Integrated Ion Exchange Regeneration Process for Drinking Water

Abstract

Abstract : Perchlorate is an issue in drinking water because of its high solubility and mobility, known effects on thyroid hormone production, and treatment cost. The need for perchlorate treatment is nationwide and especially acute in the southwestern United States (U.S.). The need for cost-effective treatment is especially pressing in the Inland Empire; a two-county region composed of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, whose population of 3.4 million is larger than those of many states (Mecula, 2003). The Inland Empire is California s fastest growing area and has a rapidly increasing demand for water. The area s perchlorate plume is at least six miles long and impacts four towns water supplies, resulting in impairment of 61,790 acre-feet per year (76,187,070 cubic meters per year) of potable water. This report describes an evaluation of the synthesis of an ion exchange (IX) process for perchlorate treatment in drinking water, regeneration of spent IX resin for re-use, and destruction of perchlorate in the spent regeneration fluid to create an integrated IX (IIX) regeneration process. The demonstration site was at an operating municipal water treatment plant, Fontana Water Company (FWC), in Fontana, a city located in the Inland Empire region of southern California.