JST - Innovative UV technologies for the removal of emerging contaminants and sustainable water supplies in small communities

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The proposed collaborative research, among some of Japan and Canada's top drinking water engineers/researchers, involves complementary projects which aim to address issues and challenges facing both Canadian and Japanese small and rural communities. The proposed research will focus on: (i) characterization of surface water sources affected by algal blooms (Canadian team), assessment of health risk due to algal toxins (Canadian team) and microbial contamination (Japanese team); (ii) application of novel and emerging UV based technologies to inactivation of pathogens (both teams), reduction of DBP formation (Japanese team), and degradation of algal toxins and taste & odour compounds (Canadian team); and (iii) comparing the performance of UV processes against more conventional technologies and evaluating their integration within a water treatment train (both teams). The specific work of the Canadian researchers involves characterization of a number of surface water sources affected by algal blooms across Canada, to quantity the presence and types of cyanotoxins. Bench scale studies will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of UV-based advanced oxidation processes and to develop design criteria for the degradation of a suite of cyanotoxins and algal produced taste & odour compounds. Natural bloom samples will be used to evaluate the degradation of the cyanobacteria metabolites in addition to the impact of disinfection process performance under bloom-challenged conditions. Particular emphasis will be given to emerging UV-light emitting diodes and vacuum UV oxidation processes, and their comparison with more established technologies. Outputs/deliverables: Innovative UV-based technologies (vacuum UV and LED-UV), as well as a detailed comparison of these technologies with other competing processes. Impacts: The proposed project results in new/improved technologies that would be potentially more sustainable and effective than current approaches in terms of energy use, maintenance, and operation.