Water Quality & Treatment Solutions, Inc. (WQTS) services

A drinking water distribution system is a complex environment comprising a mix of physical, biological, and chemical processes. Together, they can greatly alter the quality of water delivered to customers. From nitrification to corrosion to chloramine conversion, WQTS staff has the expertise to help water agencies navigate through these challenges. The following are example projects related to water quality in distribution systems.

Implementing treatment technologies for contaminant removal from groundwater has unique challenges. From arsenic, to perchlorate, to volatile organic chemicals, WQTS staff has evaluated and implemented both conventional and innovative groundwater treatment technologies. The following are example projects dealing with contaminant removal from groundwater.

Re-inventing the wheel costs money! There is a wealth of information in the published literature. WQTS has developed an internal electronic database of more than 1,000 reports and articles published in various peer-reviewed scientific journals and conference proceedings, covering a wide range of topics in water quality and water treatment. WQTS uses this database to conduct focused literature searches dealing with a specific challenge. The search outcome is summarized in a report that identifies how the challenge was addressed in similar situations. The following are example projects of literature searches conducted by WQTS for various clients.

WQTS staff has strong expertise in the development of Interactive Project Analysis (IPA) models developed in Microsoft EXCEL® and designed for specific projects. These models are excellent tools to explore a wide number of `what-if` scenarios for a project. The models can include simulation of treatment technologies, sizing and costing of treatment and/or transmission facilities, etc. The models are often used in a workshop format where they are projected on a screen, and then used to answer the `what-if` questions that are of interest to the workshop attendees. The following are example projects in which IPA models were developed.

From time to time, an agency requires technical assistance in one or more areas where several projects may be implemented. In these cases, clients have opted to retain WQTS under an open on-call services agreement. Under such an agreement, WQTS provides as-needed services on a task-order basis. The following are example situations where WQTS was retained under an on-call services agreement.

WQTS staff has extensive experience with the operation of water treatment plants, and has developed operations and training documents and manuals for a number of water systems. The following are example projects in which such documents were developed.

WQTS has conducted a large number of water quality and treatment refresher classes for water treatment and distribution operators in California, Nevada, and Utah. Classes are available in 1-hr, 2-hr, or 4-hr increments.

WQTS staff has extensive experience with the design, implementation, and interpretation of pilot-scale testing of water treatment technologies. WQTS staff has designed a number of pilot testing equipment units. WQTS currently owns a growing list of pilot testing equipment that is designed to be transported to a remote testing site, set up, and operated. The following examples describe pilot plant design projects completed by WQTS staff.

Navigating the waters of regulatory compliance can be difficult, especially for water utilities with limited internal resources. WQTS has keen knowledge of the State and Federal water quality and treatment regulations impacting water agencies, and has provided regulatory compliance support to a large number of water agencies. Such support can be in the form of a review of regulatory monitoring and reporting procedures, development of regulatory compliance and monitoring plans, modification and updating of existing plans, and negotiations with regulatory agencies on behalf of the water agencies. The following are example projects.

Since the promulgation of the Surface Water Treatment Rule more than 15 years ago, the treatment of surface water to drinking water standards has become increasingly complex. From maximizing disinfection, to minimizing disinfection by-products, to maintaining high aesthetic quality of treated water, the challenges are never-ending. WQTS staff has worked with a large number of water agencies to address these challenges. The following are example projects focused on identifying solutions to surface water treatment challenges.