Water & Wastewater News Logo

Poll

Industrial Issues

PPCPs' Double Life

September 1, 2006By Sherleen H. Mahoney

Experts are concerned about the potential health and environmental impacts of contaminants from pharmaceuticals and personal care products that survive municipal wastewater treatment

Each and every one of us contribute to water pollution. "Not I," you say? Well, if you use personal care products, such as shampoos, lotions, or antiperspirants, you do. If you take any kind of medication, over-the-counter or prescription, you do.

Memorandum to Public Officials

May 1, 2006By John P. Bachner

The truth about risk management

This memo is long overdue. It's part confession and part rant, and I suppose there's a lot about it you're not going to like, but -- I swear to you -- it's all true and you need to give it some consideration. You may even want to have it read by "the powers that be." Here goes.

Passing the NPDES Litmus Test

May 1, 2006By Gary Antony, Brad Buecker

Power plant operators must control pH limits and contaminants in their wastewater streams to meet permit guidelines

When people think of water issues at electric utilities, the first thought that usually comes to mind is production of high-purity water for steam generation. Even though a power plant may not have myriad fluid processes like a refinery or petrochemical facility, water discharge from a steam-generating facility is usually considerable. Chemistry in discharge streams must be carefully controlled to prevent pollution of receiving bodies of water or surrounding land.

Building a Better Case

March 1, 2006By John P. Bachner

Tips for engineers on how to be a more effective expert witness in construction industry disputes

Expert witnesses perform an extremely important role in our legal system, serving the cause of justice by explaining to a trier of fact -- a judge or jury -- technical issues that lay people could not be expected to understand. Opposing experts' opinions about the cause of something seldom agree, however, leaving it up to the trier of fact to determine which expert's opinion is valid.

The Art of Cost-effective Compromise

November 1, 2005By John P. Bachner

Alternative dispute resolution can ease the headaches and lower the costs of heading to court

Old adages get that way because they are timeless, usually expressing something fundamental about the human condition. Two in particular are apt for this column: To err is human, and Two wrongs don't make a right.

On the Lookout

September 1, 2005By Paul W. Schmitt

Proper use and maintenance of permanent and portable combustible gas detection equipment can save lives and reduce costs

There are two standards that apply to municipal water and wastewater treatment plants: NFPA 820 Standards for Fire Protection in Wastewater Treatment and Collection Facilities, 2003, and OSHA 1910.148 Appendix E: Sewer System Entry. While both standards apply, they address different facets of the treatment facility.

PLI Yourself Away From Risk

September 1, 2005By John P. Bachner

Making sense of professional liability insurance

Clients know so little about professional liability insurance (PLI) it's laughable. Engineers know so little about PLI it's scary. That's not a good thing. Both sides really need to know a few basics about PLI and the real world where it's applied.

The Scoop on Oil Skimmers

May 1, 2004By Tom Hobson

Five steps to help you choose and use the right oil/water separation technology

Oil skimmers are simple, dependable and effective tools for removing oil, grease and other hydrocarbons from water. They usually pay for themselves within a few months. In order to ensure the oil skimmer you choose is right for your operation, there are certain steps you can follow.

Turning the Tide Toward Turnkey Solutions

January 1, 2004By Fred R. Underwood

Turnkey automation comes to the water works industry with pre-packaged, fully automated filtering systems that use low-power network architecture and menu-driven central control

Imagine that you are in the final stages of constructing a 10-filter water-treatment plant. Startup for the filter control system alone requires the contractor to coordinate with representatives from the valve supplier, actuator supplier, instrument supplier, filter console supplier, the electrician and the integrator to put together a system that is supposed to work as one complete unit.

Bridging the Gap

July 1, 2003By Hal Alper

Polymeric surfactant technology bridges the gap between oil water separator capability and the parameters that must be met for regulatory compliance and industrial closed-loop processing

Water conservation and prevention of water pollution have become global issues affecting the life and health of people and the ecosystems they inhabit. The ability of ecosystems to recover has been stretched to the limit by overpopulation. As population reduction is unlikely and in fact the obverse is anticipated minimization of environmental impact is critical for the survival of the human species.

An Anaerobic Exercise

November 1, 2002By Shannon R. Grant, MScE, PE, Shashi Gorur, ME, PE, James C. Young, PhD, PE, Robert Landine, PhD, PE, Albert C. Cocci, PhD, PE, C. Calvert Churn, PhD, PE

A comparison of anaerobic treatment technologies for industrial wastewater

Anaerobic treatment of industrial wastewater has come a long way in the past 10 to 20 years. Prior to 1980, the process was deemed unreliable for its lack of robustness and overall instability, primarily due to misunderstandings of the biochemical pathways involved and the factors governing sludge characteristics.

Working Around the Clock

May 1, 2002By Gary Binderim

Preventive measures, such as operation diligence, emergency response plans and effective technology safeguard against contamination

The safety of the nation's water is protected by a cooperative relationship between governments at every level and water producers and purveyors. The U.S. Congress makes national water policy and has authorized the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement this policy by means of the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, as it is periodically re-authorized and amended.