Here are the stories that caught our eye over the last seven days:
1. WWTPs Pour Microplastics into Rivers but Little is Known About their Impact
We all know about plastic waste in our oceans, but what about microplastic in our rivers? A new study from Loyola University Chicago has found that WWTPs consistently contribute a significant quantity of microplastics – pieces of plastic less than 5 mm wide – to rivers. This isn’t because WWTPs aren’t working as they were intended to, it’s that we haven’t designed them to catch these tiny bits of plastic to begin with.
2. How Important is Water? Important Enough to Pay For
That’s what a poll conducted by the Value of Water Coalition found. Most respondents agreed that a modern water system was of critical importance, and an overwhelming majority are willing to accept a small increase (5%) in their monthly water bill to help pay for modernization projects.
3. Intelligent Pumping and IIoT
Intelligent Pumping and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) have both been in the news quite for the past few years. These two posts from Pumps & Systems continue the trend of pushing the issue to the forefront.
One hidden gem in the second article is this short and clear definition of IoT:
IoT is the concept of connecting any device with an on/off switch to the Internet and other devices.
Explaining what IoT is in just a few words can be hard to do, and that definition is one of the clearest and most succinct I’ve read.
4. There are now Two HI-Approved Pump Labs: Hydro and Flowserve
Earlier this month, Flowserve became just the second pump lab to be approved by the Hydraulic Institute’s Pump Test Lab Approval Program. Flowserve joins Hydro on this exclusive list of labs that can advertise themselves as HI Approved.
Who will be next to join these industry leaders?
5. Hat Tip to Patrick Hogg of Nidec Motors
Patrick has been named the HI Young Engineer of the Year for 2015 in recognition of his support and contributions to the Hydraulic Institute. The award is given no more than once a year in recognition of your engineers who have contributed heavily to the work of HI. Patrick certainly fits the bill. He’s a member of ten different committees and chairs the Drivers Application Guidebook Committee.
That’s It For This Week!
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