United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
RESEARCH PROJECT
National Risk Management Research Laboratoi
Water Supply and Water Resources Division
Treatment Technology Evaluation Branch
EVALUATION OF ARSENIC REMOVAL TECHNOLOGY: ARSENIC DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM
IMPACT STATEMENT
The objective of this research project is to
support the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA) commitment to develop
affordable treatment technologies for small
systems to meet the revised arsenic
standard. This project involves full-scale
arsenic treatment technology demonstration
studies on the removal of arsenic from
drinking water at various locations
throughout the U.S.
BACKGROUND:
In October 2001, EPA announced an initiative that would provide a total of $20 million (M) in fiscal years 2002 and 2003
for research and development of more cost-effective technologies to help small systems meet the new arsenic standard
and to provide technical assistance to operators of small systems to reduce compliance cost. The major portion of the
overall research effort is the arsenic full scale demonstration program, consisting of three rounds of demonstration
projects: Round 1, Round 2, and Round 2a. In addition to EPA program funds, Congress provided $5M in Fiscal Year (FY)
2003, $5M in FY 2004, and $3.5M in FY 2005, to support EPA's arsenic research program, and encouraged EPA to use a
significant portion of the funding to carry out the demonstration program.
DESCRIPTION:
This program evaluates the reliability of the arsenic technologies of small scale systems; gauges the simplicity of system
operations, maintenance and operator skill; determines the cost-effectiveness of the treatment technologies; and
characterizes treatment residual produced by the technologies.
The arsenic demonstration program's three rounds of projects resulted in the funding of fifty small, full-scale arsenic
removal systems in twenty-six different states under Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs)
with the small water systems. In all cases, the State drinking water agencies provide support in the selection and
permitting of the technology being demonstrated.
Once the treatment system is installed, the utility operates it under normal operating conditions for a minimum of one
year, and assists EPA in the collection of the performance and cost data. The data from each project will be utilized in
the preparation of a final report that documents the performance of the full scale system.
EPA GOAL: Goal #2 - Clean & Safe Water; Objective 2.1.1- Water Safe to Drink
ORD MULTI YEAR PLAN: Drinking Water (DW), Long Term Goal - DW-2 Control, Manage, and Mitigate Health Risks
RESEARCH PARTNERS:
Collaborators: Fifty water systems under Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs)
Contractors: Battelle Memorial Institute
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Water Supply and Water Resources Division
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EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS:
The information and data developed on the cost and
performance of full scale arsenic treatment technologies will
enable water utilities, state agencies and consulting firms to
make informed decisions on the selection, design and
operation of the treatment systems to bring water systems
into compliance with the EPA revised arsenic drinking water
standard of 10 micrograms/Liter.
OUTPUTS:
Current outputs consist of twenty-six, six-month performance
evaluation reports and twenty-five final performance
evaluation reports on the demonstration project studies.
(EPA Publications:
http://epa.gov/nrmrl/wswrd/dw/arsenic/publications.html)
RESOURCES:
EPA Arsenic Research: http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/wswrd/dw/arsenic/
NRMRL Treatment Technology Evaluation Branch: http://www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/wswrd/tteb.htm
CONTACTS:
Thomas Sorg, Principal Investigator - (513) 569-7370 or sorg.thomas@epa.gov
Steven Doub, MediaRelations - (513) 569-7503 ordoub.steven@epa.gov
Michelle Latham, Communications - (513) 569-7601 orlatham.michelle@epa.gov
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Water Supply and Water Resources Division
www.epa.gov/nrmrl
EPA/600/F-10/011
February 2010
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