Filtration Removals of Microorganisms and Particles
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 131, Issue 12
Abstract
Filtration log removals ( ’s) were determined by pilot plant seeding experiments for a selected array of organisms, i.e., protozoan cysts, algae, bacteria, and viruses, as well as turbidity/particles. Removals of these organisms and particles varied from one species to another within the range for “reference,” i.e., specified, conditions. For other conditions, called here “excursion” conditions, ’s were found to be proportional to alum dose between zero and “optimum” the latter being defined as the smallest dosage that minimized filter effluent turbidity. Mono and dual media did not show performance differences, and conventional filtration showed slightly higher ’s than in-line filtration. The influent concentration did not show a “true” effect on ’s (but an “apparent” effect was seen when effluent values were consistently very low, making ’s proportional to influent concentration). ’s obtained in limited experiments at another site showed significant differences for two algae and two viruses when compared with ’s for reference conditions. The results illustrate the variation that may be found among different groups of organisms/particles and indicate the influences of certain independent variables (e.g., influent concentration, dual media versus mono media, conventional filtration versus in-line, alum dose, zero alum dose, and filtration at a different site) on filtration removals. In addition, the importance of sampling repetitions was reinforced. The findings are significant to water treatment practice in that organism removals by filtration are likely to vary, depending on the organism/particle species as well as the filtration conditions. The implication is that a pilot plant study is advisable if confidence in is desired for a given organism/particle.
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Acknowledgments
Funding for this project was provided by the American Water Works Association Research Foundation, Denver; Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo.; the City of Bellingham, Bellingham, Wash.; Pacific Scientific Instruments, Grants Pass, Ore.; and the Hach Company, Loveland, Colo. Individuals who provided assistance included: Bill Evans, Superintendent of Water Treatment, City of Bellingham, Bellingham, Wash.; Peg Monaghan Wendling, Water Quality Analyst, City of Bellingham, Bellingham, Wash.; Dr. Robert M. Clark, Director of Drinking Water Research, Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio; Dr. Donald Reasoner, Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio; Dr. Susan Boutros, President, Environmental Associates, Bradford, Pa.; Kevin Gertig, Superintendent of Water Treatment, City of Fort Collins, Fort Collins, Colo.; Dr. Keith Elmund, Director of Water Quality, City of Fort Collins, Fort Collins, Colo.; Patricia Klonicki, CH Diagnostic and Consulting, Inc., Loveland, Colo.; Carrie Hancock, CH Diagnostic and Consulting, Inc., Loveland, Colo.; Wendy L. Anderson, Denver Metro Water Reclamation District, Denver; Herb Theis, Hach Company, Loveland, Colo.; Dr. Gary Logsdon, Cincinnati, Ohio; Black and Veatch Consulting Engineers; and Dr. Tom Sanders and Dr. Jim Loftis, Department of Civil Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo. Ms. Wendling, in addition to assisting with the full-scale and pilot plant study, provided TOC data for an annual cycle for Lake Whatcom.
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© 2005 ASCE.
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Received: Jun 6, 2002
Accepted: Jan 26, 2004
Published online: Dec 1, 2005
Published in print: Dec 2005
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