Home\Engage\Conferences\19th Annual Water Reuse & Desalination Research Conference\Program

Monday, May 5

7:45 am – 3:00 pm Registration

7:45 – 8:30 am Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 9:45 am Opening Plenary Session

9:45 – 10:15 am Networking and Poster Presentations

10:15 am – 12: 15 pm Session 1

[The conference has two tracks – A and B – and six sessions. Each session has between one and four presentations. I think the tracks need to be side-by-side in two columns. I put the session heading as a header 3 just to highlight them but not sure they need to be a header. Is it possible to list the name of the session and then reveal the speaker and session information in an accordion or something like that? But open other ideas.]

A1: Ensuring the Safety of Direct Potable Reuse

Achieving Reliability in Potable Reuse through Enhanced Treatment and Monitoring
Brian Pecson, Trussell Technologies
10:15 – 10:45 am

The WRRF 14-12 Potable Reuse Demonstration Project ties together (1) the successful existing strategies from drinking, wastewater, and reuse, and (2) key findings from recent DPR research to demonstrate a potable reuse system that protects public health—without the need for an environmental buffer—through enhanced treatment and monitoring.

From Groundwater Recharge to Surface Water Augmentation, and Direct Potable Reuse in California
Brian Bernados, California State Water Resources Control Board
10:45 – 11: 15 am

The Division of Drinking Water (DDW, formerly CDPH), will present on the June 20, 2014 groundwater recharge regulations with groundwater recharge projects. Surface Water Augmentation will also be discussed, as well as Direct Potable Reuse.

Quantitative Relative Risk Assessments for Direct Potable Reuse
Margie Nellor, Nellor Environmental Associates, Inc.
11:15 – 11:45 am

As part of the Texas Water Development Board’s 2015 Direct Potable Reuse Resource Document, we conducted example quantitative relative risk assessments for two direct potable reuse case studies. Each case study compared a No Project Alternative with a potential DPR Alternative. Herein, we will present the results of those case studies.

What Monitoring Tools do we Need to Ensure the Safety of Direct Potable Reuse?
Allegra da Silva, CDM Smith
11:45 am – 12: 15 pm

The objectives of Water Research Foundation project 4508 are to evaluate techniques to assess DPR safety and demonstrate the use of selected techniques. This research update will provide conclusions from the literature phase of the project and an overview of plans to demonstrate the effectiveness of identified monitoring techniques.

B1: Innovative Treatment Technologies

Pilot Scale Operation Does not Always Reflect Full Scale Implementation
Diane Gatza, West Basin Municipal Water District
10:15 – 10:45 am

West Basin has initiated an ozone optimization effort at our Edward C. Little Water Recycling facility in El Segundo, CA due to unanticipated poor MF performance. Ozone is currently being dosed upstream of the MF as pre-treatment to minimize fouling, but has had challenges operating in a steady and optimum state. Challenges that have been optimized include ozone transfer efficiency, foam removal, analyzer control issues and the ozone dosing control strategy.

Treatment Options for Water Reuse in the Food Industry: A Bench-Scale Study of Leafy-Green Washwater
ShihChi Weng, Johns Hopkins University
10:45 – 11:15 am

Due to the large quantities of water used, washwater is becoming a significant economic and environmental issue for the fresh produce industry, especially in many areas in the U.S. that are experiencing water shortages and severe drought. This study addressed the potential of reuse on leafy-green washwater.

Pilot Test of Nanofiltration Membranes for a Novel Approach to Water Reclamation
Robert McCandless, Brown and Caldwell
11:15 – 11:45 am

Elevated levels of sodium chloride in treated wastewater are a detriment to reclaimed water uses and exceed discharge water quality standards. This presentation will cover a proposed membrane process that would remove mostly sodium chloride while retaining other innocuous dissolved salts. A pilot study was conducted to test key aspects of the process to confirm technical viability.

Integrated UV Oxidation and Ceramic Membrane Treatment for Challenging Waters
Josh Alvey, University of Alaska, Anchorage
11:45 am – 12:15 pm

An innovative synergistic unit process for treatment of challenging waters that integrates Ultraviolet Oxidation and Ceramic Membrane Filtration has been developed. Integration of a ceramic membrane and an ultraviolet light has the potential to achieve similar treated water quality as a fully advanced treatment train in a single unit process.

12:15 – 1:15 pm Awards Luncheon

1:15 – 3:15 pm Session 2

A2: DPR Operations and Water Quality

Readying Operations for Direct Potable Reuse
Troy Walker, Haze and Sawyer
1:15 – 1:45 pm

Hazen and Sawyer is currently leading a key research project in the development of operations, maintenance and training for potable reuse for the WateReuse Research Foundation. WRRF 13- “Development of Operation and Maintenance Plan and Training and Certification Framework for Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) Systems” is focused on developing a framework for the key requirements for both O&M plans for DPR systems, but importantly also identifying the training and certification requirements to underpin the skills and knowledge for operations teams.

In this presentation, we will review progress on this important project, and discuss more broadly how as an industry we must overcome the challenges of operations for the long term success of potable reuse schemes.

Real-time and Online Integrity Monitoring of Reverse Osmosis Membranes for Direct Potable Reuse Applications
Arun Subramani, MWH
1:45 – 2:15 pm

This presentation will showcase emerging real-time integrity monitoring techniques for reverse osmosis systems in IPR/DPR applications.

Evaluation of Source Water Control Options and the Impact of Selected Strategies on Direct Potable Reuse
Alan Rimer, Black & Veatch
2:15 – 2:45 pm

The primary objectives of the research are to: 1) evaluate upstream wastewater treatment impacts on DPR source water and downstream advanced treatment processes and 2) assess the impact of hydraulic control mechanisms on influent water quality and flow variations that may stress advanced treatment process for DPR applications.

Odorous Compounds: A Potential Barrier to Potable Reuse?
Florence Bonvin, University of California, Berkeley
2:45 – 3:15 pm

Little is known about the presence or fate of odorous compounds in potable reuse systems. Through a broad monitoring of full-scale advanced treatment systems and quantitative analysis of 15 target odorants, this project assesses whether low molecular weight odorous compounds present a potential barrier to the implementation of potable reuse systems.

B2: Reuse Planning and Case Studies

Achieve Increased Production Reliability and Production Capacity by up Rating the Recycled Water Filtration
Jessica Zadeh, South Bay Water Recycling and Gordon Williams, Trussell Technologies
1:15 – 1:45 pm

This presentation will summarize how the San Jose Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility (RWF) is increasing its production reliability and production capacity of the recycled water by incorporating the results of a decade’s long effort that demonstrated an equivalent level of treatment can be provided when operating beyond the regulatory limitation for granular media filtration.

Pilot Testing El Paso’s Advanced Purified Water Treatment Plant
Caroline Russell, ARCADIS
1:45 – 2:15 pm

El Paso Water Utilities is in the planning phase for implementation of a 10 million gallon per day Advanced Purified Water Treatment Plant (APWTP) for recycling treated wastewater via direct potable reuse. This presentation will focus on pilot testing the APWTP to meet state regulatory requirements, demonstrate ability of the treatment train to meet all water quality goals, characterize the waste streams to facilitate permitting, and determine the best options for online monitoring, alarms, and controls.

Evolution of Reuse Planning in the City of Riverside
Steve Friedman, HDR
2:15 – 2:45 pm

The City of Riverside has been losing their treated effluent to downstream users for decades. They had always planned to distribute this resource to their customers for landscape irrigation. Once the true costs of distribution was learned, they turned their sights to indirect potable reuse. New regulations and groundwater concerns now has the City considering direct reuse. This presentation will follow the steps that led the City to this momentous decision.

Expanding Tucson’s Recycled Water Program from a Foundation of Past Success
Corin Marron, ARCADIS and Jeff Biggs, City of Tucson Water Department
2:45 – 3:15 pm

This presentation will describe how Tucson Water plans to build upon success of its reclaimed water system over the past 30 years through master planning, public outreach, and phased implementation of a comprehensive Recycled Water Program to fully utilize all City of Tucson reclaimed water entitlements.

