Posted by Jessica Piffero on Thu, Apr 25, 2013 @ 03:38 PM
This past Monday was Earth Day, and this entire week is National Park Week -- a good time to think seriously about the natural world around us.
Water pollution causes problems in many areas of our lives, effecting our drinking supply, manufacturing processes, and irrigation methods. On almost every continent, polluted rivers, canals, aqueducts, and lakes are a growing concern. In addition to increased risks for disease, decaying vegetation, and harming regional animals, polluted source water also means clogged waterways that negatively impact our agricultural and industrial water systems.
An International Movement
The water pollution problem isn't just isolated to one country or continent; it's a global epidemic, effecting every corner of the Earth. Thankfully, several nations are leading the charge to find innovative ways to clean up the mess.
China has recently promised to spend $16 billion over the next three years to clean up the heavily polluted rivers. The Shanghai River provides water to 23 million residents, but has recently suffered from severe pollution, including thousands of dead animals infiltrating the waterways. In India, residents of Nagpur have joined forces to put an end to the Nag River pollution problem. Sewage and garbage has taken over the river making the water unusable, but a clean-up campaign has gained momentum, calling for the river’s clean up. And according to a new government report, the United States isn’t a stranger to river pollution, either. The study shows that more than half of the U.S.’s rivers can only be classified as “poor” due to pollution. Government agencies and environmentalists have used this week's Earth Day to vow action to save our waterways.
National Park Week Highlights River Pollution Problems
With this week being National Park Week in the United States, nature advocates are taking the opportunity to highlight our serious river pollution problem. They point out that a recent government study on U.S. rivers warns that our future water demands will mostly come from municipal and industrial needs, as the population continues to grow. That means the need for proper source water filtration will continue grow as well.
The Source Water Pollution Solution
Fortunately, there is an easy solution for cleaning water taken from these dirty rivers. A self-cleaning pump intake screen is a low maintenance solution that stops larger debris like fish, organics, and garbage from entering the water system. The entire screen rotates so that debris is pushed away, instead of clogging the screen, wasting time and energy. With large debris stopped before entering the water treatment system, there’s less wear and tear on pumps and finer filtration systems. With a pump intake screen, water is much easier to treat for irrigation, industrial processes, consumption, or other uses.
Download a FREE Pump Intake Screen Informational Brochure
A new and exclusive source water filtration brochure is available for the first time HERE. The informational sheet highlights all the benefits of pump intake screens, including full color drawings and pictures. Find out how these self-cleaning screens are the right choice to protect your water systems.
Posted by William Vander Plaats on Fri, Feb 22, 2013 @ 03:33 PM
Filtration Puts the Freeze on Winter Crop Damage
Freezing temperatures have an impact on agricultural regions, causing damage to fruits and vegetable crops and forcing farmers to devise ways to protect their crops from frost damage. During these harsh winter months, many farmers turn to filtration to help protect their harvest. Using micro sprinkler systems, along with a proper filtration system, water can be sprinkled on to the produce, which then freezes, releasing heated energy onto the crops. The warmth from the liquid-to-solid-state transformation keeps the produce warm enough to avoid frost damage.
In order for these micro sprinkler systems to work most effectively, filtration must be used to prevent the spray nozzles from clogging. Sand media filters are the perfect filtration solution for this situation, and for extra protection, a centrifugal sand separator can be installed before the sand media tanks in the water line to remove the larger dirt and solids before it reaches the tanks and other system parts.Irrigation Filtration Showcased at World Ag Expo Last WeekThe World Ag Exposition took place last week in the heart of the agriculturally rich Central California. The Expo --the world’s largest agriculture trade show -- prominently features irrigation and groundwater filtration solutions from around the globe.At the heart of this ag filtration show every year is the premiere brand in irrigation filtration: LAKOS Separators and Filtration Solutions. LAKOS sand media filters have been protecting irrigation systems, sprinklers, and drip emitters for decades. Their unique underdrain system provides an optimum, even flow, while providing longer operating cycles and the best backwash results in the industry.
New White Paper Explains The Importance of Irrigation Filtration
A new, recently published white paper explains in detail the importance of irrigation filtration and how to choose the right filter for each irrigation application. Written by an industry expert, this paper was presented at the annual Irrigation Association trade show and clearly illustrates the features and benefits of each option for irrigation and groundwater applications.
Available for the first time to the general public, CLICK HERE to download this resource of the Best Practices in the field of Irrigation Filtration.
