Imaginary example of the drinking-water treatment plant at Reservoir W

 

Which treatment steps are implemented at the treatment plant ?

 

 

Y

P

N

?

Your assessment of the situation

 

Uncertainty of this assessment

 

No pre-oxidation  (comment[N1] )

 

 

X

 

Pre-oxidation is performed and may risk lysis and toxin release.

Filtration will retain intact cells quite effectively; however, more frequent back-washing of filters during mass developments is important in order to avoid accumulation of a substantial biomass of lysing cyanobacterial cells which may release toxin;

PAC is available for dosing in an emergency.

Investigations of toxin release through pre-oxidation have not been performed on site, but literature indicates this to be a risk .

Effective retention of cells is validated, and an adequate backwashing regime is in place.

The efficacy of PAC-dosing has not been validated on site, and so far has been used only twice, without investigating cyanotoxin levels in finished water..

Flocculation

X

 

 

 

Filtration

X

 

 

 

Post-oxidation

 

 

X

 

Dosing powdered activated carbon (PAC)

 

 

 

X

Granular carbon filtration (GAC)

 

 

X

 

 

…..

 

 

 

 

Y = yes
P = partially

N = no

?= insufficient information

 

 


 [N1]  Pre-oxidation risks damaging cells, i.e. inducing lysis and toxin release without providing sufficient oxidation potential for toxin degradation. This may constitute a risk, which is why “no“ should be entered here if pre-oxidation is being practiced.