Wastewater Analysis Resources

  1. Is It Time For An Intelligent Wastewater Network? 7/18/2014

    Mainland Europe has had intelligence in some of its wastewater networks for over ten years now, and some of the oldest real-time control systems in the U.S. date back to the 1980’s. So why has intelligence in the wastewater network not been more abundant?

  2. What's Next For Water Quality Sensor Trends In Wastewater? 5/1/2014

    ‘Smart’ devices have transformed nearly every aspect of our home and work life: smart phones, smart televisions, smart appliances, even smart homes. Process instrumentation for wastewater monitoring and control is no exception. The online sensors available today are far superior to versions available just 10 years ago providing more measurements more reliably, and at a reduced cost. By Patrick Higgins

  3. The Science Of Water: Analysis Lab Does More Than Just Testing 4/23/2014

    For many, the word “bureau” conquers up images of suit-clad men and women brandishing firearms and badges. But in Philadelphia, employees of another type of bureau are also protecting the public — using science.

  4. Radioactive Iodine In Wastewater Treatment Plants 3/18/2014

    Radioactive material in the environment often causes public concern or even panic. However, it is very common for wastewater treatment plants to have some radioactive material passing through the system. Radioactive material may occur naturally or through nuclear fission. Iodine-127 and Iodine-131 are the most common Iodine isotopes found in municipal biosolids, because it has a tendency to re-concentrate in the waste stream. This article will further explain the basic background of radioactive Iodine, its use, health risks, and its presence in the wastewater treatment plant.

  5. Myths And Realities: Ammonium Based Aeration Control In Wastewater 3/7/2014

    The introduction of simple, reliable, and affordable in situ sensors based on ion selective electrode (ISE) technology provides the opportunity for more advanced activated sludge control strategies. For example, aeration control using ammonium as a response variable in addition to or in place of dissolved oxygen (DO) using continuous monitoring and control instruments.

  6. Laboratory Analysis Demystified 2/24/2014

    Most people have no idea how critical getting a good sample is, and how hard it is in general to get really good data.  The analytical process for almost anything we test for has so many steps – each of which compounds any deviations or discrepancies made in the previous steps – that it’s vitally important to be as accurate and precise in each step along the way in order to get good, meaningful data in the end. By Patrick Vowell, Water Quality Engineer, Golden State Water Company

  7. Troubleshooting Nitrification And Denitrification In Wastewater 2/18/2014

    The proper tools are essential to fixing any problem. Over the years, Ohio EPA’s Compliance Assistance Unit (CAU) has helped dozens of water resource recovery facilities (WRRF) get back into and maintain compliance with NPDES discharge permits. Their field toolkit has included an assortment of batch sampling kits and handheld instruments. Each tool had its place but each also had limitations and, as a result, the compliance puzzle often was missing important pieces. Increasingly, as nutrient limits were incorporated into discharge permits, the missing piece was characterizing the dynamics of nitrification and denitrification. By Patrick Higgins

  8. Shortcut The Nitrogen Removal Process In Wastewater With UV Sensors 1/22/2014

    Nitrite, long disregarded as an insignificant intermediate in the wastewater nitrification process, has recently gained prominence. Research and practice has identified nitrite as the critical variable in newly-developed treatment processes that utilize shortcuts in the nitrogen cycle to more efficiently remove nitrogen from wastewater. By Patrick Higgins

  9. How To Control Activated Sludge With Online Sensors 10/18/2013

    The goal for domestic wastewater treatment in the 21st century should be to have a minimal carbon footprint and to be 100% self-sustainable with regards to energy, carbon, and nutrients – while achieving a discharge or reuse quality that preserves the quality of receiving waters (Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF), 2009). Sustainability with respect to energy requires both conservation and production. By Dr. Robert Smith, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, YSI, a Xylem brand

  10. Case Study: Continuous Online Monitoring Of Nitrate And Sludge Using UV/VIS Spectroscopic Sensor 8/18/2009

    Monitoring nitrates, total suspended solids and sludge volume concentrations ensures effluent quality, which is critical for meeting water quality standards for various regulatory agencies. By Endress+Hauser, Inc.