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Evaluation of Current Water Treatment and Distribution System Optimization to Provide Safe Drinking Water from Various Source Water Types and Conditions (Deliverable 5.2.C.1)
Citation:
Latham, M. AND H. Mash. Evaluation of Current Water Treatment and Distribution System Optimization to Provide Safe Drinking Water from Various Source Water Types and Conditions (Deliverable 5.2.C.1). U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC, EPA/600/F-14/353, 2014.
Impact/Purpose:
Identifying and quantifying the source water and treatment challenges for water systems is an important step towards mitigating present and future risks. An evaluation of potential of water contaminants in the natural environment and during drinking water treatment is needed, particularly as we continue to adapt existing drinking water treatment infrastructure to address CECs. The following studies will help improve our understanding of the propagation of contaminants through drinking water treatment, and identify the best approaches for removal.
Description:
Increasingly, drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) are being challenged by changes in the quality of their source waters and by their aging treatment and distribution system infrastructure. Individually or in combination, factors such as shrinking water and financial resources, climate change, agricultural runoff, harmful algal blooms (HABs), and industrial land utilization increase the probability that contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, endocrine disrupting compounds, and algal toxins will remain after treatment, ending up in consumers’ drinking water. In addition, when treating for CECs, disinfection byproducts (DBPs) can form, which may pose health risks as well. This is likely to disproportionately affect small drinking water systems due to, among other factors, limited resources and treatment options. The approaches in EPA's studies will develop an improved understanding of the optimal conditions for existing drinking water infrastructure to reduce propagation of HAB-associated toxins and other CECs through drinking water treatment plants. In addition, the evaluations will provide a comparative utility of ELISA and LC/MS assays for cyanobacterial toxin monitoring, and identify parameters most likely to impact the accuracy of the different methods. Such information is critical to the design of effective treatment practices and ultimately helps to prevent waterborne illnesses and safeguard human health.