An Active Solution
Water & Wastes Digest
March 2008
By John F. Masters & Jeffrey D. Bergman
Energy savings & harmonic mitigation in the water and wastewater industry
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Scrubbing Out Odor
Water & Wastes Digest
January 2008
By Mike Hoover
Packaged scrubber system fills odor control needs in a Michigan town
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Blanket of Protection
Water & Wastes Digest
February 2007
By Michael Munninger and Dale Keller
Tonto-Apache Tribe first in Southwest to deploy sludge system at water recycling facility
A Light in the Dark
Water & Wastes Digest
November 2006
By Jeff Helfer
Sensors become first line of defense against pump station vibration problems
WEFTEC.06 Heads to Dallas
Water & Wastes Digest
August 2006
By Jessica Moorman
The Water Environment Federation’s 79th Annual Technical Exhibition & Conference is set for Oct. 21 to 25, 2006
Pumps on Cruise Control
Water & Wastes Digest
July 2006
By Ken Schmanski
Teamwork and technology unite to provide a successful retrofit pumping system.
Maximum Energy Efficiency
Water & Wastes Digest
July 2006
By Stephen B. Austin
Well-conceived Energy Action Plans can mean significant savings in cost and energy use
Maxwell on Water
Water & Wastes Digest
May 2006
By Steve Maxwell
As major water industry assets continue to change hands, the competitive situation in the water industry has become very complicated
Protecting Historic Charm
Water & Wastes Digest
May 2006
By Ian Page
Historic village of Dundee, Mich., upgrades MBR and aerobic digestion system to ensure problem-free treatment
Deconstructing Pumps
Water & Wastes Digest
April 2006
By Tim Gregorski
Douglas J. Bingler, president of water technologies for Goulds Pumps/ITT Industries, shares his perspective on pump-related issues in the water/wastewater industry with WWD
Water/Wastewater Utilities—Business Planning
Water & Wastes Digest
December 2005
By Mike Freeman, Chris Fabian and Stefanie Mosteller
Small and mid-sized utilities must understand business strategy, organization, management, finance, technology and operations
Reassessing Water Security
Water & Wastes Digest
September 2005
By Jessica Moorman
Beyond the hype, how will security regulations and upgrades translate into an everyday routine for water utility personnel?
Blown Out of the Wastewater
Water & Wastes Digest
September 2005
By Jon Zabrocki, P.E. and Paul Larson, P.E.
By precisely controlling pressure in the air header and modulating airflow to each aeration zone to maintain set point DO levels, the energy usage is minimized through efficient operation.
Set it & Forget it
Water & Wastes Digest
August 2005
By Bob Elliott
Keeping the environment clean is a top priority for the authority. Wastewater is processed biologically, with none of the chemicals that are typically used, and achieves complete nitrogen removal. Specifically, the process removes CBOD, suspended solids, ammonia as nitrogen, nitrates, nitrites and phosphorus.
In a League of its Own
Water & Wastes Digest
July 2005
07/05/05
The design and aesthetic features of the plant are what overcame any NIMBY objections,” Nespeca said.
In Control & Beyond Expectations
Water & Wastes Digest
July 2005
By William F. Verona and Robert Rumelfanger
“This system has been operating beyond expectations,” commented Philip D’Angelo of JoDAN, “The treated water is well within the compliance limits mandated by the utility’s discharge limits, at only a fraction of the cost previously observed.
Industry Insider: Improving the Industry
Water & Wastes Digest
May 2005
Involved in numerous water quality and wastewater projects, James Clark a vice president and senior project manager at Black & Veatch, envisions what it takes for our industry to continue to be effective
Time Saved Testing Pays Off
Water & Wastes Digest
May 2005
By Adam Potter
Many wastewater plants are switching from fecal coliforms to monitoring for E. coli and Enterococcus, because the EPA has identified these bacteria as the best indicators of fecal contamination in water.
Electronic Scale Prevention
Water & Wastes Digest
April 2005
By Richard W. Lee
City of Las Vegas wastewater recycling facility uses advanced technology to eliminate mineral scale fouling without chemicals or maintenance
Ten Practices of Highly Effective Water Utilities
Water & Wastes Digest
December 2004
By Janice A Beecher
The concept of continuous improvement complements the idea of developing a water systems’ capabilities over time to ensure safe and reliable water service.
Providing a One-Two Punch
Water & Wastes Digest
September 2004
Lianna Mah
The Oakville plant treats 109 million liters per day of water from Lake Ontario.
Securing the Nation’s Wastewater Infrastructure
Water & Wastes Digest
September 2004
By Denise Covelli
The nation’s wastewater infrastructure is one of America’s most valuable assets, and several industry groups are working hard to safeguard it.
