NRC's Offices of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) and Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs (FSME) organized this Workshop on Engineered Barrier Performance Related to Low-Level Radioactive Waste, Decommissioning, and Uranium Mill Tailings Facilities. The workshop was held August 3-5, 2010 at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Headquarters Auditorium, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland. The Workshop was coordinated with the States (i.e., Texas, South Carolina, Utah, Colorado, Washington, and New York), Tribal Nations (Navajo, Umatilla and Nez Perce), and Federal agencies (e.g., U.S. Department of Energy DOE], U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA], U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service USDA/ARS], U.S. Geological Survey USGS], and DOE National Laboratories). The workshop technical topics focused on engineered surface covers and bottom liners designed to isolate waste by impeding surface-water infiltration into the waste systems and mitigating the migration of contaminants from the waste disposal site. Topics included engineered barrier performance, modeling, monitoring, and regulatory experiences at low-level radioactive waste, decommissioning, and uranium mill tailings sites. The workshop objectives included: (1) facilitation of communication among Federal and State staff and contractors and selected experts on current engineered barrier issues and technical and regulatory experiences; (2) discussion of lessons learned and approaches for monitoring and modeling; (3) preparation of recommendations to address maintenance of engineered barrier performance over time; and (4) identification of topics for future research and the potential need to update technical guidance. Recommendations and insights given during session presentations, panel debates, and the discussions that followed were documented by the session reporters and are included in this report.

Specially designed for in-the-field use, this comprehensive yet compact book will pay for itself over and over in the time you save looking for chemical and mathematic formulas, chemical feed rates, US/metric conversions, pipe and equipment data, operational parameters, construction and installation information, OSHA and USEPA regulations, and much more. More than 20 tables have been updated from the 2004 edition, to reflect information in current AWWA standards and manuals in this new edition. Many example calculations were converted to a more understandable format. Information has also been added on drought, emergency disinfection, membranes, nitrification, fluoridation, external corrosion, backflow prevention, PE pipe, fire flow requirements, sizing service lines and meters, and water audits and loss control, and more. Included is a CD with the checklists which can be printed multiple times along with color photos of the related signage. (Replaces ISBN 9781583213155)

Although every water utility knows how to repair water main breaks, some utilities are better at managing main breaks to minimize both disruptions to the public and lost consumer confidence in the utility. How can a water utility "manage" something as unknowable as when and where water main breaks will happen? Can the negative impacts of main breaks be mitigated? Preparation is vitalManaging Water Main Breaks Field Guide will help water utilities to better prepare for pipeline breaks. Utilities should be proactive, rather than reactive. Becoming proactive will reduce the number of main breaks, as well as the negative impacts to the community. This concise book will help you prepare by telling you * kinds of breaks and their causes* where main breaks are most likely to occur* how to respond quickly or in a timely manner* how to identify and locate leaks and breaks* how to maintain safety at repair sites* how to mitigate impacts on the utility, on customers, and on other utilities* how to make repairs efficiently and expertly* when to replace a pipe rather than repair it* how to notify all those affected and keep them informed during repairs* how to record main-break informationMoreManaging Water Main Breaks Field Guide includes excerpts from related AWWA books, manuals of practice, and periodicals. These provide additional useful information about corrosion, water pressure, leak detection, repair costs, and other related topics. Numerous photos illustrate types, causes, and impacts of main breaks. Each chapter concludes with a "Questions to Consider," section - a series of questions to help the reader to evaluate specific processes, issues, or programs. These questions will help utilities provide best-in-class service.

This book covers in detail programs and technologies for converting traditionally landfilled solid wastes into energy through waste-to-energy projects

Now, every water treatment operator can identify and correct treatment deficiencies to maintain the desired water quality. Water Treatment Process Monitoring & Evaluation shows how.A basic part of the water treatment plant operator's job is to identify process problems, evaluate the causes, and develop effective solutions. This handbook will help you accomplish these essential duties.This book provides operators with the information needed to troubleshoot treatment problems, evaluate operational variations (such as the changes in treatment efficiency due to changes in the raw water), and make corresponding water chemistry or other process changes to maintain the desired water quality. Additionally, Water Treatment Process Monitoring & Evaluation covers fundamentals that all operators should know, including process design, computerized and manual controls, chemical feeders, monitoring instruments, response and detention times, and record keeping.Case histories, plentiful graphic illustrations, and a rich assortment of appendix material augment the text.

