Fountain Valley, Calif. – While the rest of the world continues to use old technology to clean percolation lakes, Orange County Water District (OCWD) is now using four full-scale versions of its patented Basin Cleaning Vehicle (BCV) hood technology. OCWD’s cleaning method is unique in that a BCV hood—similar to a swimming pool cleaner—cleans the lake while it is full of water.

Traditional methods involve emptying the lake, drying it out, and scraping the bottom with heavy equipment to remove one-quarter to one-inch thick clogging layer. The four new barge-like BCV’s cost $4 million and are projected to help increase the amount of water available for Orange County residents.

“In a tight urban environment like Orange County, we have been forced to push the envelope to find new ways to put more water into our groundwater basin,” said Board President Denis R. Bilodeau. “Since it is difficult and expensive to obtain additional land to build more percolation lakes, developing the BCV significantly increases the efficiency of our existing lakes and is a very innovative and remarkable achievement.”

OCWD’s percolation lakes act as both a filter and funnel to replenish Orange County’s deep groundwater basin with Santa Ana River water and imported water from the Colorado River or Northern California. The groundwater stored beneath Orange County is later pumped out by retail water agencies that provide that water to more than half of Orange County’s citizens.

As the water is filtered by the sand and gravel at the bottom of the lake, the clay and silt in the water collects at the bottom. Under the pressure of millions of gallons of water in the lake, the silt is compacted to form a thin “clogging layer”—similar to concrete—that stops or slows percolation into the groundwater basin below.

“We started a six-month percolation study in January of this year to document the specific impact of operating the new shallow lake BCVs on groundwater percolation rates,” said OCWD General Manager Virginia Grebbien. “Previous full-scale tests in 2001 and 2002 in another basin not only showed a 30 percent increase in percolation, but also that a basin can operate perhaps twice as long before needing cleaning in the conventional way.”

After ten years of research and development, OCWD is now using two models of the BCV—one to clean deep lakes and one for shallow lakes. The shallow lake version—recently installed in four different lakes and currently being tested—are towed along the lake bottom by a cable system, while the deep lake model, still under development, can actually drive itself back and forth along the lake bottom using a global positioning system (GPS).

Both versions of the BCV stir up the clogging layer at the bottom of the lake and pumping the clay and silt ashore. Since percolation lakes are used to replenish many groundwater basins around the world, this new, patented BCV technology has potential global application.

The Orange County Water District (OCWD) manages and protects the huge groundwater basin underlying north and central Orange County.

To learn more about water log on to www.ocwd.com

Acquisition : Contech Construction Products Acquires Vortechnics

SCARBOROUGH, Maine -- Contech Construction Products Inc., a comprehensive civil engineering site solutions products and services company, today announced the acquisition of Scarborough-based Vortechnics, Inc., the stormwater industry's leading provider of engineered solutions for the treatment of urban runoff. Through the purchase of 100 percent of the outstanding shares of Vortechnics, it will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Contech.

Vortechnics employs 47 employees, 40 of which are based in Maine, and will continue to be operated by current management as a standalone profit center in Scarborough, ME.

"By joining with Contech, we are able to fulfill several key strategic objectives and strengthen our commitment to cleaning up the nation's waters - all without losing our ability to keep our headquarters, operations, and way of life in Maine. This company was built on Maine values, and Vortechnics would not be what it is today without the spirit, drive and determination of our employees, most of whom call Maine home," said David Miley, CEO of Vortechnics.

"Together, Vortechnics and Contech will have a comprehensive portfolio of stormwater related products, creating a single solutions source for the civil engineering community. Our combined strengths will give us the power to serve our customers in a way Vortechnics could not accomplish on its own," said Fran Tighe, vice president of Vortechnics.

Vortechnics has experienced an incredible growth rate over the last three years. In the summer of 2002, the company celebrated the grand opening of its new corporate headquarters, including a state-of-the-art 3,500 square foot lab, to continue its commitment to lead the market through a program of rigorous product testing and aggressive product development.

In the fall of 2003, Vortechnics launched a new product, the VortSentry, another hydrodynamic separator product with a compact design and backed by full laboratory testing. In 2004, the company plans to launch at least two new stormwater treatment products - a filter unit for the removal of fine solids, nutrients and metals, and a trash and debris removal product.

With a sales force of more than 170 sales engineers across the country, this acquisition further strengthens Contech's competitive posture and ability to lead the construction products industry in offering the full continuum of products and services.

