Rural Community Puts Bio Technology To The Test

Lincoln-Pipestone Rural Water Sees Excellent Results from BIOTTTA Pilot

For the past four months, Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water (LPRW) in Pipestone, Minn. has been pilot testing a proprietary biological water treatment technology developed by California-based Carollo Engineers. The BIOTTTA process, which employs naturally occurring bacteria to eliminate nitrate contamination, has already delivered stellar results by eliminating all traces of nitrates during the pilot period.

Nitrates are the most widespread groundwater contaminant issue in the United States. Contamination is especially problematic in agricultural areas of the country, like southwest Minnesota. Previous widely implemented nitrate treatment methods generated difficult to dispose of waste streams, and were energy intensive, both contributing to high operational costs.

Demonstration testing began at the Holland Water Treatment Plant in March of this year. The process was officially introduced to community members and state regulators at an open house on Wednesday, August 21 as a potentially permanent solution to treating groundwater more efficiently and affordably.  The Holland plant currently serves more than 4,000 residents.

“We were looking for an economical, eco-friendly solution that would keep us in compliance and protect our community,” said Mark Johnson, CEO, LPRW. “We needed a better option that would deliver the desired results while upholding our promise to deliver top quality water to our residents. BIOTTTA addresses each of these needs.”

BIOTTTA utilizes microorganisms to convert nitrates into harmless nitrogen gas, offering a cost-effective and more efficient alternative to other treatments that condense, rather than fully eliminate, nitrates in groundwater. The utilization of this unique biological process places LPRW ahead of the curve as rural water provider investing in cutting-edge technology to address a growing nitrate contamination problem among agricultural communities throughout the Midwest.

The pilot testing will continue until fully approved by the state to provide consistent results. LPRW intends to launch a full-scale system when that approval is received.

About LPRW
LPRW is a Rural Water System serving Southwest Minnesota for 35 years.  It has grown to be Regional in size providing nearly 4 million gallons per day through 4000 miles of piping to 4200 customers and 38 cities.. LPRW takes its water from 4 major sources being well fields with a treatment plant at Burr, MN in the north, well fields at Verdi, MN in the North central section, well fields and treatment plant at Holland, MN in the South central section, and purchasing water from Osceola CRWS in the south. LPRW is a part of the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System but with lack of Federal Funding is not yet hooked-up to this source.  LPRW’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for the people in the southwest Minnesota area by providing reliable, high quality, affordable water in an environmentally responsible manner through a publicly owned system. LPRW takes its mission statement seriously and is conducting this pilot study as an important and integral part of its critical long range planning process currently in progress.

About Carollo Engineers
For 80 years, Carollo Engineers has provided a full range of innovative planning, design and construction management services to meet the water and wastewater needs of municipalities, public agencies, private developers and industrial firms. For more information, visit www.carollo.com.