Updated on February 21, 2020.
Current Updates and Development:
- The media washing machine team has identified the hopper on this machine was a bad option. The hopper only allowed them to load the machine when a backhoe or excavator was available. They have since removed the hopper and installed a conveyor belt. This allows them to simply shovel the amount needed at ground level and it is then carried into the media washing machine safely.
- In the past, the oyster shells were crushed before being washed. Recently, the team decided not to crush them and found this produces greater results and reduced the amount of waste generated. The team intends on monitoring this process to see how long the uncrushed shells will last. When the shells begin to fail, they then will crush and rewash the shells on the media washing machine. We look forward to seeing how much more life this new process can get out of the oyster shells as a treatment media.
- Prior to building the media washing machine, the team used two Splash Boxxes (large media treatment systems) that were installed with a lot of washed gravel. The gravel was washed in the back of a dirty dump truck which did not yield great results. Under the first few rain events, it was too turbid, so the team had to divert the runoff to sanitary sewer drainage that goes directly to the King County Wastewater Treatment Plans. Now that the media washing machine exists, the team will not have to go through that same process. They now have a better, more productive method when it is time to rewash the same gravel.
- The media washing machine is currently powered by a small, portable gasoline engine. The team is looking into installing an electric motor instead. The electric motor is a greener option compared to fuel and will help get to a more consistent washing speed. They are also exploring ideas on how to reuse the wash water that is generated. Two potential ideas include utilizing rain water to wash with or recycling the same water several times before disposal.
What’s next for innovation?
“We’re planning to form an innovation council across the Port to have a common place to compare notes, collaborate with one another, and leverage each other’s efforts. Through that we hope to better publicize the work done in terms of what innovation looks like and how we can engineer it across the Port. We have a lot of good things going on in the name of innovation and it’s really important because that is how we are going to overcome some of our greatest challenges and pursue some of our biggest opportunities as well.” – New Exec sponsor for the Port’s Innovation Awards, Dave McFadden
Originally published July 15, 2019
The Port celebrates over 100 years of history steering innovation in the Pacific Northwest and continues to find collaborative and creative ways to improve the landscape and create value for the region. The “Media Washing Machine” leads this example as the first winner of the 2019 semi-annual Innovation Award.
Western Washington has a reputation for rain. All that water falling on cities and roads, eventually makes its way as stormwater into streams, rivers, and Puget Sound. To increase the cleanliness of our regional waters, Washington has some of the most stringent water quality regulations in the U.S. The Port of Seattle strives to ensure stormwater runoff that travels through its properties into the Puget Sound meets or exceeds Washington standards. This presents unique environmental challenges and opportunities for innovative Port staff to experiment with stormwater management technologies.
In various ways, the Port has found success treating stormwater, and oyster shells have played an important role. Cleaned, crushed and contained in a catch-basin or rain barrel filtration system, the shells help remove metals and solids from stormwater before it reaches the Puget Sound.
Finding oyster shells pre-prepared for a treatment system was a challenge. Whole shells containing sand and rock sediment pose a problem. Untreated, the rock and sand from the shells could clog the treatment system. To prepare the oyster shells, staff needed to crush the shells using a backhoe and clean them by hand and hose, a practice that was time consuming and costly. With the increased use of oyster shells for stormwater treatment and difficulty acquiring clean shells, the opportunity for a better solution became more critical. Partners from across the Port’s Marine Maintenance team collaborated to develop a “Media Washing Machine.” This low-cost innovation exemplifies the Port’s efforts to be the greenest port in North America by using upcycled and scrap materials to fill a gap where a commercial product was costly or not readily available.
The “Media Washing Machine” streamlines and significantly increases efficiency of refreshing oyster shells, allowing shells to return to use quickly and to be refreshed several times before they lose their effectiveness. The machine reduced the tedious process of hand washing to an automated 30-second rinse cycle. The unit is also transportable across the Port to locations that contain an appropriate water source and discharge option, such as to sewer or Baker Tank, where it can efficiently clean other course media, such as rock or gravel used in stormwater treatment, such as Splash Boxx or rain gardens.
The Port continues to foster innovation with an upcoming Innovation Fair for employees this October. This four day event will bring staff together to spark new "revolutionary" and "evolutionary" ideas and provide access to resources to make those ideas come to life. Activities include presentations, workshops, and a "Shark Tank" style competition.
Recognition for the Q1/Q2 Innovation Award goes out to:
The project sponsor was Sandra Kilroy, Director Maritime Environmental & Sustainability. The team led by Scott Silcox, Marine Maintenance Compliance Program Manager in Marine Maintenance, also includes Srinivas Pendikatla, Utility Program Manager in Storm Water Utility; Vetle Strand, Plumber Crew Chief, Marine Maintenance; Corbin Purnhagen, Millwright Crew Chief, Marine Maintenance; Earl Todd, Auto Machinist CC, Marine Maintenance.
