In other news below:
-- Zenon's residential filtration system certified as 'Microbiological Water Purifier'
-- Boulder selects CIS Infinity to replace aging system
-- NACWA finalizes wastewater decontamination planning guide
-- Record attendance for the 2005 Itron Users' Conference
-- Aquarium of Pacific plans new watershed exhibit
-- FPL restores power to 277,400 customers after Hurricane Wilma
-- Quintek to provide business process outsourcing services to LADWP
-- WEFTEC expected to draw nearly 20,000 water professionals
-- Amiad launches next generation thread filter technology
-- UK consumer group concerned at Southern Water complaints
-- Research and Markets publishes guide to UK bottled water industry
-- AWWA to celebrate power of members on anniversary
-- Pa. launches nation's strongest nutrient management rules
-- Pa. DEP presses to meet stricter federal construction NPDES rules
-- Sutter Gold project receives California water discharge permit
USACE, MWH help put New Orleans area utilities, local contractors back to work
NEW ORLEANS, LA, Oct. 25, 2005 -- As part of their efforts to ensure New Orleans area utilities infrastructure gets up and running in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and MWH Global Inc. are putting local contractors and workers back to work. USACE and MWH are working together to manage and monitor quality control for storm drain debris removal efforts in the New Orleans metro area. This has included urgent post-Katrina work in the west bank parishes and an intensive effort to clean storm drain catch basins ensuring the capability to transport Hurricane Rita's anticipated heavy rains. To complete the USACE contractual work, MWH has subcontracted with several New Orleans area contractors, and to date has put nearly 70 local workers back to work in the process...
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Zenon's residential filtration system certified as 'Microbiological Water Purifier'
OAKVILLE, Ontario, Canada, Oct. 25, 2005 -- Through independent testing, Zenon's whole home Homespring™ UF200 series ultrafiltration systems are now certified to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) Guide Standard and Protocol for Testing Microbiological Water Purifiers. It's the first series of whole home water filtration systems to be certified as a Microbiological Water Purifier...
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http://ww.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?ARTICLE_ID=239938&p=41
Boulder selects CIS Infinity to replace aging system
BOULDER, CO, & TORONTO, Canada, Oct. 25, 2005 -- The city of Boulder, Colo., has selected the CIS Infinity® software offered by Advanced Utility Systems Corp. to replace its aging customer information and billing system. The city's water utility provides services to about 114,000 residents within and immediately surrounding the city limits, which translates into about 28,300 separate billing accounts, billed on a monthly basis. The Utility Billing Office provides billing, collection and customer service functions for the water, wastewater and storm water/flood management utilities.
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NACWA finalizes wastewater decontamination planning guide
WASHINGTON, DC, Oct. 25, 2005 -- The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) is pleased to announce the availability of a new document in its series of publications focusing on the protection of wastewater infrastructure assets. Planning for Decontamination Wastewater: A Guide for Utilities is the first national publication to explore the potential impacts of wastewater generated during the response to and cleanup of a chemical, biological, or radiological (CBR) terrorist attack. The Guide was developed by NACWA under a cooperative agreement with the EPA in an effort to increase the level of awareness within the wastewater community and provide guidance on how to ensure that wastewater infrastructure is protected in the event of an attack...
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Record attendance for the 2005 Itron Users' Conference
DALLAS, TX, Oct. 25, 2005 -- The 23rd annual Itron Users' Conference once again broke all attendance records this week, as nearly 750 mid- and high-level representatives from utilities around the world converged to network, attend more than 140 work sessions and meet with Itron experts on the latest metering and software technology. Leading utilities from across the nation converged on Dallas, Sunday through Tuesday this week, including the nation's largest utilities such as Southern California Edison, Duke Energy, Exelon Corporation and New York Power Authority. Independent System Operators (ISO) such as New England ISO and New York ISO were in attendance as well as cooperatives such as Kansas Electric Power Cooperative and Central Electric Power Cooperative of South Carolina. City municipalities, such as the Salt River Project, and energy and water consultants participated in the conference...
