What The Hidden Springs Pilot Case Study Reveals About Cutting-Edge Water Treatment

The Hidden Springs Water Treatment Facility supplies drinking water to approximately 8,000 to 9,000 residents, treating between two and three million gallons of water each day. Originally constructed in the 1980s, the facility historically relied on tray aeration to manage elevated hydrogen sulfide levels in the source water. While effective to a degree, the system required ongoing maintenance and presented limitations in addressing broader water quality goals.

To explore a more advanced and sustainable solution, the facility partnered with Pinnacle Ozone Solutions and engineering firm TetraTech to conduct a pilot study evaluating ozone-based treatment. The project aimed to determine whether ozone could more effectively reduce hydrogen sulfide levels while also lowering Total Organic Carbon (TOC), improving overall water quality and treatment efficiency.

TetraTech designed and implemented the pilot system, carefully simulating full-scale treatment conditions in a controlled environment. Pinnacle Ozone Solutions supplied the ozone generation technology used throughout the testing process. Over a seven-month period, multiple treatment configurations were evaluated while researchers monitored performance, reliability, and water quality improvements.

The results demonstrated significant reductions in hydrogen sulfide, leading to improved odor control and better overall water quality. The ozone process also achieved measurable reductions in TOC levels, further enhancing treatment performance. Equally important, the pilot program confirmed that ozone treatment could serve as a scalable and cost-effective alternative to traditional aeration methods.

The collaboration between Hidden Springs, TetraTech, and Pinnacle successfully validated ozone treatment as a viable modernization strategy, offering water utilities a powerful tool for improving water quality while preparing facilities for future treatment demands.