Visit E/One Sewer Systems at WEFTEC

E/One Sewer Systems will exhibit at WEFTEC next month, October 1-3 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

We will feature new products including the UNI-LATERAL all-stainless steel, single body curb stop and redundant check valve; a new shroud riser for easier onsite installation adjustments; and the Duplex Protect Plus panel with enhanced reporting features.

Come by WEFTEC exhibit #2319 and discover how E/One can significantly reduce costs for your next sewer project with minimum environmental disruption. Or visit us at www.eone.com/sewer

New Video: The Towel Test

Check out our latest video on YouTube, The Towel Test. We know there are a lot of grind videos on Youtube, from us and from our competition. Have you noticed that in all of the videos, the pump runs continuously? It never shuts off while grinding.

Well, we did it: while grinding up a towel, we unplugged the pump. What happened? Watch the video to find out.

Webinar: Optimizing Pressure Sewer Performance

Tuesday, June 19, 2012 2:00 PM EDT

If you’re considering pressure sewers for your community, or already have them;  this could be the most valuable webinar you see this year!
                    
Grinder Pump driven pressure sewers have been the alternative system of choice for several decades, offering superior life-cycle cost to gravity sewers in variety of challenging conditions.  But owners and operators wanting to further lower O&M costs are discovering a system which can improve their repair and replacement schedules without any preventive maintenance.  Find out the rest of the story from the owner’s perspective, as well as the designing engineer’s angle.

If you are currently served by a pressure sewer system, or are planning to install one, this is a must-see webinar!

Click here to register.

Don't Fear the Grinder Pump!

"I heard you can't pour boiling water down the drain."

"I heard you can't use Charmin toilet paper."

"I heard you can't use drain cleaner."

"I heard you can't use cooking oil."

"I heard you can't ...."

The list goes on. We hear from homeowners who are worried about all of the things you "can't" do if you have a grinder pump -- not just an E/One grinder pump, but any grinder pump. Let's put the fears to rest:

Boiling water: We heard this one recently. If you're making pasta, yes, it's OK to pour the water down the drain. The water will stop boiling as soon as you turn off the stove, and by the time the water reaches the grinder pump, it will be cool.

Toilet paper limitations: You are free to use whatever brand of regular toilet paper you like ... but beware of flushable wipes! They don't break down in wastewater the same way regular toilet paper does (so they don't fall apart while you're using them). See post below for link to a Consumer Reports video and opinions from plumbers who have had to clear clogs. Even if they get through your drains and grinder pump, they're wreaking havoc on the lift stations and at the wastewater treatment plant. (Remember: your taxes pay for these services!)

Drain cleaner: Normal, household-use drain cleaner is fine to use (as opposed to commercial-grade, which is incredibly strong), but flush plenty of clean water down the drain until the pump turns on and clears out any drain cleaner that may be in the tank.You wouldn't leave chemicals soaking in your sink; you shouldn't do it to your grinder pump.

Cooking oil/Grease: Using cooking oil isn't the problem ... pouring large amounts of cooking oil down the drain is the problem. Oil isn't good for the pump, but again, the problem isn't limited to grinder pumps -- oil isn't good for ANY sewer system. Even if you fry up a pound of bacon, you'll have more grease than should go down the drain. Scrape it into the garbage can, wipe the pan, then wash it. Any residue will be minimal -- and the pan will be easier to wash.

Get a copy of our Grinder Pump Owners Guide


Typically, people have used the "flush and forget" rule: If they can can flush it down the drain without clogging, then they can forget about it ... never mind what may happen to the sewer mains, lift stations and treatment plant because it's not their responsibility. That's changing, though: some municipalities have said that if they can determine which household is responsible for flushing prohibited items, they will charge that household for repair costs.


References*

• http://www.ci.hayward.ca.us/brochures_handouts/Wipes_Clog_Pipes.pdf  
• http://kreate.hubpages.com/hub/flushable_wipes_may_clog_drain_lines
• http://www.stsan.com/Wipes_Clog_Pipes.html
• http://www.celina-tx.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=260&Itemid=271 
  
• http://www.ceasethegrease.org/

* These municipalities may or may not be E/One customers. We selected these links based on the quality of content and suggested "use and care" of their sewer systems.

