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ProTech Announces Availability of New Automated Control System for Stormwater Treatment

Posted on: Tuesday, 12 July 2005, 09:00 CDT

ProTech General Contracting Services Inc. (ProTech), a full service environmental compliance company, today announced the availability of the Company's new control system for stormwater treatment using polymer coagulants for suspended sediment removal. The control system, based on Streaming Current Detector (SCD) technology, provides real-time automated polymer monitoring and dosage control, with the capability to respond to changes in flow, turbidity, or water chemistry within minutes. For more information, contact ProTech and request a copy of the Company's SCD technical report, #TR02.1.

"Precise and accurate coagulant dose is critical for polymer coagulant systems because it eliminates the possibility of overdosing and minimizes coagulant consumption," states Chris Ott, ProTech's Chief Technology Officer. "SCD control has been used for many years for industrial process control -- ProTech has simply adapted the technology to meet the requirements of our stormwater treatment systems. We demonstrated SCD control on several projects last season and it greatly increased reliability, as well as client and regulator confidence, in our systems."

Polymers, coagulants and flocculants offer significant improvements in clarification efficiency and effluent water quality for many projects. However, they require precise and accurate dosage control for optimum efficiency, to minimize polymer consumption, and to eliminate potential toxicity due to excess polymer in the effluent. To date, most polymer treatment systems have used simple proportional metering control systems. While these control systems are effective, they do have potential limitations -- the most important being that the system operator must monitor and account for variation in suspended sediment levels.

The SCD measures an electric current which is the net surface charge of a water sample, which is a direct measurement of the efficiency of particle coagulation. The SCD, in conjunction with a controller processor, metering pump, and flow and turbidity meters, constitutes a feedback system assuring continuous, accurate polymer dosage. As flow and suspended material load varies, the system continuously recalculates dose to maintain the optimum, varying polymer feed accordingly. The optimum polymer dose is reestablished within minutes of changes in flow or suspended material.

"SCD control is the best available method for maximizing the efficiency of a polymer coagulation system," says Mr. Ott. "This technology automatically responds almost immediately to changes, and allows the system to be fine tuned for minimum polymer consumption and best efficiency."

The SCD provides the most accurate and precise method of polymer control available today. The system includes comprehensive data storage and reporting capabilities, including the ability to automatically send data reports by cell phone or email. The polymer feed and SCD control unit itself is compact, requires little electrical power, and can be operated with a small generator, solar array, or Pelton wheel.

ProTech will be presenting a paper at StormCon 2005, The North American Surface Water Quality Conference and Exposition, to be held July 19-21 at the Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida. The Company's paper, "Automated Monitoring and Dosage of Polymer Coagulants in Stormwater Treatment using a Streaming Current Detector," will be presented on Thursday, July 21 at 10:15 a.m. in Session B70. ProTech will also be exhibiting in Booth #314.

ProTech offers water treatment systems for a variety of applications, including construction site and stormwater runoff, dewatering operations, and well drilling. The Company also provides design and engineering services, planning and permit application, water treatment system installation and maintenance, and monitoring and compliance documentation.

About ProTech Services Inc.

ProTech is a full service environmental compliance company specializing in water treatment for construction, environmental, agricultural, and many other applications. Whether customers require stormwater control, sediment or contaminant removal, or pollution prevention, ProTech has a safe and easy to maintain solution. ProTech offers a comprehensive range of treatment technologies including clarification, oil/water separation, chemical treatment, and cartridge and membrane filtration, designed and optimized for individual customer applications. The Company's services and equipment are available for short or long-term projects, and can be provided as components in customers' water treatment systems or as complete turn-key systems. Rapid mobilization and first-rate field support are offered at very competitive pricing. ProTech holds a Class A General Engineering Contractor's License and a Class B General Building Contractor's License (#745022) in the State of California. ProTech job sites in California are permitted and inspected by the California EPA's Regional Water Quality Control Board, and meet or exceed all State and Federal Requirements. ProTech serves projects nationwide. Call 800-433-6040 for a branch location near you. For more information, visit www.protech-services-inc.com.

Source: Business Wire

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