Water Online Radio

41. An Improved Approach To Turnkey Disinfection Solutions 10/18/2019

    Engineered skid systems provide a compact configuration chemical feed at water and wastewater treatment plants. While these all-in-one metering pump solutions bring tremendous value to their users, traditional platforms have their pitfalls.

42. A Fresh Take On Biological Wastewater Treatment 10/18/2019

    Improving wastewater treatment efficiency requires some type of change in the physics, biology, or economics of the process. In this Water Talk interview, Jeff Kelly, Red Valve’s senior product manager for the Tideflex Aeration and Mixing System, describes how to change all three — to the tune of a cost-saving 50-percent reduction in applied airflow! The Tideflex approach uses a unique diffuser design to support on/off aeration and mixing cycles without clogging. Managed by oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) readings, the novel technique supports a biological selection process that encourages the exclusive growth of facultative anaerobes — the most resilient wastewater microbes, which get rid of phosphates and nitrates without producing hydrogen sulfide.

43. Cutting Sewage Problems Down To Size 10/18/2019

    For the past 10 to 15 years, wastewater treatment operators have faced increased clogging issues related to baby wipes, disposable diapers, rags, and other foreign debris. At the same time, the use of low-flow toilets has increased the solids concentration of sewage flow. This discussion with Brad Jernigan and Christina Foster from Pentair addresses differences between how grinder pumps (low flow/high head) and chopper pumps (higher flow/lower head) can benefit that situation. They also compare the advantages of how axial-cutter design vs. radial-cutter design can aid in shredding large debris, bit by bit, without sucking it into the body of the pump where it can clog and shut down the unit.

44. New Technology Stretches Wastewater Infrastructure 10/17/2019

    Population growth, stricter regulations, and increased energy costs continue to exert significant pressure on municipal wastewater operations. But rather than investing in tired, old solutions such as the construction of additional concrete tanks, water system managers are seeking new ways to stretch the limits of their infrastructure.

45. Advanced Sewage Grinders Reduce Wastewater Burden 10/16/2019

    Reducing the solids coming into wastewater facilities is a daily grind for plant managers, but advanced technology is making it easier on those professionals.

46. Fixing Aging Infrastructure With Minimal Disruption 10/16/2019

    Coping with service or repairs to aging pipeline infrastructure without disrupting customers is always a challenge. Chris Vazzana of Hydra-Stop has a better idea that includes the use of insertion valves, which enable water utilities to install a permanent valve into a live water main without ever shutting down the line. His discussion with the Water Talk moderators at WEFTEC 2019 details how the initial perception of insertion valves as a temporary measure is no longer true, and how these time-saving devices are now permanent assets that have passed AWWA testing, including burst testing and 500-cycle testing. Chris also describes the company’s newest 24” insertion valve, with an anecdote about saving a utility and 10,000 of its customers from a disruptive service shutdown.

47. A Modern Approach To Modular Plant Design 10/15/2019

    Providing water services to private developments and small rural communities has always been a challenge. The cost of running pipe and installing pump stations across long distances can make or break a project and mean the difference in being able to offer affordable, high-quality drinking water and wastewater treatment.

48. Advanced Submersible Pumps A Solution To Messy Wastewater Problems 10/15/2019

    Clogging continues to be the biggest headache at municipal wastewater treatment operations, while rising energy costs and stricter government controls have been emerging as larger issues. The transportation of waste, however, is a rapidly growing concern as a higher solids content is being driven by cutbacks in water consumption. The increase in fibrous materials is challenging for both the pump hydraulics and the pipe works. In this Water Talk interview, Nicole Osborne, product manager for submersible wastewater pumps with Grundfos, discusses advanced technology that can help plant managers successfully tackle all these issues as well as address other water and wastewater demands.

49. Satisfying LCR Compliance Measurement And Management 10/15/2019

    The challenges of complying with the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) and other emerging regulations in a post-Flint world are high-priority for a variety of organizations — from government agencies, to public water systems, to individual facilities such as schools. This Water Talk discussion with Megan Glover of 120 Water Audit addresses the scope and execution of those challenges. It covers everything from providing point-of-use testing kits for sampling individual water spigots to managing overall Safe Drinking Water Act and LCR compliance through cloud-based software. Most important, it gives context to practical solutions for the many utilities and facilities coping with some level of lead exceedance.

50. Protecting Pump Motors In Water/Wastewater Operations 10/15/2019

    With electric motors playing such key roles in water and wastewater treatment and water distribution operations, protecting those motors is fundamental to keeping processes flowing smoothly. In this Water Talk interview, Steve Zbytowski, product manager for motor protection and soft starters with Eaton, shares his insights on ground-fault identification that helps maintenance personnel pinpoint exactly where the fault is and react to remedy the situation quickly. He also relates how complementary Internet of Things (IoT) network communication improves data collection, making it easier to manage field-monitoring and troubleshooting efforts and improve the overall effectiveness and efficiency of motor operation.