Valicor Environmental Services

10/09/2026

Fact: Water that has been used in an industrial process can, in many cases, be treated to meet safe water standards. Advanced treatment technologies can remove a wide range of contaminants, including dissolved chemicals, metals, and microorganisms, allowing wastewater to be purified for reuse.

While not every industrial wastewater stream can practically or economically be treated to drinking water quality, the idea that water is permanently unusable after industrial use is simply not true. What matters is the water's characteristics, the treatment processes applied, and whether the final water quality meets the strict standards required for its intended use.

Valicor works with facilities and manufacturers to evaluate wastewater streams and implement responsible treatment strategies that protect water resources, support regulatory compliance, and create opportunities for beneficial water reuse.

10/06/2026

Texas is starting to treat data center water use as more than a sustainability issue.

Recent state actions are putting more attention on water-use reporting, permitting, and the ability of local communities to support large new projects without creating added pressure on existing supplies.

For data center developers and contractors, that means water planning may need to happen much earlier, with clearer answers around where water comes from, how much will be used, and what happens to wastewater generated during construction and operation.

Let’s take a closer look at what Texas has done, what it functionally means for data centers and the communities around them, and what it could signal for future development.

Read more today, on the Valicor Blog. https://www.valicor.com/blog/data-center-water-use-is-becoming-a-compliance-issue-in-texas

09/29/2026

Land application has long been one of the cheapest and simplest waste outlets for decades.

But nutrient limits, groundwater concerns, community pressure, permitting changes, and legal challenges are making that option less predictable in many parts of the country.

The bigger question may not be whether land application goes away. It’s whether companies that have relied on it as their primary disposal strategy have a backup plan when it suddenly becomes unavailable.

Let’s take a closer look at what is changing, why the pressure is coming from several different directions at once, and what that could mean for generators that still depend heavily on land application.

https://www.valicor.com/blog/the-end-of-free-disposal-the-changing-cost-of-land-application

Land application has long been a low-cost waste outlet, but nutrient limits, permitting pressure, groundwater risk, and community concerns are changing the equation.

09/25/2026

Fact: Sustainability efforts can actually reduce operating costs while improving environmental performance. Using less water and raw material, keeping waste streams properly segregated, recovering valuable materials, and reducing the amount of waste that requires treatment or disposal can all create opportunities for savings. These practices can also support stronger environmental compliance by giving facilities greater control over their waste and wastewater streams. Better management can reduce the likelihood of spills, permit exceedances, improper disposal, and other compliance issues that can lead to costly corrective actions or regulatory penalties.

Sustainability doesn't have to be an expense added to an operation. When environmental goals, compliance, and operational efficiency are considered together, improvements in one area can often create benefits across all three.

Valicor works with facilities and manufacturers to identify practical opportunities to reduce waste, recover resources, manage water more efficiently, and support long-term environmental compliance.

08/11/2026

On July 21, 2026, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board released its final findings on the 2024 Bio-Lab fire in Conyers, Georgia.

The report details how the incident developed from a combination of issues that had built up over time, including corroded sprinkler components, changing storage conditions, and known maintenance concerns.

That is what makes these newly published findings worth looking at beyond the chemical industry.

Let’s take a closer look at what happened, how several manageable issues combined into a much larger emergency, and the lessons facility managers can apply to maintenance, chemical storage, containment, emergency response, and wastewater planning.

Read more today, on the Valicor Blog.

https://www.valicor.com/blog/what-the-bio-lab-fire-reveals-about-the-cost-of-overlooked-maintenance

What can the Bio-Lab fire teach industrial facilities about maintenance, chemical storage, corrosion, emergency planning, and wastewater risk?

07/31/2026

Fact: While cooling towers continuously recirculate water, they also rely on evaporation to remove heat, gradually reducing the total amount of water in the system. As water evaporates, dissolved minerals and other impurities remain behind, causing their concentration to increase over time. Once those concentrations pass acceptable operating limits, at least a portion of the water must be discharged as "blowdown water" and replaced with fresh makeup water. That blowdown becomes an industrial wastewater stream that requires proper management and, in many cases, treatment before it can be discharged.

Valicor works with industrial facilities to develop water and wastewater management strategies that support reliable operations, regulatory compliance, and responsible water stewardship.

07/28/2026

EPA has released new draft guidance addressing PFOA and PFOS in biosolids.

The guidance is currently voluntary and does not create new nationwide requirements for industrial facilities. Still, it points to growing attention on where PFAS enters wastewater treatment systems in the first place.

That could eventually mean more questions for industrial facilities about wastewater sampling, source identification, pretreatment, and the materials entering local sewer systems.

Let’s take a closer look at what the draft guidance says, what it does not do, and why industrial wastewater generators should still pay attention. Today, on the Valicor Blog:

Link in the first comment below.

07/24/2026

Fact: Clear wastewater isn't always simple wastewater. Many contaminants, including dissolved organics, surfactants, nutrients, salts, metals, and certain chemicals, are invisible to the naked eye but can significantly affect treatment processes and discharge requirements. Effective wastewater management depends on understanding the chemistry of the water, not just its appearance. Testing and characterization help ensure the right treatment approach is used to protect both operations and the environment.

Valicor works with facilities and manufacturers to evaluate wastewater characteristics and develop treatment strategies based on what's in the water, not just what can be seen.

07/22/2026

A quieter hurricane season does not necessarily mean a quieter stormwater season.

El Niño may suppress some Atlantic hurricane activity, but it can still bring heavy rainfall, localized flooding, extended wet periods, and even shifting winter storm patterns across parts of the United States.

For industrial facilities, that can mean more pressure on retention ponds, drainage systems, wastewater storage, outdoor materials, and environmental compliance.

We take a look at what this year’s El Niño could mean for industrial stormwater planning and what facilities should be reviewing before severe weather arrives today, on the Valicor Blog.

Link in the first comment below.

07/02/2026

In 2026, the Fourth of July marks 250 years of American independence. This year, it also comes during a remarkable summer, as visitors from around the globe arrive in cities across our great country for the largest sporting event in the world. Many are experiencing America for the first time, from the energy of our cities and the diversity of our communities to the hospitality, creativity, and optimism that are woven into the fabric of American culture.

As we celebrate 250 years of America, this all serves as an amazing reminder of why we are proud to call this country home.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend from Valicor Environmental Services.