A full‐scale trickling filter for the simultaneous removal of ammonium,iron and manganese from potable water

Ammonium, iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide are a serious problem for water reservoirs all over the world. The aim of this work was the design, construction and operation of a full‐scale trickling filter for the simultaneous removal of the above pollutants. The long‐term removal efficiency and the effect of environmental and operating conditions on filter performance were studied. Start‐up time of the filter was minimized using as inoculum backwash water from an existing pilot‐scale plant, while natural advection was adequate to provide sufficient aeration. Redox potential variation throughout the filter depth enhanced simultaneous removal of the pollutants. Under steady operating conditions the filter presented perfect performance, while under pollutant concentration and/or hydraulic loading shocks the filter retained high removal efficiency. Seasonal or daily temperature variations did not affect filter performance since raw water temperature was constant at 20 °C. The proposed system exhibited high pollutant removal rates for all hydraulic and pollutant loadings tested, under various environmental conditions. The simplicity of the installation and the minimal operating cost provide an effective solution to a serious environmental and social problem. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry