Inorganics Treatment: Arsenic and Nitrate Webinar
About the Webinar
1. Biological Nitrate Treatment: Innovations and Challenges
This presentation focuses on a biological nitrate treatment pilot study conducted at a water treatment plant. The study used an innovative denitrification system and nitrogen gas sparging to lower dissolved oxygen concentration, and it sometimes achieved complete denitrification. This discussion also focuses on the challenges of matching the acetic acid feed to a variable influent nitrate concentration and addressing clogging by bacterial flocs. The treatment approach showed promise; however, reactor design enhancements are needed to bring this technology to small systems.
Presenter: Asher Keithley, EPA Office of Research and Development. Asher is a general engineer with EPA’s Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Water Infrastructure Division. Their research focuses on drinking water treatment of inorganics and contaminants of emerging concern, such as manganese and nitrate. They are particularly interested in biological drinking water treatment processes. Asher is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Ohio.
2. Arsenic Refresher
This presentation provides an overview of arsenic chemistry and treatment considerations. Arsenic accumulation in the distribution system and potential release back to the water are also discussed, based on retrospective data analysis from EPA’s arsenic demonstration program.
Presenter: Simoni Triantafyllidou, EPA Office of Research and Development. Simoni is an environmental engineer with EPA's Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Water Infrastructure Division. Her research and technical support efforts revolve around aquatic chemistry, drinking water quality and treatment, corrosion science, inorganic contaminants, and sustainable drinking water infrastructure such as premise plumbing and distribution systems.
3. An Arsenic Case Study in California: Oasis Mobile Home Park
This presentation provides an overview of EPA Region 9’s enforcement case with Oasis Mobile Home Park for violation of the Arsenic Rule. Key topics include environmental justice, enforcement, technical conditions, and community and stakeholder engagement. The unique challenges and successes of trying to bring a small public water system back into compliance are also discussed.
Presenter: Maria Alberty, EPA Region 9. Maria is an environmental protection specialist with EPA Region 9, Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division in San Francisco, California. Maria is a credentialed drinking water inspector, and she leads cross-organizational teams to evaluate public water systems and ensure that those systems achieve and maintain public health and environmental compliance under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Prior to enforcement, she was a contracting officer for 18 years at EPA and NASA.