News Briefs

April 1, 2001
CityNet Telecommunications Inc. has begun the deployment of a fiber optic network through the sewer system in Albuquerque, NM. The project is thought to be the first of its kind in the United States.

Sewer System to Carry Fiber Optic Network

CityNet Telecommunications Inc. has begun the deployment of a fiber optic network through the sewer system in Albuquerque, NM. The project is thought to be the first of its kind in the United States.

Albuquerque Mayor Jim Baca and CityNet Telecommunications CEO Robert G. Berger marked the historic event by lowering CityNet's high-tech robot SAMSM (Sewer Access Module) into the first sewer pipe, and putting in motion what is considered a revolution in broadband connectivity - providing high-speed fiber optic connections directly into thousands of buildings in cities across the U.S. and internationally.

Albuquerque, Indianapolis and Omaha are the first three U.S. cities to sign license and access agreements with CityNet; the company is negotiating similar agreements with approximately 26 other U.S. and European cities.

"CityNet's fiber optic deployment method gives us the ability to build the most advanced last-mile broadband infrastructure that connects directly into buildings," said Berger, Chairman and CEO of the Silver Spring, Maryland-based company. "What remains the most difficult, time-consuming and capital-intensive task in Albuquerque and in cities around the world, is filling the last remaining gap in a true broadband network - the so-called last-mile."

The last-mile is the gap in the all-fiber optic broadband network - currently occupied by older and slower copper cables - between end-user buildings and the much larger "beltway" fiber optic networks that circle around cities.

Experts agree that one of the greatest obstacles to the rapid deployment of broadband Internet and data services is the need to rip up streets to lay fiber optic cable. It has become a major problem in cities around the world.

CityNet's small computer-driven robot is equipped with cameras to install stainless steel alloy rings to support fiber optic cable inside of sewer pipes. The conduit that encases the fiber is made of the same stainless steel alloy that protects the fiber from corrosion and cuts. The 6-inch-wide, 36-inch-long, cylindrical robots are manufactured for CityNet by Ka-Te, a Swiss sewer robotics company. Ka-Te's robots already have been deployed successfully in European cities such as Hamburg and Regensberg, Germany.

As a carrier's-carrier, CityNet installs the fiber and then leases it to telecommunications companies, Internet and network service providers and others that offer high-speed services.

Utility Awards Contract For Pipe System Optimization

Frey Water Engineering and its Australian partner, Optimatics Pty Ltd., have been awarded a contract to apply optimization analysis to an integrated water supply system model for the City of Toronto and Region of York. Optimatics/Frey is acting as Optimization Consultant to Earth Tech Canada Inc., the lead consultant on the Toronto/York Water Supply Joint Optimization Study (JOS).

The purpose of the JOS is to determine the infrastructure required to meet long-term water demands within the City of Toronto and a portion of the Region of York. Various demand scenarios for years 2011 and 2031 will be analyzed to establish the most cost-effective infrastructure and to facilitate the basis for cost sharing between Toronto and Region of York.

Once Earth Tech Canada develops the integrated hydraulic model, Optimatics/Frey will apply its Optimatics genetic algorithm (OGA) technique to identify several feasible near-optimal improvement plans for each scenario. The OGA will minimize project life cycle costs by optimizing the balance between needed capital improvement costs and lifetime pumping energy and water production and purchase costs. Security of supply and operational flexibility issues also will be considered.

Company Wins Concentrate Management Contract

Reiss Environmental, a consulting engineering firm based in Winter Park, FL, has been awarded a desalination concentrate management contract with the St. John's River Water Management District (SJRWMD).

The project will support water resources planning in the region and help guide future demineralization plant projects in the District's service area. Desalting alternatives have been identified as important components of the District's water supply plan, but require appropriate handling of concentrate.

The two year, $250,000 contract includes analysis of historical concentrate management approaches in Florida as well as an evaluation of potential water sources and concentrate management options for the entire 19-county District area. The project will address an array of concentrate management issues including technical, environmental and regulatory factors. Team members include Malcolm Pirnie, Mickley and Associates, PB Water, and Janicki Environmental.

Company Boosts Prices on Potassium Permanganate

Carus Chemical Company, Peru, IL, has announced a general price increase on CAIROXRegistered potassium permanganate, effective immediately or as contracts permit. Prices for this product line are being increased 4 percent on all grades and package sizes.

Carus continues to see rising expenses due to increasing raw materials, energy, labor, transportation, and environmental compliance costs. This price increase will help to offset some of these cost increases, and provide the company with the means to continue the necessary investments in the potassium permanganate business and upgrading production facilities.

O'Fallon Selects Black & Veatch for Water System Upgrade

To maintain its momentum as the fastest growing municipality in Missouri, the City of O'Fallon, approximately 30 miles west of St. Louis, has awarded Black & Veatch a contract to design new water supply system and treatment facilities. Until now, the city has relied on seven deep rock wells with aeration, softening, and chlorination.

By this fall, B&V will complete the design of six new wells in an alluvial aquifer, a new 6 million gallon/day filtration plant, a transmission main connecting the wells and the plant, and a new 500,000-gallon finished water storage reservoir. The new treatment plant will use reverse osmosis and nanofiltration to soften the groundwater supply.

"We chose membrane technology for its ease of capacity expansion, adaptation to remote operation, and resultant high water quality, as well as the fact that it doesn't produce water-softening residuals," said O'Fallon Project Manager Monte Ellis. "Black & Veatch has considerable experience in applying this advanced technology, which will enable us to comply with current and future water quality regulations."

