DRINKING WATER
Case Study: Groundwater DWTP (AK) - DEXSORB Full-Scale
A DWTP client in Alaska detected elevated PFAS contamination levels in two groundwater wells supplying drinking water to 85 service connections. PFAS concentrations are provided in Table 1, where combined concentration of EPA PFAS6 was detected at 490 to 810 ppt.
DRINKING WATER CASE STUDIES AND WHITE PAPERS
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![Clamp squeezing money GettyImages-1367082834]( "Cost And Complexity Continue To Constrain Sustainability And Resiliency Efforts: Survey")
Cost And Complexity Continue To Constrain Sustainability And Resiliency Efforts: SurveyAccording to Black & Veatch's 2023 Water Report, sustainability is considered a critical strategic focus by the majority of water utility stakeholders. The report surveys roughly 450 water industry stakeholders on topics ranging from climate change to regulations to federal funding programs.
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![iStock-481364757]( "Geospatial Artificial Intelligence And The New Italian Renaissance")
Geospatial Artificial Intelligence And The New Italian RenaissanceUnder pressure to radically improve leak detection and prevention, Italian water utility Acquedotto del Fiora is the latest European water company to adopt geospatial artificial intelligence (AI) techniques as part of its plans to boost performance.
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Instrumentation For Produced Water Applications
Produced water refers to any water brought up to the surface during oil and gas production, typically as the result of drilling, exploration and hydraulic fracturing.
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![swan]( "Monitoring Chlorine Residuals For RO Membranes - ORP Versus Chlorine Analyzers")
Monitoring Chlorine Residuals For RO Membranes - ORP Versus Chlorine AnalyzersIn processes where disinfection is required chlorine is the most common and economic disinfectant followed by sodium hypochlorite (liquid bleach). It is important to disinfect the RO feedwater to avoid fouling of the membranes which results in poor performance and frequent cleaning.
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![Thought Leadership Feature.jpg]( "Retrofitting Water Systems With The Best Meters For The Job")
Retrofitting Water Systems With The Best Meters For The JobAlthough not every water, wastewater, or industrial design engineer or operations manager is familiar with the advantages of the V-Cone differential-pressure (DP) meter design, they are certainly familiar with the problems it can solve. Here is a step-by-step description of how V-Cone meters with + 0.5 percent accuracy offer better alternatives in applications currently being failed by other metering technologies.
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![EBCI]( "A Decade Of Smart Water Success — The Eastern Band Of The Cherokee Indians")
A Decade Of Smart Water Success — The Eastern Band Of The Cherokee IndiansWhat began as a mandate to reduce water loss has grown into a model of smart water management for the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians (EBCI). Since deploying Kamstrup’s ultrasonic meters in 2016, the utility has transitioned from crisis response to innovation leadership—proving that even the most rugged terrain can support advanced metering infrastructure (AMI).
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![FieldMonitoring.png]( "Close Data And Control Gaps With Remote Monitoring")
Close Data And Control Gaps With Remote MonitoringFor as many water/wastewater utilities that use SCADA systems inside their treatment facilities, there are many where that automated data collection and control all but ends at the property line. In reality, a significant percentage of customer service and performance efficiency opportunities exist ‘beyond the fence.’ Here is how utilities can use remote monitoring to leverage those opportunities for success.
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![Frost--Sullivan_Integrating-Safety-and-Process-Environments_White-Paper_210408-10]( "Integrating Safety And Process Environments")
Integrating Safety And Process EnvironmentsUsing a single programmable controller such as Schneider Electric’s M580 Safety Controller to manage both process and safety systems can help speed up deployment, improve reliability and sustainability of operations, enhance cybersecurity, and support greater productivity and transparency.
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![Hidden Springs Water Treatment CS]( "What The Hidden Springs Pilot Case Study Reveals About Cutting-Edge Water Treatment")
What The Hidden Springs Pilot Case Study Reveals About Cutting-Edge Water TreatmentA seven-month pilot study shows how ozone treatment reduced hydrogen sulfide and TOC at the Hidden Springs Water Treatment Facility, improving water quality and validating a scalable alternative.
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![GettyImages-1408832606_450_300]( "Why Static Metrology Is Important In A Modern Era")
Why Static Metrology Is Important In A Modern EraAs sustainability, climate change resilience, and the overall increasing cost of water increasing come into focus, the needs of water utilities and their customers have shifted.
DRINKING WATER APPLICATION NOTES
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Application Note: Busseron Creek Watershed Partnership Addresses Concerns In A Rural Watershed1/20/2010As with other watershed organizations, the Busseron Creek Watershed Partnership (BCWP) exists because of surface water quality degradation. In this case, those waters drain 163,231 acres of a watershed that crosses the boundaries of Vigo, Clay, Green, and Sullivan counties in West- Central Indiana. By YSI
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Harmonics Reduction Methods4/17/2017
There are several basic methods for reducing harmonic voltage and current distortion from nonlinear distribution loads such as adjustable frequency drives (AFDs). Following is a description of each method, along with each method’s advantages and disadvantages.
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Improved Determination Of Volatile Organic Compounds In Water By SPME And GC/MS6/21/2018
The analysis of water for volatile organic compounds is important due to their toxicity. The current methods for this determination lack of sensitivity, selectivity or capability for automation. This paper presents the new ISO 17943 Standard using Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) and GC/MS. The sample preparation by SPME enables limits of detection and easy automation of the whole method. GC/MS provides the required sensitivity and selectivity. This ISO Standard was validated by an interlaboratory trial, which results confirm the outstanding performance for this method.
