PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES CENTER Jar Testing Summary

Jar testing is a pilot-scale test of the treatment chemicals used in a particular water plant.It simulates the coagulation/flocculation process in a water treatment plant and helps operators determine if they are using the right amount of treatment chemicals, and, thus, improves the plant’s performance. What is jar testing? Jar testing is a method of simulating a fullscale water treatment process, providing system operators a reasonable idea of the way a treatment chemical will behave and operate with a particular type of raw water. Because it mimics full-scale operation, system operators can use jar testing to help determine which treatment chemical will work best with their system’s raw water. Jar testing entails adjusting the amount of treatmen

PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES CENTER Sanitary Surveys Summary

A sanitary survey is an inspection of the entire water system, including the water source, facilities, equipment, operation, and maintenance. Usually conducted by a member of the state primacy agency, the purpose of these mandatory surveys is to help prevent and correct water system deficiencies. What is a sanitary survey? The U.S Environmental Protection Agency, in the Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (IESWTR), defines a sanitary survey as “an onsite review of the water source, facilities, equipment, operation, and maintenance of the public water system for the purpose of evaluating the adequacy of such source, facilities, equipment, operation, and maintenance for producing and distributing safe drinking water. ” They are performed by the state primacy agency (e.g., bureau of public health, department of environmental protection) and are required of all surface water systems and groundwater systems under the direct influence of surface water. These surveys are typically divided into eight main sections, although some state primacy groups may have more

PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES CENTER Tech Brief: Taste and Odor Control

Complaints about the taste and smell of drinking water are all too common for many systems. This Tech Brief examines common taste and odor problems and provides techniques for dealing with them in the treatment plant. My Water Tastes Funny Experienced water system personnel are well aware that most customer complaints are related to taste and odor problems. In fact, one reason that bottled water is popular with people is that taste and odor are less noticeable in the bottled water, or at least that’s the perception. By employing certain treatment techniques, plant operators may be able to reduce customer taste and odor complaints. Here are some typical complaints

the article “Optimization: Helping Small Water Plants Improve Their Product ” in the

One of the water treatment operator’s primary jobs is controlling turbidity. Turbidity control is usually associated with surface water systems and groundwater systems under the direct influence of surface water. This Tech Brief examines turbidity control through the entire water treatment process from the raw water source to the clear well. What is turbidity? Turbidity is caused by particulates in the water and is synonymous with cloudiness. Measured in NTUs [nephelometric turbidity units] or occasionally in JTUs [Jackson turbidity units], it is significant because excessive turbidity can allow pathogens to “hide” and, hence, be resistant to disinfection. (For more information about turbidity, se