AWWA WQTC50375

The current technologies being used to remove methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) from drinking water supplies are Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) and aeration via air-stripping. These technologies are not efficient. Air stripping is expensive, and in reality is doing nothing more than removing MTBE from the groundwater and discharging it directly to the air where it has the potential to be re-absorbed into the water in some other area of the country. GAC has a low loading capacity for MTBE. Research at the T&E Facility is evaluating package plant technologies and their efficiency for the removal of MTBE from the environment by destruction. This paper discusses preliminary results of EPA technical direction to evaluate the advance oxidation process (AOP) treatment technology. It will also identify problems encountered during the set-up, debugging, and operation of pilot-scale ozone/UV drinking water small system treatment plants. The experimental approach, design, and relevance of a package plant and its efficiency to remove MTBE from contaminated drinking water are discussed and evaluated. However, the first phase of this project will evaluate the efficiency of the AOP unit to remove bacterial and microbial contamination from a drinking water source. Includes reference, figures.