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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-06-2003 - 9-b-1~~~r'~ r/b ~a3 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: May 6, 2003 Action Agenda Item No. 9-b 1 SUBJECT: Authorization to Contract with Innovative Designs for Analysis of Septic System Options at the Northern Human Services Center, Cedar Grove DEPARTMENT: Purchasing and Central Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Innovative Design Proposal System Operational Information INFORMATION CONTACT: Pam Jones (919) 245-2652 Dave Stancil (919) 245-2590 Ron Holdway (919) 245-2360 Paul Thames (919) 245-2300 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider authorizing the Manager to contract with Innovative Design to conduct an analysis of alternative septic options at the Northern Human Services Center (NHSC) for an amount not to exceed $3,630 in preparation for submission of a grant to the NC Energy Office BACKGROUND: As the Board is aware, a task force lead by Commissioners Brown and Halkiotis have met for two years to explore various development options for the Northern Human Services Center (NHSC). The limited septic system at the facility was the primary obstacle to allowing greater use of the building. In an item later in this agenda, the Board will consider acquiring land by which to expand the system thereby allowing greater programming latitude at the facility. Although staff has proposed a conventional septic system, an interesting alternative to this system was presented during a recent discussion involving Commissioners Brown and Halkiotis and Mike Nicklas, the President of Innovative Design architectural firm. Mr. Nicklas' firm is afront-runner in specifying environmentally sustainable systems in buildings that they design as demonstrated by their work in several North Carolina schools with which the Board may be familiar. The system that Mr. Nicklas has proposed is essentially amini-eco system that treats the waste rather than sending it into a septic tank. Although any wastewater treatment system proposed for the NHSC would require bidding, the system Mr. Nicklas has referred to us as a point of reference for operation is called the Living Machine. Information explaining the operation of the system from the company's website at www.livingmachines.com is attached for your information. Based on discussion among Commissioners Brown and Halkiotis and Mr. Nicklas, he has identified several potential areas where sustainable design could be used at the NHSC. As you will see from the attached proposal, they include the classifications of Energy, Water and Green Products and Systems, with various subsections of potential projects under each. However, the focus for immediate consideration is the item designated under Water as Task W3. It is our understanding that potential • ® ^ ^ nnovat~ve e si n 850 W. Morgan Street Raleigh, NC 27603 919-832-6303 Fax 919-832-3339 Apri127, 2003 Pamela Jones Director of Purchasing and Central Services Orange County 132 E. King Street Hillsborough, NC 27278 Ms. Jones: I look forward to the opportunity to work with Orange County on such a challenging as well as exciting project. The sustainable goals put forth by your commissioners, for the old Cedar Grove School, are wonderful. I would be very proud to be a part of making them come true. I thank you for the opportunity. The following presents a proposed list of optional strategies which Harshad Podia (with Podia Consulting) and myself feel are opportunities which should be analyzed. Depending upon your budget for this initial work, you could decide upon the level of effort desired. In our very tentative review, we have also tried to place these option in order in terms of relative potential benefit (both energy dollar savings and environmental impact). We have also identified a fee associated with each item that would allow us to analyze the particular item in relationship to the overall project. To complete the following work we will, from an energy perspective, require that the current building be input into a total building energy simulation program. To accomplish this analysis we use the best program available -DOE II. To additionally simulate any of the daylighting options, we use a program called DAYLITE which allows us to simulate the daylighting contribution at numerous points within each individual room, all day long, 365 days a year. To determine the actual projected lighting and