INTRODUCTION One of the most persistent debates in municipal water treatment and tertiary wastewater polishing centers on the choice between proprietary membrane technologies and versatile packaged filtration systems. Engineers are frequently caught between the absolute barrier protection of ultrafiltration (UF) and the robust, forgiving nature of adsorption clarifiers or conventional multimedia filtration. This decision affects […]
Introduction One of the most frequent debates in municipal advanced treatment design centers on the selection of tertiary filtration technology. Engineers are often tasked with balancing the stringent pathogen rejection of low-pressure membranes against the energy efficiency and simplicity of depth filtration. This dichotomy is best represented by analyzing DuPont – Memcor vs Aqua-Aerobic for […]
Note to Engineers: While frequently associated with the Union County Utilities Authority (which manages solid waste), the wastewater treatment operations in this jurisdiction are managed by the Rahway Valley Sewerage Authority (RVSA). This technical document focuses on the RVSA wastewater treatment facility. FACILITY BASIC INFORMATION Plant Name: Rahway Valley Sewerage Authority (RVSA) Treatment Plant Location: […]
The Authoritative Technical Resource for Engineers and Industry Professionals FACILITY BASIC INFORMATION Plant Name: 69th Street Wastewater Treatment Plant Location: 2525 S/Sgt. Macario Garcia Drive, Houston, Harris County, Texas Operating Authority: City of Houston Public Works (Houston Water) Design Capacity: 200 MGD (Permitted Daily Average Flow) Peak 2-Hour Flow: 400 MGD Population Served: Approx. 1.2 […]
Technical Note for Engineers: This article provides a specification-level overview of Solids Dewatering Equipment for municipal and industrial applications. It focuses on engineering selection criteria, operational realities, and an impartial analysis of specific Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). 1. Introduction Solids dewatering represents one of the most critical unit operations in the water and wastewater treatment […]
Introduction In the realm of municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, sludge management typically accounts for 30% to 50% of a plant’s total operating costs. The efficacy of the dewatering process is the linchpin of this economic equation. While centrifuges and screw presses have gained market share in recent decades, the belt filter press (BFP) remains […]
1. Introduction Rotary lobe pumps represent a critical category of positive displacement (PD) equipment within the water and wastewater infrastructure. Unlike centrifugal pumps, which rely on kinetic energy to move fluid, rotary lobe pumps utilize the mechanical action of counter-rotating elements to trap and displace discrete volumes of fluid. This fundamental difference in operating principle […]
Introduction In the hierarchy of treatment plant equipment, flow control gates are often treated as static commodities rather than dynamic machinery. This is a critical error. While a pump failure may stop flow, a gate failure can result in catastrophic flooding, bypass events, regulatory fines, and process upsets that compromise the entire plant. A surprising […]
1. Introduction Automation in the municipal water and wastewater sector serves as the central nervous system of critical infrastructure. Unlike discrete manufacturing, where systems function in controlled environments with predictable cycles, water and wastewater automation must contend with geographically dispersed assets, variable biological loading, hydraulic non-linearities, and harsh operating conditions. For consulting engineers, plant managers, […]
Comprehensive Overview of PFAS Public Notification Requirements Introduction The emergence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as pervasive environmental contaminants has triggered significant regulatory and public health concerns. PFAS, often dubbed "forever chemicals," are characterized by their resistance to degradation in the environment and the human body. The urgency surrounding their detection in drinking water […]