AWWA WQTC69442

This study had the following objectives: Phase 1 - conduct pilot-scale lamp breakage studies to experimentally measure mercury concentrations resulting from an ultraviolet (UV) lamp breakage event; and, Phase 2 - develop engineering solutions to prevent or mitigate observed mercury releases. The study focused on the two types of UV lamps most commonly used in full-scale drinking water applications, low pressure high output (LPHO) and medium pressure (MP). The two types of lamps vary in both the total amount of mercury they contain and the portion of the mercury that is vaporized during lamp operation. An initial hypothesis of this study expected that vaporized mercury would easily disperse into the effluent water, while solid or liquid mercury would likely settle within the reactor. Includes table, figures.