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This study focuses on optimizing the ozonation process in drinking water production from Lake Butoniga to ensure safe water quality while minimizing disinfection by-products (DBPs). Laboratory simulations were conducted using the Box–Behnken design to model the effects of ozone dose and treatment duration on bromate formation, trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs) and specific UV absorption (SUVA). Two ozonation strategies were tested: Strategy 1 aimed to minimize all DBPs, while Strategy 2 focused on controlling bromate levels while keeping THMs, HAAs and SUVA below 80% of maximum contaminant levels. Results showed that Strategy 2 reduced ozone consumption while maintaining water quality within regulatory standards, providing a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable treatment approach. Seasonal and depth-dependent variations in water quality had a significant impact on treatment efficiency and required adjustments to operational settings. The study also addressed discrepancies between laboratory and real plant results and suggested recalibration methods that improved the accuracy of model predictions. These results highlight the potential for integrating predictive modelling and dynamic treatment strategies into large-scale water treatment processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New coagulant Polvak 15/72 consisting of aluminum hydroxychloride with a pure Al2O3 content of at least 15.3 wt % was investigated as a possible highly effective agent for discoloration, clarification, and cleaning the natural freshwater to produce high-quality drinking water. Water was taken from the river of Dnipro during the winter-summer period of 2022. A 20 mg dm-3 coagulant concentration showed sufficient water cleaning effectiveness, and brought its chromaticity, turbidity, permanganate oxidizability, aluminum and iron contents within the sanitary limits. This result has been achieved using a coagulant that does not consist of Fe (for which the toxicity is higher than that of Al) and less Al than in the widely used Polvak-68. The effectiveness of removing trihalomethanes (THM, mostly chloroform) by Polvak 15/72 is insufficient, and additional non-polar adsorbent or the use of a chlorine-free water disinfection technology is required to keep the content of THM within the sanitary limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This work presents a collaboration between the so-called Gasset Service Association (responsible for providing drinking water to 100,000 inhabitants from a surface water reservoir) and researchers from the University of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). The main aim of this work was providing a comprehensive characterization of the formation and removal of disinfection by-products in a real drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) and water distribution network. According to the results obtained, it can be stated that bromate is formed on the pre-oxidation stage and it is not eliminated throughout the DWTP; meanwhile, total organic carbon is partially removed on the clarification process. Moreover, it demonstrates the key role of the residence time and the type of water storage throughout the distribution network (either in pipes or in tanks) due to the combined effect of, at least, four overlapped mechanisms: THMs chemical generation, air stripping, hydrolysis and biological removal. This comprehensive view of the drinking water production and distribution network represents an excellent framework for allowing the improvement in the drinking water quality for a very common water production case study: a medium-size city fed by a surface water source.

Recent stringent drinking water quality standards create challenges for water utilities to meet these standards. Advanced treatment techniques will have to be applied on many drinking water production locations to meet these quality standards. This study investigated the sorption of per- and polyfluorinated-alkyl substances (PFAS) onto granular activated carbon (GAC). The study was performed at environmentally relevant PFAS concentrations and a realistic water-to-GAC ratio, providing a realism often overlooked in existing studies. Three different forms of GAC were evaluated, differing in micropore and mesopore structures. Tap water spiked with 5 ng/L of each of 31 PFAS was used in the sorption experiments, i.e. perfluorocarboxylic acids (C4–C12), perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSA, C5–C10) including linear and branched isomers, and three groups of PFAS precursors (per-/polyfluoroalkyl ether acids, sulfonamides, and sulfonamide acetic acids).The three studied GAC did not exhibit distinct differences in PFAS sorption. The removal of PFAS was below 50 % for most studied PFAS, except for the short-chain PFAS precursors. Sorption was affected by both the carbon chain length and functional groups for PFAS, while this was not observed for PFAS precursors. The presence of ether linkages and sulfonamide groups notably enhanced sorption. Linear and branched PFSA demonstrated similar sorption behavior, whereas branched isomers of the sulfonamide acetic acid precursors exhibited significantly higher sorption. This indicates that sorption was determined by both hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions.Given the relatively low PFAS removal by GAC under environmentally relevant test conditions, further improvements in sorbents are required to ensure that PFAS concentrations in produced drinking water comply with drinking water standards.

