On-going R&D

Delta Industrial has been conducting research in drinking water treatment since 1998, the goal being toward portable and effective answers to a range of drinking water issues. We have focused on integrating available technologies to address specific contaminant problems; field studies have included ultraviolet and ozone disinfection, reverse osmosis, cartridge and multi-media filtration and nanofiltration.

The testing programs we have conducted have been joint efforts between Delta Industrial, the University of Alaska at Anchorage (UAA), Northern Testing Laboratories, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Four prototype units have been built to test various technology combinations:

Prototype I: 2 gpm Ozone System After dealing with chlorine-related problems in drinking water systems, we designed this two gallon per minute system to bench-test the use of ozone as a primary disinfectant. The system was used in the summer of 2000 to gather initial data on the efficacy of ozone on Alaskan source waters, but had limited filtration capacity.

 

Prototype II: 5 gpm Ozone/Filtration System The CampWater™ Porta-5 system was developed in 2000 with expanded filtration capacity, allowing for flexibility to test various combinations and types of cartridges and/or filtration media on both ground and surface waters. The unit also contained a more robust ozone generation system, and the ability to concentrate feed-oxygen to increase oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) still further. The unit was tested extensively throughout the interior and southern regions of Alaska, on both ground and surface water, with positive results. Following these break-throughs, the unit was also involved in a rigorous Environmental Technical Verification (ETV) testing program through the National Sanitation Foundation and the University of Alaska Anchorage. The system was also recognized by the EPA as a case study exemplifying a Best Available Technology (BAT) for arsenic removal.

 

Prototype III: Suitcase Water Treatment Plant (SWTP) Dual-stage filtration, ozonation and ultraviolet disinfection combine in a small and portable unit which can be powered by battery or solar energy. For safety, a programmable logic controller (PLC) automates the water treatment process, provides audio/visual alarms and discharge shut-down should the output water not be safe for consumption. This unit has been tested on surface waters throughout Interior Alaska, Michigan and the Potomac River; research continues on this model.

 

Prototype IV: The Suitcase Reverse Osmosis (SRO) unit The SRO unit was developed in response to requests for a portable answer to brackish water and hardness. It is an add-on module to the SWTP, and incorporates reverse osmosis membranes which can also operate on solar power. Bench testing and field studies continue on this unit.