The Santa Clara Valley Water District in the US state of California ordered three integrated oxygen-ozone generation systems from the German company Wedeco for the Santa Teresa, Rinconada and the Penitencia drinking water treatment plants in the Silicon Valley of California. Wedeco is based in Düsseldorf.
Under the g3.5 million contract, Wedeco will supply its Effizon® ozone generators, liquid oxygen storage and supply equipment, specialty ozone instrumentation and other associated components. The Santa Teresa and Rinconda plants each treat up to 15,773 m3/h of water. The Penitencia facility will treat up to 6,624 m3/h of water.
Instead of relying on chlorination as its primary disinfection method, the district will switch to ozone. Ozone is a powerful oxidant capable of oxidising naturally occurring constituents that can adversely affect water quality in the form of colour, organics/inorganics, tastes and odour. Ozone controls harmful bacteria, viruses and protozoa including Cryptosporidium and Giardia, and ensures safe drinking water.
In addition, Santa Clara wanted to reduce chlorine use and the by-products produced from it, specifically Trihalomethanes (THMs), which are linked to reproductive health problems.
The three water treatment plants are located in the foothills around the Santa Clara Valley so gravity helps to deliver the treated water to end users. The district operates the plants that clean and purify water imported from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta or captured in one of their 10 reservoirs. Following the upgrades, the three plants will be able to produce up to 38,170 m3/h for nearly 1.6 million residents.
