Hist and Proj Operating Receipts FY 2011 2 17 2010 - DC Water

modification to the permit reducing the total nitrogen effluent limit to 4.7 million pounds per year (equivalent to 4.2 mg/I at 370 mgd
average annual flow). The capital projects required for Blue Plains to achieve the new permit limit are included in the proposed
Capital Improvement Program. DC WASA has initiated final design of the Blue Plains Total Nitrogen Project. Construction for the
new projects, required for nitrogen removal and wet weather flow treatment, is scheduled to be completed in FY 2014 and FY 2018,
respectively.
The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) has lauded Blue Plains on several occasions for its efficient
wastewater treatment plant operations. Our work in this area is noted because of DC WASA's excellent record of compliance with
federal regulations - a result of optimized operations and maintenance practices. In addition, DC WASA has been, and will continue
to collaborate with a number of national and international research foundations, other wastewater treatment plant operators and
universities on wastewater and biosolids management research projects designed to answer operational questions and improve
existing or develop new processes. These collaborative projects allow DC WASA to expand its research capabilities and to foster
peer-reviewed research. This research also contributes to the development of the next generation of wastewater treatment engineers
and environmental scientists. An extensive discussion of our continuing research and partnerships is provided later in this document.
DC WASA's 2008 Biosolids Management Plan that was approved by the Board of Directors in December 2008 hinges on the
construction of the digestion facilities. The benefits of implementing the plan include producing a Class A biosolids product which
can be more widely disposed of and actually be developed into a marketable product; the carbon footprint of the existing lime
stabilization process will be reduced as there will be more than a 40-60% reduction in biosolids volume leaving the plant; and the
facility will produce an estimated 13 MW of power that can easily be utilized on site. Efforts in FY 2009 have focused on
incorporating new biosolids production numbers for up-coming unit process changes; finalizing the site layout and design criteria; and
determining the delivery method(s) of the biosolids management plan by early 2014. Specific objectives accomplished in FY 2009
include:
• Finalizing the delivery method and contracting mechanism for the Cambi thermal hydrolysis process
• Review and update of the project economics. Once the system is operating on biogas from the digesters, it is anticipated DC
WASA would save over $25 million per year compared to the existing lime stabilization system.
• A greenhouse gas study was conducted that evaluated the carbon footprint of DC WASA. This study showed the biosolids
management plan would significantly reduce DC WASA produced greenhouse gases.
Energy Management & Conservation Initiatives - Electricity continues to remain a major portion of the operating costs for DC
WASA. Budgeted at $29.3 million, or 11 percent of our $271.1 million revised FY 2010 operations and maintenance budget, this
fiscal year did yield some price softening due to national economic conditions and international energy commodity prices. The
expenditure for FY 2009 was $26.7 million as compared to $32.1 million for FY 2008. As the graph below depicts, electricity pricing
has shown its first decline since its continuous rise from 2005 to 2008. Our view is that the slight decline in electricity prices is
Budget Overview and Performance
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