Removal of Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water Treatment

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In Canada, an increased demand for high water quality and stringent regulations are the main drivers for seeking alternatives to conventional water treatment processes. In addition, the detection of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in wastewater effluents as well as drinking waters has brought increasing attention with respect to potential treatment methodologies for their removal. This research will examine methods that may potentially be easily implemented in water treatment facilities. Powdered activated carbon (PAC) has been used for decades for taste and odour removal, however it is also known as a means to remove organic micropollutants. The proposed research will examine the ability of PAC to remove a range of EDCs, PhACs as well precurors to emerging DBP (nitroamines, haloquinones). In addition, it will provide data that may be used by other researchers in assessing whether this technology should be considered for emerging compounds. Ultrafiltration, a practice that is now being adopted as an alternative to conventional filtration, will be examined as a means of micropollutant reduction by combining it as a hybid process with PAC. The methods of assessment being developed may subsequently be adopted by water treatment utilities and consultants.