Strategies for Controlling and Mitigating Algal Growth within Water Treatment Plants

312 Pages·2009·4.11 MB·English

Strategies for Controlling and
Mitigating Algal Growth within
Water Treatment Plants
Subject Area: Water Quality

Strategies for Controlling and
Mitigating Algal Growth within
Water Treatment Plants
©2009 Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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Strategies for Controlling and
Mitigating Algal Growth within
Water Treatment Plants
Prepared by:
Sunil Kommineni, Kristen Amante and Bhavana Karnik
Malcolm Pirnie, Inc., 1700 West Loop South, Suite 1450, Houston, TX 77027
and
Milton Sommerfeld and Thomas Dempster
Arizona State University
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Tempe, AZ 85287
Jointly sponsored by:
Water Research Foundation
6666 West Quincy Avenue, Denver, CO 80235-3098
U.S Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, DC
and
Veolia Water Indianapolis
Published by:
©2009 Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
DISCLAIMER
This study was funded by the Water Research Foundation (the Foundation), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(USEPA) under Cooperative Agreement No. CR-83110401, and Veolia Water Indianapolis. The Foundation,
USEPA and Veolia Water Indianapolis assume no responsibility for the content of the research study reported in
this publication or for the opinions or statements of fact expressed in the report. The mention of trade names for
commercial products does not represent or imply the approval or endorsement of the Foundation, USEPA or Veolia
Water Indianapolis. This report is presented solely for informational purposes.
Copyright © 2009
by Water Research Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced
or otherwise utilized without permission.
ISBN 978-1-60573-058-5
Printed in the U.S.A.
©2009 Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
CONTENTS

TABLES........................................................................................................................................xi

FIGURES......................................................................................................................................xv

FOREWORD...............................................................................................................................xxi

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.........................................................................................................xxiii

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY........................................................................................................xxv

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................1
Definition of Problem.........................................................................................................1
Research Objectives............................................................................................................1
Approach.............................................................................................................................1
Case Studies........................................................................................................................2
Algal Toxins........................................................................................................................5

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW.......................................................................................9
Introduction.........................................................................................................................9
Types And Characteristics of Algae Found in Water Treatment Plants.............................9
Cyanobacteria (Blue-Green Algae).........................................................................9
Bacillariophyceae (Diatoms)................................................................................10
Chlorophyceae (Green Algae)..............................................................................10
Euglenophyceae (Euglenoids)..............................................................................10
Dinophyceae (Dinoflagellates).............................................................................10
Cryptophyceae (Cryptomonads)...........................................................................11
Chrysophceae (Golden Algae)..............................................................................11
Effect of Source Water Quality and Climate on Algae Growth.......................................11
Water Quality........................................................................................................11
Climate Factors.....................................................................................................13
Water Conditions..................................................................................................14
Impacts of Algal Growth on Treated Water Quality........................................................14
Taste and Odor......................................................................................................14
Total Organic Carbon and Disinfection Byproducts............................................15
Algal Control Strategies at Water Treatment Plants.........................................................15
Operational Strategies...........................................................................................15
Design Strategies..................................................................................................17
Water Treatment Strategies...................................................................................17
Literature Review Summary.............................................................................................28

CHAPTER 3: NATIONAL SURVEY FINDINGS.....................................................................31
Introduction.......................................................................................................................31
Demographics...................................................................................................................31
Source Water.....................................................................................................................36
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©2009 Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Impacts on Water Quality and Algae Occurence..............................................................38
Algae Events.....................................................................................................................41
Algae and Treatment Train...............................................................................................46
Algae Characterization......................................................................................................56
Algae Issues......................................................................................................................61
Strategies to Control and Mitigate Algae..........................................................................62
Source Water Control...........................................................................................62
Treatment Plant Control – Chemical Strategies....................................................63
Treatment Plant Control – Design Strategies........................................................65
Treatment Plant Control – Operational Strategies................................................65
Summary of Control Strategies.........................................................................................66