Water/Wastewater Utilities Implement, Enhance System Security
Water & Wastes Digest
April 2004
By Jan Gerston
The mission of any security system is to detect, delay and respond to destructive action. Destructive action to a water system can range from vandalism, such as graffiti, to cyber sabotage all the way to a full-fledged terrorist attack on a major treatment plant.
A Surprise Coating Solution
Water & Wastes Digest
January 2004
Lake H. Barrett, Jr.
In 1937, a one square mile parcel of land on U.S. Route 60 in Maricopa County near Surprise, Ariz., was little more than a gas station and a few small houses. In 2003, the population was expected to top 65,000. The original wastewater treatment plant had to be expanded, not once but twice.
Peace of Mind
Water & Wastes Digest
October 2003
Frank Kaiser
Under the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act, all emergency response plans, at a minimum, should include plans, procedures, and identification of equipment that can be implemented or used in the event of an intentional attack on a water treatment system. One fast-testing method for evaluating water pollution is Severn Trent Services' Eclox Rapid Response Water Test Kit, which uses chemiluminescence, which is used to measure the amount of light generated when a water sample is combined with reagents.
Be Prepared
Water Engineering & Management
October 2001
Bill Swichtenberg
While nothing is really safe from terrorists, the water/wastewater industry has been studying these issues to prevent such actions.
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VSP Approach to Improve Customer Service
Water Engineering & Management
September 2001
The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC WASA) has entered a Vertical Service Provider (VSP) partnership with ORCOM to replace its current water billing system.
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Have You Seen Your e-Business Plan Yet?
Water Engineering & Management
September 2001
Melanie Rettie and Mo Rousso
A well-developed e-Business strategy will help implement fast, flexible and cost-effective business practices, propelling your utility to maximum revenue/profits.
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New Water Meter Thrives in Harsh Environment
Water & Wastes Digest
July 2001
The Nevada desert: grit, dust, blazing hot sun by day and ground frosts by night. Just the place to stake out a water meter in an open pit and see how long it can last. That is what happened to a new SmartMeter -- with some revealing results.
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From Dams to Beans
Water Engineering & Management
July 2001
Bill Swichtenberg
The Milagro Beanfield War by John Treadwell Nichols and later a movie directed by Robert Redford is a humorous look at a fictional little town in New Mexico. The main character (Joe Mondragon), a lifelong no good, troublemaking resident of Milagro, starts the "war" by irrigating his father’s old beanfield against the wishes of the rich developer and water rights owner.
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Billing as an Outsource
Water Engineering & Management
May 2001
Larry Myers
Natural gas deregulation in Georgia showed marketers the value of outsourcing their billing. This same lesson was learned years earlier by the telecommunications industry. When deregulation for the telecommunications industry became effective, companies quickly realized the need to focus on their core businesses if they wanted to stay competitive. Outsourcing became a sensible way to increase efficiency and cut costs in areas inconsistent with the core business. The smart businesses opted to do what they do best and leave the rest to the experts. These opportunities also are available to the water and wastewater industry.
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Allocating Capital Risk
Water Engineering & Management
May 2001
Dan Elias, Esq.
Shifting municipal responsibilities from the public to private sector may sound like a good idea in today’s competitive market, but without a fair and balanced relationship, privatized utilities are destined to fail.
Funding Sources
Water Engineering & Management
April 2001
Bill Swichtenberg
SRFs or WWIFAs where will the money for today’s water infrastructure come from?
New Cartridge-type D.O. Sensor Saves Time, Money
Water & Wastes Digest
April 2001
By Jim Klauer
To address the inherent measurement problems of electrode contamination, electrolyte depletion, and membrane coating, GLI International, Inc. has introduced a dissolved oxygen sensor featuring a replaceable membrane cartridge.
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March 2001 Editor’s Desk
Water Engineering & Management
March 2001
Bill Swichtenberg
Living in the Midwest and being a "winter hater," I decided to get away to play some golf a couple of weeks ago. The Sunshine State of Florida sounded like the perfect prescription for my winter blues.
Tide Rising for U.S. Water Stocks
Water Engineering & Management
March 2001
Robert Anfuso
While the WaterInvestments.com Water Industry Index (WIWI)* showed only a fractional gain of 1 percent for the 12-month cycle ending January 2, 2001, the month of December proved to be a bounce-back period for water stocks as the WIWI rose nearly 9 percent.
Riding the Tides to Information Integration and Improved Performance
Water Engineering & Management
March 2001
Paul Borzo
San Diego Water has taken a giant technological leap forward. It has gone from a 15-year-old monitoring system operating with tone telemetry on leased lines to a state-of-the-art supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system that integrates numerous technology systems throughout the enterprise.
