Lesson Four

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Indiana Water Operator Training
Lesson Four
2
Indiana Water Operator Training
Indiana Department of Environmental Management
Indiana Rural Water Association
American Water Works Association
3
Lesson Four DSL Operators

• DSL systems and operators
• Distribution system booster pumps
• Backflow prevention
• Storage tank maintenance
• System security

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Classification of water distribution systems and
water treatment plants
Distribution systems
DSL Class DSL (distribution system large)
includes systems that meet one (1) of the
following (A) Serve a population greater than or
equal to ten thousand one (10,001) people,
or more (B) Consist of the following (i) Storage
tanks (ii) Booster pumps to the distribution
system (iii) Mechanical devices for movement of
water beyond storage
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Classification of water system operators
Water operator certification qualifications
DSL Grade DSL is a certified operator qualified
to operate a Class DSS, DSM, and DSL water
distribution system after having fulfilled the
following requirements (A) Possess a high school
diploma or its equivalent (B) Meet the
qualifications of the certification rule (C) Must
be able to (i) maintain inventories (ii) order
supplies and equipment (iii) interpret chemical
and bacteriological sample reports
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Classification of water system operators
Water operator certification qualifications
DSL (continued from previous slide) (D) Attain
one (1) of the following acceptable work
experience requirements (i) One (1) year
in the operation of a Class DSL water
distribution system (ii) Three (3) years in the
operation of a Class DSM water distribution
system (iii) Five (5) years in the operation of a
Class DSS water distribution system (iv) An
acceptable number of years of experience approved
by the Commissioner if gained in operation
of a combination of the various
classifications of water distribution systems
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Classification of water system operators
Water operator certification qualifications
Operator-in-Training (OIT) Grade
Operator-in-Training (OIT) is available under the
following guidelines (1) to a person meeting the
following (A) Currently employed at a public
water system with facilities classified as
a Class WT 3, Class WT 4 or Class WT 5 water
treatment plant or a DSL water distribution
system (B) has fulfilled the qualifications of
the certification rule
8

Classification of water system operators
Water operator certification qualifications
Operator-in-Training (OIT) (continued from
previous slide) (2) In accordance with the
following (A) Until the OIT meets the experience
requirement needed for the classification
of treatment plant or distribution system where
the OIT is accumulating work experience (B)
Operating work must be accomplished under the
supervision of a certified
operator-in-responsible-charge who must verify to
the Commissioner the satisfactory
achievement of acceptable experience by the
OIT
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Classification of water system operators
Water operator certification qualifications
Operator-in-Training (OIT) (continued from
previous slide) (C) An OIT may not (i) serve as
a certified operator in responsible charge (ii)
transfer an OIT certification to a water
treatment plant or distribution system with
a public water system identification number
(PWSID) different than the PWSID for which the
certification was issued (iii) hold two (2)
treatment plant or distribution system OIT
certifications concurrently or (iv) renew the
OIT certification
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Distribution system booster pumps
Two types of systems

• Open
• Water pumped to higher pressure zoneopened to
  atmosphere
• Closed
• Water pumped to higher pressure zoneclosed to
  atmosphere

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Distribution system booster pumps
Atmospheric vent
Open System
Zone 2 customers
Pump
400 x .433
Zone 1 customers
173 PSI
12
Distribution system booster pumps
Closed System

• Example A

Zone 2 customers
Pump
Zone 1 customers
13
Distribution system booster pumps
Closed System over-pressurization pump damage
avoidance
Pressure reducing valve
Zone 2 customers
Pump
Return line
Zone 1 customers
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Backflow prevention

• Backflow is an unwanted reversal of flow
• Backpressure backflow
• downstream pressure increases, or
• upstream pressure drops
• Backsiphonage backflow
• negative (vacuum or partial vacuum) pressure

15
Backflow prevention

• Lets review
• A cross connection is any actual or potential
  connection between a public water supply and a
  source of contamination or pollution

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Backflow prevention Backsiphonage backflow
example
Top of Hill
Water main
Bottom of hill
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Backflow prevention Backpressure backflow
example
Water Supply
Customers
City water 50 psi

• Factory withcooling water system
• Maintenance worker turnswrong valve
• Cooling water makeup pump 70 psi

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Backflow prevention Control (prevention) devices

• Air gap 2 times pipe diameter - 1 minimum best
  protection available
• Reduced pressure principle (RP) backpressure and
  backsiphonage
• Pressure vacuum breaker (PVB) backsiphonage
• Atmospheric vacuum breaker (AVB)
  backsiphonage
• Double check valve assembly (DC) for non-health
  endangering substances

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Backflow prevention Air gap
2 timespipediameterair gap1 minimum
Coolingwater orotherprocesstank
Public water supply
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Backflow prevention RP device
Photo courtesy Watts
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Backflow prevention PVB device
Photo courtesy backflow-supply.com
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Backflow prevention AVB device
Photo courtesy backflow-supply.com
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Backflow prevention DC device
Photo courtesy Watts
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Storage tank maintenance 30-35 different types
of tanks

