Incidents of human illness and fatality due to pathogens in industrial, commercial and municipal water systems are increasingly prevalent in the news. Although it is not required by law throughout the U.S., practicing a water management program in accordance with the ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188-2018 demonstrates the value of a safe and healthy environment, as well as protects your facility from potential legal disputes [...]
As featured in Food Engineering.
Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG’s) can dramatically reduce efficiency, while increasing the operational costs of your wastewater treatment system. Food processing facilities often experience build-up of grease deposits or caps in their lift stations and piping. Below we have highlighted some possible system impacts of leaving FOG’s untreated and solutions to ensure optimal system operation. Potential [...]
Introduction In June of 2015 the ASHRAE Standards Committee developed Standard 188-2015, Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems. The most recent updated document (188-2018) outlines the minimum requirements for the development, implementation and ongoing maintenance of a L egionella risk management program in new and existing buildings. The Standard is a culmination of several years of [...]
How do you know if you need a pilot study? If you do need a pilot study, how can you ensure it will be effective? Pilot studies are often used to validate or optimize a treatment process or technology and can provide the data needed for process design or state regulatory approval. Because all water sources are different and respond differently to treatment, design should begin with a complete water analysis. [...]
The beginning of a new season is the perfect time to perform system maintenance. As many plant operators know, consistent system maintenance optimizes system performance, prolongs the life of your system and detects minor fixes before they transform into costly repairs. We’ve included a list of suggested tasks below to help you perform a quick system check-up. Filters Ensuring that your filters are [...]
As featured in Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine.
On the surface, it might seem that knowing when to replace the membrane elements in a reverse osmosis (RO) system would be simple. In attempting to keep it simple, many companies will use one or more of the following guidelines for replacing their membrane: time, often after 3 years (the membrane manufacturer’s warranty period) an increase in the RO permeate conductivity, as related to their water [...]
Should you be chemically cleaning your filter media? This may sound like something that could be beneficial, but it may not be right for your filter. This is especially true if you have Greensand™ or Ironman Sand™ filter media. Greensand and Ironman media are coated with manganese dioxide which, when charged, oxidizes manganese as water flows through the filter. Unfortunately, chemicals that are [...]
By optimizing your backwash system, you can improve your overall filter performance and reduce backwash frequency, while cutting down on media costs and preventing excessive water usage. 1. We recommend increasing your backwash frequency if you are experiencing: Excessive headloss (debris buildup in media) Diminished effluent water quality 2. We encourage you to sample your backwash water on a [...]
Deciding when to replace your filter media can be difficult, especially when your filter continues to remove contaminants to acceptable levels. However, periodic media replacement is an essential part of your filter’s asset management plan in order to ensure optimal equipment performance and life cycle. We consider filter media to have an average life of 15 years with a range of 10 to 20 years depending [...]
Dualator® VI treatment systems require inspection and maintenance on a semi-annual basis. Filters with elevated iron or manganese in the raw water need more frequent maintenance. We’ve included a step-by-step maintenance guide below to ensure you are optimizing your system performance. Fill finished water storage tanks and/or tower. Backwash filters to a clean effluent. Shut off and lock out the [...]
As you send your children back to school and Halloween decorations begin to appear in stores, your facility operators may have already begun the process of preparing off-line boilers for the winter season. Regardless of if they were stored dry or wet, steps need to be taken to ensure a safe start-up of off-line boilers. Each boiler is different and prior to startup, and we recommend all engineers consult the boiler [...]
The presence of mudballs is an indication of problems in your filter bed. A mudball is the result of solids accumulating in a filter, then combine with filter media to form into a ball of solids. These mudballs block the passage of water, creating higher velocity filtration and uneven distribution. Mudballs impact filter performance and effluent quality while also shortening filter run [...]