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Obama
: Water issues seen as likely priorities
 Greenwire
-- US EPA’s efforts to improve water-treatment
infrastructure, regulate emerging contaminants and protect
wetlands are likely to grow in an Obama administration that
has vowed to make climate change a top priority.
EPA’s outgoing water
administrator, Benjamin Grumbles, predicted that mitigating
climate change’s impact on water supplies will be a priority
for the Obama administration. “Water is at the heart of the
climate change debate,” Grumbles said in an interview. “It
is a core part of both the cause and the effects of climate
change.”
President-elect Barack Obama
promised during the campaign to increase federal funding for
water-treatment facilities and support initiatives aimed at
reducing stormwater runoff. And prospects for a greater
federal investment in water infrastructure have risen with
concerns about the nation’s flagging economy. Democrats have
called for using water projects and other infrastructure
work as an economic stimulus.
The Bush White House recently
threatened to veto House plans for an economic recovery
package funding infrastructure projects, potentially punting
the issue to Obama and the 111th Congress. Obama said last
week that passage of a $60 billion to $100 billion economic
stimulus package would be a top priority following his
inauguration if President Bush and lawmakers do not come to
an agreement in the lame-duck session (E&ENews PM, Nov. 7).
Federal funding for
infrastructure has declined 70 percent over the last two
decades, leaving much of the nation’s water and
transportation infrastructure in desperate need of cash for
maintenance, water-industry representatives say.
“We hope that the package will
contain upwards of $10 billion for wastewater
infrastructure,” said Susan Bruninga, spokeswoman for the
National Association of Clean Water Agencies. “These are
critical needs our communities have waiting. We’re ready to
stick the shovels in the ground. These are projects that are
necessary for environmental protection and public health.”
For more,
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Phosphorous Pollution Costs US
$4.3B Annually
 MANHATTAN,
KS -- Pollution by phosphorous and nitrogen isn't just bad
for lakes, streams and other bodies of fresh water.
According to researchers at Kansas State University, it's
also bad for Americans' pocketbooks.
Freshwater pollution impacts
individuals on a level as basic as how much they spend on
bottled water, said Walter Dodds, professor of biology at
K-State. If you worry about what's in the tap water, you
might be shelling out more money for the bottled variety, he
said.
If your municipal water plant has
to spend more money to treat the water coming through your
tap, your water bills will increase. If you own a house on a
lake that is becoming increasingly polluted, your property
values likely may drop. If that lake is a recreation
destination, your local economy could take a hit, too.
"Monetary damages put
environmental problems in terms that make policymakers and
the public take notice," Dodds said.
He and the K-State researchers
looked at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data on
nitrogen and phosphorous levels in bodies of water
throughout the country. Nitrogen and phosphorous are
nutrients that are applied to plants as nutrients.
Dodds said that the majority of
this type of pollution is from nonpoint sources --that is
it's not flowing into a lake or stream like sewage outflow
coming from one pipe. Rather, the nitrogen and phosphorous
are reaching the water from various points, such as, for
example, runoff from row crop agriculture across the
surrounding countryside.
The researchers calculated the
money lost from that pollution by looking at factors like
decreasing lakefront property values, the cost of treating
drinking water and the revenue lost when fewer people take
part in recreational activities like fishing or boating.
The researchers found that
freshwater pollution by phosphorous and nitrogen costs
government agencies, drinking water facilities and
individual Americans at least $4.3 billion annually. Of
that, they calculated that $44 million a year is spent just
protecting aquatic species from nutrient pollution.
"We are providing
underestimates," Dodds said. "Although our accounting of the
degree of nutrient pollution in the nation is fairly
accurate, the true costs of pollution are probably much
greater than $4.3 billion."
Dodds said he anticipates the
research being used by policymakers because it documents the
extent of the nutrient pollution problem in the United
States and one facet of why it matters.
"Putting environmental problems
in terms of dollars allows people to account for the actual
costs of pollution," Dodds said.
Web site:
http://www.k-state.edu/
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Manure : EPA finalizes CAFO Rule
 Washington,
DC -- EPA has finalized a rule helping to protect the
nation’s water quality by requiring concentrated animal
feeding operations (CAFOs) to safely manage manure. EPA
estimates CAFO regulations will prevent 56 million pounds of
phosphorus, 110 million pounds of nitrogen, and 2 billion
pounds of sediment from entering streams, lakes, and other
waters annually.
