Picote names LMK Technologies equipment distributor

Picote Oy of Porvoo, Finland, named LMK Technologies its North American distributor for trenchless drain rehabilitation equipment and tools, including the Smart Cutter system for the removal of tuberculation, tree roots and the reestablishing of branch lines in building drains and sewer pipes.

Vanair sponsors Warriors First Foundation

Vanair Manufacturing is a core sponsor of the Warriors First Foundation Annual Charity Run & Benefit. Employees of Vanair and locals helped raise awareness to save our troops from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) in August. The Warriors First Foundation kicked off their Save Our Service Members Campaign through which they hope to raise money to assist the families and military personnel.

Veolia Water, Pittsburgh extend partnership

The Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority Board of Directors extended its partnership with Veolia Water to provide interim executive management services through December 2014. During the partnership’s first year, Veolia’s water and wastewater team helped the utility reduce its cost of operation and increase income by resecuring a large commercial customer, resulting in $2.4 million additional annual revenue. The partnership also reduced customer hold times by 50 percent, enabling the authority to approve its annual budget without a water rate increase.

Nu Flow opens Las Vegas office

Nu Flow Technologies opened a Las Vegas, Nev., office in the Regency Towers with plans to expand into a larger facility. Technicians have been working on rehabilitating drain systems for casinos, hotels, shopping malls and high-rise condominiums in the city.

Aquatherm ranks among fastest-growing companies

Aquatherm, distributor of German-manufactured polypropylene-random (PP-R) pipe systems, ranks 46 among the top 100 construction companies on Inc. magazine’s 500/5000 list and 1,617 overall. The company has grown 244 percent over a three-year period.

ADS receives Department of Defense award

Advanced Drainage Systems received the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Above and Beyond award for exceeding the legal requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act by providing its Guard and Reserve employees additional, nonmandated benefits. ADS has four employees on active military duty and had 13 employees deployed the past three years.

Siemens marks 100th anniversary of first chlorine gas meter

Siemens Water Technologies celebrates the 100th anniversary of the first chlorine gas metering unit for water disinfection. The first commercially produced gas chlorinator was installed in a public drinking water system in 1913 by Wallace & Tiernan, now a Siemens Water Technologies company.

SAK Construction names senior vice president

SAK Construction promoted Jack Boatman to the new position of senior vice president of government affairs. He will be responsible for developing strategies that address public policy trends impacting the company. Initially, he will develop and implement integrated federal, state and local government regulatory affairs programs. Boatman also will launch initiatives to enhance the company’s leadership in supporting disadvantaged business enterprises and a diverse workforce.

Trelleborg acquires cryogenic technology

Trelleborg’s Industrial Solutions business area acquired SBM Offshore’s cryogenic hose system technology. The acquisition will enable the company to accelerate and strengthen its equipment offerings for the floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) market.

ePIPE receives patent for reducing lead leaching

Pipe Restoration Technologies received U.S. patent 8,524,320 for its ePIPE in-place lining technology that reduces lead from pipes and other inline lead contributors from leaching into drinking water. The process reduces lead levels below the World Health organization’s guidelines of 10 ug/L (10 ppb).

Tigre USA names national sales manager

Tigre USA named Ken Mignogna national sales manager — waterworks. He will be responsible for the growth of the company’s municipal products, including SDR 26 gasketed, SDR 35 gasketed and SDR 35 solvent weld PVC fittings.

Pipeline Renewal Technologies names distributor

Pipeline Renewal Technologies named Flow-Liner Systems distributor of Micro Basic, Micro Pro, Micro Premium and Nano model cutters.

Itron named top water meter supplier

Itron ranked No. 1 across multiple categories in a new global water meter market analysis report. The IMS Research report, an annual assessment of global water meter sales, notes that Itron has the leading global position for total water meter and communication module shipments. Itron also ranks as a top supplier across a number of smart water metering categories in Latin America, EMEA and North America.

APWA selects board of directors

The American Public Works Association (APWA) elected its 2013-14 board of directors. Ed Gottko, PWLF, of Westfield, N.J, will serve a one-year term as president. He is joined by president-elect Larry Stevens, P.E., PWLF, of Johnston, Iowa, and Elizabeth Treadway, PWLA, of Johnson City, Tenn. New to the board is Chuck Williams, PWLF, of Lenexa, Kan. Reelected members include Richard Stinson, PWLF, Wakefield, Mass.; Brian R. Usher, PWLF, Largo, Fla.; Harry L. Weed II, PWLF, Rockville Centre, N.Y.; Linda Petelka, B.Sc., PWLF, Burlington, Ontario, Canada; and Ronald J. Calkins, P.E., PWLF, Ventura, Calif. Members serving their second or third terms are William (Bo) Mills III, PWLF, Germantown, Tenn.; Tommy J. Brown, PWLF, LaGrange, Ga.; Jimmy Foster, P.E., PWLF, Plano, Texas; and Jill M. Marilley, P.E., MPA, PWLF, Shoreline, Wash. Directors at large include Susan M. Hann, P.E., PWLF, AICP, Palm Bay, Fla.; Cora Jackson-Fossett, PWLF, Los Angeles, Calif.; David L. Lawry, P.E., Chicago, Ill.; and William E. (Bill) Spearman II, P.E., Columbia, S.C.

Groups work to reduce non-flushable products

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the American Public Works Association (APWA) are collaborating to reduce non-flushable disposable products in the wastewater system. The associations believe that rigorous product assessment before making a flushable claim, along with improved product labeling, can significantly reduce the amount of non-flushable items. To assist companies with product flushability assessments and to provide guidance on proper labeling, INDA and its European counterpart, EDANA, released a code of practice for manufacturers and marketers of wipes and other disposable nonwoven products that includes a detailed decision tree to determine the proper labeling of a product.