July/August 2012 Issue

6 WATER SYSTEM OPERATOR

A decade or two ago it might have been hard to reconcile using the word “green” to describe an oil refinery, paper mill or car factory. Yet today big manufacturers, even in what many might think of as “dirty” industries, are doing remarkable things to

beautify their sites and limit their environmental footprints.Water treatment plants, on the other hand, have been largely green by

definition. When your raw material is lake or well water and the end prod-uct is drinking water that has to please consumers and meet all sorts of government standards, environmental responsibility pretty much comes with the territory.

Yet green operation and sustainability are high on the agenda for water utilities around the country. They’re doing the extras to set an example for their communities and win their customers’ confidence.

Many featuresIn each issue of Water System Operator, we profile one or two plants

that are doing an exemplary job on the green front. Looking around the industry we see water plants sprouting renewable energy facilities like wind turbines and solar panels (the March/April issue highlighted the Canoe Brook Water Treatment Plant in New Jersey, where 400 solar pan-els float on a reservoir).

We find plants earning Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building certification under a U.S. Green Building Council program. There are plants with green roofs and grounds that dis-play elaborate native plantings, walking trails and wildlife areas.

The Willamette River Water Treatment Plant in Wilsonville, Ore., profiled in this issue, has attractive architecture and a park setting with landscaping that includes a fountain. It’s so nice that people have gradu-ation and wedding pictures taken there.

Small is beautifulNow, some of these plants have elaborate green spaces and green tech-

nologies because they have big budgets or because the sustainability proj-ects were part of multimillion-dollar new construction or renovations. Not every facility can afford these showcase projects.

Clean and GreenWater treatment plants meet ‘green’ criteria almost by definition. We’d like to know what your plant does to reach the next level.

ONTAP

BY TED J. RULSEH, EDITOR

So we’re not solely interested in the large and flashy green features. We’d also like to know about things operators at smaller plants are doing to make their facilities more sustainable. Maybe it’s the operating team that created a passive solar heating system for a maintenance building.

Or a group of operators who teamed up on a variety of process improve-ment projects that cut energy consumption by a significant amount. Or a few co-workers who organized a volunteer project to establish a prairie or stand of wildflowers and put up bird nesting houses on what was once a plain-looking field behind a plant.

Keep us informedProjects like those may not show up in the national news, but we’d

like to know about them, so we can share them with WSO readers. That’s because they’re the kinds of projects almost any operating team can under-take, even on an extremely tight budget. Little improvements at many plants add up to meaningful impact on the environment and send a great message about the quality of the people who work in this industry.

So, let us know about your sustainability projects, big or small. Send me a note to [email protected]. I promise to respond, and we will highlight as many projects on our pages as possible. wso

Green operation and sustainability are high on the agenda for water utilities around the country.

They’re doing the extras to set an example for their communities and win their customers’ confidence.

FREE subscription at wsomag.com

THANKS FOR RECOGNITION

I would sincerely like to thank you for the great article you wrote about the East Chicago water filtration plant. The article shows all of the hard work that went into the planning, engineering, designing, construc-tion, training and startup of our new system.

I believe I can speak on the behalf of all water and wastewater treat-ment system professionals, in thanking your magazine for providing us with the means to show the general public what we do, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. You have shown us that we should speak up and tell our stories on how we provide clean drinking water and how we treat wastewater before returning it to the environment.

Sincerely,Peter Baranyai Director of UtilitiesCity of East Chicago, Ind.

QUESTION ON SOUND LEVELS In regard to your article, “Turbines Stand Tall” (WSO, May/June), I

want to point out a mistake in the discussions of noise output. The article says the wind turbines produce 89 dB at 18 feet and at residences 120 feet away noise problems were resolved. A couple of things:

• Probably, the author meant, “A-weighted sound level,” denoted as dBA.• Iassumethe89dBAvalueisforoneturbine,andbestcaseisifthe

data is for four turbines operating simultaneously. If so, assuming turbine noise is a point source, no ground acoustical reflection, wind not toward the residences, no temperature inversions and no intervening hills, trees or other objects, the sound level at the residences would be about 72 dBA for one turbine. If we add up all four, we get an energy average of 78 dBA.

• Either72dBAor78dBAisfarabovemostcommonresidentialnoise codes, which are 65 dBA day and 55 dBA night. Some codes are even more restrictive.

So it is puzzling to say that the problems were “resolved,” unless the residents accept relatively loud sound levels.

Richard J. Peppin, P.E., P.Eng.PresidentScantek, Inc. Sound and Vibration Instrumentation and EngineeringColumbia, Md.

Letters

inspiringstimulatingmotivating

Savored by municipal wastewater professionals everywhere.Get your fill for free. Subscribe at tpomag.com


were reaching the point where our need for water was greater than what our wells could produce,” recalls Delora Kerber, Public Works director.

Working with engineering consultants Montgomery Watson Harza, the city looked at new supply alternatives, including additional wells on the south side of the river, before deciding to draw from the river itself.

Other nearby communities were also struggling with water supplies, and Wilsonville explored a variety of potential partnerships before team-ing with the Tualatin Valley Water District on a regional treatment facil-ity, fed by a 72-inch intake pipe sized to accommodate future needs.

Although the Tualatin district so far has not drawn water from the treatment plant, it owns 100 mgd of water rights on the river and in 2011 turned over 5 mgd of capacity to Sherwood, just west of Wilsonville. The Willamette Valley plant now delivers up to 6 mgd to Wilsonville and ulti-mately will provide the 5 mgd to Sherwood.

When plans for the plant were announced, some residents had doubts about the quality of the river water. Some noted that a stretch of the river running through Portland Harbor — well downstream from Wilsonville — had been designated as a Superfund site. Of more immediate concern was runoff from agriculture in the Willamette Valley, potentially contain-ing bacteria and other pollutants.

“There were those who believed the source would be difficult to treat, but it has proven to be quite the opposite,” says Kerber. “It’s a very treat-able water source, and the plant was developed with a lot of forethought. The city and the water district used a belt-and-suspenders approach — really taking seriously what people’s concerns were to make sure the fin-ished water would meet or exceed city standards.”

Quick settlingHeading day-to-day plant operations are Veolia assistant project man-

ager Jason Labrie and lead opera-tions and maintenance technician Shane Wyer. Treatment is far more involved than when the city used well water needing only chlorination.

The plant operates two shifts per day, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The most critical challenge is variability in the river water dur-ing winter. “We get increasing flows in the river and increasing turbidity from runoff, and that also increases the bacterial load and raises the possibility of other contami-nants in the water,” Labrie observes.

The process starts with two T-screens (Johnson Screens) about 30 feet below the river’s surface. The water flows through the intake pipe into a raw water caisson, a stilling well 50 feet in diameter and 80 feet deep. Water drawn out of that structure by Floway vertical turbine pumps (Weir Minerals Floway Pumps) is dosed with aluminum sulfate.

“We also have capability to prechlorinate or add pre-caustic to the system,” Labrie says. “When we see the river turbidity rising, we start to add more alum to optimize the coagulation process. That also depresses the alkalinity. We preemptively start adding pre-caustic when the gauge height and weather predictions tell us the water level will be rising. As long as we keep up on our caustic soda dosing strategy along with alum dosing, we can run quite comfortably at high turbidity.”

The chemically dosed water is fed to an Actiflo rapid sedimentation process (Veolia Water) that is the key to treating seasonal turbidity. The Actiflo process accelerates settling through the addition of microsand

The Willamette River Water

Treatment Plant has been recognized

for its performance as well as its

appearance. The facility this year

received an Outstanding Performer

Award from the Oregon Health

Authority. In addition to several

operational excellence and safety

awards from Veolia Water, it has

received honors including:

• 2003Mayor’sTeamworkAward

for public-private partnership.

• 2003AmericanCouncilof

Engineering Companies

National Recognition Award.

• 2004PLACESAwardfrom

the Environmental Design

Research Association.

WELLRECOGNIZED

Team members at the Willamette River plant include, from left, operations and maintenance technicians Michael Templeton and Gary Simantel, assistant project manager Jason Labrie, project manager Tom Hubbard, mainte-nance supervisor Tom Widman, and operations and maintenance technician Greg Murray.

“The city and the water district used

a belt-and-suspenders approach — really taking seriously what people’s concerns were to make sure the finished water would meet or exceed city standards.” DELORA KERBER

(continued)

wsomag.com July/August 2012 11

were reaching the point where our need for water was greater than what our wells could produce,” recalls Delora Kerber, Public Works director.

Working with engineering consultants Montgomery Watson Harza, the city looked at new supply alternatives, including additional wells on the south side of the river, before deciding to draw from the river itself.

Other nearby communities were also struggling with water supplies, and Wilsonville explored a variety of potential partnerships before team-ing with the Tualatin Valley Water District on a regional treatment facil-ity, fed by a 72-inch intake pipe sized to accommodate future needs.

