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.

Real-time insights and innovative water treatment technologies can minimize the environmental impact of water and wastewater treatment. Specifically, the AMS’ SafeGuard™ H2O technology, which generates ferrous or stannous-based water treatment reagents on-site and on-demand, coupled with real-time monitoring, can reduce the need for bulk toxic chemicals and displace traditional treatment technologies, significantly reducing emissions.

AMS is at forefront of digitalization in the water sector. AMS enters 2023 with several significant achievements in 2022 that position it for a broad-based and robust growth of its AMS Analytics and AMS Environment divisions in 2023 and beyond. In this exclusive piece “Driving Digitalization in the Water Sector to Transform the Way We Treat Water,” Rick Bacon, CEO of AMS, shares how AMS is helping transform the way we treat water by providing facilities with proven solutions that will improve their energy efficiency and help them control their GHG emissions.

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.

Unsustainable approaches to water treatment are pervasive, partly due to a lack of real-time data. H2O Global News caught up with Rick Bacon, CEO of Aqua Metrology Systems, to discover how a potent combination of accurate insights and eco-friendly treatment methods can help build an industry fit for the future.

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.

Moving and treating water and wastewater are energy-intensive processes that result in considerable greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately contribute to climate change. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is key to preventing the detrimental effects of climate change on the environment, water availability and human health. Improving energy efficiency is an essential part of keeping carbon emissions under control; spurring continuous upgrades to water and wastewater treatment processes that reduce the amount of energy, chemicals and other resources used. By investing in online and predictive analytical solutions, along with advanced intelligent treatment solutions, the global water treatment industry can achieve cost efficiency and carbon neutrality.