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Thursday, April 29, 2010
Bernalillo Filters Not the Fault
By Stephen Jerge
Former Bernalillo Town Administrator
This is a response to the letter to the editor on the water treatment issues that exist at the town of Bernalillo.
As former town administrator, I oversaw the design, construction and operation of all components of the water treatment system.
During the planning, design and pilot testing the electroflocculation technology showed promise, was EPA approved and tested well during the pilot testing stages.
Due to its advantages over other technologies (small footprint, cost-effectiveness, and minimal use of chemicals) it was selected for implementation and approved by regulatory agencies.
During the first three months of operation at the well site the technology also performed well. However, as time passed and the electroflocculation equipment was in service longer, we noticed deterioration in the aluminum plates and increased maintenance efforts were required.
This posed additional stress on the filters and the system.
The filters are American Water Works Association Standard equipment and have successfully been used in hundreds of locations throughout the nation, including several in New Mexico.
As it turns out, in extended full-scale operation, a significant level of maintenance and associated costs are required for the electroflocculation system to function and filter the water properly.
This was not envisioned or anticipated during the pilot testing and design phases of the project.
In summary, the filtration challenges are a result of the inconsistent performance of the electroflocculation units, not because of the filter system.
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