Although the Tualatin district so far has not drawn water from the treatment plant, it owns 100 mgd of water rights on the river and in 2011 turned over 5 mgd of capacity to Sherwood, just west of Wilsonville. The Willamette Valley plant now delivers up to 6 mgd to Wilsonville and ulti-mately will provide the 5 mgd to Sherwood.

When plans for the plant were announced, some residents had doubts about the quality of the river water. Some noted that a stretch of the river running through Portland Harbor — well downstream from Wilsonville — had been designated as a Superfund site. Of more immediate concern was runoff from agriculture in the Willamette Valley, potentially contain-ing bacteria and other pollutants.

“There were those who believed the source would be difficult to treat, but it has proven to be quite the opposite,” says Kerber. “It’s a very treat-able water source, and the plant was developed with a lot of forethought. The city and the water district used a belt-and-suspenders approach — really taking seriously what people’s concerns were to make sure the fin-ished water would meet or exceed city standards.”

Quick settlingHeading day-to-day plant operations are Veolia assistant project man-

ager Jason Labrie and lead opera-tions and maintenance technician Shane Wyer. Treatment is far more involved than when the city used well water needing only chlorination.

The plant operates two shifts per day, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The most critical challenge is variability in the river water dur-ing winter. “We get increasing flows in the river and increasing turbidity from runoff, and that also increases the bacterial load and raises the possibility of other contami-nants in the water,” Labrie observes.

The process starts with two T-screens (Johnson Screens) about 30 feet below the river’s surface. The water flows through the intake pipe into a raw water caisson, a stilling well 50 feet in diameter and 80 feet deep. Water drawn out of that structure by Floway vertical turbine pumps (Weir Minerals Floway Pumps) is dosed with aluminum sulfate.

“We also have capability to prechlorinate or add pre-caustic to the system,” Labrie says. “When we see the river turbidity rising, we start to add more alum to optimize the coagulation process. That also depresses the alkalinity. We preemptively start adding pre-caustic when the gauge height and weather predictions tell us the water level will be rising. As long as we keep up on our caustic soda dosing strategy along with alum dosing, we can run quite comfortably at high turbidity.”

The chemically dosed water is fed to an Actiflo rapid sedimentation process (Veolia Water) that is the key to treating seasonal turbidity. The Actiflo process accelerates settling through the addition of microsand

The Willamette River Water

Treatment Plant has been recognized

for its performance as well as its

appearance. The facility this year

received an Outstanding Performer

Award from the Oregon Health

Authority. In addition to several

operational excellence and safety

awards from Veolia Water, it has

received honors including:

• 2003Mayor’sTeamworkAward

for public-private partnership.

• 2003AmericanCouncilof

Engineering Companies

National Recognition Award.

• 2004PLACESAwardfrom

the Environmental Design

Research Association.

WELLRECOGNIZED

Team members at the Willamette River plant include, from left, operations and maintenance technicians Michael Templeton and Gary Simantel, assistant project manager Jason Labrie, project manager Tom Hubbard, mainte-nance supervisor Tom Widman, and operations and maintenance technician Greg Murray.

“The city and the water district used

a belt-and-suspenders approach — really taking seriously what people’s concerns were to make sure the finished water would meet or exceed city standards.” DELORA KERBER

(continued)


ballast. At Wilsonville, it enabled effective turbidity removal within a small footprint.

“We had river turbidity last winter up over 200 NTU, and we were able to knock that down to less than 1 NTU just with the Actiflo, before filtration,” says Labrie. “We use it continuously when we’re operating. We have two identical trains, each sized for 15 mgd, and we run them both unless we’re doing maintenance on one train. Turbidity in the dry season ranges from 2 to 5 NTU going into the plant and from 0.1 to 0.2 NTU coming out of the Actiflo. That’s essentially drinking water quality in terms of turbidity.”

Dual disinfectionWater from the Actiflo process feeds into a common channel that is

then divided into two trains of intermediate ozonation (WEDECO – a xylem brand), each with eight ozone contactors. Ozone generators (also WEDECO) bubble ozone through the water in the first two chambers of the contact basin. “After ozonation, we quench the remaining ozone with calcium thiosulfate ahead of the filters,” says Labrie. “We destroy remaining ozone in the headspace with a Carulite filter system (Carus Corporation).”

Ozonation removes dissolved organics that could create taste and odor issues. That process is followed by dual filtration with six feet of granular activated carbon (for further organics removal) and one foot of sand (for polishing). Filtered water collects in an underdrain (Leopold – a xylem brand). After pH adjustment with caustic soda and final chlori-nation with sodium hypochlorite, the water is pumped to the reservoirs.

Finished water quality has a pH of 7.8, 0.88 mg/L chlorine residual, and 0.03 to 0.06 NTU turbidity.

Attentive operatorsThe operations team is experienced and well qualified. Labrie holds a

Level 4 (highest) water treatment license with filtration endorsement and has seven years of water plant experience. Wyer holds the same creden-tials and has 19 years in the industry. The team also includes:

• GarySimantel,operationsandmaintenancetechnicianIII,Level4water treatment with filtration endorsement, 28 years.

• TylerMcCune,operationsandmaintenancetechnicianII,Level2water treatment and Level 2 water distribution, 13 years.

• PhillipLeach,operationsandmaintenancetechnicianII,Level3water treatment, Level 2 water distribution, 26 years.

• Greg Murray, operations and maintenance technician II, Level 3water treatment, 22 years.

• TomHubbard,projectmanager,Level4watertreatmentdistribu-tion and Level 4 water distribution, 23 years.

• ChrisHannan,administrativeassistant.Ongoing training is a high priority. Operators receive monthly train-

ing through Veolia Water and attend American Water Works Association subsection events, annual conferences, technical sessions and short schools. Labrie recently completed a utility management seminar offered by the Utility Training Institute. “The people I work with are all top-notch indi-viduals,” says Labrie. “I can’t say enough good things about the team, and I appreciate the attention the city pays to this facility and to water quality.”

GarySimantelchecksoperationsintheplant’shighservicepumproom(FlowayverticalturbinepumpsfromWeirMineralsFlowayPumps).

Control over dosingWhile the plant’s technology is sophisticated, performance depends

on close operator attention and sound decision-making. “The plant does not run itself,” Labrie observes. “Everything is operator-driven, and that’s the way it was intended.”

The plant uses flow-paced chemical dosing. The operators have to deliver the necessary dosage, but programmable logic controllers from Allen-Bradley (Rockwell Automation) make the dosage calculations. “We have a process control plan that helps us keeps our dosages low — as low as we can go to properly treat the water without wasting chemicals,” Labrie says.

Wyer adds, “Winter is challenging because of the water-quality changes. We can look at trends on the Internet, so that as the river is starting to come up, we can prepare for it. We have significant redundancy in plant equipment, so if for example a chemical pump goes down or needs to be worked on, we can switch to another one.”

Operator decisions begin with daily plant startup: looking at chemical dosages from the previous day, checking raw water quality, performing jar tests, and making dosing changes to ensure proper chlorine residual and pH adjustment. Operators also decide when to take the filters offline for backwash. A SCADA system from Wonderware (Invensys) with mul-tiple nodes lets operators run the plant from a variety of locations.

Instrumentation includes a BTEX analyzer for raw water (Turner Designs), turbidimeters (Hach), pH meters (Hach and Emerson Process Management), ORP meter and ozone sensors (Emerson Process Manage-ment), particle counters (Met One Instruments) and streaming current monitor (Milton Roy).

Always improvingLabrie notes that the team strives constantly to optimize the plant. “If

we have to buy equipment, reconfigure something, add a valve here or there, we’ll do it,” he says. One significant improvement was an adjust-ment to the Actiflo system.

LIGHTS, CAMERA …

TheWillametteRiverWaterTreatmentPlantformedthebackdrop

forportionsofthe2010movie,“ExtraordinaryMeasures,”abouta

couple’sefforttofindaresearcherabletocuretheirtwochildren’srare

genetic disorder.

The movie starred Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser, among others.

Theactorsandfilmcrewwereonsitefortwoweeks,notcountingaweek

ofpreparatoryworktogivethefacilitytheappearanceofabuildingat

theUniversityofNebraska.

“Theytotallytransformedtheinsideofthisplacetolooklikethe

university,”saysJasonLabrie,assistantprojectmanagerwithVeolia

Water.“Theyshotscenesfromthefilmhere,andwegottomeetthe

actors.We’renotsurewhytheychoseourplant,butwewerehappyto

havethemcome.”

Thatmeanthappyenoughtochangetheplant’soperating

scheduletoaccommodatethefilming.“Sincetheyfilmedsometimes

during the day and sometimes late at night, in the lab, it was going to

beaproblemfortheoperatortodothesamplingduringtheshooting,”

recalls Shane Wyer, operations and maintenance lead.

“Sowedecidedtoruntheplantduringthenight.Ivolunteeredto

workthegraveyardshift.Whentheyweredoneshootingatnight,I’dstart

theplantupandfillupthecity,andinthemorningwheneverythingwas

full,I’djustshutitdown.Wedidthatforthreeorfourdays.Wewanted

them to shoot the movie here, so we were determined to do everything

wecouldtomakesurethathappened.”

