California

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"Quality Through Collaboration": ELAP Hosts Inaugural Conference

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In June, water industry professionals across California sat down at their computers and turned on their video cameras to participate in ELAP’s inaugural conference. The event was held virtually from June 1st to June 3rd and featured expert presentations on the latest in environmental testing and analysis. Attendees also gained valuable insight into important developments in the industry, including ELAP’s changing accreditation regulations.

This year’s conference is a part of ELAP’s larger efforts to modernize their program requirements and transition laboratories into the new accreditation process. The Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program or ELAP, has been around since 1989, when it was founded as part of the California Environmental Laboratory Improvement Act. ELAP’s mission is to…

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Biosolids: The Ultimate Recycling Success Story

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In the wastewater treatment world, biosolids are often seen as the ultimate recycling success story. Biosolids are the nutrient-rich organic byproducts resulting from wastewater treatment and over 60% of biosolids produced nationally in the U.S. are land applied. They are used in agriculture, landscaping, forestry, and even by homeowners on lawns and gardens. Although biosolids are under scrutiny once again due to the source of their composition—human and industrial waste—preliminary evidence suggests that the beneficial use of biosolids rests on solid ground.

To learn more about the future of biosolids, new Babcock staff member, Colleen Thompson, interviewed Greg Kester, Director of Renewable Resource Programs at the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA). Greg is the subject matter expert when it comes to emerging issues regarding all renewable energy, recycled water, biosolids, and climate change mitigation. “Biosolids have a plethora of benefits, they assist in creating healthy soils which help crop growth, they are significant mitigators of climate change, reduce irrigation use, offset the use of inorganic fertilizers, and essentially are the best example of recycling,” said Kester. In fact, many agricultural areas depend on biosolids to help…

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A Quick Year in Review:2020

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As we welcome the end of an unprecedented year and prepare to welcome 2021, we would like to reflect on some of the key industry topics of 2020 that will likely provide clues to the issues and challenges our industry is sure to experience in the New Year.

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Wet Wipes Have More Than One Dirty Secret

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From babies to kitchen counters, we’re all familiar with the dirty deeds carried out by sanitary wet wipes. When it comes to wreaking havoc on our sewer infrastructure, however, wet wipes have more than one dirty secret.

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The Next Phase in California’s Investigation of PFAS

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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are turning up across the Golden State. The State Water Board released preliminary data in March 2020 which suggests around half of the 600 public water supply wells near landfills, military installations, and airports have detections of PFOA, PFOS, or other PFAS.

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Clean Water is Essential

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The current crisis caused by the novel coronavirus and resulting COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us all how much we rely on essential service workers. Perhaps one of the most invisible but undeniably essential group of workers includes the individuals making sure our faucets are flowing with clean water and our waste is getting properly treated when we brush or flush.