California may have a reputation for persistent drought and water scarcity, but already this year the state’s freshwater reserves are worth celebrating.
With backing from two of the biggest tech entrepreneurs in American history, a new solar-powered solution to water scarcity has raised a massive amount of money.
Las Vegas water planners are prepping for a harrowing possibility: The disappearance of the Colorado River.
Lake Mead levels are low, which creates significant complications for water management in Arizona.
As pressure on water resources grows, there is at least one “water cop” trying to maintain order.
Water utilities around the country are inviting the public to think the unthinkable in a campaign kicking off October 10 known as “Imagine a Day Without Water”.
During the dry days of the California drought, one Silicon Valley city banned development because officials were unsure there would be enough water for projects.
As demand on water resources rises, will there be a mad rush to grab up the nation’s last untapped water resources?
A new report from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) spells out water use trends in the U.S. It is the 14th in a series of reports on U.S. water use, published every five years.
Hurricane Maria decimated Puerto Rico’s drinking water infrastructure last September.
When California Governor Jerry Brown signaled lifted emergency conservation measures last year, many environmentalists worried that water savings achieved during the drought would dry up.
Ratepayers are debating the merits of a proposal for a new desalination plant in Orange County, CA.
September of 2017 was the busiest month of hurricane activity on record, according to the Weather Channel.
In small Appalachian towns, finding enough money to maintain wastewater infrastructure is a big challenge.
Mechanical flow meters have a proven track record. However, there’s a downside. Electronic meters — which are gaining wider acceptance — are less prone to damage, require little to no maintenance, and can be comparably priced or even less expensive when operating costs are taken into account.
Automated metering systems (AMSs) or “smart meters” can provide valuable data for electric and water utilities. Data analytics can be used to improve customer service, boost conservation, monitor the system, and even forecast demand. An ultimate goal might be to eventually monitor everything from streetlight intensity to fire hydrants.
If A Pipe Leaks In A Forest, Does It Make A Sound? (Part I) addressed condition assessment and leak detection from the perspective of surprises that can arise when “hidden” problems are revealed by acoustic technology. This article introduces several more eye-opening experiences with permanent and mobile acoustic leak detection equipment, plus examples of just how expensive undetected leaks can become when they turn into full-blown water main breaks.
“I know that (blank) is good for me; I just haven’t gotten around to doing it yet!” Most of us can fill in that blank with any number of tasks — modifying diets, exercising, or monitoring commercial and industrial (C&I) water meter accuracy at our largest utility accounts. If that last item is still on your “to-do” list, here are several good reasons why you should do it and how to make it happen soon.
Over the past 10 years, DC Water has become the harbinger of the modern water utility. It’s often unconventional approach to tackling age-old problems usually elicits one of two responses from other utility professionals. The first response is one of resignation — if only I had the budget that size permits, I’d be able to do similar things. And the second is one of awe — there’s no way I have the amount of gumption to convince regulators or customers that I have a better way.
Title 22 of California’s Water Recycling Criteria is among the strictest water treatment standards for water recycling and reuse in the United States. Fluence’s MABR demonstration plant was installed at the Codiga Resource Recovery Center (CR2C) in Stanford, California, in January 2018 for the purpose of third-party evaluation. The testing parameters included criteria to evaluate reliable enhanced nutrient removal in the form of Total Nitrogen, which is increasingly important across the United States and difficult and costly to achieve through conventional wastewater treatment.
Fresh water sources around the globe are becoming increasingly stressed due to population growth, industry use, and changing climate patterns. These stresses drive the need to make the most out of every drop of water available. Water treatment systems inherently produce a waste stream that contains contaminants removed during the treatment process. This waste stream can often constitute 20-30% of the total water fed to the treatment system, representing a significant loss of a precious resource both in human and economic terms. Minimizing this waste stream is a key part of the solution to solving the water crisis for both industry and people.
The internet of things (IoT) is transforming the water utilities industry. From sensors that collect flow and pressure information in remote locations to smart meters that upload data continuously into the cloud, more and more equipment is generating endless streams of data.
Study helps further understand the current processes related to reconciling payments at research sites, the level of satisfaction at research sites around receivables, as well as the impact that reconciling payments from sponsors / CROs has on the site’s ability to conduct a clinical trial.
