Old City, New Ideas: Peracetic Acid In Wastewater Disinfection At St. Augustine

Wastewater treatment plants are required to disinfect effluent prior to discharge in order to destroy any pathogenic organisms present and minimize public health concerns. Chlorine has been the principal disinfection method in the wastewater industry, despite the fact that disinfection with chlorine produces chlorinated disinfection byproducts (DBPs), including trihalomethanes (TTHMs) that are toxic to aquatic life. In recent years, many municipalities have been required to install dechlorination systems in order to address DBPs, but upgrading an existing plant with a dechlorination process typically results in significant capital cost and operational complexity.