AWWA JAW60119 PDF

This article reports on a study conducted to extend the analysis of the US Environmental Protection Agency's Information Collection Rule (ICR) database to establish relationships between granular activated carbon (GAC) service life and the key factors of source water type, feedwater quality, GAC particle size, and empty bed contact time. Utilities can use the information in this article to evaluate GAC adsorption for disinfection byproduct precursor removal as a method for meeting the requirements of the proposed Stage 2 Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts Rule. Additionally, two results of this study that drinking water professionals may find useful are: statistical models for GAC service time that can be used in preliminary desktop evaluations before more costly testing is done, and information that can be used to optimize GAC treatment for utilities currently using GAC or considering its use.