Tag: water treatment
Introduction The secondary clarifier is often described as the most critical bottleneck in activated sludge systems, yet its performance is frequently limited by the quality of the data feeding the control loops. For municipal consulting engineers and plant directors, the “black box” nature of clarification—where settling zones and compression layers are hidden beneath the surface—presents […]
INTRODUCTION In municipal and industrial water treatment, the “set it and forget it” mentality regarding chemical feed systems is a primary driver of operational inefficiency and compliance violations. While metering pumps and storage tanks are the muscles of the system, the instrumentation—specifically flow meters and level transmitters—acts as the nervous system. A surprising industry statistic […]
Introduction Cavitation is the silent killer of hydraulic efficiency and mechanical integrity in water and wastewater systems. For municipal and industrial engineers, the challenge is rarely just about selecting a pump; it is about selecting the instrumentation loop that can survive, detect, and mitigate the conditions that lead to cavitation. When incipient cavitation creates two-phase […]
1. INTRODUCTION In the hierarchy of unit processes within municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities, solids conveyance systems often receive less design scrutiny than liquid stream biological processes. However, the mechanical transport of dewatered biosolids, screenings, and grit represents one of the most mechanically intensive and maintenance-critical operations in a treatment plant. The failure of […]
Introduction In municipal and industrial water treatment, the reliability of process analytics—pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity—often hinges not on the sensor electronics, but on the mechanical interface with the process stream. A surprising 25% of premature sensor failures in wastewater applications are attributed to improper mounting, poor flow dynamics at the insertion point, or […]
1. Introduction In the context of municipal and industrial water and wastewater treatment, aeration blowers represent the single most critical active component in the biological treatment process. They serve as the “lungs” of the plant, delivering the necessary oxygen to microorganisms within activated sludge basins, membrane bioreactors (MBR), and aerobic digesters. From an energy standpoint, […]
Introduction The anaerobic digester gallery is arguably the most complex and hazardous environment within a Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF). Engineers are tasked with balancing two volatile forces: the biological/hydraulic requirement to keep sludge moving and heated, and the thermodynamic requirement to safely contain and manage explosive methane gas. A single specification error in either […]
Modern Water Softening Technology for Municipal Applications In an age where water quality is more crucial than ever, municipalities are turning to modern water softening technology to tackle the challenges posed by hard water. This blog post will explore various innovative solutions, from traditional ion exchange systems to cutting-edge salt-free alternatives, that are transforming the […]
Introduction The safety and structural integrity of anaerobic digesters rely entirely on the precise management of internal pressures. For decades, the specification of gas safety equipment has largely been a binary choice in the North American market. Engineers evaluating Varec Biogas (Ovivo) vs Shand & Jurs for Digestion applications are navigating a landscape defined by […]
Introduction to Ozone System Engineering Ozone generation is one of the most chemically potent yet operationally complex technologies in the water treatment arsenal. Unlike UV or chlorination, ozone is generated on-site, requiring a sophisticated integration of power supply, gas preparation, cooling thermodynamics, and mass transfer mechanics. For municipal and industrial engineers, the challenge is rarely […]