3:15 – 3:45 pm Networking and Poster Presentations

3:45 – 5:15 pm Session 3

A3: Critical Control Points for Potable Reuse

Using the Critical Control Point Methodology to Quantify Reliability of Multiple Treatment Barriers for Potable Reuse
Troy Walker, Hazen and Sawyer
3:45 – 4:30 pm

WateReuse Research Foundation Project WRRF (13-03) “Critical Control Point Assessment to Quantify Robustness and Reliability of Multiple Treatment Barriers of a DPR Scheme” is focused on demonstrating the robustness and reliability of DPR processes and quantifying the impacts of specific critical control points within a DPR system to ensure a safe, reliable water supply.

Critical Control Points for Potable Reuse Operations Panel Discussion
Tracy Mercer, City of Clearwater , Janice Bennett, City of Clearwater , Robert Fahey, City of Clearwater, Emilie Moore, Tetra Tech, Jarrett Kinslow, Tetra Tech, Jennifer Roque, Tetra Tech, Dave MacNevin, Tetra Tech
4:30 – 5:15 pm

This panel discussion will explore the finer points of operating a robust, reliable, and resilient potable reuse treatment process. With insights from pilot programs, demonstration facilities, and full-scale facilities, this panel discussion will cover several control parameters that are critical for monitoring the effectiveness of the potable reuse process.

B3: Low Energy Treatment Schemes

Development and Testing of a Novel Low-Energy Wastewater Treatment Process for Producing High-Quality Product Water
Eric Marchand, University of Nevada, Reno
3:45 – 4:15 pm

A novel low-energy treatment scheme incorporating forward osmosis, membrane distillation, and biological process technology for treating domestic wastewater to a high quality with resource recovery was simulated, modeled, and experimentally tested at multiple scales. Results are presented describing the process scheme and overall treatment effectiveness.

Impacts of NPXpress Process on Energy, Nitrous Oxide Emissions, and Microbial Ecology in Wastewater Treatment Plants
Yunjie Tu, American Water
4:15 – 4:45 pm

American Water recently developed a low DO operation strategy (NPXpress), and has implemented this at several MBR plants. Purpose of this research is to corroborate our preliminary findings which showed savings on energy and chemicals, and investigate the impacts of this low DO operation on N2O emissions, and microbial ecology.

Emerging Technologies, Energy Use, and Approaches for Advanced Oxidation and Disinfection
Nicola Fontaine, Carollo Engineers
4:45 – 5:15 pm

This presentation will detail the Water Research Foundation project results on the energy efficiency as well as the effectiveness of reflectance based UV for potable water disinfection, advanced oxidation, and potable water reuse applications.

5:30 – 7:00 pm Welcome Reception

Tuesday, May 6

7:45 am – 2:30 pm Registration

7:45 – 8:30 am Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 10:00 am Session 4

A4: Treatment for Indirect Potable Reuse

Comparison of Two Disinfection Strategies Prior to Soil Aquifer Treatment for Potable Reuse
Reymundo Trejo, Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District and Shane Trussell, Trussell Technologies
8:30 – 9:00 am

This presentation provides the audience with (1) background on soil aquifer treatment (SAT) and potential benefits of using ozone disinfection prior to SAT, (2) details on the soil columns used to simulate managed aquifer recharge operations, (3) salient study results, and (4) overarching benefits of this research to the reuse community. The findings of this study indicate SAT is an excellent, effective, natural treatment option for the attenuation of bulk organic matter, disinfection by-products, contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), and microorganisms. The spiked microbes were reduced through SAT to below detection levels. In the context of the 30-day travel time used in this study, ozone disinfection in conjunction with SAT proved to be beneficial, resulting in improved removal of bulk organic matter and the CECs tested as compared to chlorine disinfection prior to SAT.

