Full‐scale application of an electrochemical disinfection solution in a municipal drinking water treatment plant

Abstract

AbstractFew studies employ electrochemical technology for urban water disinfection. This paper presents the replacement of a Cl2 gas system by an on‐site chlorine generation system (electrochemical disinfectant solution, EDS) and application at a water treatment plant. The study compares the Cl2 gas and EDS systems over 36 months, with 18 months for Cl2 gas and, after the implementation, 18 months for the EDS system (12‐month dry season and 6‐month wet season). Turbidity, residual Cl2, pH, total and faecal coliforms and DBPs were monitored. Turbidity was within legal limits and DBPs below both legal limits and limits of detection. For Cl2 gas, residual Cl2 suffered a decrease in wet and dry periods. However, the EDS maintained residual Cl2 to the network tips without significant variations, with operational costs reduced by ~41%. The study demonstrates that on‐site Cl2 generation can be employed for water disinfection for large urban areas with considerable economic and technical advantages.