Population growth and unchallenged water use have brought us to the brink of a worldwide water crisis. This fascinating book presents scenarios for the broad trends that will have a significant impact upon future water challenges. Examine what the next 100 years may bring to water use, prices, and availability--and how individuals, water utilities, industries, and countries can change the future of water.Your time machine into the future The Future of Water: A Startling Look Ahead is an intriguingly realistic look at-The future of water use at homeGrass species that live on common seawater, clothes washers that use a cup of water per load--or no water at all, UV-light dishwashers, and toilets that flush with reused bathwater...all these are closer than you think.-The future of agricultural water useLearn the many innovative ways farmers are growing more food with less water. In coming years, don't be surprised if you see on packaging, "Irrigated with natural rainfall, no fossil waters used." -The future of industrial water useWe will see industry increasingly move to where water is plentiful. Old industrial cities in the rainy northeast US that have been shrinking and decaying for decades may experience revitalization.-The future sources of waterReclamation and reuse of wastewater and stormwater will be commonplace sources of water for drinking, energy production, agriculture, and industry. Climate changes and global warming will increase precipitation in some locales and decrease it in others.-The future of water storage America is tearing down many old dams, while China and Africa are on dam-building binges. How will the US meet its water storage needs with fewer dams? What do these new Chinese and African dams-some the biggest ever built-mean for the future of water?-The future of water utilitiesWatch for widespread consolidation of small utilities for efficiency and cost-savings. Many water utilities will follow Singapore's lead to become better at educating the public of the true value of water.-The future of water businessLearn about innovative solutions to the challenges of water scarcity, storage, treatment, and distribution. -The future role of waterRivers, lakes, and aquifers cross political borders, creating conflicts. Learn about many innovative technologies and creative solutions to water problems.""Steve Maxwell takes us straight into the realities of the water crisis that is now spreading through all parts of the country, and indeed the entire world.""Bruce Babbitt, Former US Secretary of the Interior""An excellent and somewhat startling book. Concise...with an amazing amount of information.""Bernard P. Kryzs, President and Publisher, Water Utility Infrastructure Management

All water utilities experience T&O problems. This brand new field guide provides all the information you need to identify and remove objectionable tastes and odors from drinking water and reduce customer compliants about T&O. Ideal for water treatment operators, this handy guide, you will be able to: determine the source and cause of any taste or odor: raw water source, treatment plant, distribution system, or customer plumbing. provide good samples to your laboratory for testing and know what to tell the lab; understand sensory terminology and the various sensory testing methods available; know how to control tastes and odors and prevent them from occurring, no matter what the cause; and make proper treatment choices to remove or prevent tastes and odors. Numerous research studies show that good-tasting tap water is not completely free of constituents; the right concentrations of certain minerals are necessary for a balanced taste, the most important of which are sodium, chloride,

Water and wastewater professionals spend their careers inside the "green maze" of environmental law. If you have ever felt a bit lost, you are not alone. Now, there is a new guide to help you find your way around the green maze. This book is an easy-to-understand introduction to the complex maze of environmental laws that directly or indirectly affect water and wastewater utilities. Laws and regulations that affect water and wastewater utilities include the Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Superfund, Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, Endangered Species Act, and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act. Each of these major pieces of legislation is explained in clear, nonlegal language and is placed in the context of water and wastewater utility regulation. Selected state environmental regulations, riparian water rights, prior appropriation rights, and ordinances are also discussed. Author Joseph Bernosky includes a brief history of environmental regulations, the scope and nature of regulations that affect water and wastewater utilities, overlaps and gaps in the laws, environmental advocacy, public participation, stakeholders' roles and relationships to each other, and future regulatory trends. He does not delve into the specific requirements of individual regulations, e.g., MCLs. This readable guide is ideal for all water and wastewater professionals, legislators and regulators, and anyone who needs to have knowledge of the federal laws affecting the day-to-day workings of water and wastewater treatment utilities.