Grind Videos Available on YouTube

Ever wonder what an E/One grinder pump can do to a paper towel, a t-shirt, or some old jeans? We posted a few videos on our YouTube page last week. See for yourself how the pump easily handles these items.

Have a suggestion for what you'd like to see the E/One pump grind? Let us know! eone@eone.com

New Alarm Panel for Duplex Grinder Pump Stations

E/One is pleased to announce the availability of E/One Sentry Protect Plus for duplex grinder pump stations.

E/One Sentry alarm panels are UL-listed and include lockable, NEMA 4X-rated enclosures. From basic monitored to advanced warning of pending service needs, E/One Sentry panels are customizable and designed for use with simplex and duplex Extreme Series grinder pump stations.

The Protect Plus panel's dead front includes a membrane switch with LED indicators and an LCD message display. The Protect Plus option provides protection from low voltage (brownout), run dry and high system pressure situations. With each condition a lockout cycle will prevent the motor from operating, the Trouble LED will illuminate and the LCD will display the lockout message.

Features exclusive to Protect Plus include: high/low voltage monitoring; high/low wattage monitoring; extended run time; cycle/event counter; adjustable run time limit; adjustable power-up and alarm delays; and system self-test.

Available options include generator receptacle with manual transfer; main service disconnect; E/One's Remote Sentry; and an external auto-dialer.

Get more information at E/One's web site.

FAQ: What's Wrong with Flushable Wipes?

Homeowners ask us about personal, flushable wipes. "If they're flushable, what's the problem?" The problem is, while they flush fine, they don't break down in water the way regular toilet paper does. and that can cause big problems.

Consumer Reports magazine conducted its own test of flushable wipes to see how they compare to regular toilet paper. Their recommendation? Toss, don't flush.

Search "flushable wipes clog" and you'll find tales from homeowners who have experienced sewage backups in their homes ... sometimes in graphic detail (consider yourself warned!). These homeowners don't even say whether or not they have grinder pumps -- the house plumbing clogged up, causing backups inside the home.

Problems have not been limited to homeowners. Municipal sewer workers around the country have had to spend a lot of time and money clearing clogs from lift stations and at the wastewater treatment plant that they say have been caused by wipes. Some municipalities have even made flushing them illegal!

Still not convinced? We came across an article in Contractor magazine that was written by a plumber. He's seen the problem first-hand.

Check Out Our Facebook Timeline

We're telling the E/One Sewer Systems story on Facebook -- find out how and when we were founded. From the first grinder pumps to more than one million users, E/One has been the market leader for household grinder pumps.

Wastewater Infrastructure in Prefurbia

The January issue of Pumps & Systems magazine features "Wastewater Infrastructure in Prefurbia."

Rick Harrison, the author of Prefurbia: Reinventing the Suburbs from Disdainable to Sustainable, and his team have spent 30 years designing more than 700 innovative neighborhoods in 46 states and 14 countries. More communities across the U.S. are becoming aware of Rick Harrison's vision and expertise and are actively taking part in planning committees and discussions about Prefurbia. Prefurbia incorporates Harrison's green neighborhood design thoughts, innovative ideas, techniques and methods.

Learn how E/One Sewer systems can be part of the solution.

Visit us at the International Builders' Show, Feb 8-11

Be sure to stop by the E/One Sewer Systems exhibit at the International Builders' Show, February 8-11 in Orlando.

Find out how to get a free hydraulic analysis for your next project. Also, enter to win a limited-edition E/One World hoodie!

Check out the popular E/One IDU in the Cape Cod Technology Home at Show Village.

Call to Action: DON’T LET $25 BILLION IN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING SLIP AWAY!

A message from WWEMA, the Water and Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association, Inc.:

TODAY you have a chance to make a real difference! The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to act this week on a transportation reauthorization bill, known as the “American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act”. We have an opportunity to include a provision in that bill that would remove the volume caps on private activity bonds for water infrastructure projects. This could generate $25 billion in private capital being invested in our industry over the next five years, creating 700,000 jobs and adding $225 billion to the national economy. In order to accomplish this, we need to encourage the House Ways and Means Committee to include it in its mark up of the “American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act”, which is scheduled to be considered on Friday, February 3.

