Calif. Utility Earns Fast Payback On Pump Retrofit   Water & Wastes Digest July 2003
The Cupertino Sanitary District (CSD) recently underwent significant equipment upgrades at its lift stations. The district's submersible pumps now operate with a new type of impeller designed to virtually eliminate blockages. During the year following the pump retrofit program, the utility saved several thousand dollars by preventing all but one blockage. Additional energy savings are being realized due to the suspended high operating efficiency offered by the new pumps.

New Septage Receiving System Ends Pump Clogging In Processing Plant   Water & Wastes Digest April 2003
Management at Stewart's Septic Services in Bradford, Mass., a privately held regional septic pumper for both residential and commercial tanks, reports it has taken advantage of a new septage receiving system to end the problem of clogged pumps in its processing plant. The move increased company income by enhancing its own processing capability, while allowing for increased collection activity and processing throughput.

Integrated Technology Simplifies Dewatering Process at Two Municipal STPs   Water & Wastes Digest February 2003   Robert W. Mau, USFilter
The borough of West Mifflin, Penn., is a community located about nine miles southeast of downtown Pittsburgh. For years, the West Mifflin Sanitary Sewer Municipal Authority (WMSSMA) hauled liquid from its New England STP (a 1.2 mgd plant) to the Thompson Run facility (a 4.5 mgd plant), where it was processed on a belt press for dewatering. However, the hauling and associated labor proved very costly, and it was not always easy to coordinate dewatering schedules for both plants. Additionally in the late 1990s, the WMSSMA faced a requirement to achieve higher cake solids and provide odor control that would respect nearby homes and businesses. Moreover, space constraints and staffing reductions necessitated a simple-to-operate installation.

Submersible Blowers Reduce Noise in Berlin Redevelopment   Water & Wastes Digest January 2003
A major environmental project to help rejuvenate a lake at the heart of Berlin attributes much of its success to unique submersible blowers from UK manufacturer Adams Ricardo.

New Wastewater Treatment Technology Emerges from Nevada Desert   Water & Wastes Digest January 2003
Out of a landscape parched for water?but certainly not ideas?comes a unique innovation in wastewater treatment from Premier Wastewater International (PWI tm). Based in southern Nevada, PWI has developed an economical treatment process that can remove more than 90 percent of the organic matter, according to Matt Russell, president and CEO.

Odor Control System   Water & Wastes Digest January 2003   Brent Howe
Odor complaints have become an all too familiar subject to WWTP managers. They are not only expected to manage their plants effectively and efficiently, meeting both regulatory specs and budget requirements – they are also expected to be good neighbors and keep odor under control. This article describes the successful odor control efforts of the South Dearborn Regional Sewer District located in Lawrenceburg, Ind.

New Analyzer Takes Readings During the Treatment Process   Water & Wastes Digest January 2003
A unique ammonia/phosphate analyzer designed to take readings directly in the wastewater, in other words, precisely where the nutrient concentration needs to be measured, also delivers real-time, online information about nutrient concentration in the process.

Integrated Technology Simplifies Dewatering Process at Two Municipal STPs   Water & Wastes Digest October 2002
In the late 1990s, one western Pennsylvania sewage treatment plant (STP) sought to process Class B biosolids on-site, eliminating the expense of hauling liquid off-site and significantly decreasing associated labor costs. At the same time, the plant needed to achieve higher cake solids and provide strict odor control. In addition, the selected equipment also had to be able to greatly enhance process efficiencies at not just the one plant, but its sister facility as well. Fortunately, USFilter offered a fairly simple solution to meet the STP's seemingly complex needs.

Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems   Water Quality Products September 2002   U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Water Quality Association
The following is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Special Issues Fact Sheet on Water Softeners. This document supports the WQA's position on softener wastes and the fact that they are not harmful to septic systems.
PDF Version

Automated Treatment, Monitoring System Keeps An Eye On Operations   Water & Wastes Digest September 2002
To make the most of its resources, including operator time and energy, Warrington Township Water and Sewer Department--located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania--installed a compact sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system when the facility was built four years ago. And an equally hardworking Hach OptiQuant SST Analyzer, installed two years ago, keeps a vigilant eye on the final product.

360° Discharge Removes Bottleneck In Screening Liquid Biological Fertilizer   Water & Wastes Digest September 2002
AgriEnergy Resources boosted throughput of a circular vibratory separator by 200-300 percent by employing a 360° discharge Kascade® deck that eliminated a restrictive buildup of rope-like sludge around the screen circumference.

The Invisible Sewage Plant   Water & Wastes Digest September 2002   Carl Dorsch
If you go looking for a particular sewage treatment plant in Cincinnati, Ohio, the first thing you'll notice is--you might not notice it at all. In fact, when following perfectly clear directions to the facility, you might still drive right by it, dismissing it as just another office building. It doesn't register as a treatment plant.

Pinch Valve with Sealed Body Prevents Debris Buildup   Water & Wastes Digest August 2002
A problem existed in Pennsylvania at the Upper Gwynedd Towamencin County Authority wastewater treatment plant, in the secondary treatment phase. The submerged plug valves in the aeration tanks were becoming progressively harder to operate as the years passed.

Fine Bubble Aeration/Mixing System Cuts Lagoon Treatment Energy Costs   Water & Wastes Digest August 2002
The Biomixer Aeration and Mixing system is providing optimum dissolved oxygen transfer and mixing at this lagoon, in spite of the number of units being reduced from the original design of five units down to three. This is being obtained with the dissolved oxygen levels throughout the basin averaging 9.1 mg/l. Even at the influent end of the basin where the loading rate is the highest, the dissolved oxygen readings were above 8.5 mg/l.

New Wastewater Handling Pumps Eliminate Blockage Problem at California Lift Station   Water & Wastes Digest July 2002
Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency (MRWPCA) has installed a new type of pump featuring a unique, self-cleaning impeller to overcome frequent clogging experienced in recent years at Pacific Grove Station 12. Prior to replacing the station’s two original pumps, the wetwell’s limited retention and close proximity to Monterey Bay — 60 ft. away — increased the risk of bypasses reaching the beach.

Midwest City Saves Money By Controlling Dissolved Oxygen In Aeration Basin   Water & Wastes Digest May 2002
Maintaining the proper concentration of dissolved oxygen in an aeration basin is necessary to keep microorganisms alive for breakdown of the organic waste. When the dissolved oxygen content becomes too high, costly energy is wasted, and expensive aeration equipment endures unneeded wear. A small Midwestern city is a case in point, illustrating the benefits of continuous dissolved oxygen monitoring and control.

Packaged Treatment Plant Treats Tough Water Supplies Consistently, Economically   Water & Wastes Digest May 2002   Darin St. Germain
Since the 1960s, municipalities and industries have used packaged water treatment plants to successfully and economically treat small water supplies. These packaged plants have offered a smaller footprint, lower capital cost and easy operation.

Patented Separator Design Eases Maintenance   Water & Wastes Digest March 2002
Traditionally, the separations process was one which involved frequent and often complicated maintenance. Wastewater Diversion Systems, Inc. of Mechanicsville, Va., has developed and patented the FOX VGS (Vertical Gravity Separator) to remove free oil, grease and suspended solids from wastewater, while significantly reducing the frequency and difficulty of maintenance.

Patented Process Reduces Drying Time, Facility Footprint   Water & Wastes Digest February 2002
In raw form, biosolids have been used to supplement commercial fertilizers by the farming industry for decades. Today, we treat biosolids further to remove harmful pathogens. N-Viro International of Toledo, Ohio, has developed and patented a processing tool designed to decrease the time needed to dry the product as well as decreasing the footprint of the drying facility.