Ozone acts as an oxidizer, much like chlorine or bromine, improving system turbidity and removing bio-slime. When coming into direct contact with bacteria, it oxidizes the organic material in bacterial membranes, which weakens the cell wall and leads to cellular rupture. This exposes the organism to the external environment, which causes almost immediate death, keeping your system clear of biological fouling. Ozone also functions as a micro flocculating agent to “polish” the water and improve clarity. Ozone treated water will maintain better heat transfer efficiencies through reduced biological fouling and increased water clarity.

Ozone cannot be stored or transported like other industrial gases because it quickly decays into diatomic oxygen and should be produced on site. Because ozone is a short-lived gas molecule that is formed when oxygen reacts with other oxygen molecules to form 3 parts oxygen (O3). This reaction requires energy. Ozone Generators form ozone by passing dry, clean air through a high voltage electric discharge, i.e., corona discharge, creating ozone at a concentration of approximately 1%. Corona discharge method is the most common type of ozone generation; these units usually work by means of a corona discharge tube. They are typically cost-effective and do not require an oxygen source other than the ambient air to produce ozone.

Temperature and humidity plays a large role in how much ozone is being produced. The dominating parameter influencing ozone generation efficiency is the gas temperature, which is controlled by cooling water temperature and/or gas velocity. The cooler the water, the better the ozone synthesis. The lower the gas velocity, the higher the concentration, but the lower the net ozone produced. In typical industrial conditions, almost 90% of the effective power is dissipated as heat and needs to be removed by a sufficient cooling water flow.

Since ozone is generated at and injected directly into the water stream, there are no containers of hazardous biocide that can leak, spill or otherwise endanger employee safety. The oxidation power of ozone is actually greater than chlorine (bleach). While ozone does not remove all minerals or particles, it is extremely effective at containing and eliminating costly micro-biological growth, killing bacteria on contact 3100 times faster than chlorine. Ozone’s short reaction time also makes it environmentally friendly. Very little residual is maintained within the cooling tower or condenser since the short lived reaction takes place immediately after injection into the water stream. This allows for a cleaner and more environmentally friendly discharge to the environment as well as an easier path to compliance with discharge permitting.

While ozone can be a benefit to many systems, it is not the best option for all systems. A plant footprint is needed for equipment and ozone is not ideal for high load or high stress systems. Make sure to check with your water treatment representative regarding whether or not ozone is a viable option for your system.

This electron micrograph depicts an amoeba as it entraps a Legionella Pneumophila bacterium (green) with an extended pseudopod. Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Dr. Barry S Fields.

Las Vegas – Health officials in Las Vegas said Monday that the bacteria that causes Legionnaire’s disease was found in water samples at the Luxor hotel-casino this month after a guest died of pneumonia – Read the entire story here.

Legionnaires’ disease is dangerous and has the potential to be fatal. Make sure that you understand the risks, and more importantly, have testing and a plan in place to protect your facility and your staff. This article discusses what Legionnaires’ disease is, the types of people that are at highest risk as well how to manage Legionella using new ASHRAE Standard 188.

Since the time Legionnaires’ disease was first encountered by US health agencies over 24 years ago, this disease has continued to be in the forefront as a control issue for water treatment companies worldwide. Legionella are rod-shaped, gram negative aerobic organisms that are widespread and commonly present in both natural and man-made aquatic environments.

Legionellosis is the term used for infections caused by the inhalation of airborne water droplets containing Legionella pneumophila bacteria, which are small enough to pass deep into the lungs. While there are over 40 identified species of Legionella bacteria, there are two clinical forms of Legionella: Legionnaires’ disease and Pontiac Fever. 

Legionnaires’ disease (LD) is a severe non communicable respiratory infection that can lead to serious complications. Although Legionnaires ’ disease can be fatal, it can be successfully treated with antibiotics if diagnosed early enough. Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease resemble other bacterial pneumonias, making diagnosis and treatment difficult. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that between 8,000 and 18,000 cases occur each year with a fatality rate estimated at 10%; although for high risk people the fatality rate can be much higher.

Population At Most Risk to Contract Legionellosis

Most healthy people are resistant to infections caused by the Legionella bacteria; however, some people naturally have a lower resistance to disease and would be at high risk for infection. The following factors result in a greater risk for contracting Legionnaires’ disease:

• Age (elderly people are more susceptible)
• Heavy smokers
• Individuals with weakened immune systems
• Individual with respiratory disease, diabetes, asthma, cancer etc
• Certain drug therapies (or other immunosuppressive therapies)
• Organ Transplant patients
• People exposed to high levels of Legionella bacteria

Legionella travels to the host in a small aerosolized droplet that can travel and still be infectious at 500 meters (1500 feet). Relative humidity of 65% or greater can also facilitate aerosol to be further projected over a large area.

