Latest News / Updates
Operator10® has been an environmental industry standard for computerized operations data management for over 20 years, covering water, wastewater, pretreatment and biosolids applications. Through extensive research, market and customer evaluations, we concluded that there was a market segment that could certainly benefit from the capabilities, simplicity and value of our software but were unable, mainly because of budget restrictions.
To better serve our current customers, as well as prospects, we have realigned Operator10® with the release of Operator10 v8.16. There are no considerable updates to capabilities or features in this version. What has been added is an option for a single-user: economically priced with many of the features of the standard program and the flexibility to seamlessly upgrade when needed.
Also, biosolids is no longer available as an independent application. It has been repositioned as a wastewater add-on module and is available only with the purchase of wastewater.
For more information, contact an AllMax sales representative.
NOTE: For a list of Operator10 v8.15 new features (Now version 8.16), go to www.allmaxsoftware.com/operations.htm
Uniform data management is critical to the success of any plant or facility. Without the proper information management software and appropriate database, it is difficult to share data between projects or compile company-wide reports. Many use spreadsheets to compile and store data. Often, spreadsheets are incomplete or have incorrect formulas, and can be difficult and time-consuming to learn, and few people have the time to learn to use them. This limits the ability to produce and use data to run plants efficiently.
There are many benefits to standardizing data management by changing from spreadsheets to a database. Faster, more reliable data entry and much less time spent on data management increases efficiency and accuracy. Working with a database will reduce the number of times the same data is entered into the computer. It will allow for creation and implementation of a corporate database, making operations data similar between projects and common naming conventions across the company.
It will make it easier for operations specialists to find data and troubleshoot problems at various sites both on-site and from remote locations. Generating standard company reports, graphs and regulatory reports will be easier and faster.
Less training will be necessary on how to enter, manage and utilize data.
To choose the right software, first analyze processes, assess current needs, and select applications that meet current needs and have the ability to grow as needs and demands grow.
It is very important to consider the supporting database. For instance, it was found through independent research that for implementing a basic 20-concurrent-user database in a Low-IT situation and maintaining it for five years, costs ranged from $9,630 (not including hardware and operating system costs) to $239,856. That is an unbelievable range.
It is also important to be aware of the real costs associated with ownership and deployment of an application (including hidden costs like database maintenance) and weigh those figures against the life span of the application and its value to the enterprise. Performance, scalability, low cost of ownership, and reliability are the features most often required in a database server.
OUTSIDE ALLMAX
The world's biggest problem? Dirty water, say some.
What's the biggest hazard for the future? Global warming? Oil shortages?
A small but growing number of people think that a looming shortage of drinking water constitutes a much larger crisis. Water consumption is doubling every twenty years, but the supply isn't growing at the same rate, according to U.N. statistics.
This serious condition is already reflected in many of the world's health problems. It has been estimated that about half of the world's hospital beds are occupied by people with water-borne diseases. Three billion people in the world don't have easy access to a toilet, and thousands of children die every day from water-related complications.
Over 30 years after the United States enacted the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water Acts, government, citizens and the private sector have worked together to make dramatic progress in improving the quality of surface waters and drinking water.
Thirty years ago, many of the Nation's drinking-water systems provided water to the tap with either very limited treatment (usually disinfection) or no treatment at all. Drinking water was too often the cause of acute illnesses linked to microbiological contaminants or of longer-term health problems resulting from exposure to low levels of toxic and other contaminants. About two-thirds of the surface waters assessed by states were not attaining basic water quality goals and were considered polluted1. Some of the Nation's waters were open sewers posing health risks, and many water bodies were so polluted that traditional uses, such as swimming, fishing, and recreation, were impossible. Today, the number of polluted waters has been dramatically reduced, and many clean waters are even healthier. A massive investment of federal, state, and local funds has resulted in a new generation of sewage treatment facilities able to provide "secondary" treatment or better. More than 50 categories of industry now comply with nationally consistent discharge regulations. In addition, sustained efforts to implement "best management practices" have helped reduce runoff of pollutants from diffuse, or "nonpoint," sources.
Some companies are doing what they can to help improve the situation through technology. For example, there will soon be a filtration system that can eliminate both dangerous chemicals and viruses. Replaceable filter elements costing only a dollar or so will be available, so people in India will be able to buy it. Another company offers water filters made with electropositive alumina fibers to filter out not only dirt and particles, but also, viruses. A filter that can draw out arsenic-a big problem in Bangladesh-will arrive sometime in 2007.
The dramatic restoration of some of the Nation's most polluted waters has paid large dividends in enhanced recreation, healthier fisheries, and stronger local economies. The recreation, tourism, and travel industry is one of the largest employers in the Nation, and a significant portion of recreational spending comes from swimming, boating, sport fishing, and hunting The Cuyahoga River, which once caught fire, is now busy with boats and harbor businesses that generate substantial revenue for the city of Cleveland. Oregon's Willamette River has been restored to provide swimming, fishing, and water sports. Even Lake Erie, once infamous for its dead fish, now supports a $600 million per year fishing industry.
Despite improvements in the quality of water, serious water pollution and drinking water problems remain. Population growth continues to generate higher levels of water pollution and places greater demand on drinking-water systems. To further our progress toward clean waters and safer drinking water, we must both maintain our commitment to the core measures we have already established and look for new ways to improve water quality and protect human health2.
Sources:
1 Excerpt from CNET News.com by Michael Kanellos, Editor at Large
2 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Clean Water Action Plan: Restoring and Protecting America's Waters. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
ALERT! ANTERO UPDATES
Take time to check the AllMax web site for availability of updates, including Antero 4.09, which will soon be available for downloading.
Go to http://www.allmaxsoftware.com/download.php to begin the update process. Users can also enter their email addresses into the available form and receive a mass-email notice when a new update is available on the AllMax Software website.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
Reduce Maintenance Costs, Increase Productivity
The latest maintenance data management software release, Antero™ v4.09, provides options for the most complex facility to the most basic user. With its ease of use, flexibility and functionality, Antero will help eliminate unnecessary maintenance costs, improve productivity and streamline plant processes.
View work order status, tasks currently being performed on equipment, as well as a work history. Parts entered on work orders that are currently unlisted can easily be added to the parts inventory. The Work Order Scheduler has been enhanced, and for convenience, vendor/manufacturer and contractor lists have been merged to one section.
Other features help assure industry standard and government organization compliance, allow users to build preventive maintenance schedules, monitor tasks, generate corrective and scheduled work orders, track equipment, inventory, parts and contractors, back up and store data. Antero enables users to track sub-contractors' costs in conjunction with in-house parts and labor and provides grouping mechanisms to assist in analyzing costs and information by departments. Other key upgrades include custom defined fields and enable linking external files to specific items, PM linking and the ability to track purchase orders, consumables usage and expense.
Antero simplifies and expedites print and electronic documentation, allows for meter/gauge tracking, provides user security, historical, cost and custom reporting and is barcode capable and hand-held compatible.
AllMax also provides setups, installation, training, workshops, world-class customer service and technical support.
NOTE: For a list of Antero v4.09 new features, go to Antero New Features
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