Shootingtookplaceintheadministrationbuilding,thelab,and

Labrie’soffice,whichservedastheofficeforFord’scharacterinthefilm.

There were also exterior shots of the lab entrance, and a scene in which

Ford,pursuedbyFraser,ranthroughahallwayouttotheparkinglotand

peeledoutinatruck.

GarySimantel,left,andJasonLabrieintheplant’smaincontrolroom.


ballast. At Wilsonville, it enabled effective turbidity removal within a small footprint.

“We had river turbidity last winter up over 200 NTU, and we were able to knock that down to less than 1 NTU just with the Actiflo, before filtration,” says Labrie. “We use it continuously when we’re operating. We have two identical trains, each sized for 15 mgd, and we run them both unless we’re doing maintenance on one train. Turbidity in the dry season ranges from 2 to 5 NTU going into the plant and from 0.1 to 0.2 NTU coming out of the Actiflo. That’s essentially drinking water quality in terms of turbidity.”

Dual disinfectionWater from the Actiflo process feeds into a common channel that is

then divided into two trains of intermediate ozonation (WEDECO – a xylem brand), each with eight ozone contactors. Ozone generators (also WEDECO) bubble ozone through the water in the first two chambers of the contact basin. “After ozonation, we quench the remaining ozone with calcium thiosulfate ahead of the filters,” says Labrie. “We destroy remaining ozone in the headspace with a Carulite filter system (Carus Corporation).”

Ozonation removes dissolved organics that could create taste and odor issues. That process is followed by dual filtration with six feet of granular activated carbon (for further organics removal) and one foot of sand (for polishing). Filtered water collects in an underdrain (Leopold – a xylem brand). After pH adjustment with caustic soda and final chlori-nation with sodium hypochlorite, the water is pumped to the reservoirs.

Finished water quality has a pH of 7.8, 0.88 mg/L chlorine residual, and 0.03 to 0.06 NTU turbidity.

Attentive operatorsThe operations team is experienced and well qualified. Labrie holds a

Level 4 (highest) water treatment license with filtration endorsement and has seven years of water plant experience. Wyer holds the same creden-tials and has 19 years in the industry. The team also includes:

• GarySimantel,operationsandmaintenancetechnicianIII,Level4water treatment with filtration endorsement, 28 years.

• TylerMcCune,operationsandmaintenancetechnicianII,Level2water treatment and Level 2 water distribution, 13 years.

• PhillipLeach,operationsandmaintenancetechnicianII,Level3water treatment, Level 2 water distribution, 26 years.

• Greg Murray, operations and maintenance technician II, Level 3water treatment, 22 years.

• TomHubbard,projectmanager,Level4watertreatmentdistribu-tion and Level 4 water distribution, 23 years.

• ChrisHannan,administrativeassistant.Ongoing training is a high priority. Operators receive monthly train-

ing through Veolia Water and attend American Water Works Association subsection events, annual conferences, technical sessions and short schools. Labrie recently completed a utility management seminar offered by the Utility Training Institute. “The people I work with are all top-notch indi-viduals,” says Labrie. “I can’t say enough good things about the team, and I appreciate the attention the city pays to this facility and to water quality.”

GarySimantelchecksoperationsintheplant’shighservicepumproom(FlowayverticalturbinepumpsfromWeirMineralsFlowayPumps).

Control over dosingWhile the plant’s technology is sophisticated, performance depends

on close operator attention and sound decision-making. “The plant does not run itself,” Labrie observes. “Everything is operator-driven, and that’s the way it was intended.”

The plant uses flow-paced chemical dosing. The operators have to deliver the necessary dosage, but programmable logic controllers from Allen-Bradley (Rockwell Automation) make the dosage calculations. “We have a process control plan that helps us keeps our dosages low — as low as we can go to properly treat the water without wasting chemicals,” Labrie says.

Wyer adds, “Winter is challenging because of the water-quality changes. We can look at trends on the Internet, so that as the river is starting to come up, we can prepare for it. We have significant redundancy in plant equipment, so if for example a chemical pump goes down or needs to be worked on, we can switch to another one.”

Operator decisions begin with daily plant startup: looking at chemical dosages from the previous day, checking raw water quality, performing jar tests, and making dosing changes to ensure proper chlorine residual and pH adjustment. Operators also decide when to take the filters offline for backwash. A SCADA system from Wonderware (Invensys) with mul-tiple nodes lets operators run the plant from a variety of locations.

Instrumentation includes a BTEX analyzer for raw water (Turner Designs), turbidimeters (Hach), pH meters (Hach and Emerson Process Management), ORP meter and ozone sensors (Emerson Process Manage-ment), particle counters (Met One Instruments) and streaming current monitor (Milton Roy).

Always improvingLabrie notes that the team strives constantly to optimize the plant. “If

we have to buy equipment, reconfigure something, add a valve here or there, we’ll do it,” he says. One significant improvement was an adjust-ment to the Actiflo system.

LIGHTS, CAMERA …

TheWillametteRiverWaterTreatmentPlantformedthebackdrop

forportionsofthe2010movie,“Extraordinary Measures,”abouta

couple’sefforttofindaresearcherabletocuretheirtwochildren’srare

genetic disorder.

The movie starred Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser, among others.

Theactorsandfilmcrewwereonsitefortwoweeks,notcountingaweek

ofpreparatoryworktogivethefacilitytheappearanceofabuildingat

theUniversityofNebraska.

“Theytotallytransformedtheinsideofthisplacetolooklikethe

university,”saysJasonLabrie,assistantprojectmanagerwithVeolia

Water.“Theyshotscenesfromthefilmhere,andwegottomeetthe

actors.We’renotsurewhytheychoseourplant,butwewerehappyto

havethemcome.”

Thatmeanthappyenoughtochangetheplant’soperating

scheduletoaccommodatethefilming.“Sincetheyfilmedsometimes

during the day and sometimes late at night, in the lab, it was going to

beaproblemfortheoperatortodothesamplingduringtheshooting,”

recalls Shane Wyer, operations and maintenance lead.

“Sowedecidedtoruntheplantduringthenight.Ivolunteeredto

workthegraveyardshift.Whentheyweredoneshootingatnight,I’dstart

theplantupandfillupthecity,andinthemorningwheneverythingwas

full,I’djustshutitdown.Wedidthatforthreeorfourdays.Wewanted

them to shoot the movie here, so we were determined to do everything

wecouldtomakesurethathappened.”

Shootingtookplaceintheadministrationbuilding,thelab,and

Labrie’soffice,whichservedastheofficeforFord’scharacterinthefilm.

There were also exterior shots of the lab entrance, and a scene in which

Ford,pursuedbyFraser,ranthroughahallwayouttotheparkinglotand

peeledoutinatruck.

GarySimantel,left,andJasonLabrieintheplant’smaincontrolroom.


Wyer states, “At the end of the process we have a settling zone where the floc, sand and sludge all settle out. That mixture is then sent to hydro-cyclones where the sand is separated and returned to the system and the sludge is diverted to a thickener.

“One thing we discovered was that if the hydrocyclones became plugged, we would lose a lot of sand. We installed vibration switches on the hydrocyclones so that if one of them starts to fill up, it will shake enough to activate the switch, stop the pump and keep us from losing sand. There are two hydrocyclones on each Actiflo train, so if one vibra-tion switch picks up, the other unit’s pump automatically starts, and the process continues to run.”

The plant also has a washwater equilibration basin that collects all backwash, all filtered waste, and all water from the sludge dewatering

process. That water is re-injected into the raw water line for treatment. There is zero water discharge from the site.

In case of power failure, a 1 MW standby generator (Caterpillar) can enable the plant to produce 4 mgd for up to two days before refueling.

Attractive settingBesides delivering quality water, the plant makes a positive visual

impression on the community. The plant stands next to a 9.9-acre city park. A water feature abutting the park mimics a river: Willamette River water flows through the site and feeds a fountain. Looking out on the water feature is a conference center with a three-sided glass enclosure, available for city staff meetings as well as for neighborhood groups.

The plant exterior façade includes an arch of wood, stone and metal to appeal to neighbors and park visitors. Along the park side of the plant are windows that look in on plant processes. Interpretive displays tell visitors what is happening at each step.

“On weekends, we see a lot of photographers at the plant taking high school pictures,” says Labrie. “We see wedding pictures taken here. So word has gone around that it’s a great park, and photographers are using it for their businesses. We conduct a lot of public tours. Last year more than 400 people came through the plant. We welcome that. If it’s not me leading a tour, it’s one of the operators.”

Bright futureThe Willamette River plant is well prepared for more growth in the

coming years. The site includes space reserved for expansion. Labrie expects to extend operations to 24 hours per day in the relatively near future.

