Consistent with the mission of the Technology Assistance Centers, NE-WTTAC has focused research activities in 4 major areas:
Slow Sand Filtration
Slow sand filtration is experiencing a renaissance in North America. The requirements for cost-effective and dependable filtration processes for filtering surface waters have helped to promote this resurgence. UNH faculty have worked with conventional slow sand filtration, granular media-amended slow sand filtration, advanced oxidation (UV, H2O2, O3) slow sand filtration, and GAC Sandwich (copyrighted) slow sand filtration.
Membrane Filtration
Membrane filtration, widely used in the industrial and food processing industries, is now considered a promising technology for water treatment. Depending upon membrane pore sizes and pressures, a variety of contaminants can be removed. Studies have been completed on hollow fiber membranes using pathogen challenge studies.
Roughing Filtration
Pretreatment of surface waters containing high levels of turbidity and algae is frequently needed in front of conventional, pressure, and even slow sand filtration processes. Studies have been conducted on process configuration and optimization.
Advanced Oxidation
Ozone, UV and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) have been used as pretreatments for surface water filtration processes and complete oxidation of anthropogenic organics, like MTBE, in drinking water supplies. UV has also been extensively piloted as a means for disinfecting ground waters.
Electrotechnologies
Innovative electrotechnologies including pulsed UV, pulsed electric fields, plasma arc devices and high intensity UV (UV lasers, high pressure UV lamps) have been tested at the alpha stages of their development for ability to inactivate virus, Giardia cysts, and Cryptosporidium oocysts. Small scale (1 to 5 gpm) pilot studies are also on-going.
Alternative Disinfection
Alternatives to chlorination have been examined in pilot scale studies for both ground water and surface water supplies. Studies have been performed for ozone, chlorine dioxide, UV, chloramines and the innovative electrotechnologies previously mentioned. Research has also focused on synergistic combinations of disinfectants such as ozone-chloramines and UV- chloramines.
Pathogen Detection
Molecular biological techniques, including Polymerase Chain Reaction amplification and nucleic acid probes, have been or are under development and/or application for viruses, bacteria and protozoa of public health concern.
