Safe for Drinking
Water Quality Products
April 2008
By Frank Daniels
Disinfecting well water with liquid chlorination ensures safe drinking water
PDF Version
Safe & Simple
Water Disinfection
February 2008
Jill Marie Majka
Keeping rural water supplies safe with chlorine
Measuring Chlorine
Water Quality Products
July 2007
By Marianne R. Metzger
Choosing a chlorine testing & monitoring method that works best for your situation
PDF Version
Making the Switch
Water Quality Products
July 2006
By Scott Betcher
Tablet chlorination systems improve safety, boost quality and reliability, and minimize maintenance for two water systems
Well Water Treatment
Water Quality Products
November 2004
By Joseph A. Lane
… products have been developed that utilize natural processes and lessons learned from the agriculture industry…
PDF Version
Private Chlorine Disinfection
Water Quality Products
October 2004
By Bill Fehrman
Private systems, while not federally regulated, are vulnerable to biological contamination from sewage, improper well construction and poor-quality water sources.
Product Standards
Water Quality Products
August 2004
By Tom Bruursema
It is easy to confuse the subtle differences between some, and even easier yet to be confused by the requirements of individual standards.
PDF Version
Pure Water, Not So Pure Dispensers
Water Quality Products
October 2003
David Clark, Sanisleeve, Inc.
It is up to you to provide your customers with the proper sanitization for their water coolers. The bottle that you deliver should not be covered with dust, fallout, germs and "hand grime."
PDF Version
Evaluating Your Chlorination System
Water Quality Products
September 2003
Carl Hammonds, The Hammonds Companies
This article will focus on three popular forms of chlorine: gas, sodium hypochlorite and dry calcium hypochlorite tablets. Each has advantages and disadvantages relative to cost, convenience, effectiveness, storage and regulatory issues. A look at the pros and cons of each can answer many questions about what's right for your application.
PDF Version
Iron in the Water Supply
Water Quality Products
September 2003
Nancy Lucas, Cargill Salt
Iron in the residential water supply can cause its fair share of problems. But what can you say to customers who have these issues and, more importantly, what can you do to help them? Fortunately there are several treatment options available. Use of a water softener, aeration, filtration, ozonation, sequestering and chlorination are some of the more common techniques. The most popular methods all involve the use of a water softener.
Pool & Spa Disinfection
Water Quality Products
May 2003
Jeff Roseman, CWS-I, Aqua Ion Plus+ Technologies
This article will address the use of ozone, copper ionization and proper injection of chlorine for a reduced approach to chemicals in providing a clean, clear, healthy pool and spa experience.
PDF Version
E. Coli
Water Quality Products
May 2003
Danielle Duclos
This article provides a general overview of E. coli and drinking water as well as current and emerging monitoring and decontamination technologies.
PDF Version
Chlorination: The Love/Hate Relationship
Water Engineering & Management
April 2003
Bill Swichtenberg
Disinfection with chlorine is very popular in water and wastewater treatment because of its low cost, ability to form a residual and its effectiveness at small doses. However, some organisms that cause disease are resistant to chlorine treatment. Many utilities now are using multi-barrier approaches to disinfection.
PDF Version
Chlorine Residual Boosting in Distribution Water: Problems with Chlorine Application and Disinfection Byproducts - Part 1
Water Engineering & Management
April 2003
Shin-ichi Tokuno
Previous research on the boosting of chlorine residual1 included how to increase low levels of chlorine disinfectants (free and combined chlorine) in the distribution system. Simple bench tests using a pocket photometer showed that there are no problems in boosting the low level of chlorine residual when boosting the same disinfectant to the water (e.g., free chlorine to free chlorine, or chloramine to chloramine). In the boosted chlorine residual, there is no significant instability in decay or dissipation during the time needed (72 hours) after boosting for the small utility distributors.
Disinfection Part 2: Is Chlorine Still the Answer?
Water Quality Products
January 2003
Joanne Funyak, PPG Industries
Alternatives to the use of chlorine have received increased interest since concerns over the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) have emerged. However, most of these alternatives (i.e., chloramine, chlorine dioxide and ozone) also produce DBPs. Chlorine still is the most common drinking water disinfectant used today and the one we have the most information about. On balance, the health risks of not chlorinating water appear to be greater than risks associated with DBPs.
PDF Version
Situation Normal During a UV Disinfection Retrofit
Water Engineering & Management
November 2002
Brian M. Balchunas, P.E., and Lawrence H. Hentz, P.E., D.E.E.
At the Patuxent Water Reclamation Facility in Anne Arundel County, Md., a carefully considered construction sequence will keep the facility in operation during its retrofit from chlorine to UV disinfection. Construction started in June 2002 and is expected to be complete by summer 2003.
PDF Version
Evaluation of a Chlorine Dioxide Secondary Disinfection System
Water Engineering & Management
November 2002
Frank P. Sidari III and Jeanne VanBriesen, Ph.D.
Chlorine dioxide is not a new technology for public drinking water facilities or pulp and paper producers, but its use as a secondary treatment system for small-scale applications is new. Beyond the chemistry and microbiology, potential small-scale operators want answers to a few simple questions: Should I use it? How does it work? What extra work is it going to make for me?
