Construction Photos
Background
In response to the Stage 2 Disinfectant/Disinfection Byproducts Rule, the Water System is undertaking a number of capital improvement projects to reduce the formation of disinfection byproducts. Currently at the Los Angeles Aqueduct Filtration Plant (LAAFP), the disinfection requirements are met through a combination of ozone, filtration, and chlorine treatments. The addition of an ultra violet (UV) light treatment facility at the LAAFP will help to reduce the formation of byproducts by providing pathogen disinfection while allowing for reduced use of ozone and chlorine. Low doses of UV are required to disinfect the water of Giardia lambia and cryptosporidium while not producing any known byproducts.
The UV facility will be constructed to treat the water following the filtration process. Chlorine will continue to be used to achieve virus disinfection. The final treatment step will then be the injection of ammonia into the water to combine with the chlorine and form the chloramine residual.
Scope
The UV facility will be housed in an approximately 13,000 square foot main building on the Van Norman Reservoir Complex at the south end of the LAAFP. Immediately adjacent to the main building’s east side will be a covered inlet channel and on the west side a similar covered outlet channel. A 144-inch diameter pipeline approximately 125 feet long will bring the water into the inlet channel of the UV building with a second similarly sized pipeline delivering the treated water back from the outlet channel into the water distribution network. In addition, pipeline will be installed to transfer treated water from the UV facility’s outlet channel to the Los Angeles Reservoir. Ancillary facilities to house the electrical transformers, etc. will be constructed in close proximity to the UV building.
Status
Construction is continuing on schedule to meet the March 2014 operational date. The electrical building construction is 90% complete and the electrical equipment is beginning to be installed. The metal building over the UV reactors is being erected. The first UV reactor was set into position during the last week of June. The remaining reactors will be delivered to the site during July and August. Testing of the reactors is scheduled to begin in late August as well. During the testing period, the water will continue to be disinfected using ozone and chlorine as it has been for the last 25+ years at LAAFP. During this period, the UV will be providing an additional safety factor, above and beyond what is required by the California Department of Public Health for disinfection. Only after the UV has been permitted for full-time operation, then the use of ozone and chlorine will be significantly reduced.
LADWP Contact Information
For additional information regarding this project, contact Mr. Stephen Ott, Planning Manager, at (213) 367-4187.
Updated July 15, 2013