KLA SYSTEMS ARTICLES

• After 3 Decades, Narragansett CSO Project Nears Completion

  A 30-year clean-up in Rhode Island hit an important milestone with the completion of a 2.2-mile tunnel to transport combined sewer and stormwater.

• Mexico City Nearly Out Of Drinking Water

  One of the largest cities in the world, Mexico City, is facing a severe water crisis due to drought conditions exacerbated by climate change and infrastructure problems. Scientists are now concerned the region could hit a “day zero” scenario, where water supplies completely run out.

• One Year After Train Derailment, East Palestine Wastewater Disposal Plan Under Fire

  As a region recovers from one of the most devastating environmental catastrophes in recent memory, its residents are fighting against the disposal plans for the resulting wastewater.

• Water Energy Innovators Tap Coal Mines For Thermal Heat

  Though abandoned coal mines are not typically known for the environmental benefits they offer, a project in the UK shows how that is quickly changing.

• Give The Gift Of Better Hydration This Holiday

  The holiday season doesn’t just bring with it an increase of snowfall and good cheer. Along with annual office parties, family gatherings and yuletide merriment, there is often a dramatic increase in the amount of alcohol we consume.

• How Salt Is Threatening Our Drinking Water

  Increasing levels of a common mineral is becoming a threat to source water quality, as well as the plants, animals, and humans who count on it.

• One Of The Country's Thirstiest Cities Now Has A Plan To Turn Waste Into Water

  A fast-growing capital city in one of the driest regions of the country is turning to an innovative wastewater treatment process to serve consumers well into the future.

• Consumers Seek PFAS-Free Products As Regulators Fight Water Contamination

  It seems that the attention on one of the world’s most high-profile drinking water and wastewater contaminant classes is doing some good, as manufacturers of all stripes work to eliminate the chemicals from their products.

• On The Bubble: How This Source Water Quality Innovation Stops Trash Headed To The Ocean

  One of the world’s most historically innovative water managers has now implemented a decidedly futuristic solution for protecting source water quality.

• Researchers Develop Method For Reclaiming Wastewater Phosphorus, Improving Soil

  In what could be a major victory in the wastewater war against nutrient pollution, cutting-edge research is now making it possible to recycle phosphorus from influent and put it to good use for farmers.

• Drink Up: As Consumers Embrace Wastewater Beer, A Solution To Drought Is Emerging

  One of the world’s favorite beverages could be the key to popularizing an effective, yet often misunderstood, wastewater treatment practice and better conserve previous drinking resources.

• 'Natural Mortality Event' For Fish In Rhode Island Draws Attention To Source Water Hypoxia

  Despite alarm over numerous reports of dead fish in Rhode Island rivers, experts have assured consumers that they are not the result of water contamination.

• Alpha Gone Astray: How To Ensure An Aeration Design Will Work

  By understanding the types of substances and processes that can negatively impact aeration performance, operators can ensure that their system works as intended.

• Diving In Deep: Do 30-Foot Aeration Tanks Make Sense For You?

  Today’s aeration equipment has overcome past concerns regarding energy efficiency and operating lifespan which are making deep aeration tanks an ideal solution for select wastewater applications.

• Driving Efficiency: Why Use Variable Frequency Drives On Slot Injector And Jet Mixing Pumps?

  Aeration pumps with variable frequency drives (VFDs) offer the ability to fine tune energy usage and eliminate excess power consumption, which can improve operational efficiency in wastewater treatment.

• 5,000-Mile Sargassum Bloom Approaches Florida, Forcing Adaptation

  As a record-breaking seaweed bloom approaches the coast of Florida, prompting concerns over the health of wildlife, the amount of nutrients discharged by wastewater operations, and climate change, curiosity is growing all around the world over what exactly this bloom is made of and what its long-term impact will be.

• Wineries, Worms, And Wastewater Combine To Relieve Drought Issues In California

  As water scarcity worsens in the West and beyond, one of the country’s thirstiest industries is embracing a pairing you thought you’d never see: wine and worms.

• Algae Could Be The Solution To Abandoned Mine Wastewater Problems

  A group of enterprising researchers have come up with a way to turn one of the world’s biggest wastewater issues into a new positive for environmental health.

• Following Historically Severe Drought, California Is Inundated With Massive Storms

  Following a year that was marked by drastic, historic drought conditions, California was hit with winter storms and widespread snow that dramatically shifted its ongoing battle against water scarcity.

• This Wastewater Plant Found A Surprising, Sustainable Solution To Its Daphnia Problems

  An innovative wastewater treatment team in Washington State has struck upon a decidedly natural way of removing a stubborn pest.

• Researchers Discover Surprisingly Simple, Cheap Method For Destroying PFAS

  Leading researchers may have made a significant breakthrough in the ongoing battle against one of the country’s most notorious — and notoriously difficult to treat — drinking water and wastewater contaminants.

• Many Believe Water Dowsing Works, Even If It’s Stranger Than Fiction

  One of the world’s oldest drinking water practices is one that still can’t be totally explained by science. But this Halloween, it’s worth embracing the decidedly mystical process of water dowsing.

