Full Description

Hundreds of water utilities using chloramines experienceproblems with nitrification, including loss oftotal chlorine residual, destruction of free ammonia,increases in nitrite concentration, and potential bacteriologicalproblems. An effective and reliable nitrificationcontrol strategy can help eliminate these concerns andmake the use of chloramines simpler than it has been inthe past.For utility managers looking for cost-effective waysto control nitrification, this article offers a promisingmethod, application of sodium chlorite. Results of asix-month pilot study in Tucson, Arizona, demonstratedthat continuous feed of chlorite ion was effective atcontrolling nitrification even at concentrations as lowas 0.1 mg/L.Until now, no widely usable control method wasavailable to control nitrification. Each utility had tohandcraft its own individual solution. Although thecost of sodium chlorite is relatively high compared withother water treatment chemicals, the small dosesneeded to control nitrification make the cost of thischemical more reasonable.Many water providers using chloramines are all toofamiliar with the extensive maintenance and samplingcosts associated with uncontrolled nitrification, as wellas the loss of confidence that can arise from a TotalColiform Rule violation or a boil water advisory. Incomparison with these kinds of costs, the expense ofsodium chlorite and chemical feed systems may seem abargain. Includes 18 references, tables, figures.

Product Details

Edition: Vol. 98 - No. 1 Published: 01/01/2006 Number of Pages: 11 File Size: 1 file , 380 KB