Where Legionella Proliferate:

The proliferation of Legionella occurs when concentrations of the organism grow in warm water sources that produce aerosols. Legionella proliferate in aerosolized water systems where the temperature ranges between 68-122 degrees Fahrenheit with pH values between 5.0-9.0.   Legionella do not do well in most environments but tend to be protozoontic (infect and live within protozoa) or thrive in biofilms.   Biofilms can render microbiocides less effective as many biocides do not have the ability to penetrate the biofilms.  The presence of any type of sludge, algae, or organic compounds in a water system can also promote Legionella growth.

Areas that provide the greatest Legionella growth and transmission through aerosols are as follows:

• Stagnant Waters
• Cooling Towers
• Decorative Fountains
• Domestic Hot Water Systems
• Evaporative Condensers
• Faucets and Showerheads
• Humidifiers/Foggers
• Portable Cooling Units
• Reservoir misters that are used in a variety of applications
• Spas and Whirlpools

How to Manage Legionella

Legionella bacteria are pervasive and proliferate in many water sources. Therefore in many cases the organism cannot be fully eradicated.  Based on published studies, most systems have a 50-60 percent chance of testing positive.  Prior to testing, a Risk Management Plan must be in place to react to positive counts.  If the system tests positive, measures to eliminate the organisms must be implemented as outlined in the established internal Risk Management Plan to reduce the potential for growth, dissemination and transmission of the organisms.  

There are a number of guidelines readily available to develop a Legionella Risk Management Plan.  This plan should be site and system specific. 

ASHRAE has published the most recent guidelines, for full public review, to the management of Legionella in commercial building and healthcare facilities.  ASHRAE Standard 188’s purpose is to provide human occupied buildings standard methods of risk management to prevent legionellosis associated with water systems within the facilities.

The first phase of the standard is to determine the building(s) risk characterization (risk associated to a particular water system(s) within the building).  Once the risk characterization is established, requirements are outlined to reduce the risk of legionellosis.  Most commercial buildings and all healthcare facilities will require preventative measures based on the risk characterization guidelines.

The preventative measures require a water treatment and management program that meets or exceeds the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) method.

HACCP was developed for production process monitoring during World War II as a method to identify artillery shells that would not explode.  HACCP was again used in the 1960s when NASA asked Pillsbury to develop the first foods for space flights. Since then, HACCP has been recognized internationally as a methodology to analyze and control biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production and handling, to manufacturing, distribution and consumption of food, dairy and juice products.  HACCP, while widely used in food production has expanded to other industries such as cosmetics and Pharmaceuticals.

For ASHRAE Standard 188, HACCP (or equivalent) plan includes a team of individuals that understand HACCP and the building water systems.   Their task is to:

1. Identify all potable and non-potable water sources in the facility

2. Develop process flow diagrams of all water systems

3. Identify and establish Critical Control Points ( CCPs)

4. Develop corrective actions when there are deviations from the CCPs.

The responsibility to establish the team and develop the plan rests with the facility. ASHRAE Standard 188 provides a great deal of information to guide the team in evaluating and providing corrective actions on the critical control points identified with each water system.   This process is very detailed but needed to minimize the risk of Legionellosis.

To find out more information about ASHRAE Standard 188, visit the AHRAE website at www.ashrae.org.

Reverse osmosis (RO) systems behave similar to a boiler or a cooling tower in that they cause the dissolved salts in their makeup water to become more concentrated.  As pure water permeates the RO membrane, the salts are left behind in a concentrated stream.  If the solubility of any particular salt is exceeded, the potential exists that the salt will form scale directly on the membrane surface or possibly within the flow channels through the membrane element.

This scale formation will occur first in the tail end of the RO system, within the last elements through which the water flows before exiting the system in its concentrate stream.  The scale will cause the RO system to require increased pressure to achieve the same permeate flow rate, and the permeate conductivity may increase in the tail end of the system.  Restoring performance will require cleaning with an acidic solution, although membrane cleaning is only going to be effective with certain types of scale.  It is unlikely to be fully effective with silica scale, or with most of the sulfate salts.  If cleaning cannot restore performance, membrane replacement becomes the only option for restoring the lost RO performance.

For most water sources, preventing scale formation is not a necessarily difficult challenge.  It can usually be accomplished by applying one or more of the following three options to the RO feed stream:

1.      Acid injection

2.      Water softening

3.      Injection of a scale inhibitor

The specific requirements for the water source can be predicted using US Water’s Scale Inhibitor Projection Program (SIPP), which takes into account the particular makeup of the water source, the water temperature and pH, and the salt concentration factor relative to the desired permeate recovery of the RO system.  The right method will often depend on the priorities of the application.