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Aquarium of Pacific plans new watershed exhibit
LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 24, 2005--Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald presented the Aquarium of the Pacific with its first competitive federal grant at an Aquarium press event today. The $150,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) will help fund the Aquarium's new watershed exhibit. At the event, Larry Dick, vice chairman of Metropolitan Water District's Board of Directors, presented $75,000 on behalf of the district's City Makeover program toward the project. Aquarium staff unveiled further plans in their watershed education project that will debut in 2007, including how the new funding will be used. The IMLS grant will fund the design and construction of a three-dimensional stream table representing a cross-section of the San Pedro Bay watersheds. The funding from Metropolitan will be used for the green roof on a new LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) platinum-certified education classroom and surrounding native landscaping throughout the watershed exhibit...
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Among other recent headlines:
• FPL restores power to 277,400 customers following Hurricane Wilma -- Round-the-clock restoration effort under way -- MIAMI, Oct. 25, 2005 -- Since Hurricane Wilma exited Florida Monday afternoon, FPL has restored electric service to 277,400 of the approximately 3.2 million FPL customers left without power due to the powerful category 3 storm. It's working to restore service to critical infrastructure to facilitate the work of those who provide for community health, safety and public welfare - such as hospitals, police, fire, communications and water, sanitary and transportation providers...
In related news:
-- "Storm leaves trail of destruction from west to east"
-- "A third of Florida customers lack power" -- Wilma power outages climb to 3.25 million...
-- "FPL's first full day of restoration gets under way" -- Assessment will identify extent of damage...
-- "American Red Cross helping victims of Hurricane Wilma"
-- "Hurricane Wilma hits Florida harder than expected" -- FPL sustained significant damage to transmission lines and substations; Utility asks for customers' patience as restoration effort may take weeks...
-- "FPL is now in full storm mode as Hurricane Wilma heads to South Florida"
• Quintek to provide business process outsourcing services to the largest municipal utility in nation -- Los Angeles Department of Water and Power selects it as service provider -- HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA, Oct. 25, 2005 -- Quintek Technologies Inc., a global provider of business process outsourcing (BPO) and technology consulting services, announced that its QSI subsidiary will be providing services to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).
The LADWP is the largest municipal utility in the nation, delivering water and electricity to some 3.8 million residents and businesses in Los Angeles, California. QSI will provide onsite back-file conversion services as well as an installation of document management software...
• Nearly 20,000 water quality professionals expected at water quality conference in Washington, D.C. -- ALEXANDRIA, VA, Oct. 25, 2005 -- This year's record number of hurricanes has brought unprecedented attention to water and wastewater services, its related infrastructure and the vital role it plays in protecting public health. Nearly 20,000 water quality experts from across the globe are expected to meet later this week in Washington, D.C. to discuss the latest water quality challenges, share expertise and exchange technologies to better serve and protect our communities both in the U.S. and abroad. The latest in water quality research, technology and services will be on display at WEFTEC.05, the Water Environment Federation's 78th annual technical exhibition and conference held Oct. 29 through Nov. 2 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C...
• Amiad launches next generation thread filter technology -- Amiad North America to display new cartridge filter addressing smaller flows for membrane pre-treatment applications at WEFTEC -- GALIL ELYON, Israel, Oct. 25, 2005 -- In preparation for the industry's largest wastewater technology show, Amiad Filtration Systems Ltd. announced it will unveil its next generation thread technology at the 78th Annual WEFTEC Technical Exhibition and Conference held Oct. 29-Nov. 2 in Washington, D.C. The new product is the MT-44, a 45 m3h/200 gpm, 3-micron, automatic, self-cleaning, string-wound, cassette filter...