This work presents a collaboration between the so-called Gasset Service Association (responsible for providing drinking water to 100,000 inhabitants from a surface water reservoir) and researchers from the University of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). The main aim of this work was providing a comprehensive characterization of the formation and removal of disinfection by-products in a real drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) and water distribution network. According to the results obtained, it can be stated that bromate is formed on the pre-oxidation stage and it is not eliminated throughout the DWTP; meanwhile, total organic carbon is partially removed on the clarification process. Moreover, it demonstrates the key role of the residence time and the type of water storage throughout the distribution network (either in pipes or in tanks) due to the combined effect of, at least, four overlapped mechanisms: THMs chemical generation, air stripping, hydrolysis and biological removal. This comprehensive view of the drinking water production and distribution network represents an excellent framework for allowing the improvement in the drinking water quality for a very common water production case study: a medium-size city fed by a surface water source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is devoted to the problems of managing the innovation and resource potential of water supply enterprises for the purpose of their sustainable development. The study develops an organisational and economic model of innovation and resource potential management of water supply enterprises, tests the model within the activities of a particular enterprise, and, consequently, forms recommendations to improve the management of the innovation and resource potential of the water supply enterprise. The creation of the model is based on the results of earlier studies in which we proved the necessity of using the term “innovation and resource potential of an enterprise” in scientific and practical vocabulary. We previously substantiated the significance of considering innovation and resource potential, studying its essence and structure in relation to water supply enterprises as economic entities that implement the most important goal of sustainable development associated with providing the population with high-quality drinking water. Our previous methodology assessed the innovation and resource potential of a water supply enterprise. The present study applies various methods of analysis, synthesis, structuring, and generalisation, as well as regression analysis. In the proposed model, the external and internal environments and input and output parameters specific to water supply enterprises are reflected in their interrelations. The model is tested on the example of the State Unitary Enterprise “Vodokanal of St. Petersburg”. In particular, the influence of the introduction of an intelligent automated system of management in Saint Petersburg’s water supply system on the value of the innovation and resource potential (in terms of its sub-potentials) and on the resultant indices of the enterprise performance is evaluated. We propose guidelines for managing each structural element of innovation and resource potential.

[Display omitted] • New framework for integrated surface water quantity-quality modelling and forecasts. • Real time monitoring and short term forecasting of surface water availability. • Computationally efficient water quality classification using data-driven techniques. • Application for complex surface water system with various conflicting water users. Climate change and population increase are major challenges when guaranteeing a sustainable water supply in densely populated river basins worldwide, where different water users such as industry, drinking water production and agriculture typically come into conflict. During dry periods, real time monitoring and short term forecasting of the water availability are crucial to prepare and take appropriate action. Integrated water quantity and water quality models of complex surface water systems are indispensable to achieve this. However, existing model techniques often focus on a single aspect of the water system, are computationally too demanding and are hard to integrate with other sub models. This paper proposes a framework for developing efficient, integrated water quantity/quality models in support of real-time management and forecasting of complex surface water systems. Its three main components are: a low-flow prediction for the supplying river(s) during dry periods, a conceptual water quantity-quality model with semi-automated retrieval of necessary boundary conditions and input data, and classification models to predict the water quality state of the considered system during forecasts or scenario analyses. The novelty of the methodology lies in the use of parsimonious, computationally efficient sub-models that still allow to consider numerous operational rules, competing water users and water supply and quality constraints. The framework was tested in the context of water availability and salt intrusion management during droughts in the Campine Canals in the Scheldt-Meuse-Rhine delta, considering boundary conditions of shipping traffic, pumping at locks, hydropower stations, level