Removing Organics From Groundwater Through Aeration Plus GAC

Abstract

The Rockaway Township (N.J.) water utility installed a granular activated carbon (GAC) system to remove ethers and trichloroethylene that suddenly began contaminating its groundwater supplies. The system was installed expeditiously and performed well, but the carbon became exhausted within shorter and shorter periods of time. The solution was to add an aeration system prior to GAC treatment to extend the useful life of the carbon. As influent levels of the organic contaminants abated, the township was able to use aeration alone and to eliminate continuous use of the GAC system, maintaining it for contingencies only.