Small System Studies

Package Plant Studies:

U.S. EPA Test and Evaluation (T&E) Facility located in Cincinnati, Ohio

To support and help in the struggle to improve the quality of drinking water in the United States and abroad (China and South America) the EPA Water Supply and Water Resources (WSWR) utilizes the U.S. EPA Test and Evaluation (T&E) Facility located in Cincinnati, Ohio to conduct package plant research. The T&E Facility is a multifaceted research resource in which a wide variety of water treatment and other environmental protection technologies are conceived, designed, and evaluated at bench-, pilot-, and field-scale. The studies conducted at the Facility promote the development and commercialization of practical and innovative technologies to enhance water treatment and water quality in package plants and distribution systems simulators. This is achieved by providing facilities o be utilized by research engineers and scientists within the experimental work area and laboratories.( Table 1 | Table 1 - 508 Compliant )

The T&E Facility is equipped with 10,000 gallons of permanent stainless steel tank storage capacity consisting of two 2,500 gallon tanks and one 5,000 gallon tank. The tanks are used as a blending/holding tanks for experimental studies. The are also two 1,000 gallon stainless steel and two 1,500 gallon polyethylene water reservoirs in support to the drinking water studies.

The research team of engineers, scientists, craftsmen, and technicians at the T&E Facility conduct systematic evaluations regarding factory-built, skid mounted "Package Plants." Conventional treatment technology requires substantial water chemistry experience and known raw water characteristics to properly provide potable water. It is the EPA goal to develop knowledge of the innovative package plant technologies. EPA also wanted to understand package plant technology that could be poorly designed, operated, and ignored leaving people unknowingly at risk.Thus, EPA initiated studies to evaluate cost, performance, and long-term reliability for the Small System package plants.

Small Package Plants and Point-of-Use/Point-of-Entry units:

The U.S. EPA is currently operating several small system package plants and point-of-use/point-of-entry units at the facility. Experimental tests of the various units are designed to sufficiently challenge the treatment technology and evaluate the cost and ease of operation. The following are a list of the technologies installed and in operation in the high-bay experimental area at the T&E Facility.

Filtration Systems
1. Slow Sand (JPG graphic, 78 Kb)
2. Rapid Sand (JPG graphic, 78 Kb)
3. Ultrafiltration (JPG graphic, 68 Kb)
4. Bag (JPG graphic, 68 Kb)
5. Cartridge
Disinfection Systems
1. Ozone
2. Ultra Violet (UV) Light
3. Photo-Fenton/UV/H₂O₂
4. Electrochemical Disinfectant Generator

The U.S. EPA conducts Cryptosporidium challenges and viability tests as needed of the various technologies after a completing a thorough investigation of the operation and technology.

Remote Telemetry and Control:

The U.S. EPA is currently evaluating technologies at the T&E Facility that are related to remote monitoring and control of small drinking water package plant systems. Regulations require all conventional water treatment operator's to provide constant monitoring to assure water quality of the treatment process. Constant monitoring of the water quality can add up to substantial costs in time and travel for operation and maintenance for small systems. Various package plants at the T&E Facility and in the field (West Virginia) have been equipped with remote telemetry units (RTUs). Remote telemetry has the potential to support regulatory reporting guidelines by providing real-time continuous monitoring of the water quality and reporting the information electronically. Other benefits associated with remote telemetry for the small treatment plant are; preventive maintenance, trouble shooting, and reduced labor costs.

Table 1 Amenities/Facilities for Research Staff

Experimental High-Bay & Laboratory	Supply Water for Treatment
24,000 ft² 30 ft Tall High-Bay Area 16 Experimental Work Area Bays Two 5-Ton Bridge Cranes 225 ft² Green House Fully Heated and Lighted Remote Monitoring and Control Ventilation System 720 ft² Machine Shop Low Pressure Air (15 psi) High Pressure Air (130 psi) Electrical Supply (110, 240, 480 volt) Three- 16 ft overhead doors 3,000 ft² Laboratory Space	Potable ï Chlorinated ï Dechlorinated Non-Potable ï Mill Creek (Surface Water) Wastewater ï Primary Influent ï Primary Effluent ï Raw Wastewater ï Secondary Effluent Laboratory ï Deionize ï Super-Q
Storage Capacity	Remote Telemetry
Tank Truck Two - 2,500 gallon (Stainless Steel) One - 5,000 gallon (Stainless Steel) Two - 1,100 gallon (Stainless Steel) Two - 1,500 gallon (PVC)	24 hour per day Experimental Monitoring Experimental Control Facility Security Facility Fire

Drinking Water Research Studies:

The U.S. EPA Test and Evaluation Facility provides diverse opportunities to conduct drinking water and wastewater research. The work area and the laboratories of the facility have the space and basic amenities for research staff to work toward practical and innovative solutions to various types of drinking water environmental problems. The flexibility of the facility contribute functionally for evaluating and providing solutions to the drinking water community now and in the future.

Contacts:

James A. Goodrich
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
26 West Martin Luther King Drive
Cincinnati, Ohio 45268
Phone (513) 569-7605
FAX(513) 569-7185
goodrich.james@epamail.epa.gov

Roy C. Haught
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
26 West Martin Luther King Drive
Cincinnati, Ohio 45268
Phone (513) 569-7067
FAX(513) 569-7052
haught.roy@epamail.epa.gov