Retirement Planning for Wastewater Treatment Plants

Does your wastewater treatment plant have a retirement plan? Having a retirement plan is something most of us have for ourselves. But do you have a retirement plan to replace the major elements of your treatment plant?

Everything has a life expectancy. Water and wastewater treatment plants are no exception. Many treatment plants were constructed decades ago with major upgrades and additions being made more than twenty years ago. This means major components are aging and nearing their retirement.

Treatment plants generally have 5 major elements.

Equipment

Equipment is probably the first thing you think of when considering the aging elements of a treatment plant. These items require the most maintenance and are most often replaced. They also have a reasonably predictable life expectancy.

Advice - Keep a detailed inventory of equipment with associated maintenance and repair work. This provides a prioritized list of problematic equipment that needs to be replaced. If a piece of equipment has a 20-year design life and has been in service almost 40 years, plan on replacing it before it fails.  

Structures

Basins constructed of concrete, steel, fiberglass, or other materials all deteriorate over time. These large structures are typically the most expensive part of a plant.

Advice - Performing preventative maintenance is important to achieve the maximum useable life from these expensive structures. Budget for maintenance work and have the structures periodically evaluated. Fixing a small problem is generally less expensive than major renovations.

Piping

Underground, out of sight, and often forgotten, piping is a critical element in every plant. When flow stops going from A to B or ends up in C, it’s suddenly on your mind again.

Advice - Dedicate funds to monitor and replace lines. Cleaning and televising lines can help identify probable issues. Documenting and tracking past repair efforts can also help prioritize the replacement schedule.  

Electrical and Controls

Almost every process requires power to operate. Electrical systems have a life expectancy and can be difficult to replace. As plants become more sophisticated, the controls and technology become more complex and difficult to maintain.

Advice - As these items become outdated, replacement is typically required. Finding components becomes difficult the older the item becomes and some items cannot be integrated into new systems. Budget for major upgrades accordingly. Plan for process shutdowns.

Buildings and Roads

While these are not typically required for the treatment process to continue, these are still important elements that require maintenance and eventual replacement.

Advice - Buildings and roads should be included in routine maintenance planning and budgeting. Although these elements do not directly effect treatment processes, they promote safe working conditions.

Aging treatment plant inventory is a challenge most municipalities face. Looking ahead and planning to replace that aging inventory requires a knowledge of your inventory and prioritization of your budget. The “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” approach doesn’t work for critical elements that can’t be easily or quickly replaced. Have a plan in place and set funds aside to replace aging inventory.

If you need help, we can assist you in planning for treatment plant upgrades and maintenance. Contact me for more information. Jared.nichols@amce.com

Contact Jared for more information on Retirement Planning for Wastewater Treatment Plants!