"Thumbs Up" for Michigan: WWTP meets phosphorous discharge numbers

Water and Wastes Digest - Tue, 05/15/2012 - By Grant Thornburg

The “thumb” of Michigan, outlined by Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron, is a peninsula rich in lakes, rivers and streams. Given the ecologically sensitive territory, smaller towns with limited resources can find it challenging to meet state mandated wastewater discharge permit levels. The Population 1,035 village of North Branch, about 30 miles northeast of Flint, faced problems of excessive phosphorous in its four-pond facultative system.

Path to the White House: SolarBee to be recognized as rural success

The Dickinson Press - Sat, 02/11/2012 - By April Baumgarten

A Dickinson company has been named a “rural manufacturing success,” earning it a ticket to Washington D.C. in one week, officials said Friday.

SolarBee Inc. has accepted an invitation from the White House and the U. S. Department of Agriculture to attend the “Recognition of Manufacturing Success in Rural America” event, which will be held Friday, Feb. 17. SolarBee co-founder and president Joel Bleth will be attending the event as a representative.

SolarBee earns St. Helens a state award

The St Helens Chronicle - Fri, 01/27/2012 - By Shari Phiel

ST. HELENS - Last February, the City of St. Helens was looking for a way to reduce costs at its primary treatment lagoon, while ensuring the lagoon was still properly aerated and mixed. The city found its answer in the purchase of two Solar Bees, solar-panel-run sludge mixer. That decision recently won them the state award from the Oregon Leaders Award.

Solar helps city save $108,000 in energy costs

The South County Spotlight - Wed, 01/25/2012 - By Stover E. Harger III

Efforts to cut down on energy costs have paid off nearly one year after the city of St. Helens installed solar-powered mixers in its wastewater lagoons.

SolarBee pumping project may lower mercury levels in Utah reservoir

The Salt Lake Tribune - Mon, 08/15/2011 - By Mark Havnes

Newcastle • Scientists at Newcastle Reservoir are stirring things up to see if a new technique using a solar-powered pump will reduce high mercury levels in the water. If it works, the procedure may be used on other contaminated bodies of water in Utah.

Newcastle is one of 16 bodies of water in Utah that have mercury levels high enough to prompt advisories about eating fish caught in them.

Hydrologists with the U.S. Geological Survey placed the platform pump in July near the dam of the reservoir, which is about 30 miles west of Cedar City.

Still Waters Run You Ragged

Stormwater - Mon, 08/01/2011 - By Janis Keating

Ponds can be a boon and a bane. For retaining or detaining water from a stormwater system, or within a site, they serve their purpose well; in addition, ponds can greatly enhance a site’s aesthetic appeal. On the flip side, however, that standing water can become an eyesore at best, a health hazard at worst. But keeping algae and breeding mosquitoes at bay can be a simpler matter if one takes a tip from nature—by keeping the water moving. Towering falls or raging rapids aren’t required; simple fountains, aerators, or bubblers can often do the trick.

Cypress swamp regains water quality with help from SolarBee circulators

Water and Wastes Digest Case of the Week - Fri, 07/22/2011 - By Patrick J. Schnaidt

Award-winning circulation technology reduces blue-green algae.

Greenfield Lake, an idyllic cypress swamp surrounded by walking paths and bridges, is a popular recreation area in Wilmington, North Carolina. Residents and visitors enjoy picnicking, gardens, an amphitheater, boating and fishing.

But when blue-green algae took over the swamp, the water turned to pea soup and weeds grew thick along the shore. The shallow, 100-acre reservoir is primarily fed by stormwater via several drainage pipes throughout the basin. Boaters preferred to go elsewhere.

Solar Powered Water Circulators to be Installed in Erie Reservoirs

Erie, Colorado Civic Alerts - Tue, 07/12/2011 - By Jon Mays, Water and Wastewater Operations

High Efficiency Units to Improve Raw Water Quality

Starting Tuesday, July 12, 2011, Department of Public Works contractors will install high efficiency solar-powered water circulators in Prince Reservoir and Erie Reservoir. Increased circulation of the water in the reservoirs will improve the quality of the Town’s raw water supply allowing staff to make adjustments in the operations of the Water Treatment Facility with minimal impact to our customers.

Other benefits of the water circulators include:

Gadget aims to breathe life into Baltimore's harbor dead zone

The Baltimore Sun - Fri, 05/27/2011 - By Timothy B. Wheeler

Solar-powered device to be tested for improving water quality

Something new is floating in the Inner Harbor. Not litter this time, but a space age-looking gadget meant to see whether new life can be breathed into the troubled body of water.

SolarBees to curb water discolouration this summer

The Drumheller Mail - Tue, 05/24/2011 - By Kyle Smylie

The Solar Bee circulation equipment has been installed in the town’s four water reservoirs to curb the water discolouration Drumheller residents saw pouring from their taps last fall.

The price tag included installation and delivery of the solar powered devices, and was approved by council in January.

“They’ll initiate some savings in power, chemical and hopefully down the road some time,” said Director of Infrastructure Allan Kendrick. It will reduce chemicals used to treat the water by treating it the natural way by keeping the water circulating.

 
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