AWWA ACE61825

WaterOne is a quasi-municipal water authority that provides drinking water to more than375,000 people primarily in Johnson County, Kansas. WaterOne treats source waters ofpoor quality, the Kansas and Missouri Rivers, and experiences periodic taste and odor(T&O) episodes caused by geosmin and MIB.From 2002 to 2004, WaterOne and Black & Veatch worked together to develop a comprehensiveT&O control program. This work included analysis of historical data to develop an earlywarning system for T&O episodes, seminars to train WaterOne staff in the use of newsensory analysis methods, and bench-scale testing to evaluate powdered activated carbon (PAC) treatment efficiencyfor geosmin, MIB, and atrazine.Over 10 years of T&O complaint data were evaluated to identify 15 T&O episodes thatoccurred between 1990 and 2002. River flow, reservoir release, rainfall, and water qualitydata for this period were analyzed for correlation to the T&O events. The objective wasto determine if a set of conditions could be linked to an increased probability of a T&Oepisode and hence be used as an early warning system. The data analysis showed a strongcorrelation of T&O events to both monthly rainfall accumulations < 2 inches and riverflows < 2000 cfs. No correlations were found between T&O episodes and raw waternutrient levels or algae counts.Training seminars were conducted by Black and Veatch and Dr. Andrea Dietrich to train WaterOnestaff how to use the new sensory analysis methods that are the subject of the AwwaRFreport, "Practical Taste-and-Odor Methods for Routine Operations: A Decision Tree". Over 30 staff were trained in the new methods and screened for their ability to detectMIB. The results of the training seminars are presented.Jar tests were conducted to compare the efficiency of 4 PAC brands for removal ofgeosmin, MIB, and atrazine. Dose-response curves were developed for treatment of eachcontaminant to establish PAC dose parameters. Test results showed that one of the PACbrands was more efficient treating this water for MIB, geosmin, and atrazine.The early warning system, sensory analysis methods, and treatment optimization wereused to develop a comprehensive taste and odor control program for WaterOne. Specificoperating rules were developed for monitoring conditions that are conducive to T&Oepisodes, using new, practical sensory analysis methods for detection of T&Ocompounds, and applying appropriate PAC doses when a T&O episode occurs.Taste-and-odor complaints are among the most common for U.S. utilities. This paper illustrates how utilities can integrate an early warning system, sensoryanalysis techniques, and treatment optimization to develop an effective T&O controlprogram. Includes tables, figures.

Product Details

Edition:

Vol. - No.

Published:

06/17/2005

Number of Pages:

14

File Size:

1 file , 1 MB