You might not realize it, but there are tiny creatures lurking in your tap water. Say hello to Legionella pneumophila, a crafty bacterium that can make your water a health risk. Unlike other harmful bacteria, Legionella takes its time. It grows slowly in both public and private water systems. Scient
In Lebanon, Oregon, a community of about 20, 000 people has been caught up in a big debate over fluoride in their water. Some people believe fluoride helps keep teeth healthy, but others think it's harmful. Recently, they voted to stop putting fluoride in their water. This isn't just happening in Le
In cities, sewage treatment plants use unique reactors with moving bed biofilms to clean wastewater. These reactors rely on microbes to break down the waste. Scientists studied how cold temperatures impact these microbes. They found that when it gets cold, the quality of the treated water decreases.
Do you know how wastewater plants work together to save energy? It's like having two factories side by side, sharing resources. In wastewater engineering, models called Activated Sludge Models (ASMs) help design and improve these plants. Recently, scientists created a system that connects a city's w
Hexafluoropropylene oxide trimer acid, or HFPO-TA, is a newer option replacing traditional PFASs. It's tough to break down and can harm living things, hence the search for better ways to tackle it. One method that stands out is using UV light with sulfite and iodide. This mix can break down HFPO-TA
Imagine you're living in a rapidly growing city in Northwest China. With more people and industries, wastewater treatment becomes a big deal. This is where smart technology steps in. Researchers are using something called a Random Forest Regression model to predict water quality and reduce carbon em
Ever wondered what lies deep beneath the Mediterranean Sea? Hidden under 30 meters of water, there's a world of deep-water oyster reefs. These reefs, shaped by the gryphaeid Neopycnodonte cochlear, are not as well-known as their shallower counterparts but are just as important. Scientists have been
In the bustling city of Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, scientists have been looking closely at the levels of certain medicines in wastewater. They're interested in how these drugs change as they go through a wastewater treatment plant. This study is the first of its kind in South Africa to explore
Making leather is a detailed process that turns animal skins into the finished product we use every day. Sadly, this process generates wastewater filled with harmful chemicals. Cleaning this wastewater is crucial to protect both people and the environment. One effective way to do this is through a p
Let's talk about something that's not always talked about but is super important: public hygiene. We're focusing on King County, including Seattle. For a long time, these areas have been lacking in public restrooms, places to wash hands, and places to get clean drinking water. This isn't good for pu
