Basic Ground Water

Treatment

Cindy Sek
Sanitary Engineer 2
DPH - Drinking Water Section
Compliance Regions - North Drinking Water Section
 Topics of Discussion

 Why is water treatment used?

 ANSI/NSF Standards
 Considerations before installing treatment
 Disinfection
 Organics removal
 Iron and manganese removal
 Corrosion control treatment
 Treatment systems in combination
 General Water Treatment Guidelines
 Classification of Water Treatment Plants

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 Why is Water
Treatment Used?

 To remove contaminants and achieve

compliance with a Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) thereby reducing health risk
 Disinfection to kill or inactivate total coliform
and/or E.coli bacteria and associated
microbial pathogens
 Organics removal with Granular Activated
Carbon (GAC)
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 Why is Water
Treatment Used?

 To achieve aesthetic water quality

standards
 Sediment filters to remove suspended
particles
 Ion exchange water softener
 Iron and manganese filtration
 Taste and odor control using Granular
Activated Carbon (GAC)
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 Why is Water
Treatment Used?

 For corrosion control

 Calcite filtration for pH adjustment
 Chemical injection for pH adjustment
 Orthophosphate for sequestering

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 ANSI/NSF Standard 60 & 61
 All drinking water treatment chemicals and
components must be certified to ANSI/NSF standards.

 NSF/ANSI Standard 60: Drinking Water Treatment

Chemicals - Health Effects is the nationally recognized
health effects standard for chemicals which are used
to treat drinking water.

 NSF/ANSI Standard 61: Drinking Water System

Components - Health Effects is the nationally
recognized health effects standard for all devices,
components and materials which contact drinking
water.

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 Other ANSI/NSF Standards

 NSF/ANSI Standard 42: Drinking Water Treatment

Units - Aesthetic Effects
 NSF/ANSI Standard 44: Cation Exchange Water
Softeners
 NSF/ANSI Standard 53: Drinking Water Treatment
Units - Health Effects
 NSF/ANSI Standard 55: Ultraviolet Microbiological
Water Treatment Systems
 NSF/ANSI Standard 58: Reverse Osmosis
Drinking Water Treatment Systems
 Visit www.nsf.org for more information

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 Considerations Before
Installing Treatment
 Type and concentration(s) of contaminant(s)
 Treatment options
 NSF Certification
 Initial cost of installing treatment equipment and ongoing
costs of maintenance, chemicals, and additional water
quality testing
 Available room to install treatment in existing pump house
 Submittal to DPH for review and approval prior to
installation per RCSA Section 19-13-B102(d)(2)
 Water treatment plant operator to maintain and operate the
treatment system
 Staff certified at the appropriate level
 Contracting with a certified treatment plant operator
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 Chemical Disinfection

 Chlorination is used to inactivate bacteria and/or viruses that

may be introduced into the water system
 Correct well violations and deficiencies first
 Eliminate cross connections within system piping first
 Use alternate source of supply

 GWR requires maintaining 4-log virus treatment

 Source with significant deficiency or fecal contamination
 Exempt from GWR source water monitoring requirement
 Existing treatment systems need to demonstrate that treatment meets
this level
 A CT value of about 6 is necessary to achieve this level

 Routine compliance monitoring is required to ensure that

treatment is effective and public health is protected.
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 Compliance Monitoring

 Chlorine Compliance monitoring

 >3,300 population – continuous monitoring
at a location at least equivalent to 1st
customer.
 <3,300 population – continuous monitoring
at a location equivalent to 1st customer or 1
grab sample/day at the time of peak hourly
flow.

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 http://www.epa.gov/safewater/disinfection/gwr/compliancehelp.html
under GWR Contact Time (CT) Calculator
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 Treatment

EPA CT Value Table

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 Chemical Injection Systems

4-log treatment systems must have redundancy

or backup equipment immediately available.
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 Chlorination Systems

Advantages
 Destroy bacteria, viruses, and other pathogenic
microorganism, except Giardia and Cryptosporidium
 Provide a barrier of protection throughout the water
system when an adequate chlorine residual is
maintained
 Disinfectant residual can be monitored
 Can be used as an oxidant to suspend metals in
solution for better filtration treatment performance
 Oxidizes hydrogen sulfide to reduce nuisance odor

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 Chlorination Systems
Disadvantages
 More maintenance
 Chemical addition and disinfection by-products
 Need to maintain adequate contact time for effective
disinfection
 Need to monitored on a daily basis
 Requires a higher certified operator skill level
 More space required for contact tank and treatment
system
 Mineral oxidation may necessitate the need to install
filtration treatment if raw water has mineral content.
 Iron and/or Manganese common in groundwater

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 Trivia Questions

 The GWR requires what level of treatment at the

entry point for effective virus inactivation / removal?
4-log

 Can I continue to use my existing disinfection

treatment if it does not meet 4-log virus inactivation /
removal?
Yes, however please note assessment or triggered
source water monitoring may be required.