CHAPTER 4 CASE STUDIES....................................................................................................69
Central Utah Water Concervancy District........................................................................69
Introduction...........................................................................................................69
Raw and Finished Water Quality..........................................................................69
Treatment Train....................................................................................................70
Treatment Plant Issues..........................................................................................70
Algae Control Strategies.......................................................................................71
Summary...............................................................................................................72
City of Chandler Water Treatment Plant..........................................................................72
Introduction...........................................................................................................72
Raw and Finished Water Quality..........................................................................72
Treatment Train....................................................................................................73
Treatment Plant Issues..........................................................................................73
Algae Control Strategies.......................................................................................74
Summary...............................................................................................................76
City of Newport News......................................................................................................76
Introduction...........................................................................................................76
Raw and Finished Water Quality..........................................................................76
Treatment Train....................................................................................................78
Treatment Plant Issues..........................................................................................78
Algae Control Strategies.......................................................................................79
Summary...............................................................................................................80
City of Peoria....................................................................................................................80
Introduction...........................................................................................................80
Raw and Finished Water Quality..........................................................................80
Treatment Train....................................................................................................81
Treatment Plant Issues..........................................................................................82
Algae Control Strategies.......................................................................................84
Treatment Plant Operational Factors Potentially Affecting Algal Growth..........84
Summary...............................................................................................................84
City of Phoenix 24th Street Water Treatmemt Plant.........................................................85
Introduction...........................................................................................................85
Raw and Finished Water Quality..........................................................................85
Treatment Train....................................................................................................86
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©2009 Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Treatment Plant Issues..........................................................................................87
Algae Control Strategies.......................................................................................88
Summary...............................................................................................................89
The Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency.....................................................89
Introduction...........................................................................................................89
Raw and Finished Water Quality..........................................................................89
Treatment Train....................................................................................................90
Factors Potentially Impacting Algal Growth........................................................92
Lessons Learned....................................................................................................92
Summary...............................................................................................................92
Contra Costa Water District..............................................................................................92
Introduction...........................................................................................................92
Raw and Finished Water Quality..........................................................................93
Treatment Train....................................................................................................94
Treatment Plant Issues..........................................................................................94
Algae Control Strategies.......................................................................................96
Summary...............................................................................................................98
Denver Water Moffat Water Treatment Plant..................................................................98
Introduction...........................................................................................................98
Raw and Finished Water Quality..........................................................................98
Treatment Train....................................................................................................99
Treatment Plant Issues..........................................................................................99
Algae Control Strategies.....................................................................................103
Summary.............................................................................................................103
Greenville Water System................................................................................................104
Introduction.........................................................................................................104
Raw and Finished Water Quality........................................................................104
Treatment Train..................................................................................................105
Algal Growth within the Treatment Plant...........................................................105
Algal Control Strategies......................................................................................106
Summary.............................................................................................................106
Helix Water District........................................................................................................106
Introduction.........................................................................................................106
Raw and Finished Water Quality........................................................................107
Treatment Train..................................................................................................107
Treatment Plant Issues........................................................................................108
Algae Control Strategies.....................................................................................108
Summary.............................................................................................................108
Large Metropolitan Utility in the Midwest, Water Treatment Plant..............................109
Introduction.........................................................................................................109
Raw and Finished Water Quality........................................................................109
Treatment Train..................................................................................................110
Treatment Plant Issues........................................................................................110
Algae Control Strategies.....................................................................................111
Summary.............................................................................................................111
Minneapolis Water Works..............................................................................................112
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©2009 Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Introduction.........................................................................................................112
Raw and Finished Water Quality........................................................................112
Treatment Train..................................................................................................113
Operational Issues Associated with Algal Growth.............................................116
Algae Control Strategies.....................................................................................116
Treatment Plant Factors Potentially Effecting Algal Growth.............................116
Design Factors Potentially Effecting Algal Growth...........................................117
Operational Factors Potentially Affecting Algal Growth...................................117
Lessons Learned..................................................................................................117
Summary.............................................................................................................117
Philadelphia Water Department......................................................................................118
Introduction.........................................................................................................118
Raw and Finished Water Quality........................................................................118
Treatment Train..................................................................................................119
Treatment Plant Issues........................................................................................119
Algae Control Strategies.....................................................................................119
Summary.............................................................................................................120
Santa Clara Valley Water District...................................................................................120
Introduction.........................................................................................................120
Raw and Finished Water Quality........................................................................121
Treatment Train..................................................................................................122
Treatment Plant Issues........................................................................................124
Algae Control Strategies.....................................................................................125
Summary.............................................................................................................126
St. Paul Regional Water Service.....................................................................................127
Introduction.........................................................................................................127
Raw and Finished Water Quality........................................................................127
Treatment Train..................................................................................................128
Operational Issues Associated with Algal Growth.............................................128
Algae Control Strategies.....................................................................................129
Treatment Plant Factors Potentially Affecting Algal Growth............................131
Design Factors Potentially Affecting Algal Growth...........................................131
Operational Factors Potentially Affecting Algal Growth...................................132
Lessons Learned..................................................................................................132
Summary.............................................................................................................132
City of Tulsa...................................................................................................................132
Introduction.........................................................................................................132
Raw and Finished Water Quality........................................................................132
Treatment Train..................................................................................................133
Treatment Plant Issues........................................................................................134
Algae Control Strategies.....................................................................................134
Summary.............................................................................................................134

CHAPTER 5 ALGAE CHARACTERIZATION......................................................................135
Selection of Participating Water Treatment Plants ........................................................135
Methods for Algae Sampling and Characterization........................................................136
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©2009 Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED