Disinfection Byproduct Reduction via Novel Multi-Contaminant Treatment Approach

Dive into the details of a case study in the Central Valley of California where many potable groundwater systems operating on subsurface wells have primary and secondary regulatory drinking water issues. In Lemoore, California, the water supply, which consists of multiple well clusters, exceeds the compliance targets for disinfection byproducts, mainly total trihalomethanes (TTHMs). Contributing precursors to TTHM formation in the water include naturally occurring organic matter, ammonia, color and other compounds that, when combined with chlorine disinfection in the distribution, consistently resulted in exceeding the drinking water standard.

A 10-month, small-scale field pilot study was undertaken to test a combination of ozone, granular activated carbon/biological activated carbon (GAC/BAC) and ion exchange to achieve the primary and secondary water quality objectives with the primary goal of TTHM compliance. TTHMs were reduced by over 75%, ammonia reduced by 95%, color reduction of 90% to 95% and final chlorine demand of the treated water was reduced by over 80%. The technology was awarded a progressive design-build contract for full-scale implementation. The two treatment systems provide over 14 million gallons per day of new treatment capacity—one of the largest groundwater treatment plants in the United States to be constructed in 2020.

Learn how an innovative design-build contract for piloting, methodology, treatment techniques and design parameters resulted in compliant water quality and gain insights about lessons learned and operating costs.

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