Acid injection is effective at preventing calcium carbonate scale, but it is only marginally effective at preventing sulfate or silica scale.  A major disadvantage of acid injection for many applications is it results in the formation of carbon dioxide that will readily permeate the RO membrane.  It may then pose a removal burden for downstream ion exchange or deaeration equipment.

Lime softening will reduce the water hardness, alkalinity, and dissolved silica to a point that an RO unit might be able to operate at a low permeate recovery with reduced potential for scale formation.  However, increased permeate recovery that takes full advantage of the RO feed pressure and minimizes water waste will require that the water hardness be reduced to a much greater extent.  This then would require zeolite softening of the RO feed water, which uses a strong-acid cation exchange resin that is regenerated using sodium chloride.  An advantage of this approach is it enables caustic (sodium hydroxide) to be injected upstream of the RO system to raise its feed water pH, which will result in increased removal of alkalinity, dissolved silica, and boron.  Operation at elevated pH will also reduce the potential for the formation of silica scale.

The most cost effective method for preventing scale formation (where applicable) is injecting a scale inhibitor.  Using similar chemistry to the antiscalants used in boilers and cooling towers, the formation of scale crystals can be slowed sufficiently to allow those crystals to exit the RO system in its concentrate stream.  In this manner, saturation points may be safely exceeded for calcium carbonate and sulfate salts as long as the RO system is operating.  When the RO unit shuts down, it is critical that the system be flushed of supersaturated salts using permeate water, or by allowing low pressure feed water to displace the water held up within the system.

Some of the scale inhibition products used in the early years of the RO industry consisted of a single polymer that tended to lose its solubility when injected into certain water sources, such as ones that contained iron.  This would result in heavy fouling of RO prefilter cartridges, as well as of the membrane elements.

Products such as US Water’s RO 503 and 504 are blend products that contain both polymers and phosphonates.  They work synergistically to improve their solubilities, while providing superior prevention against scale formation.  In fact, they will also assist in keeping iron in suspension to reduce its potential for fouling the RO system.  The appropriate dosage can be determined using the SIPP program.

With the correct application of the chosen scale prevention method, most RO systems should never have to experience scale formation.

Want to Read More about Reverse Osmosis Systems? Check out:
Reverse Osmosis (RO) Best Practices & Standards

Reverse Osmosis: A Practical Guide for Industrial Users written by Wes Byrne

1: Take Initiatives That Make Sense For Your Business Model
There are literally thousands of charities and non-profits globally. All of them do wonderful things and promote assistance for great causes; but it simply isn’t realistic for a company to participate in every single one. Determine the objectives and goals that are important to your organization and find the charities/non-profits that best align with those goals and objectives. U.S. Water Services is an industrial water management company focusing on engineering, servicing and building water management systems. While we are not a drinking water company, when it comes to charities, we try to align ourselves with organizations that provide water services. These organizations, listed as examples, can include Charity: Water, Water For People, Engineers Without Borders or Water Charity just to name a few.

2: Be Creative When Finding Solutions
Economics isn’t always about money. It’s about the value we place on things, including time and tangible products. For some this can include donating your time and service as a corporation – through actual service hours, or promoting food, clothing or other similar drives in the workplace to raise tangible items for organizations etc. For others, this could also mean partnering with organizations to align services that help them achieve their, and your, end goal. For example, US Water Services recently assisted a relief project in Haiti after the earthquake providing clean water through the donation of a modified reverse osmosis system; an item that aligned with our business model while helping to achieve the end goal of providing clean water.  See our article on providing an RO for Haiti for more information.

2: Create Shared Value
The latest movement in social responsibility is the idea of creating shared value, first introduced by the Harvard Business Review. Shared value involves creating economic value through addressing societal needs and challenges and the creation of social value. It is the integration between understanding what society needs and aligning it with corporate performance. One example is the role of a company as a corporate citizen. It’s an investment in the corporate performance in targeted areas that assist in providing jobs, safety, and security to those in need. This can also be done by partnering with micro-lending providers so people in the developing world may be able to take up their own business ventures. For others still, this could mean developing products that combat various nutrient-deficiencies at little or no cost to those who need the product. The list of opportunities to create shared value is endless.

3: Take Initiatives That Can Provide A Return
There have been numerous discussion both for and against the actual return on investment for corporations in regards to social responsibility. Advocates of CSR have been using “the business case” to explain how it will increase competitiveness, save money, and help recruit/retain employees. While these factors continue to be true, others have said that CSR just doesn’t make much business sense if these activities do not have a good return on investment, distracting from their primary economic role as businesses . Even as recently as 2008, Forbes.com published an article that argued CSR has no effect on a company’s success or failure.  So CSR is appealing (who doesn’t want to do the right thing when given the chance?), but just not producing a good return on investment monetarily. This all depends on how you view return on investment.

