Tag: water treatment
Introduction In the high-stakes environment of municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, few decisions impact long-term operational costs (OPEX) as significantly as the selection of oxidation and gas handling systems. Engineers frequently underestimate the lifecycle implications of dielectric technologies and cooling requirements when specifying ozone generation systems for disinfection, micropollutant removal, or sludge handling. A specification […]
INTRODUCTION In the realm of anaerobic digestion and cogeneration, the protection of downstream assets—whether internal combustion engines (ICE), boilers, or renewable natural gas (RNG) membranes—is paramount. Engineers often face a critical disconnect: the anaerobic digester produces valuable fuel, but that fuel is laden with hydrogen sulfide (H2S), siloxanes, and moisture that can destroy capital equipment […]
1. INTRODUCTION The trickling filter is one of the oldest and most established biological treatment processes in municipal and industrial wastewater applications. Classified as an attached-growth (or fixed-film) process, a trickling filter operates by passing wastewater over a stationary medium—historically rock or slag, but increasingly structured plastic modules—where a biofilm establishes itself. This biomass metabolizes […]
Introduction For municipal and industrial treatment plant engineers, solids handling frequently represents the most volatile component of operational expenditure (OPEX). While the liquid train often receives the bulk of design attention, the “tail of the plant”—sludge thickening, dewatering, and disposal—accounts for approximately 40% to 50% of total treatment costs. When evaluating the Top 10 Sludge […]
Introduction In the modern municipal water and wastewater landscape, the System Integrator (SI) occupies a critical role that transcends simple equipment supply. Unlike pump manufacturers or valve suppliers who provide discrete mechanical assets, the SI is responsible for the facility’s central nervous system—the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Human […]
Introduction The pressure to intensify nutrient removal within existing wastewater treatment plant footprints has never been higher. For municipal and industrial engineers, the Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) and Integrated Fixed-Film Activated Sludge (IFAS) processes represent a critical solution to this density problem. However, a staggering number of retrofit projects face operational bottlenecks not because […]
Introduction One of the most persistent challenges in municipal and industrial water treatment design is the fragmentation of technology. A typical treatment plant is a complex assembly of headworks, biological processes, clarification, disinfection, and solids handling systems. When engineers treat these as isolated unit processes, the facility often suffers from integration failures, disparate control philosophies, […]
Introduction One of the most persistent challenges in water and wastewater treatment design is the “black box” mentality regarding filtration. Engineers often focus heavily on media selection—anthracite size, sand uniformity coefficients, or GAC iodine numbers—while underestimating the critical mechanical and hydraulic interfaces that support that media. However, industry data suggests that over 70% of catastrophic […]
1. Introduction to Packaged Treatment Plants in Municipal and Industrial Applications Packaged Treatment Plants (PTPs) represent a critical segment of the wastewater infrastructure market, serving as the backbone for decentralized wastewater management. Unlike large-scale, custom-designed civil works facilities that treat tens or hundreds of millions of gallons per day (MGD), packaged plants are pre-engineered, prefabricated, […]
Location: Orlando, Orange County, FloridaOperating Authority: Orange County Utilities (OCU)Design Capacity: 24.0 MGD (Annual Average Daily Flow)Treatment Level: Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) / 100% Water Reuse 1. Introduction The Eastern Water Reclamation Facility (EWRF) serves as a cornerstone of water resource management for the rapidly expanding eastern sector of Orange County, Florida. Operated by Orange […]