• CCWater expresses concern, disappointment at inconsistencies in reporting, handling of Southern Water complaints -- LONDON, Oct. 25, 2005 -- The UK's Consumer Council for Water today expressed deep disappointment at the announcement by Southern Water that it has discovered inconsistencies in the reporting and handling of response levels to consumer complaints and enquiries. The inconsistencies came to light while a new billing system was being installed...
In related news:"Ofwat statement regarding Southern Water reporting irregularities for customer enquiries and complaints"
• Research and Markets publishes guide to UK bottled water industry -- DUBLIN, Ireland, Oct. 24, 2005 -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of Bottled Water in the United Kingdom to its offering. The report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data (1999-2004), allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market - be they legislative, distribution, packaging or pricing issues. Forecasts to 2009 illustrate how the market is set to change...
• AWWA to celebrate power of members on anniversary -- DENVER, Oct. 24, 2005 -- As the American Water Works Association (AWWA) approaches its 125th anniversary, it will honor its members for their hard work and dedication to protecting public health during the second annual AWWA Member Appreciation Week, Nov. 6-12...
• Pa. launches nation's strongest water quality protections with new DEP regulations -- HARRISBURG, PA, Oct. 24, 2005 -- Pa. Gov. Edward G. Rendell today announced stronger regulations for large-scale farming operations and new manure management requirements for all agricultural operations to protect Pennsylvania waterways. The sweeping changes go beyond federal requirements and provide a comprehensive solution to nutrient management problems in the state, balancing the needs of the state's agricultural community with efforts to protect the integrity of commonwealth water resources...
In related news:
-- Luzerne County Water Treatment Plant Recognized for Outstanding Performance
-- EPA Recognizes Springdale for Protecting Drinking Water
• Pa. governor directs DEP to mobilize to meet challenges from stricter federal guidelines -- Strong economy, more stringent environmental protection requirements increase pollution reviews for proposed construction sites -- HARRISBURG, PA, Oct. 24, 2005 -- Pa. Gov. Edward G. Rendell has directed the Department of Environmental Protection to mobilize staff and resources to clear up a permit backlog that has been caused by an increased number of clean water permit requests. A federal rules change requiring permits for any project disturbing one acre or more of land from the previous threshold of five acres, and requiring novel new water management techniques to be developed and implemented, have increased dramatically the number of required reviews for proposed construction sites. This involves changes designated to the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program...
In related news:
-- Pa. Communities Honored for Groundwater Protection Efforts
-- Five More Pa. Universities Join Higher-Ed Environmental Consortium
• U.S. Energy Corp.'s Sutter Gold project receives California water discharge permit -- RIVERTON, WY, Oct. 24, 2005 -- U.S. Energy Corp. announced today that Sutter Gold Mining Inc. reported that the California Regional Water Quality Control Board (CRWQCB), Central Valley Region officially approved Sutter Gold's wastewater discharge permit at their Oct. 21 board meeting. The permit will allow the company to store its dewatered tails at a dry-stacked surface fill unit as well as use mill tailings for mine backfill. This permit will save the project substantial cost in comparison to building a traditional tailings facility...
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In earlier newsbriefs, see: WaterBriefs: World Water Monitoring Day garners global response -- Also in this report (Oct. 24, 2005): Hands-on sessions added to pump training series; Scarborough becomes principal of CDC Inc.; Bentley software aids CH2M Hill on Tracy, Calif., wastewater plant; MasTec prepares for Hurricane Wilma, customer storm restoration activities; DeepWave results in three-fold increase in injection efficiency; Pure Bioscience wins $3.6M arbitration award from Falken Industries; Hitachi to integrate to strengthen municipal, industrial infrastructure systems business; Euro Tech Holdings gains equity interest in water, wastewater services of PACT; UK's ICF Consulting hires water markets expert Dr. Scott Reid; Orange County infrastructure improving, but not acceptable, says UC Irvine report; Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. aligns with Newwater-Zenon to pursue water projects; AMCON board chairman gains dominant stake in Trinity Springs; Forecasts for 2009 of bottled water in Thailand show a changing market...
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