Treatment

Storage Tank Aeration Eliminates Trihalomethanes

By CAROL WALFOORT, MICHAEL J. MESSINA, DEAN MINER

As part of its ongoing water quality monitoring efforts, the Suisun-Solano Water Authority has been exploring ways to reduce trihalomethanes (THMs) in its distribution system to meet Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts Rule requirements. Knowing that THMs are volatile compounds, the Solano Irrigation Distribution staff surmised that an aeration process might reduce or eliminate the THMs in their water. To test their theory, the staff simulated a scaled-down version of their storage tank with a 10-gal aquarium filled with THM-containing water.