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Bilogical Treatment for Ammonia Oxidation in Drinking Water Facilities
Citation:
WHITE, C. P., D. A. LYTLE, AND K. Hawkins. Bilogical Treatment for Ammonia Oxidation in Drinking Water Facilities. Presented at 1st International Conference on Nitrification, Louisville, KY, July 05 - 10, 2009.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
Ammonia is an unregulated compound, but is naturally occurring in many drinking water sources. It is also used by some treatment facilities to produce chloramines for disinfection purposes. Because ammonia is non-toxic, its presence in drinking water is often disregarded. Through the process of nitrification, however, ammonia can cause the formation of regulated and hazardous compounds nitrate and nitrite. Questions regarding the reliability of purposeful implementation of bacteria-containing biofilters in drinking water distribution systems have been raised, especially in the United States, even though nitrification is widely used for wastewater treatment (Metcalf and Eddy 2003), and biologically active filtration has been used successfully in Europe for years. Bouwer and Crowe (1988) documented the use of various biological methods throughout England, France, and Germany, including fluidized beds, rapid sand filters, biologically active granulated active carbon (GAC), and soil-aquifer treatment. Nitrification in an iron removal filtration plant with biologically active granular media filters located in southwest Ohio was monitored. A goal of this monitoring, which involved full-scale sampling as well as pilot work, was to determine how to most efficiently regain nitrification capabilities following filter changes and rebedding. Further pilot-scale testing at USEPA laboratories based on this work is being conducted, with the following objectives: Characterize a full-scale biologically active filter using molecular techniques to identify major genera present and determine those responsible for nitrification and Design and operate pilot filters under controlled conditions to evaluate the role of operational conditions on functionality.