Despite significant improvements in pollution abatement and environmental remediation over the past several decades, billions of people around the world continue to live in unsafe and unhealthy physical environments with great risks to their health. Environmental issues concerning wastewater treatment in particular are quite considerable. The authors of this book take a deeper look at the contaminated soils and waters which pose major environmental, agricultural and human health problems world-wide. Alternatives for the sewage sludge final disposal from the wastewater treatment are also assessed from a life cycle assessment (LCA) point of view in order to identify the best environmental alternative. In addition, the generation of solid wastes constitutes a serious environmental problem, particularly in Cuba, where there is no waste selection system, so wastes from different origins are buried in landfills. This book explores recent research done on municipal solid waste (MSW), specifically based in Havana Cuba. Furthermore, as explained in this book, one of the possible alternatives for reducing the contaminant load from solid waste is that of reuse/recycle. A brief report on the development of electrodes (Carbon resin) from solid wastes is included in an attempt to encourage recycle and reduce environmental pollution through discarded batteries. Other chapters in this book report on an investigation conducted on iron doped carbon resin electrodes, municipal solid waste (MSW) management in Cameroon, effective and efficient litter management in nations with beaches, a report on medical wastes management in selected hospitals and environmentally safe methods to remediate mercury contaminated soils.

Written for utilities serving fewer than 100,000 customers, this book provides practical advice and guidance for implementing a water conservation program. With a menu of possible conservation techniques and approaches from which to choose, the book lets you customize a program for your utility's particular needs, issues, and customers, regardless of your geographic location. Worksheets offer a step-by-step approach to help you decide which techniques will best benefit your utility and community. Includes benefit-cost analysis charts and tables, sample conservation programs, and recommended budgets.

Regular maintenance of water utility equipment and facilities is absolutely critical to the utility's mission of delivering safe drinking water nonstop, year in and year out. This book will show water utilities of all sizes how to develop and operate an efficient, cost-effective maintenance management program. The book systematically covers all aspects of utility maintenance, including maintenance department roles and organization; internal and external personnel; planning a maintenance management system (MMS); program monitoring and record keeping; parts and material inventory management; estimating costs and preparing budgets; and structuring a training program. New in this revised and updated edition is coverage of: GPS technologies for maintenance; asset management systems; integrating maintenance data with utility financial and inventory systems; and internet-based training to keep personnel up-to-date with the latest techniques.

Pumps are the most expensive part of a water system to operate and can be very expensive to repair or replace after a failure. Proper pump selection and operation is essential for long service life.This handbook is specially written to provide operators, engineers, and maintenance staff quick and easy methods to determine whether a pump is operating properly. The book is divided into six chapters:Chapter 1 - Pump HorsepowerChapter 2 - Pump TypesChapter 3 - Variable FlowChapter 4 - Pump TroubleshootingChapter 5 - Chemical PumpsChapter 6 - Operation and Maintenance Manual

This book provides guidance to utilities that are involved in or may face legal challenges to its rates and fees. It explains key legal concepts encountered in water ratemaking with citations to relevant court cases, offers guidance in preparing for litigation or alternative dispute resolution, and describes successful litigation strategies that have been used by water utilities.

Most wastewater operators cite mathematics as the subject giving them the most difficulty on their operator certification exams, as well as on the job. This math study text is designed to help wastewater operators improve their math skills, pass certification exams, perform their jobs better, and advance their careers. The guide provides examples of a variety of different problems that will be encounted both on Grades 3 and 4 certification exams and on the job. Each problem is presented with easily followed steps and comments to facilitate understanding. Tests with answers are included after each grade level to help you determine where your strengths and weaknesses are. Appendices provide common conversion factors, a summary of the equations used in the book, chemistry tables, maximum contaminant level charts, and abbreviations to which you can refer when working out the problems.