A Full-Scale Demonstration Study Comparing UV/Chlorine and UV/H2O2 for the Treatment of 1,4-Dioxane in Potable Reuse
Alan Royce, Trojan Technologies
9:00 – 9:30 am

Testing at a full-scale indirect potable reuse facility was performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the UV/chlorine advanced oxidation process. The process was found to be effective for removal of 1, 4-dioxane and testing illustrated that the UV/chlorine process may be a viable alternative to UV/H2O2 with the potential to reduce operational costs of potable reuse facilities.

Treatment Sustainability as a Tool in Water Reuse Treatment Train Configuration
Keel Robinson, Xylem
9:30 – 10:00 am

A pilot study was conducted by Xylem in collaboration with the IVL Swedish environmental Research Institute for a period of 24 months at the R&D-facility Hammarby Sjöstadsverk in Stockholm. Multiple water reuse treatment trains were evaluated for environmental and economic impacts using sustainability tools such as LCC and LCA.

B4: Disinfection Byproducts

Chlorinated and Brominated Disinfection Byproducts of Selected Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Secondary and Tertiary Treated Wastewaters from Southern California
Eric Nelson, Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County
8:30 – 9:00 am

Chloro and bromo byproducts of selected PPCPs were measured in wastewater effluent from 10 different southern California sewage treatment plants. Synthesized analytical standards and isotope labeled internal standards allowed for accurate and precise quantification. Compounds included the halogenated byproducts of gemfibrozil, naproxen, diclofenac, bisphenol A, nonylphenol, octylphenol and salicylic acid.

Rejection of N-nitrosamines and their Precursors during Reverse Osmosis Membrane Treatment in Water Reclamation Plants
Haruka Takeuchi, Kyoto University
9:00 – 9:30 am

The occurrence and fate of N-nitrosamines and their precursors were investigated in three water reclamation plants in Japan. The rejection of N-nitrosamines by RO can be affected by feed temperature, conductivity and membrane fouling. N-nitrosamines precursors were removed effectively by NF and RO membrane.

Predicting DBP Formation Using Hybrid QM/MM Computational Methods
Harry Ridgway, AquaMem Scientific Consultants
9:30 – 10:00 am

A hybrid quantum/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) algorithm has been developed to predict disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation mechanisms and products. The algorithm uses a “stepped forced molecular dynamics” (SFMD) method to iterate bi-molecular collisions between reactants trapped in a micro-solvation cage. This presentation will describe a recent application of the SFMD method for predicting DBPs and transformation products for a select group of endocrine active compounds and contaminants of emerging concern.

10:00 – 10:30 am Networking and Poster Presentations

10:30 am – 12:30 pm Session 5

A5: Novel Technologies for Potable Reuse

Removing Trace Organic Contaminants Using Bio filtration in Potable Reuse Systems
Marco Velarde, Southern Nevada Water Authority
8:30 – 9:00 am

In this ongoing study, a pilot-scale bio filtration skid has been operated under realistic conditions to determine the simultaneous removal of trace organic contaminants using various biologically-active media. This presentation will discuss the acclimation requirements for target constituents and treatment performance across the media types at steady-state conditions.

Role of Chlorine Radical Species in Advanced Oxidation Process Treatment of Wastewaters for Direct or Indirect Potable Reuse
Stephen Mezyk, California State University at Long Beach
10:30 – 11:00 am

Role of chlorine radical species in advanced oxidation process treatment of wastewaters for direct or indirect potable reuse.

Forward Osmosis Membrane Bioreactor Performance for Wastewater Treatment Applications
Ally Freitas, University of Nevada, Reno
11:00 – 11:30 am

The forward osmosis membrane bioreactor (OMBR) offers a low-energy alternative to conventional wastewater treatment and other energy intensive membrane processes. Coupling conventional wastewater treatment strategies with the promising high rejection properties of the forward osmosis membrane, the OMBR offers an effective advanced treatment regime with high potential for water reuse.

*Peroxone Mineralization of Non-Biodegradable Organics for Direct Potable Water Reuse *
Tingting Wu, University of Alabama, Huntsville
11:30 am – 12:00 noon

Mineralization of organics (as COD) in secondary effluent by the peroxone process at an onsite direct potable water reuse research treatment system at a university residence hall, focusing on kinetics and process operation.

