Chlorine Demand and Trihalomethane Formation during Chlorination of Wastewater in Hillsborough County, Florida: Effects of Temperature and Chlorine Dose
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 144, Issue 8
Abstract
The Northwest Regional Water Reclamation Facility (NWRWRF) in Hillsborough County, Florida, is considering whether to switch from disinfection via ultraviolet (UV) radiation to disinfection via chlorination. To aid in this decision, chlorine demand and trihalomethane (THM) formation potential were assessed following chlorination of NWRWRF effluent at different temperatures, chlorine doses, and contact times. A chlorine dose of was adequate to meet the strict disinfection guidelines () at 16 or 23°C, but a dose of was required at 30°C. Chloroform, bromodichloromethane, and dibromochloromethane were formed as disinfection by-products following chlorination; bromoform was not observed. Semiempirical equations were developed that can adequately predict the concentration of chloroform, bromodichloromethane, and total THMs as functions of temperature, chlorine dose, and contact time. THM formation in NWRWRF effluent followed the same general trends as had been observed previously in other studies on chlorination of wastewater, but specific details or dependencies are site specific. For instance, THM formation in NWRWRF effluent was much less sensitive to chlorine dose than had been observed previously. The authors conclude that changing from UV disinfection to chlorination may be a viable option for NWRWRF, especially under new regulatory limits (recently promulgated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection) for THMs discharged to Class II or III receiving waters. Bromodichloromethane is the THM of principal concern because all other THMs were formed at concentrations considerably below prior and current regulatory limits.
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Acknowledgments
This material is based on research that was supported by a grant from Hillsborough County, Florida, to the University of South Florida (USF). Any findings, opinions, conclusions, or recommendations expressed herein are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of Hillsborough County or USF. The authors thank the operations staff at the Northwest Regional Water Reclamation Facility, especially Paul Macchia and Al Higareda, for their assistance with sample collection. The authors thank Kamyla “Luna” Oliveira Rodrigues for her assistance with sample analysis.
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 144 • Issue 8 • August 2018
Copyright
©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 6, 2017
Accepted: Feb 26, 2018
Published online: May 31, 2018
Published in print: Aug 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Oct 31, 2018
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