2010 - Issue 2

TM

Water & Wastewater Training Program s Infrastructure Training & Safety Institute s Texas Engineering Extension Service s The Texas A&M University System s www.teex.org/www s 800-723-3811

Jar Testing
by Jack Swanson turbidity, and microorganisms found There is no set requirement on
in raw water. System operators use how many jar tests should be
Jar testing is a pilot scale test 1000 milliliter jars to determine conducted, but the more tests
that is used by water treatment which chemical works best with conducted the better the plant
operators to simulate a full scale their systems raw water. Jar will perform. Jar testing should be
water treatment process. Operators testing requires careful attention to done as seasons change, weather
use various types of treatment detail. It also requires knowledge changes, raw water charteristics
chemicals that mimic coagulation of the systems actual mixing change, and whenever the system
and flocculation processes that and stirring processes and how is shut down or when part of the
remove organic and inorganic to mimic this using a jar testing system is taken out of service for
matter, colloidal particles of machine. maintenance. It should be every
(continued on page 3)
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The Water Educator newsletter is a Texas-based initiative sponsored by the Water & Environmental Training Program of the Texas Engineering
Extension Service (TEEX), a Member of The Texas A&M University System.

This newsletters purpose is to bring information to water and wastewater operators and their supervisors on items of technical and professional
interest. The mission of the Water & Environmental Training Program is to serve Texans by improving health and safety. We do this by providing
water and wastewater operators with professional training and by making technical information available to improve operations.

The Water & Environmental Training Programs training and technical assistance outreach staff are located throughout Texas, with customer
service offices located in College Station. We conduct training in water, wastewater, on-site sewage facility, backflow prevention, and related topic
areas. Our environmental training specialists instruct environmental health and safety professionals nationwide. The Frank M. Tejeda Center
for Excellence in Environmental Operations has staff located along the Texas Rio Grande border with the mission to provide assistance to water
systems along the border and rural areas.

For more information: Phone: 800-SAFE-811 (800-723-3811) Fax: 979-458-1426 Website: www.teex.org/www E-mail: itsi@teexmail.tamu.edu
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2 Water Educator

(continued from page 1)
operators goal to optimize the
plants performance and improve
the plants efficiency.
Finally, a jar test should be
run to save money. Chemicals
are expensive. By optimizing
coagulation and flocculation,
hundreds of dollars can be saved.
A common problem of water
treatment is overdosing, that can
hurt the quality of water while
costing more than when proper jar
testing technique is followed.
Jar Testing Procedure
The following is an example of how
to perform a jar test. The chemical
used is alum (aluminum sulfate)
commonly used in coagulation and
flocculation, and a six-gang jar
tester with variable speed mixer.
First: Prepare a standard
solution of alum using a stock
solution containing 50% alum
having a specific gravity of 1.2.
* 1.2 specific gravity 0.50 =
After dosing each jar, turn
0.6 gram equivalent weight
of alum.
* 1 gram 0.6 gram
equivalent weight = 1.67
Water Educator
mils equal one gram alum.
* 1.67 mils 10 = 16.7 mils
equal 10 grams alum.
* Add 16.7 mils to 1000
milliliter graduated cylinder
holding some distilled
water and bring up to the
1000 milliliter mark, mix
thoroughly.
* This will provide an increase
in dosage of 10 mg/L
when adding 1 ml in 1 ml
increments.
* Run as many jar tests as
necessary to determine the
optimized dosage.
(Note: Always use actual
treatment chemicals used in
the treatment process.)
Second: Add 1,000 milliliters
of raw water to each of the
jars. Record temperature, pH,
turbidity, alkalinity and TOC of
the raw water (See Table 1).
associate training specialist in
on stirrers. This part of the
procedure should mimic
the actual conditions of the
plant. After coagulation and
Texas Engineering Extension Service
flocculation are completed,
turn off the stirrers and allow
floc to settle. Underfeeding of
coagulant will cause a cloudy
appearance with little or no
floc formation. Overfeeding will
cause a dense fluffy floc to
form and will settle very slowly.
The best way to determine
proper dosing is to run a
turbidity test on each sample.
The Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ),
recommends turbidity of 2 NTUs
or less as being optimized.
Proper jar testing will provide
longer filter runs, and a greater
reduction of microorganisms and
organic matter while using less
filter water to backwash and clean
the filter. It also provides for better
use of coagulant chemicals. Make
sure you are properly performing
a jar test so that you are providing
the best product available to your
customers.
Note: Jack Swanson is an
the TEEX Public Works Training
Program.
3
by Mark E. Goad
The Texas Grou Provide treatment that reliably
achieves a 4-log (99.99) treat-
the positive sample was a result of a
distribution problem and not a source
The TCEQ has formally adopted the
Ground Water Rule. The new rule ment of viruses using inactiva- water problem. In either case, TCEQ
applies to all public water systems tion or removal or a TCEQ may require immediate corrective
that provide ground water. It also approved combination. action to address the source of the
applies to systems that mix surface Well disinfection in accordance contamination.
and ground water if the ground water with AWWA procedure C654-
is added directly to the distribution 03. There are three monitoring options
system and provided to the customer for systems to use under the Ground
A TCEQ specified period of Water Rule:
without treatment. The intent of the source water monitoring.
rule is to provide additional protec- 1. Systems can conduct a CT study
tion of ground water sources against 3. If treatment
disease-causing organisms. Compli- technology has
ance requirements in the rule began been installed
December 1, 2009. to comply with
the rule, compli-
The rule has four major sections: ance monitoring
1. Periodic sanitary surveys con- will be required
ducted by TCEQ Regional Office by TCEQ to
personnel to identify significant insure a 4-log
deficiencies. The survey will (99.99) treat-
evaluate eight elements of a public ment of viruses
water system. is achieved and
Source water maintained.
Treatment 4. Triggered source
Distribution system water monitoring
for any system
Finished water storage not treating for
Pumps and controls a 4-log inactiva-
Monitoring, reporting and data tion of viruses
verification if the system
receives a
System operation and manage positive sample
ment during routine
Operator compliance with state monthly bacte-
requirements riological testing.
2. TCEQ will require corrective action If a public ground
for any system with significant water system
deficiencies or one which has a receives a coliform
source water fecal positive positive sample
sample. Corrective action will during routine
require one or more of the follow- monthly bacterio-
ing options: logical testing, the
Correct all significant deficien- system must take
cies. a source water
Provide an alternate source of sample within 24
water hours. TCEQ can
waive this require-
Eliminate the source of con- ment if it can be
tamination. determined that