Posted by Jessica Piffero on Thu, Jan 10, 2013 @ 03:06 PM
Superheroes are always swooping in to save those in distress or defeating bad guys. But men and women in tight suits and capes aren’t the only superheroes out there. Filtration is the unsung hero of industrial processes, swooping in to protect equipment while defeating the bad guys - unwanted solids build-up.
These unsung heroes of solids removal can be found in industrial processes in every industry around the world. From cooking oil filtration in a snack food factory, to equipment protection in an ethanol plant, or to spray nozzle protection in a steel plant, separator superheroes save the day on a regular basis.
Iron Man 3 and Man of Steel don’t play in U.S. theaters until this summer, but they’re already developing a lot of hype as some of the most anticipated films of 2013. It’s no wonder that these beloved characters have stood the test of time, drawing more fans with every movie, video game, or toy. Both Iron Man and Superman, the Man of Steel, are iconic figures of strength and endurance, just like the materials that are their namesakes.
Because the iron and steelmaking processes are so important, it’s essential that steel manufacturing equipment is clean and functioning at all times. Unfortunately, because of the nature of the production process, this can often be a challenge. Mill scale, slag, dirt and other fines can clog spray nozzles or settle in basins and scale pits, causing operations involving water, like cooling and de-scaling, to be compromised.
Filtration To The Rescue
The best defense against these industrial villains is filtration. Industrial processes demand clean water for operating efficiency. A separator (or multiple separators used in a series) is the best way to combat clogging or fouling.
A centrifugal-action separator installed before descaling or cooling nozzles can remove settleable solids before they can clog. If a separator is installed before a cooling tower, the filtration system can remove solids before they can damage the tower or the manufacturing process. This provides better energy efficiency, cleaner water, and less downtime. Strategically placed filtration is the superhero for improved product quality in the steelmaking process.
FREE New Industrial Filtration Brochure
This new filtration brochure provides a comprehensive look at the all industrial filtration heroes. The quick reference chart makes picking a filtration solution easy! The full color document also outlines the importance of low-maintenance purge and handling options, as well as the environmental savings of filtration.
CLICK HERE to download the new industrial filtration brochure now!
Posted by William Vander Plaats on Fri, Dec 14, 2012 @ 12:24 PM
With fears of global warming, expanding carbon footprints, and depleting fuel resources, “energy efficiency” is more than just a few buzzwords. It’s a growing major concern for every nation on the planet.
Many countries are now taking concrete steps to improve energy efficiency and lower dependency on natural resources. The European Union recently implemented their Energy Efficiency Directive. The plan calls for all countries in the union to lower their energy use by 20% by the year 2020. With a constantly growing population using more energy everyday, this is a huge challenge.
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Across the pond in the United States, the Energy Policy Acy of 2005 is keeping developers busy, finding way to save energy in new and existing structures. The act includes a series of tax credits and incentives for builders who implement energy saving equipment in their projects.
One available credit under the act is about to expire. Available to building owners or to contractors working on government buildings, the Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction expires in 2013. Already extended once in 2008, the tax incentive encourages building owners to increase the usage of energy saving equipment.
Filtration Is Key To Saving Energy
Filtration plays a key role in saving energy in HVAC installations. Unwanted solids can enter cooling systems, clogging or fouling heat exchanger equipment. That can lead to excessive energy and water waste, as well as increased maintenance and downtime. These problems negatively affect sustainability and system efficiency, driving energy usage up.
Adding a separator or other filtration system is a great way to save energy. In many cases the installation of a separator will result in measurable energy savings so effective that they often pay for themselves in less than a year. A large department store chain discovered just how great those savings could be when they installed different filtration options in different stores and compared the results. Those results were put in a Case Study, which was analyzed in a recent white paper published and presented at the AHR Exposition last January.
LEARN MORE About Filtration Energy and Cost Savings in FREE White Paper
Noted HVAC Energy Consultant George Oranski has written a white paper entitled "Energy Conservation through Filtration and Hydronic Free Cooling " in which he reviews the findings in this Case Study and outlines the benefits of an effective filtration system. His conclusions:
- A total of 15% total electric savings was realized.
- Chemical usage was reduced 15 to 20% and major maintenance savings was recorded.
CLICK HERE to download this FREE, comprehensive white paper, and start thinking now filtration can improve your hydronic cooling system and save energy and money at the same time.
