Quilicura, a municipality located in Chile’s Santiago Metropolitan Region, needed to address high arsenic levels in its water source. Well No. 3 had a flow of 1,600 gpm. The well had a high concentration of arsenic that fluctuated between 0.040 mg/L and 0.060 mg/L, well above the World Health Organization's standard of 0.010 mg/L.

In addition to the high arsenic concentration, the site faced challenges with pH that ranged from 7.0 to 9.5.

AdEdge was contacted by EcoRiles in 2013 to design, manufacture and commission an arsenic removal solution for the municipality.

The solution:
The AdEdge arsenic treatment solution consists of four WaterPOD containerized systems rated for a combined total of 1,600 gpm. Each WaterPOD contains six 48-inch carbon steel vessels in a parallel configuration. The vessels are loaded with AdEdge Bayoxide E33 granular ferric oxide media. The E33 binds the arsenic to the media structure and does not lose that bond during backwash. The system has an ADIN chemical feed dosing system that is mounted outside the WaterPODs.

The chemical feed dosing system consists of a sodium hypochlorite module that oxidizes the arsenic from trivalent to pentavalent. A second chemical feed module uses hydrochloric acid to lower the pH and improve media life.

Backwashing of the treatment vessels occurs every 45 to 60 days to prevent hydraulic channeling and to remove any suspended solids that might have accumulated in the bed. Backwash operations are automatically controlled by an AdEdge InGenius control panel that includes a PLC and a HMI.

The WaterPOD treatment units were shipped in 2013 to Chile and began operation in November 2013. The treatment units have consistently lowered the arsenic concentration to nondetectable levels since startup.

About AdEdge Water Technologies
Founded in 2002 and headquartered just north of Atlanta, Georgia, AdEdge Water Technologies specializes in the design, development, fabrication and supply of packaged treatment solutions, specialty medias, innovative technologies and membranes that remove contaminants from process or aqueous streams. AdEdge has extensive experience in the removal of arsenic, iron, manganese, hydrogen, sulfide, fluoride, nitrate and uranium from water. For more information, call 866/823-3343 or visit www.adedgetech.com