Wastewater Management Pumps and Valves Podcasts

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Turning Pumps Into Smart Drives 11/7/2018

   Nicole George, Product Manager - Pumping Variable Frequency Drives with Eaton, starts this Water Talk discussion with a description of the Internet of Things (IoT) before going deep on capabilities, particularly with pumping systems and variable frequency drives (VFDs). Learn how IoT-enabled pumps can help manage operation more efficiently and save on labor costs with cloud-connected, VFD-powered data analytics and health monitoring.

5. How Physical Modeling Can Help Achieve Optimal Performance And Maximize Existing Infrastructure 8/1/2018

   When it comes to infrastructure design or redesign, understanding hydraulic conditions — for all foreseeable scenarios — is paramount. You might call it "test driving" your facility.

6. Preventing Backflow 11/29/2016

   There are lots of applications in the water and wastewater industry that need backflow prevention. Stormwater drainage systems are a perfect example.  As Mike Duer, Chief Engineer with Red Valve Company explains in this Water Online Radio interview, “water will backflow through the drainage pipe at high tide, come up through the inlets and cause flooding.”

7. Valve Design Cuts Energy Costs 11/25/2015

   Realizing energy savings with blowers is a big deal in the wastewater industry right now as utilities try to reign in their energy costs. As Paul Nelson, North American Sales Manager for Egger Turo Pumps points out, the next focus area is going to be energy savings with pumps and valves.

8. Open And Shut Case: A Comparison Of Actuators 11/2/2015

   Neil Meredith, Midwest regional manager with Kinetrol USA, talks to Water Online Radio about pneumatic vane actuators – specifically, what sets the good ones apart.

9. Grinding Wipes To A Halt 10/19/2015

   Ken Biele, CEO of JWC Environmental, discusses solutions to the growing problem of equipment-clogging disposable wipes.

10. Hinge-Less Valve Keeps Sewers Functional 7/6/2015

    In 1984, the US EPA asked Red Valve to help mitigate some of the inflow and infiltration problems it was seeing with traditional flap gate valves.