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Revenge of the Mole People Brian Gongol DJ Gongol & Associates, Inc. April 18, 2019 Great Plains Waste Management Conferen...
A tale of two train stations
Above-ground
Below-ground
Which seems safer to you?
The only subway everyone likes The one politicians have to use in DC
We need light, air, and space to move around
Out of sight really is out of mind
Think of what we put below ground
Real consequences for public-works operators
25 reasons to stay above-grade
Reason 1: Maintenance access
Reason 2: Toxic gases
Reason 3: Falls
But seriously...
Reason 4: Electrocution
Reason 5: Drowning
Reason 6: Mice, rats, and vermin
Reason 7: Trespassers
Reason 8: Backup power options
What are those options?
Reason 9: Bypass options
Reason 10: Aesthetics
Reason 11: Expandability
Reason 12: Clog removal
Reason 13: Corrosive environments
Reason 14: Explosion risk
Reason 15: Lifting strain  Ladders, winches, hoists, cables, and chains  Even with assistance, there's still grabbing, p...
Reason 16: Snakes
Reason 17: Wet-pit corrosion
Reason 18: Motor replacement
Reason 19: Stringy solids management
Reason 20: Confined-space entry rules
Reason 21: Cockroaches and other insects
Reason 22: Sharps and biohazards
Reason 23: Insurance and liability risk
Reason 24: Workforce attraction/retention
Reason 25: Flood protection and resilience
All of these problems get worse with...  lone workers  inexperienced workers  poorly-trained workers  physical limitat...
Not everything can come up for air
Every application can be made 25 feet safer  Nature basically spots you 25' on every application  Atmospheric pressure: ...
What does "25 feet safer" look like?
Objectives Minimize:  Contact with hazards  Distance from surface  Time around danger  Risk of accidents  Routine exp...
How to hold back the mole people
Way 1: Put the valve vault above grade
Way 2: Replace a submersible with suction
Way 3: Partially recess the station floor
Way 4: Meet the water (more than) halfway
Way 5: Backfill a deep dry pit
Way 6: Convert dry pit into an extra wet well
Way 7: Pump in series for high discharge heads
Way 8: Let water find its own level
Way 9: Elevate a station above flood levels
Way 9: Elevate a station above flood levels
Way 10: Build a floodwall
Way 10: Build a floodwall
Stay out of the dungeon!  Questions?  Thank you for your attention!  This presentation can be found online at gongol.ne...
Sources  Landfill photo (public domain):  http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/or0288.photos.129991p/  Missile silo photo (...
Further reading  https://www.poison.org/articles/2010-jun/you-can- help-protect-the-water-supply  https://www.cdc.gov/he...
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Revenge of the Mole People - v.17

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25 reasons to keep people serving the public-works sector above-ground (or as close to it as possible), and 10 ways to help them do that by design

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Revenge of the Mole People - v.17

  1. 1. Revenge of the Mole People Brian Gongol DJ Gongol & Associates, Inc. April 18, 2019 Great Plains Waste Management Conference La Vista, Nebraska
  2. 2. A tale of two train stations
  3. 3. Above-ground
  4. 4. Below-ground
  5. 5. Which seems safer to you?
  6. 6. The only subway everyone likes The one politicians have to use in DC
  7. 7. We need light, air, and space to move around
  8. 8. Out of sight really is out of mind
  9. 9. Think of what we put below ground
  10. 10. Real consequences for public-works operators
  11. 11. 25 reasons to stay above-grade
  12. 12. Reason 1: Maintenance access
  13. 13. Reason 2: Toxic gases
  14. 14. Reason 3: Falls
  15. 15. But seriously...
  16. 16. Reason 4: Electrocution
  17. 17. Reason 5: Drowning
  18. 18. Reason 6: Mice, rats, and vermin
  19. 19. Reason 7: Trespassers
  20. 20. Reason 8: Backup power options
  21. 21. What are those options?
  22. 22. Reason 9: Bypass options
  23. 23. Reason 10: Aesthetics
  24. 24. Reason 11: Expandability
  25. 25. Reason 12: Clog removal
  26. 26. Reason 13: Corrosive environments
  27. 27. Reason 14: Explosion risk
  28. 28. Reason 15: Lifting strain  Ladders, winches, hoists, cables, and chains  Even with assistance, there's still grabbing, pulling, lifting  Loading, unloading, alignment, suspension  The less that has to be removed or moved, the better
  29. 29. Reason 16: Snakes
  30. 30. Reason 17: Wet-pit corrosion
  31. 31. Reason 18: Motor replacement
  32. 32. Reason 19: Stringy solids management
  33. 33. Reason 20: Confined-space entry rules
  34. 34. Reason 21: Cockroaches and other insects
  35. 35. Reason 22: Sharps and biohazards
  36. 36. Reason 23: Insurance and liability risk
  37. 37. Reason 24: Workforce attraction/retention
  38. 38. Reason 25: Flood protection and resilience
  39. 39. All of these problems get worse with...  lone workers  inexperienced workers  poorly-trained workers  physical limitations of age  tight budgets  deferred maintenance  competing priorities  neglect  lax oversight
  40. 40. Not everything can come up for air
  41. 41. Every application can be made 25 feet safer  Nature basically spots you 25' on every application  Atmospheric pressure: 33.9' at sea level Minus: Elevation adjustment Minus: 1' for vapor pressure Minus: 2' for safety factor Minus: NPSH required by the pump  Equals: Total dynamic suction lift available for use
  42. 42. What does "25 feet safer" look like?
  43. 43. Objectives Minimize:  Contact with hazards  Distance from surface  Time around danger  Risk of accidents  Routine exposure Maximize:  Intrinsic (built-in) safety  Safety monitoring  Hazard awareness  Visibility prior to contact  Options for decontamination  Space to move, work, react, and escape
  44. 44. How to hold back the mole people
  45. 45. Way 1: Put the valve vault above grade
  46. 46. Way 2: Replace a submersible with suction
  47. 47. Way 3: Partially recess the station floor
  48. 48. Way 4: Meet the water (more than) halfway
  49. 49. Way 5: Backfill a deep dry pit
  50. 50. Way 6: Convert dry pit into an extra wet well
  51. 51. Way 7: Pump in series for high discharge heads
  52. 52. Way 8: Let water find its own level
  53. 53. Way 9: Elevate a station above flood levels
  54. 54. Way 9: Elevate a station above flood levels
  55. 55. Way 10: Build a floodwall
  56. 56. Way 10: Build a floodwall
  57. 57. Stay out of the dungeon!  Questions?  Thank you for your attention!  This presentation can be found online at gongol.net/presentations  Brian Gongol DJ Gongol & Associates 515-223-4144 brian@gongol.net www.gongol.net @djgongol
  58. 58. Sources  Landfill photo (public domain):  http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/or0288.photos.129991p/  Missile silo photo (public domain):  http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/ca2577.photos.382458p/  Coal mine photo (public domain):  http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2015634229/  Gravedigger photo (public domain):  http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2017763548  Hazardous gases:  Carbon monoxide: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/281  Methane: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/methane  Hydrogen sulfide: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/402  ISO safety symbols:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_7010  Photo of striking workers (public domain):  http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/00649864/
  59. 59. Further reading  https://www.poison.org/articles/2010-jun/you-can- help-protect-the-water-supply  https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/global/sanitation/ workers_handlingwaste.html  https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/sewage-is- helping-cities-flush-out-the-opioid-crisis/

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