Optimizing Water Use and Minimizing Wastewater Generation Within the Power Plant

INDUSTRIAL WATER TREATMENT

Cooling Water

JULY/AUGUST 2014 Volume 31 Number 4 INDUSTRIAL ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS

Monitor AMI LineTOC – WATER Automatic and Continuous Measurement TREATMENT

of Total Organic Carbon in Pure and Ultrapure Water INDUSTRIAL WATER TREATMENT™ Volume 31, Number 4 July/August 2014

General Offices: Media Analytics Ltd. Suite C, Kingsmead House FEATURES Oxpens Road Oxford OX1 1XX T: +44 (0)1865 204 208 Cooling – How To Use Recycled Waters in Your Cooling Tower Features F: +44 (0)1865 204 209 Systems – Guidelines and Limitations www.ultrapurewater.com Paul R. Puckorius 9 n Reagent-free measurement Christopher Gasson, Publisher Boilers – Corrosion Control in the Power Industry [email protected] of TOC by UV oxidation Brad Buecker and Julia Horn 13 and differential conductivity Mike Henley, Editor Phone/Fax: 303-745-3890 Power – Optimizing Water Use and Minimizing Wastewater Generation [email protected] detection within the Power Plant For advertising inquiries: Josh Prusakiewicz and Colleen Layman, P.E. 17 n Menu-driven System Suitability Jessica Underwood, Executive Director [email protected] Test (SST) according to Boilers – Practical Steps to Achieving Excellence in Plant Cycle Chemistry Industrial Water Treatment (ISSN: 1058-3645), Randy C. Turner 23 USP <643> and EP 2.2.44 (successor to ISSN: 0019-8862), is published bi-monthly exclusively in a digital format, by n Automatic sensor check Media Analytics Ltd. The publisher assumes no Chlorides – How Accurate Is the Chlorides Test? responsibility for unsolicited material and reserves James McDonald 27 right to publish, in whole or in part, all letters and (verification) news releases received. All material, including technical articles, sent to Ultrapure Water will be Regulations – EPA Issues Rule for Cooling Water Intake Systems n Automatic addition and dilution considered the property of the publisher and may Mike Henley 29 be subject to editing. of standard solutions Media Analytics Ltd. accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for any loss or damage n Response time: < 2 minutes suffered by the subscriber or any other user of Business News 4 the information contained in this publication. Unauthorised distribution or reproduction of the Water Stock Quotes 6 n Continuous sample flow contents of Industrial Water Treatment is strictly prohibited without prior consent of the publisher. detection. © 2014 by Media Analytics Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be photocopied, reproduced, retransmitted, put into a computer ADVERTISERS system or otherwise redistributed without prior authorisation from Media Analytics. Follow-up with advertisers present in this issue by visiting their web sites. For a comprehensive listing please visit our Buyer’s Guide at: www.ultrapurewater.com Ask for technical documentation INDUSTRIAL WATER TREATMENT™ is a registered trademark. A Buyer’s Guide to recent or check our homepage: and current advertisers is available at: Consolidated Water Solutions 5 www.ultrapurewater.com Mettler Toledo Thornton 12 Past Articles: A complete database of references [email protected] to more than 1,800 past articles can be found on Pure Aqua, Inc. 7 our web site. Photocopies of specific articles are www.swan-analytical-usa.com available at a nominal cost. Swan Analytical USA, Inc. 2

