AWWA MTC57672

Since the discovery of perchlorate contamination in a number of California groundwaters in 1997, it has been detected in many other locations across the country. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) estimates that groundwaters in 44 states have the potential to be contaminated with perchlorate, and actual drinking water contamination with this chemical has been documented in 14 states. Perchlorate (ClO4 -) appears to be linked to the historical manufacturing, usage, or processing of ammonium perchlorate (NH4ClO4), a solid rocket fuel. In March 1998, the USEPA formally added perchlorate to the drinking water contaminant candidate list (CCL). Its monitoring in drinking water supplies was mandated in 1999 under the Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring Rule (UCMR). The primary concerns over perchlorate toxicity include its known adverse effect on the thyroid gland, as well as possible carcinogenic, developmental, reproductive, and immunotoxic effects. The objective of this study was to investigate the application of a novel hydrogen-fed follow-fiber membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) for the removal of perchlorate. During initial testing, it was discovered that a bench-scale MBfR was effective in reducing 50 to 1000 ug/L perchlorate to below the previous California Department of Public Health Services Advisory Action Level of 18-ug/L. At pilot-scale, the objective was to evaluate the application of a pilot-scale MBfR system to biologically reduce low-concentration perchlorate-contaminated water from an active groundwater well. Includes 2 references, tables, figures.