June 5, 2017
After switching from wells to surface water in 2015, Riverton, Utah, experienced elevated levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in its water system, which indicated unwanted biological activity. Hydraulic modeling by Hansen, Allen & Luce (HAL) helped solve the problem.
The model revealed ATP hot spots, which happened to coincide with areas of insufficient chlorine residual. HAL modeled potential solutions and recommended installing flow control valves at two strategic locations to help distribute chlorine and neutralize ATP.
Since Riverton City implemented these ideas, ATP concentrations have decreased to acceptable levels. The modeling process provided a fast, reliable alternative to evaluate a real problem and to develop a viable solution that was cost effective and easily implemented.
A case study of the project—authored by HAL’s Kayson Shurtz, Steve Jones, and Rob Sowby, plus Riverton’s Dan Woodbury and Scott Hill—appears in the June 2017 issue of AWWA’s Opflow magazine and is available free online.