COVER Process water cooling tower at a 400-ton-per-day pulp and paper mill in the Andhra Pradesh region of India. Photo courtesy of Edward Helmig, water consultant. SWAN ANALYTICAL USA, INC. • 225 Larkin Drive Unit 4 • Wheeling, IL 60090 www.swan-analytical-usa.com • Phone 847 229 1290 • Fax 847 229 1320 INDUSTRIAL WATER TREATMENTTM July/August 2014 3 POWER Optimizing Water Use and Minimizing Wastewater Generation within the Power Plant

he availability of a quality control systems; this equipment likely in importance. Proactive management of water supply has impacted has also had an impact on the water and how water is used in a power plant can all types of thermoelectric wastewater systems within the plant. This do more than reduce water consump- power generating facilities new equipment often requires additional tion and wastewater generation. It can and has become a limiting water makeup or increases wastewater also lower operational costs and help Tfactor in a number of instances related to a plant plan for the future. One of the discharge, changing the landscape of the siting and building today’s new fleet of water box for the plant. best ways that a plant can manage its combined-cycle power projects. Global A new water supply regulation was water resources more effectively is to climate change has increased air tem- recently finalized and wastewater related develop a plant-wide water manage- peratures and interrupted precipitation regulations are also on the horizon for ment plan— a comprehensive site- movements across the United States and existing power generating facilities in the wide strategy for maximizing water around the world. Severe droughts have not so distant future. The Environmental use efficiency, minimizing wastewater dramatically impacted numerous areas of Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) final 316(b) discharge, and encouraging a policy of the United States in recent years, forc- Cooling Water Rule under the Clean sustainability and reuse/recycle to the ing plants to import water from outside Water Act was finalized and released maximum extent practical to control a sources, curtail generation, and/or shut by May 19, 2014 (1), and is estimated plant’s water footprint. down operations all together. to impact the water supply side of at In addition to water supply limitations, least 544 existing power plants across Getting Started other elements such as price of natural the United States. The first step in developing a water gas and the increase of renewable energy On the wastewater side, an update to management plan is to define the plant’s sources on the grid has caused many the EPA’s Effluent Limitation Guidelines existing conditions. A plant water bal- plants to shift their operational scenarios. (ELGs) for the steam electric power ance was likely created during the initial Power plants that were once designed generating point source category is plant design; however, over the course to operate as baseloaded facilities are currently anticipated for final issue no of time equipment is added, streams now being called upon to operate on an later than September 30, 2015. These are rerouted, or equipment is removed intermediate, or sometimes cyclic basis ELGs are technology-based limits and from service to adapt to changing plant because of dispatch and other restric- the amendment is expected to impact needs. Unfortunately, in most cases, the tions. Older plants that were originally primarily coal-fired facilities. However, plant water balance doesn’t always get designed for baseload operation run more and more facilities are also noting a corresponding update. After a few (or most efficiently at that baseload point, additional water quality based effluent many) years of operation, a plant may including efficiencies related to water limits (WQBEL) such as total maximum believe that they know where all the water usage and wastewater production. daily load (TMDL) limits becoming part is going, but that may not be the case in Changes in air, water, and wastewater of their National Pollutant Discharge reality. Therefore, drawing and detailing regulations are also having an impact Elimination System (NPDES) permits as the plant water balance should be the on many plants’ water and wastewater regulators work to protect and improve first step in your plan. The water balance picture. Because of changes in air quality impaired receiving water bodies. These should identify all water consumers and regulations, plants have been required are generally water body specific limits wastewater producers throughout the to incorporate additional air quality that depend on what contaminants the facility and indicate all the flow routes water body is considered impaired by. and distribution pathways. Figure 1 For instance, plants that discharge into shows a typical water balance diagram By Josh Prusakiewicz the Chesapeake Bay watershed may for a coal-fired power plant. and Colleen Layman, P.E. experience tight NPDES limits on nitro- (HDR Inc.) gen and phosphorus compounds because Analyzing the existing plant water of eutrophication in the Bay. picture. Development of a plant water ISSN:0747-8291. COPYRIGHT (C) Media Given the number of water-related balance should begin by walking down Analytics Ltd. Reproduction in whole, or in part, pressures that today’s power plant fleet is the plant water and wastewater sys- including by electronic means, without permission of publisher is prohibited. Those registered with the dealing with, having a clear understand- tems and mapping out all water users, Copyright Clearance Center (www.copyright.com) ing of how the plant manages its water wastewater generators, sumps, ponds, may photocopy this article for a flat fee per copy. and wastewater internally is increasing and other containments in the form of

