You have been assigned the task of designing a new water treatment plant for a g

Question

You have been assigned the task of designing a new water treatment plant for a groundwater supply that has been contaminated with benzene. The plant will be located in New Jersey. The client has asked you to present options for the treatment goal for benzene. What factors would you present to the client and what would be the recommended concentration of benzene (mg/l) in the water leaving the plant that you might recommend (if you were to drink the water)? How are drinking water standards set in the United States?

Explanation / Answer

Treatment technology

Two common treatment technologies reported to be effective for the reduction of benzene in drinking water are

1) Granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption

GAC adsorption is widely used to reduce the concentration of VOCs in drinking water, and a removal efficiency of 99%. The following treatment method(s) have proven to be effective for removing benzene to below 0.005 mg/L or 5 ppb: granular carbon in combination with packed tower aeration.

2) Air stripping

Air stripping is commonly used to reduce the concentration of VOCs (Volatile organic compound) in drinking water (WHO). Although various air stripping equipment configurations exist, packed tower aeration (PTA) is recognized as the most effective method for the reduction of benzene in drinking water. Removal efficiencies of 99% (U.S. EPA) to obtain effluent concentrations of 1

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