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Washington– U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $4 million to four institutions to conduct research to combat the effects of drought and extreme events on water quality in watersheds and at drinking water utilities.
“As a nation we are witnessing the harmful effects of droughts and extreme events, such as wildfires and flooding, that often follow drought conditions,” said Thomas A. Burke, EPA Science Advisor and Deputy Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “This research will provide innovative strategies to help local communities, states, tribes, and the federal government better understand the impacts of these problems, and better protect our nation’s water and the health of our friends and families who rely on those water resources.”
These grants will provide innovative strategies for protecting water quality and public health during periods of drought. Increasing demands on the nation’s water resources, climate change, population growth and aging water infrastructure systems pose substantial threats to these resources.
The following institutions received funding through the EPA’s Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program:
Clemson University, Clemson, S.C., for investigating the effects of different forest fire reduction management techniques, such as prescribed burns or mechanical thinning, in experimental forested watersheds associated with rainstorm events following droughts and the impact on treated drinking water supplies.
Water Research Foundation, University of Colorado at Boulder, Colo. for developing an integrated modeling and decision framework to evaluate adaptation strategies for sustainable drinking water utility management impacted by drought and climate change.
Public Policy Institute of California, San Francisco, Calif. for synthesizing the current drought situation and its effects on water supply and quality, and conducting an assessment that examines the drought response by federal, state, and local institutions to develop innovations needed for sustainable drought management.
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah for developing and integrating tools, models, and educational materials that can be used by stakeholders to improve planning efforts related to water supply, forecasting demand for water, and nutrient reduction.
More information about the STAR grants and recipients: www.epa.gov/research-grants/water-research-grants
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NASTT turns 25 in 2015! What was happening 25 years ago?
On November 10, 1990, John Hughes‘ film “Home Alone” directed by Chris Columbus and starring Macaulay Culkin premiered in Chicago.
On November 12, 1990, Tim Berners-Lee published a more formal proposal for the World Wide Web.
And then, on November 13, 1990, the first known web page is written.
Check in every Friday in 2015 when NASTT posts more facts about 25 years ago…
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Clearwater, Florida – 11/3/15: Perma-Liner™ announces the release of InnerSeal™, their 
engineered solution for repairing defective laterals and the connection to the mainline. This technology was designed using the standard practice for the rehabilitation of a sewer service lateral – ASTM-F2561-11. InnerSeal™ is a one-piece, structural, new continuous Main to Lateral CIPP that completely seals the connection while simultaneously renewing the lateral.
Jerry D’Hulster, President of Perma-Liner™ Industries, LLC stated “We are excited to release the InnerSeal™ ASTM-F2561-11 compliant technology. The technology and product advances for rehabilitating lateral-to main connections will help us improve and expand our cured-in-place-pipe offerings through our installer network.”
Perma-Liner™ (PLI) is the leading manufacturer and supplier of trenchless pipeline rehabilitation equipment & materials in North America. Since 1999 PLI has developed systems to rehabilitate existing sewer systemswithout excavation. Our experience in the CIPP (Cured-In-Place-Pipe) industry has allowed Perma-Liner™ to design, patent, and manufacture state of the art technology. Based on the design of the equipment and materials, PLI has the ability to offer compact “User Friendly” systems. Perma-Liner™ provides complete “Turn-Key” Trailer or Truck Build-Out Packages, Certification/Training, Technical Support, Marketing Support and Specification & Design Support.
Perma-Liner™ Industries, LLC. | 1-727-507-9749 | 1-727-507-9849 | www.perma-liner.com
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PERRY, Okla., Sept. 25, 2015 –Ditch Witch®, a Charles Machine Works Company, has 
released a new line of HD (heavy duty) backreamers to help underground construction operators improve productivity and tool durability on horizontal directional drilling (HDD) job sites. New to all model designs, the HD backreamers are now equipped with standard API threads to fit any industry drill under 100,000 lbs.
The new models include the Beavertail HD, Warthog™ HD, Kodiak™ HD and Compact Fluted HD backreamers.
“Reamers are the frontline soldiers to tackle expanding requirements of extreme soil conditions, which is why we pride ourselves on providing long-lasting and ruggedly built reamers,” said Jaime Wines, director of parts sales and marketing, the Ditch Witch organization. “The heavy-duty design of our newest models enhances tool life and durability, providing drill operators with confidence to bore through the toughest soil conditions.”
Beavertail HD Backreamers: For improved fluid flow, the Beavertail HD backreamers are equipped with replaceable, hardened steel Allen head nozzles. A flow-through shaft and rugged cutting design give this backreamer efficient fluid mixing capability, requiring far less horsepower for rotation in a variety of soil conditions. These also use a box design on the trailing side of the reamer for step reaming, direct connect swivels or threaded tabs to fit each contractor’s needs using 3 1/4-inch shafts and above. Step reaming reduces the number of passes needed to attain an accurate hole size, saving time and money on the job.
