Microbial fuel cells can be used to create electricity from wastewater. To understand how they work, think about The Matrix, Bruce Logan suggests. “The premise of the movie was that humans were in these pods, and they were supplying electricity to the machines,” he says. “You and I eat food and generate energy,” and bacteria do the same thing. In aerobic conditions, the electrons they generate latch onto oxygen. But in a microbial fuel cell, the wastewater-dwelling bacteria are deprived of oxygen. Those electrons have to go somewhere, and in the fuel cell, they travel to an electrode. From there, they flow to the other side of the cell, creating an electrical current. On the other side, those electrons find oxygen and protons, with which they can combine. The end results: electricity and water.
Pretty pipes - but what's the purpose? Do you know? (credit: Paul Cockrell)
- Where does LA’s water come from? And why are those supplies under pressure?
- How can pretty purple pipes (pictured above) save LA water and money?
- What’s a bioswale? And how does it meet EPA rules and supply drinking water?
- Why have Andy Lipkis, Founder of TreePeople, actor Ed Bagley Jr. and thousands of Angelenos installed large rainwater harvesting tanks at their homes and businesses?
- What’s the most affordable source of water for the LA Basin?
- Finally, where will LA’s water come from in the future?
We’ll post answers after our March 22, World Water Day seminar at the LA Chamber of Commerce. Join LABS of CWEA and Townhall LA to participate in a lively discussion about what’s happening with the LA Basin’s water supply and where some pioneering folks propose we get new supplies of water for a clean, green and healthy future.
Please help spread the word – everyone is invited!
Seminar sponsors include – Contech Engineered Solutions / Haaker Equipment Co. / LA Area Chamber of Commerce
March 22
La Chamber
8am to 1:30pm
$25pp includes lunch / $6parking.
Click here for details and to register
The burden of addressing stormwater pollution is a challenge every city is facing. Engineer Russ Bryden with the LA County Dept. of Public Works will explain the Water Quality Funding Initiative – a ballot initiative that, if approved by the voters, will provide an on-going stable funding source to enhance water quality through implementation of clean water projects and programs while reducing pollution in stormwater and urban runoff. If the voters do not approve the Water Quality Funding Initiative, cities will have to continue funding water quality improvement needs from general funds or other less reliable sources.
Thursday March 29th
6 pm Mixer, 7 pm Dinner
Monterey Hill Steakhouse
3700 W Ramona Blvd
Monterey Park 91754
(323) 264-8426
RSVP by March 23rd
alecm@jwce.com
or call Alec Mackie
(714) 428-4614
See flyer for more info
(our thanks to LABS photographer Kent McIntosh, LACSD)
Held at LACSD, noon-4 p.m.
1955 Workman Mill Rd. Whittier, CA 90601.
No charge, all agencies are welcome.
RSVP to Kent McIntosh
Dry Winter? Where Will Our Water Come From?
Can we find new sources of water to quench SoCal’s thirst before the old sources are cut-off ? Join LABS of CWEA for a robust conversation about the LA Basin’s new direction for clean water projects, and show your support for clean, healthy and sustainable water supplies. During lunch Townhall LA hosts a panel of experts discussing our water future. Seminar moderator: Hala Titus, LABS Past President, Black & Veatch. Everyone is welcome, no additional charge.
*Update - Mark Gold Joins Panel Discussion
*Mark Gold is the legendary former Executive Director of Heal the Bay who recently moved to UCLA to become an Associate Director of their Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
See Flyer for additional details.
Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant (City of Los Angeles) combines advanced wastewater treatment technology with the beauty and tranquility of its landscaped gardens. The plant provides 26MGD reclaimed water to many users in the San Fernando Valley. The Japanese Gardens built adjacent to the treatment plant, are irrigated with reclaimed water from the plant and are open to the public on a year round basis.
When: March 20, 2012 Tuesday @ 10am
Venue: 6100 Woodley Ave, Van Nuys, CA 91406
Cost: Free
RSVP: Rachel Deco rdeco@lacsd.org
The draft MFP evaluates the infrastructure needs of the Districts’ Joint Outfall System (JOS) through the year 2050 and makes recommendations on how to ensure the continuation of the JOS as a reliable and cost-effective wastewater management system that is protective of public health and the environment. The JOS is a regional wastewater management system serving nearly 5 million people in 73 cities and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County and includes seven of the Districts’ eleven wastewater treatment plants.
A nine-acre park at Avalon Boulevard and 54th Street offers walking paths, native plants and pools with bacteria that clean polluted storm water.
It took three years and more than $26 million to turn an old MTA bus yard in South Los Angeles into what it is today: a sprawling park and urban wetland that will store and clean millions of gallons of storm water — while also giving children a place to play.
Unlike most parks, which feature green lawns and picnic tables, this one is composed of walking paths, native plants and several kidney-shaped pools filled with storm water. Naturally occurring bacteria clean pollutants from the water, which eventually feeds into a storm drain.
