In this study, a model to optimize residual chlorine concentrations in a water supply system was developed using a multi-objective genetic algorithm. Moreover, to quantify the effects of optimized residual chlorine concentration management and to consider customer service requirements, this study developed indices to quantify the spatial and temporal distributions of residual chlorine concentration. Based on the results, the most economical operational method to manage booster chlorination was derived, which would supply water that satisfies the service level required by consumers, as well as the cost-effectiveness and operation requirements relevant to the service providers. A simulation model was then created based on an actual water supply system (i.e., the Multi-regional Water Supply W in Korea). Simulated optimizations were successful, evidencing that it is possible to meet the residual chlorine concentration demanded by consumers at a low cost.
Adsorption by granule activated carbon(GAC) is recognized as an efficient method for the removal of perfluorinated compounds(PFCs) in water, while the poor regeneration and exchange cycles of granule active carbon make it difficult to sustain adsorption capacity for PFCs. In this study, the behavior of PFCs in the effluent of wastewater treatment plant (S), the raw water and the effluents of drinking water treatment plants (M1 and M2) located in Nakdong river waegwan watershed was monitored. Optimal regeneration and exchange cycles was also investigated in drinking water treatment plants and lab-scale adsorption tower for stable PFCs removal. The mean effluent concentration of PFCs was 0.044 0.04 PFHxS g/L, 0.000 0.00 PFOS g/L, 0.037 0.011 PFOA g/L, for S wastewater treatment plant, 0.023 0.073 PFHxS g/L, 0.000 0.00 PFOS g/L, 0.013 0.008 PFOA g/L for M1 drinking water treatment plant and 0.023 0.073 PFHxS g/L, 0.000 0.01 PFOS g/L, 0.011 0.009 PFOA g/L for M2 drinking water treatment plant. The adsorption breakthrough behaviors of PFCs in GAC of drinking water treatment plant and lab-scale adsorption tower indicated that reactivating carbon 3 times per year suggested to achieve and maintain good removal of PFASs. Considering the results of mass balance, the adsorption amount of PFCs was improved by using GAC with high-specific surface area (2,500m2/g), so that the regeneration cycle might be increased from 4 months to 10 months even if powdered activated carbon(PAC) could be alternatives. This study provides useful insights into the removal of PFCs in drinking water treatment plant.
Due to global climate change, mega-droughts have occurred frequently. Since long-term droughts make it difficult to secure the water resources, water supply needs to be restricted in a reasonable manner. In the event of limited water supply, the waterworks need to develop a restricted water supply strategy. This study showed that analyzing daily water supply could be used to respond to the first stage of a drought. According to an analysis of Korea's major water authorities, there was about 7~21% of room for daily minimum water supply in case of a drought. Restricting the water supply by lowering pressure is a good strategy for local water authorities with high water leakage rate since leakage is inversely dependent with pressure. For this method, it is necessary to quantify water deficiency and pressure at each node using a simulation. Since DDA-based software is not possible to predict changes in demand at nodes with pressure reduction, WaterGEMS, a PDA software, was used to quantitatively predict water shortages and pressures at each node. Locations where water is deficient need to install booster pumps or to be dispatched with water tank truck and bottled water. Without these support, lowering pressure could not be an option for water works. This paper suggests a method for waterworks to plan a drought by lowering pressure to restrict water supply using daily water supply analysis and PDA based simulation.
The removal of organic carbon and nutrients (i.e. N and P) from wastewater is essential for the protection of the water environment. Especially, nitrogen compounds cause eutrophication in the water environment, resulting in bad water quality. Conventional nitrogen removal systems require high aeration costs and additional organic carbon. Microbial electrochemical system (MES) is a sustainable environmental system that treats wastewater and produces energy or valuable chemicals by using microbial electrochemical reaction. Innovative and cost-effective nitrogen removal is feasible by using MESs and increasing attention has been given to the MES development. In this review, recent trends of MESs for nitrogen removal and their mechanism were conclusively reviewed and future research outlooks were also introduced.
Microplastics have become a rising issue in due to its detection in oceans, rivers, and tap water. Although a large number of studies have been conducted on the detection and quantification in various water bodies, the number of research conducted on the removal and treatment of microplastics are still comparatively low. In the current research, the inflow and removal of microplastics were investigated for various drinking water treatment plants around the world. Addition to the investigation of filed research, a survey was also conducted on the current research trend on microplastic removal for different treatment processes in the drinking water treatment plants. This includes the researches conducted on coagulation/flocculation, sedimentation, dissolved air flotation, sand filtration and disinfection processes. The survey indicated mechanisms of microplastic removal in each process followed by the removal characteristics under various conditions. Limitations of current researches were also mentioned, regarding the gap between the laboratory experimental conditions and field conditions of drinking water treatment plants. We hope that the current review will aid in the understanding of current research needs in the field of microplastic removal in drinking water treatment.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the corrosion damage of large diameter metallic pipes buried in reclaimed land due to the corrosion effect by soil, and to propose a method of installing metal pipes in the reclaimed land. The results are as follow. First, the soil of the reclaimed land was gray clay, the soil specific resistance indicating soil corrosiveness was at least 120 Ω-cm, the pH was weakly acidic(5.04 to 5.60), the redox potential was at least 62 mV, the moisture content was at most 48.8%, and chlorine ions and sulfate ions were up to 4,706.1 mg/kg and 420 mg/kg. Therefore, the overall soil corrosivity score was up to 19, and the external corrosion effect seems to be very large. Second, the condition of straight part of pipes was in good condition, but most of KP joints were affected by corrosion at a severe level. The reason for this seems to be that KP joints accelerated corrosion due to stress and crevice corrosion in addition to galvanic corrosion in the same environment. Third, as a result of evaluating correlations of each item that affects the corrosion on the external part, the lower the soil resistivity and redox potential, the greater the effect on the KP joints corrosion, and the moisture content, chloride ion, and sulfate ion, the higher the value, the greater the effect on the corrosion of KP joints. In addition, among soil corrosion items, the coefficient of determination of soil resistivity with corrosion of KP joints was the highest with 0.6439~0.7672. Fourth, when installing metal pipes or other accessories because the soil of the reclaimed land is highly corrosive, it is necessary to apply a corrosion preventive method to extend the life of pipes and prevent leakage accidents caused by corrosion damage to the joint.