regulation, and water abstractions for drinking water supply, industry, agriculture and nature reserves. Despite the complexity of the considered system, the model is able to describe the state of the water system in terms of water levels, discharges and salt intrusion impacts on water production with an acceptable accuracy. The research shows that the Campine Canal network is susceptible to water scarcity due to the increased risk of low flows in summer as a consequence of climate change. Local decision makers should adopt both effective adaptation strategies as well as real-time forecasts in acute drought situations to increase the region's defence and resiliency against water shortages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a pilot-scale membrane desalination demonstration system for producing drinking water from surface brackish water with a total dissolved solids (TDS) of ≤ 10 g/L was designed and constructed. The production capacity and water recovery were at least 1 m3/h and 50%, respectively. Brackish water was pretreated with microflocculation – precision filtration – ultrafiltration, and the quality of the produced water met the feed water requirements of nanofiltration (NF)/reverse osmosis (RO). The performances of various design configurations, including single NF, single RO, and NF-RO hybrid systems, were evaluated and compared in terms of water recovery and product water TDS. The hybrid RO-NF systems were found to be more effective than either NF or RO alone, and the 4RO-4NF design configuration was most favorable. At a TDS of 10 g/L in the feed, the processing capacity and product water TDS of the 4RO-4NF hybrid system was able to meet the design specs at a feed flow rate of 2 m3/h and an operating pressure of 1.5 MPa. Its long-term stability was examined as well, and it was demonstrated that the desalination performance of the system was mainly affected by seasonal temperature changes and rainfall. The total process cost was estimated to be $1.56/m3, which is considered economically suitable for remote areas where safe drinking water cannot be provided centrally. [Display omitted] • A membrane-based brackish water desalination system was designed and constructed. • Brackish water with TDS ≤ 10 g/L could be desalinated into drinking water at 1.5 MPa. • Small-scale drinking water production system for decentralized independent water supply in remote areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems can be used to produce drinking water in rural communities, particularly in developing countries that lack a clean drinking water supply. Most previous research has focused on the application of RWH systems for individual urban households. This paper develops a yield-after-spillage water balance model (WBM) which can calculate the reliability, annual drinking water production (ADWP) and benefit–cost ratio (BCR) of a community-scale RWH system for rural drinking water supply. We consider multiple scenarios regarding community aspects, including 150–1000 users, 70–4800 kL rainwater storage, 20–50 L/capita/day (LCD) drinking water usage levels, local rainfall regimes and economic parameters of Australia (developed country) and Vietnam (developing country). The WBM analysis shows a strong correlation between water demand and water supply with 90% system reliability, which allows both Australian and Vietnamese systems to achieve the similar capability of ADWP and economic values of the produced drinking water. However, the cost of the Vietnamese system is higher due to the requirement of larger rainwater storage due to larger household size and lower rainfall in the dry season, which reduces the BCR compared to the Australian systems. It is found that the RWH systems can be feasibly implemented at the water price of 0.01 AUD/L for all the Vietnamese scenarios and for some Australian scenarios with drinking water demand over 6 kL/day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study region: Campine Canals, in the north-eastern part of the Flanders Region of Belgium, between the Meuse river and the Port of Antwerp. The region is densely populated with limited water resources and vulnerable for water shortages. Study focus: The impact of climate change on salt intrusion in the Albert Canal, the area’s major surface water source for drinking water production, is studied. Salt intrusion simulations are conducted by means of a conceptual mass balance model for the canal network combined with a solute transport model for the relevant canal reaches. A 110-year long time series of observed discharge at the upstream boundary is applied to simulate reference conditions for the current climate and is adjusted to account for future climate scenarios. New hydrological insights for the region: Salt water intrusion up to the drinking water inlets is rare under current climate conditions, but its occurrence will increase in the future, up to 1–2 % of the time by 2050, and up to 3–10 % of the time by 2100, for mid- and high-impact climate scenarios, respectively. Chloride concentrations will more often exceed the working limits of water production. These findings illustrate the need for a shift in canal management from the current main focus on inland navigation to a more holistic approach taking climate trends and water quality problems into account.