Today, both companies and consumers are pointing out that “the business case” is beside the point. The regular return on investment is important to any business strategy, but what about the other ROI? Return on integrity is emerging as a new way to measure CSR performance, based on employee loyalty and consumer trust. When analyzing monetary return on investment, often times corporations have to wait for the return on long-term investments when the money, time and resources could be used on something with a short-term return. This essentially all comes down to how you view your return on investment and your corporate objectives. Are you doing it for monetary return and business model or good will and because it’s important for your corporation to give something back? There is nothing wrong with either road, it’s just important for your corporation to understand what it is trying to get out of being a socially responsible company. For instance, US Water Services recently raised funds for the Wounded Warrior Project at a nationwide trade show. While this did not provide any impact or monetary return in investment to our corporation’s investment in the project, it was important to our corporation because of the number of active and veteran military personnel we employ.

4: Look To Your Community
There are numerous opportunities to give back worldwide; but for many it remains important to give back to their local community and be seen as a valued member. One such project is Patriot Renewable Fuels, which in 2010 implemented a zero liquid discharge project at their ethanol facility to better assist their community by being mindful of their environmental impact on the surrounding area. Valero Corporation holds a Benefit for Children annually, which US Water Services is proud to support. This year, the event raised $9 million which is then distributed to the various nationwide plants for local distribution to youth organizations. Char Kahler of the Fairmont Area Kinship said of the $7,000 donation made by the Valero Welcome plant, “How much they put into the community and their focus on youth will pay off in magnitude for years to come.” Read more about the Valero contribution here.

In the 21^st century, where people and businesses are continually becoming more connected and in more ways, CSR brings a new relevancy. Corporations have a responsibility to give back; but the manner in which that is perceived is evolving to more than just financial compensation. It involves integration into an actual business strategy. Regardless of why or who you give back to, the important thing is to determine the objectives for social responsibility, define the end goals and as a corporation, find out what methods and distribution works best for your organization.

There are many technological solutions available to help ethanol plants achieve zero liquid discharge (ZLD). Traditional ZLD systems use brine concentrators and evaporators for the undesired, salt-laden cooling tower (CT) blowdown and reverse osmosis (RO) concentrate which is evaporated and the solids are hauled off site to solid waste handling facilities. Some permits allow discharging of CT blowdown and RO concentrate in the nearest flowing river or stream.

U.S. Water Services has designed ZLD systems at more than a dozen ethanol plants in the U.S., trademarking its integrated system iZLD. Some implemented ZLD during initial construction; others transitioned an existing facility to ZLD or sought to optimize an existing ZLD. The facilities analyzed in this article demonstrate CT blowdown and RO concentrate can be successfully integrated into the ethanol facility process while maintaining process water quality compatible with biological processes, cooling tower assurance and coproduct quality. On-going monitoring, however, becomes extremely important because a poor trend, such as high chlorides or biological fouling, can take months to correct, even leading to plant shutdown.

Many ethanol facilities are required to have a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for industrial non-contract water discharge. The renewal process typically occurs every five years allows the regulatory agencies to review and update permit limits and/or provide additional protection for degraded or sensitive surface water resources. In many instances, these renewals result in new discharge limits that facilities cannot achieve without retrofits. As soon as a facility has a discharge limit that is more stringent than a contaminant parameter level in the in-coming water, ZLD becomes a very viable alternative. For example, if a facility receives a conductivity limit of 1500 µmhos/cm (micromhos per centimeter) for their water discharge permit, and the conductivity of the incoming water is the same value, discharge no longer benefits the overall water balance for a facility.

Typically, water is obtained from on-site wells, surface waters or municipalities. Water leaves the facility through evaporation, in the distillers grain, discharged wastewater streams or liquid or solid waste hauled off-site or pumped to evaporation ponds. If regulations require the discharge to be as good as, or better than, incoming water, re-use of the water simply makes more sense than using more raw water and continuing to discharge under a restrictive and burdensome discharge permit.

Quality Parameters

Looking at a few important water quality parameters, such as conductivity, sulfate and chloride, reveals general trends and suggests what process changes may be necessary to implement an iZLD™ scenario at a new or existing facility. Table 1 shows the average across 10 ethanol plants for water quality and performance parameters for discharge water, as well as projected iZLD™ performance and actual results. The 10 dry mill corn-ethanol plants analyzed produce between 50 and 120 MMgy. Table 2 shows the range in raw water quality at the 10 plants.

Table 1.

NA – not applicable or not available

Table 2. 

Ranges for Raw Water Quality Parameters

The iZLD™ systems utilized by these 10 plants improved chloride levels in the process water as shown in Table 1. The summary data shows that chloride-contributing chemicals, such as hydrochloric acid or chloride-containing biocides like bleach, were replaced or eliminated. If chloride is allowed to cycle up, corrosion in the plant process equipment and piping will likely result.

