Faced with economic instability unlike any seen for decades and awakening to a level of awareness that no longer permits a careless attitude towards environmental matters, the world appears perched to begin a new era which embraces the overall concept of “sustainability”, a catch‐all phrase which establishes a higher level of accountability for our present day decisions and actions. Being sustainable means that we must make careful decisions today and establish means of assessing performance and impact so that we can be certain we don’t compromise things for future generations. Focusing strictly on the vital services which we require in support of our present quality of life, and forgetting for the moment about the luxuries and niceties that are associated with the various products which have become a routine part of our existence, there is now emerging a new perspective on infrastructure services that is captured in the title to this article: Efficient, Effective, Integrated, and Distributed. If we can fully appreciate the value of efficient, effective, integrated, distributed systems and make such changes, the green infrastructure market will rise with great velocity. If we do not make such changes, sustainable infrastructure programs will see a slow and cumbersome evolution mired by large scale capital investment programs and general lack of integration. Source: WEFTEC 2009 Proceedings
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Posted: August 27th, 2010 | Filed under: Waste Water Treatment, Water Treatment | Tags: Environmental Impact, Plant Sustainability, Water Reuse | No Comments »
Valued qualities such as portability, small footprint, fast start up, and high effluent quality have made package membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems a preferred technology for decentralized wastewater treatment applications. Package MBR systems have many advantages which make them ideal for decentralized wastewater treatment applications, particularly those looking for high effluent quality including total nitrogen removal. However, the selection of a package MBR system can be overwhelming for decision makers given the wide variety in available package MBR systems today and if not evaluated properly can lead to selection of a system that cannot meet the low flow challenges often encountered by decentralized wastewater treatment applications. Therefore it becomes important for decision makers to recognize whether the package MBR system is designed with features that allow it to maintain treatment conditions during low flows. This includes a properly designed flow equalization system capable of handling low influent flows which can be done using multiple pumps with VFDs or an influent flow splitter configuration. The package MBR system should also be designed with system turndown through the use of multiple treatment trains and/or use of multiple pumps and blowers. Lastly the package MBR system must be able to maintain control of oxygen delivery during low flows. Selecting a system which incorporates these low flow design methods into the design of the package MBR system will lead to selection of a system that will reliable meet total nitrogen limits at low flow conditions. Source: WEFTEC 2009 Proceedings
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Posted: July 6th, 2010 | Filed under: Waste Water Treatment | Tags: Nitrogen Removal, Reduced Carbon Footprint, Sustainable Technologies, Water Reuse | No Comments »