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 Ultraviolet Disinfection

 May be considered for approval as a primary

disinfection treatment if UV treatment guidelines
are met
 Source of supply is groundwater
 Bacteria (total coliform) is documented to be coming from
the groundwater source (not in distribution system)
 UV unit meets ANSI/NSF 55 Standards
 Raw water meets prerequisite water quality data
 Iron and Manganese, color, turbidity
 Suspended solid, hardness, hydrogen sulfide

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 Ultraviolet Disinfection
Advantages
 No chemicals
 Instantaneous bacteria inactivation
 Closed system
 No disinfection by-products
 Low maintenance
 Can be installed in a relatively small space if
pre-treatment is not necessary
 Relatively low initial and maintenance costs
compared to chlorination systems

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 Ultraviolet Disinfection

Disadvantages
 No disinfectant residual.
 Currently, no known single low pressure UV units will
provide 4-log inactivation/removal of viruses.
 Require for assessment monitoring per GWR.
 Will only be effective if the bacteria source is entering
the water system prior to the UV unit.
 Pretreatment may be necessary for raw water with
moderate to high mineral content.
 May require units to be installed in parallel if water
system cannot be shut down to allow for UV
maintenance or replacement.
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Ultraviolet Disinfection

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Ultraviolet Disinfection

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 Trivia Question

 What are some of the raw water

minerals to be concerned of when
considering a UV treatment system?

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 Trivia Question
 What are some of the raw water minerals to be
concerned of when considering a UV
treatment system?
Parameter Maximum Limit
Color 15
Iron 0.3 mg/L
Manganese 0.05 mg/L
Hardness 120 mg/L
Hydrogen Sulfide Non-Detectable
Suspended Solids 10 mg/L
Turbidity 1.0 NTU

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 Granular Activated Carbon
(GAC)

 Absorbs Organic Chemicals

 gasoline, benzene, toluene
 DDT, PCB, etc.
 Controls taste & odor
 Chlorine smell
 Sulfur odor (rotten egg smell)
 Typically 2 units are installed in series for
organic removal
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 Multiple
GAC units
for VOC
removal

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 Aeration
(Air Stripping)

Multi-Staged Bubble System

 VOC
 Radon
 TTHM
 Hydrogen Sulfide
 Iron Oxidation
pH Adjustment
Lowry Deep Bubble Air Stripper, www.lowryh2o.com Drinking Water Section
 Iron/Manganese Removal
 Filtration is typically combined with pre-oxidation
 Media: Manganese Greensand, Birm, Multimedia
 Regeneration / Oxidation: Potassium permanganate
 Oxidation: Chlorine, Air injection
 Manganese is typically oxidized at a higher pH
therefore pH adjustment may be required
 Phosphate – sequestering iron
 Water softeners
 Best for Ferrous Iron < 5 mg/L

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 Iron/Manganese Removal
Continuous Regeneration

National Environmental Training Association, Inc.,

Field Guide, III-3, 1999
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 Iron/Manganese Removal
Intermittent Regeneration

National Environmental Training Association, Inc.,Field Guide, III-3, 1999

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Multiple Greensand Filters
with GAC

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 Trivia Question

 What is the purpose of air injection or

aeration in the treatment process?

 Oxidation
 VOC removal
 Radon removal
 pH adjustment

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 Water Softeners

 Removal of hardness
 Calcium and/or Magnesium
 Removal of iron and manganese
 Regenerate with sodium chloride or
potassium chloride
 If sodium levels are already elevated,
potassium chloride may be preferable
 Sodium notification level is 28 mg/L

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Ion Exchange Softening

National Environmental Training Association, Inc.,Field Guide,

III-6, 1999
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 Cartridge Sediment Filters
 Remove silt, sediment, and
other suspended matter
 Use as pre-filter for other
treatment processes
 Sediment filter should be
changed on a regular basis
 Spare filters should be kept in
their original wrappings
 Add a tablespoon of bleach to
filter housing after filter
replacement
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 Trivia Questions

 What is one of the functions of a water

softener in a treatment process?
-- Hardness removal
-- Iron and Manganese removal

 Should a cartridge filter be used for

bacteria removal?
No

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 Corrosion Control

 pH adjustment
 Calcite Filter
 Chemical injection
 Introduction of corrosion control inhibitors
 Calcite filters - protect scaling in pipes
 Phosphate chemical injection - applies a
protective layer on the pipes to help prevent
corrosion

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 Corrosion Control

 Evaluate source Water Quality Parameters

(WQP) results
 WQP – pH, alkalinity, calcium, conductivity,
phosphate, temperature
 Based on results, determine the most
effective treatment system
 After installation of treatment, check WQP
and saturation index at entry point to confirm
treatment effectiveness

