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Grantee Research Project Results

Guidance on practical and affordable manganese treatment for small drinking water systems.

EPA Grant Number: R840855
Title: Guidance on practical and affordable manganese treatment for small drinking water systems.
Investigators: Skipper, Everett , Cornwell, David , Brandhuber, Phillip , Brown, Richard
Institution: Cornwell Research Group , University of Colorado Boulder , Water Research Foundation (VA) , Association of State Drinking Water Administrators
EPA Project Officer: Hoysala, Sneha
Project Period: September 1, 2024 through August 31, 2026
Project Amount: $1,000,000
RFA: Treatment Technology Demonstrations Using Practical and Affordable Manganese Treatment for Small Drinking Water Systems (2023) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Watersheds , Drinking Water , Clean Water , Water Treatment

Description:

Our project is designed to meet the key objective of the RFP and an adjective that our team feels is strongly needed and particularly important to the water profession and that is to provide guidance and assistance to SMALL utilities in the cost effective and successful implementation of Mn treatment. This will be especially important if EPA sets a Mn health standard as many, especially small utilities, do not suppress aesthetic levels of Mn, and if they do address this concern, it is often through the use of polyphosphates that sequester the Mn but do not remove it. We will therefore provide technical assistance for the deployment of demonstrated innovative, affordable, and easily operated and maintained water technologies by conducting Mn treatment demonstrations in small systems to evaluate the effectiveness of common Mn treatment technologies.

Objective:

We will evaluate costs of treatment (capital and operational), treatment performance, and residuals handling/disposal, particularly targeting small water systems (<10,000 population). Our project team will provide technical assistance for the deployment of demonstrated innovative, affordable, and easily operated (and maintained) commonly used Mn treatment technologies. In order to meet this objective, the research team will investigate four primary research areas:

  1. Mn Treatment—performance and sustainability.
  2. Operational Considerations—ease of operation and maintenance.
  3. Residuals Issues—characteristics, quantity, handling, and disposal.
  4. Distribution System Management - impact on colored water events and legacy Mn.
  5. Treatment Costs and Capacity - economic viability of Mn treatment technologies operating over an extended period of time, including system maintenance and residuals handling/disposal costs.

Approach:

Objectives will be accomplished through (1) a virtual data-gathering workshop; (2) select utility site visits for additional data gathering, sampling, and technical assistance, including site-specific improvement recommendations; (3) data analysis to develop small system guidance; (4) optimization and resulting costs of treatment, including maintenance and residuals handling and (5) public workshops and recorded webcasts for widespread dissemination of recommendations.

Expected Results:

This work is expected to provide a greater understanding of the challenges small utilities face in implementing and maintaining manganese treatment for drinking water. Based on data provided by participants, an analysis will be made to determine the most appropriate treatment solutions for multiple site scenarios. Recommendations will be available to many stakeholders through multiple engagement efforts, including site visits, workshops, webinars, guidance pamphlets, conferences, social media, and a web presence.

Supplemental Keywords:

environmental justice, disadvantaged communities, heavy metals

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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Last updated April 28, 2023
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