WaterBriefs: American Water pioneers alternative energy sources for water services
In other news below:
-- Val-Matic celebrates 40th anniversary
-- Apax Partners completes acquisition, reorganizes CONTECH
-- JWC Environmental, Adams Hydraulics to expand relationship into Japan, China
-- America's WETLAND Online Resource Center to launch on World Wetlands Day
-- USC student teams seek solutions to world water problems
-- GreenShift consolidates biofuels investments, including wastewater sources
-- Graham Corp. wins vacuum pump order exceeding $1.5 million
-- Aqua Dyne to test solar-powered water desalination
-- ENPAR's DesEL System effectively treats arsenic-contaminated water in Mexico
-- MWH unit honors Lebanese American University president with engineering award
-- Walter Industries acquires valve producer CCNE LLC for $8.8 million
-- Cascade Designs wins $4M Congressional grant for Marine Corps water purifiers
-- Powder River Basin Gas completes Springhill Project
-- Novazone expands team of industry experts
-- Emerson's new SIS courses expand free online training at PlantWeb University
-- New book from ASCE profiles extraordinary women engineers
American Water pioneers alternative energy sources for nation's water services -- Water treatment facilities demonstrate that proposals in President's State of the Union speech can work -- VOORHEES, NJ, Feb. 1, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- In last night's State of the Union Address, President George W. Bush addressed the need to reduce America's dependence on traditional energy sources and the need to develop "revolutionary solar and wind technologies." American Water, the largest water services provider in North America, has built two facilities that effectively harness wind and solar power and reduce America's dependence on traditional energy generation.
"American Water has evidence that alternative energy can be a practical, viable option," said John Young, Chief Operating Officer for American Water. "Committing to alternative energy sources benefits everyone. It reduces the impact on the environment, as well as America's dependence on fossil fuels. It also reduces our energy costs; those reductions are then passed onto our customers."
American Water has designed, built and currently operates two water treatment plants that use alternative energy to supplement the power demands of a modern water treatment facility. In Somerset, NJ, American Water's Canal Road water treatment plant uses solar power - in the form of photo-voltaic panels that cover three acres, the largest ground mounted system of its kind in the northeastern United States - to produce 585,000 kilowatts of energy per year. In Yardley, PA, Pennsylvania American Water recently committed to operate its water treatment plant with wind-generated electricity, which is 100 percent pollution-free.
With headquarters in Voorhees, NJ, American Water (www.amwater.com) is the largest, most geographically diversified provider of water services in North America. Employing approximately 7,000, American Water provides high quality water, wastewater, and other related services to over 18 million people in 29 states and 3 Canadian provinces.
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Among other recent headlines:
• Val-Matic celebrates 40th anniversary -- ELMHURST, IL, Feb. 1, 2006 -- This year Val-Matic Valve & Mfg. Corp. celebrates its 40th year of operation. Begun in 1966 by Andrew Nuter and Ted Makowan, the company grew from a humble beginning with only three employees...
• Apax Partners completes acquisition, reorganizes CONTECH -- WEST CHESTER, OH, & NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2006 -- CONTECH Construction Products Inc., a leading civil engineering site solutions products and services company, and funds advised by Apax Partners Worldwide, one of the world's leading private equity investment groups, today confirmed that Apax Partners Worldwide have completed its acquisition of a majority ownership interest in CONTECH. The transaction had a total enterprise valuation of more than $1 billion...
• JWC Environmental, Adams Hydraulics to expand relationship into Japan and China -- COSTA MESA, CA, Feb. 1, 2006 -- JWC Environmental and Adams Hydraulics have announced that, in principle, JWC's license to manufacture, market and distribute JWC's Monster Separation System™ has been expanded to include China and Japan, increasing the geographic reach of the agreement beyond North America...
• America's WETLAND Online Resource Center to launch on World Wetlands Day -- NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 1, 2006 -- Louisiana leaders, cub scouts and a swamp boat captain will join the America's WETLAND: Campaign to Save Coastal Louisiana to launch the new America's WETLAND Online Resource Center (www.americaswetlandresources.com) on Thursday, World Wetlands Day, Feb. 2, at Loyola University in New Orleans.
