SBIR Phase II: Evaluating the feasibility of the TotalTHM-NOW for drinking water treatment plants to improve water quality, reduce costs, and lower cancer risks

项目摘要/摘要 长期接触饮用水消毒会增加患癌症的风险，因为- 产品(DBP)。三卤代甲烷(THM)是在水中形成的最常见的一类DBPs 氯化作用。尽管THMS被监管了40年。许多饮用水处理厂(WTP)仍然 没有维护合规性所需的负担得起的现场工具。这些污水处理厂的监督人员可以 将超过三分之二的运营预算分配给处理过程，其中很大一部分是 致力于THM控制策略。然而，由于没有实时的THMS浓度数据，WTP运营商盲目 调整处理流程，这可能会导致低效做法和更高的运行成本。在那里的时候 是用于现场监测THMS的商业设备，但大多数WTP负担不起。这是特别的 对于非常小的、小型的和许多中型公用事业来说都是如此。这些污水处理厂中的许多通常是农村地区，位于 经济困难的地区，但他们受到与更大的大都市相同的监管 对口单位。这里提出的研究将通过向所有污水处理厂提供能力来彻底改变水处理 用于负担得起的THM现场过程控制。在第一阶段，两种仪器被证明是技术上的 可行。TotalTHM-Now，现在简单地指的是“现在”获得结果，是基于经过验证的同行- 经过审查并获得专利的科学。THM测量仪是第一阶段研究工作的衍生设备。这两个 设备基于相同的化学物质，关键区别在于TotalTHM-Now是一种全自动、 THM总量在线分析仪，而THM是半自动的。TotalTHM-现在将成为目标 在大量的中型燃煤电厂，大型和超大型的燃煤电厂。我们的低成本THM测量仪将是唯一的 可提供专为所有非常小、小型和中型WTP设计的设备。这些系统是“游戏-- 在价格和性能方面，这个行业已经挣扎了近十年才能达到 现场监测THMS的实惠价位。在第二阶段，我们会论证商业可行性。 这些系统中。具体目标是减少仪器占用空间，并进一步优化TotalTHM- 现在生产测试版原型；打包和优化THM仪表；并在全国范围内进行一系列 Beta测试，为这些设备的行业采用和商业化做好准备。TotalTHM-NOW和THM仪表 将导致更好地对WTP的THMS浓度进行过程控制，对THMS有更全面的了解 形成，从而降低了工厂和分配系统中的THMS浓度。世界各地的WTP 美国将拥有他们需要的工具：(1)经历更少的THMS违规行为，(2)收获 通过减少能源和化学品的使用实现经济/环境效益，(3)实现更高的社区 他们对饮用水的信心，并最终(4)通过减少三氯甲烷的暴露来降低癌症风险。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT There is an increased risk of cancer associated with long-term exposure to drinking water disinfection by- products (DBPs). Trihalomethanes (THMs) are the most common class of DBPs formed during water chlorination. Despite the THMs being regulated for 40 years. many drinking water treatment plants (WTPs) still do not have affordable, on-site tools needed to maintain compliance. Superintendents at these WTPs may allocate more than two-thirds of their operating budget for treatment processes, with a significant portion being devoted for THM control strategies. However, without real-time THMs concentration data, WTP operators blindly adjust the treatment processes which may lead to inefficient practices and higher operating costs. While there are commercial devices for on-site THMs monitoring, they are not affordable to most WTPs. This is especially true for very small, small, and many medium sized utilities. Many of these WTP are often rural and located in economically distressed regions, but they are under the same regulations as their larger Metropolitan counterparts. The research proposed here will revolutionize water treatment by providing to all WTPs the ability for affordable, on-site process control of THMs. In Phase I, two instruments were proven to be technically feasible. The TotalTHM-NOW, where NOW refers simply to getting the results “now”, is based on proven, peer- reviewed and patented science. The THM Meter is a spin-out device of the Phase I research efforts. Both the devices are based on the same chemistry, the key difference being that the TotalTHM-NOW is a fully automated, on-line analyzer for Total THMs whereas the THM Meter is semi-automated. The TotalTHM-NOW will be targeted at the large number of mid-sized WTPs, large, and very large WTPs. Our lower-cost THM Meter will be the only device available designed specifically for all very small, small, and medium WTPs. These systems are “game- changers” with regards to price and performance for an industry that has struggled for almost a decade to meet affordable price points for on-site THMs monitoring. In Phase II, we will demonstrate the commercial feasibility of these systems. The specific aims are to reduce the instrument footprint and further optimize the TotalTHM- NOW to produce beta prototypes; to package and optimize the THM Meter; and to conduct a series of nationwide beta tests to ready the devices for industry adoption and commercialization. The TotalTHM-NOW and THM Meter will lead to better process control of THMs concentrations at the WTP, a more complete understanding of THMs formation, and thus lower THMs concentrations at the plant and in the distribution system. WTPs across the United States will have the tools they need to: (1) experience fewer THMs violations, (2) reap economic/environmental benefits through reduced energy and chemical usage, (3) achieve higher community confidence in their drinking water, and ultimately (4) lower cancer risks through reductions in THMs exposure.