San Diego, CA planning wastewater-to-drinking water recycling system
San Diego is planning to repurpose treated wastewater into drinking water, a process known as potable reuse. This initiative, part of the Pure Water San Diego program, aims to provide a sustainable and reliable water supply by purifying wastewater to meet or exceed all drinking water standards. Experts and officials assure that the water produced through this method is safe, emphasizing the rigorous treatment processes involved.
San Diego, CA
United States
Marathon, FL to replace shallow sewage wells to improve water quality
The Marathon City Council will end the use of shallow sewage wells, a move that will reduce the pervasive pharmaceutical contamination in local fish populations uncovered by FIU scientists. City leaders outlined a timeline to replace the shallow sewage wells with a new deep well sited at least 3,000 feet deep and into the boulder zone.
Marathon, FL
United States
Phoenix, AZ partners with Kando on AI-powered monitoring of its wastewater treatment infrastructure
Sixteen sensors were deployed at sewer drains throughout the city for a six-month pilot. Real-time data on changes in wastewater pH and temperatures caused by illegal dumping are sent to the Kando Pulse platform. Automated alerts help the city's wastewater team identify dumping incidents and isolate pollutants before they enter the treatment process. An internal dashboard provides an overview of system conditions and hotspots for dumping incidents.
Phoenix, AZ
United States
Ottawa, ON experiments with a wastewater energy transfer system at Dream LeBreton development
Project partners Envari Holdings and Theia Partners will connect a custom-built system to the city's sewer system. Wastewater heat from the 1.1-hectare housing development will be converted into energy for low-emission heating and cooling. This conversion is made possible by a heat exchanger and a pumping loop. City officials estimate an annual emissions reduction of 1,100 tons and will evaluate the system's effectiveness after 18 months of operation.
Ottawa, ON
Canada
Boston, MA responds to neighborhood and citywide COVID-19 trends with new wastewater testing program
The Boston Public Health Commission and Biobot Analytics selected manholes in 11 high-density neighborhoods for the program. Twice-weekly testing results are posted to a dedicated COVID-19 dashboard. Each wastewater report shows an eight-day moving average for each neighborhood and all sites. A citywide variant tracker shows the most dominant variants for the previous four weeks. This approach supports localized health messaging and services based on neighborhood-level data.
Boston, MA
United States
Köln, NW improves the accuracy of its wastewater taxation system with a geospatial AI system
Köln's wastewater authority previously used manual inspections and self-reports to identify impervious surfaces for taxation. Municipal officials worked with Hexagon on a GeoAI platform using components from Leica and Melown Technologies. Aerial images and LiDAR data are analyzed by an AI platform for accurate mapping of pavement on private property. This system may also be used for simulations of climate mitigation efforts involving pavement renaturalization.
Köln, NW
Germany
Boise, ID evaluates potential technologies for industrial wastewater treatment during pilot
The one-year pilot will turn wastewater from a Micron facility into non-potable water approaching drinking water standards. Five technologies ranging from reverse osmosis to ultraviolet advanced oxidation will be measured for treatment efficiency. A planned water renewal facility near the plant will use one or more of these technologies based on pilot results. Local officials anticipate a future pilot of treated wastewater use for manufacturing processes and city maintenance needs.
Boise, ID
United States
Bundaberg, QLD introduces streamlined online process for commercial trade water applications
Industrial discharge of liquid waste - or trade water - previously required two forms and lengthy reviews for approval. A new application system consolidates the process into a single form for faster completion and processing. The AI-enabled system automatically fills out trade water applications with relevant project information from other documents. Applicants can also update previously filed documents with information in their trade water applications.
Bundaberg, QLD
Australia
Polk County, FL is adding wastewater solids receiving stations at wastewater treatment facilities
Polk County is planning to adding wastewater solids receiving stations at two wastewater treatment facilities using American Rescue Plan Act funding. The receiving stations would allow the facilities to accept wastewater solids deliveries and support a potential county ban on the disposal of wastewater solids on land.
Polk County, FL
United States
Game changing technology that transforms harmful algae and wastewater biosolids into biofuel
The City of Altamonte Springs announces a partnership with AECOM and Genifuel to conduct a demonstration using hydrothermal processing (HTP) to transform harmful algae and wastewater biosolids into carbon neutral biocrude and biogas. This technology offers a platform to help solve the renewable energy crisis by transforming raw materials into fuel for cars, jets, trucks and more. A display of this technology is taking place at the Altamonte Springs Regional Water Reclamation Facility
Altamonte Springs, FL
United States
Hauraki District Council, NZ completes automation upgrade at wastewater pump stations
Twenty-three pump stations across the district are equipped with remote monitoring equipment. These stations are responsible for moving wastewater from sources to treatment facilities across different terrain. Real-time data from each station indicate spills and maintenance issues not always caught by manual checks. Hauraki District Council can shift personnel time from inspections to repairs and other complex tasks with system automation.
Hauraki District Council, NZ
New Zealand
Sioux City, IA is generating revenue from biogas captured in wastewater treatment plant
The Sioux City Wastewater Treatment Plant is capturing biogas resulting from anaerobic digestion, purifying it in a multi-step process, and injecting it into a natural gas pipeline. The Sioux City Council approved a transaction confirmation agreement with The Energy Authority, Inc. of Jacksonville, Florida to sell the biogas and help offset future sewer rate hikes.
Sioux City, IA
United States