PFAS Minimization at South Bend North WTP
Sponsor: Black & Veatch
Mentors: Mark Rackow, Hannah Beakas, Jack Beakas
Students: Lucas Brenninkmeyer, Enrique Guzman Cox, Vivian Fyda, Rolf Seh
Project Description:
The PFAS Minimization at the South Bend North Water Treatment Plant project seeks to remove PFAS contaminants found in the wells that supply water to the City of South Bend. After a formal data request, it was determined there was a presence of PFOS, PFOA, PFBS, PFNA,and PFHxS was found at the North plant with the highest contamination coming from Well 3. Additionally, there is a presence of iron and manganese in the water that is being treated at the plant. Possible treatment options were the use of granular activated carbon (GAC), anion exchange (AIX), FLUORO-SORB, and others. The North Plant poses a unique issue because it resides in a historical park. Due to this, there are certain construction and design constraints that require innovative use of the current space. Upon visiting the site, it was determined that the reservoir has excess capacity. Due to this, granular activated carbon vessels will be placed in half of the reservoir, leaving the other half to hold water.
Calumet Septic Tank Elimination Program (STEP) Lift Station and Force Main Design
Sponsor: American Structurepoint (Lift Station)
Mentors: Jim Czarnik, Shaiza Sajjad
Students: Nate McGlone, Julia Meitner, Callie Rogers, Flora Wang
Project Description:
The project targets the elimination of septic tanks in a community by implementing a sewer system. This is in service of residents in the area, as a government-regulated sewer system is safer for health and contamination purposes rather than relying on property owners to maintain their septic tanks. However, because this particular area is of lower elevation, the sewer system cannot rely on gravity drainage and requires a pumping system to transport wastewater to the sewer system connection.
The task given is to design and size a lift station for which the wastewater in the community will be discharged. This depends on factors such as population and the number of people who agree to connect to the sewer system. These estimates allow for calculations to be done on the flow conditions required to size the lift station. A force main, which is essentially a pressurized pump-pipe system, must also be designed to transport the collected wastewater to a higher elevation. The population data also allows for sizing of the force main in a cost-effective and efficient manner for ease of construction, access for maintenance, and avoiding disrupting the community during these processes.
County Line Landfill Modification
Sponsor: Weaver Consultants Group and Republic Services
Mentors: Jeff Neville (WCC) and Joe Benco and Megan Crowley (RS)
Students: Grace Combs, Theodore Doran, Sarah Oliva, and Julia Safford
Project Description:
The County Line Landfill, owned and operated by Republic Services, is submitting a Minor Modification Permit Application prepared by Weaver Consultants Group. The application requests approval for a vertical expansion and a revised synthetic turf final cover system. The proposed modification includes adjusting the permitted top-of-waste grades to increase overall site capacity by less than 500,000 cubic yards, consistent with the criteria for a minor modification. Students, acting as Weaver Consultants Group, will prepare revisions to the final grading plan to reflect the updated grades and cover design. The existing soil and topsoil cover layers, totaling approximately 8.5 feet, will be replaced with a geosynthetic artificial turf system designed to improve performance and long-term durability while reducing maintenance costs. A detailed cost comparison between the proposed synthetic turf system and the traditional soil cover will demonstrate the operational and economic advantages of the revised design.
In addition to grading and cover system updates, students will revise the stormwater management plan to incorporate updated stormwater runoff and volume calculations based on the new final grades and surface conditions. Supporting engineering analyses include updated HydroCAD and HELP model calculations, and modifications to the closure and post-closure care plans to ensure regulatory compliance and long-term performance. Plan-view drawings will be prepared in Civil 3D to illustrate the revised final grades, stormwater management features, and cover system configuration. These updates will be submitted jointly by Republic Services and Weaver Consultants Group as part of the County Line Landfill’s Minor Modification Permit Application for review and approval by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). All deliverables will be aligned with IDEM 329 IAC Article 10.