Table 1 also shows the iZLD™ operations tended to concentrate sulfate levels in process water when compared to operating with discharge. Unlike chloride, sulfur cannot be readily reduced or eliminated. Therefore, control and management of sulfate levels becomes more significant. Encouragingly, increased sulfate levels in water does not result in a significant increase in the sulfur content of DDGS, indicated by the sulfur levels for DDGS in Table 1 that averaged a projected value of 0.06 percent.

The average conductivity levels in the 10 plants also show a concentrating trend once iZLD™ is applied, requiring ion-specific, plant-by-plant review to determine where and how much the concentration of conductivity-contributing ion levels can be tolerated, as well as the chemistry controls required.  The problematic ions can include sodium, silica and hardness, which can increase fouling or corrosion.

In addition to water quality issues, changes to air quality must be considered when planning ZLD systems. The levels of collective total dissolved solids (TDS) are often limited for the cooling tower exhaust, commonly stated as drift loss. Evaporated solids from the cooling tower are particulate emissions generally subject to regulation, and any increase due to ZLD may require modification to a facility air permit.

Plant Conversion

Once regulatory requirements are completed, including any needed permits, equipment installation or modifications can begin. In virtually every instance of iZLD™ installation reviewed here, it makes technical and economical sense to replace sulfuric and hydrochloric acid with plant-generated CO₂ for recarbonation (pH adjustment) of the treated plant water.

The conversion to an iZLD™ begins with integration of the two primary wastewater streams, beginning with cooling tower water. Once the CT blowdown is integrated and observations of ion cycling in the water system at all stages stabilize, RO concentrate is introduced. Integration is typically complete in one or two weeks, depending upon site-specific issues. Subsequent water testing, both onsite and with samples sent offsite for more detailed lab analysis, monitors plant operation. Water specifications monitored include cooling tower makeup, boiler water makeup, and most importantly, process water used in fermentation.

While the 10 facilities reviewed using CLS iZLD™have achieved satisfactory performance, there are examples where other ZLD systems are needed. One iZLD™ facility with an evaporator/crystallizer and storage pond was reviewed, and its water quality parameters given in Table 3. The raw water quality is very challenging in this example, showing a clear advantage to using an evaporator/crystallizer and brine storage pond to handle the high salts. While there was some cycling up of the key water quality parameters, concentrations of conductivity, sulfate and chloride did not reach the levels demonstrated for the averaged iZLD™ facilities. In addition, relatively good water usage performance was achieved at 2.81 gallons of water/gallon of ethanol produced and the projected versus actual results were fairly consistent.

Table 3. 

Example of a ZLD facility with evaporator/crystallizer and storage pond

Total Water Savings

Facility water use efficiency performance was an average of 4.3 gallons of water/gallon of ethanol produced for all the facilities reviewed prior to ZLD implementation. The projected, worst-case water use after going to ZLD was an average of 3.1 gallons of water per gallon of ethanol produced, or close to 1 billion gallons of water per year on the combined 800 MMgy ethanol production of all plants reviewed here. The actual performance was closer to 2 billion gallons of water saved per year. The large difference between projected and actual performance for water use per gallon of ethanol occurs often, primarily because the projections are done on a worst-case water balance, raw water quality and supply information. Many facilities were able to optimize in-coming water among multiple wells, municipal supply, and/or graywater and stormwater, both onsite and offsite. The relatively soft water properties of storm water can be very favorable to any ZLD operating scenario, especially if a facility already has a pond for containment and control of storm-water.

While projections for water use per gallon of ethanol differ greatly from actual performance, this review of the conductivity, sulfate and chloride levels for the plants analyzed demonstrates good agreement between projected and actual results. Based on these results, facilities contemplating an iZLD™ system can predict the likely operating differences with some level of confidence.

The financial and environmental liability benefits of not discharging can be significant. Monitoring, testing and reporting of discharges for permit compliance have become much more costly in recent years. Requirements for whole effluent toxicity (WET) testing, for example, can greatly increase costs. Many facilities have, and are considering, voluntary ZLD conversion, which can permit optional discharge of non-process water and storm-water. If no discharge occurs, reporting can be as simple as stating “no discharge” in monthly NPDES discharge monitoring reports. No sampling and analysis costs would be required, and no potential discharge permit violations would occur.

Each facility location will have unique advantages and disadvantages that require a customized engineering approach to optimally design an iZLD™ system that accounts for local water quality and quantity, as well as process and operational variations in the on-going effort to conserve water usage.

