AWWA WQTC52744

The Richard Miller Treatment Plant in Cincinnati, Ohio, is one of the world'slargest granular activated carbon (GAC) facilities for drinking water treatment.The facility has 12 post-filter GAC adsorbers and 2 multiple hearth furnaces foron-site GAC reactivation. Between 1992 and 1998, the original GAC completed 12cycles of adsorption and reactivation. GAC purchased in 1995 was reactivatedseparately and had completed 5 cycles of adsorption and reactivation. In 1999,the Cincinnati Water Works and Pennsylvania State University were awarded anAWWARF grant to compare the physical characteristics and adsorption capabilitiesof virgin carbon to the 12 and 5 times reactivated GACs and to developreactivation strategies. The specific study objectives were: to evaluate theeffectiveness of disinfection byproduct (DBP) precursor and synthetic organiccarbon removal by the three types of GAC; and, to chronicle the capital andoperation and maintenance costs of using GAC to protect against spills and tocomply with Stage 1 and the proposed Stage 2 DBP Rule. This paper describes thedifferences in adsorption among these types of GAC and proposes some reasons forthose differences. Includes tables, figures.