There is a need for a rapid and robust method of organic matter (OM) monitoring during drinking water treatment. Although it has been shown that fluorescence spectroscopy has the potential for on-line application in drinking water treatment plants, there has been no in situ OM fluorescence monitoring study conducted during drinking water treatment. Three currently available fluorescence probes were chosen for the on-line study of terrestrially-delivered unprocessed (Peak C) and microbially-delivered (Peak T) OM. Probes were installed at two drinking water treatment plants (WTPs) measuring raw water and treated water fluorescence over one month. Probe and sampling point specific temperature correction and inner filter effect correction factors were applied to all fluorescence data. The Peak C fluorescence intensity had a significant correlation with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration (Rs = 0.85–0.93) and it was therefore concluded that it could be used to monitor DOC concentrations in raw and treated water. Peak C and Peak T fluorescence signal changes corresponded to water quality fluctuations and operational conditions enabling OM to be characterised. It was demonstrated that fluorescence probes can be used for monitoring OM concentrations and character in situ and in real-time.

Reference: Shutova, Y., Baker, A., Bridgeman, J., Henderson, R.K., (2016). On-line monitoring of organic matter concentrations and character in drinking water treatment systems using fluorescence spectroscopy, Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology. doi: 10.1039/C6EW00048G

The Cascade Water Delivery System (WDS) in the Blue Mountains serves about 30,000 customers with the upper part of the system relying solely on Cascade Water Filtration Plant (WFP). Sydney Water initiated an options assessment to improve the reliability of the system responding to a range of risks that was interrupted by one of the most severe droughts on the record and required fast tracked emergency planning. Planning, design and delivery processes had to be flexible and adaptive in dealing with changing project objectives and involvement of multiple stakeholders, while still following a standard detailed assessment process and overall system focus. Solution included a hybrid, treatment and network, approach where two primary sources of water could support each other and, when needed, provide capacity to serve the full range of demands anticipated based on seasonal demand variation (with reference to daily demand variation). In the options phase, the team used a building block approach to form sets of complete system ‘integrated’ solutions that fully responded to the gaps in performance.

Reference: Shutova Y.,Thirunavukarasu S , Jafari A, Integrated Water System Planning: Cascade Source, Treatment and Network, OzWater22, Brisbane, Australia, 11-12 May, 2022.

Sydney Water and WaterNSW play a significant role in promoting the health of the community, ensuring the continued supply of safe drinking water to over 5.3 million customers across Greater Sydney. Both organisations are working together to adapt and apply the Health Based Targets (HBTs) from the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG). While the ADWG provides guidance on the range of catchment risk categories, the assessment of blended source water combined with treatment performance poses a practical challenge. This project used an approach developed to conduct assessments for the blending of supply from significantly different Category 2 and Category 4 catchments according to the updated guidance.

Reference: Parsons L, White E, Ball A, Shutova Y, Implementation of Health Based Targets in blended drinking water supply systems, OzWater24, Melbourne, Australia, 30 April – 2 May, 2024