WCWC Pilot Testing Resources
The Walkerton Clean Water Centre’s pilot testing service gives operators the opportunity to obtain site specific information on different treatment options for addressing water quality challenges. We have a wide array of equipment housed in our Technology Demonstration Facility that can be customized in our facility or at your remote location.
Contact a member of our Research and Technology team today to discuss how we can help you at inquiry@wcwc.ca.
Resources produced from past pilot testing projects can be found below.
Project Reports
- A study to investigate alternative secondary disinfection methods and disinfection by-product formation in the community’s drinking water supply
- A study to monitor and reduce disinfection by-products in a First Nation’s drinking water supply
- A study to reduce disinfection by-products in a First Nation community’s drinking water supply
- Chloride Sulfate Mass Ratio Bench-Scale Testing
- Chlorine Demand/Decay and Simulated Distribution System Disinfection By-Product Testing for a Large Municipal Residential System in Ontario
- Chlorine Demand Testing for the Palgrave-Caledon East Drinking Water System *NEW*
- Coagulant Review Bench-Scale Testing
- Colgan Drinking Water System Bench-Scale Study
- Conventional and Dissolved Air Flotation Jar Testing
- Conventional Treatment Optimization for Big Grassy First Nation
- Decentralized Pilot Testing for Wauzhushk Onigum Nation
- Effect of Chlorine Detention Times on Disinfection By-Products
- Effect of Fixed Bed Ion Exchange Process in Addition to Enhanced Coagulation on the Reduction of High Levels of Organics
- Evaluation of Greensand Filtration Operation for the Reduction of Manganese
- Exploring Iron Reduction Options for a Groundwater Source
- Optimization of Conventional Treatment Processes for Residual Aluminum Control
- Optimizing Coagulant Doses by Jar Tests
- Optimizing Regeneration Process of Greensand Filtration to Reduce Disinfection By-Products
- Options for the Reduction of Arsenic from a Groundwater Source
- Options for the Removal of Arsenic from the Island Lake Drinking Water System *NEW*
- Reducing Arsenic in the Shakespeare Drinking Water System
- Reducing Disinfection By-Product Precursors to Control Trihalomethanes in a Large Municipal Residential Drinking Water System
- Reduction of Arsenic in a Small Drinking Water System
- Reduction of iron and hydrogen sulfide from a well system using oxidation and filtration
- Reduction of Iron and Manganese Using Conventional Treatment and Greensand Filtration
- Sampling and analysis of potential surface water sources using conventional jar testing methods for Wahta Mohawk First Nation
- Small Systems Technology Assessment for Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxin Removal
- Taste and Odour Control Strategies with Advanced Oxidation Processes and Granular Activated Carbon
- The effects of increasing the water reservoir size on disinfection by-product formation in a Lake Superior, slow sand water treatment system *NEW*
- Ultrafiltration and Granular Activated Carbon Pilot Testing with the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation
Project Presentations
- A Case Study to Reduce Arsenic
- A Pilot Plant Study to Reduce Iron and Manganese
- A study to reduce disinfection by-products in Poplar Hill First Nation’s drinking water system
- Challenges and a Pilot Study on Cyanobacteria and Small Drinking Water Systems
- Challenges to Treat Cyanotoxins from Drinking Water on a Large, Small and Household Scale
- Finding the Source of NDMA Precursors in a Chloraminated System
- Pilot Testing of Selected Technologies for the Removal of Natural Organic Matter for A First Nation Water Treatment Plant
- Pilot Testing Project Report: A Study to Reduce Disinfection By-Products in Red Rock Indian Band’s Drinking Water Supply
- Pilot Testing Services and a Case Study to Reduce Organics
- Practical Reduction of Arsenic From Groundwater: Two Towns With Two Different Solutions
- Reducing Chlorinated Disinfection By-Products in Drinking Water: Pilot Testing Experiences in Ontario First Nation Communities
- Reduction of Iron and Hydrogen Sulfide from a Well System
- Using Fixed Bed Ion Exchange Process to Enhance the Reduction of Organics
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water or view these similar posts.
