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Design and Operation of Point-of-Use Treatment System for Arsenic Removal |
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| Authors: | Bruce M. Thomson T. Jeffrey Cotter Joseph D. Chwirka |
| Affiliation: | 1Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131. 2Graduate Student, Water Resources Program, Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131. 3Project Manager, CH2M Hill, 6001 Indian School Road NE, Suite 350, Albuquerque, NM. |
| Abstract: | A point-of-use (POU) system was designed and constructed using commercially available activated alumina to remove arsenic from drinking water. Testing with City of Albuquerque chlorinated tap water containing an average of 23 ug/L arsenic found that 1 L of adsorbent would provide water for direct consumption by a family of four for 435 days. It was estimated that the POU system constructed for this study could be sold for $162, and the arsenic adsorption columns were estimated to cost $4. A monthly cost to the customer of $10/month was estimated to purchase, install, and operate this POU system, assuming annual replacement of adsorption media cartridges. The implications of relying upon POU systems to comply with a new drinking water standard for arsenic are discussed. |
| Keywords: | Arsenic Abatement and removal Potable water Water treatment |