DRINKING WATER
AMERICAN And Partners Install Boltless Restrained Underwater Pipeline System In Ashland, Wisconsin
Beneath the waters of Chequamegon Bay on Lake Superior in Ashland, Wisconsin, about 4,500 feet of 24-inch AMERICAN Flex-Ring Ductile Iron Pipe and a submerged timber crib intake structure were installed to ensure the city’s residents have quality drinking water for the next 100 years. The Ashland Water Intake Project began May 1, 2025, and is now complete.
DRINKING WATER CASE STUDIES AND WHITE PAPERS
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![meter_pic]( "Moving Beyond Flow Measurement To Unlock Utility Efficiency")
Moving Beyond Flow Measurement To Unlock Utility EfficiencySmart meters offer the opportunity for utilities to do significantly more with the same number of devices, reducing operational costs, improving response times, and contributing to overall system sustainability.
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![iStock-842180048]( "Making Every Drop Count During Drought And Fire Season")
Making Every Drop Count During Drought And Fire SeasonIn 2020, the world got a firsthand glimpse into how warmer, drier conditions are enabling harsher periods of drought--resulting in longer fire seasons and greater water scarcity.
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![GettyImages-1411591681_450_300]( "Standardizing Data To Enhance Water Distribution Efficiency – Global Omnium's Digital Transformation")
Standardizing Data To Enhance Water Distribution Efficiency – Global Omnium's Digital TransformationGlobal Omnium transformed its water network, implementing extensive smart meters to improve visibility, reduce inefficiencies, and enhance leak detection across over 400 cities, benefiting millions in Spain.
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![iStock-1023510596]( "How To Score High Marks For Low-Pressure RO Performance")
How To Score High Marks For Low-Pressure RO PerformanceFor water system operators, contract engineers, OEMs, and reverse-osmosis (RO) membrane suppliers alike, the difference between expectations for RO membrane element performance and quantifiable performance in the actual operating environment can be fraught with surprises. This article addresses guidelines for establishing realistic RO warranty performance criteria and achieving those criteria in real-world applications.
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IFAS System Produces High Quality Effluent In East Central Kansas
The City of Emporia, in East Central Kansas, recently experienced an increase in population and more stringent effluent permit requirements resulting in a strained wastewater treatment plant. Emporia retained the services of a local engineering firm to evaluate the current and future needs of the system and recommend an economical, sustainable, and effective solution. After evaluating several options, World Water Works’ Integrated Fixed Film Activated Sludge (IFAS) conformed to all the requirements and was selected.
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![net-positive]( "Net-Positive Water Usage: Data Centers And Tech Companies Committing To Change")
Net-Positive Water Usage: Data Centers And Tech Companies Committing To ChangeData center operators and many of the world’s largest tech companies are taking steps to ensure the long-term sustainability of water supplies by quantifying water usage -- while reducing overall water usage.
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![1422990988]( "Analytics For Water Utilities: The Key To Maximizing AMI Value")
Analytics For Water Utilities: The Key To Maximizing AMI ValueAmong the many challenges water utilities face are aging infrastructure, an aging workforce, water loss control, asset management, and paying for necessary infrastructure investments. Improving relationships with customers is also a challenge for one in five respondents to a 2019 American Water Works Association (AWWA) survey.
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Meters Monitor Flow And Provide Pump Protection
A Municipal Water Plant in the Southeast United States needed accurate flow measurement of potable water from individual pumps to the main distribution system. Read the full case study to learn how it was confirmed that the Siemens clamp-on meters provide reliable measurements from outside of the pipe, with reduced time and costs.
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![Aqua MultiBore Membranes module in Train 2.jpg]( "Butler WTP Solves Membrane Integrity Issues And Meets EPA LT2 Rule With Aqua MultiBore® Membranes")
Butler WTP Solves Membrane Integrity Issues And Meets EPA LT2 Rule With Aqua MultiBore® MembranesButler Water Treatment Plant (WTP), located in Missouri, receives its influent from a surface water impoundment fed from Butler Lake, Maris de Cygenes River, and Miami Creek. Following treatment, it provides potable water to over 300 businesses, (4) schools, 4100 residents and (4) other Public Water Supply districts.
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12 Steps To Precise pH Measurement
You want good pH data. Who doesn’t? You deserve good data, but for good pH data you need to calibrate. You need to calibrate well and calibrate often. By Lyndsey McDermand
DRINKING WATER APPLICATION NOTES
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The Role Of Zeta Potential In Water Treatment Process Control5/27/2020
Physical processes such as sedimentation, flotation and filtration remain at the heart of most process trains for the treatment of water and wastewater flows.
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Complete Flow Solutions11/11/2024
Siemens’ extensive portfolio includes various flow measurement technologies, such as Coriolis, clamp-on ultrasonic, vortex, and differential pressure meters, catering to a wide range of industrial needs.
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Determination Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons In Seafood4/20/2015
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a large group of organic compounds found naturally in the environment. PAHs are monitored by the US Environmental Protection Agency due to their carcinogenic characteristics.
