UVC pre-treatment options for phytoplankton and zooplankton in drinking water processing

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Producing clean and safe drinking water is a complex and multi-step process that is affected significantly by source water quality. Phytoplankton and zooplankton can interfere with this process in multiple stages. For example, algae in source water can lead to fouling of membranes used in drinking water clean-up and can also release toxic compounds during bloom conditions, further threatening the safe and sustainable supply of drinking water. Similarly, zooplankton can settle in intake pipes and alter water flow, hence increasing operating costs. While Trojan Technologies is using Ultraviolet-C (UVC) treatment to clean-up drinking water, little is known about the efficacy of UVC as a pre-treatment option of source water. Specifically, it is unknown to what extent and especially for how long UVC treatment can reduce the propagation of phytoplankton and zooplankton in raw water. These parameters are critical, however, when assessing UVC as a pre-treatment option for two reasons: 1) More research is required to better understand the effect of UVC on organisms and their repair mechanisms and 2) Trojan Technologies is interested in this question as it would allow them to commercialize their UVC units in the context of this new aspect of water treatment. The proposed project is a continuation of an Engage and Engage PLUS grant between the Heyland lab and Trojan Technologies, an industry leader in the development of water treatment solutions using ultraviolet (UV) light. The project will test novel technology to reduce phytoplankton and zooplankton in drinking water sources. Specifically, we will investigate the effect of UVC as a source water pre-treatment and assess on the longevity and survival of selected phytoplankton and zooplankton species. Dose responses of UVC treatment will provide critical insights into this novel application of UVC and allow Trojan Technologies to assess its utility in industry scale applications.