• Assemblymember Liu to join USC student teams in seeking solutions to world water problems -- USC teams among 12 throughout Southern California to receive World Water Forum grants -- LOS ANGELES, Feb. 1, 2006 State Assemblymember Carol Liu (D-La Canada/Flintridge) joins Metropolitan Water District officials Feb. 3 at 10 a.m. at University of Southern California's Kaprielian Hall at the University Park Campus in reviewing three projects by USC student teams aimed at helping to solve water supply and quality problems at grassroots and global levels...
• GreenShift consolidates biofuels investments, including wastewater sources -- GreenShift's Mean Green BioFuels converts agricultural wastes and ethanol by-products into biodiesel fuel -- NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2006 -- GreenShift Corp. announced the consolidation of its various biofuels companies into a restructured Mean Green BioFuels Corporation. The consolidation is a critical part of GreenShift's ongoing implementation of its plan to streamline its portfolio of environmentally proactive companies during the first quarter 2006. Effective today, GreenShift's investments in BioEnergy Engineering, LLC and Ethanol Oil Recovery Systems, LLC, were transferred into Mean Green along with Mean Green Biodiesel of Tennessee Inc. Mean Green's business model is based on the production of biodiesel out of the following sources: soy bean oil; animal fats procured from rendering operations; corn oil extracted from ethanol facilities; and animal fats derived from dissolved air flotation wastewater sludges...
• Graham Corp. wins vacuum pump order exceeding $1.5 million -- BATAVIA, NY, Feb. 1, 2006 -- Graham Corp. announced that it has been awarded a purchase order for two vacuum pump packages to be installed in an oil refinery located in Minnesota. The order, which was received this month, is valued at over $1.5 million. Revenue for this project will be recognized on a percentage-of-completion basis, and shipment is presently scheduled for the third quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007. The Graham liquid ring vacuum pump systems will be installed as part of a planned facility upgrade to increase its heavy crude distillation capacity. The first package provides a vacuum for the distillation process to improve gas oil production, while the second compresses gas for movement to a treatment process that remove pollutants from the gas stream. Both Graham systems will also include peripheral equipment such as process vessels, heat exchangers, piping, valves and controls...
• Aqua Dyne to test solar-powered water desalination -- BRISBANE, Australia, Feb. 1, 2006 -- Aqua Dyne Inc and Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industry Research Organisation (CSIRO), the federal government's premier research organization -- will be advancing the study and use of solar energy in thermal water desalination for the coal mining industry. This project is part of the world-first study into the use of solar energy for mine water desalination and the treatment of acid mine leachate...
• ENPAR's DesEL System effectively treats arsenic-contaminated water in Mexico -- GUELPH, ON, Canada, Feb. 1, 2006 -- Dr. Gene Shelp, president of Enpar Technologies Inc., is pleased to announce that its DesEL System removes potentially harmful levels of arsenic from potable water sources. A collaborative testing program with the Instituto Mexicano de Tecnologia del Agua (IMTA) in Mexico has demonstrated that this technology is extremely effective and potentially more economical than conventional technologies. The current study is examining the efficacy of the DesEL System to treat potable water sources in Mexico, which contain up to 2.35 ppm arsenic. These levels far exceed the maximum permissible limit of 0.025 ppm set for year 2005 by the Official Mexican Norm (NOM-127-SSA1-1994). It is estimated that 500,000 people live in rural areas in which the drinking water supply contains arsenic levels exceeding 0.05 ppm. To date, testing has focused on the town of Huautla, Morelos, Mexico. The treated water contains less than 0.005 ppm as total arsenic, with both arsenic removal and water recovery being about 97%. To support the ongoing program, IMTA has purchased a portable DesEL-400 unit to enable onsite testing at remote locations...
• MWH unit honors Dr. Joseph Jabbra with 2006 Presidential Excellence in Engineering Education Award -- Distinguished tribute recognizes exemplary commitment to higher education and role in spearheading the use of advanced technology -- BROOMFIELD, CO, Feb. 1, 2006 -- MWH Soft, a leading provider of environmental and water resources applications software, today named Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra, President of the Lebanese American University (LAU) in Lebanon, recipient of its 2006 Presidential Excellence in Engineering Education Award. The award from the unit of MWH Global is presented annually to a preeminent educational institution that demonstrates outstanding commitment to attaining exceptional status as an institution of higher education and a leader in the use of advanced technology...
