AWWA JAW56602

This study was undertaken to determine how common operating conditions, such as regular backwashing, would affect bromate removal and how operation of a filter for bromate removal might affect downstream issues, such as distribution system regrowth. This study found that bromate, a regulated compound, is reduced to bromide in a biologically active carbon (BAC) filter and that aerobic biodegradability of natural organic matter was not increased following low dissolved oxygen (DO) BAC filtration. The study also showed that operating conditions may affect the extent of bromate removal in a BAC filter and that disturbances in typical operating conditions (high DO and so forth) may impair the filter's performance for future bromate removal. With these findings in mind, treatment plants can carefully consider BAC filter startup conditions - the authors emphasize the importance of the fact that filter startup conditions can affect the filter's performance. In addition, the authors recommend that plants perform site-specific bench-scale studies with granular activated carbon and water of interest so that appropriate operational filter parameters can be chosen. Includes 19 references, tables, figures.