The enormity of the problem facing the drinking water industry first surfaced in the United States in 1993, when Cryptosporidium, a single-celled parasite living in the intestines of warm-blooded animals, made its way into the drinking water in Milwaukee, leaving 403,000 people sick and 104 people dead.
This article originally appeared in the 09/01/2003 issue of Environmental Protection.
All drinking water treatment plants (WTPs) must dispose of their potable water residuals. One privately owned water utility in Fairbanks, Alaska, uses a filter press to dewater its water treatment mineral byproducts. By doing so, the utility achieves zero discharge to the nearby Chena River, which serves as a recreational area and spawning ground for several fish species threatened with possible extinction.
- By Matthew Burdick, PE, Michael Spring
- September 01, 2003
This article originally appeared in the 09/01/2003 issue of Environmental Protection.
Any company, land developer or individual who has attempted residential or commercial development in a rural suburban area is no stranger to the following scenario: "50 plus acres with good road frontage, high traffic count, public water and gas, but no sewer."
- By Patrick T. Gates, Todd M. Gates
- July 01, 2003
This article originally appeared in the 07/01/2003 issue of Environmental Protection.
While Asia's public and private sector stakeholders strive to achieve robust economic growth, they are faced with the daunting task of mitigating the effects of that growth on the environment and addressing a wide range of legacy environmental problems, particularly in the areas of water and wastewater management.
- By Doug Shuster, Kim Mihalik, Maria Gilpin
- January 01, 2003
This article originally appeared in the 01/01/2003 issue of Environmental Protection.
Anaerobic treatment of industrial wastewater has come a long way in the past 10 to 20 years. Prior to 1980, the process was deemed unreliable for its lack of robustness and overall instability, primarily due to misunderstandings of the biochemical pathways involved and the factors governing sludge characteristics.
- By Shannon R. Grant, MScE, PE, Shashi Gorur, ME, PE, James C. Young, PhD, PE, Robert Landine, PhD, PE, Albert C. Cocci, PhD, PE, C. Calvert Churn, PhD, PE
- November 01, 2002
This article originally appeared in the 11/01/2002 issue of Environmental Protection.
Virtually all industrial activities generate some amount of wastewater. Disposal of this water in an environmentally responsible way has been a legal requirement since the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972.
- By Richard Brown
- September 01, 2002
This article originally appeared in the 09/01/2002 issue of Environmental Protection.
Membrane bioreactor (MBR) has emerged as the wastewater treatment technology of choice for an increasing number of municipalities over the last five years. This growth is driven by the very high quality effluent produced by MBR -- exceeding strict standards or ideal for direct reuse -- and is fuelled by a steady reduction in treatment cost resulting from improvements in membrane productivity.
- By Hadi Husain, PhD, PE
- September 01, 2002
This article originally appeared in the 09/01/2002 issue of Environmental Protection.
"Now I know there are people at the other end of the toilet." That's the response of one Northern California high school student after completing a unique wastewater treatment laboratory. In the San Francisco Bay area, wastewater professionals are helping high school students understand the profession and to move beyond the standard "flush and forget." The program recently received the 2001 Public Education Award from the California Water Environment Association.
- By Stephanie Hughes
- May 01, 2002
This article originally appeared in the 05/01/2002 issue of Environmental Protection.