The most important resources at any utility are human resources. People make all the difference in the success or failure of your utility's operation. Managing utility workforce issues is the focus of this practical handbook for water utility human resources managers.The Water Workforce: Recruiting & Retaining High-Performance Employees examines the special human resource challenges facing utilities and offers tested strategies to address them. It will help you recruit, train, motivate, and retain high-quality employees-and build a stable and productive workforce that will meet the short- and long-term needs of your utility. The book focuses on the specific technical work needs of utilities and how to successfully apply workforce management principles in a water utility environment.The book discusses workforce planning methodology, recruiting, and retention, and presents a comprehensive approach to workforce improvement and organizational capacity building. It outlines four workforce development processes:* Defining the organization's work processes* Recruiting* Capacity building* Retention and succession planningUtilities can implement effective solutions to workforce problems with a planned approach to organization and work design, followed by action to improve the capacity of individual employees and their units, and ultimately, the whole organization. Although all utilities face workforce management issues, there are considerable differences between large and small utilities. This book addresses the needs of both with strategies to apply workforce management principles in even the smallest utility.Contents1. Workforce Challenges and Strategies for Success2. Jobs in Water and Wastewater Utilities3. A Strategic Approach to Workforce Planning4. Utilities as Employers of Choice5. Organization Change and Workforce Development6. Job Analysis and Position Descriptions7. Recruiting and Selecting Your Workforce8. Work Planning and Performance Evaluation9. Learning Organizations and Knowledge Management10. Training and Development Programs11. Employee Retention12. Succession Management13. Solutions for Smaller UtilitiesThe book includes several appendices, including general competencies for water and wastewater jobs, utility positions in AWWA's compensation study, occupational data on technical positions, a model training program for utilities, and a comprehensive listing of major water associations in the US that can be used as a resource for recruiting and training.

Most wastewater operators cite mathematics as the subject giving them the most difficulty on their operator certification exams, as well as on the job. This math study text is designed to help wastewater operators improve their math skills, pass certification exams, perform their jobs better, and advance their careers. The guide provides examples of a variety of different problems that will be encounted both on Grades 3 and 4 certification exams and on the job. Each problem is presented with easily followed steps and comments to facilitate understanding. Tests with answers are included after each grade level to help you determine where your strengths and weaknesses are. Appendices provide common conversion factors, a summary of the equations used in the book, chemistry tables, maximum contaminant level charts, and abbreviations to which you can refer when working out the problems.

Water utility customer service representatives face a variety of customer problems and complaints every day. They need specific training in how to deal with customer problems quickly and provide satisfactory solutions. Focus First on Service: The Voice and Face of Your Utility is a new employee training workbook written specifically for water utility customer service representatives. Designed for either classroom or individual study, the workbook covers all aspects of water utility customer service, from what is meant by water utility customer service and why it is important, to specific types of issues and problems employees will encounter on the job.Chapters include exercises that allow trainees to immediately apply what they learn to solve a variety of customer problems that they might encounter on the job. Sample scenarios provide typical conversations between customers and the utility representatives on a variety of problems, such as a billing question or service cutoff. The scenarios offer acceptable and unacceptable ways of handling a variety of common customer encounters.Sample letters and e-mails are included to reply to customer problems, such as high bill complaints or taste-and-odor problems.

This pocket field guide explains dry, liquid, and gas chemical feed systems, calibrations, and handling and storage requirements for various types of chemicals used in water treatment. Handy feed calculators for gas, liquid, and dry chemicals are included. Table of Contents 1. Chemical Feed Quality Control 2. Chemical Feed-Common System Components 3. Chemical Feed of Gases-Equipment and Systems 4. Chemical Feed of Gases-Calculations and Examples 5. Dry Chemical Feeders and Systems 6. Dry Chemical Feed-Calculations and Examples 7. Liquid Chemical Feed Equipment and Systems 8. Liquid Chemical Feed-Calculations and Examples Appendix A: Chemical Specification Example Language Appendix B: Conversion Factors Appendix C: Density Tables for Common Liquid Chemicals Appendix D: Calculator Derivations Appendix E: Atomic Weights and Measures

