TECHNICAL REPORT
EPA 570/9-78-001
00418
Removal of Excess Fluoride
from Drinking Water
\
January 1978
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Office of Water Supply
Washington, O.C. 20460
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TECHNICAL REPORT
EPA 570/9-78-001
Removal of Excess Fluoride
from Drinking Water
Prepared By
FREDERICK RUBEL, JR., P.E.
and
R. DALE WOOSLEY
January 1978
for
The Office of Water Supply
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Washington, D.C. 20460
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Great Lakes national Program Office
GLNPO Library
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DISCLAIMER
This report has been reviewed by the Office of Water
Supply, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and approved for
publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily
reflect the views and policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products
constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
(ii)
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PREFACE
In May 1972, the National Institute of Dental Research estimated
that 1,100 community public water supply systems serving approxi-
mately 4.2 million people exceeded the recommended maximum
contaminant levels established for fluoride. Most of these community
systems are located in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, New
Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, southern California, South Dakota and Texas.
The maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for fluoride in drinking
water were established initially by the U.S. Public Health Service.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency subsequently adopted these
standards when it promulgated the National Interim Primary Drinking
Water Regulations pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act (P.L. 93-523).
The fluoride standards were established because continuous ingestion
of water containing high concentrations of fluoride causes mottling
of tooth enamel among children up to approximately the age of 10.
Intake of successively higher concentrations of fluoride will lead to
structural damage to teeth followed by crippling fluorosis, body
weight loss, thyroid disfunction, kidney failure and ultimately death.
Several alternatives to minimize adverse health effects are available
to reduce high concentrations of fluoride in drinking water; selection
of the appropriate alternative will depend largely on local conditions.
One alternative which has proven to be effective in reducing the
concentration of fluoride in drinking water and can meet the primary
drinking water regulations involves the use of activated alumina.
This process is described in the following report.
The Environmental Protection Agency is sponsoring the publi-
cation of this report to provide information on a successful
method of removing high fluoride concentrations in drinking water.
Ranvir Singh, P.E.
State Program Division
Office of Water Supply (WH-550)
(iii)
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ABSTRACT
Excess fluoride can be removed from potable water supplies
by the activated alumina method. However, operating cost and
reliability of this process are not well known. A simple modificatio
to the conventional activated alumina treatment process increases
the fluoride removal capacity of the alumina from the generally
accepted level of 400 grains/ft3 to more than 2000 grains/ft^ of bed
material. Thereby, operating cost becomes acceptable and has been
documented by successful performance of plants in Desert Center,
California and Vail, Arizona.
(iv)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Disclaimer ii
Preface iii
Abstract iv
Table of Contents v
INTRODUCTION 1
FLUORIDE REMOVAL TECHNOLOGY 2
INITIAL START UP PROCEDURES 9
BLENDING OF TREATED WATER 11
DISPOSAL OF WASTE WATER 12
MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION 12
OPERATOR REQUIREMENTS 13
COST OF OPERATION 13
CONCLUSION 14
LIST OF TABLES 16
LIST OF FIGURES 16
(v)
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INTRODUCTION
Commencing June 24, 1977, communities throughout the United
States are required to comply with the Environmental Protection
Agency National Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations dated
1975 December 24. Maximum contaminant levels in potable water
supplies have been established for ten (10) inorganic chemicals,
one of which is fluoride. The maximum contaminant level for
fluoride varies from 1.4 to 2.4 mg/L depending upon the annual
average of the maximum daily air temperatures (see Table I).
In order that the prescribed maximum level be enforced, it is
imperative that achievement be technically and economically
feasible.
TABLE I
MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVELS FOR FLUORIDE
Average Maximum Daily Temperature
Temperature Temperature Level
Degrees Degrees Milligrams
Fahrenheit Celsius per Liter
53.7 and Below 12.0 and Below 2.4
53.8 to 58.3 12.1 to 14.6 2.2
58.4 to 63.8 14.7 to 17.6 2.0
63.9 to 70.6 17.7 to 21.4 1.8
70.7 to 79.2 21.5 to 26.2 1.6
79.3 to 90.5 26.3 to 32.5 1.4
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Since it became known that excess fluoride in drinking water
calised mottled teeth in children, many methods for removing
this mineral have been developed. One of the methods which can
defluoridate water supplies relies on activated alumina.