The use of next-generation sequencing technologies in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) has shed insight into the microbial communities’ composition, and interaction in the drinking water microbiome. For the past two decades, various studies have been conducted in which metagenomics data have been collected over extended periods and analyzed spatially and temporally to understand the dynamics of microbial communities in DWDS. In this literature review, we outline the findings which were reported in the literature on what kind of occupancy-abundance patterns are exhibited in the drinking water microbiome, how the drinking water microbiome dynamically evolves spatially and temporally in the distribution networks, how different microbial communities co-exist, and what kind of clusters exist in the drinking water ecosystem. While data analysis in the current literature concerns mainly with confirmatory and exploratory questions pertaining to the use of metagenomics data for the analysis of DWDS microbiome, we present also future perspectives and the potential role of artificial intelligence (AI) and mechanistic models to address the predictive and mechanistic questions. The integration of metaomics, AI, and mechanistic models transcends metagenomics into functional metagenomics, enabling deterministic understanding and control of DWDS for clean and safe drinking water systems of the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of next-generation sequencing technologies in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) has shed insight into the microbial communities’ composition, and interaction in the drinking water microbiome. For the past two decades, various studies have been conducted in which metagenomics data have been collected over extended periods and analyzed spatially and temporally to understand the dynamics of microbial communities in DWDS. In this literature review, we outline the findings which were reported in the literature on what kind of occupancy-abundance patterns are exhibited in the drinking water microbiome, how the drinking water microbiome dynamically evolves spatially and temporally in the distribution networks, how different microbial communities co-exist, and what kind of clusters exist in the drinking water ecosystem. While data analysis in the current literature concerns mainly with confirmatory and exploratory questions pertaining to the use of metagenomics data for the analysis of DWDS microbiome, we present also future perspectives and the potential role of artificial intelligence (AI) and mechanistic models to address the predictive and mechanistic questions. The integration of meta-omics, AI, and mechanistic models transcends metagenomics into functional metagenomics, enabling deterministic understanding and control of DWDS for clean and safe drinking water systems of the future.

Reverse osmosis (RO) is increasingly used in drinking water production to effectively remove micropollutants, such as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, RO membranes themselves may contain PFAS, which can potentially leach into treated drinking water. Leaching experiments and direct total oxidizable precursor assays revealed the presence and leaching potential of PFOS (branched and linear), PFBA, PFHxA, PFNA, and PFOA in five selected commercial RO membranes. This resulted in the release of tens of milligrams of ΣPFAS per membrane element used in drinking water production. Depending on assumptions made regarding leaching kinetics and volume of produced water per membrane element, predicted concentrations of ΣPFAS in the produced water ranged from less than one up to hundreds of pg/L. These concentrations are two to four orders of magnitude lower than those currently observed in Dutch drinking waters. The origin of PFAS in the membranes remains unclear. Further research is needed to bridge the gap between the laboratory conditions as used in this study and the real-world conditions and for a full understanding of potential leaching scenarios. Such an understanding is critical for water producers using RO technologies to proactively manage and mitigate potential PFAS contamination.

Arsenic is among the major drinking water contaminants affecting populations in many countries because it causes serious health problems on long-term exposure. Two low-cost micro-sized iron oxyhydroxide-based adsorbents (which are by-products of the industrial production process of granular adsorbents), namely, micro granular ferric hydroxide (μGFH) and micro tetravalent manganese feroxyhyte (μTMF), were applied in batch adsorption kinetic tests and submerged microfiltration membrane adsorption hybrid system (SMAHS) to remove pentavalent arsenic (As(V)) from modeled drinking water. The adsorbents media were characterized in terms of iron content, BET surface area, pore volume, and particle size. The results of adsorption kinetics show that initial adsorption rate of As(V) by μTMF is faster than μGFH. The SMAHS results revealed that hydraulic residence time of As(V) in the slurry reactor plays a critical role. At longer residence time, the achieved adsorption capacities at As(V) permeate concentration of 10 μg/L (WHO guideline value) are 0.95 and 1.04 μg/mg for μGFH and μTMF, respectively. At shorter residence time of ~ 3 h, μTMF