INDUSTRIAL WATER TREATMENTTM July/August 2014 17 a block diagram. The block diagram minimum flows to create an accurate accurate picture of the water quality, should include any and all potential picture of the plant’s water footprint. whereas a single point or small number water and wastewater flow pathways Reduced load operations (if they are of data points provides only a snapshot whether they are constant or only inter- relevant for a unit), partial plant opera- in time. A simple method for tracking mittent flows. Each flow should then be tions (for instance, single-unit operation all of this information is simply to use characterized in terms of major water in a two-unit plant), as well as other an Excel spreadsheet (see Table A for an quality constituents. off-design operating scenarios should example template). However, a number The most difficult challenge in devel- be included, as appropriate, as they can of engineering and consulting firms oping the water balance is usually obtain- greatly affect water consumption rates have developed specialized tools to aid ing a suitable amount of water quality and wastewater production. in this process. The more information information for each stream present in Depending on the raw water source, collected, the more accurate the picture the plant. Most plants have a relatively operating cycle, weather, and various of the plant’s current water situation clear picture of what is going into and other drivers, the characterization of each will be. Correlating the data with plant out of the facility, but generally collect water stream may vary over time. By operation (load the plant was at when the little information regarding internal plant including minimum, average and peak data was collected) is very important in streams. Sources of data may include: flows for each water stream, in addition developing an accurate picture. operator/chemistry technician logs and to a range of water quality information, rounds, distributed control system (DCS) the plant personnel can understand where Filling in any gaps. It is quite likely data on flows, pump run times, sump/ any water issues may lie or opportunities that the plant will discover during the pond levels, and on-line water quality for optimization may exist. initial collection process and analysis analyzers, among other things. This Numerous data points collected during of that data that there are a number of water balance should include average different times of year and at different data gaps where flows are not routinely daily usage rates as well as peak and operating loads provide a much more monitored or water quality of streams

Figure 1. Typical water mass balance for a coal-fired power station.

18 INDUSTRIAL WATER TREATMENTTM July/August 2014 TABLE A Typical Water Quality Tracking Spreadsheet

Raw Water Supply Supply to Power Plant Plant Water Sanitary Waste to to Demin Description Raw Water Supply Users Influent Blowdown Sump Treatment/ Stream # 1 2 3 5 6 Normal flowrate (gpm) 936 448 35 48 413 Symbol Constituent mg/L mg/L mg/L mg/L mg/L Al Aluminum 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 Hg Mercury 0.00005 0.00005 0.00005 0.00005 0.00005 Ca Calcium 75 75 75 75 75 Mg Magnesium 16 16 16 16 16 Fe Iron 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 Na Sodium 116 116 116 116 116

HCO3- Bicarbonate 320 320 320 320 320 Cl- Chloride 440 440 440 440 440

SO4 Sulfate 47 47 47 47 47

NO3 Nitrate 51 51 51 51 51 3- HPO4 Phosphate 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4

SiO2 Silica 5 5 5 5 5 F- Fluoride 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Ba Barium 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 CN Cyanide as CN 0.027 0.027 0.027 0.027 0.027 Cr Chromium 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 Co Cobalt 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 Cu Copper 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 Pb Lead 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 Mn Manganese 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06 Ni Nickel 0.008 0.008 0.008 0.008 0.008 K Potassium 18 18 18 18 18

