There are few topics more controversial these days than hydraulic fracturing ("fracking"). While the debate rages on as to whether fracking poses a risk to water quality, a new desalination technique addresses two other environmental concerns: water scarcity and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Developed by researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC), the breakthrough technology uses excess carbon dioxide created in the fracking process to desalinate the process water, making it available for water reuse. It also generates chemicals — hydrochloric acid and carbonate salts — that are valuable for many industrial applications.

Is this innovative desalination technique ready to topple incumbent technologies? An industry expert explains the benefits and potential of forward osmosis.

Legacy oilfield contamination requires advanced strategies to protect vital groundwater. Explore the technical challenges of subsurface remediation and how advanced oxidation processes provide a more effective pathway for destroying persistent hydrocarbons and restoring aquifer quality.

No business wants the word "toxic" associated with its operations. The world has grown very weary (and wary) of companies that aren't environmentally responsible. So while toxic wastewater as a byproduct of mining, oil refining, or other industrial processes isn't new, the impetus to treat these streams is steadily rising.

The U.S.-Canada border is the world’s longest shared border and includes four of the five Great Lakes, many rivers, additional lakes, major airsheds and migratory routes for wildlife species. In addition, there are many Native American Tribes and First Nations residents whose culture extends across the border.

In 2012, Americans consumed well over 79 billion servings of tea, which is just over 3.60 billion gallons.

Unlike most municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) applications, industrial wastewater can vary widely from one application to another, even within the same plant, depending on the process being run. Industrial wastewater professionals — especially those facing specific challenges or planned volume increases — can benefit from comparing key points of differentiation in jet aeration system options before making any upgrade.

No one enjoys being compelled to do things, especially when it dips into their wallet. For many in the industrial manufacturing and food processing sectors this is exactly what wastewater management is to them — a compulsory, bottomless money pit dug by regulatory bodies, seemingly just to make things difficult for business owners.

Domestic cooking has taken a back seat across several developed economies, given the steady rise in the female workforce and subsequent lack of time. This, along with significant improvement in disposable incomes, has been playing a critical role in accelerating the shift toward processed food and beverages. 

With a global population of over seven billion people, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of companies in the world that produce the food and beverages that are needed to meet this global demand. These companies require massive amounts of water to produce their products, and those products result in equal amounts of wastewater. It’s simple enough to just discharge the wastewater into a nearby stream or surface water source and be finished with it. However, with constantly changing environmental regulations and pressure to be more environmentally conscious, food and beverage companies face increasing requirements of beverage and food wastewater treatment.

The client revived, expanded and modernized its operations in order to produce rare earth materials in high volumes and in an environmentally responsible manner. As part of the expansion, the client contracted Veolia to design and build a new water treatment plant for their state-of-the-art rare earth facility.

Resources being a scarce commodity, it’s incumbent upon us to optimize the use of water and energy as best we can. While conservation is the prime course of action for the public, the best solution for utilities may be to work smarter — by having the water-energy nexus work for us instead of against us.

At my household, a new year means a new energy and water-use baseline. By that I mean, every month, I look at how much electricity and water I used in comparison to the same month the previous year — so I can try to be as efficient as possible. But I work in the energy field, and I know that’s not a typical New Year’s tradition. Most people don’t examine the trends of their energy-use or spend much time thinking about how to reduce it.

At the end of 2011, the total hydroelectric installed capacity in the United Kingdom accounted for approximately 1.67 Gigawatts (GW) of installed electrical generating capacity, being 1.9% of the current total UK generating capacity, and 14% of the UK's renewable energy generating capacity.

This article is the first of two in a Women’s History Month series that showcases a handful of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL's) outstanding women researchers in water power.

In 2012, Americans consumed well over 79 billion servings of tea, which is just over 3.60 billion gallons.

Atlantium Technologies installed UV systems in an Indian solar photovoltaic manufacturing plant to remove impurities from ultrapure water, effectively reducing TOC levels and providing high microbial reduction. Their HOD UV technology has been proven effective in water treatment.

When it opened in 1846, the Danube-Main (Ludwig) Canal was an ambitious engineering project intended to put the recently founded Kingdom of Bavaria on the map as a modern industrial power.

Unlike most municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) applications, industrial wastewater can vary widely from one application to another, even within the same plant, depending on the process being run. Industrial wastewater professionals — especially those facing specific challenges or planned volume increases — can benefit from comparing key points of differentiation in jet aeration system options before making any upgrade.

The client revived, expanded and modernized its operations in order to produce rare earth materials in high volumes and in an environmentally responsible manner. As part of the expansion, the client contracted Veolia to design and build a new water treatment plant for their state-of-the-art rare earth facility.

There are few topics more controversial these days than hydraulic fracturing ("fracking"). While the debate rages on as to whether fracking poses a risk to water quality, a new desalination technique addresses two other environmental concerns: water scarcity and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Developed by researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC), the breakthrough technology uses excess carbon dioxide created in the fracking process to desalinate the process water, making it available for water reuse. It also generates chemicals — hydrochloric acid and carbonate salts — that are valuable for many industrial applications.

Resources being a scarce commodity, it’s incumbent upon us to optimize the use of water and energy as best we can. While conservation is the prime course of action for the public, the best solution for utilities may be to work smarter — by having the water-energy nexus work for us instead of against us.

Is this innovative desalination technique ready to topple incumbent technologies? An industry expert explains the benefits and potential of forward osmosis.

Legacy oilfield contamination requires advanced strategies to protect vital groundwater. Explore the technical challenges of subsurface remediation and how advanced oxidation processes provide a more effective pathway for destroying persistent hydrocarbons and restoring aquifer quality.

Since 1999, when business people at more than 150,000 companies worldwide wanted to keep better track of their customers — and be more responsive — they turned to Salesforce.com and its industry-leading customer relationship management (CRM) software. Now, companies looking for ideas on sustainability, in terms of water recycling, can turn to the new Salesforce Tower in San Francisco as a leading-edge environmental solution as well. It is estimated that the building’s water recycling system will save more than 7.5-million gallons of drinking water annually — enough to supply more than 16,000 San Francisco residents.