Tag: Monitoring

INTRODUCTION In municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, biological aeration typically accounts for 50% to 60% of total facility power consumption. As energy costs escalate and sustainability mandates become more stringent, engineers are consistently tasked with driving down operating expenditures. However, reducing blower output indiscriminately often leads to critical process failures, including ammonia permit violations, poor […]

This case study looks inside detroit water and sewerage operations to show how a large urban utility coordinates treatment, distribution, and financing at scale. We unpack the governance split with the Great Lakes Water Authority, the treatment train and SCADA strategies used to protect drinking water quality, and collection system practices for CSO control and […]

INTRODUCTION One of the most persistent challenges in municipal water distribution engineering is maintaining water quality at the extremities of the system. Dead-end mains, low-demand subdivisions, and oversized pipes inevitably lead to high water age, loss of disinfectant residuals, and the formation of dangerous Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) such as Trihalomethanes (THMs) and Haloacetic Acids (HAAs). […]

Detroit water and sewer present a live, technical example of how aging pipes, combined sewers, and fragmented governance create chronic operational and financial risk. This case study synthesizes Detroit-specific diagnostics, the governance split with the Great Lakes Water Authority, funding pathways, and the technical interventions deployed to date. Expect concrete metrics, procurement and financing guidance, […]

Clark County water reclamation serves as a practical blueprint for municipalities facing stricter effluent limits, aging infrastructure, and tight budgets by tracing permitting strategy, technology choices, phased construction and operational handover. This case study delivers concrete timelines, commissioning and operator training checklists, vendor trade offs, and measurable KPIs practitioners can adapt for medium to large […]

INTRODUCTION Designing overpressure protection for clean water systems is a relatively straightforward hydraulic exercise; attempting the same for 6% primary sludge, 30% lime slurry, or abrasive mine tailings is an entirely different engineering challenge. When evaluating Pressure Relief Valves for Slurry Service: What Works & Fails is a critical question that separates a safely protected […]

INTRODUCTION: THE HIDDEN COST OF CAVITATION IN WASTEWATER For municipal consulting engineers and plant operators, the distinct “gravel rattling” sound emanating from a pump volute or control valve is a familiar and costly warning. Cavitation—the formation and violent collapse of vapor bubbles within a fluid—accounts for up to 30% of premature equipment failures in severe […]

INTRODUCTION In municipal water distribution and industrial wastewater treatment, process engineers frequently agonize over pump selection, pipe routing, and advanced biological treatment modeling. Yet, one of the most common causes of process failure, water hammer, and localized flooding stems from a fundamentally overlooked element: the interface between the control system and the physical flow. This […]

The halo 5 water system is a UV-based treatment platform many utilities are evaluating for potable, reuse, and tertiary disinfection applications. This article delivers a technical breakdown of its architecture, hydraulics, lamp and control characteristics, and how delivered UV dose performs under representative water qualities, with head-to-head context against TrojanUV, Xylem Wedeco, and Evoqua. For […]

INTRODUCTION Few operational anomalies in a water or wastewater treatment plant are as immediately concerning as the sound of gravel rushing through a pipeline—especially when there is no gravel in the system. For consulting engineers, plant operators, and utility managers, understanding Ball Valves Cavitation and Noise: Causes is a critical step in preventing catastrophic valve […]