Envirogen has recently completed commissioning of its regenerable ion exchange (IX) treatment system – SimPACK – for the City of San Fernando (CA) to provide drinking water from its Well 3, where the groundwater’s nitrate levels are above the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for potable water.
The City is utilizing the Envirogen SimPACK system to remove nitrate to a level at or below 80% of the MCL (8 mg/L nitrate-N).
System redundancy
The SimPACK technology is a multi-bed design operated in a staggered mode process. The staggered bed is Envirogen’s N+3 method, which allows seven of the ten filter vessels within the system to be online, while two vessels are being regenerated and one vessel is in standby. The design provides system redundancy, as required by the California Water Resources Board (CWRB) Division of Drinking Water.
The result is continuous on-demand treatment, via the use of regenerable IX resins. The SimPACK unit automatically controls the flow of water for treatment, as well as regeneration and rinse cycles for exhausted bed vessels, in order to maintain a set number of beds for treatment of the target contaminant of nitrate.
Components include Envirogen FluxFlo bag filters for pre-filtration, bag filter housings to remove suspended solids greater than 5 microns, an engineered container to shelter the system from weather and tampering; and a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) featuring Envirogen SimPACK control logic to minimize waste rates and salt consumption.
Successful treatment
Victor Meza, Water Operations Manager for the City of San Fernando stated, “We chose Envirogen based on the prior successful use of an Envirogen SimPACK treatment system for Well 7A. That system operated effectively for the past five years, which gave us confidence in the same technology being used at Well 3. Using Envirogen’s most advanced regenerable IX technology for nitrate treatment allows the city to continue to diversify its water source portfolio, while providing residents with the least expensive, treated potable water.”
Costly imported water
Dr. Todd Webster, Vice President, Envirogen, comments, “Envirogen has been pleased to collaborate with the City of San Fernando to bring our latest regenerable ion exchange nitrate treatment system to full, permitted operation by the State of California. It allows the City to continue to treat nitrate-impacted groundwater effectively and further minimize dependence on costly imported water.”
Looking ahead
Envirogen will continue to assist the City of San Fernando with continual maintenance through a service contract for both wells 3 and 7A treatment systems.
