnight shift usually there is a skeleton operations crew [[how many crew
members these days, I don't exactly know, but there has been a big push since
EMA began managing the plant to reduce staff). On day shift there are contractors
around as well as maintenance and other personnel so a fire would be more likely to
be noticed when it was small. The conveyor at fourth floor runs swiftly diagonally
upwards loaded with tons of "cake" [[euphemism) going to the top of the CII
incinerators and can be seen when one steps off the elevator [[given that the elevator is working). Around the corner from the elevator on fourth floor was a room with contractor tools and gear. These great people construct and set up the machinery,
piping and etcetera throughout the building [[but tend to complain that the plant
workers don't do anything). In my mind's eye there is a fifty five gallon drum
of used oily gloves, rags and trash next to the elevator. That area of fourth floor
is uninhabited on midnight shift.
The City of Detroit no longer is the insurance agent for the WWTP but I don't
know who is now.

[Dumpling]

The new NEFCO biosolids facility next door is running at full capacity post fire. It
contains eight centrifuges according to the spec sheets. The centrifuges probably
have a life span of 50,000 hours before having to be replaced or rebuilt.
I don't know if DTE has a permit to burn the biosolids at their coal burning plant
across the Rouge River from the wastewater treatment plant. The more likely use
for the biosolids is agricultural land application.

[Dumpling]

Although the Complex II fourth floor would generally be unoccupied on
midnight shift, fire detectors/alarms have been installed throughout the
WWTP and are periodically checked. Complex II didn't have alarms? They
were disabled since conditions were normally so smoky and fumy in
there? Some workers at the complexes did have smoking habits based on
the trash in the stairwells there. When EMA started managing there was
an effort to keep the grounds clean and clear put in place - maybe this was
being adhered to but a smoker forgot to make sure the cig was completely
out before tossing it.

Before Bing became mayor there were health workers at the plant - there
was a plant clinic - they would check blood pressures and such, but they
were pretty much the first ones to go, in the pre-bankruptcy days, before
EMA came on board.

Trash would pile up next to the complex elevator when it wasn't working
which was fairly often. There would be a big trash takeout day from time
to time. Here is where staff cuts may have been a problem. Besides this,
even at full staff levels, plant cleanup was a difficult, dangerous, nasty,
and thankless job which was done at minimum levels. The plant layout
was not such as to make this work easier.

[Dumpling]

The World Socialist Web Site has an article about the Complex II fire,
with discussion by people more knowledgeable about the incident than
I. It doesn't implicate a trash fire. This particular conveyor belt wasn't
hosed down with water on a continual basis so far as I know. That may
not have been possible given how the building was laid out but provisions
for that could have been made when it was installed.

[Dumpling]

Well, time for a few updates. It was my subjective impression that people around
here are buying much more bottled water than previously - checked the web, and
found, yes we are:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2...al-opposition/

This probably isn't due to just one factor such as the Flint Water Crisis. The above
article references water comparing favorably to soft drinks. Since for whatever reason,
we are buying more bottled water, and it is a very profitable and nonperishable
product, stores now sell it by the pallet in visible locations.

[Dumpling]

I haven't heard or read anything further about the Complex II fire.
The incinerator hearths of Complex II that were in service at the time
of the fire might have been destroyed if the incinerators were shut down
rapidly. They are lined with specially cut refractory bricks which will
shatter if they are allowed to cool too quickly.
The Complex I incinerators were due to be closed forever later that
month, but were upgraded and used instead of Complex II. Most
of the time when possible the NEFCO biosolids facility is used to
process wastewater solids.
So if you go over the I-75 Rouge River bridge in the near future, check
out the three tall wastewater treatment plant chimneys - they probably
won't have the familiar yellow nitrogen oxide smoke smudges above them.

[Dumpling]

The nitrogen oxide reacts with pollen grains so as to make them more
allergenic for asthmatics, and probably even to cause asthma, though
not much is known about the exact molecular mechanisms:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4740364/

So the yellow fumes will not be much missed. [[Though they may be back
at some point.) Wayne Soap, which used to generate a very foul odor in
Delray, is not much missed either.