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Panametrics Technology Helps Track Potable Water Leaks4/22/2022
Concerned about the volume of water leakages throughout their network, a Swedish water authority turned to Panametrics flowmeters to map their municipal water network -- enabling quick leak identification and fixes.
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Application Note: Turbidity Monitoring In Drinking Water Treatment Plants8/30/2005
Turbidity, or the relative clarity of a liquid (in this case drinking water), is caused by the presence of microscopic particles such as clay, silt, or other fine undissolved matter
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The Active Control Program For Advanced UV Oxidation12/1/2025
This application note will explore how active control programs lower operational costs of compliant contaminant removal.
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FLEX-TEND® Flexible Expansion Joints, Features And Specifications12/3/2020
FLEX-TEND® flexible expansion joints are designed to protect structures and pipelines from differential movement whether this movement is earthquake induced or the gradual motion of soil subsidence. This bulletin offers a concise listing and discussion of the important features and materials of the double and single ball assemblies.
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Ion Exchange Resins And Activated Carbons For Better-Tasting Water12/18/2013
For many, access to good-tasting tap water is limited, and buying bottled water can be expensive. Simple pour-through jug filters offer a low-cost and effective alternative. Activated carbons, in conjunction with ion exchange products, produce drinking water that is absent of all industrial pesticides and contaminants.
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SensyMaster Thermal Mass Flowmeter8/3/2021
SensyMaster helps to improve the operating costs of the most cost intensive process in sewage plants: Aeration. High-measuring performance and state of the art technology helps customers increase plant efficiency.
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Network Monitors Water Quality In Shale Gas Drilling Region9/2/2011High-pressure injection of water, sand, and chemicals that fracture shale deposits deep underground to free trapped natural gas is employed by drillers tapping the Marcellus shale beds, a geologic deposit that stretches from central New York to Virginia and contains gas believed to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars. By YSI
DRINKING WATER PRODUCTS
The Series 2100 MEGAFLANGE Restrained Flange Adapter is a field-adaptable wedge style restrained flanging system. It has a restraint ring and a gasket ring to give the maximum amount of flexibility during and after installation.
The new compact 80GHz free space radar sensors Micropilot FMR10B, FMR20B, FMR30B offer highly accurate and reliable measurements independent of installation conditions and external influences. The new devices come along with specialized accessories for the particular conditions of open channels. Both flow and level measurements can be easily operated via Bluetooth thanks to remote access, using any mobile device, such as smartphone or tablet.
Recordall® Fire Series Assemblies (FSAA) are ideal when fire service mains are also being used to supply water for secondary services, such as drinking fountains and general purpose plumbing fixtures. In addition to the strainer, Turbo meter and check valve, the assembly also includes a bypass configuration with Recordall Turbo or Disc Series meters for diverting flow not related to fire demand.
Pre-engineered, fully automated, low maintenance system for applications with average flows of 1 MGD or less; and up to 4 MGD. Proven FlexRake technology is paired with a perfectly-sized washer compactor to seamlessly remove, clean, compress and discharge screenings 10 ft in any direction.
iPERL+ redefines water metering, offering an integrated solution that not only ensures seamless system compatibility but also maintains unmatched accuracy in water usage measurement for your utility. With enhanced data logging capabilities and a choice between polymer and metal flow tube casings, iPERL+ is tailored to meet the unique needs of your utility.
The SoundPrint® AFO Continuous Remote Monitoring Platform is a proactive pipeline monitoring solution that uses acoustic fiber optic (AFO) technology to detect structural deterioration in prestressed concrete cylinder pipelines (PCCP). By continuously listening for wire breaks and other anomalies, the system enables utilities to assess pipeline health in real time, reducing the risk of catastrophic failures and extending asset life. Data is securely transmitted to a cloud-based dashboard, providing operators with actionable insights for maintenance and capital planning.
LATEST INSIGHTS ON DRINKING WATER
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![LakeSuperior_Getty-1405284925]( "PFAS Are Turning Up In The Great Lakes, Putting Water Supplies At Risk — Here's How They Get There")
No matter where you live in the U.S., you have likely seen headlines about PFAS being detected in everything from drinking water to fish to milk to human bodies. Now, PFAS are posing a threat to the Great Lakes, one of America’s most vital water resources.