“The city and Veolia have formed a true public-private partnership,” says Kerber. “The way the city sees it, we are able to provide top-quality water for our citizens at a very good price.” wso

MORE INFO:

Carus Corporation800/435-6856www.caruscorporation.com

Caterpillar, Inc.309/675-1000www.cat.com

Emerson Process Management800/854-8257www.rosemountanalytical.com

Hach Company800/227-4224www.hach.com(See ad page 48)

Invensys Operations Management949/727-3200www.iom.invensys.com

Johnson Screens800/833-9473www.johnsonscreens.com

Leopold – a xylem brand704/409-9700www.fbleopold.com

Met One Instruments, Inc.541/471-7111www.metone.com

Milton Roy Company800/693-4295www.miltonroy.com(See ad page 15)

Rockwell Automation414/382-2000www.rockwellautomation.com

Star Delta Motor Controls, Inc.800/229-8965www.VFD.com

Turner DesignsHydrocarbon Instruments559/253-1414 www.oilinwatermonitors.com

Veolia Water Solutions &Technologies North America312/552-2887www.veoliawaterna.com

WEDECO – a xylem brand704/409-9700www.xyleminc.com

Weir Minerals Floway Pumps559/442-4000www.weirminerals.com

Gary Simantel at the control panel monitoring chemical feed performance (StarDeltaMotorControls).

“Winter is challenging because of the water-quality changes. We can look at

trends on the Internet, so that as the river is starting to come up, we can prepare for it.”SHANE WYER

Greg Murray and Jason Labrie at the centrifuge dewatering control panel (RockwellAutomation).

WaterSystemsOperatorAd.indd 1 6/19/12 10:53 AM

Wyer states, “At the end of the process we have a settling zone where the floc, sand and sludge all settle out. That mixture is then sent to hydro-cyclones where the sand is separated and returned to the system and the sludge is diverted to a thickener.

“One thing we discovered was that if the hydrocyclones became plugged, we would lose a lot of sand. We installed vibration switches on the hydrocyclones so that if one of them starts to fill up, it will shake enough to activate the switch, stop the pump and keep us from losing sand. There are two hydrocyclones on each Actiflo train, so if one vibra-tion switch picks up, the other unit’s pump automatically starts, and the process continues to run.”

The plant also has a washwater equilibration basin that collects all backwash, all filtered waste, and all water from the sludge dewatering

process. That water is re-injected into the raw water line for treatment. There is zero water discharge from the site.

In case of power failure, a 1 MW standby generator (Caterpillar) can enable the plant to produce 4 mgd for up to two days before refueling.

Attractive settingBesides delivering quality water, the plant makes a positive visual

impression on the community. The plant stands next to a 9.9-acre city park. A water feature abutting the park mimics a river: Willamette River water flows through the site and feeds a fountain. Looking out on the water feature is a conference center with a three-sided glass enclosure, available for city staff meetings as well as for neighborhood groups.

The plant exterior façade includes an arch of wood, stone and metal to appeal to neighbors and park visitors. Along the park side of the plant are windows that look in on plant processes. Interpretive displays tell visitors what is happening at each step.

“On weekends, we see a lot of photographers at the plant taking high school pictures,” says Labrie. “We see wedding pictures taken here. So word has gone around that it’s a great park, and photographers are using it for their businesses. We conduct a lot of public tours. Last year more than 400 people came through the plant. We welcome that. If it’s not me leading a tour, it’s one of the operators.”

Bright futureThe Willamette River plant is well prepared for more growth in the

coming years. The site includes space reserved for expansion. Labrie expects to extend operations to 24 hours per day in the relatively near future.

“The city and Veolia have formed a true public-private partnership,” says Kerber. “The way the city sees it, we are able to provide top-quality water for our citizens at a very good price.” wso

MORE INFO:

Carus Corporation800/435-6856www.caruscorporation.com

Caterpillar, Inc.309/675-1000www.cat.com

Emerson Process Management800/854-8257www.rosemountanalytical.com


Invensys Operations Management949/727-3200www.iom.invensys.com

Johnson Screens800/833-9473www.johnsonscreens.com


Met One Instruments, Inc.541/471-7111www.metone.com


Rockwell Automation414/382-2000www.rockwellautomation.com

Star Delta Motor Controls, Inc.800/229-8965www.VFD.com

Turner DesignsHydrocarbon Instruments559/253-1414 www.oilinwatermonitors.com

Veolia Water Solutions &Technologies North America312/552-2887www.veoliawaterna.com

WEDECO – a xylem brand704/409-9700www.xyleminc.com

Weir Minerals Floway Pumps559/442-4000www.weirminerals.com

Gary Simantel at the control panel monitoring chemical feed performance (StarDeltaMotorControls).

“Winter is challenging because of the water-quality changes. We can look at

trends on the Internet, so that as the river is starting to come up, we can prepare for it.”SHANE WYER

Greg Murray and Jason Labrie at the centrifuge dewatering control panel (RockwellAutomation).

WaterSystemsOperatorAd.indd 1 6/19/12 10:53 AM


the pilot plant, we can test coagulants to see if they work as efficiently as those we are currently using. We can then use the information to do a cost-benefit analysis on whether changing coagulants is warranted.”

Teamwork allows the operators to better solve problems. “They are never complacent,” says Watson. “If there is an issue with the process, they make sure the other operators know about it, and they work as a team to solve it.”

Last year, for example, they noticed that the particle counts almost reached the plant’s internal limit, and then decreased later in the day. “This is a testament to the amount of attention our operators pay to the process,” Watson says. “We were still 100 percent in compliance, but it

wasn’t our normal, so they wanted to know why.” The operators worked with the lab staff to diagnose the problem. “It

turned out we were shearing our floc particles, and by taking a couple of the floc basins out of service, we were able to correct it. The operators didn’t give up until they figured out what was wrong and fixed it, which took about three weeks.”

Fighting firesOperators’ challenges include turbidity increases from spring runoff.

As the snow melts in the high country, water runs into the streams at higher rates and can carry additional sediment. This can also happen when heavy rains cause watershed washouts.

Chemicals used in fighting forest fires have also presented problems. “The Hayman fire in 2002 affected the main watershed,” says Watson. “The flame retardant had a high phosphorus content, and some of that got into the reservoirs and caused algae blooms. That affected the water’s taste and odor.”

In response, operators monitored the water quality more often and minimized the smoky taste and odor with chlorine dioxide disinfectant. “We use this as our primary disinfectant, and it has properties that help minimize taste and odor issues,” says Mikesell. “Utilities that didn’t use chlorine dioxide received complaints from residents.”

Other challenges include reducing treatment costs and energy con-sumption. “We want to lower our total cost to treat the water by researching and testing new chemicals,” says Watson. “We are also looking at ways to reduce backwashing so we can cut electrical costs and sludge production.”

Future goalsThe Wemlinger and Griswold

plant teams plan to retain Level IV Partnership status. “We have to sub-mit a report every year listing what we have done to continually improve,” says Watson. “I’m on the Partnership review committee now, so I get to review other utilities’ reports. It’s something I can learn from.”

Mikesell points out that the Partnership is a major accreditation: “It’s something you have to live.” Aurora Water signed on for the Partnership’s Distribution System Optimization Program, and operators have already started collecting data and assessing system performance.

Says Watson, “We will look at water quality or disinfection residuals and how they are maintained, hydraulic reliability or pressures within the system to make sure they are optimized, and physical security, which will be measured by the number of main breaks the system incurs.”

The Wemlinger plant hopes to win the 2012 water taste test, spon-sored by the AWWA Rocky Mountain section. “We won first place in 2009 and 2011, so it would be great to win again,” says Watson.

The Partnership designation and the taste test awards are just a few of the honors Aurora Water has achieved in the last seven years. There will likely be more. “Our operators are special because they are committed to delivering the best quality water they can, and that is what motivates them every day,” says Watson.

Mikesell agrees: “They believe in and have embraced that vision.” wso

AWARD-WINNING PLANTS

The Aurora (Colo.) Water Wemlinger and Griswold water treatment

plants have received multiple recognitions for excellence. They include:

Charles A. Wemlinger Water Treatment Plant:

• 2011 Outstanding Water Treatment Plant, Rocky Mountain AWWA

• 2011 Water Taste Test, first place, Rocky Mountain AWWA

• 2010 Outstanding Water Laboratory, Rocky Mountain AWWA

• 2009 Water Taste Test, first place, Rocky Mountain AWWA

• 2006 Colorado Environmental Leadership Award, bronze level

• 2006 Director’s Award Partnership for Safe Water

Thomas J. Griswold Water Treatment Plant:

• 2006 Colorado Environmental Leadership Award, bronze level

• 2006 Director’s Award Partnership for Safe Water

Les Griffin, treatment plant operator A at the Griswold plant.

MORE INFO:Chemtrac, Inc.800/442-8722www.chemtrac.com

Emerson Process Management,Valve Automation419/529-4296www2.emersonprocess.com


Henry Pratt Company877/436-7977www.henrypratt.com(See ad page 27)


Malvern Instruments, Ltd.508/768-6400www.malvern.com


Rotork585/247-2304www.rotork.com

Siemens Water Technologies Corp.866/926-8420www.water.siemens.com

“Our operators are special because they are committed to delivering the best quality water

they can, and that is what motivates them every day.” KIRK WATSON

Troy HallWater Division Manager

Moorhead (Minn.) Public Service

“When we look at the SCADA

and see our water-quality

trends, we want to see fl atlines

— everything just humming

along. Through teamwork,

that’s what we’ve accomplished.

