We plan and run startups from construction to full operation, so a new plant or process reaches stable, permit-compliant operation with operators who are ready on day one.
What we do
- Startup planning: startup plan input and final review, or a complete startup plan
- Commissioning: checking that new equipment and processes are installed and working as designed before the plant is handed over
- Functional and performance testing
- Clean and process water validation
- SCADA loop checks and control testing
- Alarm setpoints
- Startup assistance: hands-on help bringing a new plant or process up to stable, permit-compliant operation
- New-process operator training: training operators on a new process before and during startup, plus vendor training and staff onboarding
- Post-startup optimization: staying on after startup to optimize the new processes
Our startup and commissioning experience covers pump stations, headworks and grit, primary clarifiers, advanced secondary processes, membrane bioreactors, filters, secondary clarifiers, odor control, plant water, digesters, gas systems and dewatering.
Operations during construction
We bring the operator's point of view to a project while it is being built, so the plant is ready to run on the day it starts up, and field changes do not create problems for the people who will run the plant.
- Reviewing a project during construction for potential improvements
- Operational guidance for the owner and the contractor
- Project delivery direction for a contractor
Startups across the country
We have done startup and commissioning all over the country, from the mainland to Hawaii. Some of our startup work:
| Where | What we did |
|---|---|
| Oregon, plant upgrade | Startup plan input and onsite commissioning, plus an O&M manual and operator training. |
| Indiana, plant upgrade | Startup plan input and onsite commissioning, plus an O&M manual and operator training. |
| Washington, resort community SBR plant | Startup training for the SBR plant, and management of the O&M manual. |
| British Columbia, two regional plants | Startup training materials for the secondary treatment process, and QA/QC on the training materials for other unit processes. |
| Georgia, 44 MGD plant | Startup training materials for the activated sludge plant, as part of a team that evaluated training and staffing needs. |
| Hawaii, membrane and solids handling facilities | Operations startup and commissioning support, plus startup plan input and final review. |
| Hawaii, solids, digestion and gas systems | Operations startup and commissioning support for HRBC, DAF, solids handling, thermal hydrolysis, digester and gas systems, plus the O&M and training manual, training deck and digester operating workbook. |
| Hawaii, headworks, primary clarifiers, odor control and plant water | As a subcontractor to the contractor, we developed the startup plan and were responsible for the onsite commissioning phases. |
| Hawaii, military facilities | Startup and commissioning of a joint base effluent pump station, and of tertiary cloth media filters and a secondary clarifier at a Marine base. |
| Hawaii, National Park Service | Startup service on a unique stacked sequencing batch reactor (SBR) treatment plant. |
Before founding Wastewater Solutions, Inc., Brad Musick also led startup and commissioning on major wastewater projects as National Practice Leader for Operations Services at two national engineering firms, including vendor training, staff onboarding and post-startup optimization.
Free resources for startup crews: Activated Sludge Basics, process calculators and the Troubleshooting Center.
Talk with us about your plant
Planning a new plant, an upgrade or a new process? Bring us in early. Call 503-701-2766 or email help@ActivatedSludge.com.