Drinking water quality improvement projects

Bentazone herbicide was detected from an unknown source in the production wells forming the basis of the public drinking water supply at the waterworks of the municipalities of Akasztó and Dunafalva. Analyses of the raw water showed concentrations close to, and in many cases exceeding, the regulatory limit values. In Akasztó, the competent authority immediately ordered the provision of emergency water supply. As this concerned a public utility service, the problem had to be resolved very rapidly.

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At these waterworks, we installed mobile activated carbon filters (so-called adsorbers) with a capacity of 100 m³/h and an effective volume of 20 m³, filled with specially designed W4A OS 10 type activated carbon. Following commissioning, the installed adsorbers reduced the pesticide concentration in the water to below the limit of detection in all cases.

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At Balatonszéplak, odor-causing compounds originating from algal blooms (such as geosmin and 2-methyl-isoborneol) had to be removed from the drinking water intended for supply. The adsorber installed at this site also successfully fulfilled this task. According to the analyses, in addition to the odor-causing organic compounds, the activated carbon also removed manganese present in the water.