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Unique Dewatering Method Minimizes Handling
Water & Wastes Digest
February 2001
Edited by WWD staff
Throughout the 70s and 80s, a dramatic evolution took place in the area of environmental regulations. In the midst of these rapidly changing government mandates, numerous technological advancements were made, as business and industry raced to keep in compliance. One such technology was "dewatering."
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Meet the New Boss
Water Engineering & Management
February 2001
Bill Swichtenberg
With the election finally being over, President-elect George W. Bush has named New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman to head the Environmental Protection Agency (pending Senate approval).
Privatize Without a Contract
Water Engineering & Management
February 2001
Don Renner
The manner in which your plant performs its function and operation as well as the physical appearance of the plant and personnel often are perceived differently by the public and administrative leaders of the community than by the operating personnel.
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May Presented First SGC/WWEMA Humanitarian Award
Water Quality Products
January 2001
WQP Staff
Larry May, executive vice president of USFilter’s Distribution Group in Thomasville, Ga., was awarded the first Scranton Gillette Communications (SGC)/Water and Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association (WWEMA) Humanitarian Award.
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Ammonia, Nitrate and Phosphate: Not Just for Effluent Monitoring
Water & Wastes Digest
January 2001
Many wastewater facilities have limits on the levels of ammonia, nitrate, and/or phosphate allowed in their discharges. These limits are getting more stringent at more facilities every year. As these limits are lowered, periodic sampling may not be sufficient to determine that the plant is truly in compliance, or operating as intended.
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New SCADA System Reduces Downtime at Omaha Utility
Water & Wastes Digest
January 2001
Like all municipalities, the agency responsible for the distribution of natural gas and water throughout the metropolitan area of Omaha, Nebraska – the Metropolitan Utilities District (MUD) – needed a SCADA system that is user-friendly and failsafe.
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Concrete Reclaim System Efficiently Recycles Slurry Water In California
Water & Wastes Digest
January 2001
Harbor Ready Mix has brought into operation a prototype concrete reclamation system that not only recycles the sand and gravel from returned concrete but also the cementious solids and water. The operational merits of the system are applicable to all batch plants that need a cost-effective method to recycle returned concrete without prohibitive investment in new infrastructure.
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At Work on Flow Measuring Devices
Water Engineering & Management
January 2001
In the past, a pitot tube meter was used to profile the pipe and measure the flow at the two points. The valuable time required by divers to accomplish flow profiling on the gulf sea floor and less than satisfactory results led to a search for a better flowmeter.
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An Overview of Ozone in Water, Wastewater Treatment
Water & Wastes Digest
November 2000
There are more than 2,000 installations worldwide that use ozone to treat drinking water. Ozone is an effective disinfectant for treating municipal and industrial wastewater, enabling the end user to meet EPA pre-treatment standards.
Surge Suppression Protects Utility Authority
Water Engineering & Management
September 2000
With its 34 water wells and 280 sewage lift stations, the Escambia County Utility Authority (ECUA) in Pensacola, Fla., is the largest water provider and wastewater manager for a population of about 85,000 in the Florida Panhandle. It also is extremely prone to lightning strikes.
Optimizing the Water Business Enterprise
Water Engineering & Management
September 2000
Terrance M. Brueck and Paul G. Cassidy
A value chain approach to running a water business can break down organizational barriers to improve performance throughout the enterprise.
To Maintain Or Not to Maintain
Water Engineering & Management
June 2000
Don Renner
There is little question that the majority of water/wastewater equipment requires some sort of periodic routine maintenance. The reason for maintenance is simply that replacements are costly and each piece of equipment has a rather long life expectancy.
Tablet Chlorination Systems Allow Plants to Meet Stricter Government/Insurance Regulations
Water Engineering & Management
May 2000
The Fort Valley municipal water plant had used chlorine gas cylinders for many years. A pair of one-ton cylinders were in operation at the wastewater plant and 150-lb. cylinders at the McLeon and Jones water plants. However, new government and insurance regulations forced management to reevaluate its chlorination strategy.
Biosolids or Sludge? The Semantics of Terminology
Water Engineering & Management
April 2000
Izrail S. Turovskiy, D.Sc.
Knowing how to "speak the speak" is important in any industry. However, definitions must be clearly defined and used identically. This article will discuss the definitions of such wastewater terms as biosolids, sludge, thickening, conditioning, dewatering and stabilization. It seems that some terms have not been clarified enough between specialists, causing confusion in the terminology.
Water Resources Management in Grand Turk - Part 2
Water Engineering & Management
April 2000
Fernando Pérez Monteagudo and María Fernandez Miquel
The first part of this article traced water resources development, its quality and the demand in Grand Turk. It appeared in the March issue.
