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Careful Research Helps Resolve Perchlorate Problems
Author(s) -
Hayward Robert J.,
Gillen Douglas F.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
opflow
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1551-8701
pISSN - 0149-8029
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8701.2005.tb01796.x
Subject(s) - perchlorate , metropolitan area , apprehension , groundwater recharge , groundwater , water resource management , aquifer , environmental planning , business , environmental science , engineering , geography , archaeology , chemistry , psychology , cognitive psychology , ion , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry
This article discusses a case study of high perchlorate levels in two seasonal groundwater extraction wells at the Lincoln Avenue Water Company (LAWC) in Altadena, California. The wells are located in a Superfund site and pump water from an adjudicated basin caused LAWC to research possible long‐term solutions long before the perchlorate levels were discovered. In the interest of public health, LAWC kept the wells off‐line and purchased water from Metropolitan Water District of Southern california for the next two months at almost triple the cost. The utility communicated the problem openly to its customers, thus mitigating customer apprehension about the possible health effects of drinking perchlorate‐tainted water. The article discusses the process of finding a solution, ion exchange (IX) resin technology, how the technology operates, and cost savings and removal benefits. The article provides lessons learned in the form of eight simple rules that LAWC shares with other utilities experiencing the same problems.