The scope of this study was a direct comparison of treatment technologies leadingto indirect potable reuse of domestic effluent. Removal efficiencies for organicsduring long-term soil- aquifer treatment (SAT) (travel times > 6 months) andadvanced membrane treatment using nanofiltration (NF) or reverse osmosis (RO)were studied using tertiary treated effluent from the Northwest Water ReclamationPlant, Mesa, Arizona. The same set of analytical methods was applied for productwater samples of SAT and membrane treatment including state-of-the-art bulkorganic characterization techniques and gas chromatography-mass spectrometryanalysis for trace organics. Findings indicate that both systems, tertiarytreatment followed by SAT and NF or RO can produce high quality water withdissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations less than 1.3 mg/L in their productwater. Based on the characterization techniques applied, bulk organics present inSAT product water resembled natural organic matter present in the original watersupply or generated during wastewater treatment. Selected trace organics, whichcan be considered as wastewater indicators, were substantially removed duringtravel through the subsurface. Due to the physical separation process of membranetreatment, remaining organic carbon concentrations in NF/RO permeates arecomprised by low molecular weight carbon. Based on size exclusion chromatographyresults, more than 50 percent of organic carbon in these permeates can becharacterized as low molecular acids and neutrals. Wastewater indicator traceorganics were not detected in both NF and RO permeates. Includes 22 references, tables, figures.
| Edition : | Vol. - No. |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 480 KB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 20 |
| Published : | 05/01/2001 |
