Editor's Blog

It’s not Capistrano…

2012-02-22T18:49:32+00:00

A group of northern rough-winged swallows have been spending winters at the Northeast Wastewater Treatment Plant in Philadelphia. They appear to be feeding on midges.

The swallow usually migrate south for the winter; they are not found as far north anywhere else in the country, according an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper. This winer, as many as 142 of the swallows have been counted at the plant.

Water Environment Federation announces a new strategic direction

2012-02-22T18:20:52+00:00

After the most comprehensive planning effort in its 84-year history, the Water Environment Federation has announced a new strategic direction that emphasizes innovation and increasing awareness of the value of water, as well as a continued commitment to supporting the expertise of the water profession.

The new direction will use WEF’s strengths to champion sector-wide initiatives that improve water services through innovative practices and holistic water management approaches, according to the organization’s announcement.

The new vision, mission, and critical objectives are designed to lead WEF into the future and guide efforts to meet the needs of its members and the entire water profession.

* Vision: WEF – essential to water professionals around the world.

* Mission: Provide bold leadership, champion innovation, connect water professionals, and leverage knowledge to support clean and safe water worldwide.

* Critical objectives:
         -- Drive innovation in the water sector
         -- Enrich the expertise of global water professionals
         -- Increase awareness of the value of water

“We envision WEF as essential to water professionals around the world, and we are designing and aligning the programs, products, and services to deliver on each of our critical objectives,” said executive director Jeff Eger. “Our new direction sets the stage to dramatically advance the evolution of water resource management and support a movement toward an energy-positive water sector.”

* A business plan to define and implement related programs will include initiatives that support:

* A new vision for an energy-positive water sector

* Pursuit of expanded or new relationships with organizations focused on technology innovation

* Upgraded and expanded content management and delivery of online services and products

* The official launch of the “Water’s Worth It” messaging campaign

* A new grassroots water advocates program.

Find out more at www.wef.org.

Valentine’s Day tours make a big splash for a Brooklyn treatment plant

2012-02-17T20:25:29+00:00

Jim Pynn never dreamed a single email about a tour of his treatment plant would lead to publicity across the nation and as far away as New Zealand. But that’s what happened when word got out that he was leading tours of the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant on Valentine’s Day.

Pynn, superintendent at the plant in Brooklyn, N.Y., promised visitors a Hershey’s Kisses chocolate and a spectacular view of Manhattan’s east side. On the Friday before Valentine’s Day, Pynn did 14 interviews with local and national media.

Comedians Jay Leno and Jimmy Fallon mentioned the event in the monologues on their programs. Best of all, the day’s tours drew 250 visitors – about five times as many as usual.

“It was really a very fun time,” says Pynn. “People enjoyed being interviewed by the media that were there. All the reactions were positive. You would expect some sly comments or silly off-color jokes about wastewater treatment, but that didn’t happen.”

Here’s a link to the New York Daily News story that helped start it all: http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-02-09/news/31043437_1_egg-shaped-digesters-tours-plant

Here’s a link to a YouTube video on the event; you can easily search up other videos and pictures on that site. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka_6Z2dOExc&feature=related

American Water adopts a protection solution for lone workers

2012-02-17T14:35:26+00:00

American Water has adopted the G4S LoneProtector solution to help reduce risk to its employees and facilities. The system from G4S Justice Services provides monitoring and technology to support lone workers.

The company’s employees have access to the Identicom lone worker device, – a GPS device that looks like an ID badge. Specially trained operators monitor the devices continuously. The devices allow workers to alert G4S to trouble and allow G4S to contact employees to check their welfare. If an employee sends an alert, operators can listen to and record the situation, notify local emergency responders and provide the GPS location.

The device includes “man down” technology that notifies monitoring centers if a worker falls or is immobilized. Operators can assess the situation through an open audio channel and try to contact the employee. If there is no response, they can dispatch emergency responders.

Before implementing the program, American Water conducted extensive field tests under a pilot program in multiple locations across the United States. For more about the technology, visit www.g4s.com/justice.

WEF plans 26th biosolids conference

2012-02-15T21:56:08+00:00

The Water Environment Federation will hold its 26th specialty conference on residuals and biosolids management March 25-28 at the Raleigh (N.C.) Convention Center.

“Residuals and Biosolids 2012: Advancing Residuals Management – Technologies and Applications” will be presented in partnership with the North Carolina Water Environment Association and the U.S. Composting Council.

Topic areas will include advances in stabilization, bioenergy from residuals,
land application, land reclamation, and nutrient management, building public support, conditioning and dewatering technologies, environmental management systems, emerging technologies, legislative and regulatory matters, marketing, odor and pathogen control, thermal processes, and success stories. Visit www.wef.org.

World Water Monitoring Day relaunches with new name, look, and website

2012-02-14T14:58:26+00:00

The Water Environment Federation and the International Water Association have relaunched of the World Water Monitoring Day public education and outreach program. Now called World Water Monitoring Challenge with a new look and updated website, the program encourages year-round involvement in an international effort.

“WEF and IWA have known for some time that many of our participants monitor their water resources year-round and need the flexibility to choose dates that work best for them,” said WEF executive director Jeff Eger. “We extended the monitoring window in 2008, but there was still confusion about when we wanted people to monitor. The simple answer is we want everyone to get out to their waterways and learn about them whenever they can. The name change helps us make that point more clearly.”