 Author: Todd Potas

Biofuels Business Leader, U.S. Water Services

tpotas@uswaterservices.com

Check Out Our Integrated Zero Liquid Discharge System Capabilities on YouTube:

Integrated Zero Liquid Discharge Featuring Cold Lime Softening

Integrated Zero Liquid Discharge Featuring Evaporation/Crystallization

Integrated Zero Liquid Discharge Featuring Evaporation Ponds

In many cases, the water and environmental issues in shale gas production create huge barriers to the successful use and extraction of these critical and valuable resources.  Foreign oil from hostile countries continues to plague American safety and economics. US Water Energy Services believes that home grown oil and gas that can be removed in an environmentally safe and sustainable manner, and is a big part of the solution to our US Energy needs.

As we have done in other industries, where water had become a major stumbling block to industry advancement, U.S. Water Energy Services can lead significant water reduction and reuse in natural gas production as well.  U.S. Water Services, its subsidiary Wellons Water and its valued partner, Resource Methods, has extensive experience in the oil and gas industry, down hole treatments, water reuse and water remediation.  With the formation of this group, U.S. Water Energy Services will take the lead providing a total water management approach that focuses on water reuse, treatment and green extraction of oil and gas.

Cover of Time Magazine's Article, Could Shale Gas Power the World?

In a recent Time article Could Shale Gas Power the World, author Bryan Walsh states:

“Until recently, natural gas was the forgotten stepsister of fuels. It provides about a quarter of US electricity and heats over 60 million American homes, but it’s always been limited – more expensive than dirty coal, dirtier than nuclear or renewables…Natural gas is up now – way up – and it’s changing how we think about energy throughout the world. If its boosters are to be believed, gas will change geopolitics, trimming the power of states in the troubled Middle East by reducing the demand for their oil; save the lives of thousands of people who would otherwise die from mining coal or breathing its filthy residue; and make it a little easier to handle the challenges of climate change – all thanks to vast new onshore deposits of what is called shale gas.

“Companies have been able to tap enormous quantities of gas from shale, leading to rock-bottom prices for natural gas even as oil soars. In a single year, the usually sober U.S. Energy Information Administration more than doubled its estimates of recoverable domestic shale-gas resources to 827 trillion cu.ft. (23 trillion cu m), more than 34 times the amount of gas the U.S. uses in a year. Together with supplies from conventional gas sources, the U.S. may now have enough gas to last a century at current consumption rates.”

“With shale formations capable of sustaining the US for more than the next 100 years, it was critical that US Water Services’ contribute our expertise to aid in the successful use of our homeland natural resources; which is why we developed US Water Energy Services.” says Allan Bly,  CEO of US Water Services, Inc.

Trial of other corn oil extraction products in the ethanol market compared to US Water Services COR(TM) corn oil extraction product demonstrating increased results.

COR^TM is an enhancement additive designed to increase the removal of corn oil from mechanical separation systems at dry-mill ethanol plants from US Water Services (USWS) Ethanol Process Technologies (EPT) team.  The product will benefit all ethanol facilities that have existing corn oil separation equipment, or are contemplating corn oil separation equipment in the near future.  We have out-performed all other corn oil extraction additives in head-to-head trials to date.

The COR^TM (corn oil recovery) package is designed to provide the customer with the confidence that oil recovery will be optimized and enhanced with a complete process approach.  Oil removal enhancement without any adverse product or process affects tailored to the specific equipment and conditions of each facility.  The US Water Ethanol Process Technologies (EPT) team has developed a suite of products that have been bench tested and trialed to address the needs of the ethanol industry.  The products are GRAS (generally recognized as safe under sections 201(s) and 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) approved.  Perhaps you have already seen or heard of the USWS COR^TM additive success.  USWS provides the pump skids and initial additive to try the product.

US Water Services has developed a consistently reproducible, field test procedure that has been effective across the country with multiple team members at multiple facilities.  Depending on the effectiveness or struggles you may be having with stand-alone mechanical separation, COR^TM can result in 25 to 100% more oil recovered, potentially at milder process conditions, if desired.  Use of the additive has also resulted in longer operation between cleaning as well as softer deposits that are easier to remove.

Better Results Direct To Your Bottom Line

Lower Dosage Rates Yield More Corn Oil Extraction

A facility was producing 0.5 lbs/bushel oil extraction without an additive. They were skeptical at the economic payoff of an additive when they were already doing so well without one. Other additive providers were also reluctant to trial due to the success of the plant prior to implementing the additive as well. US Water Services introduced COR™ corn oil recovery and after the optimized addition of the additive, corn oil extraction was increased to 0.65 lbs/Bu, with a notable reduction in solids.  Even in this case of modest removal, the performance compared to cost of the additive resulted in significantly increased profits for the plant.

Twice the Yield, Half the Cost

A facility was producing corn oil at a satisfactory rate of approximately 0.4 lbs/bushel while using a non-USWS additive.  The facility granted US Water Services a no-obligation trial resulting in increased oil removal at nearly half the additive dosage.  Quality of the oil recovered was similar.  These type of results have been duplicated using the COR™ product with similar results at over 20 facilities.

