MAHWAH, N.J., June 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientists report in the June 2003 edition of the Journal AWWA of the American Water Works Association that tests conducted on a new U.S. water disinfection technology have observed the delivery of extremely high germicidal doses of ultraviolet (UV) light that suggest the ability to defeat a contamination of water supplies by known and listed biological pathogens, including the anthrax spore.

In the report entitled "Pulsed UV Unit May Inactivate Biological Agents," Dr. Egon Weber and Karl Scheible from HydroQual, Inc. report the results of their September 2002 tests conducted on a new water disinfection machine developed by LightStream Technologies of Reston, Virginia, USA. HydroQual is one of the leading scientific research firms on UV technologies and is frequently utilized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for expert guidance on UV technologies, testing and procedures.

The LightStream machine tested by the HydroQual scientists utilizes a mechanism for delivery of UV light, known as "pulsed UV," that produces short pulses of UV light of extremely high intensities -- up to 6 million watts each pulse that can be repeated up to 30 times per second -- as water flows through the machine. The machine was developed to disinfect up to one million gallons per day of ordinary water and wastewater and was adapted for these tests to simulate flows of approximately 100,000 gallons per day associated with buildings, facilities or small community water systems.

Ultraviolet light, in wavelengths very similar to that of sunlight and delivered in sufficient amounts, or "doses", breaks the DNA of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. This damage to the DNA renders the dangerous pathogens harmless. To quantify the "dose" delivered by the LightStream machine, the scientists conducted testing known as "biodosimetry" or "bioassay" challenge tests that utilize a substitute organism to measure the amount of inactivation achieved by the disinfection technology. Such procedures are used for UV reactor validation testing, and are very often required by regulatory agencies. From this data, scientists can estimate the germicidal dose delivered by a source of UV light.

According to the scientists' report, the very high doses delivered by the LightStream machine were "at the upper limit of current ability to measure UV using a common substitute indicator organism." Such high doses, the scientists reported, were "in the range required for approximately 5 - 6 log reductions (99.9999%) of the anthrax spore (Bacillus anthracis), the more resistant of the known, listed and pathogenic bacteria and viruses," and that "Greater log reductions would be expected for other, more sensitive, listed and known pathogenic bacteria and viruses."

About LightStream Technologies Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, USA, LightStream Technologies, Inc. provides advanced technologies for the disinfection of water and wastewater. LightStream's patented technology delivers chemical- and mercury-free disinfection utilizing advanced ultra high intensity pulsed ultraviolet (UV) light and sets a new No Compromise(TM) standard in water disinfection.

For more information please visit www.LightStreamUV.com

WEST COVINA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 4, 2003--The city of Pascagoula, Miss., has awarded the Operations Technologies (OpTech) subsidiary of Southwest Water Company a 10-year, $30 million contract to operate its public works department. OpTech began managing water production and distribution, sewage collection and treatment, and other public works services for the Gulf Coast city's 30,000 residents on June 1, 2003.

Anton C. Garnier, Southwest Water president and CEO, said, "We look forward to welcoming the public works department employees to the Southwest Water team and providing excellent service to the citizens of Pascagoula for many years to come. We are very familiar with the area, as the Southwest Water Company Services Group also serves the Mississippi Gulf Coast cities of Biloxi, D'Iberville, Gulfport and Long Beach."

Robert W. Monette, president of OpTech, added, "We're certainly excited about coming to work in Pascagoula and providing quality services for the citizens and the employees."

Southwest Water Company provides a broad range of services: water production, treatment and distribution; wastewater collection and treatment; public works services; utility submetering; and construction management. The company owns regulated public utilities and also serves cities, utility districts and private companies under contract. More than two million people in 31 states from coast to coast depend on Southwest Water for high-quality, reliable service.

Source:  http://www.southwestwater.com/

EAST HILLS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 11, 2003--Presence of the bacteria Legionella pneumophilia in hospitals and nursing homes in the U.S. and Europe has been detected at an alarming rate. Contaminated water has frequently been found to be the source. In response to the increasing number of outbreaks in U.S. hospitals, Pall Corporation (PLL: NYSE) introduced the Pall AquaSafe(TM) Water Filter.

The point-of-use filter prevents the spread of Legionella and other potentially lethal pathogens found in the water systems of hospitals, and other health care provider sites. AquaSafe provides an effective barrier from waterborne microbial contamination ensuring the availability of high purity water for bathing, showering, food preparation, drinking, rinsing of medical instruments and other hygiene measures in hospitals and medical institutions.

The growing problem of hospital water contaminated with bacteria, fungi and protozoa can be harmful to patients, especially those with compromised immune systems. These include surgical, cancer, burn, transplant, chronic lung disease and HIV infected patients as well as the elderly and newborns. Contaminated water has been found in a wide number of places throughout the hospital from patient rooms to intensive care units. This has resulted in an increase in nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections, some of which are resistant to antibiotics.

