Grant’s Blog

For the past dozen years I’ve tinkered with the operation of nearly every municipal treatment technology that exists. It has been my experience that even the most resistant designs can be operated differently in order to provide a lot of nitrogen removal.

Doing so requires: (1) ongoing data collection and review; (2) a fundamental knowledge of [...]

Like my father before me, I like country music.

My interest in C&W is something of an acquired taste. When a Kansas preteen, it was most uncool to listen to anything other than the top 40 music played on KLEO 1480 AM radio. One summer, to show my commitment to pop music, I joined in [...]

Several years ago, one of the auto companies – Ford, I think it was – advertised that “Quality is Job 1.” If my memory serves me correctly, some of the television ads punctuated the statement with a loud sound as the word “Quality” was stamped onto a car or truck. It was an effective slogan.

Any [...]

To generate work, my company sends out postcards touting our “brilliance.” Because we are so doggone smart, we make technical presentations at seminars. Some are even worth listening to.

In an effort to keep existing clients happy with our service, we give them our best effort. [...]

The Water Planet Company is hiring. We’re looking for mature, reliable people to train as wastewater treatment plant operators. Some need to be licensed, others not.

Unlike last year, we are not posting anything on Craig’s List. When we did, we received over 100 replies. An excellent response. The problem was the quality of the replies.

A [...]

As a reward for attaining the age of 50, American doctors wish to subject you to a colonoscopy. It’s a marvelous thing. First, you buy a chemical that you mix with huge quantities of water. You drink the solution and hover over the toilet as the remnants of your last year’s food intake drains out [...]

As a public service, I am today writing to dispel some unfortunate rumors.

First, stand by while I tuck my tongue in my cheek. Meaning, I’ve being cynical here.

Federal and State Regulators do not routinely bring loaded firearms into meetings to “negotiate” consent agreements with municipal wastewater utilities. To think so is absurd. Let me explain…

Municipal [...]

I’m not much of a shopper. Last time I’ve been inside of a mall was maybe two years ago. I can’t remember. I do, however, regularly frequent Walmarts. And, Lowes. Love ‘em both.

I also go grocery shopping. Solo. No tag team shopping for me.

Last week, as I was negotiating my way through the produce section, [...]

I attended a municipal sewer authority meeting this week. It wasn’t my first. Not by a long shot. A group of civic minded volunteers authorized the spending of nearly $10 million. As these things go, it is a small project. As board members go, this group is enthused and engaged. They are working hard at [...]

I’m an animal lover. Plants, too.

My children were raised in something of a zoo. In addition to dogs and cats, we had rabbits, ducks, chickens, guinea fowl and turkeys. We had millipedes, hissing cockroaches, salamanders and newts. We bottle fed an abandoned raccoon before returning him to the wild. Our collection of fish, sea monkeys, [...]