Expanding the monitoring timeframe from March 22 to Dec. 31 has boosted participation. In 2011, nearly 340,000 people monitored their waterways in 77 countries, up from 30,000 five years ago. In addition to clarifying the intent of the program, WEF and IWA hope the new name will motivate people everywhere to test the quality of their waterways, share their findings, and protect the resource. Program staff and a new website with free materials stand ready to assist.

Coordinated by WEF and IWA, the World Water Monitoring Challenge an outreach program that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources. It connects citizens with their local waters through simple, hands-on monitoring tests. The program receives financial and in-kind support from sponsors including the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. EPA, Xylem Inc., and Smithfield Foods. For more details, visit www.MonitorWater.org.

Isn’t it Romantic? New Yorkers can tour digesters on Valentine’s Day

2012-02-11T18:25:11+00:00

New York City’s Newtown Creek Wastewater treatment plant offers tours regularly, but on Valentine’s Day there will be a little something extra. Plant superintendent Jim Pynn will lead tours of the plant and its egg-shaped digesters for couples, singles, kids and older folks. Everyone who shows up will get a Hershey’s Kiss, according to a story in the New York Daily News.

“It’s a unique date, and one they’ll never forget,” Pynn said in the news story. “New York is so unique, and we have so many secrets. This is a pretty neat secret, and I think it’s a great conversation. Just imagine going home and saying, ‘Where did he take me on Valentine’s Day? I went to see the digester eggs in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.'”

The tours will end on top of the digester eggs, offering a view of the Manhattan skyline, and of the 53-acre Newtown plant. The tours begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 14

Dover’s Ray Vermette named New Hampshire Operator of the Year for 2011

2012-02-09T18:51:21+00:00

Ray Vermette, facility supervisor for the Dover (N.H.) Wastewater Treatment Plant, received the 2011 New Hampshire Operator of the Year from the New England Water Environment Association.

He received his award Feb. 9 in a ceremony with city manager Mike Joyal and Ray Gordon of the state Department of Environmental Services. He also received a certificate of completion from the New Hampshire Wastewater Management Candidate School.

Vermette was hired as maintenance technician at the plant in 1991. He became facility supervisor in 2000 and has helped design upgrades that include odor controls, UV disinfection, and energy-efficient blowers.

He is a member of the New Hampshire Water Pollution Control Association and NEWEA, from which he received the Alfred E. Peloquin award in 2003. He also serves as New Hampshire state director for NEWEA.

So much capacity, so little flow

2012-02-08T20:23:30+00:00

A $5 million wastewater treatment plant in Whittier, N.C., faces insolvency because its customer base never developed as planned.

The 200,000 gpd (design) plant was built for development that was supposed to happen along a U.S. Highway 441 corridor. After a decade, the plant is handling just 8,000 gpd with 36 customers – 25 residential and 11 commercial, according to a story in the Smoky Mountain News in Waynesville.

“There’s only enough money to keep operating, as is, for two more years,” the news account stated. “Then it’s decision time for the Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority. TWSA, formed to oversee water and sewer needs for Jackson County’s residents, is the reluctant manager of Whittier’s treatment plant, a role the authority inherited.”

Jackson County and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will also need to make funding decisions when the plant runs out of money. Grants funded the plant’s construction and provided a reserve for operations until the customer base grew. The county and the tribe agreed to pitch in during the start-up years.

At the time the plant was built, the Whittier area seemed ripe for economic growth. A casino in nearby Cherokee was busy, and planners expected restaurants and hotels to spring up along the U.S. 441 leading into that community. Meanwhile, rural residents’ septic systems in the area were failing, and there were some reports of straight-piping sewage into the Tuckasegee River, the newspaper reported. A local church was looking to expand, and Smokey Mountain Elementary School needed a sewer connection.

“The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians was completing a recreation complex and was intent on building a golf course not far away, both eventually finished and now open,” the news story said. “Under the guidance of the Southwestern Development Commission, these stakeholders came together and built the Whittier Wastewater Plant.”

Read the details at http://www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/6186-build-it-and-they-still-didn%E2%80%99t-come-wastewater-plant-pumps-more-money-in-than-treated-waste-out.

WEF prepares to roll out “Water’s Worth It” messaging campaign in March

2012-02-03T14:25:21+00:00

“Water’s Worth It” is a new messaging campaign from the Water Environment Federation that aims to raise awareness about the value and importance of water, water-related issues, and the water professions. WEF is developing the campaign for official launch on March 22, World Water Day 2012.

The campaign answers questions about how people’s actions, attitudes, and the things they value most are closely connected with water. The “Water’s Worth It” tagline can be used on its own, in support of an existing program or brand, or coupled with a simple keyword to alter its impact and reach. It is designed to be easily customized to the needs of water agencies to help them reach any audience, in any location, about any issue.

“As WEF continues to take the lead in addressing emerging water issues, we also must work to build the public’s understanding and support of water’s value and importance, which is essential to the success of WEF, our members, and the entire profession,” WEF said on its website. “It is our hope that ‘Water’s Worth It’ will help us do that.”

WEF created and sponsors “Water’s Worth It” and will develop and manage the campaign, with feedback, input, and ideas from members and stakeholders. For agencies using the campaign, WEF will provide general usage guidelines. Watch www.wef.org for developments in this initiative.