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Natural Organic Matter and Disinfection By-Products
The following links provide information on natural organic matter (NOM) and the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) when a chlorine-based disinfectant is introduced in drinking water. Information on treatment strategies to reduce both NOM and DBPs are included in this post.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Abstracts & Articles
- Advanced Water Treatment Strategies for the Removal of Natural and Synthetic Organic Contaminants
- Chlorination Disinfection By-Products in Drinking Water
- Control and Prevention of Disinfection By-Product Formation Through Source Water Monitoring Using Photoelectrochemical Oxygen Demand (peCOD)
- Control Of Chlorinated Disinfection By-Products (DBPs): Pilot Testing Experiences In Two Ontario First Nations Communities
- Drivers of Disinfection Byproduct Cytotoxicity in U.S. Drinking Water: Should Other DBPs Be Considered for Regulation?
- Formation and removal of ozonation by-products in drinking water biofilters
- Trihalomethanes: Concentrations, Cancer Risks, and Regulations
Fact Sheets & Technical Bulletins
- Disinfection Byproducts
- Organic Removal
- Trihalomethane and haloacetic acid sampling and reporting requirements technical bulletin
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) & Groundwater
- Water Treatment and Disinfection By-Product Formation
Guides
Pilot Testing Project Reports
- Conventional and Dissolved Air Flotation Jar Testing
- Conventional Treatment Optimization for Big Grassy First Nation
- Decentralized Pilot Testing for Wauzhushk Onigum Nation
- Effect of Fixed Bed Ion Exchange Process in Addition to Enhanced Coagulation on the Reduction of High Levels of Organics
- Optimization of Conventional Treatment Processes for Residual Aluminum Control
- Reduction of Iron and Manganese Using Conventional Treatment and Greensand Filtration
- Taste and Odour Control Strategies with Advanced Oxidation Processes and Granular Activated Carbon for the Tay Area Water Treatment Plant
- Ultrafiltration and Granular Activated Carbon Pilot Testing with the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation
Pilot Testing Project Summaries
- Conventional and Dissolved Air Flotation Jar Testing
- Conventional Treatment Optimization for Big Grassy First Nation
- Decentralized Pilot Testing for Wauzhushk Onigum Nation
- Pilot Testing with Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation
- Pilot Testing with Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation
- Pilot Testing with the Township of Tay to Reduce Taste and Odour
Presentations
- Assessing Post-Treatment Aeration Variables to Reduce Disinfection Byproducts(THMs) for Small Systems
- Minimizing DBPs With Multiple Disinfectant Barriers to Achieve Multiple Objectives
- Pilot Testing of Selected Technologies for the Removal of Natural Organic Matter for A First Nation Water Treatment Plant
- Pilot Testing Services and a Case Study to Reduce Organics
- Reducing Disinfection By-Products in Small Drinking Water Systems
- Using Fixed Bed Ion Exchange Process to Enhance the Reduction of Organics
Testing
- How-to filter a drinking water sample
- How-to analyze true and apparent colour of a drinking water sample
- How-to analyze UV absorbance and transmittance in a drinking water sample
- How-to analyze total and dissolved organic carbon (TOC/DOC)
Webinars
- Advances in PAC Adsorption for DBP Precursor and Micropollutant Removal
- Localized Treatment for Disinfection By-Products
- Reducing Volatile DBPs in Treated Drinking Water Using Aeration Technologies
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water or view these similar posts.
Natural Organic Matter in Drinking Water Course Resources
List of Laboratories Licensed to Perform Drinking Water Testing in Ontario
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Ontario Water Works Association (OWWA) 2022 Annual Conference Presentations
WCWC had some speakers selected to present at the OWWA Annual Water Conference and Trade Show during the first week of May 2022.
The slides for these presentations can be accessed here:
A study to reduce disinfection by-products in Poplar Hill First Nation’s drinking water system
Finding the Source of NDMA Precursors in a Chloraminated System
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Disponible en français.
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NEW DEVELOPMENTS AT THE TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION FACILITY
The upgrades will expand the Walkerton Clean Water Centre’s pilot-testing capabilities
The Walkerton Clean Water Centre (WCWC) recently completed several upgrades in the Technology Demonstration Facility to expand its pilot-testing capabilities.
New Incubator and Refrigerator
The purchase of a new incubator will allow WCWC to store water samples at a precise temperature, accurately mimicking real-life conditions for simulated distribution system testing. An additional laboratory refrigerator will allow WCWC to store larger volumes of sample water, something that has been critical as WCWC continues to take on more pilot- and bench-scale projects.