was able to treat 1.4 times more volumes of arsenic-polluted water than μGFH under the optimized experimental conditions due to its fast kinetic behavior. The outcomes of this study confirm that micro-sized iron oyxhydroxides, by-products of conventional adsorbent production processes, can successfully be employed in the proposed hybrid water treatment system to achieve drinking water guideline value for arsenic, without considerable fouling of the porous membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Biological activated carbon (BAC) filters are frequently used in drinking water production for removing dissolved organic carbon (DOC) via adsorption of organic compounds and microbial degradation. However, proper methods are still missing to distinguish the two processes. Here, we introduce reverse stable isotope labelling (RIL) for assessing microbial activity in BAC filters. We incubated BAC samples from three different BAC filters (two granular activated carbon- and one extruded activated carbon-based) in a buffer amended with 13C-labelled bicarbonate. By monitoring the release of 12C–CO2 from the mineralization of DOC, we could demonstrate the successful application of RIL in analysing microbial DOC degradation during drinking water treatment. Changing the water flow rates through BAC filters did not alter the microbial activities, even though apparent DOC removal efficiencies changed accordingly. Microbial DOC degradation activities quickly recovered from backwashing which was applied for removing particulate impurities and preventing clogging. The size distributions of activated carbon particles led to vertical stratification of microbial activities along the filter beds. Our results demonstrate that reverse isotope labelling is well suited to measure microbial DOC degradation on activated carbon particles, which provides a basis for improving operation and design of BAC filters.

Study region: This study focuses on the twelfth largest lake in Sweden, Lake Bolmen and its catchment. Study focus: During the last decades the process of brownification has resulted in water with browner color, affecting water quality and ecosystems. The occurrence of brownification and its governing factors, especially with regard to the interaction with the environment, is not yet fully understood. This study therefore performed different statistical analysis to detect spatial and temporal patterns in brown color and associated forcing factors. In addition, models were developed to describe the water flows in the lake and their influence on the water color. New hydrological insights for the region: Seasonal variations in color are dominated by meteorological parameters such as precipitation and temperature, whereas long-term (decadal) variations are functions of trends in these parameters as well as changes in land use, primarily related to forestry. Modeling the water flows yielded the residence time for different sub-basins in the lake, indicating the effects of travel time on the color. Calculated wind-generated surface waves and their effects on resuspension showed that such events may occur on a limited event and time scale.

A critical problem in seawater reverse osmosis (RO) filtration processes is biofilm accumulation, which reduces system performance and increases energy requirements. As a result, membrane systems need to be periodically cleaned by combining chemical and physical protocols. Nutrient limitation in the feed water is a strategy to control biofilm formation, lengthening stable membrane system performance. However, the cleanability of biofilms developed under various feed water nutrient conditions is not well understood.This study analyzes the removal efficiency of biofilms grown in membrane fouling simulators (MFSs) supplied with water varying in phosphorus concentrations (3 and 6 μg P·L-1 and with constant biodegradable carbon concentration) by applying hydraulic cleaning after a defined 140% increase in the feed channel pressure drop, through increasing the cross-flow velocity from 0.18 m s-1 to 0.35 m s-1 for 1 h. The two phosphorus concentrations (3 and 6 μg P·L-1) simulate the RO feed water without and with the addition of a phosphorus-based antiscalant, respectively, and were chosen based on measurements at a full-scale seawater RO desalination plant. Biomass quantification parameters performed after membrane autopsies such as total cell count, adenosine triphosphate, total organic carbon, and extracellular polymeric substances were used along with feed channel pressure drop measurements to evaluate biofilm removal efficiency. The outlet water during hydraulic cleaning (1 h) was collected and characterized as well. Optical coherence tomography images were taken before and after hydraulic cleaning for visualization of biofilm morphology.Biofilms grown at 3 μg P·L-1 had an enhanced hydraulic cleanability compared to biofilms grown at 6 μg P·L-1. The higher detachment for biofilms grown at a lower phosphorus concentration was explained by more soluble polymers in the EPS, resulting in a lower biofilm cohesive and adhesive strength. This study confirms that manipulating the feed water nutrient composition can engineer a biofilm that is easier to remove, shifting research focus towards biofilm engineering and more sustainable cleaning strategies.