Interested in learning more about what US Water Services can provide to your ethanol plant? Come visit us at the 2011 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop at Booth #919 or contact us directly at 1-866-663-7632.

Wounded Warrior Project

Wounded Warrior Project is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members providing unique programs and services. One such service is to Welcome Warrior to Work. Their work program assists warriors with the transition back into civilian workforce offering employment assistance services, resume assistance, interviewing skills, job training, networking and job placement assistance. Wounded Warrior Project also offers a variety of counseling services for both soldiers and family members. You may donate to this organization, or view their website for additional details and services.

Proud To Do Our Part

Through years of training and real world experience both stateside and abroad, military service forges leaders dedicated to peak performance, success and acting with integrity at all times.  It is these same qualities which are difficult to obtain, and highly sought after in the private sector. As a result, US Water Services is proud to have a significant portion of our employee population as veterans from all branches of service, both those who have served and those who continue to serve in various capacities in the Guard and Reserves.

At US Water Services we both recognize and seek out these skills in candidates we pursue for employment, offering excellent benefit packages and competitive salaries.  Our mission, vision and value statements speak to our commitment to excellence.

Further more, our core values are more than just words on paper, they are a way of life and the foundation of who we are as a company and the type of people we strive to have represent US Water Services; but don’t take our word for it, read some of our veteran statements, or request more information about US Water Services

__________________________________________________________________________

Colonel Bob “Nunndog” Nunnally, USAF (ret)
Leadership and Executive Coach
Wingman Enterprises, Inc.

The transition from military service to civilian employment can be stressful to say the least. Most of us are looking for the right “fit” but may or may not be able to express what that really means. I meet hundreds of companies and thousands of employees each year and the Team at US Water Services is a place I know is a fit. In the military we learn to live the principles of Commitment, Preparation, Trust and Courage. US Water Services lives those principles too. USWS is a supportive family where the skills you developed and the values you embrace are respected and rewarded. I can’t imagine a better fit in life.

Dennis T. Davis, Manager of Talent Acquisition, US Water Services
Captain, USAFR, 2003 – present
Enlisted, USN, 1991 – 1994

At US Water Services I am able to continue serving others with integrity while being encouraged to pursue excellence in all I do.  The values I have learned over the years don’t end when I take my uniform off and go to work rather they are enhanced and contribute to the success of our entire organization.  US Water values what I and others who have served in the military bring to the organization in leadership and performance, more than 20% of our workforce are current of former military members.  I am proud to call myself a member of the US Water Services family.

Rich Cook, Strategic Business Leader, US Water Services
Certified Water Technologist (CWT)
Captain, USA, 1983 – 1990
US Military Academy – 1983

I am a long time employee of US Water Services, I came here and have stayed because US Water offered me the opportunity to grow and develop as a professional.  US Water Services has provided me with the ideal environment to use and develop the leadership skills that I learned at West Point and in the Army.   At US Water Services, we believe salesmanship is a leadership activity and can be learned and developed to the benefit of our employees and our customers.  Since being here I have given tremendous value to my customers by demonstrating our clear commitment to ethical values and selling services I can be proud of.   This is a great place to build a career.

Rob Marino, VP Manufacturing & Logistics, US Water Services
Lieutenant, USCG, 1993 – 1996
US Coast Guard Academy – 1993

US Water Services is a fast paced, dynamic company which appreciates the life and leadership skills prior military personnel possess.  I believe my military training helped prepare me for the exciting challenges found in this type of high growth environment.  We work hard and are rewarded for results, not time in grade.  US Water Services is a great place for your new career.

Glen A Heikkinen, Regional Manager, US Water Services
Lt Commander, USNR, 1974 – 1989

As a retired Naval Officer my training in managing people, solving problems, running large departments and working on high pressure boiler systems has translated into a very successful 30 year sales career in the water treatment industry.  At US Water Services I’ve had the opportunity to help others solve problems by bringing more sustainable solutions to the table.  Every employee is encouraged to think creatively and take on challenges with no fear of failure but a desire to succeed.  A sales career is the most challenging career one can take but is often times one of the most rewarding.  If you have a strong work ethic and high competitive drive, sales is right for you!  Come join a winning team in US Water Services!

Alan R. Carter, Sales Representative, US Water Services
MK2, USCGR, 2004 – present
USNR, 1998 – 2001; USN, 1994 – 1998

Having served in both active duty and reserve capacities in the US Navy, I had my first experience in water treatment while working with boilers on board my ship, USS Princeton CG-59.  I continued in the industry after leaving the Navy.  Using my military training and skills I made quick work of understanding cooling towers and boiler systems.  I returned to service in the US Coast Guard Reserves and continue to build my military experience in water treatment.  Joining USWS in 2009 I was able to quickly apply my skills learned both in the military and my early years in the water treatment industry.  I enjoy the new challenges I encounter; even after all these years there is still so much to learn and USWS has provided me that opportunity.  I continue to gain valuable industry experience through the military with service in support of the BP oil spill containment efforts.  I am proud of my service to our country and appreciate the support USWS has provided me.

