AWWA ACE94125

The Enhanced Coagulation (EC) Treatment Technique will present both a challenge and an opportunity to managers and operators of conventional water treatment plants in Pennsylvania and elsewhere in the US. Utility managers will have the opportunity to test the limits of conventional treatment to determine the most cost-effective and feasible implementation of DBP control strategies which do not compromise other water quality objectives of the utility. It is still early in the discussion and planning phases, however, and there remain several significant issues. Is EC implementable? Will utilities be able to achieve full-scale, TOC reduction achieved in jar testing? What operating strategies will the utility manager need to investigate in order to deal with the secondary impacts of reducing process pH? delaying disinfection? doubling coagulant dosage? Will EC reduce the optimization of major unit processes in removing pathogens? Can EC bring DBP levels down sufficiently to meet the levels of concern in the D/DBP Stage II Rule? What monitoring and control tools will be available to the operator? To address these issues, there is a significant need for additional data on current plant operations and effectiveness, a better understanding of the secondary impacts of EC, and creative solutions to operating existing facilities under a new set of rules.