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. 2021;3(2):10.1002/aws2.1224.
doi: 10.1002/aws2.1224.

Estimating costs for nitrate and perchlorate treatment for small drinking water systems

Rajiv Khera  1 , Pat Ransom  2 , Mark Guttridge  3 , Thomas F Speth  4
Affiliations

Estimating costs for nitrate and perchlorate treatment for small drinking water systems

Rajiv Khera et al. AWWA Water Sci. 2021.

Abstract

When choosing a treatment technology for nitrate or perchlorate removal, drinking water utilities overwhelmingly choose ion exchange. However, of late, biological treatment and point-of-use systems have received a great deal of attention. This article utilizes several new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency models to estimate the cost of nitrate and perchlorate treatment for small drinking water systems. The analysis here shows that, when comparing the three technologies for a typical set of design choices and drinking water quality conditions, the least-cost option varies among the three depending on system size. This relationship varies with changes to the water quality and design factors such as, but not restricted to, influent nitrate and perchlorate concentrations, the choice of residual management options, and the presence of co-contaminants and competing ions.

Keywords: cost; nitrate; perchlorate; treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors declare there are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Nitrate treatment costs at 90 mg/L influent nitrate (20 mg/L as nitrogen), 7% discount rate. Abbreviation: POU, point-of-use
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Nitrate treatment costs at 195 mg/L influent nitrate (44 mg/L as nitrogen), 7% discount rate. Abbreviation: POU, point-of-use
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Nitrate treatment costs at 195 mg/L influent nitrate including fixed bed biological treatment, 3% discount rate. Abbreviation: POU, point-of-use
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Perchlorate treatment costs, 7% discount rate. Abbreviation: POU, point-of-use
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Bellona C, Drewes JE, Oelker G, Luna J, Filteau G, & Amy G (2008). Comparing nanofiltration and reverse osmosis for drinking water augmentation. Journal AWWA, 100(9), 102.
    1. Blute NK; Seidel CJ; McGuire MJ; Qin D; & Byerrum J, 2006. Bench and pilot testing of high capacity, single-pass ion exchange resins for perchlorate removal. Paper presented at the 2006 AWWA annual conference & exposition, San Antonio, TX.
    1. Boodoo F (2003). POU/POE removal of perchlorate. Water Conditioning and Purification, 45, 8.
    1. Bouwer EJ, & Crowe PB (1988). Biological processes in drinking water treatment. Journal AWWA, 80(9), 82.

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