In other news below:
-- Itron signs AMR distribution deal with Actaris, sells software in Northern Ireland
-- Reilly Industries, Rutherford Chemicals combine to become Vertellus Specialties Inc.
-- Black & Veatch completes California water cost study
-- Design-Build for Water/Wastewater Conference seeks presenters
-- Emerson, Siemens expand systems interface in support of global standard
-- Osmose Mapping Center now utilizing Miner & Miner's ArcFM
-- Merriam Process Technologies introduces product education program
-- Cellnet names H. Ward Camp its Western Region VP
-- Onset Computer Corp. hires new sales director
-- RTI appoints new North American sales director
-- GEI Consultants adds senior metallurgical engineer to Rocky Mountain office
Protection of water systems is focus of proposed new ASTM International standard
W. CONSHOHOCKEN, PA, July 11, 2006 -- Selecting and using monitoring methods to protect water systems is the focus of a new standards development effort, ASTM International announced yesterday.
ASTM Subcommittee E47.05 on Risk Assessment, Communication and Management has begun WK11621, "New Standard Guide for Selecting and Using Ecological Sentinels for National Security Monitoring," to accomplish this goal. The draft is also the starting point for a potential series of standards on ecological sentinels that serve as early warning systems for protecting critical water systems in the United States.
Subcommittee E47.05, a branch of ASTM International Committee E47 on Biological Effects and Environmental Fate, will draw on expertise in E47 and in Committee E54 on Homeland Security Applications. Robert Stenner, Ph.D., a toxicologist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Wash., said, "E47's goal is to understand water system environments and develop ecotoxicologically based standards to monitor and manage the ecological health of the respective water system. The E54 committee has as a focus the understanding of the host of ways a terrorist might attack our vulnerable assets, which includes our nation's drinking and wastewater systems. We hope to merge the expertise of these two committees to identify and develop needed standard guides."
Stenner notes that the effort will also draw on the many years of existing ecotoxicological work related to understanding and protecting the environment. For the new standards, that expertise will be applied to guarding against potential threats.
E47.05 welcomes additional participation in the standards project, particularly by municipal water systems experts to ensure the practical application of standards being developed. The group also plans to involve such organizations as the American Waterworks Association, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Environmental Protection Agency's Homeland Security Research Center.
For further technical information on the new activity, contact Robert Stenner, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA (Tel: 509-375-2916; [email protected]). For membership or meeting details, contact Scott Orthey (Tel: 610-832-9730; [email protected]).
Established in 1898, ASTM International (www.astm.org) is one of the largest standards development and delivery systems in the world. Its standards are accepted and used in research and development, product testing, quality systems, and commercial transactions around the globe.
Among other recent headlines:
• Northern Ireland Water Service purchases Itron's MV-90 xi software -- Water utility will use a meter reading system to improve electricity use and optimize energy purchasing decisions -- AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, July 11, 2006 -- Itron, a leading technology provider and critical source of knowledge to the global energy and water industries, announced today the sale of MV-90 xi software licenses and support to Northern Ireland Water Service (NIWS). NIWS provides water and sewerage services to more than 730,000 domestic, agricultural, commercial and business customers throughout Northern Ireland. Although the utility's business is providing water and sewerage services, the organization is also a consumer of electricity. With rising energy prices, energy management has become more important than ever before. In 2005, energy costs rose 10%, prompting NIWS to look for additional ways to manage its electricity use carefully. NIWS has installed about 2,000 electricity meters to date, 90-95% of which will be monitored by MV-90 xi...
Also see: "Itron signs agreement with Actaris to distribute Itron's AMR technology"
• Reilly Industries, Rutherford Chemicals combine to become Vertellus Specialties Inc. -- Combination creates a leading life science and natural products specialty chemicals company -- NEW YORK, July 11, 2006 -- Arsenal Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on investments in the specialty chemicals industry sector, today announced the creation of Vertellus Specialties Inc., a specialty chemicals company focused on the manufacture of high growth, high-value products for the agricultural, nutritional, pharmaceutical, personal care and performance materials markets. The new company combines the strengths of two specialty chemical producers, Reilly Industries and Rutherford Chemicals, and will provide a diverse array of unique specialty products through three market-focused divisions: Agriculture and Nutrition Specialties, Health and Specialty Products, and Performance Materials. The combined entity will be the technology leader in a number of chemical manufacturing and formulation processes, with a majority of its annual revenue derived from products with leading global market positions...
• Black & Veatch completes California water cost study -- OVERLAND PARK, KS, July 11, 2006 -- Black & Veatch today announced the company's Enterprise Management Solutions (EMS) Division has completed its 2006 California Water Charge Survey. The survey -- free to government agencies -- includes 453 cities and water districts in California and compares water rates and connection fees for residential customers. Included its many features, the survey analyzes trends in rates, rate structures and connection fees. It notes that trends of increasing water rates and connection fees can be attributed to an aging infrastructure and rising construction costs, according to Ann R. Bui, Senior Consultant with Black & Veatch. Among the findings is that the average residential monthly charge, for 1,500 cubic feet of water a month, increased from $30.33 in 2003 to $36.39 in 2006 -- a total 16.7% increase. Rising construction costs, as a result of price increases for raw materials and labor shortages in the construction industry, are passed on to water customers in the form of higher connect charges and fees...
