You are here:
Filtration Challenges and Implementation of Solar-Powered Turbidity Control and Backwash Systems to Optimize Drinking Water Treatment and Distribution in Non-PRASA Communities in Puerto Rico
Citation:
Sinha, R., C. Patterson, D. Williams, C. Maldonado, G. Ramirez, M. Crespo, AND H. Minnigh. Filtration Challenges and Implementation of Solar-Powered Turbidity Control and Backwash Systems to Optimize Drinking Water Treatment and Distribution in Non-PRASA Communities in Puerto Rico. Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI) World Water Congress 2021, Milwaukee, WI, June 07 - 11, 2021.
Impact/Purpose:
Community health problems can result from Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR) and Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBPR) violations. Isolated rural communities suffer chronic problems such as coliform and pathogen contamination in surface waters. In communities outside the control of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) in Puerto Rico, there exists a significantly higher potential for epidemic outbreaks of enteric diseases (e.g., typhoid and paratyphoid fever, cholera, amoebic and bacillary dysentery, viral gastroenteritis, and giardiasis). Improving Non-PRASA small water systems and optimizing operation and maintenance provides Region 2 and OW with a means to improve public health and reduce SDWA violations.
Description:
EPA has been working with community members with optimization of their water treatment and distribution systems. Community members and students are being trained on the use of water quality sensors and instruments to better understand, manage, and use water quality data and reinforce the need for continuous operation and maintenance of water treatment and distribution systems. A turbidity bypass system was fabricated and installed to block turbid water from reaching the roughing and slow sand filter systems in the Barrios of Mulas and Jagual. The automated turbidity bypass system is reducing roughing filter maintenance requirements.