INTRODUCTION One of the most common and destructive phenomena operators experience in municipal and industrial pumping systems is the unmistakable sound of gravel passing through the piping. While engineers frequently attribute this acoustic signature to pump issues, the true root cause often lies just upstream. When investigating Strainers Cavitation and Noise: Causes typically track back […]
INTRODUCTION One of the most destructive and frequently misunderstood phenomena in municipal and industrial water systems is the hydraulic transient, commonly known as water hammer. When a pump suddenly loses power, or a valve closes too quickly, the kinetic energy of the moving fluid column is abruptly converted into pressure energy. This generates high-velocity pressure […]
Effective sand filtration is where plant performance, operating cost, and regulatory compliance meet—or fail. This practical playbook gives municipal and industrial plant engineers and operators step-by-step sizing calculations in metric and imperial, media specifications, backwash strategies, monitoring setpoints, and a troubleshooting checklist with worked examples. Expect manufacturer-referenced ranges and field-testable fixes you can apply during […]
Activated Carbon Filtration: Removing Contaminants from Water Article Overview Article Type: Informational Primary Goal: Provide municipal engineers, wastewater treatment operators, plant designers, and equipment manufacturers with a technical, implementation-focused guide to activated carbon filtration covering mechanisms, contaminant scope, design calculations, operational practices, monitoring, regeneration and disposal options, vendor selection, and real-world performance data so they […]
Coagulation and Flocculation: Essential Steps in Water Purification Coagulation flocculation water treatment is the frontline process that decides whether downstream filtration, membranes and disinfection will meet turbidity and DBP precursor targets. This article turns coagulation chemistry into practical decisions—coagulant and polymer selection, rapid mix and flocculation G and time ranges, jar testing and pilot methods, […]
FACILITY BASIC INFORMATION Plant Name: East Jefferson Wastewater Treatment Plant (EJEFF) Location: Metairie, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana Operating Authority: Jefferson Parish Department of Sewerage Design Capacity: 62.4 MGD (Average Daily Flow) Peak Hydraulic Capacity: >100 MGD Population Served: ~250,000 residents Service Area: East Bank of Jefferson Parish (Metairie, River Ridge, Harahan, Kenner) Receiving Water Body: Mississippi […]
Introduction In municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, volume reduction is the single most effective method for controlling downstream costs. By thickening Waste Activated Sludge (WAS) from a typical 0.5–1.0% solids concentration to 5–7%, facilities can reduce the hydraulic volume sent to digesters or holding tanks by up to 85%. However, selecting the right equipment to […]
INTRODUCTION One of the most persistent challenges in municipal and industrial treatment plant design is the “Proprietary vs. Custom” dilemma. Engineers frequently encounter this when selecting equipment for specialized unit processes—such as high-rate clarification, tertiary filtration, or anaerobic digestion auxiliaries. A surprising statistic from lifecycle audits reveals that while proprietary high-rate systems can reduce civil […]
Introduction One of the most persistent challenges in water and wastewater treatment design is the “black box” mentality regarding filtration. Engineers often focus heavily on media selection—anthracite size, sand uniformity coefficients, or GAC iodine numbers—while underestimating the critical mechanical and hydraulic interfaces that support that media. However, industry data suggests that over 70% of catastrophic […]
Introduction to Tertiary Filtration Selection For municipal and industrial engineers, the tertiary filtration stage is frequently the final safeguard between regulatory compliance and permit violations. As National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits tighten—particularly regarding total phosphorus (TP) limits of < 0.1 mg/L and strict turbidity requirements for Title 22 water reuse—the margin for error […]