B5: Pathogens and Disinfection

Lessons Learned from UV System Performance Audits for Reuse Applications
Traci Brooks, Carollo Engineers
10:30 – 11:00 am

The first part of the WaterReuse Research Foundation project titled “UV Disinfection Knowledgebase for Reuse Applications” involved conducting UV system performance audits at 14 participating UV facilities located across North America. This presentation will present the results and recommendations for improving performance from these audits.

Occurrence of Legionella in Reclaimed Water
Mark LeChevallier, American Water
11:00 – 11:30 am

Methods for detection of Legionella in reclaimed water were evaluated and used for detailed monitoring of six systems. Legionella were detected in all of the systems, occurrence and concentrations varying by season and system. Statistical analysis showed important relationships to organic carbon, amoebae, chlorine, and other water quality parameters.

Next Generation Sequencing Reveals Potential Surrogates for Performance Monitoring of Graywater Recycling Systems
Brian Zimmerman, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
11:30 am – 12:00 noon

A lack of knowledge about the microbial characteristics of graywater recycling systems has hindered acceptance of this alternative water source. This presentation will discuss the first reported in-depth microbial characterization of a graywater recycling system, and identifies graywater-specific microbes that could be used as novel markers to evaluate treatment efficacy.

Disinfection and Regrowth of Model Pathogens in a Graywater Reuse Treatment System
Susan De Long, Colorado State University
12:00 – 12:30 pm

To promote widespread adoption, graywater treatment technologies must be effective, low-cost, and simple to operate. Treatment systems comprised only of filtration and disinfection, without organics removal, are simple and affordable. This presentation will describe research targeted at elucidating disinfection efficacy and regrowth prevention in graywater treatment systems without organics removal.

12:30 – 1:30 pm Luncheon Keynote

1:30 – 3:00 pm Session 6

A6: A Framework for Direct Potable Reuse

*Development of Framework for Direct Potable Reuse Guidelines, Results of the NWRI/WateReuse Association Expert Pane*l
Joe Cotruvo, Joseph Cotruvo & Associates, Jim Crook, Consultant, Justin Mattingly, WateReuse Research Foundation, Ellen McDonald, Allan Plummer Associates, Jeff Mosher, National Water Research Institute Adam Olivieri, EOA, Inc.
Andrew Salveson, Carollo Engineers, George Tchobanoglous, University of California, Davis, Shane Trussell, Trussell Technologies
1:30 – 3:00 pm

The task of the expert panel is to develop a framework for direct potable reuse (DPR) guidelines that allow for the safe implementation of DPR nationally. The framework is intended to be a starting point for a larger discussion of national DPR guidelines.

B6: Desalination Technologies and Concentrate Management

Application of Electrodialysis for By-Products Recovery from Saline Brine to Balance Costs of Zero Discharge
Elisabeth Vaudevire, PWN Technologies
1:30 – 2:00 pm

This study addresses the brine discharge issue by transforming NOMs contained in the anion exchange brine into a resource for industry using a first step of electrodialysis with monovalent selective membranes to recover NaCl, a second step with non-selective membranes to complete the desalination prior to NOM concentration by evaporation.

*Improved Bubble Column Desalination and Sterilization *
Muhammad Shahid, University of New South Wales, Australia
2:00 – 2:30 pm

The aim of the bubble column evaporator (BCE) theme is to develop new concepts, and to improve existing purification and desalination technologies in terms of energy and cost effectiveness, which can guarantee high-quality water in the future.

Sweeping Gas Membrane Distillation in Flat Sheet Membrane Contactor
Vasiliki Karanikola, University of Arizona
2:30 – 3:00 pm

Membrane distillation (MD), is a vapor pressure driven process derived by temperature gradients. MD can mitigate energy and fouling problems that occur in conventional desalination processes and may have additional advantages when applied in remote areas. In the work reported here, a sweeping gas, flat sheet MD reactor was manufactured and tested.

3:00– 3:30 pm Networking and Poster Presentations

3:30 – 4:45 pm Closing Plenary Session

4:45 – 5:00 pm Closing Remarks

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