WaterBriefs: Argonne Lab research leads to new understanding of water quality

In other news below:
-- Koch Membrane Systems, Aqua-Aerobic Systems form MBR marketing partnership
-- Olin to double bleach production
-- Weathermatic SmartLine to participate in major S. Calif. water conservation program
-- CONTECH Stormwater Solutions adds consultant in S. Calif.
-- Systems & Software Inc. tops CIS vendor list
-- Amiantit Flowtite GRP pipe achieves breakthrough
-- WorldWater & Power to acquire ENTECH
-- Water technology, biomedical sciences and digital media beneficiaries of Singapore's nearly $1 billion R&D investment
-- Government of Canada invests $2.8 million in community environmental projects

• Surprising discovery leads to new understanding of water quality -- Water quality improvements likely using new understanding of ion interaction, Argonne Lab researchers say -- ARGONNE, IL, July 10, 2006 -- Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory have discovered new ways that ions interact with mineral surfaces in water, opening a door to new knowledge on how contaminants travel in the environment. The insight, published in the July 7 issue of Physical Review Letters, leads to a better understanding of the factors that determine water quality. Water -- colorless, odorless and tasteless -- may seem simple, but its interactions with minerals can be difficult to study. Ions, which range from nutrients such as calcium, to contaminants such as lead, are present in natural waters, but their transport is often limited by adsorption to mineral surfaces. The more scientists can understand about the interaction of minerals with water and ions, the more effectively they can control water quality in our environment, and Argonne's research in this area is making a leading contribution to the field. Contrary to generally held scientific assumptions, the simple textbook description of how ions adsorb to mineral-water interfaces has been shown to not be universally true. This revelation was the outcome of a new element-specific method developed to understand the behavior of ions at the interface between minerals and liquids, like water.

• Koch Membrane Systems, Aqua-Aerobic Systems form MBR marketing partnership -- AquaMBR™ Membrane Bioreactor to feature Puron™ Submerged Membranes -- ROCKFORD, IL, July 11, 2006 -- Aqua-Aerobic Systems Inc., a leading manufacturer of wastewater treatment systems announces a partnership with Koch Membrane Systems Inc. (KMS) offering unique membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology solutions for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment. KMS, a world-class developer and manufacturer of innovative membranes and membrane filtration will collaborate with Aqua by featuring its Puron submerged membrane product for use in Aqua's AquaMBR membrane bioreactor process. The AquaMBR process specifically utilizes a unique time-managed, sequential aeration process to promote biological nutrient removal within a simplified unit process...

• Olin to double bleach production -- CLEVELAND, TN, July 10, 2006 -- Olin Chlor Alkali Products today announces a $11.8 million manufacturing expansion for the production of bleach at the facilities in Augusta, GA, Charleston, TN, and Niagara Falls, NY. The expanded capacity and updated equipment will allow Olin to increase production, open new business opportunities within the Northeast and Southeast, and secure its position as the leader in the industry. This expansion will also allow it to customize its manufacturing process to meet individual needs of clients. In addition, the Niagara Falls facility is upgrading from a batch process to the Powell™ Continuous Process System which manufactures sodium hypochlorite with greater efficiency without sacrificing quality...
Also see: "TenCate brings advanced continuous open-width bleaching machine on stream"

• Weathermatic SmartLine to participate in major S. Calif. water conservation program -- GARLAND, TX, July 10, 2006 -- The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California's residential controller exchange program features new SmartLine "smart irrigation" controllers from Weathermatic. SmartLine offers innovative "weather based" scheduling, which adjusts the irrigation daily, 365 times a year, saving water and promoting healthier landscapes...

• CONTECH Stormwater Solutions adds consultant in S. Calif. -- Eric Strahan to support Riverside and Orange counties -- WEST CHESTER, OH, July 10, 2006 -- CONTECH Stormwater Solutions Inc. announces the addition of Eric Strahan as the stormwater consultant supporting Riverside and Orange counties in California. He brings over 15 years of technical sales experience in analytical, process and test instrumentation to the team. Most recently, Strahan worked as a technical sales representative for Anton Paar USA in San Diego, where he was responsible for sales and installation of laboratory instrumentation. He also worked as In-Situ Inc.'s western regional sales manager, where he provided innovative water monitoring solutions. Strahan holds a bachelor's degree from Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA, and a master's degree in environmental sciences from Cal State-Fullerton...

