The Benefits and Pitfalls of Automation, Alternate Test Procedures, and Extensive Cross Training for Production Gains in a Municipal Wastewater Laboratory
Changing the Paradigm for Water Pollution Monitoring
Oral Presentation
Prepared by , J. Shackelford, K. Thomas
Contact Information: [email protected]; 503-823-5568
ABSTRACT
The Benefits and Pitfalls of Automation, Alternate Test Procedures, and Extensive Cross Training for Production Gains in a Municipal Wastewater Laboratory
Platform Presentation
Session: Operational and Advocacy Issues
Prepared by J. Shackelford, K. Thomas, and C. Lytle
City of Portland (Oregon) Water Pollution Control Laboratory, 6543 N. Burlington Avenue, Portland, OR 97203
Contact Information: [email protected]; 503-823-5568
[email protected]; 503-823-5614
[email protected]; 503-823-9593
ABSTRACT
The City of Portland Water Pollution Control Laboratory (WPCL) is a mid-sized wastewater utility laboratory tasked with the analysis of water, wastewater, groundwater, soils, and biosolids for both general and National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) purposes. The laboratory also maintains intergovernmental agreements (IGA) and memoranda of understanding (MOU) with sixteen external governmental authorities and other City of Portland Bureaus. Over the past fifteen fiscal years, productivity has increased over 60% while maintaining the same number of personnel. This has been accomplished through automation, the use of twelve alternate test procedures for methods approved at 40 CFR 136, and extensive cross training of Analysts throughout four operational sections of the laboratory. Each of these tactics has potential for creating problems. Examples include lack of time for Analysts to take ownership of instruments, productivity enhancements limiting flexibility, and delays in the root cause/corrective action process. Others are more subtle and develop over time. Strategies for overcoming these difficulties will be discussed.
Changing the Paradigm for Water Pollution Monitoring
Oral Presentation
Prepared by , J. Shackelford, K. Thomas
Contact Information: [email protected]; 503-823-5568
ABSTRACT
The Benefits and Pitfalls of Automation, Alternate Test Procedures, and Extensive Cross Training for Production Gains in a Municipal Wastewater Laboratory
Platform Presentation
Session: Operational and Advocacy Issues
Prepared by J. Shackelford, K. Thomas, and C. Lytle
City of Portland (Oregon) Water Pollution Control Laboratory, 6543 N. Burlington Avenue, Portland, OR 97203
Contact Information: [email protected]; 503-823-5568
[email protected]; 503-823-5614
[email protected]; 503-823-9593
ABSTRACT
The City of Portland Water Pollution Control Laboratory (WPCL) is a mid-sized wastewater utility laboratory tasked with the analysis of water, wastewater, groundwater, soils, and biosolids for both general and National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) purposes. The laboratory also maintains intergovernmental agreements (IGA) and memoranda of understanding (MOU) with sixteen external governmental authorities and other City of Portland Bureaus. Over the past fifteen fiscal years, productivity has increased over 60% while maintaining the same number of personnel. This has been accomplished through automation, the use of twelve alternate test procedures for methods approved at 40 CFR 136, and extensive cross training of Analysts throughout four operational sections of the laboratory. Each of these tactics has potential for creating problems. Examples include lack of time for Analysts to take ownership of instruments, productivity enhancements limiting flexibility, and delays in the root cause/corrective action process. Others are more subtle and develop over time. Strategies for overcoming these difficulties will be discussed.
