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Should you use Reclaimed Water
In your Cooling Towers?
To quote the
economists maxim: "there ain't no such thing as a free lunch
. . . " This is also true when it comes to using reclaimed
water in your plant cooling towers.
Your facility
may have been approached about the idea of using "reclaimed
water" from your friendly municipal treatment plant as a way
of helping with the current water shortage or drought conditions
in your area. Reclaimed water is normally not drinkable and refers
to treated wastewater from a wastewater treatment plant or water
that has already been used in another industrial process. There
is often a discount for using reclaimed water as compared to using
normal potable water.
Full
Story
ISO 14001 Reminder
On
May 15, 2006, the revised ISO 14001:2004 EMS standard
(published on November 15, 2004) will replace the existing standard
ISO 14001:1996. Since May 15, 2005, all organizations registered
to ISO 14001:1996 are being audited to the requirements of ISO 14001:2004.
No certificates according to ISO 14001:1996 will be valid after
May 15, 2006, regardless of their expiration date.
Particulate Matter (PM)
On
January 17, 2006, the EPA proposed revisions to
the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM. The proposed
changes include:
Primary
Standards (public health protection):
- New 24 hour
PM2.5 standard: 35 μg/m3 (currently 65 μg/m3)
- New indicator
for thoracic coarse particles (PM10): includes any ambient mix
of PM10 that is dominated by particles generated by high-density
traffic on paved roads, industrial sources, and construction sources,
and excludes any ambient mix of PM10 that is dominated by rural
windblown dust and soils and agricultural and mining sources
- New 24 hour
PM10 standard: 70 μg/m3 (currently 150 μg/m3)
Secondary
Standards (public welfare protection):
- Same as primary
standards
The
EPA will accept comments on the proposed rule until April 17, 2006.
Full
Text of Proposed Rule
Renewable Energy
On
January 10, 2006, Whole Foods Market, a leading
organic supermarket, announced the largest ever purchase of wind
energy credits in the United States. The acquisition of more than
458,000 MWh allows the company to offset 100 % of its energy consumption
with renewable energy and helps to reduce emissions of greenhouse
gases and air pollutants. Current energy production in the U.S.
is mainly based on the use of fossil fuels. In 2004, only 6.1 %
of the consumed energy originated from renewable sources, with only
0.1 % from wind power. In contrast, 85.9 % of the energy was produced
from fossil fuels.
For
further information, please visit:
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company/pr_01-10-06.html
(Whole Foods Market – Purchase of Wind Energy Credits)
http://www.eia.doe.gov/
(Official Energy Statistics from the U.S. Government)
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