Pluris is pleased to present this update on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (“FDEP”) approved TTHM Pilot Study to evaluate Chlorine Dioxide as the primary disinfectant for drinking water in Wedgefield. In the most recent FDEP compliance testing, TTHM was undetected in water samples. TTHM values have been declining throughout the Pilot Study while seeking the appropriate Chlorine Dioxide dosage and residual levels.
Presented in the following table are the results of TTHM testing from the startup of the Pilot Study in March, 2016 continuing with the latest analytical laboratory results, on September 7, 2017.
The current Federal Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) Stage II limit for TTHM is 80 micrograms per liter (µg/l). Since the introduction of Chlorine Dioxide at the beginning of the Pilot Study, all TTHM results have been below the EPA limit. The most recent TTHM FDEP mandated compliance testing on September 7, 2017 reported TTHM as being non-detected at the two FDEP mandated compliance test sites for the second quarter (sixth consecutive month) in a row. Although not FDEP compliance testing, Orange County Utilities Central Laboratory (“OCUD”) independently sampled water at the two FDEP compliance test locations on July 25, 2017 and performed TTHM testing at its laboratory. The OCUD reported laboratory detection limits at 0.1 micrograms per liter (“µ/l”) and OCUD reported TTHM results for both samples at 0.27 µ/l.
Pluris has filed for a permit modification with the FDEP allowing Chlorine Dioxide to replace Chlorine as the primary disinfectant. The FDEP has approved a minimum Chlorine Dioxide residual of 0.05 milligrams per liter (mg/l). Based on other utilities’ systems using Chlorine Dioxide for years, the 0.05 mg/l residual will meet EPA Stage II limits for TTHM and provide the required disinfection. The 0.05 mg/l residual will also result in a lower operating cost than the 0.2 mg/l, established by the FDEP for the initial value at the beginning of the Pilot Study.
As always, customers with questions or desiring to visit the water treatment plant facility are encouraged to contact Mr. Joe Kuhns, regional manager for Pluris. He will personally schedule a facility visit for any customer wanting to observe the Chlorine Dioxide pilot study treatment equipment, as well as the entire water treatment facility. Mr. Kuhns can be reached via email at [email protected] or by telephone at (813) 526-0608.