are not analyzed. Once these data gaps stream is sufficient for determining the In order to determine water flowrates are identified, a sampling plan should be resulting water quality in the common in locations where permanent plant developed to determine the water qual- header. Save money and time wherever monitors are not installed, portable ity and flowrate data that is missing. In possible by looking for these types of flow monitors may be used. There are preparing a sampling plan, first define opportunities. various kinds of flowmeters, but the two what water quality characteristics the Different sampling techniques and types that are most appropriate for this plant needs to test for, where the best different sample preparations are application are ultrasonic flowmeters location is to collect a sample to obtain required for different types of analyses and magnetic insertable flowmeters. that information, and what sampling and and different types of locations (sumps Ultrasonic flowmeters work well on testing methods are appropriate to obtain or impoundments versus closed conduit clean pipes, but will not work well for the desired level of data accuracy. versus tank versus open channel). It pipes with internal build up or where Much of the data may need to be is imperative to sample where quality the pipe configuration does not provide obtained through field testing— setting changes because of the process or chem- sufficient straight pipe lengths for their up portable flow monitors and collecting icals are added to the system. Obtaining proper installation. samples for laboratory analysis. How- expert advice to aid in developing the Magnetic insertable flowmeters are a ever, some of those data gaps may be able plan is often prudent if the plant is not better option in these situations; how- to be filled in by doing a little math and familiar with sampling techniques and ever, these devices require a hot tap for using additive processes. If the line is a sample preparations (particularly for installation. In locations where open common header that combines various low-level metals testing) in order to channel flow measurement is necessary, streams, a simple mass balance of each ensure accurate collection of data. a temporary Parshall flume is generally

INDUSTRIAL WATER TREATMENTTM July/August 2014 19 recommended. Although sometimes changes, or stream re-direction might such as sending reverse osmosis (RO) challenging to install correctly, these allow the plant to reuse some internal reject to a cooling tower. This simple devices are usually the best option in wastewater streams and reduce its water change will reduce the makeup water this situation where other methods of footprint, or reduce the level of contami- supply required for the tower, which is flow measurement are impractical. For nants that are discharged or that need to typically the largest user of water in a smaller water lines, additional devices be removed. power plant. may not be required if dealing with mini- To use this tool effectively, the plant Another wastewater stream that may be mal flows. In these situations, water flow must first determine what goals it desires suitable for reuse is heat recovery steam can be captured in a bucket and timed to achieve in implementing a water generator (HRSG)/boiler blowdown. with a stop watch to estimate the flow- management plan for the facility. Is the This stream is typically condensate rate. Simply calculate the flowrate by plant experiencing pressure to conserve quality during normal operation and dividing the volume of water obtained on the water supply end? Is the goal the therefore could be re-introduced into per the time spent filling the bucket. minimization of wastewater discharge the service water system or at the inlet Portable composite sample collection or elimination of certain wastewater of the demineralized water treatment devices are recommended for collect- streams? Do certain wastewater con- system. Many other streams, including ing water samples for laboratory water stituents need to be addressed because water treatment backwash waste, cooling quality analysis. However in some of an NPDES permit renewal or addition tower blowdown, sample panel waste, situations, particularly where flows and of new plant