Wastewater treatment plants (also called Water Resource Facility WRFF) must treat the water before it can be released back into the environment (rivers, lakes, etc) and before it can be used as drinking water for a city, town, or municipality.

Controlling the world’s water resources is arguably one of the most critical issues. Water demand from industry and domestic users is set to rise throughout the industrialized world, while water supplies are finite. Legislation constantly demands improvements in potable water quality and reduces the contaminants that may be discharged. Wastewater treatment is one way to get water back. Wastewater is subjected to various treatments in wastewater treatment plants, each intended to remove contaminants and other hazardous substances from the water. The objective is to create water from sewage that is safe to discharge into waterways and won’t endanger the environment or human health. Over the last few years, Yokogawa has been applying minimized maintenance measurement systems to an industry that, more than ever, is concerned with condition-based maintenance and the integrity of the measured variable.

Originally posted by MSA

If you work in the water/wastewater industry, we don’t have to tell you just how dangerous treatment plants can be for worker well-being. We also don’t have to explain that water/wastewater plants have an even greater potential for danger after hours and on weekends when no one is physically on site.

Written By TechStar Solutions Specialist, Josh Longcor

Lift stations are collection facilities designed to move wastewater from lower to higher elevation through pipe systems, particularly where elevation changes are not able to provide gravity flow or where excavation and sewer construction costs are high. These collection stations are automated because there is no regular onsite personnel present to ensure their operation. They use electrical, mechanical and control equipment to ensure reliable operation and require intermittent inspection to ensure they function properly and are not nearing a potential failure.

With the increased concern about clean air, many wastewater treatment plants have added scrubber systems and biofilters to control odors and pollution from hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and other waste biogases. Known for its rotten egg smell, H2S is a colorless, clear toxic gas that is a potential danger to employees and frequently is the source of obnoxious odor complaints from nearby downwind residents and businesses.