Geographic information system (GIS) software represents less than 10 percent of the total GIS implementation cost in most cases, yet many people spend a lot of time selecting the best software for their GIS applications. This is actually a good thing, because the success of any GIS program largely depends on its users—who are not happy if they do not like their GIS software.
- By Uzair Shamsi, Ph.D., P.E., GISP
- October 01, 2007
This article originally appeared in the 10/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.
WEFTEC celebrates its 80th in San Diego
- By Robert O'Brien
- October 01, 2007
This article originally appeared in the 10/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.
Despite the common goal of environmental protection, federal agencies lately stand divided over the best use of our natural resources – to protect wildlife habitats or to expand water resource development for the future. More and more, these issues are splintering the industry into two camps supportive of either the Clean Water Act or the Endangered Species Act.
- By Danielle Duclos
- October 01, 2007
This article originally appeared in the 10/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.
Seeking a new approach to deal with groundwater pollution caused by dry-cleaning chemicals
- By Laurie Earl
- October 01, 2007
This article originally appeared in the 10/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.
October 18 is a special day for America’s waters, wetlands, and watersheds: the Clean Water Act (CWA) turns 35. As one of the world’s most successful and enduring environmental laws marks this milestone, it’s a great time to reflect on where we’ve been, what we’ve done, and where we need to go.
- By Benjamin H. Grumbles
- October 01, 2007
This article originally appeared in the 10/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.
Throughout the world, thousands of stormwater pollutant removal systems are being installed in an effort to prevent watercourses from being polluted. As supply has risen to meet demand, a variety of proprietary, chamber-based systems have emerged, including hydrodynamic separators, which are designed to settle out and store sediments and associated pollutants, preventing them from being discharged to the natural environment.
- By Richard E. Ayres, JD
- September 01, 2007
This article originally appeared in the 09/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.
Radical change is coming to the business world. In the 21st century, many corporations are not just thinking about their bottom line, they also are thinking about their influences on the Earth. Public relations and marketing campaigns often focus on how companies are at the forefront of social responsibility.
- By Katie McCarthy
- September 01, 2007
This article originally appeared in the 09/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.
Competitive pressures and unpredictable energy costs continuously motivate us to examine our processes for opportunities to increase quality and productivity, and to decrease costs. Energy-intensive processes such as those associated with the manufacture of a wide variety of products utilizing water or VOC-based solvents offer opportunities to reduce operating costs through heat management or control.
- By Tim Golden
- September 01, 2007
This article originally appeared in the 09/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.
With great pride, we present the five winners of our annual Facilities of the Year Competition. These facilities represent a wide variety of industrial sectors and geographical locations.
- By Angela Neville
- September 01, 2007
This article originally appeared in the 09/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.
Last September, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revised the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particle pollution. As part of that measure, EPA issued revisions to the ambient air monitoring rules for fine particulate matter (PM-2.5). These actions were published in the Federal Register Oct. 17, 2006, and became effective Dec. 18, 2006.
- By Lucy H. Fraiser
- September 01, 2007
This article originally appeared in the 09/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.
- By Louis F. Centofanti
- September 01, 2007
This article originally appeared in the 09/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.
When the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the consolidated cases of Rapanos v. United States and Carabell v. United States in 2006, observers hoped the Court would supply much-needed clarification to the federal Clean Water Act’s (CWA) dominion over wetlands. Instead, the Court could not reach a consensus, and regulation and enforcement of the law has been mired in confusion ever since.
- By Scott D. Deatherage
- August 01, 2007
This article originally appeared in the 08/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.
A little more than one year after launching its Water Wastewater Competency Center, Schneider Electric’s North American division’s orders are up more than 50 percent.
- By L. K. Williams
- August 01, 2007
This article originally appeared in the 08/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.
Two cities that have been reusing water for more than five years are expanding their programs to serve additional customers and meet new nutrient discharge restrictions, exemplifying a national trend toward water reclamation.
- By Debbie Bolles
- August 01, 2007
This article originally appeared in the 08/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.
Situated in one of the world’s most arid regions, Israel has been overcoming water shortages and desertification since its inception in 1948. Its diverse topography, which includes plains, mountains, deserts, and coastlines, makes for many water challenges. A small country at 8,019 square miles (about the size of New Jersey), Israel sustains a population of 6.35 million people.
- By Katie McCarthy
- August 01, 2007
This article originally appeared in the 08/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.
A street sign welcoming visitors to Montpelier, Ohio, identifies the quaint village as the birthplace of polar explorer Paul Siple and home to the world’s best-tasting municipal drinking water. Best-tasting water? Huh? We’re not talking fine wine here, but run-of-the-mill treated municipal water.
- By Debbie Bolles
- August 01, 2007
This article originally appeared in the 08/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.
While some finance and investment companies are trying to let municipalities know they have options outside of the government to fund water and wastewater projects, at least one governing body is hoping to get information on private financing.
- By L. K. Williams
- August 01, 2007
This article originally appeared in the 08/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.
Olfaction, the science of smell, is one of the least understood of the five senses, which makes odor management a major challenge. Odor perception is subjective and varies widely among individuals. However, odor complaints are routinely received by regulators and government bodies around the United States and internationally.
- By Rakesh Govind, Ph.D.
- August 01, 2007
This article originally appeared in the 08/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.
“A lot of people think non-revenue water reduction is all about the leakage, but it isn’t,” says Leanne Scott, senior project engineer at Metro Water Services (MWS) in Nashville, Tenn. “Meter accuracy at large plants also plays a very important role in the recovery of non-revenue water, as does testing of other large meters in the system."
- By James E. Fisher
- August 01, 2007
This article originally appeared in the 08/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.
Regenerativer thermal oxidizers (RTOs) that control volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by a wide variety of industrial processes are widely accepted. As a general rule, RTO technology has been very successful with most installations, operating trouble-free for extended periods. In some cases, however, operation has been troublesome, and a good proportion of these problem applications have been on biomass dryers.
- By Steven A. Jaasund, PE
- July 01, 2007
This article originally appeared in the 07/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.