If forewarned is forearmed, then monitoring risk, resilience assessment, and emergency planning are essential to keeping water flowing in the face of surprise developments. At ACE19, Bentley Systems’ Senior Product Manager Tom Walski shared how the company’s modeling software running as a “digital twin” for water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure systems is helping utilities improve daily operation resilience, noting “a little bit of work has a lot of payback.”
Key technology for Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things
The new generation of compressed air system control is here with Sigma Air Manager 4.0. Using its adaptive 3Dadvanced Control, SAM 4.0 makes air generation and treatment even more intelligent, reliable and efficient.
The concept of the Electric Vehicle (EV) market is hard to miss nowadays. We increasingly see EVs on the streets and charging stations are becoming part of the landscape. Knowles offers an array of capacitors for electric vehicle drivetrains.
The In-VitroCell ES NU-5831 Direct Heat Hypoxic CO2 Incubator can lower oxygen levels in the growth chamber down to 0.5% accurate with in ±0.25% through the use of a Zirconia Ceramic O2 Sensor.
The In-VitroCell™ ES (Energy Saver) model NU-8600 is a CO2 Incubator that uses heated water that surrounds the growth chamber to created uniform temperature conditions for cell culture growth. Water Jacket model NU-8600 also uses an IR sensor to maintain proper CO2 gas levels and produces a humidified environment up to 95% perfect for mammalian cell studies.
The OPTIFLUX 5300 is an electromagnetic flowmeter (EMF) with a high-tech ceramic measuring tube for very aggressive and abrasive fluids, even with high solid content (up to 70%). The high-end EMF is particularly suited for process applications in the chemical processing industry and the minerals and mining sector. Due to its FDA and EC1935/2004 compliant sensor material, the OPTIFLUX 5300 can also be used for hygienic applications. With a measuring uncertainty of just ±0.15% of measured value (±1 mm/s) it is one of the most accurate electromagnetic flowmeters available in the market. That is why leading metrological institutes use the OPTIFLUX 5300 as their master meter.
Model NU-5731 is a direct heat CO2 incubator offering 5.65 cubic feet (160 Liters) of useable growth space. Featuring an Oxygen control system, In-VitroCell NU-5731 uses nitrogen to suppress Oxygen levels in the growth chamber making it the perfect benchtop or floor standing solution for age-related studies.
You might say that there’s a lot wrong with the water industry — problems including infrastructure, financing, and scarcity — but there’s also a lot going right. In this Q&A, Water Environment Federation (WEF) President Rick Warner is a source of insight and optimism.
“Water Champion” Paula Kehoe looks to do for the nation what she did for San Francisco — to greatly expand water reuse opportunities and implementation. In this Q&A, she discusses her new role as chair of a national commission for onsite non-potable reuse, the San Francisco model, and the best practices and obstacles for sustainable water operations.
The Global Cleantech 100 identifies nine innovative water/wastewater technologies set to make significant market impact in the next decade.
It’s a buzzword for the industry, but what does it really entail?
Are environmental interests and business interests mutually exclusive? Our divisive sociopolitical climate might make you think so — you’re either labeled ‘tree-hugging’ or ‘greedy’ — but it is not an either/or proposition, especially when it comes to water conservation.
Yes, America cleaned up at the Olympics this summer, but how does the U.S. fare on the world stage when it comes to water resiliency, efficiency, and quality?
A water technology expert tackles high-profile and important topics currently affecting municipalities, industry, and the community at large.
There are a lot of technology startups in the water space vying for attention, including a good bit in the New England area alone, but one Massachusetts company and its potentially "disruptive innovation" stands apart.
Survey data on U.S. consumers’ attitudes toward public drinking water confirms tough times now, but hints at better days ahead.
This year's Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE16), held by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) from June 19 to 22, was the first following the tragedy of Flint — a time when the drinking water industry is under intense scrutiny.
Optical gas imaging with infrared cameras excels at detecting gas leaks, but some businesses that might find it useful are put off by the cost. Now a new generation of cameras that rely on uncooled detectors is bringing OGI to more users.
Electromagnetic meters (mag meters) are well established in terms of highly accurate performance for a variety of municipal and industrial water applications. Differences in their construction formats, however, dictate how easy they can be to install, maintain, and calibrate. Compare these three options to see the value of full-profile-insertion (FPI) mag meters and their associated advantages in real-world use.