• Walter Industries acquires valve producer CCNE LLC for $8.8 million -- TAMPA, FL, Jan. 31, 2006 -- Walter Industries Inc. announced that its Mueller Water Products subsidiary purchased the operating assets of CCNE L.L.C. for approximately $8.8 million. Based in Vernon, CT, CCNE is a privately held contract producer and distributor of check valves used in water and wastewater treatment and distribution systems. The CCNE operations and assets will be consolidated into Milliken Valve Company's Bethlehem, PA, facility. Milliken is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mueller...
• Cascade Designs awarded $4 million in Congressional funding to procure individual water purification systems for U.S. Marine Corps -- SEATTLE, Jan. 31, 2006 -- Mountain Safety Research (MSR), a division of Cascade Designs, Inc., has announced it has been awarded $4 million in Department of Defense appropriations to procure the MSR MIOX Individual Water Purification System (IWPS) for the U.S. Marine Corps. This system, made with the assistance of Albuquerque, NM-based Miox Corp., is a modular, mission-specific, on-the-move water purification and hydration system designed to integrate with the Marine Corps' Infantry Load Bearing Equipment (ILBE). It will enable Marines to gather fresh water from any source, anywhere and purify it into safe drinking water...
• Powder River Basin Gas completes Springhill Project -- CALGARY, AB, Canada, Jan. 31, 2006 -- Powder River Basin Gas Corp., a revenue-generating producer, acquirer and marketer of crude oil and natural gas properties, announced it has completed the reworks of the wells on the Springhill, Louisiana project. The project had 20 wells scheduled for re-work and re-completion, of which 18 were producers and two salt water disposal wells.
• Novazone expands team of industry experts -- Demand for pathogen-free, chemical-free food and water products drives rapid growth -- LIVERMORE, CA, Jan. 30, 2006 -- Novazone Inc., a leading provider of innovative ozone-based solutions to improve the freshness and safety of food and water, announced the appointments of Dr. William Mc Grane as director of applications engineering; Anthony Rethans as general manager, applications; and Mr. Shiva Kumar as director of field operations to newly created posts. The appointments reflect Novazone's commitment, focus and growth in food and water markets worldwide...
• Emerson's new SIS courses expand free online training at PlantWeb University -- AUSTIN, TX, Jan. 31, 2006 -- As part of an ongoing effort to provide manufacturing professionals with relevant educational information on the latest technology developments, Emerson Process Management now offers courses on safety instrumented systems (SIS) at their PlantWeb® University online learning center (www.PlantWebUniversity.com). The new user-friendly courses provide fundamentals and practical tips for SIS planning, selection and implementation. The courses include concise information on basic SIS concepts, design and installation, operation and maintenance, safety standard compliance, and new "smart" SIS technologies...
• New book from ASCE profiles extraordinary women engineers -- RESTON, VA, Jan. 26, 2006 -- Engineering is the backbone of the technology that drives our world, from television to transportation, from automobiles to architecture. Why is it then, when so much of our world depends on engineering for its advancement and sustainability, society doesn't encourage young women to become engineers? On Tuesday, Feb. 21, during Engineers Week, the Extraordinary Women Engineers Project Coalition (EWEP) will launch Changing Our World: True Stories of Women Engineers -- a new book by Sybil Hatch and published by the American Society of Civil Engineers -- during a reception at the National Press Club from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. The first product of the coalition's long-term project, the volume is a colorful, 256-page celebration of the contributions of women engineers to every aspect of modern life...
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In earlier newsbriefs, see: "WaterBriefs: WWEMA elects new officers, presents Scully with key award" -- Also in this report (Jan. 30, 2006): Appeals court invalidates trash TMDL for LA River, says coalition; Houston lawyer named to BECC-NADBank board; Denver to host StormCon '06 in July; Fast growth expected for water technologies due to global shortage; Kinetico anticipates municipal challenges due to new arsenic rule; Steelworkers calls for accountability in EPA's PFOA program; Buckman Labs standardizes on WebFOCUS software for global integration; SecureWave announces Sanctuary support for Citrix Access Gateway...
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