Challenge

This client operates a groundwater treatment facility at a Super Fund site where groundwater is pumped to a VOC stripper for the removal of TCE which is then re-injected into the aquifer.  High iron levels in the groundwater caused fouling of pumps, pipes and well casings.  This fouling threatened the reliability of the process in terms of flow.

Solution

Mobile water treatment proved to be the solution for this client.  Siemens Water Technologies, formerly USFilter, provided a mobile pretreatment trailer with six PreFlex®-54 units.

The client opted for the treatment system based on the automated backwash capability of the PreFlex-54 units.  The filter backwash water is collected in a tank and decanted so clean water meeting the publicly-owned treatment works' limits on metals could be discharged to the municipal sewer system.  The PreFlex-54 system was able to accommodate the client's proprietary media for dissolved iron removal.

Results

Total iron levels of 3 ppm with dissolved iron 2.3 ppm were reduced to less than 0.3 ppm and eliminated the fouling problems.  This mobile treatment solution was piloted while a capital decision was being considered.

Siemens Water Technologies was able to meet the delivery, installation and start-up time set by the client.  The PreFlex-54 automated backwash unit capability was a key selling point because it allowed site personnel to continue with other activities.  The client was happy to find a partner that would incorporate their proprietary media into a system.  It helped maintain costs and reliability of water back to the system.

Savage Super Fund Site Project Profile