SUNNYVALE, Calif. — Aqua Metrology Systems (AMS) announced Arizona’s Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department has purchased and installed an online trihalomethane (THM) analyzer from AMS, according to a press release.
The online THM analyzer will be used to monitor daily levels of disinfection byproducts at the department’s Tres Rios Wastewater Reclamation Facility, stated the release.
The expanded and upgraded facility was brought online in December 2013, and a five-stage Bardenpho process was used for nitrate, nitrite and ammonia reduction, maintaining effluent levels below 10 mg/l, reported the release.
Reduced levels of effluent ammonia and the use of chlorine disinfectant increased the formation potential of total THM (TTHMs) in the discharged effluent, and as a result, operations “experimented with adding centrate as an ammonia source prior to chlorination to make chloramines, since the disinfectant produces lower levels of THMs than chlorine,” continued the release.
As a result of this process change, AMS’ THM analyzer was piloted to monitor and characterize THM formation, noted the release.
“During the demonstration, we undertook rigorous testing to validate the accuracy, reliability and repeatability of the online THM analyzer by measuring it against results from independent laboratory analysis,” said Michael Kostrzewski, senior project manager for the Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department. “The detailed analysis showed that the THM-100 online analyzer provided us with immediate and accurate daily reports on THM levels in our effluent. By monitoring the real-time formation of THMs, following the addition of ammonia, we were better equipped to control its production and implement process optimization techniques accordingly.”
You can find the release here.