• In Positive Trend For Water Quality, Great Barrier Reef Sets Record For Recovery

  In an all-too-rare pleasant surprise for the state of source water quality around the world, scientists have found that Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is trending in a healthy direction following years of bleaching and other harmful events to its ecosystem.

• Teen Wins Google Science Fair For Microplastic Removal Method

  An imaginative and enterprising young man may have just cracked the code for battling one of the world’s most pervasive and difficult-to-treat water contaminants, as 18-year-old Fionn Ferreira took home the top prize at the Google Science Fair for his technique of removing microplastics.

• Large Boat 'Scrubbers' Clean The Air At The Expense Of Source Water Quality

  While the use of exhaust “scrubbers” on seabound vessels may be benefitting air quality, it now seems that this trend is coming at the expense of the world’s source water.

• New Nutrient Reduction Project In Florida Could Provide National Model For Source Water Protection

  As warmer weather, increased flooding, and the continued use of nutrient-laden fertilizers all combine to drive harmful algal bloom in source water this season, a major project in Florida is exploring an innovative solution to the problem.

• Imperiled Source Water Body Could Be Environmental Savior As Source For Lithium

  While it’s well known that source water scarcity is presenting numerous drinking water problems across the country — forcing consumer cutbacks, interstate conflicts, and more — recent innovation has uncovered a silver lining, right in the heart of this historic drought.

• Skid-Mounted Aeration Systems: One Solution For Different Problems

  Learn how skid-mounted aeration systems can be a useful solution for many problems that occur throughout the wastewater treatment process.

• Jet-Mixed Anaerobic Processes For Large Tanks

  Resource recovery projects offer a beneficial way to extract value from organic waste streams. In the process, this waste is diverted from landfills, effectively reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. When sent to landfills, organic materials decompose and convert to carbon dioxide and methane, the latter of which is a short-lived climate pollutant that, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is roughly 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. Capturing methane prevents it from contributing to a warming planet.

• Nitrogen Removal At A Very Large Scale

  Nitrogen removal standards are a pressing concern for meat and poultry processing plants. Historically, food processing plants discharging to public waterways or directly to publicly owned wastewater treatment plants have faced challenges in meeting effluent limitation guidelines (ELGs) for nutrient removal. That may soon become even tougher yet with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcing in September 2021 that it has completed a detailed study of the meat and poultry products category and will initiate new rulemaking to revise the existing discharge standards for the industry.

• The Mass Transfer Coefficient And The Inspiration For A Name And Logo

  To many in the water treatment industry, Dr. W. Wesley Eckenfelder is considered the ‘godfather’ and a leading pioneer in the field of industrial wastewater management. Over the course of this career, he founded several environmental engineering companies and taught for over 30 years as a university professor. He also wrote more than 30 books.

• Vegetable Ally Could Turn Tide In War Against Microplastics

  Recent university research has identified an unlikely tool for battling one of source water’s most challenging nemeses.

• This St. Patrick’s Day Tradition Has Consumers Worried About Source Water Quality

  As St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated across the country, cities like Tampa Bay and Chicago are preparing to dye local source waterbodies a festive green. And that leads many consumers to wonder if this flashy tradition is damaging our source water.

• Artificial Snow At Beijing Olympics Takes Toll On Source Water, Environment

  As the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics reaches its conclusion, it may not be best remembered for its opening ceremony, international comradery, or fierce competition. Rather, the event’s water impact could be its most significant legacy.

• Innovative Tech Leverages The Power Of Bubbles To Reduce Growing Water Pollution

  As the damage being done to natural resources, particularly source-water bodies, continues to grow, more innovative solutions will be needed to protect wildlife and, ultimately, our drinking water. Now, a new solution leveraging a seemingly simple process has emerged to do just that.

• Meet The Solar-Powered Robotic Film That Could Be Our Best Chance To Fight Oil Spills

  Among the numerous threats to drinking water and wastewater quality presented by ongoing climate change, the increasing likelihood of oil spills at sea is one of the most challenging. As ABC News reported recently, with sea levels rising and stronger storms striking, these water-contamination events could become more likely than ever.

• Could A New Packaged Water Alternative Be Good For Municipal Water Too?

  As a water industry professional, you’ve no doubt seen the efforts of municipalities to promote tap water over bottled water as the original, sustainable solution. Many cities will hand out free reusable bottles to promote the drinking water their utility produces at events and reduce plastic littering streets and waterways. Your municipality may have participated in similar PR campaigns. Philadelphia, like many large cities, has created a website dedicated to its’ Drink Philly Tap cause.

• For Western Towns New Water Infrastructure Spending Can’t Arrive Soon Enough

  The new Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will invest $1 billion over the next five years in water recycling programs for the Western United States. As reported by the WateReuse Association, this is historic investment over the roughly $65 million per year water recycling initiatives had previously received through the Bureau of Reclamation.

• The Single Malt That’s Breathing New Life Into Scottish Waters

  In a small inlet off the coast of Northern Scotland, known as the Dornoch Firth, there’s been an effort to repopulate oysters that were extinct from overfishing. What’s special about this effort is that these oysters are being called upon to drink whiskey and help combat climate change.

