Communities surrounding industrial facilities and municipal operations are directly impacted by foul orders making life unbearable. These smells indicate more than just the presence of nuisance, but rather hazardous air emissions that pose serious environmental and public health threats. Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)—one of these contaminants—is a flammable and highly toxic gas that is normally known […]
As we flush our toilets and run our sinks daily, wastewater gurgles into an unseen underworld of aging pipes, pumps, and treatment plants. This intricate infrastructure forms the backbone of our nation’s sanitation, collecting sewage from homes and buildings to process over 34 billion gallons daily. Yet cracking pipes, overflowing sewers, and outdated plants plague […]
Tucked away in a quiet corner of Arlington County lies an unassuming complex of buildings that play a vital role in maintaining the health and cleanliness of our waterways. The Arlington Waste Water Treatment Plant has been operating since 1959 to treat sewage from Arlington County and discharge clean water back into the environment. On […]
Excess phosphate in water bodies can lead to eutrophication, causing algal blooms that reduce oxygen levels and threaten aquatic ecosystems. Removing phosphate from wastewater, agricultural runoff, and other point sources before they enter natural water systems is an essential strategy for preventing eutrophication. Biochar, a porous carbonaceous material produced by pyrolyzing biomass under oxygen-limited conditions, […]
Ozonation in wastewater is an advanced treatment method that utilizes ozone, a powerful oxidant, to remove a variety of contaminants from water. This process has been employed for over a century, initially focusing on disinfection, but has since evolved to address a wider range of inorganic and organic pollutants. The efficacy of ozonation in improving […]
Circular clarifiers are a critical component in the wastewater treatment process, serving an essential function in both municipal and industrial treatment systems. They are designed primarily to remove solid particulates by sedimentation. The process exploits the density difference between the suspended solids and water, allowing the solids to settle at the bottom of the tank, […]
Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) is an effective process used in treating wastewater, a critical component of industrial hygiene and water treatment programs. It works by dissolving air into water under pressure and then releasing it at atmospheric pressure in a flotation tank. The released air forms tiny bubbles that adhere to suspended matter in the […]
In the realm of wastewater treatment, the rectangular primary clarifier is an essential first-stage component designed to reduce solids and organic loads by way of sedimentation. This process facilitates the removal of settleable solids and particulate matter from wastewater before it undergoes further treatment or purification steps. The design and operation of rectangular primary clarifiers […]
Tube settlers, also known as lamella clarifiers, represent an integral component in the field of wastewater treatment. They are employed to enhance the settling efficiency of particulates by increasing the effective settling area within a given footprint. This method of sedimentation is especially valuable in clarifying water and wastewater as it allows for greater process […]
Primary clarifiers serve a critical role in wastewater treatment as they are the initial phase where solids are separated from the liquid waste. By allowing wastewater to slow down and stay in a quiescent state, these clarifiers enable heavier solids to settle at the bottom, while lighter materials like oils and grease rise to the […]