Trussell Technologies provides safe and sustainable solutions in water, wastewater, reuse, and desalination for our customers and partners. Together, we take projects from concept through implementation using past experience, applied research and treatability expertise, proven regulatory insight, cutting-edge treatment system design, and real-world operational knowledge. Our reputable team uses innovation to deliver high-quality services that reduce project costs and improve reliability.
WATER REUSE
Water reuse is the practice of treating wastewater and reusing it for beneficial purposes. In the face of increasing water supply deficits and historic droughts, communities across the American West are implementing bold plans to maximize the use of recycled water. It is one of the most reliable and affordable sources of new water supply, but it presents new challenges as well: new infrastructure demands, water quality considerations, regulatory hurdles, and public education. California is a national leader in water reuse and is also home to the most developed and stringent regulations governing water reuse in the country.
For nearly two decades, Trussell has been involved in a multitude of water reuse projects throughout the state, providing innovative ideas to implement projects even when there isn’t always a clear path forward. Examples include designing advanced treatment systems to maximize pathogen log reduction credit (East County Advanced Water Purification Program), developing creative waste discharge permitting strategies (Pure Water Monterey), and guiding the City of San Diego as they become the first to implement surface water augmentation in California (San Diego Pure Water Program). Trussell’s understanding of California’s rigorous regulations has been an asset to recycled water projects, particularly those implementing potable reuse. Trussell has been intricately involved in the development of potable reuse regulations, from groundwater recharge and surface water augmentation to the new frontier: direct potable reuse. With our extensive involvement in the research that the regulations are being founded on, Trussell guides clients through the stages of developing a potable reuse project and navigating the regulatory complexity that often comes with them.
Trussell has been able to combine this unparalleled understanding of the California water reuse regulations with smart design solutions for a large and growing number of projects throughout the state. Whether a community is interested in expanding their non-potable reuse supply or they are looking to implement potable reuse, Trussell is a leader in developing treatment solutions for any recycled water application. The firm is experienced at navigating the complexities associated with water reuse projects, where even the first step of identifying and characterizing alternative source waters is not always straightforward. Trussell leverages decades of combined experience from its staff to develop the most effective treatment solutions for the application and guides the project through permitting hurdles associated with both the product water (public health considerations) and treatment waste residuals (environmental discharges). With expertise in both design and regulatory aspects of water reuse projects, Trussell is a leader in bringing California water reuse projects to fruition.
DRINKING WATER
Trussell’s founder, Dr. Rhodes Trussell, has been a respected leader in the water industry for decades. Through his leadership and expertise, the company has built a highly capable team of drinking water treatment experts. We have worked with municipal agencies at every level of treatment planning and implementation, from pilot testing and design to procurement, permitting, engineering services during construction, and facility process optimization. We understand what drives the successful implementation of projects in California, including optimum and tailored treatment assessment and selection, treatment process design, and a sound regulatory approach.
As drinking water regulations continue to evolve, Trussell follows the trends to ensure the latest information is applied as we assist our clients. More than ever, we are seeing the impacts of emerging contaminants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), on existing drinking water supplies as regulatory requirements become stricter. Trussell is a leader in developing innovative treatment solutions for PFAS and other emerging contaminants, allowing our clients to maintain access to their precious groundwater supplies. We are comfortable navigating the complex world of regulations and expertly bring projects through regulatory approvals with California’s Division of Drinking Water.
Trussell will work to implement the best available technology for your situation, which is determined by establishing a treatment approach that is both technologically and economically feasible. Trussell provides comprehensive services with the expertise to address a wide range of drinking water topics including:
- Regulatory and permitting assistance
- Feasibility studies and master plans
- Laboratory-, pilot-, field- and demonstration-scale treatment and optimization studies
- Laboratory-, pilot-, field- and demonstration-scale treatment and optimization studies
- Design of full-scale treatment facilities
- Source water quality assessments and watershed sanitary surveys
- Integration studies and corrosion mitigation assessments including pipe loop studies
- Operations and operator training
WASTEWATER
Trussell views all water as a resource, and wastewater is one of our most valuable resources. Furthermore, wastewater is the source water for water reuse applications. A well-designed and well-operated wastewater treatment plant is essential to a successful water reuse system that is cost-effective, operable, and protective of public health. When wastewater is not reclaimed for beneficial purposes such as reuse, its discharge must be protective of the environment and comply with stringent regulatory requirements. The biological treatment process is the “workhorse” of any wastewater treatment application, and Trussell takes great pride in supporting our clients to reliably produce an effluent with low nutrients, low turbidity, and low TOC to comply with regulatory requirements and/or enhance downstream advanced treatment performance.
Trussell plays a significant role in all aspects of wastewater treatment, including:
- Developing new designs – planning projects to develop the most efficient biological treatment alternative and evaluate what a facility can reliably achieve. Trussell uses advanced biological modeling tools combined with know-how and experience whether for a pilot study or a full-scale design.
- Optimizing existing designs – provide guidance on how a facility can best achieve their operating goals (i.e., cost savings, reliability, compliance) through modifications to operating procedures, upgrading instrumentation and controls, and improvements to equipment. Trussell has extensive experience working in wastewater treatment plants side-by-side with operators to understand and solve their challenges.
Trussell has both the biological treatment experts and certified wastewater operators with real-world experience to address today’s biggest wastewater challenges effectively and pragmatically.
DESALINATION
The extended periods of drought throughout California, coupled with population growth, have led communities to evaluate alternative water sources for their drinking water portfolios. Given the 840 miles of coastline that California has, seawater desalination has been one of the options considered by many communities. Although this technology provides the ability to tap into the limitless resource of ocean water, there are a number of challenges associated with it. Trussell has a strong background in navigating these hurdles—from treatment design considerations to regulatory and permitting challenges. Trussell leverages extensive experience from the drinking water industry and couples it with a strong background in designing and operating reverse osmosis (RO) systems.
Trussell has been involved with desalination projects from initial conceptualization through design and procurement contracting. The firm has navigated the permitting process as well—both for the product water side and for disposal of the RO concentrate created during treatment. Trussell has successfully developed monitoring plans to receive pathogen log reduction bin classification under the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, prepared Watershed Sanitary Surveys, and supported efforts to develop Environmental Impact Reports. Trussell has also provided in-depth assessments of RO concentrate water quality and evaluated potential impacts to discharge receiving waters to ensure that projects are compliant with environmental regulations.
In addition to this permitting and regulatory support, Trussell has assisted with the design of desalination treatment systems, bringing expertise in process design and optimization based on water quality assessments and treatability studies. When unique challenges arise, such as iron and manganese in the source water, Trussell has designed treatment systems that still meet or exceed product water goals. The firm has also considered impacts of introducing desalinated product water into the existing distribution system via benchtop and pipe loop studies. Results from this work have led to informed post-treatment stabilization strategies that minimize deleterious impacts on existing conveyance infrastructure and water quality delivered to consumers.
DESIGN & DELIVERY
Trussell combines its proven regulatory insight and unique operations experience with deep process expertise to design full-scale treatment facilities for wastewater, drinking water, and water reuse. From developing a conceptual design and taking it to detailed design for design-bid-build to alternative delivery projects, we deliver thoughtful, pragmatic, reliable, and flexible treatment facilities that work for our clients. Trussell often partners with other engineering firms and contractors to deliver a project, or we serve as the owner’s engineer to help our clients ensure they get what they want and need.
Trussell plays a significant role in all aspects of design and delivery, including:
- Water quality analysis
- Basis of design criteria
- Alternative technology evaluation
- Technology pre-selection and/or pre-procurement
- Process flow diagrams
- Piping and instrumentation diagrams
- Detailed process mechanical drawings
- Control strategies and narratives
- Equipment specifications
- Bid and contract documents
- Engineering services during construction
- Commissioning and startup
Trussell’s process design and delivery capabilities will take a project from concept to implementation and will provide a reliable and robust facility to address your water quality needs.
APPLIED RESEARCH
Whether it is bench-scale testing in our state-of-the-art Pasadena Lab or pilot-scale testing at our customer sites, Trussell is on the leading edge of solving water quality challenges through treatability testing. Treatability testing is an efficient, practical, and economic tool for evaluating treatment technologies, developing design criteria for full-scale systems, and troubleshooting/optimizing complex systems.
