Summary
Under current conditions, the simple treatment measures applied by many water utility companies are no longer sufficient to ensure that demand for perfect drinking water will be met at all times. In particular, where raw water used for the production of drinking water is exposed to strong surface influences, the reliable disinfection of water must be guaranteed, unwanted constituents must be removed from raw water and surges in the pollution load must be manageable to a sufficient degree.
As part of an overall research project, laboratory and semi-industrial trials have been conducted on the Lake Constance water supply in order to determine whether the combined use of hydrogen peroxide and ozone (the peroxone process) represents a practicable alternative to conventional ozonation. Investigations have been conducted in agitating stirred reactors in the laboratory, in semi-industrial pilot plants and in a bypass installation in the “Sipplinger Berg” waterworks.
Results:
- Given the specific composition of Lake Constance water, and under process conditions for the supply of water from Lake Constance, the use of the peroxone process represents a feasible option in principle.
- In normal operation, the improved effectiveness of this method in comparison to the ozonation applied hitherto has not been observed.
- A clear advantage of combined oxidation has been observed in conjunction with the experimental contamination of water by mineral oil hydrocarbons. In this respect, the peroxone method is suitable as a standby process for potential surges in the pollution load.