It is a privilege to lead a staff

with many and diverse talents.

The strengths of our people

make it all work.”

Hear what operators like Troy have to say each month in Water System Operator.

FREE subscription at www.wsomag.comCOLE PUBLISHING INC.

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Pride. It speaks volumes.


W ater utilities use a variety of technologies to measure and opti-mize pressure on their

systems and detect leaks. Now IBM is testing a technology that lets utilities perform both functions, largely using data they already col-lect from in-the-fi eld instruments.

The analytics-driven leak detec-tion and pressure management tech-nology is in pilot testing at Valley of the Moon Water District (VMWD), a purchaser of water from whole-saler Sonoma County (Calif.) Water Agency (SCWA). Another new pilot is in place with the City of San Diego (Calif.) Public Utilities, in partner-ship with the Richard Brady & Asso-ciates consulting engineering fi rm.

Developed by scientists at IBM Research, the pressure management solution provides recommendations for water pressure adjustments based on usage, weather, and environ-mental conditions. The benefi ts of improved pressure management include reduced water loss, energy savings, reduced wear on the infra-structure, and improvement in the quality and turnover of stored water.

Peter Williams, chief technol-ogy offi cer with IBM Big Green Innovations talked about the tech-nology and its potential benefi ts and applications in an interview with Water System Operator.

wso: What exactly does this

offering consist of?Williams: There are a number

of aspects to it. The idea is to enable water agencies to identify opportunities to optimize pres-sure, thereby potentially reducing energy (to the extent that their pressure is not gravity-generated), and also reducing wear and tear on the infrastructure.

TECHNOLOGYDEEP DIVE

Math MagicTechnology lets water agencies use data and analytics to improve system pressure management and detect losses due to leakage

BY TED J. RULSEH

1

31) Using IBM advanced analytics, water loss is reduced by optimizing the setting of pressure-reducing valves based on data from existing sensors as well as other sources.

2) Researcher Segev Wasserkrug tests the analytics-based water pressure management system at a California utility.

3) Deploying the advanced analytics frees operations staff from continuously and manually adjusting the pressure of individual valves to maintain optimal pressure across the system.

2

PHOTOS COURTESY OF VALLEY OF THE MOON WATER DISTRICT

Recent data shows that for every 10 percent reduction in maximum pressure, you reduce the likelihood of leaks by 14 percent. That obviously is worth doing. At the same time, the technology is designed to enable utilities to detect leaks, even where they have not broken the ground. It helps them understand where and how big the leaks are.

wso: Why would a water system be under excessive pressure?Williams: Many water agencies somewhat over-pressurize their sys-

tems in order to guarantee acceptable pressure at the customer end. If there are opportunities to reduce pressure at certain places in the system while still maintaining acceptable pressure, then the tool we’re creating will identify that.

wso: In basic terms, how does this technology work?Williams: We start with a hydraulic model, which if a water agency

has one today, is probably a back-office tool that they deploy perhaps once or twice a year to run a few scenarios. What we do in effect is run that hydraulic model continuously, so that it provides a continuous operating baseline for what the system “should” be doing.

We then compare the model with data coming from instru-mentation on the system — bump meters, flow and pressure trans-ducers and so on. And we run a set of statistical algorithms and look for anomalies between what the hydraulic model says ought to be happening and what is actually happen-ing, based on data from the field, usually coming through the agency’s SCADA system.

We then run other statistical algorithms to analyze those anomalies. For example, for leak detection, where we get a variance, we use an optimiza-tion tool to identify the location and the size of the leak that best explains the variation. The pressure detection is a different optimization calculation, but it’s the same basic idea. Given all the known constraints, what pres-sure does there have to be in segment X of the system to deliver accept-able pressure at the end user connections that feed off that segment?

wso: Where does the necessary instrumentation come from?Williams: In theory, the water agency already has that equipment,

although in both of our pilots we have provided additional instrumenta-tion. The more measurement points you have, the more granular you can get with your detection capabilities. There’s not much point in knowing you’ve got a leak in a 5-mile stretch of pipe. You want to be able to narrow that down to a few hundred feet if you possibly can.

wso: What is the advantage of this technology over various other

leak detection methods already in wide use? Williams: Listening devices and other physical tools can be good

solutions, although some surveys show that they fail to detect a large number of the leaks that are out there. Also, leak detection solutions don’t tend to allow the user to optimize pressure at the same time, and vice versa. What we’re providing is something that does both.

The technology can be integrated with a SCADA system or integrated through some other dashboard. If the water system is sufficiently instru-mented, the agency can get the service and the value we provide with the same data they’re already collecting.

Furthermore, many water agencies are looking hard at advanced metering infrastructures (AMI), and AMI data is a wonderful source of additional information that will allow our solution to work even better.

wso: How does excessive pressure negatively affect infrastructure?Williams: In two primary ways. If pressure is generated by pumping,

then you’re generating more pressure than you need, and you’re wasting

energy. And between 3 and 5 percent of the electricity consumption of the entire United States is used for moving water around. Water is heavy, and pumping is extremely energy-intensive.

The other impact is that if you’re over-pressurizing, you’re putting additional wear and tear and strain on the infrastructure — mainly at the joints. Pressure will find the weakest points on the system, which are usu-ally the joints. If you can reduce the pressure, then all things being equal, and over time, you should be able to reduce the propensity of the system to develop further leaks.

wso: What was the origin of your pilot project with SCWA and VMWD?Williams: We have had quite a long and productive relationship with

SCWA, which has a two-tiered structure. SCWA has long been keen to improve collaboration with its retail contractors, of which VMWD is one.

They realize that if they are going to be collectively successful in managing the water resources in their area, which come mostly from the federally protected Russian River, they need to share information. They all need to understand what’s going on in the system and have one version of the truth. We’ve been working with them for a couple of years to pro-

vide tools that enable them to share information. The leak detection and pressure management work we’re now doing is an outgrowth of that.

wso: How would you characterize the pilot project results to date?Williams: We started with pressure management. The VMWD chief

engineer is on record saying he’s been doing his job for 30 years, and that we’ve come up with options for meeting customer demand he never would have thought of. The simple reason he never thought of them is that he’s not a computer — he’s a human being.

We’ve identified new ways for them to move water around the system. For example, they were having trouble getting a particular tank to fill with the available pressure. We helped them reconfigure the way they operate the valves and pumps on the system, and that problem has now gone away.

They are now able to maintain tank levels and the tank turns more efficiently than they expected. We haven’t quantified the energy savings that come from that yet, but it’s reasonable to expect that the savings will be there.

Right now, we’re doing leak detection in one subdivision within VMWD. The idea is that once we prove this system works, we will show that it works in the entire district, which has about 2,000 end customers. The next step will be to convince SCWD’s other retail contractors that this is a worthwhile thing to do.

wso: What has VMWD been doing previously for leak detection?Williams: They had been mostly relying on public reports, and where

they had leak-prone areas, they sent crews out specifically to hunt for leaks. That obviously is very labor-intensive.

wso: How would you assess the potential for this technology?Williams: If you believe the U.S. EPA estimate, non-revenue water in

the United States is 14 percent. The bulk of that is from leakage, and in some cities the percentage is very significantly higher than 14 percent. We see potential for this technology to help agencies get a handle on leaks and optimize pressure from inside the control room.

We know there are other related and analogous technologies avail-able, and they all work differently. It will be interesting as we go down the track to figure out how to make some of those other technologies work with ours, and vice versa. We think this technology makes a major contri-bution to the management of water systems. wso

“Recent data shows that for every 10 percent reduction in maximum pressure, you reduce the likelihood of leaks by 14 percent. That obviously is worth doing.”

PETER WILLIAMS


UV disinfection Spektron UV disinfection

systems from WEDECO – a xylem brand, are designed to meet all common disinfection require-ments including 3-log Cryptosporidium reduction and will be evaluated to all norms fitting legal requirements for drinking water. Upgrades to the closed-vessel UV reactors are designed for flows from a few gallons per minute to more than 6 mgd.

Systems come with the company’s ECORAY UV lamp and ballast technology. In combination with the option of variable power output con-trol, the units are energy efficient under all operating conditions. While in dim mode, the lamps use up to 20 percent less energy than the previ-ous lamp generation and contain up to 80 percent less mercury. The lamp’s power savings translate to a carbon dioxide reduction of up to 500 kg per lamp over the lamp’s life cycle. 704/409-9700; www.wedeco.com/us.

Large-scale disinfection The TrojanUV Torrent UV disinfection

system reduces maintenance for large-scale drinking water disinfection. The product

incorporates TrojanUV Solo Lamp technology, offering the advantages of existing medium-

pressure and low-pressure high-output lamp technologies. The disinfection units provide lower life-cycle costs and reduced environmental

impact. 888/220-6118; www.trojanuv.com.

