EPA's Water Report: A Good But Incomplete Start

One study cannot answer every question about water pollution risks from oil and gas drilling, nor should it be expected to. But as my colleague Nichole Saunders pointed out, the oft-quoted statement of EPA’s water study – that it found no evidence of “widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water sources”– implied to some that activities related to hydraulic fracturing had been declared risk-free.

Refinery Improves Boiler Air-To-Fuel Mixture Performance With Help From Multipoint Thermal Flow Meter

A major oil refinery’s plant team ran into challenging issues when they attempted to optimize their large primary boiler system, which initially perplexed the plant’s process engineers. After extensive study, it was determined there was a problem controlling the boiler’s burner air-to-fuel mixture ratio.

State Leaders Concerned About Safety Of Reusing Oil And Gas Wastewater

Regulators from across the country met in Vermont this week at the Environmental Council of the State’s (ECOS) fall meeting to discuss some of the nation’s most pressing environmental challenges. I joined members of ECOS’ Shale Gas Caucus to discuss an emerging threat imminently impacting oil and gas-producing states: the question of what to do with the massive amount of wastewater produced by the oil and gas industry each year.

Capacitance Level Switches Provide Reliable Water/Oil Interface Detection

There are a number of point level approaches to measuring the interface between water and oil for water dump control in the oil and gas industry. However, each has disadvantages — manual methods introduce human error, conductivity switches are rendered inaccurate by buildup, and float switches are susceptible to wear and tear. This white paper introduces capacitance level switches as an accurate and reliable alternative for water/oil interface detection.

The Top 3 Treatment Stories Of 2017 And What They Mean For 2018

Last year was full of twists and turns for the drinking water and wastewater treatment industries. What can 2017’s biggest stories tell us about what’s to come this year?

Optimizing Aeration Reliability In Food And Beverage Wastewater Applications

In addition to penalties for non-compliance, wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) operators in the food and beverage industry risk excessive losses caused by problems at the wastewater treatment facility.

A Lid For Every Pot: Retrofitting To Meet New Aeration Challenges

Aeration for industrial and municipal wastewater treatment involves more than simply moving volumes of air through a treatment basin. It really comes down to creating and sustaining an optimal oxygenated environment for microorganisms to convert oxygen consuming compounds into CO₂ and water. Here are some key considerations for making better retrofit decisions about upgrading existing basin capacity and efficiency with jet aeration.

Pinpointing Accurate Steam Use In Dynamic Industrial Processes

In commercial brewing — as with other food, chemical, or industrial processes — control over steam heating can have significant influence on process costs and consistent quality in the final product. But its measurement and control can also be impacted by unique circumstances of those applications. Here is how changing just one aspect of steam measurement brought economy and consistency to multiple aspects of a brewer’s overall process.

Injecting Innovation Into The Food And Beverage Industry

Not all water treatment needs are the same. That’s why it’s imperative to work with those that understand the subtle dif­ferences that make each industry unique. For food and beverage companies, that means aligning with KLa Systems, a com­pany focused on oxygen transfer with a track record of innovation in jet aeration and mixing.

Revolutionary Sludge Management Comes To America

Wastewater utilities have a new opportunity to turn their sludge (biosolids) into something special.

Can Co-Locating Utilities Solve The Water-Energy Nexus?

Resources being a scarce commodity, it’s incumbent upon us to optimize the use of water and energy as best we can. While conservation is the prime course of action for the public, the best solution for utilities may be to work smarter — by having the water-energy nexus work for us instead of against us.

Water And Power Generation Remain A Balancing Act Amid Tightening Regulations

A recent survey digs into the treatment aspects of water in the power industry, revealing how electric utilities are responding to concerns over regulations and volumes of use.

Pinpointing Accurate Steam Use In Dynamic Industrial Processes

In commercial brewing — as with other food, chemical, or industrial processes — control over steam heating can have significant influence on process costs and consistent quality in the final product. But its measurement and control can also be impacted by unique circumstances of those applications. Here is how changing just one aspect of steam measurement brought economy and consistency to multiple aspects of a brewer’s overall process.

How Energy Choices Influence Water Quality

Using earth-friendly energy and conserving water supports the fight against climate change and preserves our freshwater reserves.

SuperDisc™ Filtration System Case Study

Glendale Heights Wastewater Treatment Plant discharges treated water to the East Branch of the DuPage River in Illinois.

Can Co-Locating Utilities Solve The Water-Energy Nexus?

Resources being a scarce commodity, it’s incumbent upon us to optimize the use of water and energy as best we can. While conservation is the prime course of action for the public, the best solution for utilities may be to work smarter — by having the water-energy nexus work for us instead of against us.

Water And Power Generation Remain A Balancing Act Amid Tightening Regulations

A recent survey digs into the treatment aspects of water in the power industry, revealing how electric utilities are responding to concerns over regulations and volumes of use.

Optimizing Aeration Reliability In Food And Beverage Wastewater Applications

In addition to penalties for non-compliance, wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) operators in the food and beverage industry risk excessive losses caused by problems at the wastewater treatment facility.

More Funding Now Flowing To U.S. Ports For Modernization Projects American ports, even those that are among the busiest in the world, have faced near-crippling levels of congestion since the outbreak of COVID. Supply chain back-ups have also had a negative impact. The smaller ports especially have scrambled to meet demand, but it is obvious that operational inadequacies at all U.S. ports must be addressed. Now, significant public investment is opening up for port projects of all types.

FEDI Technology Helps Steel Manufacturer Demineralize Water For Plant Expansion

Anshan Steel, one of China’s largest steel producers, required demineralized water for its boiler application as the plant planned to expand its capacity.

EPA's Water Report: A Good But Incomplete Start

One study cannot answer every question about water pollution risks from oil and gas drilling, nor should it be expected to. But as my colleague Nichole Saunders pointed out, the oft-quoted statement of EPA’s water study – that it found no evidence of “widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water sources”– implied to some that activities related to hydraulic fracturing had been declared risk-free.

EPA Researchers Develop Method For Studying Agricultural Nutrient Pollution In The Midwest

Nutrient pollution is one of the most pressing issues currently facing U.S. waterways. Nutrient pollution primarily refers to when nitrogen and phosphorus, two elements that occur naturally, have adverse effects on water if they are overabundant. Excess nutrients are a result of runoff from fertilizers, detergents, wastewater, automobile emissions, and more. When these nutrients exceed natural amounts, it can lead to harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, which threaten aquatic biodiversity, as well as human health and industries like commercial fishing.

Spiral-Wound Filters A Lynchpin For Ultrafiltration And Microfiltration Applications

Spiral-wound filters are susceptible to accumulations that can reduce their lifespan. The good news is that new developments in single-layer membrane technology are allowing filter elements to generate higher flux rates and cleaner permeate while reducing the tendency for fouling.

An Electrochemical Solution To Organic Compounds

A new industrial wastewater treatment system makes the most out of relatively little energy to eliminate non-biodegradable compounds.

The Reasons Behind The Wide Array Of Liner And Electrode Choices In Magnetic Flow Meters

Electromagnetic flow meters offer significant benefits in water, wastewater, and industrial applications because they can be reliably used to measure liquid with many different characteristics. Since these devices contain no moving parts, making them virtually maintenance-free, they are becoming the workhorse for a growing number of utilities and industrial operations. Despite the advantages, however, electromagnetic flow meters are often avoided based on the misconception that there are limitations on what they can measure.