Presentation: Biologists Spring into Action

Wastewater processing is a big issue –75 Million gallons per day big- for the San Francisco PUC. Every single gallon must get treated and released. What happens when permitted and un-permitted wastewater discharges occur? How will people be notified? How quickly can biologists investigate, beaches get posted and us, the public, get notified? Biologists get very quick notifications and have detailed information they need 24/7/365 because Max Chung and the Waste Water Engineers designed a multi-level alarming system. When PI AF detects a collection system discharge, our biologists receive a text message on their smart phone which ensures that they are notified of a critical incident. A detailed PI System email message with exact descriptions of the issue is included in the message sent to their smart phone. The biologists then coordinate responses while they are off-site without needing a laptop or visiting the plant. The result is a much quicker beach posting and sampling of collection division discharges into receiving waters. The business impact is keeping people safe. Responding quickly to a waste water discharge, which occur during severe weather conditions when repair crews are stressed, is valuable. This paper illustrates the tremendously positive impact the PI System has on public safety and consumer confidence in government and technology.