WaterBriefs: Cucamonga Valley Water District goes solar to ease peak energy needs

Oct. 11, 2006
Also in this report: AmWater to host AwwaRF workshop; National Parks chooses AbTech to treat Colo. marinas' stormwater; GeoMet to handle Gurnee Field produced water; ASCE recognizes members; Invensys to upgrade controls at Energy Northwest nuke plant; SAWS signs on with Lawson Software; Microvi Biotech wins waiver from Calif. water board; Connecticut Water buys South Coventry Water Co.; Hoffman Agency adds Poly Processing Co. as client; ThermoEnergy pursues acquisition of CASTion Corp...

In other news below:
-- American Water to host AwwaRF Asset Management Research Workshop
-- National Parks chooses AbTech to treat stormwater at three Colo. marinas
-- GeoMet Inc. announces new agreements affecting Gurnee Field
-- ASCE recognizes members for leadership, management achievements
-- Invensys to upgrade controls at Energy Northwest's Columbia Nuclear Generating Station
-- San Antonio water system signs multi-suite contract with Lawson Software
-- Microvi Biotech receives technology permit waiver from Calif. water board
-- Brick elected chairman of Metropolitan Water Board of Directors
-- Connecticut Water completes buy of South Coventry Water Co.
-- Carollo Engineers expands wastewater expertise in U.S. Southeast
-- Building safety group presents awards, elects officers
-- Hoffman Agency adds Poly Processing Co. as client
-- ThermoEnergy pursues acquisition of CASTion Corp.

Cucamonga Valley Water District goes solar and smart -- CAMARILLO, CA, Oct. 11, 2006 -- The Cucamonga Valley Water District (CVWD) joins with SolarWorld California to dedicate a new ground-mounted solar energy system and Environmental Learning Center on Oct. 11. Designed to augment the energy needs of the district particularly during peak summer demand periods, the system will also serve as an on-site example of clean energy production for the students who visit the Environmental Learning Center. It is innovatively designed to teach children from grades K-12 about their role to preserve the environment...
Also see:
-- "Recycled resource: The 'new' water supply"
-- "Water district prepared for emergency situations"

American Water to host AwwaRF Asset Management Research Workshop -- VOORHEES, NJ, Oct. 11, 2006 -- American Water, the largest water services provider in North America, today announced that it will host an Asset Management Research Workshop at its water treatment plant in Delran, N.J. on December 4-5, 2006. The workshop, part of a research project funded by the American Water Works Association Research Foundation (AwwaRF), will identify the industry's most pressing needs related to asset management and define a set of comprehensive, cohesive and prioritized research initiatives. HDR Engineering will lead the Asset Management Research Workshop, with planned attendance by more than 40 water and wastewater utilities and subcontractors, including Weston Engineering (as co-principal investigator), the Electric Power Research Institute and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. Results of the workshop will establish AwwaRF's asset management research agenda for the next five to 10 years...

Colorado's National Park Service chooses AbTech for clean water cure for three Curecanti Recreational Marinas -- Its Smart Sponge catch basin inserts help control stormwater runoff pollution -- SCOTTSDALE, AZ, Oct. 11, 2006 -- AbTech Industries' Smart Sponge® technology is most commonly associated with filtration systems that are currently cleaning up polluted street runoff in the storm drains of 27 states. However, the Smart Sponge's versatility makes it ideal for a variety of applications. The National Park Service selected the technology for use in three marinas in the beautiful Curecanti National Recreation Area in west-central Colorado. Bo Simon, owner of Gear Up Construction, said the company installed AbTech's Ultra Urban® Filters in two different kinds of storm drains to capture the runoff...

GeoMet Inc. announces new agreements affecting Gurnee Field -- HOUSTON, Oct. 11, 2006 -- GeoMet Inc. announced today the execution of a series of agreements with a privately held company affecting operations in its Gurnee field in the Cahaba Basin of Alabama. Under the agreements, GeoMet will dispose of produced water from that company's operations in the Gurnee field in an amount up to one half of the capacity of GeoMet's water disposal pipeline. The current capacity of the water disposal pipeline is approximately 30,000 barrels per day with a design capacity estimated to be 45,000 barrels per day. Fees for water disposal under the agreements will initially be $0.35 per barrel of water but will decline to $0.20 per barrel of water within six months. Such fees will be used to reduce GeoMet's field operating costs...