Patient exposure to these potentially lethal microorganisms in the hospital occurs while showering, bathing, drinking, ingesting ice and from inhaling aerosols of contaminated water. Exposure can also occur through contact with medical equipment, such as tube feed bags, endoscopes and bronchoscopes, which can become contaminated when rinsed with tap water, or from the hands of healthcare personnel who have washed using tap water.

The Pall AquaSafe Water Filter is a disposable, sterilizing grade filter (0.2um membrane) for faucets and shower heads that reduces microbial contamination and is a barrier against common contaminants, such as Legionella, Pseudomonas, Aspergillus and Cryptosporidium, found in hospital water supplies. It provides 7 days of filtration and is easy-to-use for both large and small volumes of point-of-use water.

AquaSafe is the latest technology from Pall Corporation to improve water quality. Its development is based on the Company's leadership and expertise in biological processes and providing ultra-pure water required for a variety of critical applications, such as the manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals.

For more information visit  www.pall.com

New Study : Hong Kong's First Seawater Desalination Project

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 27, 2003--CH2M-IDC Hong Kong Ltd. has been selected by the Hong Kong Water Supplies Department (WSD) to design, oversee operations, and monitor the performance of two seawater desalination pilot plants.

The 30-month pilot program, which will evaluate the use of reverse osmosis technology and associated pre- and post-treatment processes, is part of the government of Hong Kong's Total Water Management program, and is a major step in the development of full-scale desalination facilities to ensure sufficient and sustainable potable water resources for the island.

"WSD recognizes that desalination technologies may provide an additional and currently untapped source of fresh water for Hong Kong," said Alex Au, managing director, CH2M-IDC Hong Kong. "This project demonstrates Hong Kong's commitment to environmentally responsible development to ensure economic opportunity and a high quality of life for its current and future citizens."

CH2M HILL has been at the forefront of water treatment innovation for more than 50 years and is a renowned leader in the design, engineering, construction, and operation of membrane treatment facilities. The company claims numerous "firsts" in membrane technology application and has successfully completed more than 120 membrane projects in the past 10 years.

CH2M-IDC Hong Kong Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of CH2M HILL Ltd., was one of five consultants invited to submit proposals for the project.

CH2M HILL is an employee-owned, global firm providing engineering, construction, operations, and related technical services to public and private clients in numerous industries. The firm's work is concentrated in the areas of water, energy, environment, transportation, communications, construction, and industrial facilities.

For more information on CH2M-IDC China, please visit
http://www.ch2m-idc.com/eWorking/Default.htm

People post their requests for help and offer their suggestions to others in our open forum.

Mr. Kajubi needs odor from sugar factory WW:

Colleagues, I've trouble controlling bad odor from lagoons treating effluent from a sugar factory! Any ideas?. If I were to add a chemical nutrient, what chemical would I use-not to introduce significant secondary pollutants?
(Click here to post a reply)

Thanks,
Eng. Lam Kajubi
AIR WATER EARTH (AWE) Limited,
Environmental Engineering Consultants
P.O.Box 22428, KAMPALA, UGANDA
Email: awe@engineer.com

Mr. D'Alberti needs help with landfill wastewater:

We have a landfill waste water stream containing metals, pesticides, herbicides and volatiles. Flow is 3-10 gpm. We are proposing a drum filter pilot system with pre-filter, organo-clay and GAC, max. pressure 15 psig.

The highest concentration volatile is Tetrahydrofuran which is completely miscible with water and hence not well adsorbed onto activated carbon.

Anyone out there with experience in removing Tetrahydrofuran from waste water with low pressure drop? If we have to, we can go higher in pressure, 40, 75 or 125 psig.  (Click here to post a reply)

Thank you,
Laurence D'Alberti
activecarbon@jps.net

Help Forum:  Share your expertise with others in our Help Forum.

Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, Salary range: $60,000-80,000

Very prosperous consulting firm of 200 employees in six offices looking to add a civil engineering professional in the water/wastewater section.  The benefits of a larger regional company combined with the advantage of working in a small (25 person) group.  Company in business since 1920 and provides complete environmental services to municipalities throughout the area.

Minimum education: Bachelors.  Requires PE and 8+ years consulting experience with municipal water resources, wastewater treatment design, pumps, sewers, etc.

Terrific opportunity with extremely solid company.  If this sounds like you, please forward your resume and the best time for me to call you.

Beth McNeely
Management Recruiters of Olympia
beth@mr-oly.com

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This week's photo is of installation of a Smith & Loveless OXIGEST wastewater treatment system, located in Pinellas County, FL.  Treated effluent is reused for spray irrigation at a nearby golf course. The OXIGEST system contains multiple treatment zones, an inner secondary clarifier and tertiary filter cells which work to provide high-quality effluent.

Submitted by Karen Bowser of Smith & Loveless Inc.

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