Water Resources Management in Grand Turk - Part 1
Water Engineering & Management
March 2000
By Fernando PÚrez Monteagudo and Marâa Fernandez Miquel
The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) are located 575 miles southeast of Miami and 100 miles north of Hispaniola. The capital, Cockburn Town, is on Grand Turk Island. These islands are expected to experience a real estate and tourism boom1 and water will be a limiting factor in this expected development.
New Actuator Offers Safe, Automatic Control of Cylinder Valves
Water & Wastes Digest
March 2000
Gary Slaydon
Continued efforts to eliminate the use of chlorine gas for disinfection of water and wastewater make all participants aware of the hazards of using and not using chlorine. Increasing demands by environmentalists — combined with concerns by chlorine manufacturers, distributors, and end users — have been responsible for the creation of many information and regulatory agencies.
Making the Right Choices for Your Wireless SCADA System
Water & Wastes Digest
February 2000
Ernest J. Zingleman
When considering a wireless data system design, everyone has a checklist of elements to consider. Some are obviously important and others tend to get overlooked. The following elements tend to fall into the latter category but have a far from insignificant impact on the long-term success and performance of your system.
Company Eases the Work Flow with a Process Calibrator
Water Engineering & Management
January 2000
Eight years ago, Dan Dickerson, who owns Control & Instrument Services in Worthington, Ohio, decided it was time to break from his job at a civil engineering firm, strike out on his own and start his own business. It paid off. Today, Dickerson's firm is one of Ohio's paramount field testing companies.
Wastewater Authority's Cogen System Uses Renewable Biogas
Water & Wastes Digest
September 1999
The influx of neighboring residents, coupled with impending stringent environmental regulations, pushed the Encina Wastewater Authority to incorporate an ambitious four-phase facility improvement program. Major improvements included a $1.3 million investment to optimize the cogeneration facility.
Retrofitting Valve Actuators
Water & Wastes Digest
March 1999
This article contains just some of the information available in a new, 24-page booklet from Rotork Controls, Inc.
The Importance of Enhancing the Image of Engineers
Water Engineering & Management
March 1999
Robert L. Sylar, P.E.
This article details why the National Society of Professional Engineers is tryinbg to improve public knowledge of the role engineers play in society.
Computer System Provides a Strategy for Integration
Water Engineering & Management
February 1999
John Jennow, George Madden and Thomas G. Valorose
One water authority needed to find software that could integrate three separate and distinct systems into one compatible unit.
Bill Processing Simplified by the Internet
Water Engineering & Management
November 1998
Kara Wipf
Sending and paying bills online can reduce paper waste and save a significant amount of money for the billing company.
Achieving Good Data Management
Water Engineering & Management
July 1998
Chris Chalfant, P.E.
Data can be gathered from any source, but to make it useful it must be given structure using a good data management system.
Oil in Water Monitoring: The Continuous On-line Advantage
Water & Wastes Digest
January 1998
Mark D. Uhrich
The goal for effectively implementing monitoring programs is achieving favorable economics, meeting regulatory discharge limits, and limiting operational and maintenance routines.
The Impact of Windows, Handheld Technology on Data Logging
Water & Wastes Digest
November 1997
Sian Currie
The huge impact of Microsoft Windows is not confined to applications running on the desktop PC. Today, Windows is also having a major impact on the world of instrumentation, transforming many devices from simple and inflexible monitoring tools into much more versatile reconfigurable products.
Pulling the Plug on Corrosion
Water Engineering & Management
September 1997
Todd Hart
Proper maintenance programs and advanced coatings have helped a New York resort town battle corrosion at their wastewater plant.
Objectives Matrix Provides Information Balance
Water Engineering & Management
September 1997
Dr. Hans D. Allender, P.E.
Keeping track of and improving a company's weak spots can be simplified and generalized by using performance indicators.
Don't Let Instrumentation Break Your Budget
Water & Wastes Digest
January 1997
Marc Cartier
You can avoid budget overruns, schedule delays and painfully lingering problems with good instrument system architecture and vendor support.
Make Your Databases Do the Printing
Water Engineering & Management
August 1996
Charline M. Avey
Indianapolis Water Co. has found that by using their database, an automated map production method can be implemented.
Choosing the Right Transducer for the Application
Water & Wastes Digest
April 1996
Pressure transducers have numerous applications in water and wastewater treatment. This article describes some of the more common transducer technologies and discusses some of the key factors to consider when specifying transducers for water/wastewater applications.
Do You Need a Remote Backup Service?
Water Engineering & Management
March 1996
Paul Neumann
As computer use increases in water and wastewater applications, the need for proper data backup becomes more crucial.
Smart Control System Design|
Water Engineering & Management
October 1995
Keith R. Lenart
The final article in a series on instrumentation and computers discusses control system design.
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