This method is safe, reliable and simple. Two operating plants
have experienced several years of low cost defluoridated water
production. The first is the Lake Tamarisk Plant at Desert Center,
California with eight years of operation (see Figure 1). The
second is the Rincon Water Company Plant at Vail, Arizona with
five years of operation (see Figure 2). A third plant is under
construction for the town of Gila Bend, Arizona; operational
Status is planned for March, 1978 (see Figure 3). Development
work in pilot plant equipment on a continuing basis has perfected
the treatment and regeneration processes at each of these
locations (see Figure 4). It was possible to make continuing
refinements in the design and operation technique by employing
the same alumina technology in all three plants.
Fluoride Removal Technology
This report is based upon pilot plant experiments and plant
data which used granular F-l Activated Alumina (mesh size 28 to
48) manufactured by Aluminum Company of America.
The basic principles of fluoride removal technology are:
1) Optimize the environment for sorbing of fluoride
ions to activated alumina surfaces.
2) Prevent competing ions from occupying alumina sur-
faces which are to be reserved for fluoride ions.
L.T., Arnold, F.A., Jr., and Elvove, E., Domestic water
and dental caries. V. Additional studies of relations of fluoride
in domestic waters to dental caries experience in 4,425 white
children, age 12 to 14 years, of 13 cities in 4 states. Pub.
Health Rep. 57: 1155-1179, Aug. 7, 1942.
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FIGURE 1 LAKE TAMARISK WATER TREATMENT PLANT, DESERT CENTER, CA.
FIGURE 2 RINCON WATER COMPANY TREATMENT PLANT, VAIL, ARIZONA
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FIGURE 3 GILA BEND FLUORIDE REMOVAL WATER TREATMENT PLANT
FIGURE 4 PILOT PLANT EQUIPMENT USED IN GILA BEND, ARIZONA
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3) Upon regeneration of an expended treatment bed, take
all steps necessary to remove all fluoride ions from
the bed prior to return to treatment.
There are a multitude of "common sense" principles that apply
to the process which, though important, are not as critical as
those listed.
There are four modes of operation: Treatment, Backwash,
Regeneration and Neutralization. Operational details for each
mode along with other important criteria are provided here.
A. Treatment Mode for virgin or regnerated treatment bed:
The highest fluoride removal environment exists when the
raw water pH is adjusted into the range of 5.0 to 6.0 by means
of sulfuric acid injection. The best results obtained to date
have occurred when the raw water pH has been carefully held at
5.5. In this environment the attraction of the fluoride ion
to the activated alumina surface is most favorable and inter-
ference with competing ions is minimized. In applications to
date, treatment bed capacities consistently exceed 2000 grains/ft-^
Q
and some runs have exceeded 3000 grains/ft .
As raw water pH moves above 6.0 or below 5.0, fluoride
removal capacity deteriorates at an increasing rate. For example,
from previous experiments it has been shown that at pH 7.0 bed
capacity is about 500 grains/ft . Though efficiency might appear
to be the same, breakthrough occurs earlier and treatment runs
are shorter. Fluoride removal efficiency approaches 100%, as
the treated water fluoride effluent is measured well below
0.1 mg/L during portions of the treatment run at each installation.
This efficiency is achieved in waters with divergent chemistry
which includes varying fluoride levels (see Table II). Superficial
5
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TABLE II
WATER ANALYSES AT EXISTING OPERATIONS
Facility
Ca
Mg
Na
so4
Cl
Hardness
M Alkalinity
P Alkalinity
Fe
Si02
F
TDS
pH
(mg/L)
(mg/L)
(mg/L)
(mg/L)
(mg/L)
(mg/L)
(mg/L)
(mg/L)
(mg/L)
(mg/L)
(mg/L)
(mg/L)
Lake
Tamarisk
11
0.5
58
40
67
30
77
0
0.2
22
7.5
409
7.9
Ricon
Water
Co.
51
5.8
151
261
22
152
171
0
<0.05
55
4.5
650
7.5
Town of
Gila Bend
54
2.
402
144
582
146
52
0
0.
21
5.
1210
8.
5
2
0
0
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residence time (flow time through the bed neglecting the volume
of bed material) is also a limiting factor; a five-minute minimum
is established as a practical limit for maximum removal efficiency.
Best results occur with flow directed down through the bed. Care
must be taken to prevent a wall effect or channeling.