Posted by William Vander Plaats on Fri, Nov 16, 2012 @ 09:55 AM
East coast USA residents are still reeling from the intense damage caused by Hurricane Sandy; the violent storm that hit more than two weeks ago and left its devastating mark on the United States. As states like New York and New Jersey still recover from Sandy’s fury, water safety and useability has become a top priority.
Pumps and filtration systems come together in a key partnership during times of crisis to provide unique recovery solutions. Separators and filtration systems are used to remove solids and debris to help protect pumps and clean contaminated storm waters. Top officials and even President Obama have said that water filtration is a vital part of the recovery process.
“Our first priority is water filtration plants and some other critical infrastructure in the state,” said President Obama at a press conference in New Jersey, “And so we’re working with Governor Christie’s office and local officials to identify what are those critical infrastructure, and how we get what’s needed as quickly as possible.”
Filtration Protects Pumps and Cleans Well Water
Water safety is a concern for both municipal plants and residential well users alike during the post-storm clean up. Staff at some water treatment plants expressed concern about increased turbidity from agriculture land run-off during the storm.
Additionally, residential well owners affected by the storm are being urged by the EPA to check their water supplies for any contamination or possible pump damage:
“Swiftly moving flood water can carry large debris that could loosen well hardware, dislodge well construction materials or distort the casing. Coarse sediment in the flood waters could erode pump components. If the well is not tightly capped, sediment and flood water could enter the well and contaminate it.”
These contaminated flood waters, debris, and other unwanted solids can wreak havoc on a well system and potentially cause serious health problems as well as damage to pump impellers. Pumps are playing key roles during the Hurricane Sandy recovery, not just in wells, but in some unlikely places.
Pumps and Filtration Used To Restore New York Subways
City crews worked around the clock to pump hundreds of millions of gallons of water out of New York’s subway system. All but one tunnel of the famous transit system flooded during the storm, and these pumps are moving 16,500 gallons of water per minute to restore them. The spinning impellers inside the pumps push water up from the flooded subway and out through a discharge hose.
Before storm waters can be sent through the pumps, however, it has to go through a filtration process in order to protect the pump equipment. Filtration is key for extending pump life, protecting impellers, and enhancing pump performance in every application from city subways to rural wells.
LEARN MORE About Filtration For Dewatering and Source Water Problems
From pre-filtration screen filters to submersible pump separators and municipal filtration, there’s a filtration solution for almost any problem. When it comes to recovering from major natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy, flood water filtration plays a key role in recovery efforts.
Team Rubicon is a group of military veterans and medical professionals assisting in Hurricane Sandy's recovery, aiding with post disaster damage assessments, debris management, and flood recovery operations. CLICK HERE to donate to their relief efforts.
Posted by William Vander Plaats on Fri, Oct 26, 2012 @ 10:45 AM
Public water systems have played an important role in the development of civilizations throughout history. Our nomadic ancestors were only able to settle in one location thanks to the development of water systems. Over thousands of years, humans have relied on aqueducts, pipes, and wells to bring fresh, clean water to their growing cities and villages.
Just last month in Jerusalem, archaeologists unearthed a 3,000 year old reservoir beneath the city. The newly found basin is one of the largest ever discovered in the ancient city, and could hold 250 cubic meters (66,000 gallons) of water. Historians say that the reservoir, near the Temple Mount, was used by the general public and pilgrims for everyday activities like bathing and drinking. The excavation was part of a project to map ancient Jerusalem’s drainage channel.
Filtration Emerges In Early Greece 
While early communities mastered the technique of bringing water to the people, in later centuries keeping the water clean was a bigger challenge. As early as 4000 B.C., ancient Greeks were experimenting with filtration techniques using charcoal filters and strainers to reduce turbidity. During the 1700s filtration was finally established as an effective means for removing particles from the water supply. Today filtration, along with proper chemical water treatment, is regarded as the best way to keep public water systems free of unwanted solids and disease-causing contaminants.
New NSF Certified Filtration Product Line Keeps Municipal Water Clean
Today’s modern filtration technology and water research continues to to improve water quality with each passing year. A new line of NSF-61 certified Public Waterworks Separators has been released by LAKOS Filtration, and these breakthrough products are groundbreaking in that they are the first municipal particle filtration systems to provide NSF certification for higher flow rates. The new separators can meet the demands for clean city water, removing sand, grit, and scale from pumped water systems, while remaining an economical solution.