• Most popular are
• Welded standpipe
• Concrete standpipe
• Concrete ground level
• Legged
• Pedestal

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Storage tank maintenance Welded standpipe
Photo courtesy USA Tank Storage Systems
26
Storage tank maintenance Concrete standpipe
Photo courtesy Natgun
27
Storage tank maintenance Concrete ground level
Photo courtesy Natgun
28
Storage tank maintenance Legged
Photo courtesy Smith Group Consulting, LLC
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Storage tank maintenance Pedestal
Photo courtesy Gerald Tank Steel, Inc.
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Storage tank maintenance

• Safety first
• Thwart vandals
• Inspection
• Exterior
• Interior
• Cathodic protection
• Altitude valves
• Snubbers
• Isolation valves
• Vent
• Overflow pipe
• Antenna systems

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Storage tank maintenance Safety

• Stay off your tank, if you dont know what youre
  doing
• A good superintendent can be harder to
  replacethan an engineer or tank inspector
• Not all safety belts are safe for tank work
• A 6 foot fall can break your back with awaist
  belt and rope
• Always use the proper climbing equipment
• Full harness
• Rail-mounted belt

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Storage tank maintenance Vandals

• Keep them off your tank
• Fences
• Ladder gates
• Good locks
• Fool them

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Storage tank maintenance Exterior Inspection

• Check foundations for cracking, spalling,exposed
  reinforcing metal or settling
• Keep vegetation away from foundations
• Trim limbs that may scratch surfaces
• Rust stains may indicate leaks
• Inspect vent and overflow screens forholes or
  debris
• Check for signs of overflow
• Check for signs of unauthorized entry
• Look for loose bolts/nuts
• Check for paint flaking
• Look for rotation/turning of columns/tower

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Storage tank maintenance Interior Inspection

• What to look for
• Interior roof condition
• Corrosion
• Leaks
• Silt depth
• Cathodic protection system condition
• When to inspect?
• Ideally annually
• Realistically every 5 years

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Storage tank maintenance Interior Inspection
(continued)

• Best method- Dry
• Tank taken out of service
• Includes cleaning
• Wastes a lot of water
• Greatest potential for personal injury
• Allows for the most thorough inspection
• Most expensive
• It is a pain to drain, for when you dry
  inspect,you must disinfect

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Storage tank maintenance Interior Inspection
(continued)

• Good method Wet Diver
• Tank taken out of service
• Does not include cleaning
• No wasted water
• Less potential for personal injury
• Not as thorough of inspection as dry method
• Less expensive than dry method
• Some sanitary concerns (more perceived than
  actual)

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Storage tank maintenance Interior Inspection
(continued)

• OK method Wet Remotely-Operated Vehicle (ROV)
• Tank remains in-service
• Does not include cleaning
• No wasted water
• Least potential for personal injury
• Least thorough inspection method
• Cheapest method
• Few sanitary concerns

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Storage tank maintenance Cathodic protection

• Corrosion occurs in water tanks due to electrical
  currentflow between dissimilar materials
• Metal from the inside of the water tank flows
  into thewater because of the impurities in the
  water
• If a sacrificial piece of metal is placed into
  the water,and a reverse current is applied,
  metal flows from theanode instead of the inside
  of the tank
• Remember cathodic protection is not a
  substitutefor a properly-painted (coated) tank
  interior
• Cathodic protection only helps with the metal in
  contactwith the water not the interior roof and
  upper sides

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Storage tank maintenance Cathodic protection
(continued)

• Keep current/voltage at recommended
  settings(check monthly)
• At 1.2 volts and higher, hydrogen may start to
  formand interior coatings will start to fail
• Replace anodes annually or as recommendedby the
  manufacturer

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Storage tank maintenance Cathodic protection
(continued)
Gently tap on the meter faceto make sure the
needle is not stuckwhen checking current/voltage
Tip of the day
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Storage tank maintenance Altitude valves

• One-way or two-way control
• Very little maintenance
• Usually fails due to debris orplugged snubber

Photo curtsey fluidcontrol.com
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Storage tank maintenance Snubbers

• Snubbers are small fittingsthat restrict flows,
  preventingrapid pressure changes
• Snubbers help prevent waterhammer damage to
  gauges
• Snubbers help altitude valvesoperate smoothly
• No required maintenance
• When gauges or altitude valvesexhibit erratic
  behavior,check the snubber first

Photo credit unknown
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Storage tank maintenance Isolation valves

• Water tank isolation valves are critical to your
  system
• You cannot take a tank off line (or put it back
  on line)if the isolation valves do not work
• Just like people, valves need exercising

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Storage tank maintenance Vents
Atmospheric vent
Tank

• Keep ventsopen
• Keep screensclear

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Storage tank maintenance Overflow pipes

• Keep pipe open
• Keep screen clean
• Maintain spillway

• Ponding can cause cross connection

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Storage tank maintenance Antenna systems

• Leasing antenna space easy (sometimes)
• Cell phone and PCS - 5K to 20K annually
• Public safety, amateur radio, etc. - 1 annually
• Always have a lease agreement
• Never accept the radio systems standard
  agreement
• Always employ a qualified engineer to review
  plansand inspect construction
• Never allow cables to interfere with climbing
  andsafety systems
• Ask yourself
• Can I repaint the tank and keep theradio system
  operational?
• Who will remove the system when it is obsolete?