4 Water Educator

undwater Rule
and submit the results to TCEQ for approval to
indicate the system is achieving 4-log treatment
of viruses, and then conduct daily or continuous
disinfectant residual monitoring to document the
4-log treatment is maintained.
2. Systems can opt to perform triggered source water
monitoring as outlined in a source monitoring plan
that must be approved by TCEQ. All ground water
systems are subject to some type of triggered
source water monitoring if the system does not
reliably achieve a 4-log treatment of viruses by
Water Educator 5
Texas Engineering Extension Service
removal, inactivation, or a combination of both.
3. A system can do nothing until they have a positive
coliform sample during routine monthly bacteriologi-
cal testing, and then pull a source water sample
within 24 hours from each active well.
Options 1 and 2 require prior TCEQ approval. Option
3 requires no action at all until the system receives a
positive coliform sample during routine monthly testing.
The rule does allow TCEQ to require source water
monitoring for assessment if a well is at risk of con-
tamination based on the following parameters:
Wells in sensitive aquifers such as karst, fractured
bedrock, and gravel.
Wells in shallow, unconfined formations.
Wells in aquifers with little soil cover.
Presence of potential sources of contamination.
Location and depth of the well.
Wells that have previously been identified as being
fecally contaminated.
Option 3 is probably the best option for most systems
that do not have a large number of wells and have a
history of very few positive samples during routine
monthly bacteriological testing. In conversations with
groundwater system operators in East and Southeast
Texas, Option 3 is apparently the universal choice.
Further information can be obtained from the TCEQ
Websites Ground Water Rule Main Page. The website
address is: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/permitting/
water_supply/pdw/microbial/gwr_main.html.
It also links to several other sources of information
regarding the rule.
Make sure your system is in compliance with the new
rule.
References: TCEQ Ground Water Rule Main Page,
and Ground Water Rule Teleconference Notes, July
17, 2009
Note: Mark E. Goad is an associate training specialist
in the TEEX Public Works Training Program.
 Compliance Corner

Chlorine Meter Calibrations - Operator Basics

by Keith McLeroy

Are you in calibration compliance

with your chlorine analyzer? When
was the last time you analyzed liquid
primary chlorine standards of known
concentrations? Monitoring of either
free or total chlorine in drinking waters
and wastewater effluents has specific
calibration and quality assurance
regulatory language. The regulations
are found in 30 TAC 290 for drinking
water and 30 TAC 319 for wastewater
effluent.

The exact language for 290.46. is:

(2) Laboratory equipment used for
compliance testing shall be properly
calibrated. (C) Disinfectant residual
analyzers shall be properly calibrated.
(i) The accuracy of manual disinfectant
residual analyzers shall be verified at
least once every 30 days using chlorine
solutions of known concentrations.