• Big Business Starts To Get Serious About Water Scarcity

  As water resources are nearing a critical point, with population growth and environmental factors putting the squeeze on supplies, water scarcity has been an emerging concern across the globe.

• Getting Ready To Reopen? Not So Fast

  As COVID-19 vaccination rates continue to inch upward across the U.S., office buildings and other businesses that remained closed are now springing back to life. However, because nobody has been around — to flush toilets, wash their hands, and drink from the water fountains — the water inside these facilities that remained stagnant long enough to harm those who return, if not properly addressed.

• Something For Everyone In This Stack Of Water Conservation Tips

  With temperatures rising and summer just around the corner, water meters are about to be speeding up. Not only can that get expensive, but water utilities in many parts of the country are struggling to keep up with demand.

• Looking Skyward For Microplastics

  Microplastics are a hot topic these days. Spawned by everything from plastic bags to laundered clothing, the volume of tiny particles that pollute our oceans has exploded in recent years.

• Ahead Of Its Time: 2,000-Year-Old Mayan Drinking Water Treatment Solution Still Holds Up

  Modern technology is a big reason that municipal utilities can provide clean and safe drinking water for customers, but even contemporary water professionals might be awestruck at the effectiveness of some ancient Mayan treatment systems.

• CFD: ‘Paint By Numbers’ Insight Into Fluid Mixing Performance

  Here are some insights on CFD technology, its specific use in wastewater basins, and inside tips on how to apply it to greatest advantage across a variety of processes.

• 6 Steps To More Holistic Wastewater Aeration Efficiency

  Here are six important considerations for keeping new or upgraded designs from casting a dark shadow on aeration cost, convenience, and consistency.

• Harnessing 20 Years Of Evolution In Wastewater Bioprocess Aeration

  Cost-efficient aeration still remains an underlying challenge. This Q&A article provides a look at how the industry arrived at today’s opportunities and where it’s headed for the future.

• Using Drop-In Aeration Systems To Address Rising Oxygen Demands

  Keeping pace with changing industrial wastewater treatment demands can raise multiple issues of oxygen demand, capital cost, and operating expense, often without the flexibility of taking basins out of service to upgrade to new levels of performance. Fortunately, there are alternatives for delivering more oxygen to treat more water.

• Humans Take The Primate Prize In Water Efficiency

  When you think about water efficiency, it might be difficult to fathom that humans have an advantage over their closest living animal relatives. However, a new study shows that people use as much as half the water that chimpanzees and other apes use daily.

• Florida Hack Underscores The Need For Robust Water Security

  Cybersecurity at municipal water utilities has been a growing concern in recent years, but the latest hack into a small Florida city’s water supply is shining a spotlight on the scope of the vulnerability and the challenges of preventing something similar from happening most everywhere else.

• Increasingly Colorful Rivers A Bad Sign

  You might not be able to tell with a casual look, but rivers across the U.S. have been changing color. And that’s not necessarily a good thing.

• Taking A Trip To Mars Just Got A Bit Easier

  Surviving a trip to Mars will be a tricky proposition. Based on the distance and resources needed for any journey, it will be necessary for astronauts to produce some of their own supplies, like fuel and water, after they arrive on the surface of our closest planetary neighbor.

• Fishing Boats And Rail Cars: It’s What Artificial Reefs Are Made Of

  Just off the coast of Georgetown, SC, a retired 65-foot fishing boat was recently sunk 50 feet underwater, where it joins a barge and nearly two dozen Army vehicles. Off the coast of Charleston, a short distance to the south, eight concrete towers of various heights have been installed on the sea floor.

• How The Pandemic Is Driving A Boom In Pollution

  Switzerland spends more than $200 million annually to combat littering, but this year its cleanup efforts feature a new type of rubbish: discarded face masks used for COVID-19 protection.

• Could Beer Hold The Key To Fighting Red Tide?

  Few things will upset your vacation plans to the Gulf of Mexico quicker than news that a red tide is set to greet you at the shoreline. And that angst extends to restaurants, shops, and other businesses in the area, which take a beating when these harmful algal blooms, or HABs, drive away beachgoers.

• The Hurdles Of Nurdles

  Their name might sound like something out of a cartoon, but nurdles are causing quite the stir.

• Emerging Approaches To Slash Agricultural Dependence On Water

  Droughts and water scarcity are making it increasingly difficult to farm for a growing global population. And while those supply factors could be disastrous if not addressed, newer technology applications are tackling the demand side of the equation.

• Colleges Look To Wastewater To Get A Jump On Coronavirus

  Since the coronavirus started sweeping through the U.S., multiple research efforts have gotten underway to figure out how wastewater can provide clues about its spread. Now, some colleges and universities are planning to put wastewater under a microscope as an early warning system when students come back to campus this fall.

• Distillery Wastewater Byproducts Fuel Sustainability

  For distilleries, high levels of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), nitrogen, total dissolved solids (TDS), and total suspended solids (TSS) put extra pressure on optimal biological treatment requirements. Here are some techniques that can help distillers put a little extra money in the bank while meeting the challenges of environmental discharge requirements.

