WATER INNOVATIONS CURRENT ISSUE
-
The past few years have been especially difficult for everyone, water and wastewater professionals included, with no shortage of turmoil and obstacles. There is some momentum for positive change, however, with innovative solutions at the heart of recovery, advancement, and ultimate prosperity.
-
One of the great water-management and societal challenges of our time is to get the lead out of our nation's drinking water — a daunting but achievable task, if approached correctly.
-
Communication between a utility and its customers has historically been sparse and negative — complaints on one side, bills and notices on the other — but healthy communication is now encouraged as a key aspect of successful infrastructure development.
-
Utilities can more confidently commit to digital transformation once the benefits, as well as the elements critical to its success, are understood.
-
PFAS contamination is ubiquitous in the water cycle, but landfill wastewater leachate poses an opportunity to treat concentrated streams and break up the continuous movement through the water cycle.
-
As wastewater treatment plants — or water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs), more preferably termed — continue to strive for efficiency, DAS has emerged as a space-saving intensification solution.
-
The future is connected, but it must also be secure — especially when it comes to public water.
-
As nutrient pollution increases the incidence and severity of harmful algal blooms, it is obvious and important to point mitigation practices toward a prime culprit — the agriculture industry.
-
The US Water Alliance is getting lessons from Denmark, where benchmarking has proven to be a useful tool in becoming one of the world’s most efficient water sectors, to help optimize processes and meet climate goals.
-
A One Water master plan under development for the city of Winter Haven, Florida, serves as an example to other communities looking at the future through a One Water lens.
-
While Industry 4.0 is still very relevant for digital transformation, Industry 5.0 has loftier ambitions — to transform the whole of business and society, sustainably
WASTEWATER
-
Doing More With Less: Densified Activated Sludge (DAS) Systems For Water Resource Recovery Facilities1/11/2023
As wastewater treatment plants — or water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs), more preferably termed — continue to strive for efficiency, DAS has emerged as a space-saving intensification solution.
-
When Decentralized Wastewater Is The Wise Choice11/3/2022
Centralized wastewater treatment systems have been the dominant — and extremely effective — choice for pollution control historically, but onsite could prove right in many cases today.
-
When Density Is Desirable9/9/2022
Infrastructure intensification through densification and granulation can help utilities meet nutrient management goals with minimal investment through retrofit.
-
Using Biotechnology To Restore Productivity Of Anaerobic Digesters7/15/2022
When the production line of anaerobic digestion is slowed, efficiency is lost, and the reverse is true when holdups are cleared.
UTILITY MANAGEMENT
-
Xylem Invites The Building Industry To Partner For A More Sustainable Future1/25/2023
Global water technology leader Xylem (NYSE:XYL) will showcase new technologies and solutions for building services at ISH 2023, a leading trade fair for HVAC and Water taking place in Frankfurt, Germany, from 13 to 17 March 2023.
-
Industry 5.0: What It Means For Industry And Water Management1/11/2023
While Industry 4.0 is still very relevant for digital transformation, Industry 5.0 has loftier ambitions — to transform the whole of business and society, sustainably
-
Benchmarking As A Tool To Optimize Operations And Lower GHG Emissions1/11/2023
The US Water Alliance is getting lessons from Denmark, where benchmarking has proven to be a useful tool in becoming one of the world’s most efficient water sectors, to help optimize processes and meet climate goals.
INFRASTRUCTURE
-
Customer Engagement And Water Infrastructure Projects: How To Achieve Success1/11/2023Communication between a utility and its customers has historically been sparse and negative — complaints on one side, bills and notices on the other — but healthy communication is now encouraged as a key aspect of successful infrastructure development.
-
Getting The Most From Your Pump Station With Computational Fluid Dynamics11/3/2022
Carollo has developed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling approaches and methods to evaluate and optimize pump intake hydraulics, embracing an industry trend that improves the efficiency, affordability, and reliability of water/ wastewater infrastructure projects.
-
New-Generation AI Overcomes Barriers To Proactive Leak Detection Adoption9/9/2022
An estimated 90% of leakage never shows above ground,¹ but adoptable technologies are challenging our accepted wisdom on economic levels of leakage (ELL).
SOURCE WATER
-
Leachate — A Key To Unlocking The Chain Of Recirculating PFAS Forever?1/11/2023
PFAS contamination is ubiquitous in the water cycle, but landfill wastewater leachate poses an opportunity to treat concentrated streams and break up the continuous movement through the water cycle.
