As we move forward into a successful new year, we also want to take a look back at the top 10 most-viewed stories in 2014 by you -- the nation's leading water and wastewater industry professionals. We've compiled a helpful list of these trending articles covering everything from check valve sizing to shale gas fracking to solar-powered water desalination…
1. Understanding Check Valves: Sizing for the Application, Not the Line Size
This article explores the basics of check valves, how they work, what types there are, how to select and install them, how to solve their problems, and why they are not always the cause of the problem.
2. Pump Tips & Techniques: Mechanical Seals for Water and Wastewater Pumps
Because mechanical shaft seal failures are the number-one cause of pump downtime, this story is dedicated to highlighting the basics of these seals. There are multiple designs available for configuration. Understanding how they work will help users select the appropriate type for their application.
3. Siemens Acquired by Private Equity Firm, Changes Name to Evoqua
AEA Investors acquired Siemens, securing regulatory approvals and closing an agreement to obtain the company's assets and operations. Under AEA, Evoqua will continue to offer municipal and industrial water and wastewater treatment equipment and services.
4. Pump Tips & Techniques: Pump Types - End Suction Vs. Double Suction
There are often multiple pump types that can be selected for the same water application, with each having its own strengths and weaknesses. This column aims to help guide the selection of the best pump type that will yield the greatest reliability and lowest lifecycle cost for a specific application.
5. Shale Gas Fracking: Water Lessons from the U.S. to Europe
Water and energy have always had a close relationship, but shale gas and water are particularly intimate. Water is integral to shale gas, and there is a growing market, estimated to be worth up to $100 billion in the U.S., for wastewater treatment. This text explores the opportunities in Europe.
6. What 2014 Held for Siemens Water Technologies, under AEA Control
On Nov. 6, 2014, AEA Investors LP announced its purchase of Siemens Water Technologies. The agreement was closed for 640 million euros, and the new company was named Evoqua Water Technologies.
7. Addressing the Challenge of Removing Ammonia from Wastewater
The discharge of ammonia from wastewater treatment plants has become a challenging issue throughout the United States. This article covers some of the most common treatment processes that are used for biological nitrification at wastewater treatment plants.
8. Solar-Powered Water Desalination Heats Up in Chile
As a solar-powered desalination plant opened in Chile, this article investigates what challenges were faced in scaling this technology up to full commercial operation and what potential exists globally for the technology.
9. List Recognizes Top Water Tech Companies
The Artemis Project, a non-profit group dedicated to helping water technology companies emerge in the world market, announced its Top 50 water tech company list in 2012. The list identifies the most promising companies applying innovation in the market to address today's water challenges.
10. Fracking Wastewater Management: Is Centralized Treatment the Way Forward?
With the demands on freshwater supplies mounting, as is the need to process large volumes of produced wastewater, centralized treatment of wastewater is emerging as a viable solution for long-term efficiency in managing water sourcing and wastewater treatment in hydraulic fracturing.
See also: "The top 10 most-viewed stories of 2013"
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