Free/total chlorine sensor The chlori::lyser from s::can

Measuring Systems is a pH- and flow-independent sensor for monitoring free chlorine or total chlorine in a flow cell setup. Due to the membrane-covered amperomet-ric measuring principle, flow or pH changes/fluctuations do not influence the measurement result. Integrated tempera-ture compensation and a third electrode eliminate potential interfer-ences. The digital sensor runs on RS485-Modbus, comes works-calibrated, and allows simple plug-and-measure functionality on all the company’s terminals, panels and software. Internal buffer electrolyte allows pH-independent measurement between pH 4 to 10+, and a triple-electrode system provides extremely stable readings, even at high fluctuations of pH, temperature, and flow. 888/296-8250; www.s-can.us.

Closed-vessel UV disinfection Engineered Treatment Systems

(ETS) has a family of closed-vessel UV disinfection systems designed for use in water or reuse applications. The sys-tems deliver a high UV dose. The flow geometry is axial, and the fluid exiting the reactor is slowed using a chamfer to

optimize hydraulics within the chamber. The systems use 800-watt amal-gam lamps to deliver the same performance as older medium-pressure technology, but use 60 percent less power. Each system is automatically wiped, and the chambers have inspection hatches. 877/885-4628; www.ets-uv.com.

Residual chlorine analyzer The FX-1000P-CS residual chlorine

analyzer with controller from Foxcroft Equipment & Service Co. helps control chemical cost and maintain drinking water compliance. Continuous amperometric read-ings help control chlorine feed via metering pump or gas feed valves. Bare electrodes with auto-cleaning perform in water that typically fouls mem-brane-covered probes.

The included digital PID controller can use time- or current-propor-tional algorithms and features keypad operation, two 4-20 mA outputs, one digital input, jumper-free configuration, two-line display, fuzzy logic input filtering, and auto or manual tuning. Options include data logging, remote control, Modbus and Ethernet communications. 800/874-0590; www.foxcroft.com.

UV disinfection system Compact and efficient UV disinfection

systems from Aquionics pass water through high-grade 316 stainless steel closed-vessel

chambers and expose it to UV light from high-output, medium-pressure or low- pressure

high-output amalgam lamps. Each lamp is monitored by an individual certified intensity sensor, ensuring the most efficient output.

An automatic quartz sleeve cleaning system ensures optimal disinfec-tion and reduces maintenance. Simple but intelligent control software allows facility managers to access information on system performance and customize key operating parameters to work with plant controls. A Power Stepping feature regulates power to the lamps, increasing and decreasing input power as needed to ensure adequate disinfection while optimizing power consumption. All systems have been third-party vali-dated to the latest drinking water standards and treat a wide range of flows and water qualities. 800/925-0440; www.aquionics.com.

On-site chlorine generation Arden Industries offers a new concept for onsite

chlorine generation using Occidental Chemical’s NSF 60 approved TriChlor Tablets, which are 90 per-cent available chlorine. The tablets generate only a clear, clean chlorine solution, leaving no sludge or byproducts in the water system. Systems can be config-ured to handle flow rates up to 6,000 gpm and higher and can be designed to incorporate flow proportioning, residual control and compound loop control.

The units are durable and cost-effective, and do not require water softeners, brine tanks, electrodes or injection pumps. The solution generated is less than 1 percent chlorine and does not require secondary containment. 530/677-3671; www.ardenindustries.com.

PRODUCT FOCUS: DISINFECTIONBY MIKE SCHOBLASKA

Chemical induction mixers GAS MASTRRR Series 32PT sub-

mersible mixers from The Mastrrr Com-pany are designed to induct and flash mix liquid chemicals with superior velocity gradient mixing intensity into open channels, basins, or tanks. Appli-cations include dechlorination; high-rate disinfection for water, wastewater, and CSO basin applications; coagulant flash mixing; and other single- or dual-feed applications.

The units are available in ratings from 2 to 25 hp for liquid chemical feed rates up to 60 gpm. Stainless steel guide rails and Davit cranes are available for easy retrieval for maintenance inspection. Control panels for monitoring and motor protection are available with 316 stainless steel or FRP enclosures. 800/299-6836; www.gasmastrrr.com.

Ozone disinfection system Pinnacle Ozone Solutions offers compact,

energy-efficient Zenith ozone systems for treat-ment and disinfection of municipal water. The system features multiple QuadBlock ozone mod-ules that provide ozone at 300 pounds per day at 10 percent concentration by weight. The system is PLC-driven for controllable output based on

source water chemistry. The system accurately doses only the amount of ozone required for disinfection.

Operating costs are 15 to 25 percent lower than traditional technolo-gies through process-driven, linear turndown power adjustment from 1 to 100 percent of each QuadBlock. This means lower electrical and oxy-gen costs when process demands fluctuate. Systems require no yearly maintenance. System control and configuration is displayed on the user touch screen or through an Internet/remote network system. Control options include ORP, dissolved ozone monitoring (DOM), and inputs from SCADA systems. Systems are designed for indoor, outdoor and mobile in-the-field applications (NEMA 3 or 4X or glass-reinforced poly-ester). 321/205-1717; www.pinnacleozonesolutions.com.

Dry sorbent disinfection system

Designed for difficult dry chemi-cals such as lime, powdered activated carbon (PAC), and soda ash, the Silo Discharger from Sodimate Inc. fea-tures a vertical spindle fitted with flex-ible blades to ensure the mechanical discharge of dry solid materials from silos, rigid bins, or hoppers. The unloader rotates within the container bottom to prevent non-flowing materials from jamming, bridging, compacting, or rat holing caused by vibration or fluidization systems.

The mechanical bin activator discharges dry solids gently and effi-ciently from silos, bins and containers and integrates one, two, three or four precise volumetric screw feeders. Each screw feeder is independent and can feed up to 15,000 pounds per hour with different lengths and throughput variations. 773/665-8800; www.sodimate-inc.com.


Disinfectant analyzer The plug-and-play Krypton K Analyzer from

Kuntze Instruments employs an ASR automatic self-cleaning electrode that is effective against iron, manganese oxide and fats. Maintenance and cost is minimal with no reagents, membranes, electro-lytes or moving parts. Available for free chlorine, chlorine dioxide, ozone and hydrogen peroxide. 724/339-8510; www.kuntzeinstruments.com.

Drinking water purification

The 40 gram/hour ozone generator from Ozonology destroys bacteria, viruses, spores, Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Ozone also pre-cipitates iron and manganese for removal by filtration and eliminates or reduces color, odor and taste. Units with capacities up to 25 ppd use a high-frequency UL/CSA-listed power

supply and flat-plate ozone cell to generate high levels of ozone at high concentration in a compact, wall-mounted package. Using an ORP con-troller, a 4-20 mA or 0-10 VDC signal can be used to modulate a unit’s output to maintain a millivolt setpoint for the water being treated. 866/998-8808; www.ozonology.com.

Cloud-based SCADA system My-Soft-I/O from XiO Inc. includes minute-

by-minute data logging to a secure cloud-based server administered by XiO. Water district per-sonnel can securely go online from anywhere using any standard platform: smartphone, tablet or computer with no custom software. Real-time disinfection levels are presented graphically for quick determination of current and historic chemical levels. Employing common 4-20 mA output amperometric probes, the local control system measures, filters and scales the readings to mg/L or other units.

This scaled value is then automatically sent to the cloud with no net-work expertise required: only an Internet connection. The local control system paces chemical pumps based upon varying water flow to achieve precise disinfection levels with a control loop closed based upon sensor data, with or without an Internet connection. The control system can con-figure itself to interface with virtually any sensor or actuator, to measure temperature, flow, pH, free chlorine, pressure, depth or electric current. A wide range of actuators are supported to turn on pumps, valves, ramp VFDs and power relays and pace chemical pumps. 415/446-9002; www.xioio.com.

Large UV systems flowmeter

The Accusonic Model 8510 transit-time flowmeter is designed to handle the installation and mea-surement requirements of large UV disinfection systems. With 10-path capability in one meter, the unit measures with high accuracy and repeatability, even in the presence of distorted flow profiles common to large UV installations. The meter has enhanced communications and is fully backward compatible with all existing Accusonic transducers. Measurable pipe and channel sizes range from 8 inches to 600 feet. Using multiple-path, chordal, transit-time tech-nology, the repeatable and achievable accuracy is ±0.5 percent in full pipes and ±2 percent in partially full pipes and channels, even in the presence of flow profile distortions and crossflow. 508/273-9600; www.accusonic.com. wso

PRODUCT FOCUS: DISINFECTION

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Echologics signs with Las Vegas ValleyEchologics secured a one-year service agreement with Las Vegas Val-

ley Water District to use the company’s leak detection and condition assessment services for one year with the option to renew for up to five years.

