Biological Drinking Water Treatment Perceptions and Actual Experiences in North America

330 Pages·2010·4.88 MB·English

Biological Drinking Water
Treatment Perceptions
and Actual Experiences
in North America
Web Report #4129
Subject Area: Water Quality

Biological Drinking Water
Treatment Perceptions
and Actual Experiences
in North America
©2010 by Water Research Foundation and Department of Defense. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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©2010 by Water Research Foundation and Department of Defense. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Biological Drinking Water
Treatment Perceptions
and Actual Experiences
in North America
Prepared by:
Patrick J. Evans, Eva M. Opitz, Phillippe A. Daniel, and Chris R. Schulz
CDM
14432 S.E. Eastgate Way, Ste 100, Bellevue, WA 98007-6493
Jointly sponsored by:
Water Research Foundation
6666 West Quincy Avenue, Denver, CO 80235-3098
and
Department of Defense
1400 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1400
Published by:
©2010 by Water Research Foundation and Department of Defense. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
DISCLAIMER
This study was jointly funded by the Water Research Foundation (Foundation) and Department of
Defense (DOD). The Foundation and DOD assume no responsibility for the content of the research
study reported in this publication or for the opinions or statements of fact expressed in the report.
The mention of trade names for commercial products does not represent or imply the approval or
endorsement of the Foundation or DOD. This report is presented solely for informational purposes.
Copyright © 2010
by Water Research Foundation and Department of Defense
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced
or otherwise utilized without permission.
©2010 by Water Research Foundation and Department of Defense. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................................... ix 
LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................... xi 
FOREWORD ................................................................................................................................ xv 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .......................................................................................................... xvii 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................................... xix 
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 
CHAPTER 2 OVERVIEW OF BIOLOGICAL DRINKING WATER TREATMENT ................ 3 
History and Impetus for Use ............................................................................................... 3 
General Types of Processes ................................................................................................ 4 
Slow Sand Filtration ............................................................................................... 4 
Rapid Biological Filtration (RBF) .......................................................................... 4 
Ozone-Enhanced Biological Filtration (OEBF) ...................................................... 4 
Granular Activated Carbon Biological Adsorption (GBA) .................................... 5 
Biological Perchlorate/Nitrate Process (BPNP) ...................................................... 5 
Other Processes ....................................................................................................... 5 
CHAPTER 3 METHODS ............................................................................................................... 7 
General Approach ............................................................................................................... 7 
Electronic Survey ................................................................................................................ 7 
General Electronic Survey Questions ..................................................................... 8 
Electronic Survey Case Studies .............................................................................. 8 
Telephone Case Studies .................................................................................................... 10 
CHAPTER 4 ELECTRONIC SURVEY RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .................................. 11 
Electronic Survey Demographics ..................................................................................... 11 
Use and Acceptance of Biological Treatment .................................................................. 12 
Use and Acceptance among Different Professions ............................................... 12 
Barriers to Acceptance .......................................................................................... 13 
Overcoming Acceptance Barriers ......................................................................... 17 
General Attributes of Biological Treatment ..................................................................... 19 
Contaminant Removal .......................................................................................... 19 
Finished Water Quality ......................................................................................... 22 
Levels of Effort Required for Design and Operations .......................................... 22 
Additional Regulator Perspectives .................................................................................... 24 
Additional Consultant, Academic, and Vendor Perspectives ........................................... 28 
Electronic Survey Case Studies ........................................................................................ 32 
Plant Demographics and Characteristics .............................................................. 32 
Source Water Type and Quality ............................................................................ 32 
v
©2010 by Water Research Foundation and Department of Defense. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
vi | Biological Drinking Water Treatment Perceptions and Actual Experiences in North America
Process Types and Distribution ............................................................................ 35 
Process Attributes ................................................................................................. 35 
CHAPTER 5 TELEPHONE CASE STUDIES ............................................................................. 51 
Locations ........................................................................................................................... 51 
City of Salem, Oregon: Slow Biological Filtration .......................................................... 51 
Background ........................................................................................................... 51 
Rationale for Process Selection ............................................................................ 51 
Design and Operating Parameters ......................................................................... 51 
Performance .......................................................................................................... 52 
Regulatory Perspectives ........................................................................................ 52 
Public Perception .................................................................................................. 53 
Greater Cincinnati Water Works: Rapid Biological Filtration and GAC ......................... 53 
Background ........................................................................................................... 53 
Rationale for Process Selection ............................................................................ 53 
Design and Operating Parameters ......................................................................... 53 
Performance .......................................................................................................... 54 
Regulatory Perspectives ........................................................................................ 54 
Public Perception .................................................................................................. 55 
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power: Ozone Enhanced Biological filtration
(Anthracite) ................................................................................................................. 55 
Background ........................................................................................................... 55 
Rationale for Process Selection ............................................................................ 55 
Design and Operating Parameters ......................................................................... 55 
Performance .......................................................................................................... 56 
Regulatory Perspectives ........................................................................................ 56 
Public Perception .................................................................................................. 56 
Henrico County: Ozone Enhanced Biological filtration (GAC) ....................................... 56 
Background ........................................................................................................... 57 
Rationale for Process Selection ............................................................................ 57 
Design and Operating Parameters ......................................................................... 57 
Performance .......................................................................................................... 57 
Regulatory Perspectives ........................................................................................ 58 
Public Perception .................................................................................................. 58 
Santa Clara Valley Water District: Ozone Enhanced Biological filtration (GAC) .......... 58 
Background ........................................................................................................... 58 
Rationale for Process Selection ............................................................................ 59 
Design and Operating Parameters ......................................................................... 59 
Performance .......................................................................................................... 59 
Regulatory Perspectives ........................................................................................ 60 
Public Perception .................................................................................................. 60 
Arlington, Texas: Ozone Enhanced Biological filtration (GAC) ..................................... 60 
Background ........................................................................................................... 60 
Rationale for Process Selection ............................................................................ 60 
Design and Operating Parameters ......................................................................... 61 
Performance .......................................................................................................... 62 
Regulatory Perspectives ........................................................................................ 62 

