Despite industry utilizing the internet for communications to “things” far before the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) terminology, much focus was put on the consumer market as the general IoT began to develop. This could be due to innovators focusing on the perceived higher volume of “things” required for the consumer market or the ability for the average innovator to have a deeper [...]
Fouling associated with the excessive growth of microorganisms including bacteria, algae, and fungi is a natural, but preventable, issue in most cooling tower systems. As a common problem, facilities have a variety of chemical and mechanical disinfection solutions available when developing a treatment program. A South Dakota industrial manufacturer was combining ozone and a non-oxidizing microbiocide to manage [...]
A team of U.S. Water volunteers recently returned from a week-long trip with Pure Water for the World , supporting underserved children and families in the Trojes region in Honduras. UNICEF has identified Trojes as a “high-need” and “underserved” community, as waterborne illness and even deaths, have been widespread. Pure Water for the World has been supporting this community since 2009, and [...]
Sponsored by the National Safety Council (NSC) and held every June, National Safety Month is an opportunity for organizations and individuals to focus on preventing unnecessary injuries and deaths at work, on the roads, in our homes and our communities. This year’s theme is No One Gets Hurt, and supporters nationwide are encouraged to make one change in their lives that can improve safety. So, why does [...]
Many biofuel plants are expanding operations to increase ethanol production. Often when plants move forward with expansion efforts, the adverse impact on system efficiencies, such as cooling, is overlooked. Without proper evaluation of the existing cooling system operation, plants could spend additional capital on an unnecessary cooling tower expansion or experience an increase in operational costs if the existing [...]
U.S. Water announces that on May 25, 2018, the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin overturned a decision by a unanimous Federal Court jury that U.S. Patent Nos. 8,415,137 and 8,609,399 relating to U.S. Water’s pHytOUT® deposit control technology were valid. U.S. Water plans to appeal the ruling and proceed to defend these patents. “We are obviously disappointed [...]
Food & Beverage (F&B) facilities make products that are intended for human consumption, therefore food safety is always an area of major concern. For over a century, compliance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have been a driving force in the F&B processing industry, and it’s their regulation that guides [...]
Even with quality cleaning practices in place, there is a risk of bacterial infection during the fermentation process of ethanol production. When bacteria are present, it can inhibit yeast productivity and loss of alcohol production can occur. Many ethanol producers utilize an antibiotic program to control bacteria growth and optimize product yields. A Midwest ethanol producer was utilizing a competitor’s [...]
Multiple Midwestern ethanol facilities within the same organization were experiencing controls failure due to aging PLC and HMI equipment. Current plant control equipment was more than ten years old and had reached end of life. The outdated equipment caused plant shutdowns and a loss in production, which can cost up to $10,000 per hour. U.S. Water recommended an integrated controls upgrade solution to prevent future [...]
U.S. Water’s mission and commitment to our core values empowers our organization and its employees to have purposeful expressions of generosity through the sharing of time and resources with our Changing the World program. We are excited to send a team of five U.S. Water employees on our first Changing the World volunteer trip with Pure Water for the World in June. During this trip, the U.S. Water team will [...]
For decades now, the ubiquity of the internet has been essential to modern life. Services like email, Google, and Amazon have connected us to each other, the vast collective knowledge of humankind, and brought literally whatever we desire to our doorsteps with just a few motions of our fingers. Like any widely adopted technology, the internet’s popularity relies on the principle that users need not know how it [...]
U.S. Water’s Cambridge, Minnesota and Plymouth, Minnesota facilities were recognized for excellence in workplace safety and health during the 2017 Governor’s Safety Awards luncheon held on May 10, 2018 in Minneapolis. U.S. Water is one of 279 employers to be honored through the awards program, coordinated by the Minnesota Safety Council. Donald Brozek and Mike Bock, Cambridge facility production shift [...]