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 pH Adjustment
Calcite Filters
 A.K.A. acid neutralizers or limestone contactors
 Raise pH (typically not beyond 7.5)
 Add hardness (calcium carbonate) and alkalinity
which can be beneficial for corrosion control
 Replace filter media periodically (i.e. 6-12 months)
 Minimum weekly monitoring of pH level is required
to be taken, recorded, and retained under RCSA
Section 19-13-B102(e)(7)(N)

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 Chemical Injection
 pH adjustment with potassium carbonate, sodium
carbonate (soda ash), or hydroxide products
 Allow a wider range of pH level to be achieved
 More hazardous than a calcite filter
 Potential for chemical overfeed if chemical injection safety
controls are not installed
 Recommend injection paced proportionate to flow
 Sequestering with phosphate
 Daily monitoring of pH level or biweekly monitoring of
phosphate level is required to be taken, recorded, and
retained under RCSA Section 19-13-B102(e)(7)(N)

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Drinking Water Section
 Trivia Question

 What is the monitoring requirement for

the pH adjustment process?
-- Calcite Filters - at least weekly pH readings
-- Chemical injection – Daily pH readings

The readings must be recorded on the Treatment

Effluent Log and submitted to drinking.water@ct.gov
by the 9th day of the following month.

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 Treatment Systems in
Combination
 Calcite followed by a water softener
 Used to remove iron and manganese
 Calcite raises pH and facilitates manganese
removal with the water softener
 Calcite adds hardness and water softener reduces
hardness
 Water softener followed by UV Treatment
 Water softener reduces hardness, iron and
manganese
 Bacteria passing through UV unit is inactivated and
does not “hide” under larger minerals
 Many other possible combinations
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Neutralizer + Water softener +
sediment filter + UV
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 Where does the backwash go?

 BACK WASH DISCHARGE MUST BE AIR-GAPPED

 Not in the septic system (definition of domestic sewage
in RCSA Section 19-13-B103 excludes treatment
backwash)
 Dedicated on-site water treatment disposal system or
sanitary sewer (Draft DEEP General Permit for the Discharge of Low
Flow Water Treatment Wastewater)
 Must meet separating distance to well
 Must be at least 10 ft from existing septic system
 DEEP General Permit may be required
 Backwash discharge > 500 GPD

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Drinking Water Section
What is wrong?

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 What is wrong?
No air gap for BW discharges

No air gap for BW discharges

& storage tank drain
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 Classification of
Water Treatment Plants and
Small Water Systems

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 Small Water Systems
 If the CPWS or NTNC serves less than
1,000 persons and either has no
treatment or a treatment unit process
that does not require any chemical
treatment, process adjustment or media
regeneration by an operator then the
system is classified as a “SMALL
WATER SYSTEM”

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 “Passive Treatment” -
Small Water System
 Treatment unit process that does not require any
chemical treatment, process adjustment or media
regeneration by an operator
 UV Light
 Calcite filter – media is replaced off site by
licensed professional
 Cartridge filter (whole house filter, sediment filter)
 Exchange Softener – no backwash & media is
regenerated off site
 Granular Activated Carbon (taste & odor control)

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 Water Treatment Plant
Classification Form
Points Assigned for:
 Population Served
 Water Supply Source
 Chemical Treatment/Addition Process
 Coagulation & Flocculation Process
 Clarification/Sedimentation Process
 Filtration Process
 Other Treatment Processes
 Special Processes
 Residuals Disposal
 Facility Characteristics - Instrumentation
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 Water Treatment Plant
Classification Form

 Add up all the points and determine which level

treatment plant applies

TREATMENT PLANT LEVEL

 Class I 30 points or less
 Class II 31 - 55 points
 Class III 56 - 75 points
 Class IV 76 points or greater

 Available on the Drinking Water Section website:

www.ct.gov/dph/publicdrinkingwater
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 Treatment Plant Classification
Activity

 XYZ community public water system utilizes

two wells to serve 200 people.
 Well withdrawal rate
 8 gpm each (8,640 gpd each)
 Raw water quality
 elevated iron, manganese, color & turbidity, 5.8 pH
 Treatment Processes
 Chlorination, pH adjustment with KOH, greensand
filters with potassium permanganate (KMnO4) for
regeneration and intermittent backwash discharge
to on-site dedicated disposal system

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Drinking Water Section
 This includes
the greensand
filter (5 pts) and
potassium
permanganate
(10 pts)

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 Total 53 points
Class II
treatment plant
Requires a Class II
treatment plant
operator
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 Contact Information

 Drinking Water Section

410 Capitol Ave, MS# 51-WAT
P.O. Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134-0308
www.ct.gov/dph/publicdrinkingwater
Phone: 860-509-7333
Emergency Phone: 860-509-8000
Fax: 860-509-7359

Drinking Water Section