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![tractor_sludge_Getty-2155530305]( "Why Too Much Phosphorus In America's Farmland Is Polluting The Country's Water")
When people think about agricultural pollution, they often picture what is easy to see: fertilizer spreaders crossing fields or muddy runoff after a heavy storm. However, a much more significant threat is quietly and invisibly building in the ground. -
![EnvironmentPeople_004]( "Water In 2026: The Nexus Of Policy, Technology, And Resilience")
As water systems become more circular and complex, understanding and managing the subsurface — the hidden half of the water cycle — is becoming a critical enabler of resilience. This article explores the key trends shaping this new reality, from tackling “forever chemicals” to the water strategies redefining heavy industry. -
![Cutting Red Tape-GettyImages-502421630]( "How The NEPA Rollback Will Impact Water And Wastewater Industries")
The White House has finalized plans to roll back rules under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), narrowing its focus and limiting what the current administration claims are needless delays for federal approval of water, energy, and other infrastructure plans. For water and wastewater utilities, the changes could speed up permitting for critical projects, although experts warn the tradeoffs could do more harm than good. -
![Ultraviolet lamps for water disinfection-GettyImages-1271779123]( "Setting Global Standards: Inside North America's Only Full-Scale UV Disinfection Validation Facility")
Setting Global Standards: Inside North America's Only Full-Scale UV Disinfection Validation FacilityPortland's industry-leading facility reaches 100 reactor validations in 23 years. -
![Water analysis, purification, filtration, treatment, quality monitoring, contamination detection-GettyImages-2234293664]( "Why Haven't Field Tests For Lead In Water Gone Mainstream?")
Given the maturation of sensor technology, the scientific and operational hurdles to portable lead analysis are somewhat surprising — but surmountable.
DRINKING WATER VIDEOS
Discover how integrated membrane system designs can maximize the operating stability of EDI systems and reduce mixed bed regeneration frequency.
Water utilities need reliable data to meet regulatory demands, manage operations, and deliver excellent customer service. Master Meter’s Allegro AMI and Allegro Mobile technologies offer smart, scalable solutions to support these needs. Allegro AMI provides hourly data on consumption, tampering, and leaks, automatically sent to the utility office.
V-Bio Polyethylene Encasement is the latest scientific advancement in corrosion control for ductile iron pipe. In this interview with Water Online, Maury Gaston of American Ductile Iron Pipe and American SpiralWeld Pipe talks about the many benefits of iron pipe and the company’s improved polyethylene encasement, including how its revolutionary formulation allows for complete confidence on the part of the owner, engineer and municipality that no matter how aggressive the soils, the rugged iron pipe installed will last for generations.
ABOUT DRINKING WATER
In most developed countries, drinking water is regulated to ensure that it meets drinking water quality standards. In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administers these standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
Drinking water considerations can be divided into three core areas of concern:
- Source water for a community’s drinking water supply
- Drinking water treatment of source water
- Distribution of treated drinking water to consumers
Drinking Water Sources
Source water access is imperative to human survival. Sources may include groundwater from aquifers, surface water from rivers and streams and seawater through a desalination process. Direct or indirect water reuse is also growing in popularity in communities with limited access to sources of traditional surface or groundwater.
Source water scarcity is a growing concern as populations grow and move to warmer, less aqueous climates; climatic changes take place and industrial and agricultural processes compete with the public’s need for water. The scarcity of water supply and water conservation are major focuses of the American Water Works Association.
Drinking Water Treatment
Drinking Water Treatment involves the removal of pathogens and other contaminants from source water in order to make it safe for humans to consume. Treatment of public drinking water is mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the U.S. Common examples of contaminants that need to be treated and removed from water before it is considered potable are microorganisms, disinfectants, disinfection byproducts, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals and radionuclides.
There are a variety of technologies and processes that can be used for contaminant removal and the removal of pathogens to decontaminate or treat water in a drinking water treatment plant before the clean water is pumped into the water distribution system for consumption.
The first stage in treating drinking water is often called pretreatment and involves screens to remove large debris and objects from the water supply. Aeration can also be used in the pretreatment phase. By mixing air and water, unwanted gases and minerals are removed and the water improves in color, taste and odor.
The second stage in the drinking water treatment process involves coagulation and flocculation. A coagulating agent is added to the water which causes suspended particles to stick together into clumps of material called floc. In sedimentation basins, the heavier floc separates from the water supply and sinks to form sludge, allowing the less turbid water to continue through the process.
During the filtration stage, smaller particles not removed by flocculation are removed from the treated water by running the water through a series of filters. Filter media can include sand, granulated carbon or manufactured membranes. Filtration using reverse osmosis membranes is a critical component of removing salt particles where desalination is being used to treat brackish water or seawater into drinking water.
Following filtration, the water is disinfected to kill or disable any microbes or viruses that could make the consumer sick. The most traditional disinfection method for treating drinking water uses chlorine or chloramines. However, new drinking water disinfection methods are constantly coming to market. Two disinfection methods that have been gaining traction use ozone and ultra-violet (UV) light to disinfect the water supply.
Drinking Water Distribution
Drinking water distribution involves the management of flow of the treated water to the consumer. By some estimates, up to 30% of treated water fails to reach the consumer. This water, often called non-revenue water, escapes from the distribution system through leaks in pipelines and joints, and in extreme cases through water main breaks.
A public water authority manages drinking water distribution through a network of pipes, pumps and valves and monitors that flow using flow, level and pressure measurement sensors and equipment.
Water meters and metering systems such as automatic meter reading (AMR) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) allows a water utility to assess a consumer’s water use and charge them for the correct amount of water they have consumed.