“EPA’s
new regulation of animal feedlots sets a strong national
standard for pollution prevention and environmental
protection, while maintaining our country’s economic and
agricultural competitiveness,” said Assistant Administrator
for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles. “This clean water rule
strengthens environmental safeguards by embracing a zero
discharge standard and requiring site-specific management
plans to prevent runoff of excess nutrients into our
nation’s waters.”
This
is the first time EPA has required a nutrient management
plan (NMP) for manure to be submitted as part of a CAFO’s
Clean Water Act permit application. Manure contains the
nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus, which, when not managed
properly on agricultural land, can pollute nearby streams,
lakes, and other waters.
Previous rules required a CAFO operator to use an NMP for
controlling manure, but the regulation builds on that by
requiring the NMP to be submitted with the permit
application. The plan will be reviewed by the permitting
authority and conditions based on it will be incorporated as
enforceable terms of the permit. The proposed NMP and permit
will be available for public review and comment before going
final.
The
regulation also requires that an owner or operator of a CAFO
that actually discharges to streams, lakes, and other waters
must apply for a permit under the Clean Water Act. If a
farmer designs, constructs, operates and maintains their
facility such that a discharge will occur, a permit is
needed. EPA is also providing an opportunity for CAFO
operators who do not discharge or propose to discharge to
show their commitment to pollution prevention by obtaining
certification as zero dischargers.
In
addition, the final rule includes technical clarifications
regarding water quality-based effluent limitations and use
of best management practices to meet zero discharge
requirements, as well as affirming the 2003 rule requirement
for reducing fecal coliform through the use of best
conventional technology.
EPA
worked closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture
during the development of the rule and will work closely
with states during implementation. The rule deadline for
newly defined facilities to apply for permits is February
27, 2009.
EPA
has been regulating CAFOs for more than 30 years. The final
rule responds to a February 2005 federal court decision that
upheld most of the agency’s 2003 rule, but directed further
action or clarification on some portions.
Information on the concentrated animal feeding operation
rule:
http://www.epa.gov/npdes/caforule
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New Water Reclamation System
in Space
 HUNTSVILLE,
Ala. -- International Space Station crews soon will have
a new water reclamation system that will recycle
wastewater, allowing up to six crew members to live
aboard the orbiting laboratory.
The latest addition to the
station's life support system departs today from NASA's
Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL, to
NASA's Kennedy Space Center, FL, for final flight
preparations.
The new Water Recovery
System, or WRS, is the second part of a comprehensive
life support system for the station. It is scheduled to
fly aboard space shuttle Endeavour on STS-126 targeted
for later this year. The first part of the system, the
Oxygen Generation System, was launched on shuttle
Discovery in July 2006. The two systems are part of
NASA's Regenerative Environmental Control and Life
Support System, or ECLSS, for the station.
"Recycling will be an
essential part of daily life for future astronauts,
whether on board the space station or living on the
moon," said Mike Suffredini, the station program
manager. "Delivering this hardware is an important step
in achieving the station's full potential, allowing for
additional crew members and more scientific research."
By recycling, the system
reduces the dependence on Earth resupply by cutting the
amount of water and consumables needed to be launched by
about 15,000 pounds, or 6,800 kilograms, a year.
"As early as the late 1960's
we knew sustaining life in space would require recycling
water and oxygen," said Bob Bagdigian, ECLSS project
manager. "A number of us have experienced the entire
lifecycle of this technology, all the way from early
ideas to implementation. Knowing that we will soon see
this system completed, gives us great pride."
Through a series of chemical
treatment processes and filters, the Water Recovery
System creates water clean enough to drink. In fact,
part of the same process has been used in Third World
countries to produce drinkable water.
A distillation process is
used to recover water from urine. The process occurs
within a rotating distillation assembly that compensates
for the absence of gravity, aiding in the separation of
liquids and gases in space. Once distilled, the water
from the urine processor is combined with other
wastewaters and delivered to the water processor for
treatment.
The water processor removes
free gas and solid materials such as hair and lint,
before the water goes through a series of filtration
beds for further purification. Any remaining organic
contaminants and microorganisms are removed by a
high-temperature catalytic reaction. These rigorous
treatment processes create water that meets stringent
purity standards for human consumption.
Engineers at Marshall and at
Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International Inc.,
Windsor Locks, Conn., led the design and development of
the Water Recovery System.
Source:
http://www.nasa.gov/
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Featured Videos
Share
your videos with everyone - promote your plant, your
product and your company, free.
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| Help Forum :
Hot Messages from the Help Forum
People post their requests
for help and offer their suggestions to others in our open
forum.
Ms. Tang wants help with step
screen clogs:
We have these step screens
that always clog up at the bottom, forming a 'carpet roll"
of rags and rubbish that needs to be removed by hand. It
often occurs after & during a rain event, and as you can
imagine, significantly changes the differential level to the
step screen.
