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Public–private Partnerships Solve Groundwater Contamination Issues
Author(s) -
Leung Kevin S.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.2011.tb11367.x
Subject(s) - reverse osmosis , contamination , water quality , environmental science , groundwater , environmental engineering , water supply , mains electricity , water treatment , waste management , water resource management , engineering , membrane , chemistry , ecology , biochemistry , geotechnical engineering , electrical engineering , voltage , biology
This article discusses a project by the city of Hutchinson, Kansas, to treat its contaminated well water with reverse osmosis (RO). A pilot plant with full‐scale membranes was operated for several months while extensive data were collected. The plant blended the higher‐quality RO water with the city's existing noncontaminated well water before it entered the distribution mains. The result has been a higher‐quality, better‐tasting product that is superior for recruiting industrial users and environmentally friendly because it reduces potential chloride contamination of the nearby Arkansas River. With soft water, less sodium exchange water softener is required and thus chloride discharge is reduced.