Tag: Infrastructure

1. Overview of Mississippi’s Wastewater Infrastructure Mississippi’s wastewater infrastructure landscape represents a critical intersection of historical municipal challenges and unprecedented modern investment. Regulated primarily by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) under the purview of EPA Region 4, the state oversees hundreds of publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) ranging from small rural lagoon systems […]

INTRODUCTION For municipal consulting engineers, plant superintendents, and operators, a leaking pressure relief valve (PRV) is far more than a nuisance—it is a continuous drain on operational efficiency, an environmental compliance risk, and an indicator of compromised system safety. While operators frequently blame the valve manufacturer when weeping or fugitive emissions occur, the engineering reality […]

INTRODUCTION Handling heavy primary sludge, raw grit, lime slurries, or industrial tailings presents one of the most punishing fluid handling challenges in any treatment facility. In these applications, standard valving rapidly falls victim to severe abrasion, chronic clogging, and debilitating torque spikes. A surprising number of facilities experience premature valve failures—sometimes within months of commissioning—simply […]

INTRODUCTION Water and wastewater pump station failures, pipe ruptures, and operator injuries often trace back to a seemingly simple, yet notoriously misapplied component: the check valve. An incorrect valve selection at the pump discharge can lead to destructive water hammer, severe valve slam, chronic ragging, and premature mechanical failure. For consulting and utility engineers, understanding […]

Aging assets, tighter regulations, and pressure to cut operating costs mean water and wastewater plants need reliable automation, not band-aid fixes. This article explains how a scada system water treatment deployment is designed, secured, and operated in real municipal and industrial plants, and provides a practical roadmap for evaluating vendors, integrating legacy PLCs, and measuring […]

Introduction One of the most persistent friction points in wastewater treatment plant design is the misalignment between initial procurement budgets and long-term operating realities. Engineers frequently encounter scenarios where a positive displacement pump is required for high-solids or viscous sludge applications, yet the specification process defaults to the lowest bidder. This approach often ignores the […]

Introduction One of the most persistent and costly issues in municipal wastewater management is not the failure of the pump itself, but the mismatch between the pump’s hydraulic design and the system’s actual operating requirements. Industry data suggests that nearly 70% of centrifugal pumps in wastewater applications operate significantly outside their preferred operating region (POR). […]

The authoritative technical resource for the City of Flint’s primary wastewater treatment infrastructure. FACILITY BASIC INFORMATION Plant Name: City of Flint Water Pollution Control Facilities (WPCF) Location: G-4652 Beecher Road, Flint, Genesee County, Michigan Operating Authority: City of Flint Department of Public Works / Utilities Division Design Capacity: 50 MGD (Dry Weather) Current Average Flow: […]

FACILITY BASIC INFORMATION Plant Name: Great Lakes Water Authority Water Resource Recovery Facility (formerly Detroit Wastewater Treatment Plant) Location: 9300 West Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan Operating Authority: Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) Design Capacity: 1,700 MGD (Primary Treatment Peak), 930 MGD (Secondary Treatment Peak) Current Average Flow: ~615 MGD Population Served: ~2.8 million […]

The Authoritative Technical Resource for Engineers and Operators FACILITY BASIC INFORMATION Plant Name: James C. Kirie Water Reclamation Plant (Kirie WRP) Location: 701 West Oakton Street, Des Plaines, Cook County, Illinois Operating Authority: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) Design Average Capacity: 52 MGD Design Maximum Flow: 110 MGD Population Served: ~217,000 residents […]