Identification and Modelling of Chlorine Decay Mechanisms in Reclaimed Water Containing Ammonia

Keeping an effective disinfectant residual concentration in reclaimed water is still a challenge, due to its high levels of ammonia and organic matter when compared with those in drinking water. This research proposes the integration of the reaction schemes of monochloramine auto-decomposition with an empirical kinetic mechanism accounting for reactive chlorine species decay in the presence of organic matter, for which three mechanisms were hypothesized and tested. A parallel second order mechanism, where monochloramine reacts both with fast and slow organic matter reactive fractions, was identified as the most suitable. The model, comprising two rate constants and two fictive concentrations of organic matter as parameters, was further successfully calibrated with real reclaimed waters with two initial free chlorine doses of 8.01 × 10−5 M (≈5 mg/L) and 2.67 × 10−4 M (≈20 mg/L). The proposed model is believed to support future studies aiming to predict and manage chlorine decay in reclaimed water distribution systems.

Network Model Analysis of Residual Chlorine to Reduce Disinfection Byproducts in Water Supply Systems in Yangon City, Myanmar

In Yangon City, chlorination commenced in January 2020 to supply drinkable water; therefore, there is as yet no information on chlorine decay and DBP formation in the water supply system. This study aimed to find methods to optimize chlorine dosage in Yangon City. Onsite sampling and laboratory analyses of residual chlorine and trihalomethane (THM) formation, as well as water quality simulations, were conducted to find the chlorine decay and THM formation kinetics. Due to a high chlorine dose of 2 mg/L for both pre- and post-chlorination, disinfection was effective despite the low removal efficiency of turbidity. However, THMs were found in high levels in both treated and tap water due to the high THM formation potential of raw water. The re-contamination and/or transformation of dissolved organic matter were found in the distribution network by increases in specific ultraviolet absorption (SUVA) values and excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorophores, which brought about variations of THMs in the networks. The EPANET models were run assuming there to be no water leakages; it was found that the chlorine dose could be decreased to 0.8 mg/L to meet the guidelines for THMs and residual chlorine. The methods employed in this study could be also applied in other water supply systems in tropical developing countries with limited water quality monitoring data.

Chlorine Decay Simulation in Water Distribution System Using EPANET

Chlorine is used as a disinfectant in the water treatment process so that treated water is delivered safely to consumers. However, chlorine concentration decays when water flows from the treatment plant to the supply point, due to the reaction with natural organic matter and the inner surface of the pipe. Low chlorine concentration may encourage bacteria re-growth, while high chlorine concentration can result in the formation of harmful chemical components. Therefore, this study aims to simulate the complex process of chlorine decay using EPANET. This exercise enables the determination the chlorine concentration dosage required to maintain the desired requirement given by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health, Malaysia (MOH). A successful model with an extended period of simulations of 72 hours enable the mapping of spatial and temporal variations of flow and residue chlorine concentrations at all links and nodes. Constant chlorine dosage of 3.96 mg/l at node R1 has successfully satisfy the requirement given by WHO and MOH. The residue chlorine concentrations at the nodes and links in the water distribution system also depends on the water usage at node 5, the size of service reservoir and service tank and distance from the reservoir.

Decay of Free Residual Chlorine in Wells Water of Northern Brazil

The concentration of chlorine in water declines as it reacts with various substances, causing decay of the residual free chlorine until its total consumption. In light of the typical characteristics of the water from protected dug wells and tube wells, this study aimed to evaluate the decay kinetics of free chlorine in the water of alternative individual supply (AIS) solutions used in the city of Porto Velho in the Brazilian Amazon region. The free chlorine decay constant in the water was evaluated by “bottle tests,” applying a first-order model. According to the results, the type of well and initial chlorine concentration significantly influences the free chlorine decay speed. The water samples from the tubular wells had lower chlorine demand levels, attributed to their better water quality. The simulation of the residual chlorine decay in the different supply sources is an important tool to support safe disinfection processes.