12.19.25 -- How Long Do Wet Wipes Remain In Our Rivers?

Whether a water treatment plant (WTP) is evaluating a new granular activated carbon (GAC) solution to deal with contamination problems such as PFAS, DBPs, and VOCs or looking to enhance existing GAC performance, it is important to assess treatment processes in the full context of source water quality. Here are some ideas to help decision-makers achieve the best outcomes at the lowest total lifecycle cost.

The ability to treat drinking water both efficiently and to the highest standards is a necessity for municipal water utilities. In some instances, however, the backwash requirement of traditional pressure filter systems is more onerous than it needs to be. By comparison, the multi-cell pressure filter design is highly efficient because it generates its own backwash water source from the other operating cells.

For some water providers, carefree days of producing pure, fresh water from groundwater sources are long gone. Years of evolving chemical complexity, industrial operations, and short-sighted disposal methods have taken a toll on groundwater sources. Fortunately, new technologies are helping water providers make the best of a challenging situation across a wide range of contaminants.

As municipal water systems grapple with tightening budgets and water scarcity continues to be a growing issue, communities must look toward solutions that reduce their need for source water, bring down the costs of treatment, and allow for better management of the pipeline assets.

Non-revenue water (NRW) and other information gaps that have significant impact on operating costs are causing many water distribution utilities to seek affordable ways to gain greater insight into flow data. In this Q&A, Barry Spiegel of McCrometer describes how full-profile insertion (FPI) electromagnetic flow meters (mag meters) can provide relief, without breaking the bank.

Maintaining a water distribution system requires constant management. From leaking pipes to broken valves or even distribution expansion, there always seems to be something to do and you will never be short of work. But, are “old” ways of performing maintenance and repair creating unnecessary costs?

Historically, lift station operators have turned to chemical treatments as the primary means of managing grease buildup. However, these methods carry inherent drawbacks. 

Everyone wants good-tasting water, but most water treatment plants (WTPs) are hostages to the composition of their local source water supplies. One of the components involved in taste is total dissolved solids (TDS), which can affect both the acceptability of finished water taste and its likelihood to corrode or clog pipes and fixtures. Here’s how to quantify the problem and what to do about it if it is excessive.

Along the Indian River Lagoon adjacent to Vero Beach, Florida, both residents and government officials were becoming increasingly concerned about excessive nutrient loads and pollution.

For the City of Fairborn, Ohio, switching from manual meter reading to automated meter reading (AMR) and eventually to advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) has made a small operations staff more productive, provided more timely information for the city’s water treatment plant and distribution system, and tremendously improved customer service. Learn about the benefits captured and lessons learned along the way.

With its ability to improve customer service, reduce costs and boost visibility into water distribution systems, AMI has rapidly become a worthwhile investment. The ability to capture and analyze vast amounts of actionable data is at the core of AMI.

Discover how analytics can amplify the benefits of AMI in identifying non-revenue water losses and enhancing customer service.