cooling savings, this DAYLITE program output is, in turn, input into DOE II, which accounts for the savings occurring from the particular daylighting option in relationship to the other building dynamics. To calculate the rainwater savings we will utilize a program developed by Innovative Design, specifically designed for optimizing the size and design of rainwater catchment systems. The proposed analysis will determine, for each measure, the energy savings (in dollars as well as btus), C02 savings, and nitrogen savings. This will be compazed to the projected cost of each measure. Living Machines. Inc. ~ The Living Machine® I uvwo ~a+wl~, ItNIC. Iron TFiI! IPI.AIlT ~ C+~i! RT+IlOiEli ~ MlE ARE CUIhIIRNT{N tJNOER CONSTRUCTION.,. The six-step process of ~~ ~~~ ~~~H~~E~~ the Living Machine® is n G outlined here in order. Living adj. -exhibiting the life or motion of nature. Machine noun - an assemblage of parts that transmit forces, motion, and energy one to another in a predetermined manner. "Unlike anything bom of the Industrial Revolution, Living Machines~l have the potential to organize, repair and reproduce themselves. They offer a cheaper, cleaner, chemical-free alternative for containing and removing high-strength waste." - Blake Edgar, Pacific Discovery Magazine. Inspired by ecosystems as old as the earth itself, Living Machines® naturally treat wastewater to reuse quality. Living Machines® accelerate nature's own water purification process. Unlike chemically based systems, Living Machines® incorporate helpful bacteria, plants, snails and fish that thrive by breaking down and digesting organic pollutants. Wastewater treatment takes place through a series of differently managed environments, a diversity of organisms that eat the waste in the water. Living Machines, Inc. designs each Living Machine to meet each individual client's needs and requirements. Living Machines® typically treat wastewater with six different steps (reactors) or ecologies. A typical Living Machine®treats wastewater to advanced or tertiary standards listed below. Wastewater Characteristics Units Effluent Average BOD mg/L <10 Average TSS mg/L <10 Total Nitrogen mg/L <5 Oil and Grease mg/L <1 Home I Living Machines, Inc. For The Planet I Case Studies /1 pMpMIsM~, e.c, 9 http://www.livingmachines.com/htm/machine.htm 5/6/2003 Open Aerobic Reactor in the South Burlington Living Machine®. Living Technologies ~ How It Works 000000 HOW IT WORKS ~~ o Anaerobic Reactor Wastewater flows from a client's facility into a basic anaerobic reactor, much like a septic tank but with features designed to enhance treatment. Without heating or mixing, this reactor acts as a primary sedimentation basin. Solids settle and anaerobic bacteria, which live without oxygen, feed on solids and wastes in the liquids. The anaerobic reactor is usually buried below grade. It is covered and gases produced are passed through an activated carbon filter when necessary to control odor. Home I Living Machines. Inc I Living Machines® For The Planet. I Case Studies I How They Work I News Contact I Form I Glossary I Resources & References /~~ lisp NsMnn, 4nc. ~~ /d http://www.livingmachines.com/htm/how_works/step l .htm 5/6/2003 hiving Technologies ~ How It Works 000000 HOW IT WORKS amount of oxygen is introduced to the environment and the reactor is slightly mixed to enhance the growth of microorganisms that convert nitrogen to nitrogen gas. The reactor is mixed and has controlled aeration to keep the contents in the anoxic and prevent anaerobic conditions. The gas space over the reactor is vented through an odor control device, usually a planted biofilter. Settled biosolids from the clarifier (step__ 5) are recycled back into the reactor along with nitrified process water from the final open aerobic reactor (step 4). Attached growth medium is placed in the compartment. This medium gives the bacteria and microorganisms a place to attach themselves. This reactor is designed to 'select' for the growth of floc- forming microorganisms to remove a significant portion of the incomino BOD. Home I Livn~_Machnes Inc.. I Living fylachine__s® For_The_Pla_net (Case Studies ~ H_o__w__They Work I News Contact I Form I Glossary I Resources & References r1 p~MkiN~t.. Mc. ~~ r // http://www.livingmachines.com/htm/how_works/step2.htm 5/6/2003 Living Technologies ~ How It Works 000000 HOW IT WORKS ~ ~ t ~ ~ - . o Clased Aerobic Reactor The closed aerobic reactor is the first fully aerobic reactor in the Living