A CPE is a thorough evaluation of a surface water treatment plant or
wastewater treatment plant
that results in a prioritized list of design, maintenance, operations, and
administrative factors that
adversely affect plant performance. It is one part of the Composite
Correction Program
developed jointly by EPA and Process Applications, Inc. The major focus of
a CPE is to assess
the ability of treatment plants to meet goals that are consistent with
regulatory requirements and
optimized performance.
The TNRCC has established optimized performance goals for surface water treatment plants that include a maximum turbidity of 0.1 NTU in the effluent from each filter, a maximum turbidity spike of 0.3 NTU following filter backwash with a recovery to 0.1 NTU within 15 minutes, and a maximum turbidity of 2.0 NTU in the clarifier effluent. The purpose of these performance goals is to minimize the risk of waterborne pathogens in surface water supplied to approximately 70% of Texas citizens. Performance Standards for wastewater treatment plants are based on permit requirements and industry standards. CPE Team
CPE Costs Engitech offers a one-day course that helps a water plant prepare for optimization. The cost of this course is $1,000 plus travel expenses. A full CPE at a surface water plant or wastewater treatment facility is $5,000 plus travel expenses. Costs for large, multi-train plants may be increased by the complexity and extent of the evaluation process. |
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CPEs are conducted by teams of two-three trained professionals. Clark
Benson, the Engitech
team leader, is a Texas licensed professional engineer trained by the TNRCC
core team. He has
been a team member or trainer and has prepared the final report for many of
the CPEs completed
in Texas over the past two years. A CPE team spends three days at the plant
conducting the
kick-off meeting, plant tour, performance assessment, major unit process
evaluation, operation,
maintenance, and administration evaluation, and exit meeting. A final
report follows several
weeks after the conclusion of the on-site performance evaluation.