Chemical Cleaning of Water

Filter Media

WaterMix

Pete Wiederhold

Bob Mattey

Utility Service Company Inc.

What is WaterMix?What is WaterMix?

WaterMix is a comprehensive patent WaterMix is a comprehensive patent

pending process for potable water pending process for potable water

systems that combines unique systems that combines unique

technologies with professional services technologies with professional services

that that result in cleaner waterresult in cleaner water

WaterMix ObjectiveWaterMix Objective

Provide those responsible for potable water Provide those responsible for potable water systems with a new set of tools to manage water systems with a new set of tools to manage water

quality and assetsquality and assets

•• Maximize water plant efficiencyMaximize water plant efficiency

•• Remove organics & the precursors to DBPRemove organics & the precursors to DBP’’ss

•• Eliminate stratification; minimize nitrificationEliminate stratification; minimize nitrification

•• GASB 34 asset managementGASB 34 asset management

•• Reduce riskReduce risk

Water Treatment Plant

Clearwell

Treatment

BasinClarifier Filter

Distribution

Tank

Distribution Line

���� Home WaterMix is a Comprehensive ProgramWaterMix is a Comprehensive Program

• Patented cleaning of

- filter media

- vessels/walls/troughs

- air strippers

- aerators

• Patented bio film removal

• Patented active mixing

(24/7/365 elimination of temp.

stratification)

• Tank asset management

Water Treatment Plant

Clearwell

Treatment

Basin Clarifier Filter

Distribution Tank

(all types)

Distribution Line

���� Home WaterMix is a Comprehensive ProgramChlorine Demand and DBP Formation; Cleaning of Vessels

WaterMix is a Comprehensive ProgramChlorine Demand and DBP Formation; Cleaning of Vessels

ppm

DBP’s

Residual Chlorine

� There cannot be a “weak link” in the system or the approach to managing water quality

�� There cannot be a There cannot be a ““weak linkweak link”” in the system or the in the system or the approach to managing water qualityapproach to managing water quality

time

Once formed, there’s no way to reduce DBP’s or

nitrification (chloramine systems).

Once formed, there’s no way to reduce DBP’s or

nitrification (chloramine systems).

The WaterMix ProgramComprehensive Mix of Professional Services

The WaterMix ProgramComprehensive Mix of Professional Services

•• Integrated program for managing water quality and Integrated program for managing water quality and

the distribution tank (physical asset)the distribution tank (physical asset)

–– Water PlantWater Plant

•• Regular cleaning of filters, media, aerators, air Regular cleaning of filters, media, aerators, air

strippers, clearwellsstrippers, clearwells

–– Distribution TanksDistribution Tanks

•• Regular cleaningRegular cleaning

–– sediment and biofilm removalsediment and biofilm removal

•• NSF 61 Active Mixing system (24/7/365)NSF 61 Active Mixing system (24/7/365)

•• InspectionsInspections

•• Maintenance of coatings, structural, sanitary, safety, Maintenance of coatings, structural, sanitary, safety,

security conditionssecurity conditions

•• Provided in a comprehensive maintenance programProvided in a comprehensive maintenance program

Filter Media:

Cleaning vs. Replacement

Filter Media:

Cleaning vs. Replacement

Filter Media Core SamplingFilter Media Core Sampling

The Impact of Fouled Filter Media on

Water Plant Operations

The Impact of Fouled Filter Media on

Water Plant Operations

Fouled

Media

• Growth in media

volume leads to media

losses during

backwash

• Encapsulation of

media leads to

increased pores

(channeling);

decreased filter

efficiency

• Density differences

that keep media

separated are reduced

causing media to mix

and lose efficiency

• Increased

frequency of

backwashes

• reduced plant

capacity

• Increased

disinfectant

demand

• Increased DBP’s

• Poorer water

quality

• Media losses

during backwash

Water Plant: Details of ServiceWater Quality Management

Water Plant: Details of ServiceWater Quality Management

•• NSF 60 certifiedNSF 60 certified

•• OffOff--line, online, on--site applicationsite application

–– Typically requires only 24 hoursTypically requires only 24 hours

•• Removes mineral and organic deposits, Removes mineral and organic deposits,

lime scale and biofilm from filter media, lime scale and biofilm from filter media,

vessel walls, under drains, and troughs vessel walls, under drains, and troughs

inin

–– Gravity filters, pressure filters and Gravity filters, pressure filters and

softenerssofteners

•• Cleans air stripping towersCleans air stripping towers

•• Patented productsPatented products

Filter Tank Cleaning

Before & After Photos

Filter Tank Cleaning

Before & After Photos

Anthracite, Untreated Anthracite, Treated

Greensand, Untreated Greensand, Treated

Filter Cleaning Video

Observed Filter Media Cleaning Benefits

• Reduced head loss

• Longer filter runs

• Improved Fe and Mn retention

• Reduced turbidity

• Restoration of media stratification

• Extended media lifetime

• Increased filter capacity

• Unclogging of direct-media-support type

underdrains

Water Mix Case Study

• Village of Chauncey, Ohio

• 3 pressure Filters

• 25 years filters in service.

• Village backwashed filters twice per day.

• Media loss during backwash.

• Increased Chlorine demand.

• Increased back pressure.

Case Study Cont.

• Core samples taken and lab report generated.

• Recommended two treatments per filter.

• After cleaning – backwash frequency reduced to once every 7-8 days.

• Reduced back pressure.

• Reduced chlorine usage.

• Recommended schedule of cleaning every 3 years to maintain maximum filter efficiency.

Clearwell Bio-Film Removal

Before and After Photos

Clearwell Bio-Film Removal

Before and After Photos

Biofilm Removal in Storage

Tank

Utility Service Company Inc.

• Full service Water Storage Tank Maintenance since 1963.

• Water Filter Media testing and chemical cleaning.

• Bio-film cleaning from water storage tanks.

• Active mixing systems for water storage tanks.

• Water Tank inspection and repair services Visual , Washout, or Robotic (ROV).

Simultaneous Compliance Dilemma:

The Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR, 1989)

requires to maintain a detectable disinfectant residual

(free chlorine, chloramines, chlorine dioxide) throughout

the distribution system = add more chlorine.

The Disinfectant/Disinfection Byproduct Rules (D/DBP

Rules) limit disinfectant residuals and disinfection

byproducts (TTHM, HAA5) = add less chlorine.

How to ensure a sufficient chlorine residual

without exceeding DBP levels?

Stage 2 D/DBP Rule:

•Same TTHM and HAA5 limits as Stage 1, but reporting as

locational running annual average (LRAA) instead of

running annual average (RAA).

•Specifies sampling locations based on Initial Distribution

System Evaluation (IDSE)

•Enforced by USEPA, not states

•Many systems that can comply at RAA (Stage 1) reporting

will fall out of compliance at LRAA (Stage 2) reporting

BURNING QUESTIONS?