The Beavertail HD backreamers are available in two versions, accommodating small and large drill rigs. The small version includes a 2 3/4-inch shaft available in eight diameter sizes from 6 to 20 inches, and a pull tab integrated directly in the shaft. For larger equipment, reamers are available with 3 1/4-inch, 4 1/4-inch and 4 3/4-inch shafts ranging in diameter up to 40 inches, including the box design.
Warthog HD Backreamers: Designed to require less torque and reduce drag when back reaming, the Warthog HD model improves production and flow efficiency around the cutters and reamer body. Similar to the Beavertail design, the Warthog HD backreamers also feature hardened steel Allen head nozzles and utilize the same box design for flexibility to set up the ideal configuration for specific job needs using 3 1/4-inch shafts and above.
For compact drill rigs, the Warthog HD backreamers have a 2 3/4-inch shaft available in diameters from 10 to 36 inches. This size includes a pull tab integrated into the shaft, providing a common industry connection point for swivels and saving in reamer weight and length. For larger equipment, the Warthog HD backreamers are available with 3 1/4-inch, 4 1/4-inch and 4 3/4-inch shafts ranging in diameters from 10 to 36 inches, including the box design.
Kodiak HD Backreamers: To reduce friction and the possibility of jams while drilling, the Kodiak HD backreamer enables cuttings and fluid to flow over the product and out the bore hole by providing optional drilling fluid from the rear of the tool.
The Kodiak HD backreamers are available in 2 3/4-inch, 3 1/4- inch, 4 1/4-inch and 4 3/4-inch shaft sizes ranging in diameter from 8 to 36 inches. All sizes feature an integrated swivel with a clevis or tab option, which places the product closer to the reamer and reduces the chance of binding. A new clevis design eliminates the need for multiple connections between the clevis and product.
Compact Fluted HD Backreamers: Similar to the Kodiak HD design, the Compact Fluted HD backreamer reduces friction and the possibility of jamming by forcing fluid out the swivel plate. The improved heavy-duty casting design provides smooth pushback and maximum durability. Integrated swivel with a clevis or tab option reduce the possibility of binding by placing the produce closer to the reamer and eliminate the need for multiple connections between the drill and reamer.
Ranging in diameter from 4 1/2 to 26 inches, the Compact Fluted HD backreamers are available in 2 3/4-in, 3 1/4-inch, 4 1/4-inch and 4 3/4-inch shaft sizes.
The new line of HD backreamers will be on display in Ditch Witch Booths K155 and K270 at the 2015 ICUEE event taking place Sep. 29 to Oct. 1 in Louisville, Kentucky.
About the Ditch Witch® Organization
Ditch Witch, a Charles Machine Works Company, invented the underground utility construction industry, and today it designs, manufactures and markets the most complete line of directional drills, drill pipe, HDD tooling, vacuum excavators, trenchers, chain, teeth and sprockets, mini-skid steers and vibratory plows. Handcrafted in the USA, its products are supported by the Ditch Witch dealer network with over 175 locations worldwide.
Visit www.ditchwitch.com, Ditch Witch Facebook, Flickr and Twitter pages, and YouTube channel to find more details about Ditch Witch products, events, financial services, special offers, videos, photos and other information. Contact Ditch Witch at info@ditchwitch.com or 800-654-6481.
About Charles Machine Works
Established in 1902, Charles Machine Works, an employee-owned company, founded in Perry, Oklahoma, is the only manufacturer and global distributor that solely exists to make underground utility construction profitable. Our family of companies includes Ditch Witch®, Subsite® Electronics, DW/TXS®, HammerHead®, Radius® HDD, American Augers®, Trencor® and MTI® Equipment. For more information, visit charlesmachine.works.
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Release Date: 11/05/2015
Contact Information: James Pinkney, 404-562-9183 (direct), 404-562-8400 (main), pinkney.james@epa.gov
ATLANTA – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $1 million award to Clemson University for research addressing extreme weather events and climate change which impact the frequency and severity of droughts, subsequent wildfires and flooding, and runoff that ultimately impacts the quality and availability of surface water and groundwater. Clemson is one of four grantees focused on this research and is joined by the Public Policy Institute of California, University of Utah, and the Water Research Foundation, each receiving $1 million.
“As a nation we are witnessing the harmful effects of droughts and extreme events, such as wildfires and flooding, that often follow drought conditions,” said Thomas A. Burke, EPA Science Advisor and Deputy Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “This research will provide innovative strategies to help local communities, states, tribes, and the federal government better understand the impacts of these problems, and better protect our nation’s water and the health of our friends and families who rely on those water resources.”
The researchers at Clemson will investigate the effects of different forest fire reduction management techniques in experimental forested watersheds, such as prescribed burns and mechanical thinning, particularly associated with rainstorm events following droughts, and their effect on treated drinking water supplies.
To learn more about this research, please visit: http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/new/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.rfatext/rfa_id/589
To learn more about EPA’s research, please visit: http://www2.epa.gov/research
