Field Evaluation of As Removal by IX and AA

A study was conducted at two ion‐exchange (IX) and two activated alumina (AA) water treatment plants in New England to evaluate the performance of these full‐scale systems for consistently removing arsenic (As) from raw water. The source water in this study contained 34–87 μg/L of total As, consisting primarily of As(V), except for one system in which 0.3–28.8 μg/L of As(III) was measured. Results of the yearlong field sampling indicated the IX and AA systems were capable of removing As to < 5 μg/L in the treated water, provided IX resins were properly regenerated and AA media were changed out at a proper frequency. Special efforts were made to examine unusual performance results observed during the study.