February 2013 Issue of TPO

A major upgrade at the Manassas water plant eliminated disinfection byproduct issues and helped operators win an Excellence in Water Treatment Award.

El Paso Water Utilities succeeds with a fresh campaign to get customers to reduce their water consumption.

Drought is a factor, but withdrawal of too much water from the aquifer is the greater contributor to saltwater intrusion in coastal well fields.

A two-step biological treatment method offers an effective and affordable alternative for removing some troublesome groundwater contaminants.

Energy audits and enthusiastic operators help the Worcester Water Filtration Plant reduce electricity bills through process efficiencies and solar power.

A new water source and a new treatment plant help a small central Wisconsin city keep up with demand from a growing industrial sector.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities’ Don Gariepy humbly excels as a mechanic while building skills and furthering his education toward an engineering career.

Sometimes we get our best lessons not from books or teachers, but from the everyday wisdom of people we encounter in daily life.

A Michigan township heads off loss of institutional knowledge and improves efficiency with work process management software.

Howard Carter promotes and deploys green technologies to help people understand the value of wastewater treatment.

Nate Tillis brings technical experience and a mystical appreciation for water to his role as O&M supervisor at the clean-water plant in Beloit, Wis.

The plant team in the small Iowa city of West Liberty applies top-shelf management methods in operating an award-winning biosolids program.

Ornamental plantings help a Georgia treatment plant create eye appeal for visitors and for motorists on a major highway.

The world is coming to recognize the potential of clean-water plants to provide not just clean water but clean, renewable energy.

An investigation of bulking sludge reveals the presence of filamentous bacteria and suggests a solution based on improving maintenance and operating practices.

Effective community relations helps a Texas city win support for direct reuse of wastewater to shore up drinking water supplies in the face of severe drought.

An energy reporting tool that constantly monitors electric power consumption and demand pays dividends for a Colorado treatment plant.

Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission teaches young students and guides adult learners on the path to environmental awareness.

Inland Empire Utilities Agency installs a biogas-powered fuel cell and signs a power purchase agreement to reduce reliance on utility power.