The initial effluent pH will be high with no fluoride re-
moval. (See also neutralization mode below.) After a short
period both pH level and residual fluoride will drop to acceptable
levels. At that point usable water can be directed to storage
and/or distribution. Fluoride level will drop rapidly to a very
low level and will stay there until breakthrough begins at which
point the level will gradually increase until the treatment run
is terminated.
Finished water pH will drop to 6; or possibly lower. Since
water in this range will be corrosive, the treated water pH must
be adjusted to a desirable level (say 7.3); pH adjustment is
achieved by injection of sodium hydroxide, or as explained later,
by blending.
B. Backwash Mode:
It is important for two reasons to backwash the bed with
raw water prior to each regeneration. First, any suspended solids
which have been filtered from the raw water by the treatment bed
tend to blind the bed and must be removed. Secondly, even though
the above filtration may not have taken place the downward flow
tends to pack the bed. Therefore, an upflow backwash expands
the bed, breaking up any tendency towards wall effects or channeling,
r\
A backwash rate of 8-9 gpm/ft of treatment bed surface area
will expand the bed about fifty percent, which is adequate.
Care must be exercised to avoid backwashing granular bed material
7
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out of the treatment unit. Normally, backwash is completed
within ten minutes.
C. Regeneration Mode:
The object of regeneration is to remove all the fluoride
ions from the bed prior to return of any part of the bed to
the treatment mode. The most successful regeneration is accom-
plished by a two-step process. The first regeneration step
is upflow immediately following backwash while the bed is still
expanded. This is followed by an upflow rinse. The unit then
is drained down to the top of the treatment bed. The second
regeneration step is downflow and is immediately followed by
the neutralization mode. Regeneration steps employ one percent
(by weight) sodium hydroxide solution which flows at a 2-1/2
gallon/minute per ft^ of treatment bed area. With a standard
treatment bed depth of five feet, each regeneration step takes
thirty-five minutes. The intermediate upflow rinse flows at
5 gallon/minute per ft^ of treatment bed area for a period of
thirty minutes. If the treatment bed depth varies from this
standard, flow rates and times must be adjusted. The regenerant
solution is usually an in-line dilution of 5070 sodium hydroxide
with raw water. The temperature of 507o sodium hydroxide must
be maintained at 70°F or higher to prevent freezing.
D. Neutralization Mode:
The object of this step is to return the bed to the
treatment mode as rapidly as possible without dissolving the
treatment media. As soon as the second (or downflow) regeneration
step has been completed all of the fluoride should have been
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removed from the bed. At this point the bed is drained down
to the top of the treatment media again. Raw water with pH
adjusted to 2.5 is then fed downflow at the normal treatment
flow rate (see Figure 5). The entire bed is in the pH range of
12.5 to 13.0 and the top of the bed is starting to neutralize
and enter a treatment mode. As that takes place, the fluoride
level in the treated water starts to drop below that of the
raw water. Treated water pH also begins to drop. As the
fluoride level drops below the mandatory limit the water becomes
usable and can be directed to storage and/or distribution. pH
may still be high in the treated water (9.0-9.5); however this
water can be blended with lower pH treated water from other
treatment units as explained later.
When the pH is 9.0 to 9.5, the raw water pH is adjusted to
4.0 as the bed is rapidly neutralizing. When the treated' water
pH drops to 8.5, the raw water pH is adjusted to 5.5 where it
is maintained throughout the remainder of the run.
Initial Start-up Procedures
When initially placing the bed material into the treatment
unit, the vessel should be half filled with water. As the
activated alumina is poured into the bed from above, the water
dissipates the heat generated by the heat of wetting of
the activated alumina thereby preventing cementing of the bed,
aids in separating fines from the granular material, protects the
underdrain assembly from impact, and initiates stratification of
bed material. Once the bed is in place, it must be backwashed
for an extended period until all of the alumina fines are flushed
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from the virgin bed. The flow is then reversed and downflow
treatment begins for the virgin run.
Blending of Treated Water
Another feature which plays a role in plant operation is
blending. Blending can take place either in large reservoirs
or in the treated water main. During a treatment run there is
a long period when the treated water fluoride level is well
below desired levels. Then as breakthrough occurs there is a
long period of slowly increasing fluoride in the treated water.
