What Do You Understand by Nitrification of Water Flashcards

The process by which ammonia present in water is transformed to form nitrites and then nitrates. Especially susceptible when disinfecting with chloramines if operators do not maintain a proper chlorine/ammonia ratio.

Passed by congress in 1975, to create uniform national standards for driving water quality and ensure that every public water supply would meet minimum health standards. Set primary regulations, secondary regulations and created the Total Coliform Rule, Surface Water Treatment Rule, Lead and Copper Rule, among others.

Pertain to things that are harmful to health when consumed. Upper limits are sometimes expressed as MCL's. Include organic and inorganic chemicals, microorganisms, disinfection by products, and turbidity. Abiding by these regulations is mandatory.

Are intended as guidelines and mainly effect those aesthetic qualities of water which make it more pleasing, but to not necessarily effect health: color, odor, taste. Abiding by these regulations is not mandatory, but strongly urged.

Set MCL and MCLG for total coliform bacteria, established testing requirements; and set minimum CL2 requirements in system.

A group of bacteria found in the intestines of warm blooded animals; also in plants, soil, air, and water. The presence of coliform bacteria is an indication that the water is polluted and may contain pathogenic (disease causing) organisms. Most coliform bacteria are not necessarily bad for you. they are used simply as an indicator organism to warn of the presence of more harmful things. Testing is done in this manner because it is the easiest, least expensive and most efficient way of testing. E. coli is a coliform bacteria (fecal) that CAN make people sick.

MCLG for coliform is ZERO. Actual MCL for coliform is based on number of samples taken (which is based on the areas population) and smaples which are positive. Exceeding this amount triggers a monthly MCL violation, Tier II.

<40 Samples: No more than one positive≥40 Samples: No more than 5% Any positive requires a Repeat Sample Set consisting ofthree samples:

• At the Original Site
• Within 5 services upstream
• Within 5 services downstream

Samples are tested for coliform bacteria and fecal. A fecal positive in a repeat sample triggers an Acute (Tier I) Violation.

Within 24 hours via radio, TV, hand delivery

Within 30 days (month) or as soon as practical, via mail or direct delivery

12 Months (year). Can be combined into an annual notice including the CCR

Those that directly and immediately affect public safety

• Fecal coliform positive
• Nitrite, Nitrate, or Total MCL violation
• Chlorine Dioxide MRDL violation
• Turbidity MCL violation
• Perchlorate MCL violation

• All MCI or MCDL treatment technique violations, except those Tier 1.
• Monitoring Violations -- If elevated to Tier 2
• Failure to comply with variance or exemption conditions

• Monitoring or testing viloations - unless elevated to Tier 2
• Operating under a variance or exemption

Objective is to control the corrosiveness of finished water to limit the amount of lead and copper that may be leached from certain pipes and fittings in the distribution system.