From the Editor

1. Getting Smart About Water
   5/16/2013

   We’ve all heard the adage, “Work smarter, not harder,” but are we living it in the water industry? While the status quo may have merit and is almost certainly more comfortable, these trying times of big problems and small budgets beckon a new approach — to get smarter about water. You likely know the term “smart water” as it pertains to instruments that collect and interpret data, but the focus of this edition of Water Online The Magazine is to first engage the data-collecting instrument within each of us — our brains. By Kevin Westerling, editor, Water Online

2. Go With The (Change Of) Flow: 3 Overlooked Tasks At WWTPs
   5/15/2013

   There are certain requirements incumbent upon the wastewater operator when the volume and nature of waste coming into the wastewater treatment plant changes — first and foremost of which is recognition. That’s the easy part...

3. Clear Choice Emerges For Small-System Iron And Manganese Removal
   5/9/2013

   Pennsylvania American Water (PAW) was receiving complaints about the unsightly color of their water, which contained manganese well above U.S. EPA guidelines. The quest began for a cost-conscious and easy-to-operate solution (appropriate to a small, stand-alone system) that would restore water quality by greatly reducing both manganese and iron.

4. Arsenic 101: 5 Questions Answered
   4/26/2013

   Arsenic in water is one thing, but arsenic in beer? This is getting out of hand. While the drinking water supply is clearly much more of a concern than the beer supply, the sobering fact is that arsenic, a known carcinogen, is far too prevalent in the environment.

5. Chemical Dependency: A Breakthrough Approach To Ultra-Low Phosphorus
   4/18/2013

   Until recently, chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) wasn’t considered a viable option for removing phosphorus to very low levels — even less so when used with membrane bioreactors (MBR).  The trailblazing design of a new reclamation facility in Spokane, WA, has changed that view.

6. Should You Trash Your Flow Meter?
   4/10/2013

   Generally speaking, market research reports aren’t terribly exciting reads, but they are at times enlightening. Studies on how specific technologies are being applied can reveal trends for the industries they serve — for example, flow meters in water and wastewater. I recently came across some interesting analysis on the subject, homing in on what they reveal about our corner of the world.

7. 5 Standout Membrane Technologies
   3/28/2013

   Membrane technology, highly significant for surface water treatment, desalination, and wastewater reuse, is poised for major impact due to the dwindling availability of water. Here are five featured technologies to put on your radar.

8. Nutrient Removal: Is Bardenpho Right For You?
   3/22/2013

   The Bardenpho process is a popular choice for biological nutrient removal (BNR) of phosphorus and nitrogen, but it requires tankage that not all wastewater treatment facilities can accommodate. This case study details the process, the necessary plant parameters, and the performance of Bardenpho.

9. What Are The 3 Biggest U.S. Water Challenges?
   3/12/2013

   Social media discussions can be hit or miss, but a recent one in particular caught my eye with the question: “What do you believe are the three biggest water challenges in the U.S.?” The informal survey drew great response, and a surprising number-one answer.

10. Pump Power: Are You Getting Bang For Your Buck?
    3/11/2013

    It’s no secret that municipalities are working under tight budgets, in no way commensurate to their responsibilities and objectives. Unfortunately, the purse strings likely won’t loosen any time soon, and so efficiency becomes an essential part of operations.