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System security

• Vulnerability assessment
• Eliminate or mediate vulnerabilities
• Emergency response

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System security Vulnerability assessment

• Identify vulnerabilities
• Doors
• Windows
• Hatches
• Located in remote area

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• System security
• Eliminate or mediate vulnerabilities

• Identify vulnerabilities
• Doors
• Windows
• Hatches
• Located in remote area

• Mediation
• Install locks use them
• Lock and/or bar
• Install locks use them
• Police patrols
• Fences
• Alarms
• Lighting
• Ask neighbors to watch(Adopt-a-facility)

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• System security
• Eliminate or mediate vulnerabilities (continued)

Idea of the day
Few vandalism problems Install your own
lights High vandalism Rent lights from from
the electric company
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• System security
• Eliminate or mediate vulnerabilities (continued)

Remember the 3 Ds

• Deter
• Detect
• Delay

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System security Emergency response
Who you gonna call?
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System security Emergency response (continued)
Who you gonna call?

• 911 or local numbers for fire and police
• IDEM
• Local health department
• Critical users
• Your boss
• Political leaders
• Nearby water systems
• Laboratories
• Contractors
• Chemical suppliers
• Parts/equipment suppliers
• Local media
• Insurance agent

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System security Emergency response (continued)
What are you gonna do?

• Plan ahead
• Be prepared
• Remember
• Protect people first
• Protect property second

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Ok, there is a light at the end of the
tunnel. Were about done. Are there any
questions?
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Lesson Four DSL Operators
Self Graded Examination
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Lesson Four DSL Operators
Self Graded Examination
10 Minutes
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Lesson Four DSL Operators
Self Graded Examination
5 Minutes
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Lesson Four DSL Operators
Self Graded Examination
Times Up
OK
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Lesson Four DSL Operators
Answers
X

• Open
• Water pumped to higher pressure zoneopened to
  atmosphere
• Closed
• Water pumped to higher pressure zoneclosed to
  atmosphere

61
Lesson Four DSL Operators
Answers
X

• Backflow is an unwanted reversal of flow
• Backpressure backflow
• downstream pressure increases, or
• upstream pressure drops
• Backsiphonage backflow
• negative (vacuum or partial vacuum) pressure

62
Lesson Four DSL Operators
Answers
X

• Air gap 2 times pipe diameter - 1 minimum best
  protection available
• Reduced pressure principle (RP) backpressure and
  backsiphonage
• Pressure vacuum breaker (PVB) backsiphonageAtmos
  pheric vacuum breaker (AVB) backsiphonage
• Double check valve assembly (DC) for non-health
  endangering substances

63
Lesson Four DSL Operators
Answers
X

• Stay off your tank, if you dont know what youre
  doing
• A good superintendent can be harder to
  replacethan an engineer or tank inspector
• Not all safety belts are safe for tank work
• A 6 foot fall can break your back with awaist
  belt and rope
• Always use the proper climbing equipment
• Full harness
• Rail-mounted belt

64
Lesson Four DSL Operators
Answers
X

• Best method- Dry
• Tank taken out of service
• Includes cleaning
• Wastes a lot of water
• Greatest potential for personal injury
• Allows for the most thorough inspection
• Most expensive
• It is a pain to drain, for when you dry
  inspect,you must disinfect

65
Lesson Four DSL Operators
Answers
X

• Corrosion occurs in water tanks due to electrical
  current flow between dissimilar materials
• Metal from the inside of the water tank flows
  into the water because of the impurities in the
  water

66
Lesson Four DSL Operators
Answers
X

• Snubbers are small fittingsthat restrict flows,
  preventingrapid pressure changes
• Snubbers help prevent waterhammer damage to
  gauges
• Snubbers help altitude valvesoperate smoothly

67
Lesson Four DSL Operators
Answers
X
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Lesson Four DSL Operators
Answers
X
69
Lesson Four DSL Operators
Answers
X

• Deter
• Detect
• Delay

70
Thank you for your participation

• Are there any other questions or comments?
• Please turn in your
• Self-graded examinations
• Training course evaluation forms
• Continuing education credit reports

71
Indiana Water Operator Training
Indiana Department of Environmental Management
Indiana Rural Water Association
American Water Works Association
72
Contact Information
Instructor For additional information
concerning this water operatortraining course,
please contact Indiana Rural Water
Association Odetta Cadwell, Executive
Director 317-402-7349