Rapid Small Scale Column Test
WCWC recently constructed a rapid small scale column test (RSSCT) apparatus that will allow staff to quantify contaminant treatment and estimate adsorption capacity of media in a shortened timeframe while using much less water. Using a scaled filter bed with ground down media, the long-term treatment effectiveness and lifespan of filter media can be estimated. The RSSCT has already been in great demand and produced reliable results. Work is underway to construct a second RSSCT unit, which will enable WCWC to run multiple tests simultaneously.
Stirred Cell
WCWC has procured two new stirred cell test units, which will enable proof-of-concept testing on ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis membranes. Stirred cells are scaled membrane filtration systems used for bench-scale testing. These units use pressurized nitrogen gas to move sample water through the membrane, something previously unachievable on the bench-scale due to extremely small membrane pore sizes. The stirred cell test units have successfully been used in pilot testing projects and upgrades are underway to allow the use of higher-pressure nitrogen gas lines to run nanofiltration tests.
Ion Chromatography
A new ion chromatography (IC) machine had been installed in the laboratory. Ion chromatography is the measurement of ionic species (anions and cations) in a sample volume. The IC machine is capable of testing 15 water quality parameters (fluoride, chloride, nitrite, nitrate, sulfate, bromide, ortho-phosphate, bromate, chlorate, chlorite, sodium, ammonium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium). WCWC had performed traditional wet chemistry tests for some of these parameters and outsourced others. Use of the IC machine will result in significant time and cost savings, while yielding more precise results. The ability to perform IC on-site will provide WCWC with a wealth of information regarding the composition of source water and allow it to perform pilot- and bench-scale testing more effectively.
These exciting new additions will help WCWC better serve the needs of Ontario’s communities as they look to optimize and improve their drinking water systems.
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Ontario Water Works Association (OWWA) 2021 Conference Presentations
WCWC had some speakers selected to present at the Ontario Water Works Association (OWWA) Water Conference and Trade Show in May 2021. Recordings of the presentations can be viewed on our YouTube channel here:
Practical Reduction of Arsenic From Groundwater: Two Towns With Two Different Solutions
The slides for these presentations can also be accessed here:
Practical Reduction of Arsenic From Groundwater: Two Towns With Two Different Solutions
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Disponible en français.
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WCWC Fact Sheets
The Walkerton Clean Water Centre (WCWC) creates fact sheets for water professionals based on pilot testing projects performed by the Research & Technology Department. These fact sheets are a compilation of information from different sources and are presented solely for information purposes.
Contact us to request topics for future fact sheets.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
WCWC Fact Sheets
Absolute vs. Nominal Filter Ratings
Baffling Factor Selection for CT Calculations
Distribution Factors That Control Biofilm
Microcystin Degradation by Chemical Oxidation
Particle Monitoring Applications
Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment
PFAS in Water Systems: A Canadian Perspective
Removal of Manganese from Drinking Water
Slow Sand Filtration Operation and Maintenance
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WCWC Launches New Remote Monitoring System
WCWC launched a new remote monitoring system. Geordie Gauld, Technician, tells us more about how the new system will assist with pilot testing projects to support water system owners, operators and operating authorities.
What exactly is the new remote monitoring system? How does it work?
Essentially, this is a small-scale Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system with cellular connectivity. It operates on many of the same principles as the monitoring and control system at a full-scale water treatment facility. A simple programmable logic controller (PLC) will take in process signals from the pilot plant, including parameters like water pressure, flow, turbidity, pH, etc. Using these inputs, we can observe system statuses, compile datasets, and generate historical trends from right here at WCWC.
How will this benefit pilot testing projects?
It can be challenging to gather complete data from our pilot testing communities. Many are in remote regions and we cannot stay onsite for weeks to manually gather data. Operators are also very busy running their own facilities and don’t have the time to manually sample and collect the data we need and get it into our hands. This system will allow us to collect complete datasets with little to no input from operators. Complete data will lead to a more effective pilot testing process and allow WCWC and the facility owner to make more informed decisions regarding the direction of the pilot testing project, no matter where the owner’s plant is located.
Being able to view the status of the system in real-time will also allow us to confirm things are running as they should be. An undetected failure in the pilot plant can render large sets of data incomplete or inaccurate and delay the overall progress of the pilot testing project.
How is one monitoring system going to be effective for multiple pilot testing projects that may have many different requirements?