The agreement is the result of a successful pipe condition assessment pilot project completed in the fall of 2011 that included non-invasive test-ing of a 6.5-mile span of 16- to 24-inch mortar-lined steel cylinder pipe under main thoroughfares. The acoustic survey found that only 15 to 20 percent of the pipes had lost significant wall thickness.

Medicine Hat chooses MeterSenseThe City of Medicine Hat, Alberta, selected MeterSense, a division of

Harris Utilities, to provide meter data management (MDM) for its elec-tricity, water and gas delivery services. The utility company will imple-ment MeterSense as part of a larger advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) smart-meter project. The technology will enable the city to auto-mate meter reading, deliver timely and accurate bills, build conservation initiatives, and provide customers with analyses of their consumption patterns. The city expects its smart-meter program to pay for itself in about seven years.

Honeywell helps western Virginia water authority

Honeywell has undertaken a water metering and infrastructure renewal program with the Western Virginia Water Authority in Roanoke to upgrade water meters across the customer base and enhance energy efficiency at its facilities.

Backed by a guaranteed systemwide water infrastructure improve-ment program, the $32 million project aims to increase meter accuracy, improve leak detection and reduce carbon dioxide emissions without adverse impact to the operating budget. The upgrades are expected to help save more than $1 million in annual electricity and operational costs and add $1.5 million in revenue through increased meter accuracy. Tech-nicians will replace 58,000 water meters with electronic meters that wire-lessly transmit real-time readings back to the authority. Honeywell will also install a data management system to provide a single, centralized view of the water system.

Miya gets contract to maximize Bahamas water system efficiency

Miya, a wholly owned subsidiary of Arison Investments signed a con-tract with the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) in the Bahamas to maximize the efficiency of its water systems. The contract value is $83 million over 10 years.

The WSC supplies drinking water to some 250,000 residents. The project will be carried out in New Providence, the most populated island in the Bahamas. It will improve distribution utilities to reduce leakage of potable water, estimated at 50 percent. Within five years, more than half of the leakage will be reduced, saving 3 million gallons per day.

Madison utility selects Itron for AMI solutionThe City of Madison (Wis.) Water Utility will implement Itron’s

advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) for Project H20, the city’s pro-gram to automate the collection and analysis of water meter reads. The solution will allow the city to manage conservation initiatives, improve metering accuracy, and operate more efficiently.

The technology will enable residents to switch from biannual meter reads to monthly meter reads and measure consumption in gallons instead

of cubic feet, making bills easier to understand. Customers will be able to view their hourly water usage information online. The utility will install 66,000 advanced data logging communication modules and a fixed net-work collection system as part of the metering upgrade.

Plattsburg gets funds for drinking water improvements

The U.S. EPA awarded $364,000 to Plattsburg, Mo., for improvements to its drinking water system. The purpose of the project is to increase the capacity of the water transmission main that conveys water from the treatment plant to the distribution system. The construction will include 9,200 feet of 16-inch iron pipe, water valves and fire hydrants. The project will reduce numerous leaks. The grant will partially fund the construc-tion project, estimated to cost $661,800.

Dewberry selected for Baltimore water main project

The Dewberry national consulting firm will provide water design and engineering services for the Bureau of Water and Wastewater in the Baltimore (Md.) Department of Public Works. The contract, valued at $1 million, focuses on improving eight miles of the city’s aging water mains. The work includes water main assessment and determination of the need to rehabilitate or replace the existing infrastructure.

The Bureau of Water and Wastewater maintains 3,400 miles of water mains. Dewberry has completed a number of water and wastewater engi-neering projects for the bureau in recent years.

Woodard & Curran signs contract with Villa Rica

Woodard & Curran won a seven-year contract to staff, operate and maintain the City of Villa Rica (Ga.) water treatment facility. Villa Rica is a community of nearly 13,000 about 30 miles from Atlanta.

The city’s surface water facility has an average daily flow of 1.2 mgd. Woodard & Curran will retain the city’s six staff members and will over-see the identification, installation, and operation of capital upgrades over the next year.

American Water and Elizabeth, N.J., earn mayors’ award

American Water and the City of Elizabeth (N.J.) water and wastewa-ter systems earned the 2012 Outstanding Public/Private Partnership Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The award honors achieve-ments made possible through the combined effort of cities and the mem-bers of the Mayors Business Council. American Water and the city were honored for the positive results of a public-private partnership and signif-icant improvements to the city’s water and wastewater systems.

Needing to upgrade its 100-year-old water infrastructure and 150-year-old wastewater system, the city entered two long-term contracts with American Water. In 1998, the city entered a 40-year concession con-tract with American Water’s market-based subsidiary to operate and maintain the water system. Later, the city entered a 20-year operation and maintenance contract with the company for the sewer system.

During the partnership, American Water has made more than $4 mil-lion in water-related infrastructure investments, including systemwide meter replacements, and 700 new fire hydrants. On the wastewater side, E’town Services operates the city’s combined sewer system and has invested $1.4 million to rehabilitate brick sewers. wso

Projects & Awards


Standard Methods manual updatedStandard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater has

been expanded and revised. Published by the American Public Health Association, the American Water Works Association and the Water Envi-ronment Federation, the publication is in its 22nd printing. One change in the edition is an emphasis on quality assurance/quality control prac-tices. The book is available by calling 888/320-2742, emailing [email protected] or visiting www.aphabookstore.org.

Koch Membrane hires commercial managerKoch Membrane Systems named Ravichandran Subramanian regional

commercial manager. He is responsible for developing the markets for all KMS products in Southeast Asia for both the Water & Wastewater and the Industrial & Life Sciences divisions. Subramanian has 15 years of industry experience in sales, management and product management.

American Flow Control names sales manager

American Flow Control, division of American Cast Iron Pipe Co., named John Hagelskamp division sales manager. He will work with current sales man-ager Walter L. Cooper, who is retiring in 2013.

MIOX names director of business development

MIOX Corp. hired Cem Candir as director of business development. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA with dual concentration in marketing and strategic management.

AWWA publishes water, wastewater design-build bookThe American Water Works Association published Design-Build for

Water and Wastewater Projects. The book provides utility managers, oper-ators and water quality staff, city officials and others with information on when design-build project delivery is a good choice for a water or waste-water utility. It also outlines how to plan, procure and execute a DB proj-ect. Black & Veatch senior water process engineering manager Holly Shorney-Darby, Ph.D., P.E., managed and edited the book.

TB Wood’s publishes eCatalogTB Wood’s expanded its eCatalog, www.

tbwoods.com, to include its Sure-Flex, Dura-Flex and Form-Flex couplings. The site enables users to select the correct coupling for a spe-cific application.

Xylem offers product app, launches marketing campaign, changes brand

Xylem Inc. launched a mobile app for its online Xylect product selec-tion tool. The app provides access to detailed product information with a smartphone and is available at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/xylect/id490601467?mt=8. The company also launched a new marketing cam-paign, Great Pumping Moments, to promote its Flygt Ready dewatering pumps and introduced Standard Xchange as the name of its industrial heat transfer brand, formerly known as ITT Standard.

Metrohm offers young chemist awardMetrohm will present $10,000 to a graduate, post-graduate or doctoral

student in North America performing novel research in the fields of titration, ion chromatography and/or electrochemistry. Candidates can submit their research abstract/summary for consideration at www.metrohmusa.com/youngchemist.

Purafil hires product managerPurafil named Tom Miles product manager for its Biological Air

Treater odor control technology. Miles has 26 years experience in the water and wastewater industry.

Watertronics, Pentair team up on rainwater educationWatertronics and Pentair combined to educate architects, consultants

and engineering firms on how they can provide innovative rainwater har-vesting systems that result in healthy plants and year-round savings through reduced municipal water use. The website www.rainwaterinnovation.com includes case studies, white papers and video.

CSI Controls’ representative expands territoryThe 419 Group LLC expanded its CSI territory, becoming the whole-

sale factory representative for CSI customers in North and South Caro-lina. The group also serves as CSI’s representative in Virginia.

Microsol acquires SOLON and subsidiariesMicrosol, a United Arab Emirates-based solar cell manufacturer, acquired

components of the insolvent SOLON SE and its subsidiaries, including U.S.-based SOLON Corp. The main sites in Germany, the United States and Italy will be maintained. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Netzsch Pumps names vice presidents Netzsch Pumps North Amer-

ica named Julio C. Ferreira vice president of sales and John Magu-ire vice president of operations and product management. Ferreira has 30 years of industry experience. Maguire has been with the com-pany for 20 years, most recently as vice president of sales.

Aqua-Chem forms joint venture with VICEL GroupAqua-Chem Inc. formed a strategic joint venture with Brazilian-

based VICEL Group to manufacture and assemble Aqua-Chem’s fresh-water makers at the VICEL facility in Rio Das Ostras. The new company will exceed 60 percent of local content in reverse osmosis desalination systems in the first phase of the production plan, scheduled for the third quarter of 2012.

