Around the Industry (Industrial/Municipal) – January 2013

Jan. 1, 2013

Wastewater treatment plant switching from anaerobic to an aerobic system The Pratt wastewater treatment plant in Pratt, Kan. is looking to improve the efficiency of …

Wastewater treatment plant switching from anaerobic to an aerobic system

The Pratt wastewater treatment plant in Pratt, Kan. is looking to improve the efficiency of its digester when it switches from anaerobic (non-oxygen) to an aerobic (oxygen) system. Pratt City Manager Dave Howard said the belt press or digester uses biological organisms (microscopic bugs that eat waste) to process the waste and clean it up. The microscopic organisms will be able to work more efficiently with more oxygen in the system. The city was already dealing with problems trying to get rid of the sludge in the system and they hope this switch will fix the problem. Howard said the town would usually haul the product to area fields where it was land applied, but disposal was a major problem for the city.

AWWA releases guidebook on U.S. water quality regulations

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has announced the release of its new publication, the Environmental Compliance Guidebook: Beyond US Water Quality Regulation. Designed to help water and wastewater utility personnel understand and comply with the complex U.S. environmental regulations pertaining to hazardous materials and other wastes, the Environmental Compliance Guidebook: Beyond US Water Quality Regulation clarifies these laws and regulations while making them easier to understand. Each chapter covers the laws, regulations and compliance issues for one family of environmental pollutants. The chapters also include the purpose of applicable regulations, the appropriate regulatory authorities, key program elements required for compliance, activities and substances for which the regulation applies and overcoming common compliance issues and findings.

Board members in Pa. move forward with $34 million wastewater treatment plant project

Board members voted to advertise a $34 million project to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant in South Abington, Pa. Project Engineer James Elliot of Gannett Fleming Inc. said the designs are complete and the project is ready to move forward. A bid will be held by the board members on Jan. 6. The project is expected to start in April and must be completed by October 2015. The treatment plant in South Abington Twp. serves sewer users in Clarks Summit, Clarks Green and South Abington.

Wind turbines to help power wastewater plant in R.I.        

A wastewater plant in Providence, R.I. is getting three new wind turbines to help power the plant. U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse gathered at the plant Dec. 3 to celebrate the completion of the project. The turbines were installed at the Field’s Point Wastewater Treatment Facility near the city’s waterfront. Federal clean water funds were used to pay for the $14 million project, which was built by the Narragansett Bay Commission.

Hurricane Sandy leaves behind expensive cleanup at sewage plant in N.Y.

The Bay Park sewage plant is looking at the expensive effects left behind by Hurricane Sandy. A greenish-gray soup of partially treated human waste is currently flowing in the water coming out of the plant in Nassau County, N.Y. The water symbolizes the environmental and public health concerns the state has to deal with after the disastrous storm struck the east coast. Since the storm, millions of gallons of partially treated raw sewage has flowed into waterways in New York, exposing major flaws in the region’s wastewater infrastructure. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has estimated that about $1.1 billion will be needed to repair treatment plants in the state.

Commissioners award contract for $29.6 million upgrade to wastewater treatment plant

The Kitsap County commissioners have awarded a construction contract for the $29.6 million upgrade to the Central Kitsap Wastewater Treatment Plant. The plant is scheduled to start construction at the beginning of 2013. McClure & Sons of Mill Creek was awarded the contract by bidding over $3 million less than engineering estimates. Officials say contractors are hungry for work in this slow economy. The current plant was built in 1977 and is beginning to age. A new plant would replace outdated equipment and increase capacity.

PEOPLE

    Randall C. Hill, P.E., joins Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam Inc. (LAN) as the director of engineering of the firm’s infrastructure practice in Southern California. In this role, he will lead the firm’s business development as well as project execution efforts for clients throughout Southern California. He will be responsible for identifying and assessing business opportunities, marketing LAN’s services to its clients and leading the Southern California infrastructure team. He also will manage water and wastewater infrastructure projects in Southern California, helping LAN’s clients bring these projects to successful completion.

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