Introduction One of the most persistent challenges in municipal water and wastewater design is the “interface gap”—the point where mechanical flow control meets electrical automation. When a critical isolation valve fails to close during a storm event, or a modulating control valve oscillates wildly, creating damaging water hammer, the root cause often lies in a […]
Introduction In the high-stakes environment of municipal water transmission and large-scale wastewater pumping, the cone valve remains the premier choice for pump control and isolation service. Engineers frequently encounter a complex intersection of mechanical hydraulics and automation controls when specifying these massive assets. A critical point of confusion—and decision—often arises around the interface between the […]
Introduction Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection has transitioned from an “alternative” technology to the industry standard for pathogen inactivation in municipal water and wastewater treatment. However, a critical disconnect remains in the engineering community: the assumption that UV systems are static, “plug-and-play” appliances. In reality, an improperly specified UV system can become the plant’s largest energy consumer […]
Introduction In municipal water distribution networks, the management of water age and the maintenance of residual disinfectant levels are critical regulatory and public health mandates. While standard fire hydrants have historically been utilized for flushing activities, the evolution of distribution system engineering has necessitated the development of dedicated hydrant flushers. These devices—ranging from manual blow-offs […]
Introduction to Horizontal End Suction Pumps in Water & Wastewater In the complex hydraulic landscape of municipal and industrial water treatment, the horizontal end suction pump remains the ubiquitous workhorse. While vertical turbine pumps may dominate deep well applications and submersible pumps handle the depths of wet wells, the horizontal end suction (HES) configuration is […]
Introduction In the landscape of municipal and industrial water and wastewater treatment, the dry pit pump configuration remains a cornerstone of reliability, maintainability, and hydraulic versatility. Unlike submersible installations where the pump and motor are submerged in the process fluid, dry pit installations separate the fluid handling equipment from the wet well. The pump is […]
1. Introduction Mixing equipment serves as the kinetic heart of municipal and industrial water and wastewater treatment facilities. Unlike passive components such as piping or static storage, mixers are dynamic machines responsible for facilitating chemical reactions, maintaining solids suspension, blending disparate fluid streams, and optimizing heat transfer. In the context of consulting engineering and plant […]
Introduction to Submersible Pump Specification in Municipal and Industrial Systems The submersible solids-handling pump represents the backbone of modern municipal wastewater collection systems, storm water management, and industrial effluent transport. Unlike dry-pit configurations where the prime mover is separated from the hydraulic fluid, the submersible pump integrates the motor and hydraulic end into a single, […]
Introduction Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) is frequently the unit process of choice when dealing with low-density solids, algae, or fats, oils, and grease (FOG)—contaminants that defy gravity settling. However, a surprising number of DAF installations fail to meet performance guarantees not because the tank is the wrong size, but because the whitewater system is improperly […]
Introduction One of the most visible failures in municipal water distribution is the overflow of an elevated storage tank. Beyond the public embarrassment of a “waterfall” cascading down a tower in the town center, the engineering consequences include structural icing loads in winter, erosion at the foundation, and significant wasted pumping energy. While SCADA systems […]