LEARN HOW YOU CAN SERVE ON THE LABS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
LABS of CWEA is now accepting nominations for openings on the 2012/2013 Board of Directors. Volunteers help make LABS and CWEA important contributors to the California wastewater industry, while also providing opportunities for training, networking and development.
Please feel free to contact LABS Vice-President Alec Mackie to discuss oppotunities and how to make a difference at CWEA!
This is a great chance to get involved. Last call for nominations is at the March 16th LABS meeting.
Contact: Alec Mackie
Phone: 714-428-4614
Email: alecm@jwce.com
By Wendy Wert, LABS President
On January 21, 2012, the Los Angeles Basin Section (LABS) of California Water Environment Association (CWEA) hosted the 2011 annual LABS awards from the Queen Elizabeth room aboard the Queen Mary. The event was a celebration of the contributions to the field of Environmental Engineering from the Past, Present, and Future.
The celebration began with an energized 1920’s themed social gathering of CWEA leaders, members, and award winners. LABS Outreach Coordinator Erika DeHollan provided a photo montage highlighting sponsors whose dedicated support during this economic recovery cycle has allowed LABS to provide training that enhances the education and effectiveness of California’s wastewater professionals.
In keeping with the historical theme, CWEA LABS Directors Basil Hewitt and Wendy Wert welcomed attendees with an interactive narrative on historical contributions from the era before sanitation through the 1920’s. Not only water professionals believe the advent of basic wastewater collection and treatment in the twentieth century resulted in direct benefits to public health in the United States and other developed countries. For example, in 2007, thousands of readers of the prestigious British Medical Journal picked sanitation as “the most important medical advance since 1840.” A reoccurring theme was that the most significant advances are always the result of collaborations involving engineers from multiple disciplines, scientists from multiple fields, academics from multiple global regions, and practitioners from multiple areas of expertise.
The PDF files are here:
www.labsofcwea.com/databases/presentations/?category=25
The presentation by David Haug, LACSD Senior Engineer, will provide an overview on the progression of the Districts’ Clearwater Program and focus on the technical aspects of the four tunnel alternatives being evaluated in the EIR/EIS.
$40 members, $45 non-members, $20 students
When:
Thursday, February 23, 2012
6PM Mixer | 7PM Dinner
Where:
Proud Bird
11022 Aviation Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90045
(310) 670-3093
RSVP by 2/16 with
meal choice to:
alecm@jwce.com
Or call 714-428-4614
See flyer for more information
Mistakes can be made when reporting biosolids reuse or disposal. These mistakes can range from incorrect entries to misunderstanding the reporting requirements. This seminar will present an overview of the current regulatory compliance aspects for biosolids tracking, monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements.
Tracking requirements will describe the responsibilities associated with several biosolids management practices, such as land application, composting, and disposal. Monitoring requirements for various biosolids management practices will be discussed, including sampling and analytical methods, frequency, and holding times.$10 members, $15 non-members, $5 students
When:
Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012
11am – 2pm
Where:
Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County
Conference Rooms E & F
1955 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA
Lunch: deli sandwichs, chips, cookies and sodas
RSVP: alecm@jwce.com by 1/27 please
See flyer for more information
(photos by Nicole You, E2 Consulting Engineers Inc.)
(Photos by Kent McKintosh, LACSD)
On Nov 10th 45 members of LABS participated in a unique, behind the scenes tour of the rapidly expanding Space X manufacturing facility in Hawthorne. The event was LABS’ annual Industrial Waste tour and arranged by members of the Los Angeles County Sanitations Districts’ Industrial Waste Section.
Founded just a few years ago by Elon Musk, the entrepeanuer behind PayPal and Tesla electric cars, Space X is working on designing and building the next generation of rockets that will take people and supplies to the international space station, whicle also cutting the cost of building, launching and recovering the rockets. The company is building new rockets in response to competitions created by NASA to fund the next generate of private rocket launching companies.
CWEA One-Day Specialty Workshop
Biosolids: Energizing Your Gas Production.
FOG and Food Waste Co-Digestion Workshop
Get the latest information you need to know about
co-digesting FOG and food waste from suppliers to
operators. This workshop will provide information
about the state of the regulations, availability and
competition for FOG and food waste, operational
experiences, and considerations that can be
incorporated into new designs.
Who Should Attend:
Operators, practitioners, and managers practicing in
the wastewater, and resource recovery industries
throughout California.
Approved for CWEA Contact Hours:
- Environmental Compliance Inspector (ECI)
- Laboratory Analyst (LAB)
- Operator (OP)
- Biosolids Land Application Management (BLAM)
Earn up to 8.9 CWEA Contact Hours
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
City of LA Hyperion WTP
12000 Vista Del Mar
Playa del Rey, CA 90293
See flyer for more information
Please join us for a roaring 1920s themed awards banquet aboard the Queen Mary on Saturday Jan 21st, where we will honor our industry’s best and have a lot of fun too!
When:
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Drinks: 6 p.m.
Dinner: 7 p.m.
Where:
Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth Dining Room
1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach
Pay at the door cash/check: $50 CWEA members or $60 non-members
Parking $12
RSVP by Jan 13
