Sustainable Techniques Improve Water Quality, Lower Costs

Abstract

The Eagle Point Water Treatment Plant in Dubuque, Iowa, successfully removed ammonia and stabilized chlorine residuals without major overhauls to the treatment plant or distribution system. This approach exemplifies what can be achieved with simple changes and monitoring. The solution was to allow the filters to become biologically active so they could remove ammonia naturally. This process, which could be accomplished by moving the chlorine injection site from before filtration to after filtration, would permit natural environmental bacteria to grow in the filter beds. The nitrifying bacteria would metabolize the ammonia before chlorine injection.