• Design-Build for Water/Wastewater Conference seeks presenters -- WASHINGTON, DC, July 11, 2006 -- The next Design-Build in Water/Wastewater Conference, under the theme "A Spectrum of Possibilities," issued a call for presentations for the Feb. 14-16, 2007, event at the Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center in Seattle, WA. Organized by the Design-Build Institute of America, based in Washington, DC, it's cosponsored by the AWWA, WEF and APWA. The deadline to submit an abstract is Saturday, July 15, at www.designbuildwaterww.com...
Also see: "2006 Design-Build for Water/Wastewater corporate sponsor project showcase"
• Emerson, Siemens expand support of global standards with system interfacing -- Global leaders to exchange technology that will extend interoperability and end-user benefits -- AUSTIN, TX, July 11, 2006 -- Emerson Process Management and Siemens Automation & Drives (A&D) announced today their expansion of system interfaces to enable both companies to expand support of global fieldbus standards. The companies will exchange technology and engineering support to add the interfaces that extend their systems and software to offer customers expanded global interoperability and greater functionality. First products are expected to be available mid-2007. The effort grew out of the work both companies have done with user-supplier consortiums to deliver fully open and interoperable field instrumentation and electric drives using the newly enhanced global standard Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL)...
• Osmose Mapping Center now utilizing Miner & Miner's ArcFM -- BUFFALO, NY, & FORT COLLINS, CO, July 11, 2006 -- The Osmose Mapping Center, an online service provided by Osmose Utilities Services, has standardized its map-maintenance operation on the ArcFM Solution and MultiSpeak data model from Miner & Miner, a Telvent company. The Osmose Mapping Center provides utilities with web-based access to facility maps which are hosted by Osmose on an ESRI ArcGIS® geographic information system (GIS). The service gives utilities access to high-quality maps and professional mapping services without financial investments in GIS software or an on-site mapping department. ArcFM is an application based on ESRI's ArcGIS, which is the foundation of the Osmose Mapping Center...
Also see: "Telvent, ISLEM GIS, and Miner & Miner to pursue Turkish GIS Market - Companies partner to provide Enterprise GIS solutions to utilities"
• Merriam Process Technologies introduces product education program -- CLEVELAND, OH, July 11, 2006 -- Meriam Process Technologies, a leader in instrumentation and devices for flow, pressure and level measurement, is introducing a product training program for customers in all industries. Meriam offers over 90 years of experience in engineering, not to mention reliable, absolute accuracy in industrial instruments. Additionally, it makes customer service and technical support a priority. In-field technical support, plant- based customer service, published primers, selector guides, how-to manuals and application notes are all available for customer's perusal. In an effort to help customers understand some of the technical aspect and feature advantages of Meriam products, a training series has been developed which includes monthly webinars, and specific product certification programs are in the future. The first webinar was June 29...
• Cellnet names H. Ward Camp its Western Region VP -- ATLANTA, GA, July 10, 2006 -- Cellnet Technology Inc. yesterday announced that it has named H. Ward Camp vice president western region. Camp will oversee the Cellnet sales team for all utilities in the western portion of the United States. Camp joins Cellnet from his role as vice president regulatory affairs and strategic alliances at DCSI. A 25-year veteran of the utility industry, Camp previously served in executive roles at DCSI, USPowerSolutions and Avistar, a Public Service Company of New Mexico subsidiary. He spent the first 15 years of his career as an attorney with a focus in energy and utilities...
• Onset Computer Corp. names new sales director -- BOURNE, MA, July 11, 2006 -- Onset Computer Corp., a leading supplier of battery-powered data loggers and weather stations, has named Gregg Daly as director of sales. Daly brings over 20 years of sales management experience to Onset's senior management team, having most recently served as the company's sales manager. Prior to joining Onset in 1997, he worked for twelve years in the international management consulting field...
Also see: "Onset Computer ships one-millionth datalogger - Milestone marked by equipment presentation to Ameresco Inc."
• RTI appoints new North American sales director -- WARMINSTER, PA, July 11, 2006 -- Recirculation Technologies Inc. (RTI), which specializes in cleaning and restoring water treatment system components like ion exchange resins and reverse osmosis membranes, recently appointed Mike Kearney as its new sales director for North America. Joining the company in April, Kearney brings RTI's revolutionary technology to companies across the nation that realize the significant economic value of a reliable purified water supply. Clean water is the clear lifeblood coursing through facilities that make pulp and paper, generate power and process sweeteners. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, he brings to the position seven years of experience as a process engineer designing water treatment systems. With a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering and a master's in business, he also gained extensive industry knowledge through five years of marketing ion exchange resins. He said he's excited about representing RTI's products and services, including its new ReStore + onsite resin restoration system...
• GEI Consultants adds new senior metallurgical engineer to its Rocky Mountain region office -- CENTENNIAL, CO, July 11, 2006 -- GEI Consultants Inc., one of the nation's leading water resources, geotechnical and environmental engineering consulting firms, announced today that Jody Kelso has joined the firm's Rocky Mountain region as a Senior Metallurgical Engineer specializing in mineral processing and environmental remediation. Kelso has over 26 years of mineral industry experience, ranging from property evaluation, project development, plant operations, environmental compliance and innovative process technology implementation. With a successful history in domestic and international assignments running multi-disciplinary project teams in the mining and environmental industries, he has played a central role in designing, and implementing economic models using site based metallurgical testing. Before joining GEI, Kelso was principal at JRKelso & Associates, where he served a variety of clients in the extractive industries. He was also formerly vice president of technical development for Water Remediation Technology and corporate metallurgist with Cambior USA. He holds a bachelor's degree in metallurgical engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology...
Also see: "GEI Consultants wins SMPS Boston Marketing Communications Awards"
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