It is found that treated water can continue to flow to storage
and/or distribution until it is 1-1/2 to 2 times the maximum
allowable level with the resulting total water average fluoride
level meeting a prescribed level (1/2 the maximum allowable
level). When there is a large reservoir in which the major
portion of a treatment run can be stored, the blending takes
place there. At locations where the reservoir is not large and
there are two or more treatment units, staggered regenerations
accomplish the same result. That is, a regenerated treatment
unit will produce very low fluoride water while a second unit
in later stages of its treatment run may be producing a higher
fluoride level. By mixing the effluent from the two units in
the treated water main an average fluoride near the prescribed
level can be maintained. Similarly, the high pH treated water
occurring early in the run for one unit can be blended with the
low pH effluent of another unit which is in a later stage. The
benefit of this blending is short lived; soon the pH of the
blended streams will have to be adjusted to an acceptable level.
11
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Disposal of Waste Water
The waste water resulting from backwash, regeneration,
and the early part of neutralization are not suitable for
consumption and must be discarded. The backwash water, composed
only of raw water, can be discharged to existing storm water
disposal systems. The only objectionable feature of the
regeneration waste is the high concentration of fluoride ions
which cannot be returned to the ground water aquifer. The high
pH can be neutralized. Disposal of high fluoride waste must
comply with local waste water discharge standards which do vary.
Existing plants concentrate the waste in lined evaporation ponds.
Eventually the concentrated waste will be transferred to an
acceptable disposal site, or the fluoride will be reclaimed.
The volume of waste water is approximately 470 of the total
plant throughput.
Materials of Construction
The cost of the treatment plant is a function of the quality
of the materials of construction employed in the design. How-
ever, trouble-free, low-cost plant operation can only be achieved
by proper selection of materials to meet the service requirements
of the process. First, excluding materials for concentrated
acid and caustic systems, the treatment system materials shall
be suitable for service in the following conditions:
1) Potable Water System
2) Ambient Temperatures (Provision for Thermal
Expansion)
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3) Exposure to Sunlight (or Protected)
4) ph 2-13
5) Ease of Maintenance (Remove and Replace with
Minimum Logistics)
Materials of construction for the chemical storage and
handling systems excluded above shall comply with chemical
manufacturers' guidelines.
Operator Requirements
A qualified operator for a Fluoride Removal Water Treatment
Plant requires thorough fluoride removal process training,
preferably at an existing treatment plant. The operator must
be able to service pumps, piping systems, instrumentation, and
electrical accessories. The operator must be totally informed
about the characteristics of sulfuric acid (in all concentrations)
and sodium hydroxide (in all concentrations). Safety requirements
including clothing, equipment, antidotes, etc., must be thoroughly
understood and executed. The operator must be trained to run
routine water analyses including at least two methods for
determining fluoride levels. The operator needs simple mathe-
matics for use in record keeping during a treatment run and
operation cost accounting. The operator above all, must be
dependable and conscientious.
COST OF OPERATION
The cost of operation including chemicals, electricity,
bed replacement, replacement parts, and labor currently falls in
the range of 8-20C/thousand gallons of treated water. Individual
plant operational cost will vary due to the difference of
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fluoride level, plant capacity, treated water consumption,
electric utility rate, labor rate, delivered chemical costs,
etc.
An example of the low operating costs that may be realized
with an activated alumina system is the Gila Bend plant estimate
of 15C/1000 gal of treated water. Based upon the Rincon Water
Company and Lake Tamarisk plant years of experience and 1977
data from the Gila Bend pilot plant studies, projected operating
costs for the Gila Bend plant are:
1) Chemicals (66° B1 H2S04 @ 20c/gal - 6c
and 50% NaOH @ 68c/gal)
2) Electric Utility @ 4c/kwh - lc
3) Treatment Media Replacement
(3%/year @ 30
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and equipment are available in today's market and there is
existing technology to assist any community in designing a plant
to meet their water requirements.
15
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LIST OF TABLES
TABLE I - Maximum Contaminant Levels for Fluoride
TABLE II - Water Analyses at Existing Operations
1
6
LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE 1 - Lake Tamarisk Plant at Desert Center, California 3
FIGURE 2 - Rincon Water Company at Vail, Arizona 3
FIGURE 3 - Town of Gila Bend Plant at Gila Bend, Arizona 4
FIGURE 4 - Pilot Plant in Operation at Gila Bend, Arizona 4
FIGURE 5 - Typical Pilot Plant Run - Gila Bend, Arizona 10
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GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1978—757-140/1374
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