Water operators will find a wealth of hands-on information on the operation and maintenance of pretreatment, rapid-rate granular media filtration, slow-sand filtration, and diatomaceous-earth filtration systems in this book. This practical guide provides recommended procedures for operating, monitoring, and maintaining all types of filters used for conventional water treatment. Learn how to mix and feed chemicals, monitor filter performance during difficult water episodes, backwash and return filters to service, inspect and maintain filters for optimal performance. These procedures are tested and time-proven by hundreds of water utilities and filtration experts to provide high filter efficiency, excellent water quality, long filter runs and minimum downtime. The book also gives advice on what not to do-and why-so you can avoid water quality problems, filter damage, and treatment problems in the future.

Most water operators cite mathematics as the subject giving them the most difficulty on their operator certification exams, as well as on the job. This math study text is designed to help water treatment operators improve their math skills, pass certification exams, perform their jobs better, and advance their careers.The book provides hundreds of math problems in all areas of water treatment operations, from beginner to advanced. Each problem is immediately followed by the answer and the method for solving the problem. Many problems include explanatory comments to aid your understanding of the mathematical logic behind the solution.Appendixes provide common conversion factors, a summary of the equations used in the book, chemistry tables, maximum contaminant level charts, and abbreviations to which you can refer when working out the problems. In addition, a CD-ROM containing CT tables in Microsoft Excel format is included with the book.Take your operator exams in confidence and improve your on-the-job performance.

Most water operators cite mathematics as the subject giving them the most difficulty on their operator certification exams, as well as on the job. This math study text is designed to help water distribution operators improve their math skills, pass certification exams, perform their jobs better, and advance their careers.The book provides hundreds of math problems in all areas of water distribution operations, from beginner to advanced. Each problem is immediately followed by the answer and the method for solving the problem. Many problems include explanatory comments to aid your understanding of the mathematical logic behind the solution.Appendixes provide common conversion factors, a summary of the equations used in the book, chemistry tables, maximum contaminant level charts, and abbreviations to which you can refer when working out the problems.Take your operator exams in confidence and improve your on-the-job performance.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 32 percent of waterborne disease outbreaks are caused by pathogen intrusion in the water distribution system. Incorporating disinfection practices for water mains and storage facilities can reduce the risk of microbial contamination. This handy guidebook provides all the correct field practices for preventing microbial contamination of the water flowing in water mains, storage tanks, and other distribution system components. NOTE TO WATER UTILITIES: To ensure that mains and storage facilities are properly disinfected prior to use, AWWA advises that water utilities should insist that their pipeline contractors have and use this book. French language version available.

The book provides a comprehensive study of satellite communications systems engineering and outlines how satellite network elements interact to form communication required.

This handy field reference contains all the information, charts, graphs, formulas, and definitions that are needed by wastewater system operators in performing their daily duties.
This guide compiles information from wastewater operations manuals, handbooks, standards, and many other information sources. Major sections include math, conversion factors, chemistry, safety, collection, pumps and motors, flow, wastewater treatment, biosolids, discharge, disinfection, abbreviations, and acronyms.
Information is grouped based on how it would be used by the operator. Thus, all the information you need relating to pumps will be found in its own chapter and all information on biosolids in another. The guide's small size (4-1/4 in. x 7-1/4 in.) and sturdy cover means you can throw it in your truck and go Low price means every operator can have a personal copy.

Although much has been done to simplify US drinking water regulations, a confusing array of technical information still exists, and sorting it all out is problematic. This operations-oriented book explains all the regulations and how they fit together. The book provides regulatory guidance and advisories related to USEPA regulations in a single, easy-to-follow guide. It compiles information from USEPA, AWWA, and others and presents it in an understandable format. Useful to water utility managers, treatment and distribution operators, and environmental engineers.