DOWNLOAD The FREE Brochure
Information on this new municipal filtration technology is now available for FREE. Download this extensive new brochure detailing how the new PWC Series separators efficiently remove unwanted solids from the public water supply, and read how they have been both independently-tested as well as certified for NSF-61.
Posted by William Vander Plaats on Thu, Sep 27, 2012 @ 02:53 PM
The world is counting down the days until Tuesday, November 6th as voters in the USA elect the country’s next president. With the party nominees facing the election’s final 6 weeks, both candidates are refining their platforms and trying to convince the American public to vote their way.
Agreement On Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)But while the country’s political parties seem increasingly polarized on many issues, one issue both candidate Mitt Romney and President Obama appear to agree upon is the importance of ethanol mandates and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
The RFS ensures that a certain percentage of renewable fuel, often made from corn, is used in fuel production. The mandate is designed to reduce the country's oil dependency and increase vehicle efficiency.
But the United States is facing one of the worst droughts in the country’s history, causing corn prices to skyrocket. Lawmakers in Washington have been trying to work together to find a bipartisan solution for the challenges facing the ethanol and agricultural industries. With senators in both major parties and the United Nations calling for at least a temporary end to the current RFS to help lower food prices, the presidential candidates will have to consider whether or not to favor alternative fuel production over decreased food prices.
Filtration Makes Ethanol Plants More EfficientWith the future of ethanol production “up in the air” along with increased production costs, ethanol plants are looking for ways to save on energy and water while making sure equipment is running efficiently. One constant that ethanol plants can always rely on is proper filtration to help conserve energy, water, and maintenance costs. Installed throughout the plant, ethanol producers can utilize filtration to their advantage in every step of the ethanol production process.
Unwanted solids in source water, heat exchangers, in a cooling loop, cooling tower basins, and clean in place systems are huge challenges for these plants. These all too common problems cause pump damage, foul heat exchangers, clog nozzles, lead to under-deposit corrosion, and system pressure loss. For all of these problems, a great solution is effective filtration.
Separators installed throughout ethanol plants are the best protection against excessive maintenance shutdowns, as well as water and energy waste. Centrifugal action separators mean lower pressure loss, better efficiency, protected equipment, and no downtime for costly cleanings. In many instances, a well placed separator can pay for itself in a matter of months.
Download The NEW Guide Showing Filtration Solutions for Ethanol Plants
How can filtration make ethanol plants more efficient? DOWNLOAD the new filtration guide today. It includes installation photos and references some of the nation’s top ethanol producers who already turn to LAKOS for filtration solutions.
Posted by William Vander Plaats on Fri, Aug 24, 2012 @ 10:19 AM
The fight over clean groundwater is becoming increasingly more intense around the world. Water supplies in some countries are reaching historic lows, while in the U.S., Nevada and Utah continue their legal battle over the Snake Valley groundwater pipeline project. The dispute could possibly end in the Supreme Court, bringing the concern of groundwater levels to the national stage.
Solving current water problems like groundwater scarcity and nitrates (see below) and 
preventing even more problems in the future is the challenge facing all of us, and much of our hope lies in the education of future generations. A growing number of colleges and universities have learning programs related to the study of water usage. The importance of developing new water technologies and more efficient methods for using water cannot be overstated, and that is why both LAKOS and Laval Underground Surveys annually award two scholarships to college-bound students looking to start a career in the groundwater industry.
2012 Ben Everson Scholarship Winners
This year’s winners of the $1,000 scholarships are each outstanding students, who both currently work in the water industry while continuing their education. Each plans to graduate and move on to a career to somehow cultivate safe water resources for years to come. You can view more information about the 2012 winners on the Ben Everson Scholarship website.
Students can apply now for the 2013 Ben Everson Scholarship. Visit BenEversonScholarship.com for elligibility requirements. The deadline to apply is July 1, 2013.
Solving Today’s Nitrate Problems: A New Case Study
Not only is water scarcity increasing, but the growing concern of nitrate levels in groundwater has been gaining attention. From Texas to Minnesota and California to New York, the health hazard has people worried about the levels of nitrates in the water. Nitrates occur naturally in the earth, or can be placed there by humans. Leaking sewage, fertilizers, and decomposition all can contribute to the problem. Effects of nitrate exposure to humans includes the often fatal “Blue Baby Syndrome” in infants.
One California city took action to lower the amount of Nitrates in their water. They installed a water treatment system to reduce the level of nitrates in the municipal well water. The only problem was that the new system required absolutely sand free well water. The city needed a reliable filtration solution to get the sand out of the well. They installed two LAKOS Centrifugal Separators, and the results have been astounding.
