Sewage Treatment Plants – Bug Farms and their Farmers
A colleague recently conveyed a conversation he’d had with an operator at a sewage treatment plant. Society tends to have an unfounded stigma of sewage treatment plants, so to soften the blow when asked what he does for a living, the operator replied “I’m a farmer; a bug farmer”. My personal interaction with operators… Read More
Why won’t total microbial content decrease after UV treatment?
UV treatment only recently became widely adopted in the water and wastewater treatment industries but the benefits of sun exposure for water purification have been acknowledged for thousands of years. Ancient Sanskrit and Greek writings dating as far back as 4,000 B.C. identify exposure to sunlight as one of the recommended water treatment methods… Read More
Using ATP to Identify Sludge Bulking – What is the benefit?
Sludge bulking is a severe problem that can plague activated sludge wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). It has been estimated that 60% of activated sludge WWTP in the USA experience continuous or intermittent sludge bulking. This is concerning as sludge bulking results in poor settling in the secondary clarifier which can cause solids washouts. The… Read More
How did Israel and Saudi Arabia survive one of the driest periods in the last 1000 years?
The Levant region along the Eastern Mediterranean, just north of the Arabian desert, is no stranger to drought and water resource shortages. Summers are typically dry with minimal rainfall and rainy seasons only bring three to four days of rain at a time alternating with dry spells lasting from four to fifteen days. The… Read More
The Future of Biotechnology: Microbots and Customized Biological Circuits
While the world is just starting to realize the widespread abundance of microorganisms (they are quite literally everywhere) and their role in various diseases and illnesses, researchers are already designing tiny microbots that will help fight the battle against pathogens and other contaminants. We’re all aware of the risks that contaminated drinking water poses… Read More
Fighting the BC wildfires
For many countries in the northern hemisphere, summertime is wildfire season. If you live in Canada, and you’ve been watching the news coming out of the British Columbia (BC) interior since mid-June, you know that a dangerous combination of wind, low humidity and lightning has started hundreds of fires that have burned huge swaths… Read More
Hello, LuminUltra’s new office space
From editor: The amoebas are getting comfortable in the new office space and enjoying the views of Fredericton. Take a look. Gigantic Amoeba is preparing his meeting from outside of the new boardroom ↓ Gigantic Amoeba is admiring the view of the St. John river ↓
Going hiking? How effective are water purification tablets?
For those who enjoy hiking and camping, there is little that compares to stumbling across a beautiful view of the water. Whether it’s a crystal-clear river or stream, a sprawling lake or bustling waterfall, it’s often the preferred place to take a break and enjoy the scenery. Avid backcountry hikers and those who enjoy… Read More
Study finds industrial water needs to be used more efficiently
An interesting report came out recently from financial analysis firm, Barclays. Along with the Columbia Water Center (CWC), the company was looking at the future of industrial water usage in the United States. Specifically, how large-scale water users can impact potential water scarcity through improved water efficiency practices. The report concluded that $1 trillion… Read More
Harmful Algal Blooms – What’s in your drinking water intake?
From editor: Due to increased pollution and climate change, harmful algal blooms are increasing in frequency. Read on to find out why they are harmful and how you can detect them so you can protect your drinking water system. In August 2014, the city of Toledo, Ohio informed its residents (~500,000 people) that they… Read More