WE NEED YOUR HELP! Call your Congressman TODAY and ask to speak to his (her) tax legislative assistant about tax-exempt private activity bonds for water and wastewater projects. Request that your Congressman contact House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp and/or his tax staff to support and include in the tax section of the jobs/highway bill a 5-year provision of the bipartisan private activity bond legislation (H.R. 1802) – known as the “Sustainable Water Infrastructure Investment Act” - to exempt water projects from state bond caps.

· Congress already exempts airports, high-speed rail and solid waste disposal facilities from the bond caps. Water, which is essential for life, should be exempt as well.

· The private activity bond measure will help cash-strapped communities address safe drinking water and wastewater infrastructure needs by encouraging private capital investment of $5 billion annually – twice the amount of water infrastructure funding requested by President Obama.

· An investment of $5 billion annually in community water and wastewater systems will create approximately 140,000 local jobs and add almost $45 billion to the national economy.

· The use of private capital instead of tax dollars means less impact on the federal budget and less risk and long-term debt for local communities.

· A five-year bill will provide $25 billion investment in water infrastructure, create 700,000 jobs and add $225 billion to the national economy, at a cost of only $50 million in lost federal tax revenue.

THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CALL YOU CAN MAKE TODAY! In addition, if you have manufacturing and/or sales operations in other locations, please urge them to do the same by contacting the congressional representative in their district. Go to http://www.house.gov/ and type in your company zip code to obtain contact information for your representative.

TIME IS SHORT SO WE MUST ACT NOW given that the Committee is expected to act on this measure on Friday. Attached is a one-page overview of the private activity bond issue, talking points, and a list of House Ways and Means Committee members, for background purposes.

Exempt Facility Bonds for Water and Wastewater Infrastructure

ISSUE:

Aging and crumbling public water and wastewater systems threaten economic vitality and public health. Incentives such as tax exempt private activity bonds for water and wastewater projects encourage private capital investment, create jobs and provide more affordable financing for water and wastewater infrastructure, which in many cities is beyond or nearing the end of its useful life. However, federally imposed state volume caps for private activity bonds limit bond issuance for water projects.

BACKGROUND:

$635 Billion Funding Gap for Nation’s Aging Water and Wastewater Infrastructure

Cities, towns and communities across the nation face major challenges over the next 20 years to replace aging and worn out water and wastewater infrastructure. Capital investment for such projects will be difficult as many states and local governments face mounting budget deficits, revenue shortfalls and opposition to new taxes. Recent studies by the U.S. EPA and the GAO predict an investment-funding gap of more than $635 billion for upgrades and repairs to public water and wastewater systems many of which were constructed 50 to 100 years ago.

Exempt Facility Bonds: A Public-Private Partnership Approach to Infrastructure Investment

The single-most effective tool for financing long-term, capital-intensive infrastructure projects is the private activity bond (PAB) or exempt facility bond, a form of tax-exempt financing that encourages state and municipal governments to collaborate with sources of private capital to meet a public need. The partnership approach makes infrastructure repair and construction more affordable for municipalities and ultimately for users or customers. Exempt facility bonds utilize private capital instead of public debt and shift the risk and long-term debt from the municipality to the private partner. In addition, the tax-exempt bond provides lower cost financing, which can translate to lower costs for the customer.

Annual Volume Cap Restricts Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Investment

Congress provides to states an annual allocation of the federal tax-exempt bonds, based upon population (Section 146 of the Internal Revenue Code). In 2011, the state allocation or volume cap shall be the greater of $95 per resident or $277.82 million. Historically, most of the tax-exempt bonds have been issued to politically attractive, short-term projects such as housing and education loans. The annual volume cap hinders the use of PABs for water and wastewater infrastructure, which are generally multi-year projects and out of sight. In 2007, only 1.3% of all exempt facility bonds were issued to water and wastewater projects.