Highlights • Successfully removal of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid from groundwater was achieved. • E. coli and K. pneumoniae cells were also inactivated from well water samples. • Addition of H 2 O 2 may lead an enhancement of photoinduced natural abiotic processes. • Concentration of trihalomethanes was below 10 µg L−1 after chlorination treatment. • Bacteria viability was strongly reduced at high sunlight irradiation doses. Abstract This study evaluates the simultaneous removal of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid acid-2,4-D at 70 μg L−1 and the viability decreasing of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae from real groundwater samples containing natural amounts of iron (0.39 mg L−1) and natural pH (7.31) in a coupled prototype system powered by a photovoltaic cell (SPh + LPh + H 2 O 2 + RSF + Cl) consisting of photochemical (using both natural sunlight (SPh) and UV-B + A + Visible lamp (LPh) and a 30-L Compound Parabolic Collector-CPC reactor), rapid sand filtration (RSF) and chlorination (Cl, adding of Ca(OCl) 2 to get residual chlorine ranging between 0.2 and 0.6 mg Cl L−1) to drinking water production. Results showed that simple addition of H 2 O 2 10 mg L−1 and both natural sunlight and artificial light irradiation could enhance several natural photo-induced processes among them photocatalytic and photo-Fenton. These radicals could be responsible for both bacteria inactivation and 2,4-D removal from natural groundwater diminishing the addition of substantial amounts of chemicals into water samples. Coupling of photochemical processes with conventional treatments to drinking water production as RSF and Cl at high solar energy dose (150,000 J m−2), led to the efficient removal 2,4-D and bacteria from natural groundwater without a significative trihalomethanes production. These results strongly suggest that coupling of helio-photochemical/H 2 O 2 systems with RSF and chlorination treatments seems to be a promising approach to remove chronic and acute risk from groundwater obtaining drinking water with high chemical and microbiological quality. However, despite these encouraging results, bacteria inactivation underwent a detrimental effect when low solar energy doses (75,000 J m−2) were tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: The current work presents and analyses a real application of a cost effective integrated system, which can, at the same time, provide: drinking water, domestic water heating and air-cooling, in order to enhance building equipment sustainability. Water is an indispensable resource for life. Several technologies have been studied and used in the past to extract water from the ground, the air or the sea. The technologies vary depending on community needs and resources. In developed countries, air conditioning systems are widespread, and the use of condensed water from air conditioning systems is of potential interest. In hot and dry climates, in arid regions where refrigeration processes represent a basic need for indoor comfort, advantages of an integrated design of HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems optimized for water production rather than for air treatment could be evaluated. In the current work, a real application, which embodies savings of both energy and drinking water, is presented. It represents an evolution of a previously studied integrated system to simultaneously provide air conditioning and water to a hotel. The main target of this system is to meet drinking water requirements and, secondly, to provide domestic water heating and primary air for a non-conditioned zone. Main features of the integrated system are outlined, the needs of the hotel are described, and calculations of water and energy savings are presented. Moreover, a simulation tool was developed with the aim to evaluate possible water savings in a one-year period and to improve the efficiency of the system. A method to verify the effectiveness of the integrated system is also described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is an indispensable resource for life. Several technologies have been studied and used in the past to extract water from the ground, the air or the sea. The technologies vary depending on community needs and resources. In developed countries, air conditioning systems are widespread, and the use of condensed water from air conditioning systems is of potential interest. In hot and dry climates, in arid regions where refrigeration processes represent a basic need for indoor comfort, advantages of an integrated design of HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems optimized for water production rather than for air treatment could be evaluated. In the current work, a real application, which embodies savings of both energy and drinking water, is presented. It represents an evolution of a previously studied integrated system to simultaneously provide air conditioning and water to a hotel. The main target of this system is to meet drinking water requirements and, secondly, to provide domestic water heating and primary air for a non-conditioned zone. Main features of the integrated system are outlined, the needs of the hotel are described, and calculations of water and energy savings are presented. Moreover, a simulation tool was developed with the aim to evaluate possible water savings in a one-year period and to improve the efficiency of the system. A method to verify the effectiveness of the integrated system is also described.

