Lessons From ‘The Wastewater Wizard'

By Daniel Theobald, "Wastewater Dan"

Daniel Theobald, owner of Environmental Services, talks to Water Online Radio about wastewater treatment in the public and private sector, the impact of regulations, trends in the industry, and how facilities can thrive in a down economy.

Tune in to hear Theobald — dubbed “The Wastewater Wizard” for his prowess as a consultant — tackle the following questions:

1. How does industry achieve and maintain improved wastewater treatment at less cost?

That's a good question because, most of the time, people are coming in wanting to sell equipment, and what essentially overwhelms are the inefficient procedures...

2. How does industry conserve water and be profitable?

Sometimes you can just reuse water: you can just simply take the water from one application, reuse it back for another, and that is going to increase your profitability. There are several ways you can conserve on water and be profitable...

3. How has wastewater treatment progressed over the years and what are future trends?

There are two main processing units which can help achieve this. The first one is ultrafiltration, and you can actually use ultrafiltration equipment to reduce the physical solids. And then, once you get those physical solids out, you can actually purify the water with equipment like reverse osmosis...

4. What has been the impact of EPA regulations on municipalities and industry?

This is really big, because the EPA is like the mother of all regulations -- a federal environmental agency, the federal regulatory arm, and they just establish regulations that go down to the states...

5. What is the importance of safety/security in wastewater operations?

Safety and security in the workplace is paramount. It has always been important. However, as we learn more about the connection between safety and security and the general health and the environment, we do place a greater emphasis on safety and security...

6. How does industry finance new projects in this economy?

That is a really primary question, because industrial companies are basically being forced to find alternative financing through government and also through public grants to fund their projects...

7. How do wastewater treatment plants deal with emerging contaminants?

This problem is evolving in increasing frequency. First, if you define emerging contaminants, you see that they are hazardous materials or mixtures that are threatening to the human health...

Click on the Radio Player above to hear the full interview.

Learn more at www.TheWastewaterWizard.com.