POLICY RECOMMENDATION:

Lift the Volume Cap for Tax-Exempt Bonds for Water Infrastructure

Amend the Internal Revenue Code (26 USC 146) to remove the volume cap applicable to private activity bonds for public-purpose water and wastewater projects. This modification would allow local communities to leverage private capital markets in combination with other finance mechanisms and provide an influx of low cost private capital to finance water infrastructure projects. The local users in turn repay the bond issuances over time. Exceptions from the volume cap are currently provided for other governmentally owned facilities such as airports, ports, high-speed intercity rail, and solid waste disposal sites.

COST/BENEFIT:

This policy change would infuse $50 billion in private capital investment and create/support 1,425,000 jobs at a cost of only $354 million in lost tax revenue over ten years.

Exempt Facility Bonds for Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Create Local Jobs and Ensure Clean, Safe Water

· Encourages the use of private capital to assist water utilities in meeting infrastructure replacement and compliance challenges

· Partnership approach: private partner assumes financial risk and long-term debt – not the municipality

· Every dollar invested in water and wastewater infrastructure, adds $8.97 to the national economy

· $1 billion investment in infrastructure creates or supports 28,500 jobs

The Sustainable Water Infrastructure Investment Act,

H.R. 1802, S.939

HELPING to MEET OUR NATION’S WATER CHALLENGES

Talking Points

· Much of the nation’s water and wastewater infrastructure was constructed generations ago and is nearing or at the end of its useful life.

• 650 water main breaks every day
• Two trillion gallons of treated water is lost every year at a cost of $2.6 billion.

· U.S. Mayors forecast water and wastewater investment needs of up to $4.8 trillion over the next 20 years.

· U.S. EPA and GAO estimate current water infrastructure funding gap to be $500 billion to $1 trillion.

· Confronted with budget deficits and scarce funding resources, Federal, state and local governments are hard-pressed to help cover the costs of replacing crumbling and leaking water infrastructure.

· The unprecedented challenge will inevitably fall on local water systems and their customers. Thus, local governments will need many organizational, managerial and financial tools to keep costs under control.

· Many of the tools will involve greater private sector participation through public-private partnerships. Greater access to Private Activity Bonds (PABs) will increase private sector options for municipalities

· PABs are a form of financing, which allows private capital investment in public projects – the benefits of which are interest rates lower than conventional taxable financing, a lower delivered cost of service and a readily available funding supply.

· Local governments commonly use PABs for a variety of public purposes: public housing, school loans, airports, recreation and cultural facilities, solid waste disposal sites and ports.

· In the past, PAB’s have been used to solve critical infrastructure problems including the solid waste disposal crisis in the 1980’s, where the private sector invested over $20 billion in new waste-to-energy facilities to avoid massive groundwater pollution and reduce the growing number of hazardous waste sites.

· However, under the federal rules governing PABs, there is a limited total dollar amount of PABs issued by a given state. This limitation, or “cap,” is based on the state’s population. Twenty-one different kinds of projects are subject to the same PABs cap. Thus, water projects must compete for the same limited “cap” with housing or education or electric generation projects, (etc.), for example.

· Historically “out of sight, out of mind,” water projects have “lost out” in this competition to more visible projects. In 2007, only 1.3% of all PABs were issued to water and wastewater projects.

· Unless the rules governing PABs are changed, the percent of PABs going to water projects is not expected to increase even though the need for such investment in water infrastructure projects will dramatically increase in the coming years.

· Representatives Geoff Davis (R-KY) and Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) have introduced legislation to remove water and wastewater projects from the state volume caps

· The private activity bond measure will help cash-strapped communities address safe drinking water and wastewater infrastructure needs by encouraging private capital investment of $5 billion annually – twice the amount of water infrastructure funding requested by President Obama.

· An investment of $5 billion in community water systems will create approximately 140,000 local jobs and add almost $45 billion to the national economy.

· The use of private capital instead of tax dollars means less impact on the federal budget and less risk and long-term debt for local communities.

· A five-year bill will provide $25 billion investment in water infrastructure, create 700,000 jobs and add $225 billion to the national economy at a cost of $50 million in lost federal tax revenue.

· Please support H.R.1802 and S.939