 CampWater Porta-5 at Big Lake, Alaska
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In-house Testing:
CampWaterT Porta-5 Unit
Delta Industrial Services collaborated with Northern Testing Laboratories of Fairbanks, Alaska in 2000-2001 to plan and conduct a performance test of the CampWater™ Porta-5 water treatment module. The purpose was to determine the capability of the system to remove contaminants typically found in Alaskan source waters, to define design limitations, and to test overall mechanical performance of the unit. The testing protocol included multiple surface water sources and a ground water supply, all with contamination proven to exceed Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) drinking water standards.
The CampWater™ Porta-5 Unit uses ozonation and filtration to remediate both surface and ground waters. The system is small enough to be transported by pick-up truck or bush plane, and treats up to 300 gallons of water per hour, and has since been upgraded to the Porta-5-08 model.
Groundwater Tests:
A well in Fairbanks, Alaska with a history of high iron, manganese and arsenic levels was chosen as the site for the groundwater tests. The system was installed at the Taiga Woodlands housing development, and operation tests were conducted throughout the winter of 2000-2001. The original filter string incorporated a commercially-available arsenic removal media cartridge, but the media iron-fouled in tests and did not show significant arsenic removal. The media was removed and when oxygen input was concentrated, increasing oxidation reduction potential (ORP) to 650-850 mV, the ozone and filtration alone were found to remove arsenic to approved levels. The ozone oxidizes the naturally occurring iron into a valance which adsorbs to the arsenic, and both contaminants co-precipitate through cartridge filtration. Results of the tests are summarized below:
A search of literature indicated that this was the first
successful demonstration of the principle of co-precipitation used in a small
drinking water system. The test results attracted the attention of local and
national water officials, which led to another testing program conducted
through the National Sanitation Foundation, and recognition by the EPA as a
Best Available Technology (BAT) for arsenic removal.
The following documents are included for further study:
Surface Water Tests:
During the summer of 2001, over 40 test runs were conducted
at various lakes, ponds and rivers throughout the state of Alaska.
Several of the source waters chosen had total organic carbon (TOC) levels of 18.8+
ppm; some sources were in excess of 60 ppm. Performance against TOC improved
drastically when the cotton string-wound filters used originally in the system
were replaced with a synthetic material. The conclusion was that the cotton and
ozone were interacting, creating an additional bio-load on the system and
thereby reducing disinfection capacity.
For the surface water tests, the filter string was
configured according to the particular raw water supply, using porosities
varying from 10 microns to 0.2 micron absolute filters.
Turbidity and bacteria results for representative sites
are averaged
and summarized as follows:
Results of this study were forwarded to the Alaska
Department of Environmental Conservation for review.
ADEC responded as follows:
"The above noted
studies and the results of others that you have provided does indicate that the CampWater Porta-5 Water Purification Unit can provide the
level of treatment required to meet State Drinking Requirements for turbidity and
bacteria."
"We are looking
forward to seeing the CampWater Porta-5 Water Purification Unit being installed
to assist very small public water systems in meeting the requirements of the
Surface Water Treatment Rule."
- Kevin K. Kleweno,
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. February 2003
Raw water at Big Lake, Alaska
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Finished water at Big Lake, Alaska
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