BABA-Compliant Wastewater Treatment Systems and Equipment

By: WebFx
Post Date: Settembre 30th 2024

The Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act is a domestic preference law and part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It requires federal award recipients to use U.S.-made products in infrastructure projects, including federally funded wastewater projects. Recipients had to begin complying with BABA on May 14, 2022.

Industry leaders believe BABA needs more guidance and clarity, particularly regarding its manufactured product criteria. Adhering to BABA with unanswered questions can seem challenging, but it’s not impossible. Businesses can partner with a BABA-compliant manufacturer, like SSI Aeration, Inc., to streamline compliance and complete projects with peace of mind.

SSI Aeration designs and manufactures reliable BABA-compliant wastewater treatment equipment, helping businesses meet complex regulations and install systems they can trust. Learn more about BABA and SSI’s processes.

What Materials Are Covered Under BABA?

Under BABA, the materials incorporated into federally funded infrastructure projects must be manufactured in the United States, including the following:

• Iron and steel: To comply with BABA, every stage of manufacturing iron and steel products must occur domestically. In other words, businesses must purchase U.S.-made steel or iron piping systems, valves and tanks if they are using federal financial assistance to build wastewater treatment systems.
• Construction materials: Materials commonly used in building wastewater treatment systems, like polyvinyl chloride (PVC), non-ferrous metals and rubber, must have been manufactured in the United States. As with iron and steel, this includes every manufacturing stage, from melting raw materials to product fabrication.
• Manufactured products: BABA establishes a cost requirement for manufactured products that manufacturers must adhere to. Essentially, manufactured products are those not primarily considered iron, steel or construction materials. Most water system projects fall under the manufactured products category due to the complexity and variety of materials used.

Why Is BABA Compliance Important?

Complying with BABA is important to avoid disruption, keep projects on schedule and maintain funding. If a business or contractor fails to comply with BABA, they may be required to remove and replace any components not manufactured in the United States.

Other potential consequences include reduced financial assistance or award termination.

SSI’s BABA-Compliant Processes

SSI Aeration uses BABA-compliant materials and U.S.-based processes for everything from membrane design to diffuser assembly. Here’s an overview of SSI processes:

U.S.-Based Designing

The experienced U.S.-based engineering team at SSI Aeration understands BABA parameters and how to apply its criteria to product designs. SSI engineers design reliable BABA-compliant wastewater treatment technology by sourcing domestically produced materials and using modeling software, mechanical calculations and process simulations.

In-House Manufacturing

Though SSI Aeration has expanded globally, it still has manufacturing capabilities in the United States. U.S.-based processes include the following:

• Compression molding
• Diffuser assembly
• PVC pipe fabrication
• Stainless steel welding
• Quality control and testing

Local Installations

SSI’s installation technicians help ensure aeration systems meet BABA standards. They have the training, knowledge and tools to retrofit or replace membranes with BABA-compliant components. They can also replace tube and disc diffusers with U.S.-made parts or install new aeration systems composed of BABA-compliant equipment.

SSI’s BABA-Compliant Wastewater Treatment Equipment

Leveraging innovative designs, state-of-the-art manufacturing processes and decades of experience, SSI Aeration produces the following wastewater treatment equipment right here in the United States:

Fine Bubble Disc Diffusers

SSI Aerations offers various fine bubble disc diffusers composed of carefully engineered, tested and BABA-compliant materials. Available in 7- to 12-inch diameters, SSI’s fine bubble disc diffusers feature the following:

• Molded ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) membranes and the option to add advanced coating materials for longer lifespans
• Grommet connections with a 15-year track record of reliability and performance
• Easy-to-connect saddles for simple diffuser installation
• Various mounting materials to fit project needs, including PVC, polypropylene or stainless steel

Coarse Bubble Diffusers

Coarse bubble diffusers are precisely engineered to prevent clogging and provide energy-efficient air distribution in secondary water treatment applications. SSI Aeration offers Reliaball™ coarse bubble diffusers and AFC cap diffusers.

Reliaball is trusted for its sophisticated design, exceptional durability and high efficiency in industrial applications. SSI’s AFC cap diffusers are commonly used in applications that don’t prioritize high-rate oxygen transfer efficiency, such as in aerobic digesters. Like SSI’s fine bubble disc diffusers, AFC cap diffusers consist of an EPDM compound to provide benefits like low plasticizer content and high tensile strength.

Full Wastewater Treatment Systems

SSI can also design, manufacture and install a complete wastewater treatment system to ensure BABA compliance and efficient and dependable operation. The process begins by partnering with facility owners to draft and design a system that meets project specifications.

We simulate our designs to accurately model system processes and performance and ensure optimization before installation. SSI engineers have expertise working with and designing various industrial and commercial wastewater treatment systems, from aeration basins to integrated fixed film activated sludge systems.

Additionally, SSI is proud to offer moving bed bioreactor (MBBR) wastewater treatment systems. SSI’s MBBR systems are designed to increase treatment efficiency and reduce operating costs.

Accessories

Wastewater treatment plants needing BABA-compliant accessories like acid dosing systems or expansion joints can turn to SSI Aeration. Facilities can expect the same standard of excellence and compliance regarding accessory design and manufacturing as with all SSI products.

How Can You Verify That Equipment Complies With BABA?

Recipients of federal financial awards are responsible for maintaining documentation verifying the use of BABA-compliant components in relevant projects. The manufacturer must provide BABA certification with its products. If a facility works with a supplier, the supplier must pass the manufacturer’s BABA certifications to the facility.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, BABA-related documentation can be transmitted and stored electronically or in hard copy format — as long as it accomplishes the following:

• Provides the project’s details, such as project name and location
• Demonstrates that the BABA-certified products are linked to the specified project, such as through purchase orders or invoices
• Provides a statement attesting that the products comply with BABA
• Offers details confirming that the products were manufactured in the United States, such as the manufacturing plant’s location
• Includes a signature of the manufacturer’s representative

Businesses can rely on SSI Aeration to provide the documentation certifying their products meet BABA requirements.

Request a Quote for BABA-Compliant Equipment

Ensuring you purchase BABA-compliant equipment for your wastewater treatment project can take time and effort. A partner like SSI Aeration makes it easy.

For over 20 years, SSI has helped businesses complete wastewater treatment projects with innovative solutions and unparalleled engineering support. Our team is ready to guide you in selecting BABA-compliant products and ensuring your system meets or exceeds industry standards.

Whether you need BABA-compliant replacement parts or an entirely new aeration system, you can count on SSI. Contact us today to learn more about our products and solutions, or complete our online form to request a quote.