Peracetic Acid Offers Single Step Treatment Of Wet Weather Flows

Many utilities are looking at peracetic acid (PAA) as a safe means to quickly treat sewer overflows when treating storm water. Because PAA, which is created by mixing peroxide with acetic acid, contains different properties than traditional chlorine compounds, it doesn’t come with chlorine-related disinfection byproducts.

“Sometimes these flows are moving so fast, you only have a few minutes to respond,” explains John Maziuk, Technical Marketing Manager with Solvay Chemicals in this Water Online Radio interview.  During a storm, high-velocity flows can overwhelm the wastewater treatment plant and the storm water can pick up dirt, fertilizers and a host of other pollutants before entering rivers and streams. “Now people are trying to clean that up and disinfect it because it ends up right back in the food chain very rapidly,” states Maziuk.

Once it’s reacted, the left over acetic is liked by bugs and can go right into the food chain. The other by-products are water and a little oxygen. Maziuk sees other applications for the compound including water reuse for irrigation but draws the line at direct potable reuse.

To learn more about peracetic acid (PAA) and its application in treating various wastewaters, click on the audio player below: