Management Of Water Treatment Plant Residuals

Potable water treatment processes produce safe drinking water and generate a wide variety of waste products known as residuals, including organic and inorganic compounds in liquid, solid, and gaseous forms. In the current regulatory climate, a complete management program for a water treatment facility should include the development of a plan to remove and dispose of these residuals in a manner that meets the crucial goals of cost effectiveness and regulatory compliance. This comprehensive water treatment residuals management plan should involve the: 1) Characterization of the form, quantity, and quality of the residuals; 2) determination of the appropriate regulatory requirements; 3) identification of feasible disposal options; 4) selection of appropriate residuals processing/treatment technologies; and development of a residuals management strategy that meets both the economic and noneconomic goals established for a water treatment facility. This manual provides general information and insight into each of these activities that a potable water treatment facility should perform in developing a residuals management plan.

This manual provides general information and insight into the development of a comprehensive water treatment residuals management plan for potable water treatment facilities. Readers gain an understanding of how to characterize the form, quantity, and quality of the residuals; determine the appropriate regulatory requirements; identify feasible disposal options; select appropriate residuals processing/treatment technologies; and develop a residuals management strategy that meets both the economic and noneconomic goals established for a water treatment facility. Addressed primarily are those residuals produced by coagulation/filtration plants, precipitative softening plants, membrane separation, ion exchange (IX), and granular activated carbon (GAC) absorption. In addition, available treatment technologies for gaseous residuals including stripping, odor control, gaseous chemical leak treatment, and ozonation are described.

This manual provides a single reference of information on residuals. It is an expansion and update of the original "Water Treatment Plant Waste Management," published in 1987. Expanded material includes AwwaRF residual products completed over the last 15 years, and provides information sources to find additional details.