National society recognizes member for leadership, management achievements -- RESTON, VA, Oct. 11, 2006 -- In honor of their achievements, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) will recognize four distinguished civil engineers on Friday, Oct. 20 at the Leadership and Management Luncheon being held during its Annual Civil Engineering Conference in Chicago. Among the honorees is Donald P. FusilliJr., P.E., JD, former president and CEO of Michael Baker Corp., an engineering firm specializing in aviation, environmental, facilities, geospatial information technologies, linear utilities, transportation, water/wastewater, and oil and gas. He'll be receiving the John I. Parcel-Leif J. Sverdrup Civil Engineering Management Award, which is given to an engineer of high character and professional integrity who has made a definite contribution in the field of civil engineering management. For more information on Fusilli, click here...

Invensys to supply upgraded digital controls at Energy Northwest's Columbia Nuclear Generating Station -- FOXBORO, MA, Oct. 10. 2006 -- Invensys Process Systems will supply Energy Northwest with Triconex digital control systems for integrated main turbine and reactor pressure control, and for turbine trip controls at the Columbia Nuclear Generating Station, near Richland, WA. Invensys will supply a Tricon TMR (triple-modular redundant) turbomachinery control system for the integrated turbine and critical reactor pressure control functions. A Tricon TMR system will also be utilized for an all new turbine trip digital control scheme, including lube oil, thrust, vacuum pressure and overspeed. The Tricon systems will be integrated with Wonderware's InTouch HMI (human machine interface) software to bring together more than 600 critical monitoring and control system I/O points from the turbine and generator...

Texas water system signs multi-suite contract with Lawson Software -- San Antonio Water System will use Lawson applications to standardize and streamline core business processes, improve data access -- ST. PAUL, MN, Oct. 10, 2006 -- Lawson Software announced that it signed a multi-suite contract with the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) in Lawson's first quarter of fiscal 2007, which ended Aug. 31, 2006. The water system licensed Lawson Enterprise Financial Management, Human Capital Management and Supply Chain Management suites to improve operational efficiencies, particularly in the areas of cross-department data sharing and budget management. Lawson Professional Services will provide implementation services for the project rollout. Consolidated in May 1992 from three predecessor agencies, including the City Water Board, City Wastewater Department and the Alamo Water Conservation and Reuse District, SAWS serves 1.3 million customers and has approximately 1,650 employees. As part of a broader business systems improvement project, the Lawson applications will integrate with Hansen Information Technologies' CIS Billing Solutions, Asset/Work Order Management and Permitting module, and be deployed on Hewlett Packard's database and application servers. Project management services are provided by Blue Heron Consulting...

Microvi Biotech receives waiver of all permit requirements for its patented clean water technology by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board -- OVERLAND PARK, KS, Oct. 10, 2006 -- Microvi Biotech LLC, the holder of patents and other clean technologies utilizing unique microencapsulation processes for water decontamination announces receipt of a waiver for any permit requirements for the field demonstration of its clean water process for the destruction of MTBE in groundwater in California. Acceptance of Microvi's patented water decontamination process for the destruction of MTBE in groundwater without any permit requirements is the first approval of its kind for a biological treatment of groundwater. A written statement from California Regional Water Quality Control Board (CRWQCB) regarding impending use of the technology says, "MicroBeads contain microbes that have shown to breakdown gasoline hydrocarbons to harmless chemicals. The microbes are physically locked within the MicroBeads, and do not enter into the environment. Waste Discharge Requirements are not required for this project because the microbes are not being released to the aquifer." MTBE is a very serious problem and the cost of removing this contaminant from drinking water sources has been estimated by American Water Works Association (AWWA) to be as high as $85 billion...
Also see: "Microvi Biotech receives an NIH grant to demonstrate patented Biological Permeable Barrier Technology for destruction of perchlorate in groundwater"

Timothy F. Brick elected chairman of Metropolitan Water Board of Directors -- Pasadena representative selected to lead board of Southland's principal water import agency -- LOS ANGELES, Oct. 10, 2006 -- Timothy F. Brick, the longest tenured member of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, was elected today as chairman of the agency's board, which oversees the major water importer and wholesaler for 18 million people in six Southland counties. Brick, a Pasadena resident who has represented the city on Metropolitan's board since June 1985, was elected to a two-year term as chairman, taking office in January 2007. He replaces Wes Bannister, one of four representatives of the Municipal Water District of Orange County, who has served as Metropolitan chairman the past two years...

