In the quest to reduce costs and improve the efficiency of water and wastewater services, many communities in the United States are exploring the potential advantages of privatization of those services. Unlike other utility services, local governments have generally assumed responsibility for providing water services. Privatization of such services can include the outright sale of system assets, or various forms of public-private partnershipsâ€"from the simple provision of supplies and services, to private design construction and operation of treatment plants and distribution systems. Many factors are contributing to the growing interest in the privatization of water services. Higher operating costs, more stringent federal water quality and waste effluent standards, greater customer demands for quality and reliability, and an aging water delivery and wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure are all challenging municipalities that may be short of funds or technical capabilities. For municipalities with limited capacities to meet these challenges, privatization can be a viable alternative. Privatization of Water Services evaluates the fiscal and policy implications of privatization, scenarios in which privatization works best, and the efficiencies that may be gained by contracting with private water utilities.
This Report presents information on the current state of knowledge of the origins, occurrence, nature and effects of sewer solids for use by engineers, scientists, administrators and water quality planners for the planning, design and operation of sewerage systems. The report addresses both sewer maintenance requirements and environmental protection issues. Increasing environmental standards, coupled with public expectations, have led to stringent water quality standards. In response to this, it has been necessary to develop new methodologies and computer based analytical techniques to model and understand the performance of all aspects of waste water systems. Fundamental to these techniques is the understanding of the way in which sewer solids contribute to the poor performance of wastewater systems and consequential environmental damage. The information presented in this Report about the origins, nature, movement, hydraulic and polluting effects of solids in sewers has enabled strategies and rules to be developed for the management of sewerage systems to minimise the deleterious effects of these solids and associated pollutants. Scientific & Technical Report No. 14
This valuable text gives previously unreported experience in the design, operation and maintenance of pressure sewers. Economic advantages of the pressure sewer system allow development of previously undeveloped areas-making central sewer extension more affordable for both municipalities and developers. Pressure systems make central sewers available where on-site disposal may prove undesirable. Of interest to a broad spectrum of professionals, this new book will prove valuable to consulting engineers, municipalities, sewer districts, sanitary engineers, pump and equipment manufacturers, and developers.
With an emphasis on design and installation for optimum performance, the 2015 INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODE SOFT COVER sets forth established requirements for plumbing systems. This important reference guide includes provisions for fixtures, piping, fittings, and devices, as well as design and installation methods for water supply, sanitary drainage, and storm drainage. The 2015 edition of the code includes information on public toilet facilities, as well as water temperature limiting devices, and replacement water heater installation. Using both prescriptive- and performance-related specifications, this code provides comprehensive minimum regulations for a variety of plumbing facilities, facilitating the design and acceptance of new and innovative products, materials, and systems.
Most of the technological developments relevant to water supply and wastewater date back to more than to five thousand years ago. These developments were driven by the necessity to make efficient use of natural resources, to make civilizations more resistant to destructive natural elements, and to improve the standards of life, both at public and private level. Rapid technological progress in the 20th century created a disregard for past sanitation and wastewater and stormwater technologies that were considered to be far behind the present ones. A great deal of unresolved problems in the developing world related to the wastewater management principles, such as the decentralization of the processes, the durability of the water projects, the cost effectiveness, and sustainability issues, such as protection from floods and droughts were intensified to an unprecedented degree. New problems have arisen such as the contamination of surface and groundwater. Naturally, intensification of unresolved problems has led to the reconsideration of successful past achievements. This retrospective view, based on archaeological, historical, and technical evidence, has shown two things: the similarity of physicochemical and biological principles with the present ones and the advanced level of wastewater engineering and management practices. Evolution of Sanitation and Wastewater Technologies through the Centuries presents and discusses the major achievements in the scientific fields of sanitation and hygienic water use systems throughout the millennia, and compares the water technological developments in several civilizations. It provides valuable insights into ancient wastewater and stormwater management technologies with their apparent characteristics of durability, adaptability to the environment, and sustainability. These technologies are the underpinning of modern achievements in sanitary engineering and wastewater management practices. It is the best proof that “the past is the key for the future”. Evolution of Sanitation and Wastewater Technologies through the Centuries is a textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses of Water Resources, Civil Engineering, Hydraulics, Ancient History, Archaeology, Environmental Management and is also a valuable resource for all researchers in the these fields. Authors: Andreas N. Angelakis, Institute of Iraklion, Iraklion, Greece and Joan B. Rose, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
As new theories on the transmission of disease heightened concerns over public health and urban sanitation, physicians and professional engineers pressured the city to provide comprehensive sewage facilities. The locally oriented Common Council resisted the effort because it would entail the creation of administrative bodies that would have the authority to make city-wide decisions.
This is a practical handbook providing a step-by-step approach to the techniques used for characterizing wastewater sources and investigating sites where collection, treatment and reuse/disposal technologies will be installed. It is intended to help enable local implementation of on-site and decentralized wastewater management system (DWMS)for wide scale use in development settings. How to Design Wastewater Systems for Local Conditions in Developing Countries helps local service providers and regulatory officials make informed decisions through the use of tools, checklists and case studies. It includes a link to a web based community of on-site and decentralized wastewater professionals, which contains related tools and case studies. This handbook serves as a reference for training classes, certification programs, and higher education programs in civil and sanitary engineering. There is an increasing interest on the part of local government officials and private sector service providers to implement wastewater treatment systems to solve sanitation problems. The model presented in this handbook promotes activities that first generate data related to source and site conditions that represent critical inputs, and then applies this information to the technology selection process. Matching the most appropriate technologies to the specific needs of the wastewater project is the key that leads to long term sustainability. How to Design Wastewater Systems for Local Conditions in Developing Countries is an invaluable resource for public sector decision makers and private sector service providers in developing countries. It is also a useful text for students at engineering colleges in developing countries interested in taking a class that teaches the methods of decentralized wastewater management system (DWMS) development.