Given that surface water is the primary supply of drinking water worldwide, the presence of natural organic matter (NOM) in surface water presents difficulties for water treatment facilities. During the disinfection phase of the drinking water treatment process, NOM aids in the creation of toxic disinfection by-products (DBPs). This problem can be effectively solved using the nanofiltration (NF) membrane method, however NOM can significantly foul NF membranes, degrading separation performance and membrane integrity, necessitating the development of fouling-resistant membranes. This review offers a thorough analysis of the removal of NOM by NF along with insights into the operation, mechanisms, fouling, and its controlling variables. In light of engineering materials with distinctive features, the potential of surface-engineered NF membranes is here critically assessed for the impact on the membrane surface, separation, and antifouling qualities. Case studies on surface-engineered NF membranes are critically evaluated, and properties-to-performance connections are established, as well as challenges, trends, and predictions for the field's future. The effect of alteration on surface properties, interactions with solutes and foulants, and applications in water treatment are all examined in detail. Engineered NF membranes containing zwitterionic polymers have the greatest potential to improve membrane permeance, selectivity, stability, and antifouling performance. To support commercial applications, however, difficulties related to material production, modification techniques, and long-term stability must be solved promptly. Fouling resistant NF membrane development would be critical not only for the water treatment industry, but also for a wide range of developing applications in gas and liquid separations. [Display omitted] • Critical assessment on removal of NOM from water via NF membranes. • Organic fouling mechanisms, factors and mitigation strategies are discussed. • Surface engineering materials are evaluated for impact on antifouling performance. • Insightful perspectives provided on surface-engineered NF membranes. • Guidelines and outlooks presented for developing next-gen engineered NF membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gravel pit lakes form when gravel deposits are excavated below the water table. We studied two fluvial gravel pit lakes called De Lange Vlieter (DLV Lake) and the Boschmolen Plas (BP Lake), in the Meuse River valley (The Netherlands). Water from the Meuse River is pumped only into the DLV Lake that is used for drinking water production. The mean values, the linear trends and seasonal patterns of time series data (2003–2014), of temperature, pH, nitrate, phosphate and sulphate were compared using one-way tests of variance and tests of differences. The effects of river water infiltration on DLV Lake are (1) a change in lake water temperature; (2) an increase in nitrate concentration (3) an increase in phosphate concentration and (4) a decrease in sulphate concentration. The effects of the air blowers in DLV Lake are (1) mixing of lake water; (2) decreasing pH in spring and summer (3) water oxygenation. Linear regression analysis shows an initially increasing nitrate concentration in DLV Lake that can be explained by the input of nitrate rich Meuse river water. Instead decreasing nitrate and phosphate concentrations in BP Lake and Meuse River reflect a diminished use of fertilizers. The gravel pit lake water temperature does not reflect climatic changes but the use of DLV Lake for artificial recharge has an impact on the seasonal and long-term trends in hydrochemistry. This poses a challenge to lake managers to find the right balance between reduction of eutrophication and accumulation of nutrients and sulphate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural organic matter (NOM) in drinking water causes esthetic concerns such as odor, taste, and color and is responsible for the disinfection byproducts formation during drinking water production. The goal of this study was to determine the efficiency of macroporous polyacrylic ion exchange resins for the removal of NOM as a function of empty bed contact time (EBCT), bed expansion, and regeneration procedure. Two resins were examined: the coarse Purolite®PPA860S and the fine Purofine®PFA860 resin. The tests showed that both resins are suitable for NOM removal. The reduction in particle size (beads of the fine resin were 18% smaller than those of the coarse one) of the fine resin had little effect on NOM removal, although the exchange capacity of the fine resin after regeneration was 12% higher than that of the coarse resin after multiple regenerations. The influence of(due to the re-use of the regenerating solution) was examined on the basis of a regeneration solution with only. The test results showed no reduction in NOM removal during prolonged operation. Finally, it was concluded that the EBCT can be significantly reduced as increasing the flow velocity from 15 to 20 m/h did not result in a significant reduction in NOM removal efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]