Saskatchewan System Selects MIEX® Process to Reduce DBPs
< back
Many water systems in Saskatchewan are challenged by raw water sources containing high concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) which can result in the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) that exceed Health Canada's standards.
As a means of addressing this challenge, the Town of Hudson Bay will be the first water system in Saskatchewan to employ the magnetic ion exchange (MIEX®) Process to remove DOC from their raw water source and thus reduce the formation of disinfection by-products in their distribution sstem. The Town announced, on September 30th, that they have purchased a 500-gpm MAGNA PAK® System to be installed as pretreatment to the Town's existing coagulation and filtration processes. The system is scheduled to be operational in early 2010 and will be the first operating MIEX® System in Canada.
As successful 2008 pilot of the technology indicated, the MIEX® System will enable the Town of Hudson Bay to meet Health Canada water quality standards for DBPs - both the current maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) of 100μg/L and proposed future regulatory limits for haloacetic acids (HAA)
Pilot plant data indicated that MIEX® Resin treatment can substantially reduce raw water DOC and UV254
levels. The raw water DOC averaged 8.2 mg/L, and UV254 absorbance averaged 0.297 cm-1, during the pilot plant studies conducted on-site. MIEX® Treatment reduced the raw water DOC concentration by an average of 64% and UV254 absorbance by an average of nearly 90%. The DOC removal achieved through the MIEX® Process also substantially reduced DBP formation, achieving TTHM concentrations comfortable below the MAC.
"In addition to the achieving compliance, pretreatment with the MIEX® Process should also allow the Town to significantly reduce coagulant consumption at the water treatment plant," said Lawrence Lukey, P.Eng. of Bullée Consulting Ltd., Hudson Bay's engineer for the project. Lukey continues, "We are excited to have identified an effective solution for treatment of the high DOC water sources that are prevalent throughout so much of this region."
Orica Watercare is represented in Saskatchewan by Dan Landry of Mequipco.
|