• Are You On The Hook For U.S. EPA Effluent Limitations Guidelines?

  While wastewater effluent standards mandated by the U.S. EPA and individual states eventually come down to a number, it pays to understand how those standards are established and the challenges of meeting them in real-world applications. Here is a look at the multiple pieces of that puzzle, including their wastewater treatment implications for industrial-scale meat and poultry processing operations.

• Here’s To Microbrews And POTWs

  As local breweries grow in popularity, their initial focus on hand-crafted recipes can quickly shift to business realities such as the costs and logistics of process wastewater treatment. Publicly owned treatment works (POTWs), brewery owners, and consulting engineers all have roles to play in making that trajectory smoother for up-and-coming craft and microbrewers.

• How To Balance Dissolved Oxygen Levels For Maximum Efficiency

  While dissolved oxygen (DO) levels are critical considerations in aerobic wastewater treatment processes, not every application maintains a consistent level of demand. How industrial wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) track and fulfill those needs make a big difference in the optimum performance and cost-efficiency of their operations.

• How The Pandemic Created A Billion-Dollar Stale Beer Crisis

  As craft beer was embraced as an affordable luxury by many Americans in recent years, the number of breweries has exploded. However, that segment of the industry, as well as traditional brewers, are taking a massive hit during the current coronavirus pandemic.

• From Ancient To New Age: Stormwater Management Solutions Run The Gamut

  Controlling stormwater to prevent flooding and pollution is a never-ending task in many places. And officials are finding just as many solutions in ancient engineering as they are in modern technology.

• Trash Magnifies Flooding Risk In The Big Easy

  New Orleans may have survived Hurricane Katrina, but newer stresses are impeding the region’s ability to process stormwater runoff to prevent flooding and groundwater contamination. Storms, which are dumping more water into New Orleans than ever amid climate change, are the big contributor. However, humans aren’t making things any easier.

• Searching For Water To Reach The Stars

  It may be decades or longer before technology allows the colonization of other planets, but space exploration for one of the most vital resources — water — is already in full swing.

• New Movie May be Harbinger Of PFAS Litigation

  Two decades ago, the public was captivated by Julia Roberts’ portrayal of Erin Brockovich, a film about a struggling single mother who goes after big energy for polluting groundwater with hexavalent chromium. When the dust settled, the result was a class-action lawsuit settlement for more than $300 million.

• Ocean Life Threatened By Oxygen Exodus

  Oceans across the globe are losing oxygen at an unprecedented rate, which is putting marine life in a serious bind, according to a new report released by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

• How Water Is Helping Solar To Overcome Land Barriers

  Expect to see more solar arrays sitting atop waterways.

• Consumers Enjoy Thriving Water Retail Marketplace

  The environmental problems caused by single-use plastic water bottles continue to make headlines, but that hasn’t slowed down water-related business ventures.

• Rise Of The Jellyfish

  After roaming the oceans for more than a half billion years, jellyfish may finally be poised to overtake Earth’s largest bodies of water.

• Neutralizing Dissolved Solids Aeration Concerns

  The presence of dissolved solids presents both physical and financial challenges for aeration diffusers in any wastewater treatment operation and can be particularly problematic in high-concentration industrial and food-processing applications. Here are some warning signs, insights, and solutions for coping with conditions that can lead to excessive dissolved solids accumulation.

• DO Or Die — Dealing With Aeration Basin Oxygen Deficiencies

  Managing the treatment of wastewater — especially industry-generated wastewater that can elevate dissolved oxygen (DO) demands far beyond those of municipal/residential applications — is hard enough. Trying to do so during upset conditions is enough to put any water treatment professional on edge. Here are several preventive and remedial options to keep in mind before or after DO readings go haywire.

• Simple Aeration Header Cleaning System Allows A Food Processing Facility To Get Back On Track

  On the afternoon of May 19, 2011 KLa Systems was contacted by one of their customers located in Virginia. The customer stated that their aeration basin was running at near 0 mg/l dissolved oxygen (DO) residual with their air supply blowers running at 100% of capacity. Based on the conversation it was determined that a KLa field service technician was needed on site immediately.

• Beware Of Problematic Wastewater Aeration Additives

  Too much of a good thing can create new problems as quickly as it resolves old ones. Maintaining a proper balance of antifoaming agents and polymer additives is critical for sustaining the appropriate air bubble size and distribution needed to achieve dissolved oxygen (DO) requirements for neutralizing high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in many industrial and food processing wastewater applications.

• Making The Best Of A Bad O₂ Situation

  A balanced wastewater process is a beautiful thing — plenty of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), plenty of O₂, and all those hungry little microbes are fat and happy. But what can be done when dissolved oxygen (DO) takes a nosedive and there’s not enough O₂ to satisfy industrial and food processing BOD? Here are some preparations to consider before wastewater treatment goes completely out of whack.

• Heading To The Corner Bar … For A Water?

  What do a drinking establishment and an eco-friendly writing utensil have in common? They both reflect new and unconventional ways that water is being injected into commerce.

