Field based pilot-scale drinking water distribution system: Simulation of long hydraulic retention times and microbiological mediated monochloramine decay
Veerdhawal Kulkarni,
John Awad,
Adam Medlock,
Paul Monis,
Melody Lau,
Barbara Drigo,
John van Leeuwen
Affiliations
Veerdhawal Kulkarni
Natural and Built Environments Research Centre, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, South Australia, 5095, Australia
John Awad
Natural and Built Environments Research Centre, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, South Australia, 5095, Australia; Public Works Department, Faculty of Engineering, Mansoura University, Egypt
Adam Medlock
TRILITY Pty Ltd, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
Paul Monis
Natural and Built Environments Research Centre, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, South Australia, 5095, Australia; Australian Water Quality Centre, SA Water Corporation, 250 Victoria Square, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
Melody Lau
Australian Water Quality Centre, SA Water Corporation, 250 Victoria Square, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
Barbara Drigo
Future Industries Institute, ITEE, University of South Australia, South Australia, 5095, Australia
John van Leeuwen
Natural and Built Environments Research Centre, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, South Australia, 5095, Australia; Future Industries Institute, ITEE, University of South Australia, South Australia, 5095, Australia; Corresponding author at: Natural and Built Environments Research Centre, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, South Australia, 5095, Australia.
Drinking water distribution systems with long hydraulic retention times (HRTs) commonly encounter rapid microbiological-mediated monochloramine decay that results in microbial regrowth and nitrification with reduction in alkalinity. In this paper, we report the design and operation of a field-based pilot-scale distribution system (PDS) operated at flows that simulate long HRTs (∼10 days) to promote rapid microbiological monochloramine decay over long periods. The PDS is designed to enable the testing of chemical treatment for the control of nitrification and monochloramine decay. The PDS has two identical cylindrical polyethylene tanks (DS1 & DS2), each of 1 m diameter and 1.8 m height (∼1 kL) holding 900 m of polyethylene (PE) tubing with sampling points every 300 m intervals. Microbial mediated decay (determined by the Fm test) of monochloramine occurred as treated (alum coagulated and flocculated) and chloraminated water passed through the DSs. In this manuscript we report: • An inexpensive, flexible and compact system that can be readily set-up at a full-scale water treatment plant, requiring minimal supervision for operation. • A ‘draw & fill’ system for achieving control on HRT’s through the pipes. Method name: Simulated pilot distribution system, Keywords: Pilot distribution system, Draw & fill system, Fm test, Microbiological monochloramine decay, Hydraulic retention times, Microflora
