Delivering a New Stormwater Treatment Facility in Long Beach, California 

Challenge

The City of Long Beach’s old drainage systems caused polluted water from a high concentration of debris and chemicals that exist on streets and roadway to flow into the Los Angeles River and nearby Pacific Ocean. To alleviate these issues, the City developed a new facility to treat the stormwater and use a portion to sustain vegetation in the adjacent and codeveloped wetlands. Initially, the facility will treat 2 million gallons per day (MGD) with the potential for future expansion to 4 MGD.

Solution

Using our Leading with Science® approach, Tetra Tech incorporated a modern process control system to ensure integration and connectivity with assets and the City’s existing infrastructure. The Purifics ceramic ultrafiltration (CUF) system removes heavy metals, while Photo-Cat provides further purification through photocatalytic processes. These advanced technologies contribute to achieving superior water cleanliness and quality.

We collaborated with the Long Beach Public Works Department and Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts to establish real-time monitoring that ensured safe and compliant operation. We also implemented an automated reporting system that generates comprehensive reports to track key plant operation metrics and data. These features enhance operational efficiency and provide stakeholders with valuable insights into the facility’s performance.

For operators, we implemented high-performance SCADA screens to monitor the efficient removal of debris and contaminants from stormwater. We incorporated a redundant InTouch SCADA system that provides real-time monitoring and control, ensuring reliable and continuous operation of the LB-MUST facility. We also integrated Siemens and Allen-Bradley programmable logic controllers to manage the treatment processes, allowing precise and accurate operations.