[Dumpling]

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2016/08/...eatment-plant/

This is my unit. Weather conditions were hot and humid. A chlorine tank car
came in that had an unusually high pressure as a direct result of the weather
conditions. The chlorine tank car was opened fully for the hoses and piping for
that tank car, subjecting these only to the high pressure. After about 24 hours,
and possibly, again, due to the hot and humid conditions a split developed in one
of the hoses. The unit now knows not to have that high of a pressure out there;
it also knows that the other hose for the tank car has to be replaced too in the
event of a leak - that one leaked also a little bit later on, but was a much smaller
leak.

[Dumpling]

Once upon a time I didn't work at the water department, but wondered
what all that hard earned money was paying for. The water bill part seemed
to be fair but the sewer bill part always seemed to be a little too high.

[Zacha341]

I did want to go get a glass of water from the tap. Perhaps I should rethink that, but the option of not breathing... well.....

Seems only a matter of time before we have a Detroit water/ Incinerator crisis. A preventable one no doubt.

[313WX]

Well, time for a few updates. It was my subjective impression that people around
here are buying much more bottled water than previously - checked the web, and
found, yes we are:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2...al-opposition/

This probably isn't due to just one factor such as the Flint Water Crisis. The above
article references water comparing favorably to soft drinks. Since for whatever reason,
we are buying more bottled water, and it is a very profitable and nonperishable
product, stores now sell it by the pallet in visible locations.

The Flint Water Crisis is a large part of it.

For those in the know [[that the DWSD has more or less been privatized since the city's bankruptcy), we frankly don't trust the quality of water as there's no telling the extent in which the pumping and filtration process has been compromised in order to save money [[the fact that 80% of the workforce was laid off doesn't help as far as suggesting otherwise), given it was all spearheaded by the same governor that spearheaded the "cost savings" in Flint [[who BTW was DWSD's largest wholesale customer during Detroit's bankruptcy when the switch over to the Flint River took place).

http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/new...-privatization

[Wesley Mouch]

The Flint Water Crisis is a large part of it.

For those in the know [[that the DWSD has more or less been privatized since the city's bankruptcy), we frankly don't trust the quality of water as there's no telling the extent in which the pumping and filtration process has been compromised in order to save money [[the fact that 80% of the workforce was laid off doesn't help as far as suggesting otherwise), given it was all spearheaded by the same governor that spearheaded the "cost savings" in Flint [[who BTW was DWSD's largest wholesale customer during Detroit's bankruptcy when the switch over to the Flint River took place).

http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/new...-privatization

The Flint Water Crisis certainly was a large part. Stepping back, the bigger crisis is that we no longer trust our government. Seems like this started in the 1960s with the Vietnam war. I also blame the rise of the municipal-industrial state, where the government has become all things to all people -- so we no longer expect just a functioning government, but we expect the government to settle all disputes, distribute income, ensure someone's version of fairness. From this follows that controlling government is a means to wealth. True of corporations who lobby for favors. True for Unions who lobby for favors. True for workers who lobby for favors.

The best solution is to get the government out of the business of picking winners & losers [[think Solyndra).

Beyond that, we also need to find out how to create a bi-partisan, functioning, transparent government. Or we can worry about bathrooms for the transgendered, or what some politician said 20 years ago when a microphone was on.

The choice is ours.

[Dumpling]

This is about the OP.

http://www.macombdaily.com/article/M...WS06/120729602

Mr. Martz is somewhat of a think-a-like with the OP. Their particular perspectives
vary but they both have public and environmental interests deeply at heart. They
are not in it for self-enrichment. The OP has not yet picked a favorite between
Miller and Marrocco. Since Miller does not seem to have previously backed Martz
against Marrocco [[please correct me if I am wrong), and since millions are currently
being devoted to the Miller vs. Marrocco race, it is my sense that Miller most
represents bond issuing entities and certain construction firms backed by the
bond issuing entities. I keep checking OP's social media to see which of these
two he recommends voting for. [[If I lived there I would cheerfully write in OP.)

