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 published articles
WCWC submits articles to be published in journals. The following linked articles are 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
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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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Pilot Testing Resources
WCWC’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.
Resources produced from past pilot testing projects can be found below.
Project Summaries
Conventional and Dissolved Air Flotation Jar Testing
Conventional Treatment Optimization for Big Grassy First Nation
Decentralized Pilot Testing for Wauzhushk Onigum Nation
On-Site Testing for Arsenic Reduction
Pilot Testing to Reduce Iron and Hydrogen Sulfide Gas
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
Reducing Iron in a Groundwater Well
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
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
Options for the Reduction of Arsenic from a Groundwater Source
Reduction of Arsenic in a Small Drinking Water System
Reduction of Iron and Manganese Using Conventional Treatment and Greensand Filtration
Small Systems Technology Assessment for Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxin Removal
Taste and Odour Control Strategies with Advanced Oxidation Processes and Granular Activated Carbon
Presentations
A Case Study to Reduce Arsenic
A Pilot Plant Study to Reduce Iron and Manganese
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
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
Reduction of Iron and Hydrogen Sulfide from a Well System
Using Fixed Bed Ion Exchange Process to Enhance the Reduction of Organics
Contact a member of our Research and Technology team today to discuss how we can help you at pilottesting@wcwc.ca.
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Pilot Testing Project Helps Address Long-Term Boil Water Advisory
The Walkerton Clean Water Centre (WCWC) recently completed a pilot testing project with Wauzhushk Onigum Nation, helping the community address a long-term boil water advisory that has been in place since 2012.
Wauzhushk Onigum Nation is located on Lake of the Woods in Northwestern Ontario. The lake water has high organics and colour making it a challenging water source for satisfying the requirements of UV disinfection. Before implementing decentralized point-of-entry (POE) systems for a portion of the community, Wauzhushk Onigum Nation worked with WCWC on a pilot testing project. WCWC tested POE technologies for effectiveness in removing turbidity and organics in order to improve UV disinfection. The test results were shared with consultants in the design of the decentralized water systems.
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. Completed pilot testing reports are available on WCWC’s Drinking Water Resource Library, which is a free online portal that assists drinking water professionals in finding information on various topics.
To learn more about WCWC’s pilot testing services, please visit https://wcwc.ca/services/pilot-testing/ or contact us at 866-515-0550.
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Pilot Testing At WCWC
Are you curious about pilot testing? Devendra Borikar, Technology Demonstration Lead, and Jeff Avedesian, Acting Scientist, answer common questions about WCWC’s pilot testing program:
What is pilot testing?
A WCWC pilot project is a small-scale practical study conducted in order to evaluate feasibility, duration, or performance of a water treatment strategy and its effect on water quality. This can include bench or pilot-scale projects that may address health based, operational, or aesthetic water quality parameters.
What kind of projects have you done in the past?
WCWC has completed pilots that addressed cyanotoxins and cyanobacteria, arsenic, manganese, trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, aluminum, dissolved organic carbon, chlorine, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, iron, and sulfates using various specific strategies. WCWC can also provide information to owners, operators and other decision-makers in the form of a literature review for the purpose of making educated and informed decisions.
Is the work done in Walkerton or at my site?
The work can be completed either on-site or at the WCWC Technology Demonstration Facility depending on site-specific conditions.
What do you do with the results?
WCWC provides the owner and operating authority with preliminary data throughout the pilot, a detailed report and treatment recommendations. With the permission of the client, WCWC may choose to present the study at conferences and tradeshows, and may include results from the project in future training materials.
To learn more about WCWC’s pilot testing services, please visit wcwc.ca/pilottesting or contact Devendra Borikar at dborikar@wcwc.ca or 1-866-515-0550 ext. 313.
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