systems? Are there other and even storm water, provide potential water quality are generally known to be issues of concern? Defining the plant’s reuse opportunities, depending on their very consistent over the course of the desired goals prior to making changes flowrate and quality and the correspond- day, grab sampling techniques may be within the plant is crucial to optimize ing needs of other water users within appropriate for sample gathering. The the water management plan and make the plant. plant must evaluate the use of composite effective use of resources. Coal-fired power plants tend to samplers versus grab sampling for each provide the greatest opportunities for sampling location. Use of composite Assess the situation. If near-term plant recycle or reuse of wastewater streams samplers generally provides more accu- plans include the addition of new plant given their substantial need for water rate data than grab sampling, but it is a equipment, such as new air pollution con- (even degraded quality wastewater) for more costly method. In most situations, trol equipment, start by overlaying the services such as ash conditioning or coal a combination of both sample methods impact that the new system or equipment pile dust control. For combined-cycle across the plant site at different locations will have on the existing picture. What plants, however, opportunities are much is the ideal solution. will this new system necessitate— does more limited and require more creativ- Determining speciation of some water it require water, does it produce waste- ity. Each plant situation is unique and quality constituents (especially metals) water? If yes, what are the required or each reuse opportunity must be evalu- can be important for treatment purposes predicted qualities and quantities? Can ated and impact fully assessed prior and/or the impact to aquatic species. It an existing plant wastewater stream be to implementation. Any recycle/reuse is important to work with a team that recycled to provide a source of water to evaluation should include the following includes consultants, the water treatment this new system? How will the intro- assessments at a minimum: chemical supplier(s), and plant person- duction of the new system impact other nel. Enduser staff will understand the wastewater streams? First evaluate any yy Water quality pros and cons analysis power plant processes as well as water proposed plant upgrades or equipment that detail the impact on the individual treatment and chemistry needs to ensure changes so you have an accurate picture plant system as well as on the overall good data is collected via appropriate of the plant water needs moving forward. plant water and wastewater flow and sampling protocols and the right labora- Next, evaluate any expected impacts quality picture. tory testing methods in order create an from upcoming NPDES permit renewals accurate picture. The data will provide or water supply permit renewals. How yy New equipment or devices required the required intelligence for selecting an will these renewals impact processes and to enable reuse. Often additional piping appropriate water or wastewater treat- operations within the plant boundaries and valves may be only necessary equip- ment technology (if necessary), sizing and the plant water balance? Redefine the ment required to enable water reuse. determination, defining operating and plant’s water management goals based maintenance costs, and understanding on this information for the upcoming yy Additional treatment required to resulting water qualities, among other future, if needed. enable reuse. Certain streams may be factors. Finally, evaluate reuse opportunities suitable for reuse only after additional within the plant. Once data has been treatment is performed to remove certain Developing the Plan collected and the streams have been contaminants. Once the plant water balance is developed characterized, an evaluation of the and the mass balance of contaminants is resulting water balance is necessary. yy A capital and operational cost analy- tracked throughout the plant, staff can There may be flows that can be re-routed sis (cost-benefit analysis) for each reuse use this tool to assess how operational to other parts of the plant for reuse, opportunity.