Construction of the $13 million project is scheduled to begin late this year, and O'Fallon's new water system is expected to be operational by early 2003.

District Moves Data Into New Software System

Elsinore Valley (CA) Municipal Water District (EVMWD) has successfully migrated to ESRI's next-generation ArcGIS software. The district now uses the component-based, open architecture system for its diverse utility needs, all in an enterprise environment.

An ESRI GIS user since 1992, the district's migration of data was completed after an eight-month conversion process. GIS data conversion included 5,000 as-built drawings, 300 atlas pages and virtually all manually produced maps and related tabulated documents.

"Using a common geodatabase and providing tools to our many diverse users empowers our utility to work more efficiently and with greater success," said James Ollerton, GIS Manager. "We've achieved tremendous accomplishments using GIS tools in the past, and we feel that ESRI's ArcGIS will provide a foundation to continue to develop powerful solutions for our needs today and into the future."

Founded in 1952, EVMWD employs 150 people and provides approximately 25,000 water, wastewater and agricultural services. The company is based in the city of Lake Elsinor, CA, and maintains an infrastructure consisting of 305 miles of water pipeline, 290 miles of sewer pipeline and 246 miles of irrigation pipeline.

Wastewater Utilities Pilot Test Biosolids Management System

Twenty-seven charter wastewater treatment agencies around the country will pilot test a voluntary residuals management system that goes beyond mandatory regulatory requirements and includes third-party verification of the results.

The agencies will participate in an Environmental Management System (EMS), a program to help municipal wastewater agencies improve management practices for biosolids. The agencies are pilot testing the EMS "blueprint" that will be used as a national model in communities around the country once it is refined. The model program, which will roll out on a full scale in early 2002, is being developed by the National Biosolids Partnership (NBP), which is co-sponsored by the Water Environment Federation, the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The NBP's EMS blueprint materials include a Code of Good Practice, EMS Elements and Guidance, a Manual of Good Practice and 3rd Party Verification Recommendations. The EMS is designed to increase the cost-effectiveness, safety and efficiency of wastewater programs that manage biosolids, address community environmental concerns and foster continuous improvements in biosolids management practices.

All wastewater treatment plants must comply with strict federal, state and local regulations to ensure their biosolids are treated and managed properly. Under regulations, plants have management options ranging from recycling biosolids on land as fertilizer to using them as groundcover for landfills. By choosing to participate in the EMS program, agencies will address unregulated areas such as odor and noise and develop tailored solutions that meet the unique requirements of their own communities.

Through an EMS, the communities consider factors such as available land use possibilities, budgetary requirements, population size and existing treatment plant technology, and then develop a program that exceeds regulatory requirements in a way that satisfies community expectations for clean water residuals management.

For more information about the National Biosolids Partnership and the Environmental Management System program, visit the partnership's web site: www.biosolids.org.

Municipal Groups Ask EPA to Review SSO Proposal

A coalition of municipal and technical organizations, including the Water Environment Federation, is asking EPA Administrator Christie Whitman to consider revising a proposed regulation on sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) that was signed by her predecessor. In the letter, the organizations (which constituted the municipal operator caucus during EPA's multi-year advisory committee process on SSOs), say that the proposed rule, while containing many positive elements, has the potential to "place most American cities in immediate and permanent violation of the law" and is based on the false premise that overflows can be eliminated.

The SSO proposal was signed by former EPA Administrator Carol Browner on Jan. 5, but publication of the proposal in the Federal Register was blocked by a Jan. 20 Bush Administration order that required any such proposals be reviewed by a Bush appointee before being carried forward.

In addition to WEF, the organizations signing the letter include the National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, American Public Works Association, Tri-TAC (representing California POTWs and municipalities) and the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies.

In a related development, Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) wrote to Whitman March 7 expressing concern about the status of rules that are being reviewed under the Bush order. Reid, who is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said he was concerned about the number of rules that were being delayed. In response to Reid's letter, an EPA spokesman said that the SSO rule was not subject to any court-ordered deadlines and the new Administration has not decided what future action to take on it.

World Water, Wastewater Treatment Chemical Sales to Exceed $15 billion

As the world's energy and water needs expand the demand for treatment chemicals also increases. In 2001 worldwide sales of water and wastewater treatment chemicals will exceed $15 billion. This is the conclusion in the continually updated on line McIlvaine report Water and Wastewater Treatment Chemicals, World Market.

Corrosion inhibitors will be the top selling category. Over $3.7 billion will be spent to protect pipes, boiler tubes, and process equipment with these additives. Organic flocculants will capture 2nd place with sales of $2.6 billion. Scale inhibitors will be the third largest selling category followed by (4) inorganic flocculants and coagulants and (5) oxidizers and biocides.

Power plants will be the largest purchasers ($5.4 billion) followed by municipal water treatment plants ($3.3 billion). Rounding out the top five are municipal wastewater facilities, oil and gas producers and refineries, and pulp and paper mills.

Growth over the next several years will be driven by construction of new water and wastewater facilities and power plants. China will experience the greatest growth. It is building power plants at a faster rate than any other country. By the end of the decade 40% of China's population will be urban. Most cities will need to increase water delivery and wastewater treatment facilities by 50% to 70%.

In the U.S., the renovation of existing coal-fired plants and the construction of new ones presents an opportunity that was unanticipated a few years ago. But the soaring price of natural gas has made coal-fired power generation attractive. Coal-fired plants require water and wastewater treatment chemical expenditures more than four times larger than gas turbine generators of the same capacity.

For more information on this subject, visit the company's web site at http://www.mcilvainecompany.com

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