The Trussell Pasadena Lab is equipped for our experienced staff to perform the following services:
- Ozone testing
- UV collimated beam testing
- Chlorine testing
- Jar testing
- Rapid small scale column testing
- Simulated distribution testing and formation potential testing
- Bioassay analysis
- Organics analysis
- Microbial analysis
Trussell staff are also very experienced at supporting field testing via pilot-scale and demonstration-scale systems. From designing a pilot plant and test plan to selecting vendors and installation to commissioning and startup, Trussell will make the difference to ensure our clients get a higher return on investment.
REGULATORY & PERMITTING
Trussell is expertly versed in the regulatory frameworks for drinking water and waste discharges at the federal level and for the state of California. We guide clients through the regulatory and permitting process for a wide variety of projects. On the drinking water side, Trussell can support you from the beginning of a project—such as determining pathogen log reduction bin classification per the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule—through the complexities of introducing a new water supply into an existing distribution system and ensuring compliance with the revised Lead and Copper Rule. For existing facilities, Trussell can help you develop Watershed Sanitary Surveys and comprehensive monitoring plans that address all current and future regulations. Our permitting services can inform the selection of optimum treatment technologies for new treatment plants and facilitate compliance with regulatory requirements.
Considering the continuously evolving regulations governing water reuse in California, Trussell’s expertise is second-to-none. We have invested significant resources into leading research projects that investigate regulatory considerations for water reuse and treatment options for emerging contaminants on the forefront of the regulatory horizon. With this knowledge, Trussell successfully guides clients through every stage of the permitting process—from initial engagement with California’s Division of Drinking Water through the development of Engineering Reports and subsequent support during Waste Discharge Requirements/Water Recycling Requirements development. Trussell also leverages expertise in advanced treatment plant operations to develop Operations Optimization Plans, a requirement for potable reuse projects that represents the intersection of operations and permitting.
In addition to considering regulatory compliance of the product water, Trussell also has expertise when considering treatment waste residuals management. Waste discharges to surface water bodies or the Pacific Ocean must comply with environmental regulations. As potable reuse projects become more abundant in California, the commingled discharge of waste residuals from advanced treatment facilities, such as reverse osmosis concentrate, along with treated wastewater flows can bring new challenges for regulatory compliance. Trussell kept Monterey One Water’s Pure Water Monterey project moving forward by developing a novel NPDES permitting strategy that avoided costly treatment upgrades. Strategies such as this will likely become critical as more communities look to implement potable reuse projects.
OPERATIONS SUPPORT
Understanding the operations of drinking water, wastewater, and water reuse facilities is fundamental to supporting our clients. This is what makes Trussell truly unique in our industry – some of our best engineers are certified operators (three Grade V and two Grade III Wastewater Operators) with years of operating experience. Additionally, three of our certified Wastewater Operators have Advanced Water Treatment Operator certification. Even many of our best engineers who are not certified operators are experienced in the field as the Trussell culture encourages “hands-on” engagement for both our young and senior engineers. We can leverage our expertise and experience to support our customers beyond the design and engineering with operator training, commissioning and startup, troubleshooting, and optimization for both greenfield and brownfield sites. This is of particular importance for advanced treatment facilities for potable reuse where the technologies are less familiar, and the learning curve is steep. Trussell’s operational expertise and experience also makes our design and engineering better. We incorporate real-world lessons learned to minimize the potential disconnect between design and operations to ensure the delivery of thoughtfully-designed, reliable, efficient, maintainable, and safe treatment systems.
Trussell will support your operations team as follows:
- Operator training – Develop training classes and materials that are classroom-based, hands-on, recorded, or virtual and tailored to the specific facility and/or generalized toward AWTO certification. Trussell has successfully trained many operators across the state of California regarding advanced treatment technologies.
- Commissioning and startup – support commissioning and startup to ensure your facility is ready for long-term operation before handover. Trussell knows the importance of “getting it right” during startup to maximize long-term operational success.
- Operating Plans – develop operation plans including SOPs, maintenance schedules, process control descriptions, and regulatory compliance strategies. Trussell has developed many Operating Plans for advanced treatment facilities that are valuable resources for operators providing knowledge not readily obtained from vendor O&M manuals.
- Troubleshooting and optimization – ongoing support to troubleshoot equipment and optimize processes through data analysis to improve reliability, reduce costs, and ensure compliance. Trussell leverages its experience from across the state of California to bring practical experience, lessons learned, and the latest process advancements to your facility.
Trussell has the “real-world” operating experience, operator certification credentials, and expertise to support your operations staff.
CONTACT US
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