20 INDUSTRIAL WATER TREATMENTTM July/August 2014 Evaluation of operational changes. is not operating per design can lead to facing serious water related challenges The operating profile of the power plant significant improvements in the plant in the future. tends to impact water and wastewater water balance. Some areas to evaluate flowrates and water qualities throughout operations include: Evaluate Plant Water Streams the facility, sometimes in ways that might If a plant’s storm water system can be not be expected. This may require that yy Minimization of and/or collection and easily divertible, then reusing storm the team evaluate various plant operat- reuse of flush waters for slurry lines, gyp- water within the plant may make sense ing scenarios of interest in developing sum systems, and clarifier sludge systems. if the water quality is adequate, if the and implementing a water management need for additional water supply exists, plan. Off-design operating conditions, yy Ion-exchange systems that require or if regulations requiring the segrega- especially at multi-unit sites with inte- frequent regeneration. One option worth tion and separate treatment of contact grated water and wastewater systems, evaluating is off-site regeneration of this and non-contact are enacted. For plants often can produce the most challenging equipment. located in relative wet regions, capturing, water operating scenarios and can drive storing, and re-introducing storm water decisions related to equipment sizing. If yy Filters that require frequent back- as “service” water may help alleviate the plant has the ability to be baseloaded, washes. the challenges related to insufficient intermediately dispatched and even incoming volume from the water source. variable operation, then the treatment yy Membrane systems requiring fre- Non-contact storm water is classified system operations will be dramatically quent cleaning. as precipitation that does not come in impacted. This can lead to a wide range contact with process and chemical equip- of influent and effluent flows from each yy Trenches and sumps that require ad- ment. Types of non-contact storm waters of the systems. ditional water supply (usually supplied include building downspouts, roadway Overall plant operating scenarios are via hose) to keep them flowing. This is runoff, and areas external to berms/ generally not under the staff’s control. symptomatic of a bigger problem in the containments, among others. Minimal However, operation of different plant system as no sump is designed that way. treatment may be required to treat non- systems individually or in concert with contact storm water, depending on the one another are normally under the yy Smooth out water treatment system re-use opportunity. Contact wastewaters realm of plant control, and making small operations that may have become erratic come in contact with process equipment changes in this area can produce signifi- because of cycling plant operations. and chemical containment areas. They cant results when it comes to improving This may require the installation of ad- are sometimes required to be segregated the plant water picture. The plant cooling ditional equipment such as recirculation as part of plant discharge permits. These tower, if a wet cooling system is used, is lines for clarifiers to maintain flow and streams also may have opportunities for generally the best place to start since it water quality or tanks to provide buffer reuse within the power plant, but may is generally the largest user of water and storage capacity. require higher levels of treatment prior often the largest producer of wastewater to reuse, depending on their quality. in many power plants. Depending on plant overall water However, they should be characterized It may be worthwhile to investigate the picture and level of concern related and accounted for and the evaluation implementation of upgrades to a water to water and wastewater, there are of their potential should be included as supply treatment system, changes in other higher level operational changes part of the plant water management plan. cooling tower water chemical treatment that may be worth considering during Treatment and reuse may be more cost programs, or the addition of a cooling the evaluation process. Operational effective than treatment for discharge in tower side-stream treatment system changes such as landfilling gypsum the overall analysis, depending on the to improve cycles of concentration, instead of washing it to permit resale, plant’s overall wastewater restrictions. decrease supply water requirements, or changing fuel supplies to lower chlo- and minimize wastewater (blowdown) ride containing coals can significantly Identify Stakeholders generation. Just keep in mind that reduce wastewater volumes. Landfill- and Obtain Support increasing cycles of concentration ing gypsum eliminates a large volume Within any power plant, there are a wide impacts (usually negatively) the quality wastewater stream creating by washing variety of stakeholders who may have of cooling tower blowdown water and operations. Changing to a lower chloride a vested interest in development and cooling tower drift so be sure that those coal source, or upgrading the fuel gas implementation of a plant-wide water impacts are evaluated in the overall desulfurization (FGD) scrubber mate- management plan. These include plant cost-benefit analysis of any such deci- rials of construction could make sense operators, engineers, environmental sion making process. financially if the changes can reduce or staff, plant manager, maintenance staff, There are a host of other operational eliminate concerns with treatment and and many others who may be impacted changes that can have a positive impact disposal of purged wastewater. Changes by water-related issues and proposed on the overall plant water picture. In of this magnitude may not be on the changes. Gaining support and buy- many instances, troubleshooting and table today, but should be potentially in from all stakeholders is crucial to correcting situations where equipment long-term considerations if the plant is the success of any project. The goals