Connecticut Water completes acquisition of South Coventry Water Supply Company -- CLINTON, CT, Oct. 10, 2006 -- Connecticut Water Service Inc. announced that its regulated public water utility subsidiary, The Connecticut Water Company, has completed the acquisition of the South Coventry Water Supply Company in Coventry, Connecticut in a deal valued at approximately $240,000. Connecticut Water acquired South Coventry Water for approximately $93,000 and assumed approximately $147,000 in debt. The South Coventry Water Supply Company serves approximately 125 homes in Coventry and is located less than one mile from three other water systems owned and operated by The Connecticut Water Company. The South Coventry system is expected to grow by more than 30 percent with the development of a planned housing complex that will add 36 new customers...

Carollo Engineers expands wastewater expertise in U.S. Southeast -- Staffing appointment increases firm's ability to service challenging wastewater issues -- ORLANDO, FL, Oct. 9, 2006 -- Carollo Engineers has appointed Roderick D. Reardon, P.E., DEE, as the director of Wastewater Practice - Southeast/Central Regions. Based in Orlando, Reardon will be responsible for oversight of wastewater treatment projects throughout the region. For nearly 30 years, Reardon has excelled in the field of wastewater engineering and has held positions as project engineer, project manager and wastewater treatment specialist on a wide variety of municipal wastewater and reuse water projects. He has been an integral part of planning and design for numerous wastewater treatment plants ranging in capacity from 0.1 to over 600 mgd. His expertise includes designing and optimizing biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes and membrane treatment processes for wastewater treatment and water reuse facilities. Additionally, he is adept at evaluating new treatment technologies and effectively modeling wastewater treatment plants. In this capacity, he has led the process evaluations and development for more than 50 advanced wastewater treatment facilities throughout the United States and overseas. He has written or co-written several chapters in books from the Water Environment Federation...

Building safety group presents awards -- FALLS CHURCH, VA, Oct. 10, 2006 -- The International Code Council honored individuals and groups for furthering the cause of building safety, fire prevention, safe construction and code enforcement during the association's Annual Conference. The conference theme was "Working to Build a Safer World." Among the honorees: Rick Vognild, retired technical services director for the Southern Building Code Congress International; Donald "Mickey" Arp of the city of Chattanooga, TN; retired fire marshal Robert Davidson of South Brunswick, NJ; Jill Gray, permit technical for Farmers Branch, TX; Shirley Muns, code specialist, Energy Systems Laboratory, Texas Engineering Experiment Station, Texas A&M University; the Washington Association of Building Officials (WABO) and California Building Officials (CALBO)...
Also see: "International Code Council elects directors, officers"

The Hoffman Agency adds Poly Processing Company as new client -- MONROE, LA, Oct. 10, 2006 -- Jeff Hoffman, president of The Hoffman Agency, a full-service marketing and communications firm based in Jacksonville, FL, has announced Poly Processing Company as a new client to the agency. Poly Processing manufactures vertical polyethylene storage tanks for the chemical industry and water use and management field. The company is headquartered in Monroe, LA, with additional facilities in French Camp, CA, and Winchester, VA. According to Hoffman, his firm will provide Poly Processing Company with strategic media and public relations services. "We are fortunate to have Poly Processing join us as a new client in the manufacturing field. Our ongoing work in the industry also includes developing water quality and social marketing programs for water management districts and related public service organizations throughout the nation," said Hoffman...

ThermoEnergy pursues acquisition -- LITTLE ROCK, AR, Oct. 10, 2006 -- ThermoEnergy Corporation on Oct. 4 confirmed that it has engaged in discussions with CASTion Corp. concerning the possible acquisition of CASTion by ThermoEnergy. CASTion, headquartered in Worcester, MA is currently a subcontractor for ThermoEnergy for the assembly and installation of the New York City Department of Environmental Practices project at Jamaica Bay. CASTion is a privately-held, 20-year-old award-winning company, with offices in Massachusetts, Florida, Louisiana, Ohio and California, that provides customized turnkey systems for industrial wastewater treatment. Its range of products and services includes vacuum distillation, evaporators, reverse osmosis, ion exchange, oil/water separators and specialty products. With installations across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Japan, CASTion's customer base includes the military, power generation, mining, food processing, beverage, automotive, chemical process, refining, micro-electronics, municipal, heavy manufacturing, textile and semi-conductor industries...

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