American Water Works Assn.
Alternative adsorbents for the removal of polar organic contaminants.
This study investigates methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE), sulfamethosazole, and trimethoprim removal from water by high-silica zeolites with different pore sizes and chemical characteristics. The researchers compare adsorption capacities of zeolites to those of a carbonaceous resin and three activated carbons, determine the effects of co-adsorbing and preloaded natural organic matter on adsorption capacities, and assess the feasibility of using alternative adsorbents. A final experiment conducted with 28 pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors found the most effective removal still was accomplished with the usual activated carbon. Two of the researchers are affiliated with North Carolina State University. No index is provided. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
American Water Works Association 2007 water utility compensation survey, 12th annual ed.
This wire-spiral-bound report presents the results of the 12th annual Water Utility Compensation Survey. Data for the survey were collected as of April 1, 2007. The Survey provides information on salaries, salary ranges, and compensation practices in the water utility industry. This year, 1,010 organizations participated, supplying data for 16,845 employees. Four pages of data observations, in tabular form, are provided for each of 45 jobs. The report summarizes salary data for all participants, and breaks down data according to water only and water and wastewater participants. Further breakouts in each of these categories are provided by ownership/management type, population size served, average gallons managed, total employment, and all participants by AWWA section. A summary of pay practices, a list of job descriptions, and a list of participants are included. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Coliforms in distribution systems; integrated disinfection and antimicrobial resistance.
Gagnon et al. (civil and resource engineering, Dalhousie U., Nova Scotia, and Centre for Research on Environmental Microbiology, U. of Ottawa, Canada) provide the results of a two-year study sponsored by the Awwa Research Foundation that examined the effects of UV and chemical disinfectants on E. coli spiked into mixed species biofilm and the observed effects through the use of advanced molecular techniques. It analyzed the antibiotic resistance of any coliforms surviving low concentrations of disinfectant and the composition of the naturally-formed bacteria present. The study provides an overview of biofilm formation and composition, coliform occurrence and associated health significance, disinfection strategies, and the microbial stress response to stressors in drinking water. This is followed by a discussion of the impact of disinfection schemes and pipe material and disinfectant residual and upstream UV treatment on effluent and biofilm E. coli from surface and groundwater sources. No index is included. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Guidelines to minimize downtime during pipe lining operations.
Pipe lining is a common renewal method employed by water utilities. In this study, Rockaway (civil and environmental engineering, U. of Louisville) and Ball (Infrastructure Renewal Services, LLC) outline best practices for minimizing downtime associated with pipe lining operations — downtime being defined as either lack of water service, reliance on temporary service, restricted service, or service by less secure networks — as culled from published literature, utility case studies, and manufacturer brochures. They present checklists for optimizing specific pipe lining operations that are accompanied by commentaries that discuss each checklist item and present reasoning and alternative procedures where practical. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Methods for real-time measurement of THMs and HAAs in distribution systems; part 2.
Researchers at the University of Memphis evaluate chemical analyzers and associated analytical methods for on-line monitoring of trihalomethane (THM) and haloacetic acid (HAA) concentrations in drinking water. The THM detection methods were: on-line monitoring purge and trap gas chromatography (OPTGC), capillary membrane sampling gas chromatography (CMS-GC), and capillary membrane sampling flow injection analysis (CMS-FIA). The approaches explored for monitoring HAAs were: ion chromatography with membrane suppressed conductivity detection (IC-MSCD), post column ion chromatography (PC-IC), and CMS-FIA. The analytical methods with most promise were then compared to EPA methods in side-by-side studies. The appendices provide material supply lists and instructions for assembling three of the instruments. No index is provided. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Public perception of tap water chlorinous flavor. (CD-ROM included)
Mackey et al., who are engineers and environmental consultants from the US and France, provide a study sponsored by the Awwa Research Foundation that examines the public's perception of tap water chlorinous flavor and odor. Its aims are to measure consumer satisfaction with tap water quality, investigate demographic trends, identify factors that cause consumers to purchase bottled water and point-of-use and point-of-entry devices, consider whether these factors are real or falsely perceived, and list recommendations for water utilities to improve consumer satisfaction. This was achieved through summarizing existing literature, surveying perceptions demographically and geographically on national and international scales, and conducting one-on-one surveys and panels. The CD-ROM contains three appendices, which are data summaries of chlorinous flavor sensitivity tests and the description of chlorinous flavors, and a summary of survey response data. There is no index. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