PDF Version
Impact of Mixing Chlorine and Chlorine Dioxide on Total Trihalomethane Formation - Part 1
Water Engineering & Management
August 2002
Douglas Rittmann, Ph.D., P.E., and Anthony Tarquin, Ph.D., P.E.
Two rules in 1986 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act are challenging many water utilities to meet stricter water quality requirements. The Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR)2 and the Disinfection?Disinfection By-Products (D-DBP) Rule3, are requiring utilities to implement more advanced technologies in water treatment. The Surface Water Treatment Rule emphasizes the need for utilities to meet minimum levels of disinfection for surface waters, whereas the Disinfection/Disinfection By-Products Rule limits the disinfectant byproducts. Therefore, utilities will have to implement a treatment approach that balances the benefits of disinfection against disinfection byproducts.
PDF Version
Making the Most of Modular Pumps
Water & Wastes Digest
August 2002
In order to ensure municipal water demands were met, the city of El Dorado, Arkansas contracted with Tanner Engineering & Carter-Burgess to design five new deep wells, water transmission mains, ground storage tanks, pump station, and chlorination facilities. In order to complete the project before the sultry days of summer, the municipality and engineering firm decided to save time and energy by installing a modular pumping system.
Advanced Technology Brings the Power to Chlorine Dioxide
Water Quality Products
May 2002
Michael Cochran, Engelhard Corp
Chlorine dioxide is an extremely effective and powerful biocide that has been used for many years as a bleaching agent and slimicide in the pulp and paper industry, as a disinfectant in municipal water treatment and in many other industrial water treatment operations. However, significant capital and operating costs have limited the use of chlorine dioxide to large-scale applications. New technology now makes it practical to use the biocide in a wider range of water treatment applications.
PDF Version
Automated Chlorine Control Brings Precision to Water Reclamation Operation
Water Engineering & Management
May 2002
By Steve Kobler
Using reclaimed water for non-potable purposes as a means of conserving potable water supplies is the most prevalent method of water reuse in the United States today. One of the significant challenges for water reclamation facilities is to keep up with the demands for safe, compliant chlorine (Cl2) treatment. One utility that is effectively meeting this challenge is Southern California’s Otay Water District.
Effects of Recharge of Chlorinated State Water Project Waters to Groundwaters in Lancaster Area of California
Water Engineering & Management
April 2002
Hisam A. Baqai, P.E., G.E.
As the population in Southern California increases, more and more demands are being put on the state’s groundwater resources, further exacerbating the overdraft problem. Many communities in Southern California are recharging their aquifers with imported surface waters to combat this problem. The major recharge normally is carried out during wet weather periods when surface water is plentiful. However, recharging these groundwater aquifers with imported surface water can create the potential for water quality degradation. The problem can start when surface water is disinfected with chlorine to prevent biofouling and remove pathogens.
PDF Version
Chlorination and Its Alternatives
Water Quality Products
March 2002
By Anne Penkal and Nadia Abboud, Severn Trent Services, Inc.
Purification of drinking water containing microbiological contamination requires some form of disinfection treatment to kill or render microbiological organisms harmless.
Of the available disinfection treatment methods for private water systems, chlorination in the most commonly used.
Chlorine Taste in the Customer’s Drinking Water?
Water Quality Products
March 2002
By Ron Grage, Chlorinators Incorporated
Chlorine produces bacteria-free water and eliminates algae and slime. It also removes hydrogen sulfide from ground water (wells and springs) and eliminates iron bacteria (cenothrix), which are associated with objectionable odor and taste.
Despite these important facts, some people still object to chlorine in their drinking water. Comments such as “I don’t like the way chlorine makes my water taste” are common.
Consider the Source
Water Engineering & Management
February 2002
Bill Swichtenberg
A report released by the Environmental Working Group (EWG)
and U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG) has taken aim at
chlorination byproducts (CBPs) in tap water. The group‘s assessment
states that more than 100,000 women are at elevated risk of miscarriage or
birth defects because of CBPs in tap water.
PDF Version
Gas Chlorine Education
Water Quality Products
September 2001
The Gas Chlorine Education Committee
The Gas Chlorine Education Committee announced the launch of an industry-wide campaign entitled, "Gas Chlorine: The One and Only Choice for Water Disinfection."
PDF Version
Calcium Hypochlorite
Water Quality Products
July 2001
Joanne Funyak, PPG Industries, Inc.
It was more than 90 years ago that Booton, N.J., became the first utility in the nation to use chlorine to purify water. Subsequently the use of chlorinated water became the norm across the country and safe drinking water is something we all take for granted. In that respect, how many people realize how water chlorination affects other aspects of everyday life? To many people, a nice dip in the pool provides recreation and relaxation, and they don’t need to think about the effort that went into the treatment and sanitation that made that pool a safe and clean place for fun. That is left to the professionals and drinking water fundamentals that can be applied to pool water care.
PDF Version
Tablet Chlorination Systems Allow Plants to Meet Stricter Government/Insurance Regulations
Water Engineering & Management
May 2000
The Fort Valley municipal water plant had used chlorine gas cylinders for many years. A pair of one-ton cylinders were in operation at the wastewater plant and 150-lb. cylinders at the McLeon and Jones water plants. However, new government and insurance regulations forced management to reevaluate its chlorination strategy.
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