Does anyone else have this
problem? If yes, how are you able to prevent it, or safely
and easily remove the rubbish roll?
(Click
here to post a reply)
Thanks,
Rhonda Tang
Sydney Water
rhonda.tang@sydneywater.com.au
Mr. Reynolds wants help with a
UV system:
We operate an Intermittent
Cycle Extended Aeration System. At present we have 1200 to
1500 cu. meters of influent entering the plant. It is normal
wastewater with no exceptional loading characteristics.
The issue we have is that
there is color interference. We have a TSS of less than 5
mg/L and BOD of 5 mg/L.
The UV system has 2 banks of
lights and was sized for a plant flow of 3000 cu/m/day.
One bank is supposed to be on with the second starting
automatically as the flow increases. The UV was spec'd
out with a UV transmittance of 65 UVT's or greater.
We have not been able to
reach this, because of discoloration in the effluent water.
Any suggestions? (Click
here to post a reply)
Thanks,
J. Reynolds
Epcor
jreynolds@epcor.ca
Help Forum:
Share your
expertise with others in our
Help
Forum. |
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| From the Job
Fair: Water Filtration
Plant Superintendent - Oshkosh, WI
The City of Oshkosh, WI (pop.
65,000) is accepting applications for Water Filtration Plant
Superintendent in our Department of Public Works.
This position is responsible
for the management of all aspects of the operation and
maintenance of the City’s Surface Water Filtration Plant and
associated water towers, booster station, pressure zone
control stations in order to meet all public health, water
quality and state and federal regulatory requirements.
Bachelor’s Degree in science,
engineering, water technology or related field. Five years
of plant operating and maintenance experience, including at
least 3 years of supervisory experience. Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources certification in surface
water treatment is required.
Salary range for 2009 is
$58,111 - $74,718 plus an excellent benefit package.
To request an application and
complete job description, please contact:
City of Oshkosh Personnel Office
Room 401, City Hall
215 Church Ave.
Oshkosh, WI,
Telephone: (920) 236-5110
Web site:
http://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/Personnel/Procedures.htm.
Applications need to be
received by 12/12/08.
Resumes without an application will not be considered.
EOE/MFH
The Job Fair:
A free
service of Water and Wastewater.com. You can post job
opening for managers, engineers, sales, reps or other
talented people you need. ...Or one can post their resume
for companies who are looking to add talented people to
their staff.
Do you have a position
you need to fill? Visit the Job
Fair. |
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| About Us :
Water and Wastewater Newsletter
© 1999-2008 Water and Wastewater.com
Home page: http://www.waterandwastewater.com
Joseph Taylor, Editor
Water and Wastewater Newsletter
3948 South Third Street, No. 121
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
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Email: jtaylor@waterandwastewater.com
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Newsletter is a 100% opt-in e-mail list of information for
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you have company news, a new product, new service or other
information you would like to share with our subscribers?
Please submit articles via e-mail, only to: news@waterandwastewater.com |
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::
Obama : Water issues seen as
likely priorities
::
Phosphorous Pollution Costs US
$4.3B Annually
::
Manure : EPA finalizes CAFO Rule
::
New Water Reclamation System
in Space
:: The News Center : More headlines
:: The Water and Wastewater Blog
:: Video Center
:: Help Forum
::
Water and Wastewater Plant
Directory : Featured Plant
:: The Job Fair
:: Top Picks at Amazon.com
:: Ask Tom! Column!
:: 177,000+ visitors in October !
:: Call For Photographs!
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:: Archive Information
:: About Us
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| Hi Everyone,
Lots of news this week about the
future of this industry, from cow poop to outer space and
more, read on!
With over 10,000+ subscribers,
our goal is to provide information
to improve your business by using the resources available on the
Internet.
Thanks,
Joe Taylor, Editor
jtaylor@waterandwastewater.com
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New Ozone Plant for Yang Shu Pu, China
In October, Degrémont Technologies-Ozonia has
handed-over the ozone-plant for the drinking water
facility of Yang Shu Pu and has successfully passed
the performance tests. The plant consists of 3
generators with a capacity of 31.25 kg O3/hr @10% wt
each....(more) |
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| Call For
Photographs
This weeks photo
is of Mississippi State chemical engineering researchers
who's grant supports work to chemically transform sludge and
wastewater collected from a Tuscaloosa, Ala., treatment
facility into a feedstock for producing biodiesel. EPA's
RARE grants are designed to promote collaborations among
scientists.
Photo courtesy
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