2019 Rhode Island Annual Conference and Trade Show
Class Descriptions
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM - Concurrent Session
Classroom A: The Straight Flush
Credits seeking: 1.5 TCHs for Water
Flushing is a necessary yet often overlooked part of distribution maintenance. Determine the
frequency and duration for system flushing, and analyze the results when flushing is completed. Learn how to set
up and execute a flushing plan. Also discussed is what equipment and chemicals (if de-chlorinating) are necessary
and how to use them.
Instructors: Don VanVeldhuizen, Technical Training Manager, USABluebook
Classroom B: Introduction to Ion Exchange Water Softening
Credits seeking: 1.5 TCHs for Water
One of the most widespread methods of water treatment used in the United States is the water softening using ion exchange. This session will provide a brief description of water chemistry and hardness; the impact and implications of hardness relative to water quality, use, pipelines. The ion exchange process
and associated key design criteria for an ion exchange softener system is presented together with its critical operating considerations and unintended consequences. Examples of ion exchange softening systems will also be discussed.
Speaker: Robert Ferrari, P. E., President, Northeast Water Solutions, Inc.
Classroom C: Climate Change Impacts to Rhode Island Infrastructure
Credits seeking: 1.5 TCHs for Water & Wastewater
Climate change is causing extreme weather events. The operation and infrastructure of wastewater and water systems are being impacted and the issue of resiliency must be addressed sooner than later. It is imperative to plan and prepare for anticipated intense weather events and begin investing in short and long term improvements and upgrades now. Utilities need to recognize the need for rehabilitation of their infrastructure assets in order to control and operate in light of projected climate change risks. This training will provide an overview of climate change and its implications on Rhode Island’s infrastructure, discuss statewide resiliency efforts, and discuss options to improve resiliency to climate change impacts.
Speakers: William Patenaude, Principal Engineer, RIDEM Office of Water Resources & Shaun O’Rourke, Director, Stormwater and Resilience Chief Resilience Officer, RI Infrastructure Bank
Classroom A: The Straight Flush
Credits seeking: 1.5 TCHs for Water
Flushing is a necessary yet often overlooked part of distribution maintenance. Determine the
frequency and duration for system flushing, and analyze the results when flushing is completed. Learn how to set
up and execute a flushing plan. Also discussed is what equipment and chemicals (if de-chlorinating) are necessary
and how to use them.
Instructors: Don VanVeldhuizen, Technical Training Manager, USABluebook
Classroom B: Introduction to Ion Exchange Water Softening
Credits seeking: 1.5 TCHs for Water
One of the most widespread methods of water treatment used in the United States is the water softening using ion exchange. This session will provide a brief description of water chemistry and hardness; the impact and implications of hardness relative to water quality, use, pipelines. The ion exchange process
and associated key design criteria for an ion exchange softener system is presented together with its critical operating considerations and unintended consequences. Examples of ion exchange softening systems will also be discussed.
Speaker: Robert Ferrari, P. E., President, Northeast Water Solutions, Inc.
Classroom C: Climate Change Impacts to Rhode Island Infrastructure
Credits seeking: 1.5 TCHs for Water & Wastewater
Climate change is causing extreme weather events. The operation and infrastructure of wastewater and water systems are being impacted and the issue of resiliency must be addressed sooner than later. It is imperative to plan and prepare for anticipated intense weather events and begin investing in short and long term improvements and upgrades now. Utilities need to recognize the need for rehabilitation of their infrastructure assets in order to control and operate in light of projected climate change risks. This training will provide an overview of climate change and its implications on Rhode Island’s infrastructure, discuss statewide resiliency efforts, and discuss options to improve resiliency to climate change impacts.
Speakers: William Patenaude, Principal Engineer, RIDEM Office of Water Resources & Shaun O’Rourke, Director, Stormwater and Resilience Chief Resilience Officer, RI Infrastructure Bank
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM - Concurrent Session 2
Classroom A: RIDOH 2019 Regulatory Update
The RIDOH 2019 Regulatory Update presentation will give an overview of recent developments and areas of focus within the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Center for Drinking Water Quality. The presenter will share information on updated requirements for public water system communication protocols, emergency planning and response, and addressing pressure loss events.
Additionally Mr. Samuel Zwetchkenbaum, DDS, MPHDental Director, Oral Health Program Center for Preventive Services with the Division of Community Health & Equity at the Rhode Island Department of Health will briefly discuss the upcoming online training from the CDC Oral Health Division about Fluoridation.
Speaker: Melissa Orpen-Tuz, Capacity Development & Operator Certification Program Manager, RI Department of Health, Drinking Water Quality
Classroom B: Where Leak Detection meets Asset Management
Credits seeking: 1.0 TCH for Water
A water utility can’t afford NOT to take advantage of new technologies such as GIS software on a mobile devise. Field crews can document and transmit data not only on leaks found but also on other system conditions. A truly effective leak detection program should include the capture and integration of asset data. The
location and “As-Is” condition of discovered assets such as meter pits, lids or valves that weren’t on system maps or included in the GIS database can be documented at the same time a leak is being fixed. This session will review current technology and instrumentation, its uses and limitations, to use leak detection as a very effective gateway to support asset management objectives.
Speaker: Warren Verga, 360 Utility Solutions
Classroom C: Microplastics: A Contaminant of Emerging Concern in Drinking Water & Wastewater
Credits seeking: 1.0 TCH for Water & Wastewater
Microplastics (MPs), plastic fragments with a size less than 5 mm, can be found in cosmetics products, laundry washwater, tires. MPs are transported to freshwater, groundwater and marine environments through the effluent of wastewater treatment plants and stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces. This session will present the definition of MPs and discuss the research, corresponding methodologies and techniques used to analyze the MPs, that has been conducted in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and drinking water in the United States and worldwide. Topics such as MP removal technologies and possible regulation to reduce MPs contamination in the environment will be covered.