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Application Note: YSI Water Quality Monitoring Buoys Help Connecticut DOT Protect The Housatonic River12/27/2005When replacement of the Sikorski Bridge spanning the Housatonic River was authorized, Paul Corrente and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT-DOT) set about the design and development of a water quality monitoring program to monitor the contractor’s in-water activities to insure full protection of the river from perturbation
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Innovative Solutions To Drinking Water Decontamination In Small And Medium Treatment Plants9/21/2017
Air stripping technology effectively removes VOCs, THMs, and CO2 for improved adherence to water quality regulations.
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Solution For Algae Blooms12/17/2015
Harmsco® Filtration Products is pleased to offer a solution to the ever increasing blue-algae blooms in water sources. A multi-barrier approach is necessary to physically remove intact (algae and cyanobacteria) before they rupture in the treatment process and then remove extracellular cyanobacteria through adsorption.
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Application Note: Ozone Measurement In Potable Water3/1/2010
Ozone is a powerful oxidizing agent that can be used to destroy the organic compounds that affect the taste and odor of potable water. Environmental concerns have led to increased use of ozone because, unlike chlorine, it does not form hazardous by-products.
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LC-MS Analysis Of 33 PFAS Compounds In 5 Minutes11/4/2021
In response to environmental testing demands for faster LC-MS analyses, the new Ascentis® Express PFAS HPLC and delay columns allow the highly efficient separation of 33 PFAS compounds in 5 minutes with reduced background contamination.
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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
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The Basics: Testing RO Quality4/28/2014
Osmosis is the phenomenon of lower dissolved solids in water passing through a semi-permeable membrane into higher dissolved solids water until a near equilibrium is reached.
DRINKING WATER PRODUCTS
De Nora Water Technologies (DNWT) is the world leader in the supply of electrochlorination of biocide solutions to the power, marine, offshore industrial water disinfection and desalination markets. Over the past thirty years, DNWT has supplied 65% of the world wide installed base of on-site generated sodium hypochlorite.
ResinTech AGC-40 X is a dry 12 x 40 mesh bituminous coal based granular activated carbon having relatively high surface area and large pores. ResinTech AGC-40 X is intended for chlorine or NOM removal where rapid adsorption is required. It is Gold Seal Certified by the WQA for use in potable water applications.
The OPTIFLUX 2050 is an electromagnetic flowmeter (EMF) for basic water and wastewater applications. It is suitable for all cost-effective measurements where extremely high accuracy, extensive diagnostics or a wide range of communication options are not a priority. The EMF has a wide diameter range (DN25…1200 / 1…48") and all drinking water approvals. The extra isolation of the electronic device and housing makes this EMF particularly suitable for use in areas with extreme humidity.
ULTRAPEN™ PT4 is Myron L Company’s ground-breaking new pocket tester for measuring free chlorine disinfecting power, free chlorine equivalent (FCE), and temperature. It is waterproof and designed for accuracy and simplicity for use in diverse water quality applications.
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.
The OPTIFLUX 2300 is an electromagnetic flowmeter (EMF) for all demanding applications with water and wastewater. The high-end meter is particularly suitable for applications requiring high accuracy and extensive diagnostics.
LATEST INSIGHTS ON DRINKING WATER
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![snowystream-Getty-521971897]( "Winter's Alarmingly Low Snowpack Offers A Glimpse Of The Changing Rhythm Of Water In The Western U.S.")
The April 1 snowpack measurement has long been the single most important number in western water management, considered a strong proxy for how much water the mountains are holding in reserve. But in 2026, that savings account has been woefully deficient.
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![ColoradoRiverDam_Getty-1280300802]( "Why Colorado River Negotiations Stalled, And How They Could Resume With The Possibility Of Agreement")
Why Colorado River Negotiations Stalled, And How They Could Resume With The Possibility Of AgreementThe five most common sources of conflict between people are values, data, relationships, interests, and structure. The current Colorado River negotiations include all five. -
![Water droplets, PFAS, Forever chemical water contamination-GettyImages-2173433890]( "Designing Resilient PFAS Treatment Strategies For Water Agencies")
Water agencies across the U.S. are facing a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that poses a conundrum: Should they take a cautious or aggressive approach to treating PFAS contamination in their water system?
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![Oil spill clean up-GettyImages-1369921282]( "The Future Of In Situ Chemical Oxidation For Targeted Solvent Destruction")
The U.S. EPA’s 2026 trichloroethylene (TCE) compliance deadlines are now forcing a concrete shift toward source-zone destruction. In situ chemical oxidation (ISCO), sequenced with enhanced bioremediation, is proving to be the most credible path to groundwater contaminant rebound mitigation.
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![GettyImages-1365695094 water in hands]( "How Generative Design Can Help UK Utilities Justify PR29 Investment Cases")
Generative design strengthens PR29 investment cases by enabling rigorous optioneering, accurate cost estimates, and clear outcome alignment, helping water companies meet rising regulatory expectations.
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![money, dollars down the drain-GettyImages-157193934]( "Critical Infrastructure Fails The Way It's Funded")
Our infrastructure systems have operated in managed deterioration for decades. And not surprisingly, once they deteriorate badly enough and cross over into active failure, all cost discipline disappears.
DRINKING WATER VIDEOS
RIP Kitty Hach-Darrow (October 20, 1922 - June 4, 2020), co-founder of Hach Company
See how SIWA MDM Event and Data Action Management (EDAM) helps utilities detect anomalies and identify service points with potential issues. With EDAM, utilities can define a set of conditions or rules that SIWA MDM meter data management uses to analyze data and events such as water leaks and missing reads.
In this episode of the Water Online Show, hosts Travis Kennedy and Kevin Westerling explore AI's transformative role in water utility operations with guest Dave Brown, Director of Maintenance at Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD), which serves nearly a million customers across 682 square miles in Southern California.
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.