Distribution System Symposium offers new technology and management approaches

By Kathy L. Pursley
Associate Editor

Recently the AWWA Distribution System Symposium (DSS), Sept. 10-13 in New Orleans, La., offered operators and distribution system employees and consultants opportunities to earn continuing education credits, compete, review new technology and network with one another.

Jack Hoffbuhr, AWWA Executive Director, presented the keynote address at the opening general session on Monday morning. Hoffbuhr delighted the audience with animated stories that tied his Peace Corps experiences to his career path in water and outlined the challenges facing water providers. He highlighted how the changing fabric of society, the population's shifting age distribution, competition for resources, the power of consumerism and other factors have all converged to pressure utilities to offer value-added services.

Facing the challenge of doing more with less brings utilities to face the "double bottom line," according to Hoffbuhr. Utilities must confront the issue of cheaper versus better when making decisions. He urged utilities to start investing in its people, charging rates closer to the real cost of produced water, and recognizing that cost effective is not always cheaper.

"We should be asking how we can do what we do better to protect the public heath more effectively. Better, not cheaper. We have the tools, talent and intellectual capital to invest in our future," said Hoffbuhr.

Many of this month's iWater sites represent companies and institutions that participated in at the recent DSS.

Cross Connection Control

Les O'Brien, with the University of Florida, presented the 14 questions to ask about setting up a cross-connection control program. Some of the material and schedules for future courses offered by the university are available at the web site, http://www.treeo.ufl.edu/backflow/BkfMain.htm. In addition to information about training and recertification, visitors can find information about backflow case histories, assistance for a cross-connection control program, contact information for organizations involved in water quality and more. The left side of the page provides links to all the areas of environmental training offered by the University of Florida's Center for Training, Research and Education for Environmental Occupations (UF/TREEO).

Flow Monitoring

ADS's web site, http://www.adsenv.com/resource_q_and _a_main.html offers a question and answer forum. Items range in content from requests for product information to critiques about the site's design. In addition, many of these responses contain "questions" from individuals who are seeking answers or new knowledge about areas such as: how to gather flow monitoring data cost-effectively; how to use this data to assess collection system performance; how to develop and conduct an I/I reduction program, and more.

If you have a question about flow monitoring, sewer system evaluation, infrastructure assessment, or collection system performance in general, submit it using the form provided at the site.

At the page, http://www.adsenv.com /resource_feature.html, the company provides a feature, On the Road With The Safety Manager, by Mike Larsen. The current discussion focuses on the dangers of sewer manholes and flow monitoring projects.

Fluid Control Systems

Bermad manufactures water and other fluid control and management systems. Its wide range of products include automatic control valves, water meters, automatic metering valves, hydrometers, multi-function valves, solenoid valves and air valves. The site is organized to assist visitors in finding and selecting appropriate products. By choosing items from the drop down menus in the sector, application or product category areas, visitors can narrow the product information presented.

Corrosion Protection

Corrpro Waterworks provides cathodic protection corrosion control for water storage tanks, water and wastewater treatment units and other related structures. It provides systems and programs which prevent the loss of metal and the loss of coatings due to corrosion. Its web site at www.corrpro.com/Waterworks-Treatment_Equipment.htm offers information on cathodic protection systems and the ways they can save maintenance, repair and recoating costs on submerged steel structures. The company provides solutions to the unique corrosion problems of the water industry from complete turnkey installations to continuing monitoring and maintenance services.

Odor Control

Odor Control has updated its website at www.odorcontrolco.com. The site offers information on the company's products. Visitors can view pictures of the products on location and read how colleagues are using the products, including how much they spend per year to control their odor problems. The site provides product and application information in quick overview and detailed formats.

New Regulatory Information Site

The WaterTraxtrademark website, www.watertrax.com, launched in mid-September, features a database of drinking water quality standards and guidelines for various jurisdictions, including the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Health Canada, and the World Health Organization. Users can browse online information on over 300 substances and conditions that affect the quality of drinking water. The database includes information standards, guidelines and monitoring requirements.

The site also includes a comprehensive directory of drinking water related web links, featuring drinking water legislation, support programs and other topics for operators of public water systems.

Water Treatment Simulator

WatPro is a simulation software available online at www.enviromega.com/watpro2.htm. With the simulator, water treatment plant operators and consultants rapidly can configure a treatment plant, and then determine Ct parameters, log reductions of Giardia and viruses, and formation of disinfection by-products. The simulator can be connected to a SCADA system for continual updates of monitored parameters. A free demo of the WatPro simulator can be downloaded from the site. An accompanying slideshow also available for downloading, illustrates how the model works. The site also offers a number of published articles describing WatPro's various applications in optimizing, monitoring and education.