By reviewing the configurations of previous pilot testing projects, we were able to compile a list of modular hardware requirements we felt would be most useful. This allowed us to wire and pre-program the unit for common configurations with the ability to use or omit certain features as desired. This approach will allow us a great deal of flexibility working with different treatment strategies and arrangements. In our hardware selection we also allowed for several “spare” inputs which will allow us to expand our capabilities in the future.
For more information about WCWC’s pilot testing services, please visit www.wcwc.ca/services/pilot-testing/ or contact us at 866-515-0550.
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WCWC Articles & Publications
The Walkerton Clean Water Centre submits articles to be published in journals and blogs.
The following linked articles are free to access and available for viewing online.
Challenges and a Pilot Study on Cyanobacteria and Small Drinking Water Systems
Cyanobacteria: Rising to the Surface of Emerging Challenges
Evaluations of conventional, ozone and UV/H2O2 for removal of emerging contaminants and THM-FPS
Investigating Disinfection Byproducts for Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation (pg. 16-18)
Pilot-scale comparison of slow sand filtration, conventional and dissolved air flotation treatment
Pilot-Scale Evaluation of Ozone vs. Peroxone for Trihalomethane Formation
Presence of Pharmaceuticals and Pesticides in Detroit River Water and the Effect of Ozone on Removal
The Effect of Ozone on Cold Water Coagulation
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Read MoreIron in Drinking Water
This post provides information on iron in drinking water and reducing iron through treatment options and optimization.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Fact Sheets
- Alternatives for iron removal
- Common Water Problems
- Common Water Solutions
- Home Drinking Water Treatment Devices
- How to Operate and Maintain Manganese Greensand Treatment Units
- Iron & Well Water
- Iron Bacteria & Well Water
- Iron and Manganese Removal
- Iron in Drinking Water
- Sediment & Well Water
- Shock chlorination and control of iron bacteria
Guides
- Guidance on Controlling Corrosion in Drinking Water Distribution Systems
- Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Guideline Technical Document – Iron
- Iron in Drinking-Water
- Small Public Water System Technology Guide, Volume I – Iron and Manganese Control
Pilot Testing Reports & Summaries
- Evaluation of Greensand Filtration Operation for the Reduction of Manganese
- Exploring Iron Reduction Options for a Groundwater Source
- Reduction of Iron and Manganese Using Conventional Treatment and Greensand Filtration
- Reducing Iron in a Groundwater Well
- Pilot Testing to Reduce Iron and Hydrogen Sulfide Gas
Presentations
- A Pilot Plant Study to Reduce Iron and Manganese
- Pilot Testing to Reduce Iron and Hydrogen Sulfide Gas
- Reducing Iron in a Groundwater Well
- Reduction of Iron and Hydrogen Sulfide from a Well System
Videos
- EPA Small Systems Webinar: Treatment and Control for Manganese and Iron
- How to analyze iron in a drinking water sample
- Iron and Manganese Treatment
- Remove Iron , Sulfur, Manganese by Oxidation System
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Walkerton Clean Water Centre Pilot Testing Success
The Walkerton Clean Water Centre (WCWC) recently completed a pilot testing project with the Township of Tay to address seasonal taste and odour events.
Staff from WCWC and the Township of Tay review the set-up and operation of the on-site pilot plant
The community has been experiencing seasonal taste and odour events, such as geosmin and methyl-isoborneol (MIB) in the raw and treated water. The community’s ultrafilter effluent was used to test an advanced oxidation process (AOP) (high UV dose + hydrogen peroxide) and granular activated carbon (GAC) to reduce taste and odour compounds. WCWC confirmed that both AOP and GAC removed the taste and odour compounds to below the odour threshold; however, additional chlorine was needed after the AOP process. The township and engineering consultant will use the results to select the appropriate treatment for their system upgrades.
WCWC conducts pilot tests for clients to enhance their understanding of source water characteristics and the performance of treatment processes and alternative treatment options. Bench or pilot scale projects can be undertaken at a client’s location or at the Technology Demonstration Facility in Walkerton.
WCWC has years of pilot testing experience in areas such as natural organic matter, disinfection by-products, iron and manganese treatment, arsenic, and coagulation. Pilot testing reports are available on WCWC’s Drinking Water Resource Library at www.DrinkingWaterResourceLibrary.ca, which is a free online portal that assists drinking water professionals find information on various topics.
To learn more about WCWC’s pilot testing services, please visit wcwc.ca/pilot-testing/ or contact us at 866-515-0550.
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