October 2015 Vol. 70 No. 10
Newsline
WaterWorks News
3M, TaKaDu Join to Offer Advanced Infrastructure Management To Water Utilities
3M and TaKaDu recently signed an agreement designed to help water utilities learn how to improve efficiency and ultimately save water.
3M currently has a small strategic equity investment in TaKaDu. By combining their strong commitment to improving water efficiency and their technological advances, the two companies will address the market together to offer water utilities a more complete solution to detect problems, convert data into insights and decide where to rehabilitate their infrastructure.
3M specifically developed Scotchkote Liner 2400 for the rehabilitation of potable water pipe infrastructure without the cost and community impacts of full pipe replacement. The liner is designed to help extend service life, reduce leaks and improve water quality by helping prevent the future build-up of tuberculation. TaKaDu offers a smart analytics solution designed to detect events, such as leaks and burst, and manage the events through the entire life cycle by providing key insights into network issues and operational planning.
TaKaDu’s Event Management Solution is a comprehensive, decision-making platform that can be integrated across the utility. Using advanced statistical and mathematical algorithms, the platform translates utility raw data into actionable insights about events including leaks, bursts, faulty assets and operational failures. Because the platform is cloud-based and works across IT systems, it can be implemented within weeks. Utilities can achieve higher network efficiency by resolving issues faster, at a lower cost.
Fresh Water Systems Expands Promotion of UV Systems for Water Safety
Fresh Water Systems, Inc. (FWS), one of the largest independent providers of water filtration systems in the US, has launched multiple initiatives designed to increase awareness about the effectiveness and efficiency of treating household water with ultraviolet (UV) disinfection.
These initiatives include a series of original informational videos about UV made in conjunction with Viqua, a leading manufacturer of UV systems, for whom FWS is a major distributor. Another part of the promotion is a UV facts quiz with valuable gift cards as prizes.
“A week does not go by where we don’t see numerous regional boil alerts from all over the country, and even contamination of bottled water with dangerous microorganisms such as Giardia (the most common), E. Coli and Salmonella. UV offers a highly affordable and environmentally friendly way to eliminate these types of threats right at the point the water will be used for drinking, cooking or even washing,” FWS president, Steve Norvell, said.
Norvell notes that according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 15 million households in the U.S. use private wells as their water source. Because well owners handle the safety of their water, he wants more of them to know that UV represents an efficient and reliable alternative to traditional chemical disinfection. While adding chlorine or chloramines to water provides some level of safety, these chemicals will not neutralize as wide a range of pathogens as targeted UV light. He also points out that these chemicals themselves can present health hazards, as well as creating a bad taste in the water. UV light in no way affects the taste or appearance of the water it treats.
While homes using private well water are prime candidates for UV systems, many areas using municipally treated water suffer from the occasional contamination due to aging infrastructure or sewage leaks. UV represents a reliable alternative to boiling water when a bacterial contamination event occurs.
FWS offers Viqua UV units designed to treat all water entering a home — recommended when the source is private well water — as well as smaller units designed for use in one location, such as the kitchen, where added safeguards may be desired for drinking and cooking.
The company points out that a UV water treatment, in addition to being chemical-free, is energy-efficient, with electricity usage costs being comparable to the operation of a single 40-watt light bulb, even on a whole-house system.
Texas Water Development Board Approves Non-SWIFT Financial Assistance
In addition to approving $3.9 billion in assistance through the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT), the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) also approved another $15.36 million in financial assistance for water and wastewater system improvements. Three of the projects will benefit rural areas of the state.
$8 million in financial assistance to the Fort Bend County Fresh Water Supply District No. 1 (Fort Bend County) for water system improvements;
$410,000 in financial assistance to the City of Hudson (Angelina County) for a new wastewater treatment plant
$6.31 million in financial assistance to the City of Tahoka (Lynn County) for water distribution system improvements
$640,000 to the Greater Texoma Utility Authority on behalf of the City of Whitewright (Grayson and Fannin counties) for wastewater system improvements.
Bipartisan Water Supply Cost Savings Act Introduced in Senate
The bipartisan Savings Act (S. 1642) was greeted with enthusiastic support from the water supply industry, including the Water Systems Council, the Water Quality Association and the National Groundwater Association.
To assist small communities with drinking water technology needs, the Savings Act establishes a Drinking Water Technology Clearinghouse. This allows the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Secretary of Agriculture to disseminate information on cost-effective, innovative and alternative drinking water delivery systems, including systems that are supported by wells.
The most recent EPA Water Drinking Needs Survey reflects a shortfall of $64 billion in drinking water infrastructure funding. The Water Supply Cost Savings Act, S. 1642 would update existing EPA and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs to provide cost-saving information about innovative and alternate drinking water delivery systems.
Comments