The exact language for 319.6. is:
The permittee shall assure the quality of all
measurements through the use of blanks, standards,
duplicate analyses, and spikes. At a minimum, the
quality assurance requirements specified in Table 3
in 319.9 of this title (relating to Self-Monitoring and
Quality Assurance Schedules) shall be utilized.
Table 3 reads: For the oil and grease analysis and
chlorine-total or free analysis, standards shall be
analyzed on a 10% basis. If one to 10 samples are
analyzed on a particular day, then one standard shall
be analyzed. Duplicates may be analyzed in lieu of
standards for the oil and grease analysis and chlorine-
total or free analysis.
Lets review this in a simplified manner. For 290, it
says chlorine solutions of known concentrations.
This means that those standards must be a liquid type
solution, know as a primary standard. For example you
can make a liquid chlorine standard of 1.00 mg/L. or any
other concentration as needed. This type of standard
is not the gel color standards (known as secondary
standards) that are commonly used in many types of
hand-held or bench-top chlorine meters. Secondary
standards are to be utilized to verify the meter
calibration, not for the accuracy requirements, nor to
calibrate the meter. Thus, you need liquid standards of
a known chlorine concentration amounts to comply with
the drinking water regulations.
For the 319 regulations there is the option of analyzing
duplicate samples of the effluent instead of testing
liquid primary standards. Keep in mind, though, that
you still need to check the meters calibration using the
secondary color standards.
In addition, if your laboratory or utility uses the same
chlorine analyzer for both your effluent and drinking
water testing, then you must comply with the 30 TAC
290 requirements. The drinking water regulation
chlorine monitoring quality assurance supersedes the
30 TAC 319.
Primary chlorine standards are available from most
laboratory supply vendors, and instructions for making
the specified levels needed and how to calibrate your
meter will be found in the instruction manual of the
meter. Do not forget to document all calibration and
verification data in you laboratory meter log book as
those are also requirements in both 290 and 319.
NOTE: Keith McLeroy is an associate training specialist
in the TEEX Public Works Training Program.

6 Water Educator
 Texas Engineering Extension Service

Extended Air Process:

Activated Sludge
by Mark E. Goad

In the previous issue, we discussed the fact that the phrase

activated sludge referred to a general treatment process
and was not a detailed description. To properly operate
or troubleshoot a specific activated sludge plant, you must
know what modification of activated sludge is being used. In
this article we will look at the extended air modification. Also
known as racetracks and orbitals, it is probably the most-
often utilized process in Texas.

Aeration basin detention time separates extended air

from the other modifications. The other activated sludge
modifications have detention times ranging from four to
eight hours. Extended air ranges from 18 to 36 hours of
detention time. This particular modification holds the waste-
water in contact with the bugs and air a lot longer. In this
modification the microorganism population is kept high in
relationship to the food supply (low F/M ratio), and the age of
the organisms is kept high (MCRT). This process operates
in what is described as the endogenous growth phase of
the bacteria. This modification keeps the bugs starving and
cannibalistic. In return, they reduce the solids to the lowest
possible levels. The extended air plant is both an activated
sludge and an aerobic digester in one. That is why many
extended air plants do not need a separate digester. When
you remove the solids from the aeration basin, the solids are
ready for dewatering and disposal.
The chart below lists the typical operating parameters of
extended air.
This modification is operated at very low F/M ratio and
a high sludge age (MCRT). The air minimum is 1 mg/L
instead of 2 mg/L for the other processes. These operating
parameters keep the bugs starving. This is why a primary
clarifier should never be added to an extended air process
plant. The primary clarifier would remove 35% of the
influent BOD (food supply) from bugs that are already starv-
ing. This process modification is efficient achieving 95%
to 96% BOD removal and does an excellent job converting
ammonia.
A variant of the extended air process is the racetrack, also
known as the oxidation ditch. Usually an oval shaped track
with a set of rotors or brushes on each side that propels the
wastewater around the track, this type of plant is a favorite in
the rural areas of Texas.
Another variant is the orbital which uses three or four
different tracks instead of one. The orbital tends to be a
more efficient use of space than a race track. In either case,
if aeration detention time is 24 hour plus, these variants
operate and achieve the same results as an extended air
plant. If aeration basin detention times are designed around
18 to 20 hours, then a separate digester may be needed.
Just remember, no matter what activated sludge process
you operate, you need to know the specific modification and
you need to know the operating parameters. Make sure that
you operate your facility within those parameters to ensure
the best possible effluent is being discharged back into the
environment.

Note: Mark E. Goad is an associate training specialist in the

TEEX Public Works Training Program.

Water Educator 7
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C10.4159.04

What are
the operator
basics for
chlorine meter
See
calibrations? Compliance Corner
on page 6.