• Plant run-in phase in progress
TAMPA BAY, FL, Oct. 18, 2007 -- Modifications to the Tampa Bay Seawater Desalination Plant are complete and the plant run-in phase has begun. From Oct. 2-18, the plant produced 25 million gallons per day (mgd) of drinking water. Production will vary in late Oct. as American Water-Pridesa makes final adjustments in preparation to complete an acceptance test in November.
Once this test is complete, Tampa Bay Water will review the data to ensure plant operations meet contractual performance standards.
The remediated plant has delivered more than 2 billion gallons of desalinated water to Tampa Bay Water's system from March 15, 2007 through Oct. 15, 2007, which directly offset groundwater production from the regional wellfields.
Plant remediation included multiple corrections to the pretreatment, reverse osmosis and post treatment systems. Overhauling the pretreatment system was required as the original system was not rigorous enough to filter particles out of the seawater, which caused the plant's cartridge filters and desalinating membranes to clog too quickly. Plant remediation included:
• The addition of screens to remove incoming debris from source water.
• The addition of a variable speed capability cooling water pump, which enables water temperatures at the intake to be maintained.
• A rapid mixing of treatment chemicals and conditioning prior to filtration, which causes suspended solids to clump making them easier to remove.
• Converting the Dyna Sand filtration system from dual stage to single stage.
• The addition of diatomaceous earth filters to further clean the seawater after it has gone through coagulation, flocculation and sand filtration.
• A redesigned reverse osmosis membrane cleaning system, which will provide more effective cleaning of the membranes after use and extend membrane life.
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Also see:
-- "Desal Plant Is Meeting Production Targets"
-- "Troubled desal plant on verge of final test"
-- "Desal Plant Litigation Resolved Through Settlement"
-- "Tampa Bay Seawater Desalination Plant Begins Operations"
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