• Systems & Software Inc. tops CIS vendor list -- COLCHESTER, VT, July 10, 2006 -- Chartwell Inc., an independent information services company providing best practices research and analysis to the utility and energy industry, reported in its recent Intelligence Update on the state of the utility CIS (customer information systems) market, ranking Systems & Software Inc. at the top of its list. The municipal utility market accounts for 74% of all CIS project announcements. SSI offers enQuesta™, a web-based utility billing and customer service solution, to leading municipal and investor-owned water, wastewater, refuse, gas, and electric utilities...
Also see:
-- "Systems & Software Inc. to utilize Softrax products to automate revenue recognition processes"
-- "Montgomery Water Works & Sanitary Sewer Board: Empowering customers while reducing costs"
-- "City of Minneapolis: Stormwater billing delivers new revenue stream"

• Amiantit achieves technology breakthrough -- Successful testing of flexible Flowtite GRP pipe joint speeds up pending projects in Middle East, North Africa and Latin America -- DAMMAM, Saudi Arabia, July 10, 2006 -- Amiantit has achieved a technological breakthrough with the successful testing of its DN2000 PN25 Flowtite joint which passed all standards requirements without problems. The joint is qualified according to ASTM D4161 as well as to the more stringent requirements of ISO 8639 and EN 1119: angular deviation at 50 bar for 24 hours and sheer load at 50 bar for 24 hours, as well as cyclic loading and vacuum...

• WorldWater & Power to acquire ENTECH -- A pioneer in advanced concentrating solar technology, ENTECH has increased efficiency with reduced silicon solar cell requirements -- achieving cost parity with the grid, using current technology ready for production -- PENNINGTON, NJ, July 10, 2006 -- WorldWater & Power Corp., developer and marketer of proprietary high-power solar systems, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with ENTECH Inc. of Keller, TX, to acquire the company upon completion of necessary due diligence and after obtaining appropriate financing. ENTECH, a private company formed in 1983, is a developer and manufacturer of advanced concentrating solar photovoltaic and thermal technologies for terrestrial and space power applications. ENTECH has developed record-breaking concentrator solar power systems, supplied solar power for space missions for NASA, and installed ground-based concentrating solar systems in North America. This will complement WorldWater & Power, a full-service, international solar electric engineering and water management company with high-powered, patented solar technology that provides solutions to a broad spectrum of the world's electricity and water supply problems...

• Singapore jumpstarts R&D in biomedical sciences, water technology and digital media -- SINGAPORE, July 10, 2006 -- Singapore's Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council (RIEC) recently announced that will commit S$1.4 billion (US$889 million) over the next five years to fund the development of three research programs: Biomedical Sciences Phase II; Environmental & Water Technologies and Interactive and Digital Media. With the three sectors, Singapore hopes to create a total of 86,000 jobs and attract S$30 billion ($US19 billion) value-added investments to its economy by 2015. In addition, RIEC approved establishing an international Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) to foster joint research programs with the world's top universities and Singapore-based research institutes...

• Government of Canada invests $2.8 million in community environmental projects -- OTTAWA, ON, Canada, July 10, 2006 -- The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Canada's Minister of the Environment, today announced funding for 101 environmental projects from the EcoAction Community Funding Program in communities across Canada. In total, over $2.8 million will be dedicated to local action aimed at reducing pollution, improving air and water quality, and protecting wildlife and natural habitat. The EcoAction Community Funding Program is an Environment Canada initiative that supports projects that protect, rehabilitate or enhance the natural environment, and builds the capacity of communities and individuals in support of a more sustainable Canada. The 101 projects being announced today will assist locally-based, non-profit organizations in initiating actions that result in cleaner air, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, cleaner water, and the protection of habitat and species at risk at the local community level...

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