INDUSTRIAL WATER TREATMENTTM July/August 2014 21 should be developed in concert with all ment such as mobile demineralizers, to meet future sustainability or regula- stakeholders and any resulting changes RO systems, and filtration systems tory challenges. to plant operations or processes should may be employed to clean up and treat be agreed upon and evaluated from all flush and hydro waters for reuse. The References relevant perspectives. use of project sustainability metrics, 1. U.S. EPA. “EPA Finalizes Standards to Protect Even after operational changes are which analyze a project in terms of its Fish, Aquatic Life from Cooling Water In- implemented and/or new systems vulnerability to and resilience against takes”, http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress. installed, the process is still not finished. water-related changes such as future nsf/596e17d7cac720848525781f0043629e/f1 - 4b3341fbd63e8085257cdd006fb489!OpenDo Once these changes are begun, opera water supply availability, quality or cument (accessed May 19, 2014). tors must be trained to understand and cost, help with planning for the life of operate the plant in a new fashion. New 2. Layman, C. “Why Your Power Plant Needs a the plant and not just the current state. Water Management Plan”, Power, http://www. maintenance programs or schedules powermag.com/why-your-power-plant-needs- may be needed. Methods of monitoring Be Prepared a-water-management-plan/, accessed May 16, and analysis must also be established Looking forward, water-related chal- 2014 (published Nov. 1, 2013). to ensure that the plan is adhered to and lenges are likely to continue to grow 3. U.S. Geological Survey. The World’s Water. the plant staff does not fall back into old in importance for the electric power http://water.usgs.gov/edu/earthwherewater. habits. The plan must have management industry over the next decade and html (accessed May 16, 2014). buy in and support to ensure that it will beyond. Siting of new plants is already be maintained. The success of the plan constrained by access to water supply, Author Josh Prusakiewicz has 9 years should also be continually verified and especially quality freshwater sources. of experience in engineering design, adjustments made as necessary through Electric power is frequently assigned the construction, and consulting services for the use of routine inspections, monitoring lowest priority for water allocation after power generating facilities, with special and testing, and program audits. residential, commercial, industrial, and focus on water and wastewater systems. agricultural uses. With limited freshwater Currently, he is a chemical engineer for Project Considerations supplies and increasing demands, it is HDR, Inc., where he serves as lead/staff Sustainability or water conservation critical to examine options for reducing engineer and supports design projects, practices are becoming more and more anticipated demand within the electric industry studies, and acts as the owner’s important within power plants as both sector given its critical role in powering engineer for clients developing engineer- supply and discharge waters are receiv- the U.S. economy. ing/procurement/construction projects. ing attention from a regulations stand- Changing environmental regula- Mr. Prusakiewicz is an active partici- point. With this heightened scrutiny, tions are causing wastewater-related pant in the Electric Utilities Chemistry implementing sustainable practices challenges that the industry must also Workshop and the International Water within the plant is a must if water use contend with, further squeezing the Conference. optimization and/or discharge minimi- operational water “box” that a plant can Coauthor Colleen Layman has 20 years zation are plant goals. When selecting operate within. To address these growing of experience in the engineering design, major equipment for a new power plant concerns, power generating stations are construction, commissioning, and opera- project, low water consumer equipment forced to reexamine their plant's water tion of power generating facilities, with should be considered at the onset to footprint and assess how they can best special focus on water and wastewater minimize the plant’s water footprint. use their resources while balancing the systems. Currently, she is an associate vice If such considerations cannot be per- requirements of multiple new environ- president and water principal engineer for formed, design teams should look for mental regulations with economic and HDR, Inc., where she directs engineer- ways to optimize the major equipment operational priorities. ing and business development activities that could minimize supply needs and Proper planning will equal future focused on solving clients’ challenges wastewater generation. success. As new and/or updated water related to industrial water and wastewater Once equipment is selected, a water regulations and power market challenges management and treatment practices. She management plan for all project phases come down the pipeline, plants that are is an active member of several ASME com- should be developed, including con- prepared to tackle these challenges head- mittees, the Society of Women Engineers, struction and commissioning/startup on will come out ahead in the long run. and General Chair of the International phases. Chemical cleaning, flushing, Evaluating the current plant water and Water Conference for 2014. hydro-testing, and other plant commis- wastewater conditions, conducting sam- sioning activities require a significant pling and flow measurement programs, This paper was presented at the 34th Electric Utility amount of water and produce signifi- and assessing current wastewater treat- Chemistry Workshop, which was conducted June cant wastewater streams. Plans for use ment systems are key to development of 3-5, 2014 in Champaign, Ill. minimization and recycle/reuse, where a baseline and plan of attack for dealing practical, should be included in the with potential changes. Knowing exactly Key words: CONSERVATION, COOL- project water management plan that is where your plant’s starting point is and ING TOWERS, ENVIRONMENT, developed during the design phase of developing a solid data history is crucial FGD, POWER, REUSE, REVERSE the project. Rental treatment equip- to determining what you may need to do OSMOSIS, WASTEWATER

22 INDUSTRIAL WATER TREATMENTTM July/August 2014