Water Disinfection Technology Profiled in EPA Guidelines for Water Reuse

Pasteurization Technology Group (PTG), innovator of the only wastewater disinfection process that generates renewable energy, is profiled in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2012 Guidelines for Water Reuse. Recognizing the need to provide national guidance on water reuse regulations and program planning, the publication provides comprehensive, up-to-date water reuse guidelines developed by the EPA in support of regulations and guidelines developed by states, tribes and other authorities.

Over 300 reuse experts, practitioners and regulators contributed text, technical reviews, regulatory information and case studies as part of a two-stage technical review. In the publication, the EPA states that the field of reuse has expanded greatly over the past decade, and observes there is a need to address new applications and advances in technologies, as well as update state regulatory information. The publication includes PTG’s patented technology as one of the primary techniques for water disinfection, and discusses the energy-efficient benefits of the technology.

PTG’s technology can use either the digester gas (often referred to as biogas, a natural by-product of wastewater treatment) or natural gas as fuel to drive a turbine or engine that generates renewable electricity. The hot exhaust air from the turbine or engine—energy that is typically wasted—is then passed through a series of heat exchangers that increase the temperature of the wastewater to a level that disinfects the wastewater stream. Unlike other wastewater disinfection approaches, PTG’s systems do not require toxic chemicals (such as chlorine) or costly electrical power and expensive UV lamps.

The technology is attracting the attention of businesses and municipalities that want to realize substantial energy cost savings and eliminate toxic chemicals through alternatives to traditional chlorine- and UV-based wastewater disinfection systems. PTG’s technology has been certified by the state of California for non-potable reuse under the stringent standards of Title 22. PTG is experiencing rapid growth as wastewater treatment plants face the challenge of cost-effectively disinfecting wastewater and trimming operating costs.

Ventura Water recently successfully completed the initial evaluation phase of a project to transition its wastewater treatment plant to a safe, non-toxic, sustainable technology to replace the current chlorine-based disinfection process in use at the Ventura Water Reclamation Facility. Current estimates are that Ventura Water will realize energy and operating cost savings of more than $750,000 per year.

Source: Pasteurization Technology Group