AMS

The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) regulation will rely more heavily on using lead and copper testing and monitoring apparatuses. These apparatuses have issues around sampling constraints and lack real-time data on water corrosivity to anticipate the risk of lead/copper corrosion before it happens in homes/schools/daycares. This is where the benefit of real-time lead and copper monitoring in drinking water systems can significantly contribute to a water system’s compliance with the proposed lead and copper action levels outlined in the LCRI. The automatic, unattended online MetalGuard™ analyzer from AMS provides high-frequency, timely, and accurate predictive data to stakeholders on their exposure to lead or copper contamination risks.

With increasing concerns about the quality of bulk reagents such as bulk ferric chemicals that are widely used in the water treatment industry, utilities are seeking alternative, more carbon neutral, and environmentally friendly treatment methods. AMS’ SafeGuard™ H2O technology is a sustainable alternative that responds to that need. SafeGuard™ H2O has numerous advantages over traditional coagulation processes that depend on bulk ferric chloride. The system’s on-site generation of a ferrous/ferric reagent requires a smaller footprint, and it offers greater reliability to utilities looking to reduce GHG emissions. SafeGuard™ H2O also has a 30 – 50% lifetime cost advantage, considering the cost of purchasing bulk chemicals, manual process supervision, and waste disposal. SafeGuard™ H2O is poised to replace the use of hazardous bulk reagents since it does not compromise the quality of drinking water, harm the environment and it can be produced using renewable energy sources and stored for later use when these are unavailable.

A SafeGuard™ H2O demonstration system with a capacity of 3 gpm (150 mL/minute) was installed onsite for testing at the City of Banning’s Facility Well C2 from June-September 2022. The scope of this demonstration focused on the safe, reliable reduction of Cr6 to Cr3 using SafeGuard™ H2O electrogenerated stannous reagent.  The demonstration validated the effectiveness of the SafeGuard™ H2O technology to treat Cr6 and Cr(T) below 10 ppb, granting it conditional acceptance from the California SWRCB Division of Drinking Water for use of the technology by public drinking water systems to treat Cr6 contamination.

The SafeGuard™ H2O arsenic removal treatment system has been evaluated by the City of Alamosa to replace the use of bulk ferric chloride. The evaluation was completed via bench-scale testing and subsequent pilot demonstration; showing the electrogenerated ferrous reagent to achieve reliable arsenic removal below 5 ppb with a ferrous dose of 6.5-8 mg/L. The validation of SafeGuard™ H2O technology to generate a ferrous reagent in-situ via an electrolytic process shows great promise for utilities looking to remove arsenic to low levels and eliminate reliance on hazardous bulk chemicals.

Currently, the EPA is reviewing its MCL recommendations for arsenic since technological advancements such as the SafeGuard™ H2O now make it possible to economically treat to levels of 5 ppb and lower. SafeGuard™ H2O is proven to eliminate arsenic and drastically reduce the cost of removing this toxic contaminant from drinking water supplies. The SafeGuard™ H2O arsenic treatment system generates a ferric reagent in-situ through a simple, effective and sustainable process.

California American Water’s Isleton Water System underwent an evaluation of SafeGuard™ H2O, an intelligent arsenic remediation system manufactured by AMS. This innovative technology generates a ferrous ion reagent in-situ via an electrolytic process to address arsenic contamination. The objective of the project was to demonstrate the ability of the electrogenerated ferrous reagent produced on demand by the SafeGuard™ H2O system to remove arsenic from unchlorinated well water reliably and effectively. The SafeGuard™ H2O system consistently treated arsenic below 10 ppb and the technology’s modular design can be easily integrated with the facility’s existing coagulation/filtration system; replacing the use of liquid ferric chloride and providing the facility with operational and capital savings.

A SafeGuard™ H2O intelligent Cr(VI) remediation system demonstration unit with a treatment capacity of 10 gpm was installed with the City of Los Banos, California to evaluate the performance of the technology to treat Cr(VI) to non-detect levels (under 1 ppb) in unchlorinated well water.  SafeGuard H2O is an innovative technology based on a proprietary approach that generates on demand a stannous ion reagent in-situ via an electrolytic process. The pilot with Los Banos provided confirmation of the technology’s efficacy and third-party validation of the SafeGuard H2O system as a cost-effective alternative to traditional Cr(VI) treatment systems. Results are detailed.

To meet the goals for safe drinking water and sustainability in the most cost-effective manner, there is an urgent need for the water industry to accelerate the validation and adoption of technology innovations. The adoption of real-time, water quality analyzers at water hubs is poised to change the game of technology acceptance in the water quality sector.

AMS is committed to bringing intelligent water remediation solutions that can be fully controlled, monitored and optimized remotely, while ensuring that these systems are more accessible to a wider sector of the population through affordable financial models. As such, AMS has offered an official response to a white paper — “Economic Feasibility Analysis in Consideration of a Hexavalent Chromium MCL” — published by the California State Water Board (SWB), who is engaged in a process of consultation to determine at what level the regulatory limit for Cr(VI) should be set. AMS’ position on Cr(VI) regulation and comments to SWB are summarized in this technical brief.

Lead contamination in drinking water presents a serious threat to human health. While utilities monitor for lead by sampling infrequently only a small number of domestic points of use, these traditional lead monitoring programs lack the ability to measure the presence of all forms of lead; capture unpredictable changes in water quality that result in lead corrosion; and report the contamination risk before the water is delivered to the customer. MetalGuard™ Lead Alert!™ from AMS is designed to offer communities real-time, continuous and dynamic water quality assessment of the presence of total lead in buildings or zones exposed to events that are the cause of acute lead contamination to reduce the risk of exposure.