Speaker: Vinka Oyanedel-Craver, Associate Professor, University of RI, Civil & Environmental Engineering & Dounia Elkhativ, PhD Candidate University of Rhode Island, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Classroom A: RIDOH 2019 Regulatory Update
The RIDOH 2019 Regulatory Update presentation will give an overview of recent developments and areas of focus within the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Center for Drinking Water Quality. The presenter will share information on updated requirements for public water system communication protocols, emergency planning and response, and addressing pressure loss events.
Additionally Mr. Samuel Zwetchkenbaum, DDS, MPHDental Director, Oral Health Program Center for Preventive Services with the Division of Community Health & Equity at the Rhode Island Department of Health will briefly discuss the upcoming online training from the CDC Oral Health Division about Fluoridation.
Speaker: Melissa Orpen-Tuz, Capacity Development & Operator Certification Program Manager, RI Department of Health, Drinking Water Quality
Classroom B: Where Leak Detection meets Asset Management
Credits seeking: 1.0 TCH for Water
A water utility can’t afford NOT to take advantage of new technologies such as GIS software on a mobile devise. Field crews can document and transmit data not only on leaks found but also on other system conditions. A truly effective leak detection program should include the capture and integration of asset data. The
location and “As-Is” condition of discovered assets such as meter pits, lids or valves that weren’t on system maps or included in the GIS database can be documented at the same time a leak is being fixed. This session will review current technology and instrumentation, its uses and limitations, to use leak detection as a very effective gateway to support asset management objectives.
Speaker: Warren Verga, 360 Utility Solutions
Classroom C: Microplastics: A Contaminant of Emerging Concern in Drinking Water & Wastewater
Credits seeking: 1.0 TCH for Water & Wastewater
Microplastics (MPs), plastic fragments with a size less than 5 mm, can be found in cosmetics products, laundry washwater, tires. MPs are transported to freshwater, groundwater and marine environments through the effluent of wastewater treatment plants and stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces. This session will present the definition of MPs and discuss the research, corresponding methodologies and techniques used to analyze the MPs, that has been conducted in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and drinking water in the United States and worldwide. Topics such as MP removal technologies and possible regulation to reduce MPs contamination in the environment will be covered.
Speaker: Vinka Oyanedel-Craver, Associate Professor, University of RI, Civil & Environmental Engineering & Dounia Elkhativ, PhD Candidate University of Rhode Island, Civil & Environmental Engineering
1:45 PM - 3:15 PM - Concurrent Session 3
Classroom A: Partially Seasonal
Credits seeking: 1.5 TCH for Water
The Owner/Operator of a small public water system (PWS) will be presented with the information and tools needed to insure a sustainable and efficiently run PWS. The training session focuses on well and system disinfection, sampling, reporting and safety concerns.
Speaker: Brad Steere, Atlantic States Rural Water & Wastewater Association Water Quality Specialist/EPA Training Specialist
Classroom B: Water Distribution Management
Credits seeking: 1.5 TCH for Water
This presentation will help attendees better understand methods to reduce non-revenue water with practical and cost-effective water loss management by learning how to use water audits to identify and quantify Real Loss versus Assumed Loss. Implementing distribution system DMA’s and sub-metering to more efficiently localize areas of non-revenue water loss, using leak detection techniques to identify, localize, pinpoint and repair leaks quicker and more efficiently and understand how pressure relates to flow in a distribution system and how pressure regulation can all minimize water loss of existing leaks and prevent future leaks.
Instructors: Ryan Flynn, Technical Sales Consultant, 540 Technologies
Classroom C: Avoiding the OUCH!! Safety Enlightment
Credits seeking: 1.5 TCH for Water & Wastewater
Overview: Water/wastewater treatment has more hazards than most professions. It can be a biological, chemical, or physical associated danger in the workplace. This session covers those potential hazards, including confined spaces, mitigating hazards, personal protection equipment and more. Make your workplace a safer place to be.
Speaker: Don VanVeldhuizen, Technical Training Manager, USABluebook
Classroom A: Partially Seasonal
Credits seeking: 1.5 TCH for Water
The Owner/Operator of a small public water system (PWS) will be presented with the information and tools needed to insure a sustainable and efficiently run PWS. The training session focuses on well and system disinfection, sampling, reporting and safety concerns.
Speaker: Brad Steere, Atlantic States Rural Water & Wastewater Association Water Quality Specialist/EPA Training Specialist
Classroom B: Water Distribution Management
Credits seeking: 1.5 TCH for Water
This presentation will help attendees better understand methods to reduce non-revenue water with practical and cost-effective water loss management by learning how to use water audits to identify and quantify Real Loss versus Assumed Loss. Implementing distribution system DMA’s and sub-metering to more efficiently localize areas of non-revenue water loss, using leak detection techniques to identify, localize, pinpoint and repair leaks quicker and more efficiently and understand how pressure relates to flow in a distribution system and how pressure regulation can all minimize water loss of existing leaks and prevent future leaks.
Instructors: Ryan Flynn, Technical Sales Consultant, 540 Technologies
Classroom C: Avoiding the OUCH!! Safety Enlightment
Credits seeking: 1.5 TCH for Water & Wastewater
Overview: Water/wastewater treatment has more hazards than most professions. It can be a biological, chemical, or physical associated danger in the workplace. This session covers those potential hazards, including confined spaces, mitigating hazards, personal protection equipment and more. Make your workplace a safer place to be.
Speaker: Don VanVeldhuizen, Technical Training Manager, USABluebook
