Conference Papers | 2009 Conference Papers

INVESTIGATION INTO ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF TREATING AN ALGAE CONTAMINATED WATER SUPPLY

Paul Thompson, Manager, Process & Operations, Hunter Water Australia Pty Limited
Mike Brooks, Senior Engineer Utilities, Armidale Dumaresq Council.

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ABSTRACT

Following on from a small scale investigation in June 1998, when water from Armidale was put through an offsite pilot plant, Hunter Water Australia (HWA) entered into an agreement with Armidale Dumaresq Council in September 1998 to determine the preferred long term treatment strategy for treating water from the Council’s Malpas Reservoir. The supply from this reservoir is affected by algal blooms, especially during the summer, and the Council were looking for a treatment process that would effectively and reliably remove organic contaminants such as algal toxins and taste and odour compounds from the water.

After undertaking a process audit on the operation of the existing plant and reviewing the literature on possible alternative treatment processes, both in Australia and abroad, HWA installed a pilot plant at the Water Treatment Plant (WTP). This plant was designed to treat
either filtered or settled water from the WTP. Ozone was added to these streams and the ozonated water was then passed through a biological activated filter (BAC). The water quality parameters resulting from the different processes were analysed and compared for effectiveness. As a result of these tests, coupled with an engineering, economic and risk evaluations of the alternatives, the construction of a secondary ozonation and BAC plant was recommended.