©2010 by Water Research Foundation and Department of Defense. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Contents | vii
Public Perception .................................................................................................. 62 
France: Biological Denitrification Overview .................................................................... 62 
Background ........................................................................................................... 63 
Rationale for Process Selection ............................................................................ 63 
Design and Operating Parameters ......................................................................... 63 
Performance .......................................................................................................... 64 
Regulatory Perspectives ........................................................................................ 65 
Public Perception .................................................................................................. 65 
Western Municipal Water District: Biological Denitrification ......................................... 66 
Background ........................................................................................................... 66 
Rationale for Process Selection ............................................................................ 66 
Design and Operating Parameters ......................................................................... 66 
Performance (pilot plant data) .............................................................................. 67 
Regulatory Perspectives ........................................................................................ 67 
Public Perception .................................................................................................. 67 
CHAPTER 6 WORKSHOP .......................................................................................................... 69 
Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 69 
Definitions and Terminology ............................................................................................ 69 
Article Development ............................................................................................. 69 
Article Manuscript ................................................................................................ 69 
Research Roadmap ............................................................................................................ 76 
What is Known ..................................................................................................... 76 
Identified Research Topics ................................................................................... 76 
CHAPTER 7 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................. 89 
Conclusions ....................................................................................................................... 89 
General Survey...................................................................................................... 89 
Electronic Case Studies ......................................................................................... 91 
Telephone Case Studies ........................................................................................ 92 
Recommendations ............................................................................................................. 93 
CHAPTER 8 RECOMMENDATIONS TO UTILITIES ............................................................. 95 
APPENDIX A SURVEY QUESTIONS ....................................................................................... 97 
APPENDIX B COMPLETE SURVEY DATA .......................................................................... 105 
APPENDIX C CONTACTS LIST.............................................................................................. 243 
APPENDIX D WORKSHOP AGENDA ................................................................................... 247 
APPENDIX E WORKSHOP ATTENDEES .............................................................................. 249 
APPENDIX F BIOLOGICAL DRINKING WATER TREATMENT EXPERT
WORKSHOP PRESENTATION ON THE SURVEY RESULTS .......................................251

©2010 by Water Research Foundation and Department of Defense. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
viii | Biological Drinking Water Treatment Perceptions and Actual Experiences in North America
APPENDIX G WATER RESEARCH FOUNDATION BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT
PROJECTS ...........................................................................................................................291
REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................... 299 
ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................................................... 301 

©2010 by Water Research Foundation and Department of Defense. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.