• Promising Solar Technology Would Expand Drinking Water Access

  Several advancements in solar technology may provide the answer to drinking water production in distressed regions of the world.

• Going Bold To Shine A Spotlight On Stormwater Pollution

  Too many dog owners think their pets’ waste easily breaks down in nature and is helpful to plants, so they leave it on the ground. The truth is that dog poo and other pet waste is loaded with germs such as e. coli and giardia that make people sick as well as nutrients that can fuel problematic algae blooms.

• Location, Location — The Key To Aeration

  As with any industrial process, the right tool for the job depends on the nature of the task at hand. In aerobic wastewater treatment, that optimal choice often comes down to a balance between the biological and financial demands of the application. Either way, here are several performance comparisons of how multiple aeration methods and locations stack up in industrial wastewater treatment applications.

• A Lid For Every Pot: Retrofitting To Meet New Aeration Challenges

  Aeration for industrial and municipal wastewater treatment involves more than simply moving volumes of air through a treatment basin. It really comes down to creating and sustaining an optimal oxygenated environment for microorganisms to convert oxygen consuming compounds into CO₂ and water. Here are some key considerations for making better retrofit decisions about upgrading existing basin capacity and efficiency with jet aeration.

• Aeration Considerations: What To Know Before You Buy

  Unlike most municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) applications, industrial wastewater can vary widely from one application to another, even within the same plant, depending on the process being run. Industrial wastewater professionals — especially those facing specific challenges or planned volume increases — can benefit from comparing key points of differentiation in jet aeration system options before making any upgrade.

• Water Presents An Alternative Solution To Alternative Energy Storage

  Looking for a way to store massive amounts of excess green energy? Water may provide the answer.

• Translating Aeration Efficiency Into Dollars

  The hardest aspects of comparing efficiencies among submerged aeration technologies are the many variables in capital expense (CAPEX), operating expense (OPEX), and complexity of wastewater makeup. Instead, consider comparing the physics of different aeration technologies and the relative costs associated with them. Here are five major categories for evaluating industrial wastewater aeration efficiency.

• How Lost Shipping Containers Factor Into The Global Ocean Pollution Problem

  It took decades to solve the mystery of Garfield phones that were polluting French beaches. Turns out a load of the novelty item, modeled after the popular orange cartoon character, was slowly being purged from a shipping container that had been lost at sea. That begs the question: Are shipping containers like these polluting global waterways at alarming rates?

• New York Launches Campaign To Fight Pipe-Jamming Fatbergs

  Long thought to be an issue that plagued the United Kingdom most acutely, the scourge of fatbergs has been making itself known stateside.

• Austin Traces Root Of Drinking Water Odor To Zebra Mussel Infestation

  An unusual culprit has been identified as the source behind rotten smelling water in Austin, Texas. Though the source of the smell was surprising, at least it wasn’t too difficult to deal with.

• Flint Returns To Machine Learning Solution For Lead Line Replacement

  The fallout from Flint, Michigan’s lead-contaminated drinking water has been far-flung and long-lasting.

• Wastewater Service Charges Continue To Rise

  Wastewater service charges vary considerably across EPA regions and States. That’s one of the key findings from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies’ (NACWA) Cost of Clean Water Index. If you live in Montana, Wyoming or the Dakotas (EPA Region 8), your average service charge of $261 a year is considerably less than the $884 your fellow Americans up in New England (EPA Region 1) are paying.  As you can imagine, much of the difference is to do with population size and geography.

• How The EPA Reacts To A Government Shutdown

  Did you know that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had a published Contingency Plan in anticipation of the current government shutdown? I guess in hindsight, you would have expected it for an agency with 134 facilities dotted across the country. And in fact, it’s required by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under Circular A-11, Section 124 that all government agencies have plans for an orderly shutdown “in the event of an absence of appropriations.”

• Climate Change Report Identifies Myriad Needs For Water Industry

  The federal government recently released its fourth National Climate Assessment which focuses on the impact climate change will have on the U.S. economy over the next century. As mandated by the Global Change Research Act of 1990, the U.S. Global Change Research Program takes a comprehensive look at climate change and its effects on the natural environment, agriculture, energy production and use, land and water resources, transportation, human health and welfare, human social systems and biological diversity.

• Groundwater Scarcer Than Previously Thought

  According to the U.S. Geological Survey, groundwater supplies half of all drinking water to the U.S. population, nearly all of it to our rural population and over 50 billion gallons per day for agricultural needs. But according to new research out of UC Santa Barbara, supplies may be more limited than previously thought.

• Ridding The Oceans Of Plastic By 2040

  Last month, The Ocean Cleanup launched its first plastics cleanup system (System 001) in an area of the Pacific between Hawaii and California named the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It constitutes the world’s largest accumulation zone, known as a gyre, of ocean plastics. Boyan Slat, CEO of The Ocean Cleanup, estimates that half of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch will be removed from the Ocean within five years as additional systems are applied until it achieves full-scale deployment.