[Dumpling]

http://www.wxyz.com/news/downriver-w...-reported-sick

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/c...f-strange-odor

Not good. I don't know what happened here but it is not the same issue as
the water main break in Southwest Detroit that caused low water pressure
at the WWTP and nearby areas:

http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/in...sued_boil.html

[313WX]

http://www.wxyz.com/news/downriver-w...-reported-sick

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/c...f-strange-odor

Not good. I don't know what happened here but it is not the same issue as
the water main break in Southwest Detroit that caused low water pressure
at the WWTP and nearby areas:

http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/in...sued_boil.html

Thanks again Snyder!

We noticed as well that our water [[in the city proper) has been very cloudy even after running it for several minutes. Didn't have this problem until recently. It also has a foul odor to it [[kind of like bacon grease).

We don't drink it at all unless it's boiled [[and use bottled water instead).

[Honky Tonk]

Thanks again Snyder!

We noticed as well that our water [[in the city proper) has been very cloudy even after running it for several minutes. Didn't have this problem until recently. It also has a foul odor to it [[kind of like bacon grease).

We don't drink it at all unless it's boiled [[and use bottled water instead).

Snyder's now in charge of DWSD? I live in Detroit proper and the water is tasteless, odorless, and clear as a bell. You sure you're not drinking out of the porcelain fountain in the bathroom?

[lpg]

And just like Flint they are telling us to let the water run. So we get charged for water we can't use. And the lack of updates is always nice.

[EastsideAl]

Snyder's now in charge of DWSD? I live in Detroit proper and the water is tasteless, odorless, and clear as a bell. You sure you're not drinking out of the porcelain fountain in the bathroom?

It seems to depend on where you are. Here on the east side the water is clear and odorless. Friends on the southwest side [[near the Rouge River) and Melvindale report cloudy smelly water.

[313WX]

It seems to depend on where you are. Here on the east side the water is clear and odorless. Friends on the southwest side [[near the Rouge River) and Melvindale report cloudy smelly water.

I'm on the NE side.

[Honky Tonk]

I'm on the NE side.

There is obviously a problem with your water. It sounds like either a filtering problem, or a sewer line is leaching into the fresh water feed. Is it just your residence or are other residents around you effected as well? Do you have a neighborhood online blog called Next Door where you live? DWSD belongs and uses it as a sounding board to check for neighborhood problems. I would sign up, engage other neighbors, and try to bring the problem to light, to get them to do something about it. You're paying for clean, usable water. It's total B/S that this problem keeps going on.

[Dumpling]

Here is the explanation that furthers my understanding of the situation the most:

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/d...ess-taste-odor

To those who were affected, I offer apologies and regrets. Informally I understand
that there is one person who quit though I don't know if it was the party most
responsible for generating the problem that quit.

For what it is worth the GLWA fresh water system for metro Detroit is considered
to have overcapacity and the southwest water plant was one of the two that I
believe are the most likely to be taken offline, the other being Port Huron, once
the Karegnondi line is at full utilization.

It is my opinion that if consumers received water that had turbidity in it, this
water was more likely to carry some pathogenic organisms. Even if GLWA was
aware at the time that this particular turbidity did not contain pathogenic
organisms, various communities and the media needed to also be made aware
of the situation before the product reached the consumers.

[Dumpling]

GLWA was taking corrective action by stopping basin washing and adding
powdered activated carbon at the Southwest treatment plant at about noon
on Thursday January 12th. However IF turbidity had been entering the
distribution system ahead of noon on Thursday AND the water contained
bacteria then shelter dogs and others COULD have been getting sick from
the bacteria even as late as Sunday January 15th. USUALLY for most
water systems there is an automatic system monitoring the effluent
turbidity as well as a person running periodic sample tests.