"This is a natural transition for the relationship between these two companies," said Patrick M. Harlow, president and CEO of Contech. "Contech established a position in the stormwater market with detention systems and drainage solutions. We strengthened our position with a sales representative agreement with Vortechnics in 2002. This acquisition solidifies Contech as the leader in technology and solutions for the stormwater industry."

About Vortechnics, Inc.

As the leading provider of engineered stormwater management solutions, Vortechnics has set the industry standard with its emphasis on research and development, customization and ease of installation and maintenance. The company's flagship product, the Vortechs(R) System, captures pollutants from runoff and protects waterways from damaging, contaminated stormwater flows.

Web site, www.vortechnics.com

CINCINNATI, OH -- Cintas Corporation's (NASDAQ:CTAS) Springfield, MO facility received the Missouri Water Environment Association's (MWEA) "Gold Award Certificate" for wastewater pretreatment. The award, presented by the MWEA's Industrial Waste Committee, honors Cintas for remaining in 100% wastewater compliance for the entire year of 2003.

"It's extremely difficult for any laundry to stay in compliance for an entire year," said Denise Burkett, MWEA Industrial Waste Committee Chairperson. "That's because the linens and garments returned to the laundry fluctuate in the amount of waste contained on them. Laundries cannot always control the condition of the garments returned. We congratulate Cintas' Springfield facility for setting an example for other industries in the state, and for going the extra mile to protect the environment."

To qualify for the MWEA Gold Award, companies must have a pretreatment or pollution prevention system in place, as well as a cooperative working relationship with the Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW). In addition, all companies up for consideration must have received a positive safety report on their most recent pretreatment inspection and remained in 100% compliance during the entire previous calendar year.

"The MWEA recognition reflects our commitment to the environment and the level of excellence we strive to attain at all of our facilities across North America," said Scott Farmer, President and CEO of Cintas. "We currently recycle up to 70 percent of the wash water at many of our laundry operations, and have invested more than $4 million on research in the pursuit of an affordable 'zero-discharge' water-recycling technology."

Source: http://www.cintas-corp.com/

Water Resources Textbook Now Includes Software
Advanced Water Distribution Modeling and Management (AWDM)
cements its position as the definitive industry reference book.

2004 Brings Good News for Biosolids Recycling
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) welcomes good news for biosolids recycling and applauds the recent actions of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in support of the practice.

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

Ms. Bender wants help with aerobic digestion:

Is there a way to monitor the incremental changes in an anaerobic digester in order to best provide F/M ratio as well as the maximum in biogas production. Back-end flow controller will not work, because buy the time the output (the gas)  is seen there could be another influent/biological change.

Just something to knock about please. (Click here to post a reply)

Thanks,
Christina Bender
Cargill
Christina_Bender@cargill.com

Mr. Dennis needs help with coagulants:

I was hired by my company to work on "Project 1" but somehow wound up with "Project 2" which has very little to do with the first and a lot to do with issues I know absolutely nothing about---WWT!!

Our WW is derived from  the separation of oily waste emulsions, and is treated in batches. High CODs (~7000ppm) are common and we must meet discharge criteria of 1000ppm.

With the use of coag's (alum or FeCl3 or PACl) CODs can be reduced by half.  Now, what I'm having issues with is this: how to optimize the coag dose to reduce COD as much as possible?  (I do not have a Jar Stirrer, but I do have a COD reactor)

In the testing I've done, CODs seem to be about the same whether I use 10ppm or 200ppm coag dose.  Any thoughts greatly appreciated.
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Sincerely,
T. Dennis
terradactyl156@hotmail.com

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My clients goal is to expand its water consulting and engineering practice by adding to its current staff of top-notch professionals in the Florida area.

Ideal candidates will have a minimum of 10 years experience in planning/design of reuse systems, water supply, transmission, storage, and wastewater design, treatment, and conveyance. Experience in marketing/sales, business development activities, capital improvement projects, and proposal development is necessary.

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Only those candidates with the above qualifications will be considered. Our client is committed to the principles of diversity and equal opportunity. For consideration, please send a Microsoft Word resume to dana@mri-hart.com . All inquiries held in strict confidence until you release.

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This week's photo is from Nasiriyah, Iraq, where RTI employees inspect a wastewater treatment plant that has not worked in 8 years. During the war the tanks were used by Iraqi soldiers to store petroleum products. USAID partner RTI is finding solutions for the aging, poorly maintained water and wastewater infrastructures.

Photo courtesy of USAID

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