• Data Modeling Helps Detroit Avoid $500M CSO Infrastructure Investment

  Five years ago, the city of Detroit, MI, filed the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history at an estimated $18 to 20B. At the time, there was a lot of speculation in the water market as to how the city would continue to serve its citizens with viable water and sanitary sewer services. Ultimately Detroit reached a deal with neighboring Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb counties to create the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), a new regional water and sewer authority. Spring forward to today and despite Detroit’s population continuing to dwindle, it’s water and sewer provision under the GLWA has recovered significantly.

• Modern Invention Pulls Water Out Of Thin Air

  When you think about areas of the world where people have limited access to clean water, I’m guessing hot, sunny, arid climates come to mind. In an interesting twist, a couple of innovations are using those exact conditions to create potable water.

• Contact Lens Becomes Latest Pollutant In Wastewater

  The latest disposable causing a stir in the wastewater treatment world is the contact lens. Researchers from Arizona State University recently presented their findings at an American Chemical Society event showing that contact lenses flushed down the toilet or washed down the drain can pass through wastewater treatment plants and accumulate in sewage sludge. As sludge is often applied on land for disposal and fertilizing, macro- and microplastics from lenses enter terrestrial ecosystems.

• Tackling Nonpoint Source Nutrient Pollution

  Recently, Ohio Governor John Kasich issued an executive order allowing the Ohio Department of Agriculture to set requirements for storing, handling and applying manure as well as nutrient management plans in an effort to reduce nutrient pollution and algal bloom growth in Lake Erie. The order is set to affect 7,000 farms across 2 million acres.

• Red Tide Algal Bloom Hits Florida Beaches

  The annual Lake Erie harmful algal bloom forecast was recently released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), predicting that western Lake Erie will experience a harmful algal bloom (HAB) of cyanobacteria this summer. The bloom is expected to be smaller than in 2017 but larger than the bloom in 2016.

• Sniffer Dogs Now Being Used To Detect Water Main Leaks

  Sniffer dogs have been used for a while in the oil and gas industry to find leaks. But recently, dogs have begun to be used to find leaks in water mains.

• Billions Of Gallons Of Treated Water Irrigates U.S. Lawns

  For most of the United States, we’ve reached the time of year where Americans desire to maintain a perfectly green lawn starts to be tested by the warmer and dryer summer months. From the water industry’s perspective, it’s staggering just how many billions of gallons of treated water ends up being sprayed across our hallowed front and back yards in maintaining a full and aesthetically-pleasing lawn.

• Start-Up And Operating Tips For Jet Aeration Systems

  Jet aeration systems are extremely efficient due to their high alpha factor and clean water oxygen transfer performance. Proper start-up, operation, and maintenance will ensure reliable service and a long life.

• Energy Savings With Jet Aeration: The Devil Is In The Details

  Conserving energy and saving costs are always on the minds of wastewater professionals. Aeration accounts for more than 50 percent of electrical usage at most treatment plants. Improved aeration efficiency will always work toward the goals of saving energy and reducing operating costs.

• How To Boost Industrial Plant Capacity By Retrofitting Aeration Tanks

  As industries expand, they typically need to increase the capacity of their wastewater treatment facilities. Increasingly stringent regulatory requirements, such as lower nitrogen limits, may also signal the need to boost treatment capacity. Installing additional tanks and larger equipment not only adds capital costs but increases operating costs as well.

• PFAS Contamination Continues To Be An Issue Of Concern

  A couple of weeks ago, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Scott Pruitt called PFAS groundwater contamination “a national priority” and pledged action at an EPA national PFAS leadership summit.

• New York City Sludge Stalls In Alabama

  Writing for Mental Floss in 2015, Emily Becker finished her article on the twenty-year export of New York City’s wastewater sludge to Colorado with the words “there are no plans for the New York City poop train to leave the station again.” Fast forward to 2018 and the wheels are once again rolling.

• Say No To The Straw

  It is almost too heart-breaking to watch. In the YouTube video, marine biologists from Texas A&M University extract a plastic straw from a sea turtles’ nose as the creature winces in pain. Today that video has been viewed more than 22 million times, drawing attention to the hazard that plastic straws present to animals and our environment.

• Treatment Facilities Celebrate World Water Day

  Saturday, March 24th was a busy day at the Brightwater Clean-Water Treatment Facility in Woodinville, WA, just outside Seattle. The Utility’s Education and Community Center was full of family-oriented science experiments and art projects with organized tours of the wastewater treatment plant taking place throughout the day. All in recognition of International World Water Day which had occurred two days before.

• Naegleria Fowleri And The Hot Spring

  For many people, hot springs conjure up thoughts of cleansing and purity. For centuries, humans have visited hot springs to relax and recover. But as with any natural water body, hot springs can also exhibit biota that can infect and in severe cases kill.

• Acing The Alpha Factor In Aeration

  Aeration is the heart of every activated sludge system, as well as the most energy-intensive process. When designing or modifying a wastewater treatment facility, the aeration system design will have lasting impacts on effectiveness, capital and operating costs.

