Office of Drinking Water

Approval Guideline ODW-AG-03

Filtration and Disinfection Log Reduction Credits

PURPOSE To continue to ensure public health protection related to drinking water, Manitoba introduced regulations for the approval, design and operation of drinking water systems. These regulations, created under The Drinking Water Safety Act, are Manitoba Regulation 40/2007 Drinking Water Safety Regulation and Manitoba Regulation 41/2007 Drinking Water Quality Standards Regulation. They can be viewed at: www.manitoba.ca/drinkingwater.

The regulations set out requirements for public water systems including: A permit for the construction or alteration of a water system An operating licence for operation of a water system A periodic assessment of a water systems infrastructure and water source Water quality and treatment standards

This information bulletin provides guidance to water treatment system operators and consultants on procedures for determining filtration credits and CT calculations for public water systems. INTRODUCTION The treatment process for a public water system in Manitoba treating surface water or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water (GUDI) must be capable of 3-log (99.9%) reduction or inactivation of Cryptosporidium and Giardia, and 4-log (99.99%) reduction or inactivation of viruses that may be present in the source water. In keeping with a multi-barrier approach to drinking water treatment, the Office of Drinking Water recommends that at least 0.5log inactivation of Cryptosporidium and Giardia, and 2-log inactivation of viruses be attributed to disinfection processes. Microbial standards are met using filtration (physical removal) and disinfection (inactivation). Removal and inactivation capabilities vary depending on the filtration technology or disinfectant applied. Organizations such as Health Canada and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have recommended procedures to determine log removal and log inactivation credits for filtration and disinfection processes.

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PATHOGEN INACTIVATION CREDITS (DISINFECTION CT CALCULATIONS) The effectiveness of most disinfectants including chlorine depends on the concentration of the disinfectant (C), water temperature, pH and the amount of effective contact time (T) between the water and the disinfectant. Manitobas Chlorine and Alternative Disinfectants Guidance Manual includes an explanation of the CT (Concentration Time) concept and tables for determining log inactivation credits for different disinfectants. The guidance manual is available on the Office of Drinking Water website at:http://www.gov.mb.ca/waterstewardship/odw/reginfo/approvals/odw_chlorine_and_alternative_disinfectants.pdf In completing CT calculations, the following operating or design conditions must be applied to determine the effective contact time provided at a water treatment plant: Peak hourly flow based on raw water pump capacity or water meter records (highest pumpage hour), or estimated based on assumed water use and peaking factors (ex: Harmon Peaking Factor; Ontario Design Guidelines for Drinking-Water Systems 2008, Section 3.4) Minimum normal operating level of the storage reservoir, clearwell or tank Baffling factor to reduce the effective storage volume to account for potential short-circuiting Minimum disinfectant residual (ex: typically 0.5 mg/L for free chlorine) Minimum temperature of the water undergoing disinfection Maximum pH of the water undergoing disinfection

Baffling factors can be determined by conducting a tracer test on an existing storage system or can be estimated using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) computer model, otherwise, the baffling factors in Table 1 should be applied based on the water storage system configuration: Table 1. Baffling Factors for Water Storage Systems
Storage System Configuration Hydropneumatic tank with single inlet-outlet Single, unbaffled retention tank or multiple tanks in parallel Single cell reservoir, unbaffled, inlet and outlet at opposite ends Two storage tanks in series Two cell reservoir, inlet and outlet in same cell Two cell reservoir, inlet and outlet at opposite ends of separate cells Three or more storage tanks in series Baffled tank or reservoir cell Piping Baffling Factor (T10/T) No contact time can be claimed 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3-0.4 0.3-0.6 1.0

UV disinfection systems are typically tested and validated by the supplier to achieve specific log inactivation levels if operated within its validated flow and water quality (ex: UV transmittance) conditions. Additional information on validation of UV disinfection systems and log inactivation credits can be found in the US EPA Ultraviolet Disinfection Guidance Manual: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/disinfection/lt2/pdfs/guide_lt2_uvguidance.pdf.

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PATHOGEN REMOVAL CREDITS (FILTRATION) Log removal credits for filtration systems are assigned based on accepted credits determined through the ongoing use, testing and validation of various technologies. Manitoba has adopted the filtration credits included in the technical document for the Turbidity guideline issued by Health Canada for the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. Filtration credits are provided in Table 2 based on filtration technology. In order to qualify for the maximum credit, the filtration system and water treatment plant must meet the following criteria: Filter design in general conformance with the Recommended Standards of Water Works (Ten State Standards) For particulate filters, effective filter cleaning systems involving air scour and backwashing, and filter-to-waste capabilities For particulate filters, application of pre-treatment chemicals at all times and procedures to adjust dosages in response to raw water quality conditions For biological (slow sand) filters, maintenance of an active biological layer at all times, filter cleaning procedures and filter-to-waste capabilities Online turbidimeters for monitoring the effluent from each operating filter that are tied into a data management system and an alarm system Compliance with provincial turbidity standards Table 2. Log Removal Credits for Filtration Technologies
Filtration Technology Conventional treatment coagulation, flocculation, clarification, filtration Direct filtration coagulation, filtration Slow sand filtration Cartridge filtration (1m absolute stage, certified to NSF Standard 53) small systems only Membrane filtration Log Removal Credit Cryptosporidium 3.0 Log Removal Credit Giardia 3.0 Log Removal Credit Viruses 2.0

2.5 3.0 up to 2.0

2.5 3.0 up to 2.0

1.0 2.0 0

3.0+ Where demonstrated through challenge testing and verified by direct integrity testing 0.0

3.0+ Where demonstrated through challenge testing and verified by direct integrity testing 0.0

No filtration

MF or UF: 0; 1.0 if coagulation upstream NF or RO: demonstrated through challenge testing and verified by direct integrity testing 0.0

An application can be made for alternative credits based on evidence from the supplier or documentation of credits assigned by other drinking water agencies. Such evidence must be provided for membrane filtration as the pathogen removal capabilities of these systems vary. Pressure filters are not accepted as the primary filtration barrier for the treatment of surface water or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water (GUDI), and are not eligible for log removal credits.
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CONTACT INFORMATION For questions on filtration credits or CT calculations, or approval requirements contact: Approvals Unit 1007 Century Street Winnipeg, MB R3H 0W4 Ph: 204-945-5936 or 204-945-5949 Fax: 204-945-1365 Email: Kim.Barlishen@gov.mb.ca or Jim.Stibbard@gov.mb.ca For general questions on regulatory standards, monitoring or operating licence requirements, contact the regional Drinking Water Officer. Contact information is available on the Office of Drinking Water website at: http://www.gov.mb.ca/waterstewardship/odw/reg-contacts/index.html

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