Drinking Water Case Studies and White Papers

  1. The Science Of Mixing And Improving Water Quality In Water Storage Tanks 8/6/2015

    Water storage tanks and reservoirs are a critical component of distribution systems, yet they can pose a significant challenge for water utilities as they often have a negative impact on water quality. Water quality problems can develop due to low turnover and/or inadequate mixing resulting in short-circuiting. While the benefits of maximizing tank turnover to minimize water age are generally understood, it is only recently that extensive research on mixing characteristics of storage tanks has been undertaken that has provided insight on what causes water quality problems and expertise in designing inlet/outlet pipe configurations, or mixing systems, to achieve complete mixing and maintain water quality.

  2. VOCs For Non-Scientists: Understanding, Detecting, Removing 3/14/2022

    This introduction to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) will discuss what qualifies a compound as a VOC, how to detect them, and how to treat and remove these chemicals from the water system.

  3. Hot Springs Combats Aging Infrastructure Challenges With Xylem Digital Solutions 4/30/2025

    The City of Hot Springs, Arkansas knows the challenges of dealing with aging infrastructure well. The city’s 143-year-old system covers 923 miles of water mains in rocky terrain, making it difficult to detect leaks. That is why the utility’s water department decided to act. 

  4. Finding A More Affordable Migration Path To Net Zero Leakage 8/16/2021

    Whether decision-makers consider it ultimately attainable or not, there is something positive to be said about striving toward ‘net zero leakage’ in water distribution systems saddled with high non-revenue-water (NRW) losses. The key is taking affordable steps — like those described below — toward identifying and mitigating the most egregious water loss locations in a distribution system, based on readily accessible data.

  5. 16 Years Of The Octave: A Legacy Of Leadership In Ultrasonic Water Measurement 5/7/2025

    The Octave Ultrasonic Meter is celebrating 16 years of trusted service, and it’s more than a product milestone. It’s a recognition of the thousands of utilities that have embraced smart water management and chosen a path of long-term value.

  6. Treatment Of Cyanotoxins In Drinking Water With Activated Carbon 9/24/2014

    Recently, cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins have become a high profile drinking water quality concern in both the United States and abroad. The combination of weather conditions, agricultural phosphate runoff, and other factors has produced water conditions that have favored the formation of cyanobacteria in surface water supplies.

  7. Monitoring Raw Water Turbidity – What's Important! 3/27/2018

    Monitoring raw water turbidity is important to inform the operator of significant changes in water quality, especially turbidity, allowing the operator to make process chemistry changes to respond to the increasing raw water turbidity. Variations in raw water present turbidity measurement challenges different from those found elsewhere in a typical treatment plant.

  8. ATLC Designs Water System 25 Days Ahead Of Schedule 2/17/2023

    Learn how OpenFlows WaterGems and STAAD helped to optimize designs while saving costs. 

  9. Joint Restraint vs. Thrust Blocks 11/29/2020

    The question often arises “Can you really eliminate thrust blocks using joint restraint?” This bulletin will provide you with the information needed for you to realize the answer to that question is “yes”. For many years, thrust blocks have been successfully used in distribution systems all over the world. Thrust blocks, however, are not without limitations.

  10. ABB's Largest Electromagnetic Flowmeter Will Help Address Water Scarcity In Saudi Arabia 3/9/2023

    A super-sized electromagnetic flowmeter produced by ABB is on its way to Saudi Arabia where it will help supply fresh water to the region as part of a desalination project.