Dow completes purchase of Clean FiltrationThe Dow Chemical Co. purchased remaining equity in Clean Filtra-

tion Technologies Inc. Dow Water & Process Solutions will operate the new business as Clean Filtration Technologies LLC, a wholly owned sub-sidiary of The Dow Chemical Co.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Julio C. Ferreira John Maguire

John Hagelskamp

Wilo names CEO, adds distributor Wilo USA LLC named Mark D’Agostino presi-

dent and chief executive officer. He joined the com-pany in 2007 and has been vice president of sales and marketing and national sales manager. The company also added Metropolitan Industries Inc. of Rome-oville, Ill., as a product representative in Illinois, northwest Indiana and St. Louis County, Mo.

MAR Systems names VP of salesMAR Systems named Darrell Zielinski vice president of sales. He has

20 years of experience in the water treatment industry.

Grundfos opens water utility centerGrundfos North America held a ribbon cutting in April for its Aurora,

Ill., water utility center. The facility will function as a competence center for municipal water, where research and development operations will bring to market sustainable and innovative solutions for water supply and wastewater challenges.

Agri-Inject names CEO, director of global sales

Agri-Inject Inc., provider of fluid injection technology for industrial and municipal use, named Erik Tribelhorn chief executive officer and Neal Saxton director of global sales.

GSE Lining Technology rebrands as GSE Environmental, adds assets

GSE Lining Technology LLC of Houston rebranded as GSE Environ-mental following its listing on the New York Stock Exchange, and to reflect its transition as a global organization. The company’s brand iden-tity includes name change, logo and tagline, “Durability runs deep.” The company’s subsidiaries also acquired certain manufacturing equipment from Poly-America LP and Poly-Flex Inc. for $7.5 million.

Carboline’s Reactamine 760 receives FDA approvalReactamine 760, an elastomeric polyurethane hybrid lining from

Carboline Co., has received FDA approval for direct dry food contact in addition to its UL certification for potable water service.

Bauer Gear opens China assembly plant

Bauer Gear Motor, part of Altra Industrial Motion, opened its first assembly plant in China to more effectively serve industrial growth in that region. Located in Esslingen, Germany, Bauer is not moving its core design and manufacturing.

Severn Trent’s Spanish office changes nameSevern Trent Services/Apliclor, the company formed when Severn Trent

Services acquired Barcelona-based P.S. Apliclor S.A. in 2009, changed its name to Severn Trent Services. The Apliclor name will continue to be used as a product brand within the Spanish office’s chemicals business. The company also introduced a new Spanish website, www.severntrentservices.es. wso

Erik Tribelhorn Neal Saxton

Mark D’Agostino


Standard Methods manual updatedStandard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater has

been expanded and revised. Published by the American Public Health Association, the American Water Works Association and the Water Envi-ronment Federation, the publication is in its 22nd printing. One change in the edition is an emphasis on quality assurance/quality control prac-tices. The book is available by calling 888/320-2742, emailing [email protected] or visiting www.aphabookstore.org.

Koch Membrane hires commercial managerKoch Membrane Systems named Ravichandran Subramanian regional

commercial manager. He is responsible for developing the markets for all KMS products in Southeast Asia for both the Water & Wastewater and the Industrial & Life Sciences divisions. Subramanian has 15 years of industry experience in sales, management and product management.

American Flow Control names sales manager

American Flow Control, division of American Cast Iron Pipe Co., named John Hagelskamp division sales manager. He will work with current sales man-ager Walter L. Cooper, who is retiring in 2013.

MIOX names director of business development

MIOX Corp. hired Cem Candir as director of business development. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA with dual concentration in marketing and strategic management.

AWWA publishes water, wastewater design-build bookThe American Water Works Association published Design-Build for

Water and Wastewater Projects. The book provides utility managers, oper-ators and water quality staff, city officials and others with information on when design-build project delivery is a good choice for a water or waste-water utility. It also outlines how to plan, procure and execute a DB proj-ect. Black & Veatch senior water process engineering manager Holly Shorney-Darby, Ph.D., P.E., managed and edited the book.

TB Wood’s publishes eCatalogTB Wood’s expanded its eCatalog, www.

tbwoods.com, to include its Sure-Flex, Dura-Flex and Form-Flex couplings. The site enables users to select the correct coupling for a spe-cific application.

Xylem offers product app, launches marketing campaign, changes brand

Xylem Inc. launched a mobile app for its online Xylect product selec-tion tool. The app provides access to detailed product information with a smartphone and is available at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/xylect/id490601467?mt=8. The company also launched a new marketing cam-paign, Great Pumping Moments, to promote its Flygt Ready dewatering pumps and introduced Standard Xchange as the name of its industrial heat transfer brand, formerly known as ITT Standard.

Metrohm offers young chemist awardMetrohm will present $10,000 to a graduate, post-graduate or doctoral

student in North America performing novel research in the fields of titration, ion chromatography and/or electrochemistry. Candidates can submit their research abstract/summary for consideration at www.metrohmusa.com/youngchemist.

Purafil hires product managerPurafil named Tom Miles product manager for its Biological Air

Treater odor control technology. Miles has 26 years experience in the water and wastewater industry.

Watertronics, Pentair team up on rainwater educationWatertronics and Pentair combined to educate architects, consultants

and engineering firms on how they can provide innovative rainwater har-vesting systems that result in healthy plants and year-round savings through reduced municipal water use. The website www.rainwaterinnovation.com includes case studies, white papers and video.

CSI Controls’ representative expands territoryThe 419 Group LLC expanded its CSI territory, becoming the whole-

sale factory representative for CSI customers in North and South Caro-lina. The group also serves as CSI’s representative in Virginia.

Microsol acquires SOLON and subsidiariesMicrosol, a United Arab Emirates-based solar cell manufacturer, acquired

components of the insolvent SOLON SE and its subsidiaries, including U.S.-based SOLON Corp. The main sites in Germany, the United States and Italy will be maintained. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Netzsch Pumps names vice presidents Netzsch Pumps North Amer-

ica named Julio C. Ferreira vice president of sales and John Magu-ire vice president of operations and product management. Ferreira has 30 years of industry experience. Maguire has been with the com-pany for 20 years, most recently as vice president of sales.

Aqua-Chem forms joint venture with VICEL GroupAqua-Chem Inc. formed a strategic joint venture with Brazilian-

based VICEL Group to manufacture and assemble Aqua-Chem’s fresh-water makers at the VICEL facility in Rio Das Ostras. The new company will exceed 60 percent of local content in reverse osmosis desalination systems in the first phase of the production plan, scheduled for the third quarter of 2012.

Dow completes purchase of Clean FiltrationThe Dow Chemical Co. purchased remaining equity in Clean Filtra-

tion Technologies Inc. Dow Water & Process Solutions will operate the new business as Clean Filtration Technologies LLC, a wholly owned sub-sidiary of The Dow Chemical Co.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Julio C. Ferreira John Maguire

John Hagelskamp

Wilo names CEO, adds distributor Wilo USA LLC named Mark D’Agostino presi-

dent and chief executive officer. He joined the com-pany in 2007 and has been vice president of sales and marketing and national sales manager. The company also added Metropolitan Industries Inc. of Rome-oville, Ill., as a product representative in Illinois, northwest Indiana and St. Louis County, Mo.

MAR Systems names VP of salesMAR Systems named Darrell Zielinski vice president of sales. He has

20 years of experience in the water treatment industry.

Grundfos opens water utility centerGrundfos North America held a ribbon cutting in April for its Aurora,

Ill., water utility center. The facility will function as a competence center for municipal water, where research and development operations will bring to market sustainable and innovative solutions for water supply and wastewater challenges.

Agri-Inject names CEO, director of global sales

Agri-Inject Inc., provider of fluid injection technology for industrial and municipal use, named Erik Tribelhorn chief executive officer and Neal Saxton director of global sales.

GSE Lining Technology rebrands as GSE Environmental, adds assets

GSE Lining Technology LLC of Houston rebranded as GSE Environ-mental following its listing on the New York Stock Exchange, and to reflect its transition as a global organization. The company’s brand iden-tity includes name change, logo and tagline, “Durability runs deep.” The company’s subsidiaries also acquired certain manufacturing equipment from Poly-America LP and Poly-Flex Inc. for $7.5 million.

Carboline’s Reactamine 760 receives FDA approvalReactamine 760, an elastomeric polyurethane hybrid lining from

Carboline Co., has received FDA approval for direct dry food contact in addition to its UL certification for potable water service.

Bauer Gear opens China assembly plant

Bauer Gear Motor, part of Altra Industrial Motion, opened its first assembly plant in China to more effectively serve industrial growth in that region. Located in Esslingen, Germany, Bauer is not moving its core design and manufacturing.

Severn Trent’s Spanish office changes nameSevern Trent Services/Apliclor, the company formed when Severn Trent

Services acquired Barcelona-based P.S. Apliclor S.A. in 2009, changed its name to Severn Trent Services. The Apliclor name will continue to be used as a product brand within the Spanish office’s chemicals business. The company also introduced a new Spanish website, www.severntrentservices.es. wso

Erik Tribelhorn Neal Saxton

Mark D’Agostino

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Documents

July/August 2012 Issue