• Gulf Of Mexico’s Hypoxic Zone Larger Than Ever

  Last year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recorded the largest hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico since monitoring began 32 years ago. Hypoxic waters, often referred to as dead zones, have dissolved oxygen concentrations of less than 2-3 ppm. They are caused by eutrophication or excess nutrients that promote algal growth in water bodies. As algae decompose, they consume oxygen creating dead zones.

• Water Industry World Records

  You may have read recently that Orange County Water District (OCWD) and Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) set a Guinness World Record for the most wastewater recycled to drinking water in 24 hours. The record attempt kicked off on February 15^th 2018 to mark the 10^th anniversary since the districts’ Groundwater Replenishment System was launched and culminated with more than 100 million gallons per day (MGD) being produced.

• Jet Aeration Systems: A Tool For Improved SBR Operation

  Sequencing Batch Reactors (SBRs) are a variation of the activated sludge process that combine treatment steps into a single basin. Based on a fill-and-draw method, major phases of the SBR process include a cycle of fill (with or without aeration), react, settle, decant, and idle. Today, successful flow control strategies have made SBRs state-of-the-art technology. SBRs are commonly used today and are especially beneficial for many industrial applications.

• DC Water’s Unconventional Approach To Utility Management

  Over the past 10 years, DC Water has become the harbinger of the modern water utility. It’s often unconventional approach to tackling age-old problems usually elicits one of two responses from other utility professionals. The first response is one of resignation — if only I had the budget that size permits, I’d be able to do similar things. And the second is one of awe — there’s no way I have the amount of gumption to convince regulators or customers that I have a better way.

• What Happens To The Chesapeake Bay Now?

  One of the great turnaround stories in the history of our nation’s water bodies is that of the Chesapeake Bay. Since 1976 when the Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) first undertook a comprehensive study of the Bay, efforts to address excessive nitrogen and phosphorous degradation of water quality have steadily improved the Bay’s complex ecosystem.

• Does Public Outreach Help Or Hinder Acceptance Of Recycled Wastewater As A Drinking Water Source?

  When California’s AB2022 went into effect earlier this year, allowing the bottling of advanced purified reused water for educational purposes, Orange County Water District (OCWD) and Orange County Sanitation District began the #GetOverIt! campaign to continue to push for consumer acceptance of recycled water systems.

• Water Is One Of The Few Issues To Unite Voters

  Unless you spent the last election cycle hiding under a rock (and no blame if you did), you are no doubt aware of the growing rift between the two major political parties of the United States. As reported in The Atlantic citing polling from the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, those who identify as Democrats are becoming more liberal and those identifying as Republicans swing ever more conservative.

• Americans’ Attitude To Their Water Changes With The Weather

  Weather plays an important role in how Americans think about water. And I don’t mean when it’s raining, we decide to grab a raincoat.

• In River Pools Offer City Residents Swimming Alternatives

  It wasn’t so long ago that city rivers were some of the more polluted bodies of water on the planet. In 1969 for example, the Cuyahoga River famously caught fire after years of unabated pollution, spurring an environmental movement to clean up the nation’s waterways.

• Water Intense Meat Production Processes Will Have To Change

  A few years back, the Secretary of the International Farm Management Association (IFMA) announced that if the world’s population consumed food in the same manner as the citizens of the U.S., we would need 6 planet earths to keep up with demand. Now we know that the traditional diet of hamburgers, steaks and all-you-can-eat buffets across America’s heartland is slowly being diversified by a growing number of eating options, many far greener, i.e. Salad Works. 

• How To Optimize Aeration At MBR Plants

  Membrane bioreactor (MBR) plants are found all around the world, serving as a go-to method for treating wastewater through a combination of processes. But as this technology gains popularity, operations must contend with the inherent aeration problems it presents.

• Tackling Combined Sewage Overflows (CSOs) In New York

  New York City treats 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater a day across its 14 wastewater treatment plants. The city has seen a precipitous drop in fecal coliforms, with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reporting that fecal coliforms per 100 mL of water has fallen from 1,000 in 1972 when the Clean Water Act was passed to closer to 10 as of 2009.

• Do You Pay 300 Times What You Could For Water?

  On January 1^st 2017, Philadelphia’s controversial “soda tax” went into effect, adding a 1.5-cents-per-ounce on sugary beverages sold in the city. Several cities across the U.S. have enacted similar taxes in a bid to battle diet-related diseases such as obesity and fund more healthy activities within their communities.

• Green City, Clean Waters Plan Puts Quality First In Philly

  Cities all over the country have been prioritizing clean water through a variety of different programs and the City of Brotherly Love is among the ranks.

• As Waters Warm, Questions Swirl Around Health Of The Great Barrier Reef

  The Great Barrier Reef — a chain of 2,900 individual, underwater corals comprising the world’s biggest structure made by living organisms — is one of the most visible victims of climate change.

• Over Decades, Merrimack River Transforms

  The Merrimack River is considered one of the major beneficiaries of the Clean Water Act of 1972.

• Beach Cleanups Energize People Around The Globe

  With sandal-and-swimsuit season right around the corner, policymakers are raising awareness about the problem of beach pollution.

• Water Concerns Unite Polarized Voters

  In a nation of red states and blue states, water policy is an issue that often dissolves party lines.

