This paper discusses the first phases of an AwwaRF project on evaluation and
development of high-rate SFBW treatment processes. The project objective is to provide utilities
with the information required to implement high-rate SFBW treatment devices to achieve an
overall lower cost and footprint requirement. The research initiated in October 2005 evaluates
existing data, complemented by collection and evaluation of new data from bench-, pilot-, and
full-scale studies. The existing data includes data published in the literature and unpublished data
from drinking water utilities and equipment manufacturers. This research focuses on published
and unpublished data, plus new data generated during this research, for high-rate SFBW
treatment processes. Several manufacturers provided pilot and full-scale data on high-rate
processes that have been evaluated. The proposed project also includes an evaluation of existing
innovative full-scale processes through on-site testing and performance evaluation.
The pilot phase of the project will take place at two cities that represent very different
SFBW qualities -- Cleveland, Ohio and Central Utah Water Conservancy District (CUWCD). The
SFBW quality of these two cities is representative of the range of conditions identified in
previous research (e.g., Cornwell et al. 2001). The pilot equipment to be tested has been
selected, to target only those processes for which sufficient data does not already exist.
The final report will be geared to the development of the Implementation Section that
will include a discussion of process performance, SFBW quality applicability, design parameters,
operations issues, need for site specific pilots, and cost. The report will also include two
example preliminary design reports. The hardcopy report will be complemented by a web-based
decision support tool that AwwaRF subscribers can use to interactively review and evaluate
treatment options targeted for their particular site-specific conditions. Includes reference, table.