Reston, VA -- The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) today called for the creation of an independent, federally funded reconstruction advisory panel for New Orleans to serve as the primary advisor to local officials on the rebuilding of the city and immediate surrounding areas. The panel should be comprised of technical experts who would provide an objective review of all design and construction issues relating to the reconstruction and would be fully integrated with any federal agency involved in these efforts.

As proposed, the New Orleans Reconstruction Advisory Panel charter would be as follows:

The federally sponsored and funded advisory panel will serve as primary advisor to the Mayor of New Orleans and affected parish, city and state governments on the rebuilding of the city;

• The panel will consist of experts from engineering, architecture, planning and other design and construction related fields;
• The recommendations of the panel will include strategies to minimize the impact of future storm events and other hazards;
• The primary goal will be to maintain and improve the way of life for the citizens of the metropolitan New Orleans area;
• The focus of the panel will be on incorporating mitigative and sustainable measures into the reconstruction efforts;
• The panel will serve as link to federal agencies working in support of the reconstruction effort; and
• The panel will function in an advisory capacity only and will have no authority to mandate solutions.

The panel concept was developed with leading non-governmental organizations at a meeting held on September 6 in Washington, D.C. Sponsored by ASCE and The Infrastructure Security Partnership, the roundtable meeting was held to coordinate a unified response by the engineering, design and construction community to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.

The Infrastructure Security Partnership (TISP) was established following the tragic events of September 11, 2001 as a forum for U.S.-based public and private sector non-profit organizations to collaborate on issues regarding the security of the nation's built environment, including resilience to natural and man-made disasters through effective and efficient planning, design, construction and operation. Membership includes more than 200 organizations and agencies representing more than 2 million individuals and firms.

Founded in 1852, ASCE represents more than 137,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America's oldest national engineering society. The society celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2002.

Source: http://www.asce.org/

Hurricane Relief : ITT Offers Funds and Equipment

White Plains, NY -- ITT Industries has pledged $250,000 to the Red Cross to fund immediate hurricane relief, and has made available fluid technology equipment for delivery to Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, including dewatering pumps and reverse osmosis systems which could be vital to relief efforts. Additionally, the company has sent night vision equipment and personnel to assist in round-the-clock search and rescue efforts in the affected areas.

“ITT Industries is ready to offer our technical experience and equipment to provide emergency relief to the areas most impacted by Hurricane Katrina,” said Steve Loranger, Chairman, President and CEO of ITT Industries. “Removing the flood waters from New Orleans is a vital preliminary step to planning for recovery in that region. We’re prepared right now, to provide our equipment and expertise as well as water treatment equipment, wherever and whenever it is needed.”

ITT has installed more than 70 large turbine pumps in New Orleans over the years as part of the city’s flood control system. Together, these pumps are capable of pumping up to 2 billion gallons an hour. To supplement these in the hurricane’s aftermath, ITT has prepared a fleet of more than 100 large submersible pumps, routinely rented for dewatering projects, on standby to help remove the flood waters from New Orleans. Developed just prior to the “Great Midwest Flood of 1993,” these engine-driven pumps can each remove 20,000 gallons of water per minute. The company has also readied numerous smaller units capable of pumping between 100 and 15,000 gallons of water per minute.

Additionally, ITT has prepared chlorination and UV disinfection equipment to help provide potable water to victims of Hurricane Katrina. This equipment can provide up to 250,000 gallons of water per day. The company provided similar systems to Iraq and following the tsunami in Sri Lanka to provide clean drinking water for thousands of people.

ITT night vision equipment and training personnel are already in Louisiana, enabling searches to continue around the clock. The company donated 22 night vision goggles to police agencies, and has offered training in mission applications. Further, ITT imagers are providing real time satellite imagery to rescue and relief operations.

Source:  http://www.itt.com/

TREVOSE, PA -- GE Infrastructure, Water & Process Technologies, a unit of General Electric Company, joined the City of Minneapolis today for the opening tour of the city's new Columbia Heights water filtration plant - the world's largest potable ultrafiltration (UF) plant. The plant utilizes GE's UF solutions to provide up to 78 million gallons per day (MGD) of potable water to over half a million Minneapolis residents.

Cryptosporidium is a waterborne protozoa that is harmful for humans to ingest and can cause symptoms that include fever, weight loss, dehydration, vomiting, and death. In 1993, Milwaukee battled a Cryptosporidium outbreak that claimed the lives of an estimated 100 residents. The Milwaukee outbreak prompted the Minneapolis Water Works to conduct a feasibility study that examined the city's risk factors, as well as remedies, possible solutions and technologies that would help safeguard the city's water. Upon completion of the study, Minneapolis, with its Peer Review Panel and Citizens Advisory Committee, determined that GE's UF technology was best-suited to aid the city in protecting its citizens.

GE's UF technology is a pressure-driven technology that provides a physical barrier to pathogens and is commonly used to remove suspended solids, bacteria, microorganisms, and viruses in potable water production. The Minneapolis plant combines GE's UF technology with NORIT membrane technology - creating a complementary system that results in the extremely effective removal of hazardous waterborne microorganisms and contaminants. The nationally recognized California Department of Health Services gave ultrafiltration the highest removal rate credits available.

