The City of Fairborn, Ohio, located roughly 70 miles northeast of Cincinnati, has a water service area
population of 32,000. The community's primary source of water is the 5.0 million gallons per day (mgd)
Fairborn Water Treatment Plant (FWTP). The FWTP obtains raw water from four wells located in a well
field adjacent to the Mad River. These sources, though not considered under the influence of surface
water, have elevated levels of iron and manganese. Treatment presently consists of iron and manganese
removal via oxidation through aeration, followed by settling, permanganate and polymer addition, AND
by gravity filtration by conventional sand media and chlorination. Unfortunately, the current treatment
process has been only marginally successful in removing iron and manganese.
To optimize iron and manganese removal at the existing FWTP and reduce or eliminate the use of
expensive oxidants like permanganate, the City authorized the construction of a pilot plant. The pilot
plant consisted of two, four-inch clear PVC columns constructed within the FWTP's filter gallery. By
constructing the plant in this location, the water supplied to the pilot tubes (including backwash water)
was identical to that supplied to the plant's existing filters. The pilot study investigated iron and
manganese removal by various media, flow rates and oxidation methods. Media analyzed in the pilot
plant included conventional sand (activated to induce a Natural Greensand Effect or NGE), greensand
and pyrolusite. Oxidation methods included the use of aerated versus non-aerated water and the addition
of chlorine prior to filtration.
This paper describes the results of the FWTP pilot tests. The effectiveness of the various media at
various filtration rates are then examined. The optimal filter medium is presented and revised operating
processes recommended. Finally, the cost savings associated with implementing these recommendations
plantwide are projected. Includes 6 references, table, figures.
| Edition : | Vol. - No. |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 510 KB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 13 |
| Published : | 06/15/2003 |
