Innovation Through Pilot Testing

by Pete Betts

A Tonka Water pilot study can provide the answers a city needs for a unique full-scale process design or state regulatory approval.  Tonka Water’s pilot capabilities include on-site bench testing, preliminary assessment testing, performance testing and process equipment simulation for the removal of contaminants.  Tonka Water pilots test new and innovative products, processes and technologies to remove unwanted contaminants.

Every pilot study is treated differently and with its own custom equipment solution.  Tonka Water’s complete systems can be crated and shipped to be erected on-site for all applications and includes necessary chemical feed systems.  Some demonstrations require less than one week or as long as your program requires.  Pilot trailers are fully equipped and available for remote sites and/or to meet any spacing constraints.

Biological Treatment of Ammonia and Other Contaminants

By Bryan Oakley, PE

Many treatment plants throughout the country have been surprised to find ammonia in their water. Ammonia exists naturally in a significant number of groundwater aquifers and is present in water reclamation plant effluent. Ammonia reacts with chlorine disinfectants, increasing disinfection doses and can cause objectionable off-taste and odors .

Ammonia can also accelerate corrosion of residential, commercial and industrial copper plumbing and cooling systems. This corrosion can raise copper concentrations at water reclamation plants, and if released to rivers and lakes at elevated levels, can be toxic to aquatic life.

Biological Filtration of Drinking Water
An economical and innovative way to treat ammonia and other related contaminants is through a biological treatment process. Instead of using chemicals, naturally occurring biology can oxidize contaminants such as ammonia, iron, manganese and organics that can then be removed by filtration.

Baker Water Treatment Plant

by Tim Grogan
Tonka Equipment Company

Nearly two years ago, Hardy County needed a small facility to test their water before the construction of their new water plant. The county chose a 20 gpm pilot trailer plant to test the high turbidity water for a twelve week period. After testing the water, the project was split into two phases. Phase I involved bidding a site security package while Phase II involved getting permits, certificates and building the new plant. Construction of the new plant began near the end of 2010.

The new Baker Water Treatment Plant removes high levels of turbidity, iron, manganese, and organics. The plant uses two surface water pretreatment systems for turbidity removal, two Ultrafiltration membrane systems for bacteria and virus removal, one clean in place system, and a Master PLC control panel to automate cleaning and operation.  How it works: Water from Parker Hollow Lake is pumped through the Unitized Treatment System, which combines flocculation, clarification and filtration to remove the large contaminants, then pumped through the membrane system, which removes the microscopic contaminants. Chemicals are added before the water is collected into a storage tank where the water is gravity fed through lines.

With the start up in January 2012, the community of Baker officially has clean water. 

More articles about the Baker Water Treatment Plant process:

http://www.moorefieldexaminer.com/pdf/ME_4_21_10.pdf

http://www.moorefieldexaminer.com/pdf/ME_6_23_10.pdf 

http://www.thrashereng.com/newsroom.cfm?myArticle=CountyPSDisTestingBakerWaterPlant

How Good is Your Pilot Study?

by Tom Davis
President, Tonka Equipment Company


A good design starts with a careful and complete water analysis – because all waters are different and respond differently to treatment.  Frequently, a water analysis alone may not be sufficient information to conclusively move toward a final design, and in these cases, a pilot study is required.  A dependable, high quality pilot study, like many services encountered in the water industry, is reflective of the ultimate relationship an engineer or City may have with a chosen responsible manufacturer.

Organics Removal with Anion Exchange

by TJ Stroebl
Tonka Equipment Company


The Village of Ohio, Illinois recently commissioned their new water treatment plant to remove iron, manganese, arsenic, and color from the groundwater supply, by installing an integrated Tonka treatment system.  A Dualator® VI, which incorporates aeration, detention and filtration, is used to remove the iron, manganese and arsenic. The unit is 11 feet in diameter and is designed to operate at 275 gpm. A Tonka ORGANIX™ anion exchange system was installed downstream of the Dualator® to remove dissolved organic compounds associated with color.