Don Turner, Account Manager, US Water Services
Firefighter, USAF, 1995-1998

While serving in the US Air Force I learned what team work really meant.  As a Firefighter, we had to trust and rely on our co-workers; our very lives depended on it.  Here at US Water, while our lives don’t depend on our co-workers, our futures do.  This company has built a staff of dedicated, hard working and honest personnel who work well together and respect the hard work of others.  I am proud to be a part of this team and am grateful I have a great career at US Water Services.

“It was about 10 months ago when St. Michael’s Economic Development Authority heard the city’s industrial area off of 43rd Street and Larabee Avenue was going to get another shot in the arm.

In July 2010, U.S. Water announced it would open a new, national headquarters in St. Michael, located in the former Plymouth Plumbing building at 12270 43^rd Street.

“Their loss was really our gain,” said LaMar Barnes, vice president of operations at the business. “We’ve been able to make some modifications and make this a really nice home for us.”

U.S. Water grew by leaps and bounds through the early part of the 2000s, thanks to the evolution of biofuels. The water systems created by U.S. Water engineers were perfect for the large plants, which use water to compliment the mash created by the processed corn, which eventually creates the fuel alternative ethanol.

Read the full article, view pictures and leave comments at the link below:

http://stmichael.patch.com/articles/small-business-finds-big-home-in-st-michael?ncid=M255#photo-6116744

OSMOSIS: A NATURAL OCCURRENCE

Osmosis is a natural process that causes water to flow through a semi-permeable membrane from a dilute solution to a more concentrated solution, thus diluting the concentrated solution. The rate of water movement is driven by the difference in salt concentration, called the osmotic pressure. This movement will cause the height of the concentrated solution to rise until an equilibrium is reached when the difference in solution heights equals the difference in osmotic pressure.

REVERSE OSMOSIS (RO)

Reverse Osmosis technology involves the application of pressure to the water stream in order to overcome osmotic pressure. When the pressure is increased and applied to the concentrated solution the flow of water is reversed. A portion of the concentrated solution is forced through a very fine membrane to emerge as purified product water leaving impurities to large to pass behind.

WATER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY: RO UNITS

RO units are quickly becoming a standard constituent for the reduction of contaminants within water systems. Water is able to permeate an RO membrane much better than dissolved salts and particles so that most of those contaminants remain in the concentrated solution. Common applications of a RO unit include, but are not limited to; ethanol, industrial, boiler feedwater preparation, wastewater treatment and food processing.

PRETREATMENT: VITAL FOR OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE

Proper pretreatment of the feedwater to a RO unit is critical for maintaining optimum performance and maximizing membrane lifetime. Excessive concentrations of suspended solids for biological activity will foul a RO membrane system. High hardness levels or other dissolved salts will scale up a RO if not controlled with the right US Water scale inhibitor. The goals of RO pretreatment are to eliminate scale formation and minimize fouling by suspended solids and bacteria.

PROPER MAINTENANCE

The removal effectiveness of a RO unit depends on how well it is maintained. The largest operational problem with RO units is fouling such as iron, inorganic colloids like silt and suspended solids. When properly maintained, a RO unit will:

• Dramatically improve water quality
• Reject 95-97% of incoming solids
• Greatly aid in the prevention of scale in a boiler program
• Reduce blowdown and chemical use by allowing increased cycles of concentration in boilers and cooling towers

Excessive membrane fouling can partially negate these accomplishments resulting in:

• Decreased productivity
• Increased operational costs
• Reduced membrane life
• Reduced product water quality

HOW OFTEN SHOULD RO MEMBRANES BE CLEANED?

Even with proper treatment, periodic cleanings are usually needed to maintain equipment integrity and efficiency over an extended period of time. Cleanings need to be customized to the fouling solids. The cleaners themselves are usually low pH (acidic) solutions or high pH (alkaline) solutions. Generally, the high pH cleaners lend themselves to better removal of clay/slit, biological and organic contamination. Low pH cleaners are better suited for inorganic scales and metal oxides. It is common for both to be applied during a cleaning process. If the fouling or formation has been allowed to progress for an extended period of time, the fouling solids will stabilize. Flow channels may become blocked. The time required to completely clean the system will increase, possibly to the point that it is impractical to clean the RO on-site.

US Water Services recommends that a RO system be cleaned prior to a 15% increase in feed-to-concentrate pressure drop or decrease in permeate flow, both parameters are normalized for changes in other variables. US Water Services can assist in this RO system performance analysis as well as membrane cleanings both on and off-site.