GE's UF solutions are capable of delivering the following: consistent, superior water quality regardless of feed quality variations; dead-end operation resulting in low energy consumption; greater than 6 log (99.9999%) removal of Cryptosporidium and Giardia lamblia; highest certified removal of viruses - 4 log (99.99%); low chemical consumption; permeate SDI(15) less than 3; small system footprint and compact arrangement; and proven membrane life.

In addition to the opening of the City of Minneapolis' Columbia Heights plant, GE was recently awarded a contract by the City of Mankato, MN to provide ultrafiltration technology in upgrades to their water treatment plant. The Mankato plant, which will provide 12 MGD of potable water to city residents, will be the state's second largest UF plant and is expected to be on-line in September 2006.

The City of Minneapolis and City of Mankato plants will join GE's expanding ecomagination and water scarcity solutions portfolio, which includes a wide-range of customized water solutions designed to create new sources of usable water for the potable, industrial and agricultural sectors -- while lessening impacts on fresh water sources.

For more information on ultrafiltration technology and GE's water scarcity solutions, please visit www.gewater.com

. Terry Brueck named President of EMA EMA’s Board of Directors has appointed Terry Brueck, PE as President and Chief Executive Officer of the firm to succeed George Mathes.

Dow Introduces AQUCAR for RO Membranes
AQUCAR RO microbiocide is a cost-effective way to prevent biofouling from interfering with reverse osmosis membrane performance.
 

New Instrumentation For Orbisphere Sensors Orbisphere electrochemical sensors are widely regarded as leaders in the field of selective gas measurement.

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

Mr. Carroll has a problem with digester cleaning:

Secondary is off and open and being cleaned. Cover is off and being blasted and painted. Primary is set to feed once an hour and automatically spill over to the headworks.

I have an enormous amount of sludge buildup in the bottom of the Primary Clarifier.  Are there any other procedures that I am missing in order to keep under control?  (Click here to post a reply)

Thanks,
Steven Carroll
Livingston County WSA
scarroll@co.livingston.ny.us

Mr. Hallberg needs help with activated sludge:

I am currently considering pure oxygen upgrade for our activated sludge plant, my questions are as follows;

• What determines the maximum oxygen uptake of the microorganisms?
  I must assume that it depends partly on how much CO2 that is generated from the biomass.
• There must be a situation where a balance between partial pressure of oxygen and partial pressure of CO2 in the system exists. At what pressures would those be?
• What is the discharge rate of CO2 from the surface compared to oxygen?
• Should the system be shallow and wide or deep and narrow?

What I am questioning is, there may be a limit to how much biomass can exist in the system based on how much oxygen can be consumed, depending on many factors one being CO2 discharge.  Can anyone advise on real plant situation behaviour?
(Click here to post a reply)

Thanks,
Ingvar Hallberg
Advance Agro
ingvar_h@advanceagro.com

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

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District Engineer Position - California

Located in the Natomas area, encompassing portions of the Counties of Sacramento and Sutter, the Reclamation District No. 1000 (RD 1000) is one of the largest reclamation districts in the State of California.

RD 1000 provides agricultural and urban drainage, flood control and project levee maintenance to approximately 50,000 residents in the City of Sacramento and Sacramento and Sutter Counties. The Board of Trustees is seeking a seasoned engineering professional to replace the retiring District Engineer.

The ideal candidate will possess strong technical and engineering skills in order to effectively serve as the Chief Engineer and General Manager for RD 1000. Competitive candidates will be registered professional engineers. Overseeing a staff of nine, the District Engineer will be a strong advocate for the District.

The Board is seeking candidates who will excel in performing community outreach for the District. Candidates with excellent oral and written communications skills are highly desired. Someone who is politically astute, yet apolitical, is sought. The District Engineer will not only possess a good understanding of politics and the legislative process, but he/she will also be able to effectively interact with all levels of government, including at the local, state and federal levels.

The incumbent will be someone who can demonstrate a proven history of successful decision making for his/her own organization.  The salary for the District Engineer is $125,000, DOQ. The District also offers an attractive benefits package.

If you are interested in this outstanding opportunity, please submit your resume, by November 4, 2005 to:

Regan Williams, Bob Murray and Associates
1677 Eureka Road, Suite 202
Roseville, CA 95661
(916) 784-9080
(916) 784-1985 FAX
or e-mail apply@bobmurrayassoc.com
Brochure Available

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With what is happening after the hurricane Katrina, please make a donation to the Red Cross to help the survivors!  We have and we hope you will too!

With over 8,000+ subscribers, our goal is to provide information to improve your business by using the resources available on the Internet.

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This weeks photo is of the pumping out of New Orleans. ITT Industries has pledged $250,000 to fund immediate hurricane relief, and has made available fluid technology equipment, including dewatering pumps and reverse osmosis systems which could be vital to relief efforts.

Photo courtesy ITT Industries.

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