Reducing Trihalomethane Concentrations in Drinking Water

Reducing Trihalomethane Concentrations in Drinking Water

ERI is working with a local municipality to help reduce the total concentration of trihalomethanes (TTHM), or chemical byproducts formed during the water-treatment process, in their drinking water system.*  Recently, this municipality began having issues with maintaining TTHM concentrations below the maximum contaminant level established by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).

ERI professionals worked with the municipality to optimize their current treatment process and evaluate potential treatment alternatives to address the rising TTHM levels.  As part of this evaluation, ERI designed a system to pilot-test aeration to strip TTHMs from the drinking water during the treatment process.  ERI is simultaneously executing laboratory-scale testing to evaluate optimizing the removal of organic matter before it can react with the disinfectant.

The photos above show the pilot-scale aeration system during installation and in operation during the testing phase.

Environmental Resolutions, Inc. and its staff of professionals have a broad range of experience in every aspect of water and wastewater engineering such as analysis, design, and construction management of water supply, water treatment, water storage, and water distribution systems, as well as wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations, force mains, and collection systems for government and industry.

*TTHM stands for total trihalomethanes, which are byproducts of chlorination of drinking water.  Byproducts because they are formed when chlorine (which is used for disinfection-its primary purpose) combines with organic matter in water (as is prevalent in river water) and forms these compounds which can be a potential health concern.