• Boston Harbor Overhaul: A Water Cleanup Success Story

  Boston Harbor used to be an icon of water pollution in the U.S. But a massive cleanup effort — one of the biggest restoration feats in the nation’s history — has revived the harbor in the last three decades.

• Rhode Island Wastewater Plants Key To Water Quality Reversal

  Despite evidence that often points to the contrary, many bodies of water around the country stand as prime examples of how environmental quality can be improved with the proper will and effort.

• Wastewater Sustainability Brings Opportunity And Challenge

  As more wastewater treatment facilities focus on ways to cut costs and improve environmental stewardship through energy reuse and sustainable practices, the industry is becoming a leader in the world of tomorrow.

• Getting The Most Out Of Biosolids

  Although they may appear crude on the surface, biosolids represent the future of wastewater treatment. This organic substance contains energy and nutrients, and thus the potential for resource recovery and increased energy efficiency by wastewater treatment operations.

• Thinking Of Donating? Consider These Charitable Organizations

  Those who are philanthropically-minded need look no further for a cause than that of water. After all, this is a fundamental aspect of human existence and one that is shockingly scarce in some parts of the world.

• Navajo Water Project Provides Clean Water To Native Americans

  It may seem farfetched, but the reality is that many Americans don’t have regular access to clean drinking water.

• Weighing The Value Of Biosolids As Fertilizer

  Wastewater treatment plants process tons and tons of sludge every year and they have to contend with the question of what to do with it. Increasingly, biosolids are looked at as an opportunity to help the planet.

• Where To Find Money In Biogas

  On the surface, wastewater treatment operations don’t appear to be handling precious material. But these facilities are actually processing a great deal of value every day.

• WOTUS Appears Vulnerable To Trump Repeal

  On his way out of office, Barack Obama made a final effort to bolster the Waters of the United States rule (WOTUS), which has drawn controversy since it was issued in 2015.

• From Drought To Flooding: California Struggles With Turnaround

  In a drastic about-face, California has gone from historically desperate drought conditions to an inundation of water that has brought its own set of problems.

• Rescuing Failed Aeration Systems

  In wastewater treatment, aeration systems are more than just critical. They can be seen as the central nerve of the whole operation, the part of the process that usually costs the most to run and can cause the most havoc when it malfunctions.

• The Climb To The Top

  Back in the late 1980s when market drivers created the cost-effective option of using above-ground circular tanks for industrial activated sludge processes, there were some early valuable lessons for both aeration equipment manufacturers and plant operators.

• Tips For A Water-Saving Holiday Season

  The holiday season is a time to gather with loved ones, consider the things we are thankful for, and remind ourselves about what is truly important.

• The Real History Of The First Thanksgiving

  Water supplies remain our most valuable and necessary resource. Overused and often contaminated throughout most of history, water was no less of a concern back in the 1600s when the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock than it is for us today.

• Fighting Foam

  Just like a poorly poured pint of beer can wreak havoc on your coffee table, excessive foam formation in aeration tanks can create operational challenges for both municipal and industrial treatment plant operators. In municipal plants, foam formation is common during secondary treatment startup, as the young microbiology is unable to breakdown surfactants associated with soap, shampoo, etc.

• How Much Water Is Really Used In Food And Beverage Production?

  People concerned about their water footprint often make an effort to turn the faucet off quickly, take shorter showers, and cut back on watering the lawn.

• Water Key To Success In Pro Football

  The real MVP in professional football? Water.

• Drinking Up The Election: How Presidential Candidates Are Addressing Water Concerns

  Election season is in full swing and while it may not be the “hottest” topic being debated amongst presidential candidates, the topic of water isn’t being ignored as we approach November. Several candidates have addressed the challenges plaguing water and wastewater systems nationwide.

• How To Know You’re Working With The Right Technology Provider

  Choosing a technology provider to supply a solution for water or wastewater treatment is no small task. Frankly, there’s a lot at stake, from large sums of money to the efficacy of an entire operation hinging on the right decision. But with so many options out there, what qualities do you need to look for to guarantee you’re making the right choice? To get an answer, Water Online spoke with Fred Siino from KLa Systems.

• It's Not Too Late To Add These Five Water-Related Books To Your Summer Reading List

  Summer reading list a bit dry? Drink up these books on the world’s greatest resources — water.

• 4 Key Design Criteria For Jet Mixers

  Jet mixers are widely used in both municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities to blend the plant influent and suspend light organic solids in circular equalization tanks. 

• “Energy Neutral” Is More Than Just A Buzzword For WWTPs

  Could all wastewater treatment plants someday become energy neutral? The goal may sound unobtainable, but with the right technology, investments, and innovation it may not be. According to the American Biogas Council, the wastewater sector consumes 22 terawatt hours of electrical energy each year, but has the potential to generate 851 trillion BTU of energy annually.

• Becoming A “Water Resource Recovery Facility” Offers Financial Benefit

  While the term “Water Resource Recovery Facility” may seem like nothing more than a trendy phrase, the name change represents a distinct shift in the role that wastewater utilities can now play.