Machine. Aerators in the bottom of the tanks bubble air throughout the tank, keeping everything mixed and providing oxygen for our waste-eating microorganisms. Gases from the closed aerobic tank are captured and passed through a biofilter that traps and degrades the odors. Generally, this biofilter sits directly over a portion of the reactor and is planted with appropriate vegetation to help control moisture levels in the filter material. This reactor removes a large fraction of the BOD remaining in the wastewater, it is where odorous gases are striped and the nitrification process begins, i.e., converts Kjeldahl nitrogen foroanic plus ammonia nitrogen) to nitrate. Dome I Living_Machines~ Inc. l Li_v_ing Machines® For The Planet I Case Studies I How They_Work I News Contact ~ Form I Glossary I Resources & References i~1 u,r~ wua~, ate. ~~. http://www.livingmachines.com/htm/how_works/step3.htm ~~ i~ 5/6/2003 Diving Technologies ~ How It Works 000000 HOW IT WORKS -~-~ ~ ~ ~ a The open aerobic reactors represent the 'aerobic' portion of the Living Machine. The surfaces of these reactors are covered with vegetation supported by racks. The roots of the vegetation provide surfaces for the growth of attached microbial populations that assist in the wastewater treatment. The plants serve as habitat for beneficial insects and organisms that graze on microbial biomass. The plants used to cover the open aerobic reactors include tropical and sub-tropical species that have been tested and found effective in treating wastewater as well as providing an optimal habitat for the rest of the ecology. These planted reactors are beautiful and make the Living Machine feel like a botanic garden. Open aerobic reactors and 'polishing' reactors (step 6) set Living Machines® apart from all other wastewater treatment systems. These reactors reduce BOD to secondary levels and complete the nitrification process. The size and number of these reactors are determined by the required BOD reduction; and design water and air temperatures. Removable fine membrane air diffusers keep the contents completely mixed. Home I Living Machines. Inc. I Living Machines® For The Planet I Case Studies I How They_ Work I News Contact I Form I Glossary I Resources & References P., .e i,. ~-.b_ _ „ /3 http://www.livingmachines.com/htm/how_works/step4.htm 5/6/2003 Living Technologies ~ How It Works 000000 HOW IT WORKS In the claritier, the microbial communities, and any remaining solids, are separated from the treated water. Calm, non-aerated, water allows the remaining biological solids to settle, then those solids are pumped back to the closed aerobic reactor (step 3) where they are broken down and metabolized further or are wasted to a holding vessel and removed for disposal. To achieve zero discharge, a reed bed is added to compost the solids settled out of the wastewater in the clarifier. The solids composted in a reed bed are removed every five to ten years (depending on the size of the bed and the amount of solids being treated) and often are used as a beneficial soil amendment for gardeners. The green surface you see in the clarifier is duck weed and/or frog bit. This vegetation shades out the sun and keeps algae from growing in the reactor. Home I Living Machines _InC.. I Living_Mach_ines® For The Planet I Case Studies I How They Work I News Contact I Form I Glossary I Resources & References •~~ uwo~rw.r, rc, ~.1' } /~ http://www.livingmachines.com/htm/how_works/step5.htm 5/6/2003 Isiving Technologies ~ How It Works 000000 HOW IT WORKS roilsntng Tllters ao the tmal 'cleansing' of the wastewater. In these reactors wastewater is circulated through a combination of different habitats that are home to diverse communities of organisms which remove organic material and nutrients. One to three polishing filters in a series are used to reduce BOD, TSS and other parameters to meet the final discharge requirements. Provisions are made to back flush the medium periodically to remove excess biological growth. When the wastewater is discharged from the polishing filters. it is suitable for reuse or for disposal into surface waters or a reduced-area subsurface disposal system. Reuse options include landscape irrigation, toilet flushing and vehicle washing. Home I Living Machines,_I_nc. I Living Machine_s_® For The Planet I Case Studies I How They. Work I News Contact I Form I Glossary I Resources & References ~~ a~ww~a, erc. /s http://www.livingmachines.com/htm/how_works/step6.htm 5/6/2003