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August 2022 articles
Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine’s August 2022 issue includes our Annual Guide to Environmental Government Offices, Associations, Academic Institutions and Training Providers.
Articles cover a wide range of water, wastewater and environmental protection subjects. Topics include: What’s up with flushable wipes: An update on standards; drinking water reuse; the inconvenient truth of nitrous oxide from wastewater treatment; improving flood model data; pump solutions for modern wastewater streams; Ontario’s new Blue Box Regulation; new drinking water system for Whitefish Lake First Nation and more.
Yukon University takes on federal First Nations water operator training
Yukon University has agreed to deliver the classroom and certification portions of Indigenous Services Canada’s (ISC) Circuit Rider Training Program (CRTP) for First Nations water and wastewater systems operators.
Under the CRTP, experts rotate through...
Modern waste streams require versatile higher solids handling pump solutions
In recent years, wastewater professionals have witnessed unprecedented growth in flushable wipes being deposited and accumulating in the waste stream. The evolving waste stream is increasing the need for robust solids handling pump technologies that will not clog frequently and are able to withstand higher solids in the media.
The impact of Ontario’s new blue box regulation
Producers are facing enhanced extended producer responsibility throughout the life cycles of their products, which, under the regulation, means additional blue box fees, reporting categories, as well as reporting deadlines
What you need to know about peracetic acid for water treatment disinfection
The many drawbacks of disinfection by chlorine in pre- and post-treatment applications has led to a growing interest in peracetic acid (PAA) as an alternative in some applications. PAA has a unique chemistry that is highly effective against bacteria and other contaminants. It does not form any known DBPs and has less environmental impact. Before substituting chlorine with PAA, it is critical to understand the chemistry, its applications, and methods of handling and dosing.
Using a phosphorus coagulant can improve wastewater UV disinfection performance
After switching to ClariPhos™ rare earth coagulant to evaluate its ability to improve phosphorus removal, operators at an Ontario WWTP noticed that UV disinfection also experienced a big boost. It turns out that better settling in the clarifier led to higher UV transmittance in the effluent, and a significant improvement in UV disinfection.
The new workforce is equipped to modernize water data management
Dealing with old technologies, unsupported infrastructure, and monolithic architecture is an unfortunate reality for many cities and agencies. These outdated systems not only leave organizations vulnerable to cybersecurity threats, they also create a management nightmare for IT teams. They require a lot of time and resources just to keep the lights on and are not appealing to the new generation of workers that are very much needed in the municipal water industry.
World’s leading climate scientists call for fundamental improvements to flood model data usefulness
Nine renowned scientists from global institutions are seeking to highlight how existing models for climate change massively over-simplify precipitation, with models failing to account for fundamental physics. These failings were shown yet again in the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessment report, with findings subject to major uncertainties in rainfall at both the local and regional scale.
The inconvenient truth of nitrous oxide emissions from wastewater treatment
GHG emissions due to water and wastewater services are noted to be a relatively small portion of national inventories. However, from the perspective of a municipal corporation, GHG emissions due to water and wastewater services are much more significant.
New water system provides safe, long-term drinking water for First Nation in Alberta
In early October 2021, the existing Goodfish Lake Water Treatment Plant in Whitefish Lake, Alta. suffered a catastrophic failure and could no longer produce water. A public communication and water system changeover strategy was quickly organized to complete the transition to the new regional water supply. The project marked a successful collaboration between the Whitefish Lake First Nation #128 leadership, Associated Engineering, and Thompson Infrastructure.
What’s up with wipes? An update on flushability standards
Municipal wastewater utilities have always dealt with grease and feminine hygiene products, and tried their best to educate customers to only flush the 3Ps – pee, poop and paper (toilet paper). We would get the odd clog, but we were doing “fairly” well, until the introduction of wipes.
Connected approach helps City of Calgary improve natural asset management
The City of Calgary has been focusing on process to improve the management of their natural assets, developing a more holistic view of the services that use and impact them, with the goal to build a more resilient city and create an environment that is more resistant to the effects of climate change.
Water should not be judged by its history, but by its quality
The two primary methods of supplying recycled water from wastewater treatment for drinking water reuse are indirect potable reuse and direct potable reuse.
There are many great reasons to attend WEFTEC 2022 this fall
After a three-year hiatus, the Great Canadian Icebreaker is scheduled to be held at WEFTEC 2022. As I found out attending WEFTEC for the first time in 1987—the launch year for ES&E Magazine—these events truly reveal the scale and importance of the wastewater sector, especially to young professionals.
Calgary faced 7,200 sewer backups last year
The City of Calgary had more than 7,200 calls to 311 last year related to sewer backups, a number of which can be blamed on residents continuing to flush clog-forming wet wipes.
UK bill aims to ban plastic in wet wipes as massive blockages persist
A U.K. Member of Parliament is trying to ban plastic in wet wipes, and the discovery of an “island” of blocked-up wipes on the banks of the River Thames in west London is bringing her bill back into the spotlight.
Groups partner to protect Great Lakes, advance corporate sustainability
A new partnership between the Council of the Great Lakes Region and The Water Council provides a framework to advance corporate sustainability performance and water stewardship across the region.
Ban on single-use plastics import, manufacture starts December
Canadians will no longer have access to items such as plastic cutlery and checkout bags in retail environments. Single-use plastics ban will result in the elimination of more than 1.3 million tonnes of hard-to-recycle plastic waste and more than 22,000 tonnes of plastic pollution.
Closed landfills are being renewed as solar farms across North America
More than 10,000 closed and inactive landfills across the U.S. alone could be given new lives as solar power hubs.
Canadians agree on range of environmental issues, U of T study finds
Most Canadians aren’t too far apart when it comes to views on the environment, except when it comes to climate change.
Greater Victoria proposes $1B water filtration plant by 2037
A new water filtration plant proposed for British Columbia’s Greater Victoria region could top $1 billion, according to a new water supply master plan that aims to tackle projected population growth, impacts from climate...
EPA drastically tightens PFAS advisory levels, pledges funding
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has significantly lowered its health threshold levels for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a move that could potentially impact thousands of water systems nationwide, but has also...
Researchers see sustainable alternative in extracting ammonia from wastewater
A new study led by Rice University researchers has taken steps toward producing fertilizer in a more sustainable way through the electrochemical conversion of nitrate ions to ammonia in wastewater.
The process converts wastewater nitrate...