CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif., Feb. 9, 2004 -- USFilter Westates Carbon will supply air stripping towers with granular activated carbon (GAC) systems to treat contaminated water produced from the San Gabriel Valley groundwater basin, an EPA Superfund Site.  The 7,800-gallon per minute system will be part of the Plant B5 Water Treatment Facility, operated by the San Gabriel Valley Water Company. 

In March 2002, eight companies agreed to pay more than $200 million over the next 15 years to clean up the contaminated groundwater at four San Gabriel Valley locations.  The San Gabriel Valley facilities will collectively deliver more than eight billion gallons of drinking water annually to 100,000 homes in Southern California. The landmark agreement effectively combines remediation goals with regional water supply needs, according to the EPA.
 
San Gabriel Valley Water Company considered only proven technologies with consistent operations and low maintenance costs when evaluating and selecting the various water treatment technologies for its Plant B5 and Plant B6 Water Treatment Facilities (Baldwin Park Operable Unit).  "USFilter Westates Carbon's system met our space requirements while providing low cost operation and minimal downtime," said Frank LoGuidice, San Gabriel Valley Water Company, vice president – engineering and operations.

"To provide the most flexibility and increase efficiency, we designed our GAC systems as mobile units," said USFilter Westates Carbon western regional sales manager Robert Craw.  "This allowed us to meet the water quality and quantity demands, while reducing the operating costs."

At the Plant B5 facility, contaminated water will enter the system from the aquifer at a rate of 7,800 gpm where it will be air stripped for volatile organic compounds before being sent downstream for further treatment.  The contaminated off gas is captured and sent to the granular activated carbon system for final abatement. 

This is the second system that Westates Carbon has provided for the Baldwin Park Operable Unit.  The first system, installed at San Gabriel's Plant B6 Water Treatment Facility, is similar in size and scope.  The Plant B6 system will begin operation in early 2004.

USFilter's activated carbon products produce more than 425 million gallons of potable water every day in California.  USFilter Westates Carbon delivers cost effective groundwater remediation technology and services to more than 700 installations in the Western United States.