AWWA WQTC69250

This powerpoint presentation begins by providing a brief overview of the city of Houston, Texas, water utilities and its use of polymers for water coagulation, flocculation, filtration, and for sludge dewatering processes. Best value techniques used in federal procurements are presented, along with the process of selecting a supplier, and testing polymers for performance and cost effectiveness. Presentation conclusions indicate the following: different brands of the anionic and nonionic polymers have little impact on flocculation and filtration processes; the performance of cationic polymers is related to coagulant dosages; with higher coagulants dosages, the effects of the polymers on solids and total organic carbon (TOC) removal are relatively negligent; with a low dose of the coagulant, the polymers make much impact on water treatment processes; and, Houston has successfully reduced the cationic polymer dosage up to 30% at the SEWPP, reduced primary coagulant polymer at EWPP from 70 to 60 mg/L, and maintained the water quality at the same level. Includes tables.