Successful strategy provides taste and odor control

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Get the report — Taste and Odor Control in Source Water for the Anderson Regional Joint Water System

class of water ABSTRACT: The Anderson Regional Joint Water System (ARJWS) has experienced intermittent taste and odor problems in raw and finished water from the treatment plant on the Six and Twenty Creek arm of Hartwell Lake, Anderson, South Carolina, making it difficult or impossible to provide the quality drinking water (odor-free) that customers expect. An adaptive management strategy was implemented that began with identifying the source of taste and odor problems as terpene alcohols [2-methylisoboneol (MIB) and geosmin] produced by benthic algae (e.g. blue-green algae and diatoms).

With MIB concentrations reaching more than 2,000 parts per trillion in Hartwell Lake in the summer of 2014, an immediate algaecide application plan was developed based on results from a laboratory study of responses of taste- and odor-producing algae to candidate algaecides. A peroxide formulation algaecide and a chelated copper formulation algaecide (both registered for application to drinking water by the U.S. EPA) were applied to the bottom 2 feet of the water column.

Approximately 160 acres of the Hartwell Lake littoral zone (from the water line to the 25-ft. depth contour) and 4 acres around the ARJWS water intake structure were treated. Pre- and post-treatment concentrations of copper were measured in water near the intake and in the areas of algaecide application. By seven days after treatment, total copper concentrations returned to background concentrations (20.6 µg Cu/L) at the water intake. The peroxide-based algaecide was applied to 4 acres around the water intake structure. The degradation products of this algaecide when applied to water are oxygen and water. Prior to treatment, hydrogen peroxide was not detected in the treatment area. Fourteen hours after application, hydrogen peroxide concentrations ranged from 2.7 to 3.7 mg/L and by three days after treatment, hydrogen peroxide was not detected. MIB and geosmin concentrations declined significantly in the raw water after the algaecide applications. Pre-treatment MIB concentrations ranged from 102 to 106 ng/L, and declined to 14 ng/L twelve days after treatment. Geosmin decreased from 14 ng/L prior to treatment to 5 ng/L twelve days after treatment.

To refine plans for future algaecide applications (e.g., 2015), results were supplemented with a regimen of toxicity tests of water and sediments using sensitive, sentinel fish and invertebrate species to establish margins of safety for non-target species potentially exposed to algaecides. In addition, a hydrological study of the watershed above the ARJWS intake structure was conducted to help identify specific taste and odor source areas and hydraulic time of travel. A refined management strategy was implemented beginning in May 2015, targeting specific areas of the lake with prescribed algaecide applications. Since initiating 2015 algaecide applications, taste and odor has been controlled in ARJWS source water while protecting valued Hartwell Lake aquatic resources.

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Kathy Webb, P.G.

Senior Market Leader | Principal

Kathy, a founder of SynTerra (previously The Fletcher Group) in 1992, has completed remedial investigations and regulatory compliance projects associated with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) facilities, state and federal Superfund sites, solid waste landfills, brownfield redevelopment, utility coal combustion residual (CCR) management units, and regulated industrial facilities. She has supported litigation as an expert witness related to chlorinated solvents, metals, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Kathy is known for her practical assessment strategy with the perspective of the client’s business objectives. She routinely evaluates groundwater corrective action systems for effectiveness and progress toward achieving compliance objectives. She has also co-authored a trade journal paper with case studies of low-impact remedial strategies. Kathy is a licensed Professional Geologist in North and South Carolina.

Mark Taylor, P.G.

Principal

Mark has worked more than 40 years in natural-resource based industries. His expertise includes mine geology and mine engineering, hydrogeologic and geotechnical investigations, solid and hazardous waste management, and regulatory negotiations. He has published peer-reviewed papers about coal geology, ore geochemistry, mineralogy, and solid waste management. He is a leading expert in mining and environmental permitting for litigation support.

Mark is licensed as a Professional Geologist in South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Washington. He serves on the boards of the Upstate Red Cross and Upstate Forever. He served on the South Carolina Board of Registration for Geologists for six years. Mark holds a Master’s degree in Geological Sciences from The University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s degree in Geological Science from Harvard University.

Andrea Kehn, P.E.

Vice President of Engineering | Principal

Andrea, leader of our Civil & Environmental Engineering Business Unit, has 28 years of experience in chemical manufacturing and environmental consulting. She leads and supervises staff professionals on multidisciplinary projects for a variety of industrial clients. Andrea’s vast experience and expertise includes: air quality construction and operating permitting; air quality modeling; air permit record-keeping and reporting; Oil Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP); NPDES Permitting; water quality modeling; process safety management; risk management compliance and auditing; and RCRA compliance.

Andrea is registered as a Professional Engineer in South Carolina. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Technological University.

Ruth Albright, P.E.

Vice President | Principal

Ruth has led projects for major industrial facilities throughout the Southeast and beyond. She built her knowledge of environmental regulations and their application to manufacturing operations while working for the second largest chemical manufacturing company in the United States. At SynTerra, she has expanded both her knowledge and reputation working for chemical manufacturing operations of all sizes. She has also worked extensively with other manufacturing operations, including pulp and paper, industrial equipment, pharmaceuticals, food, and automotive parts and assembly. Her experience includes air and wastewater permit compliance, solid and hazardous waste management, solid waste construction permitting, hazardous materials transportation, wastewater treatment systems, air pollution control equipment operations and maintenance, and ambient air monitoring systems.

Ruth is a professional engineer registered in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Michigan, Arkansas, and Kentucky. She is an active member of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Environmental Technical Committee and serves as the chair of the water subcommittee. She has previously served as the program and committee chair for the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce Environmental Affairs committee. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Clemson University.