25 reasons to keep people serving the public-works sector above-ground (or as close to it as possible), and 10 ways to help them do that by design

1. Revenge of the Mole People
Brian Gongol
DJ Gongol & Associates, Inc.
April 18, 2019
Great Plains Waste Management Conference
La Vista, Nebraska

2. A tale of two train stations

3. Above-ground

4. Below-ground

5. Which seems safer to you?

6. The only subway everyone likes
The one politicians have to use in DC

7. We need light, air, and space to move around

8. Out of sight really is out of mind

9. Think of what we put below ground

10. Real consequences for public-works operators

11. 25 reasons to stay above-grade

12. Reason 1: Maintenance access

13. Reason 2: Toxic gases

14. Reason 3: Falls

15. But seriously...

16. Reason 4: Electrocution

17. Reason 5: Drowning

18. Reason 6: Mice, rats, and vermin

19. Reason 7: Trespassers

20. Reason 8: Backup power options

21. What are those options?

22. Reason 9: Bypass options

23. Reason 10: Aesthetics

24. Reason 11: Expandability

25. Reason 12: Clog removal

26. Reason 13: Corrosive environments

27. Reason 14: Explosion risk

28. Reason 15: Lifting strain
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Ladders, winches, hoists, cables, and chains
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Even with assistance, there's still grabbing, pulling, lifting
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Loading, unloading, alignment, suspension
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The less that has to be removed or moved, the better

29. Reason 16: Snakes

30. Reason 17: Wet-pit corrosion

31. Reason 18: Motor replacement

32. Reason 19: Stringy solids management

33. Reason 20: Confined-space entry rules

34. Reason 21: Cockroaches and other insects

35. Reason 22: Sharps and biohazards

36. Reason 23: Insurance and liability risk

37. Reason 24: Workforce attraction/retention

38. Reason 25: Flood protection and resilience

39. All of these problems get worse with...
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lone workers
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inexperienced workers
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poorly-trained workers
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physical limitations of age
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tight budgets
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deferred maintenance
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competing priorities
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neglect
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lax oversight

40. Not everything can come up for air

41. Every application can be made 25 feet safer
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Nature basically spots you 25' on every application
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Atmospheric pressure: 33.9' at sea level
Minus: Elevation adjustment
Minus: 1' for vapor pressure
Minus: 2' for safety factor
Minus: NPSH required by the pump
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Equals: Total dynamic suction lift available for use

42. What does "25 feet safer" look like?

43. Objectives
Minimize:
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Contact with hazards
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Distance from surface
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Time around danger
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Risk of accidents
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Routine exposure
Maximize:
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Intrinsic (built-in) safety
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Safety monitoring
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Hazard awareness
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Visibility prior to contact
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Options for
decontamination
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Space to move, work,
react, and escape

44. How to hold back the mole people

45. Way 1: Put the valve vault above grade

46. Way 2: Replace a submersible with suction

47. Way 3: Partially recess the station floor

48. Way 4: Meet the water (more than) halfway

49. Way 5: Backfill a deep dry pit

50. Way 6: Convert dry pit into an extra wet well

51. Way 7: Pump in series for high discharge heads

52. Way 8: Let water find its own level

53. Way 9: Elevate a station above flood levels

54. Way 9: Elevate a station above flood levels

55. Way 10: Build a floodwall

56. Way 10: Build a floodwall

57. Stay out of the dungeon!

Questions?

Thank you for your
attention!

This presentation can be
found online at
gongol.net/presentations

Brian Gongol
DJ Gongol & Associates
515-223-4144
brian@gongol.net
www.gongol.net
@djgongol

58. Sources
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Landfill photo (public domain):
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http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/or0288.photos.129991p/
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Missile silo photo (public domain):
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http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/ca2577.photos.382458p/
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Coal mine photo (public domain):
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http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2015634229/
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Gravedigger photo (public domain):
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http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2017763548
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Hazardous gases:
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Carbon monoxide: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/281
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Methane: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/methane
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Hydrogen sulfide: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/402
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ISO safety symbols:
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_7010
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Photo of striking workers (public domain):
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http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/00649864/

59. Further reading
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https://www.poison.org/articles/2010-jun/you-can-
help-protect-the-water-supply
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https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/global/sanitation/
workers_handlingwaste.html

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/sewage-is-
helping-cities-flush-out-the-opioid-crisis/