-
Regulating Farm Pollution To Reduce Harmful Algal Blooms1/11/2023
As nutrient pollution increases the incidence and severity of harmful algal blooms, it is obvious and important to point mitigation practices toward a prime culprit — the agriculture industry.
-
Celebrating 50 Years Of (Mostly) Clean Water11/3/2022October 18, 1972, the day the Clean Water Act (CWA) became law, was undeniably a pivotal moment for the state of water quality in America. From where we stand now, 50 years later, it's hard to imagine a time when polluters were dumping contaminants freely into environmental waters — enough to set a river on fire! Here we recall the six key 1972 amendments that defined the CWA, accompanied by some recent themes related to each one.
DRINKING WATER
-
A 2023 Road Map To Replacing The Nation’s Toxic Lead Pipes1/11/2023One of the great water-management and societal challenges of our time is to get the lead out of our nation's drinking water — a daunting but achievable task, if approached correctly.
-
6 Steps Utilities Can Take To Improve Cybersecurity11/3/2022
With the rise of digitalization in the water industry, utilities must take steps to ensure that their network — and thus public water — is protected from bad actors and outcomes.
-
Utilities And Water Efficiency: Taking A Leadership Role9/9/2022
Water is an essential resource, and utility customers’ lives count on a reliable flow of it coming out of their tap. In order to protect natural resources, a utility must be responsible and manage water wisely, while still operating at a level that supports all the needs of customers. The first step is talking about water efficiency.
REVENUE METERING
-
Digital Transformation Drives Customer Satisfaction, Improved Processes11/3/2022
Digital payment platforms improve the efficiency of collections and related labor practices, but their greatest benefit may be enhancing utility-customer relations.
-
Private Investment Trends In Water And Wastewater Utilities1/12/2022
Initial advice for utilities considering privatization, public-private partnerships, and consolidation
-
Balancing The Costs Of Water For Utilities And Customers9/7/2021
The cost of municipal water management, including infrastructure renewal, relies on revenue from ratepayers, but affordability of services is a prime concern as well. A recent report from Black & Veatch looks at large cities and recent trends regarding this delicate balance.
MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL
-
Water Systems Get Smart With Digitalization1/11/2023
Utilities can more confidently commit to digital transformation once the benefits, as well as the elements critical to its success, are understood.
-
Additional Technology To Help Thwart Cyberattacks1/11/2023
The future is connected, but it must also be secure — especially when it comes to public water.
-
Delivering Digital Water — Are We There Yet?11/3/2022The water industry's greatest technology trend is also one with scattershot levels of adoption, but that can change with proper understanding of the purpose for and pathway toward Digital Water.
REUSE
-
Adopting A 'One Water' Approach Through Integrated Master Planning1/11/2023
A One Water master plan under development for the city of Winter Haven, Florida, serves as an example to other communities looking at the future through a One Water lens.
-
What Role Can Decentralized Water Reuse Play in Tackling Water Scarcity?7/15/2022
Onsite and localized reuse expand the practice overall, which will be essential for long-term security.
-
Industrial Wastewater Reuse: From Vision To Reality1/12/2022
With the need for fresh water becoming ever more critical, an innovative treatment solution provides promise for cost-effective sustainability.
-
5 Factors That Will Drive Widespread Adoption Of Water Reuse11/6/2021
The technology is ready, but is the world ready? The seismic shift toward water reuse will occur only as driving circumstances reach their tipping point.
ACE INNOVATION
-
Calling On Utilities To Combat Legionella5/5/2022
The risk level linked to delivered drinking water from municipal utilities is very small, even if some high-profile examples of failure (see Flint, MI) have degraded public confidence to a degree. Our treatment professionals usually hit their targets, so the onus then shifts to the research and guidance that determines the safe level of various constituents through U.S. EPA protocols. But there is one contaminant that rulemaking hasn’t quite caught up to and which is downright deadly — Legionella pneumophila.
WEFTEC INNOVATION
-
All For One And One For All — For Water's Sake9/9/2022
Societal well-being is hugely dependent on a clean and available water supply, which is becoming increasingly dependent on community engagement and education.
-
How Should Infrastructure Funding Be Prioritized?11/11/2021
With the $1.2-trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill finally passed following lengthy congressional negotiations, U.S. water and wastewater utilities are in line to get help for solving some longstanding issues, from crumbling pipes and outdated treatment plants to modernizing operations for efficiency and resiliency.