EFFECTS OF EBCT AND WATER TEMPERATURE ON HAA REMOVAL USING BAC

This article discusses the removal of a major group of disinfection by-products (DBPs)—haloacetic acids (HAAs)—in biologically active carbon (BAC) or acclimated granular activated carbon (GAC). Precursor removal has been the main control strategy for DBPs. Using BAC to remove preformed HAAs is a new concept. Although it is known that water temperature and empty bed contact time (EBCT) affect the removal of HAAs in BAC, this study was undertaken to gain a better understanding of how these parameters affect removal. The results suggest that a 10-min EBCT should be used for 4°C waters and a 5-min EBCT should be used for waters at 10°C or higher.