Water Management

The energy consumption of a wastewater treatment plant?s aeration system can be reduced by up to 65 percent when more energy efficient equipment and expertise in optimising treatment systems is introduced, according to full scale trials recently carried out by Xylem Inc.

The Clean Water America Alliance recently announced it is changing its name to the U.S. Water Alliance. The announcement of the name change also comes with news of the formation of a One Water Management network, both of which are meant to reflect the organization?s core mission.

Experts from American Water presented at the 27th Annual WateReuse Symposium in Hollywood, Fla., on Sept. 9-12.

The Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General recently announced a comprehensive Clean Water Act settlement with the City of Chattanooga, Tenn. Chattanooga has agreed to pay a $476,400 civil penalty and make improvements to its sewer systems, estimated by the city at $250 million, to eliminate unauthorized overflows of untreated raw sewage.

In 2005, an EPA advisory panel (EFAB) issued a white paper on financing infrastructure over the useful life of the assets. The paper wasn?t widely distributed or broadcast for the general public at the time, but EPA?s senior managers hailed the analysis and called for further study of industry practices.

In fall 2002, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its much-anticipated Clean Water and Drinking Water Gap Analysis. The report became one of the most-cited documents within the water/wastewater sector, highlighting the challenges we face with regard to aging infrastructure and capital investment.

The renewal and replacement of infrastructure is one of the greatest challenges facing the water industry. Cost estimates for needed system investment range from the hundreds of billions of dollars to trillions of dollars by 2035.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded nearly $15 million in funding to provide training and technical assistance to small drinking and wastewater systems ? those serving fewer than 10,000 people ? and to private well owners.

Mueller Systems has expanded the capabilities of its fully integrated remote disconnect meter (RDM) ? the 420 RDM ? with Mobile RDM, a standalone software that enables utility workers to remotely connect and disconnect water services from the safety of their vehicles.

American Water?s Paul Gagliardo, manager of innovation development, delivered a keynote address at the 4th Annual Water Innovations Alliance Conference in Boston, Mass. on September 5-6.