DOWNLOAD The FREE Case Study
Download the new Nitrate Filtration Case Study with full details and color photographs. See how the City of Jurupa successfully removed solids and nitrates from the city water supply thanks to filtration.
Posted by William Vander Plaats on Thu, Aug 02, 2012 @ 03:34 PM
The 2012 Olympics are officially underway, and as tens of thousands of athletes and spectators descend on London, health concerns and safety are top priorities.
British health officials have evaluated public health concerns in preparation for the Summer Games, including possible outbreaks of the potentially lethal Legionnaire’s Disease. They are taking every precaution to prevent the growth and spread of the dangerous disease, monitoring the Olympic venues and arenas for potential signs of the bacteria. After recent outbreaks of the disease in the UK before the games began, officials know that preventative measures are key to protecting athletes, visitors, and citizens during the event's 16 day run.
Airports, hotels, hospitals, arenas, and other large buildings in London are of special concern. The best way for these facilities to proactively reduce the risk of legionella exposure to their guests is to install proper cooling tower filtration. Heathrow Airport in London has done exactly that, installing a LAKOS Filtration system several years ago.
On a normal day at Heathrow, over 190,000 passengers either arrive or depart out of the UK’s busiest airport. For the Olympics, Heathrow recruited 1,000 additional volunteers to assist with the increased traffic, and have upgraded the baggage system to handle over 200,000 pieces of luggage, including everything from canoes to pole vaults. Together with the LAKOS Filtration system and other facility improvements, airport officials are confident they can meet the demands both during and after the Games.
Cooling Tower Filtration: An Effective Solution for Reducing Legionella Risk
A LAKOS Filtration System for cooling towers is an excellent solution to keep the cooling tower basin clean and prevent the environment in which legionella can flourish. Prevention is the key, as described by ASHRAE in these words: “Keeping the system clean reduces nutrients available for Legionella growth... centrifugal gravity type separators... can be used to assist the removal of debris.”
One way in which a LAKOS Filtration system accomplishes this is through the placement of high pressure nozzles at strategic locations in the cooling town basin, where they prevent dirt, grit, and other solids from settling in one location. These "HydroBooster" nozzles play a key role in the cleaning process, and utilize a patented vortex technology to push basin solids towards the separator so it can be separated from the water and removed from the system.
Download the FREE HydroBooster Information Sheet TODAY !
Want to learn more? DOWNLOAD the New HydroBooster Technical Sheet. The data sheet includes detailed sample configurations with HydroBooster layouts. Or visit the LAKOS Cooling Tower Filtration page .
Posted by William Vander Plaats on Wed, Jul 25, 2012 @ 02:34 PM
Every year the Irrigation Association promotes irrigation best practices by honoring July as Smart Irrigation Month. The goal of the month long celebration is to raise awareness of water efficiency.
Water conservation is more important than ever this year, with many agricultural regions suffering from severe drought conditions. In Nebraska, over 1,100 farmers have been ordered to stop irrigating their crops with surface water, due to extreme drought. They will have to rely on groundwater to prevent the corn crop from dying. With these conditions, it’s important for farmers to utilize best practices in irrigation to get the most out of their water and equipment.
Filtration: An Irrigation Best Practice
According to the Irrigation Association, the best practices that irrigation systems should incorporate to ensure efficiency are:
- Assure Overall Quality of the Irrigation System
- Design the Irrigation System for the Efficient and Uniform Distribution of Water
- Install the Irrigation System to Meet the Design Criteria
- Maintain the Irrigation System for Optimum Performance
- Manage the Irrigation System to Respond to the Changing Requirement for Water in the Landscape
Implementing an effective filtration system is the perfect way to meet these guidelines.
For agriculture irrigation, the best decision is often to install a centrifugal separator upstream of sand media filters as a way to remove the larger sand and solids particles first (with the separator), and then the smaller particles and light organic next (using the sand media filters). Fewer and more efficient backwashing cycles are the result, leading to longer equipment life and less water waste.
Download FREE Filtration Information Guides
Download our Filtration Guides, complete with color photos and valuable advice on what types of filters to use. These filtration guides have all the information you need to start following Best Practices in irrigation filtration.
Download the Residential and Landscape Irrigation Solutions Guide, LS-847
Download the Agriculture Irrigation Solutions Guide, LS-848