Continuous State of Improvement
Water & Wastes Digest
January 2007
By Tim Gregorski
Alexandria Sanitation Authority completes multiple upgrades to wastewater facility, new designs set tone for future upgrades
Walk the Line
Water & Wastes Digest
September 2006
By Tim Gregorski
Standards and regulations expert J. Alan Roberson offers advice on rules affecting the water and wastewater industry
Overcoming Obstacles
Water Quality Products
August 2003
Wendi Hope King, WQP Staff
During the course of a year, this industry sees many changes in standards and regulations. Some of them create quite a challenge for water treatment dealers, but still there are others that offer great opportunity to the dealer who knows how to use them correctly.
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Bottled Water and the FDA Standards of Quality
Water Quality Products
June 2003
Kristin Safran and Barbara L. Marteney, National Testing Laboratories, Ltd.
Bottled water is classified as a food product and regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has regulations that dictate the contaminants for which bottled water must be tested along with the allowable limits for each (Standards of Quality--SOQs). This article will focus on the last item, the SOQs. The true driving force behind the addition of parameters to the FDA SOQs is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
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Chesapeake Seals the Deal
Water Engineering & Management
May 2003
Watertight Storm Sewer Group
The City of Chesapeake, Va. is located in the region called Hampton Roads, the 27th largest metro area in the country with more than 1.5 million residents. With an annual rainfall of approximately 48", its designers must contend with the prospects of determining where 294 billion gallons of water will go. A large share of this rainfall will find its way into the storm sewers. Last year, the City Council appropriated an extra $467,600 for contract cave-in repairs. The City of Chesapeake has recognized this problem and is developing a program to address it.
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George Warren Fuller, Industry Pioneer
Water Engineering & Management
May 2003
Bill Swichtenberg
The George Warren Fuller Award is presented annually to one member of each section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA). It is based on recommendations from the sections for distinguished service in the water supply field and "in commemoration of the sound engineering skill, the brilliant diplomatic talent and constructive leadership talent" that characterized Fuller's life.
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Bottled Water Testing
Water Quality Products
October 2002
Kristin Safran and Barbara L. Marteney, National Testing Laboratories
Consumers want to know if the bottled water they buy is safe. How and why bottled water is regulated is not common knowledge and can be confusing to customers. Bottlers who understand and can explain aspects of water quality, regulations and test results to their customers have a useful sales tool to promote their product.
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Monitoring Drinking Water Regulation Updates
Water Quality Products
August 2002
Carlyn Meyer, Water Quality Association
The Water Quality Association (WQA) and the point-of-use/point-of-entry (POU/POE) industry as a whole face the usual list of federal and state regulatory challenges in 2002-2003.
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Know Your Bottled Water Regulations
Water Quality Products
August 2002
Joseph K. Doss, International Bottled Water Association
The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) tracks and takes action on a number of relevant issues. The goal is to ensure fair and equitable treatment of bottled water companies and to help the industry continue to deliver safe, high-quality bottled water products to a thirsty consumer market. In 2001, IBWA was engaged on both the federal and state legislative fronts, working hard to represent the bottled water industry and seeking the adoption of sensible, effective laws and regulations.
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Concord, N.C. - A Proactive Approach to Beginning a CMOM-Based Program
Water Engineering & Management
August 2002
Ron Geiger, PE, and Todd Schuster
The federal government is in the process of establishing a CMOM philosophy for wastewater collection and treatment facilities that hinges on an aggressive, proactive approach, calling for utilities to act like investigative reporters rather than firefighters. Eventually, utility providers will have to follow federal CMOM guidelines, and states may establish similar guidelines.
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Arsenic in Drinking Water - Part 4
Water Engineering & Management
June 2002
John T. O’Connor, EngD, P.E.
Editor’s Note: Part 1 of this series provided a timeline for the development of a drinking water standard for arsenic. It also summarized the political and public reactions to the U.S. EPA decision to delay and withdraw the arsenic rule.
Part 2 dealt with human exposure and advances in knowledge concerning human health effects of exposure to arsenic.
Part 3 summarized early data on the occurrence of arsenic in U.S. waters.
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Arsenic in Drinking Water - Part 3
Water Engineering & Management
May 2002
John T. O’Connor, EngD, P.E.
Only recently has a substantial amount of data become available on the concentrations of arsenic in United States drinking water supplies. Most of these data have been accumulated by the state regulatory agencies responsible for monitoring drinking waters. Since the arsenic standard has been 50 µg/L, some state agencies have recorded arsenic concentrations only in excess of that concentration. Others have been limited by the sensitivity of the analytical techniques and equipment used for the arsenic analysis. As a result, much of the available arsenic data are “below the limits of detection.
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Arsenic in Drinking Water - Part 1
Water Engineering & Management
February 2002
John T. O’Connor, EngD, P.E.
The National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council (NAS-NRC) report was released on September 11, 2001. It concluded that the existing health effects data on arsenic essentially were sound. In addition, their review of three new epidemiological studies indicated that the health risks posed by arsenic in drinking water were greater than previously believed. As a result, in October, well before its self-imposed deadline, EPA rescinded its March implementation ban and endorsed the 10 µg/L arsenic MCL.
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Only Time Will Tell
Water Quality Products
January 2002
Multiple Authors
The unprecedented events of Sept. 11 and the recession that began hitting our nation at the beginning of 2001 created havoc in the business world. The water industry was no exception; it also saw its share of fluctuation. With such an unpredictable economy, we move into 2002. WQP asked industry professionals nationwide to comment on what the water industry may see in the upcoming year. Although these professionals share their outlooks for next year, only time will tell what lies ahead.
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POU Options for Arsenic
Water Quality Products
November 2001
The topic of arsenic has received a lot of press coverage this year, ever since the Bush administration halted the EPA’s newly issued maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 parts per billion (ppb). Since then, the MCL was reinstated back to 50 ppb and further discussions and studies have continued. This article will discuss some of these updates.
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Testing Bottled Water
Water Quality Products
September 2001
Barbara L. Marteney and Kristin Safran, National Testing Laboratories
One of the most important (and sometimes the most complex) area of the bottled water business is compliance with federal, state and industry regulations. As the EPA continues to evaluate contaminants in drinking water for regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the FDA must review these regulations for their suitability for bottled water.
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Water Tests Protect Customers from Guilty Parties
Water Quality Products
September 2001
Wendi Hope King, WQP Staff
Despite the regulations set for treatment plants, the general public will find itself focusing on the negative and seeking additional treatment from our industry. This spells opportunity for water treatment dealers to illustrate how their services can benefit the public.
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Volatile Organic Chemicals in Drinking Water
Water Quality Products
March 2001
Marianne R. Metzger and Tami E. Castelli, National Testing Laboratories, Ltd.
When addressing water treatment needs, the average person usually wants to remedy his water of items that cause laundry stains, unpleasant "egg-like" or musty odors and buildup on pipes and fixtures. While the contaminants that cause these problems certainly present legitimate reasons for treatment, it is the "silent" contaminants in our drinking water that cause the most problems with everyday health.
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Rethinking ANSI/NSF Standard 58
Water Quality Products
August 1996
Nancy Culotta
The Joint Committee voted to remove the arsenic reduction claim from Standard 58 until a new test method is developed.
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