World Water Day (Thursday, March 22nd this year) does a great job of focusing our attention on water issues. And especially with storms on the East Coast and drought in the West, not to mention the looming possibility that officials will have to shut off the taps in Cape Town sometime this summer, a lot of the messaging around water is pretty much like being smothered in a wet blanket.
In this sixth installment on the selection and use of quality improvement tools in your organization, Ben Locwin wraps up the series with a treatise on the 7 Tools of Quality.
For many people, hot springs conjure up thoughts of cleansing and purity. For centuries, humans have visited hot springs to relax and recover. But as with any natural water body, hot springs can also exhibit biota that can infect and in severe cases kill.
A biotechnology plant was struggling with the management of the calibration of the more than 100 reference standards covered about 20 calibration service providers. Endress+Hauser took the responsibility to manage the whole calibration process of the reference standards resulting in a reduction of non-conformities achieved has led to better operational quality.
A couple of weeks ago, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Scott Pruitt called PFAS groundwater contamination “a national priority” and pledged action at an EPA national PFAS leadership summit.
Phosphorus is an essential element for organisms and plants. In natural, uncontaminated waters, it occurs as organically bound phosphate, condensed phosphates or as orthophosphate — often referred to by its chemical formula PO4-P. The small quantity of phosphorus present in natural waters does not promote the growth of plants. However, a rise in the concentration of phosphorus results in the proliferation of algae, which leads to the eutrophication of the water body.
Effective control of the microbiological environment in water distribution systems is one of the biggest keys to providing a healthy product. When it comes to processes for achieving this, the U.S. can some take lessons from Europe, where utilities are more likely to monitor temperature. Advanced flow metering technology that incorporates temperature monitoring provides a significant tool for utilities without the need for additional instruments.
Water utilities must protect the public health by producing a final product that meets all regulatory requirements. In addition, the water must be pleasing to the customer, with no taste or odor issues. And finally, utilities must stay abreast of emerging contaminants, health advisories, and new regulations. It’s a constant challenge to shoulder these responsibilities while staying within tight budgets. Utilities need a technology that helps them achieve multiple goals cost-effectively.
There are many options for ensuring accurate billing of water used at established industrial customer locations. But how do municipalities or businesses keep track of water availability and use for intermittent applications or movable access points? We spoke with McCrometer, Inc.’s Marc Bennett for insight into how water utilities and industries can efficiently track and allocate water use for billing or internal accounting purposes in such ad hoc applications.
“I have a board meeting next week and this event is materially changing how I think about and how I am going to present on the model and the direction of the business.” This was a quote from a successful SaaS CFO that joined us for the first of its kind Modern SaaS Finance Summit
Municipalities work diligently to produce quality drinking water and meet strict wastewater treatment regulatory standards while judiciously managing expenses. Despite the efforts, many of their plants have operational weaknesses where money is quietly being lost. Advanced technologies provide an opportunity for utilities to gather actionable information and strategically offset deficiencies.
Globally, over 80% of the wastewater generated by society flows back into the environment without being treated or reused. Clean water is an essential part of daily life, from catchment all the way through to wastewater treatment, therefore analysis throughout the whole cycle is crucial. Whether in lakes, pipes, or bottles, we can accompany you with our range of instruments, test kits and applications for your water and wastewater needs.
This paper will examine foreign object detection in adulteration events, including the detection challenges of finding very small contaminants, in a complex and fast-moving, global supply chain.
A guide through all steps of a bioprocess, starting from the preparation of the inoculum to the preparation and operation of the vessels and bioprocess systems, the bioprocess run, and analysis of samples.
Fundbox is dedicated to helping small businesses grow by giving them access to credit that doesn’t require a personal credit score to get started. It uses cutting-edge technology, data science, and common sense to give small businesses access to previously unattainable financial options.
Food regulations are deepening and so is the authority regulators have in the marketplace. However, the right X-ray inspection system can help you achieve compliance and exceed retailer requirements.
With the proliferation of new sensors and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) initiatives now feeding SCADA systems, water industry managers lament how they are drowning in a sea of data yet starving for insights that really matter. With concepts like data democratization starting to bear fruit, advanced analytical capabilities are creating new opportunities for water insights without requiring a degree in computer science.
