Biofiltration: Defining Benefits and Developing Utility Guidance

Biofiltration is the process of allowing microorganisms to colonize water plant filters to remove biodegradable compounds from drinking water. While biofiltration technology has existed for some time, its use in North American water treatment plants has been limited, likely due to public perception and resistance to the intentional use of microorganisms within water treatment processes. However, new regulatory and technological developments are driving more utilities to consider the use of biological processes to treat their drinking water. Utilities that have never employed biofiltration need guidance on starting and monitoring biofilters. In addition, the design and operation of biofilters need to be optimized for various contaminants. Recognizing these needs, WRF launched this Research Area in 2012 to provide guidance documents for implementing, enhancing, monitoring, and optimizing biofiltration. This research also aims to communicate the attributes of biofiltration and how it can enhance drinking water treatment effectiveness.

Research Area Objectives

• Provide guidance documents for implementing, enhancing, monitoring, and optimizing biofiltration.
• Communicate the attributes of biofiltration and how it can enhance drinking water treatment effectiveness.

Research Area Project Timeline and Value

Development of a Biofiltration Knowledge Base

• Timeline: 2012–2016
• Total Project Value: $449,942
• Research Area Objectives: Guidance, Communication

Converting Conventional Filters to Biofilters

• Timeline: 2014–2017
• Total Project Value: $449,942
• Research Area Objectives: Guidance

Optimizing Biofiltration for Various Source Water Qualities

• Timeline: 2015–2017
• Total Project Value: $1,550,110
• Research Area Objectives: Guidance

Simultaneous Removal of Multiple Chemical Contaminants Using Biofiltration

• Timeline: 2015–2017
• Total Project Value: $917,687
• Research Area Objectives: Guidance

Practical Monitoring Tools for the Biological Processes in Biofiltration

• Timeline: 2016–2018
• Total Project Value: $883,150
• Research Area Objectives: Guidance

A Biofiltration Guidance Manual for Rapid-Rate Filtration Facilities

• Timeline: 2017–2019
• Total Project Value: TBD
• Research Area Objectives: Guidance, Communication

Cumulative Project Value for Research Area: $4,246,123

Projects Funded Outside of the Research Area Program that meets a Research Area Objective

Minimizing Waste Backwash Water from a Biological Denitrification Treatment System

• Year Completed: 2014
• Funding Program: TC
• RA Objectives: Guidance

Pretreatment of Low Alkalinity Organic-Laden Surface Water Prior to a Coagulation-Ultrafiltration Membrane Process

• Year Completed: 2015
• Funding Program: TC
• RA Objectives: Guidance

Pilot Testing Nitrate Treatment Processes with Minimal Brine Waste

• Year Completed: 2016
• Funding Program: TC
• RA Objectives: Guidance

Biological Oxidation Filtration for Ammonia Removal from Groundwater

• Year Completed: 2016
• Funding Program: TC
• RA Objectives: Guidance

Full-Scale Demonstration of Engineered Biofiltration and Development of a Biofiltration Performance-Tracking Tool

• Year Completed: 2016
• Funding Program: TC
• RA Objectives: Guidance

Optimizing Filter Conditions for Improved Manganese Control During Conversion to Biofiltration

• Year Completed: 2016
• Funding Program: TC
• RA Objectives: Guidance

Chemically Enhanced Biological Filtration to Improve Water Quality and Minimize Costs

• Year Completed: 2016
• Funding Program: TC
• RA Objectives: Guidance

Impact of Filtration Media Type/Age on Nitrosamines Precursors

• Year Completed: 2017
• Funding Program: TC
• RA Objectives: Guidance

Key

TC = Tailored Collaboration