UV Validation and Research Center of New York
HydroQual conceived, designed and is operating the UV Validation and Research Center of New York in Johnstown, New York. This testing facility is one of only four in the world, and one of two in the United States. It is primarily directed to drinking water applications, with the ability to meet current validation protocols for UV test reactors from point-of-entry scale up to 24 million gallons per day (mgd), with plans to expand the facility’s capacity in the near future to 60mgd. The facility will respond to evolving regulatory-directed testing requirements for equipment performance and validation as well as provide manufacturers with efficient testing of new concepts and technology modifications.

UV Validation and
Research Center of New York

The New York test facility was brought on-line in June 2003 and has since been conducting validation tests on both large and small reactors. Test flows have ranged between 1 and 23 mgd, and transmittances between 70 and 97% (1 cm). The facility is assembled to be expandable and was assembled with support from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and several major UV manufacturers. All field and laboratory support is provided by HydroQual, Inc., and the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute assists with sensor and lamp measurement issues.

A filtered, dechlorinated surface water supply is used for testing, with UV transmittances levels up to 98% (1 cm). Feed water is held in a 0.72-MG tank, with an additional 1.3-MG tank available for feed water storage. Multiple centrifugal pumps are installed (with the ability to expand the number of pumps) to draw water from the tank and discharge to a manifold pipe. Injection of the challenge organism (e.g., MS2 coliphage) and a UV absorber (e.g., lignon sulfonate) is done downstream of the primary feed pump. Flow can be to either of two piping trains, one for larger system validations and the second for reactors up to 7 mgd. In-line mixing is provided both upstream and downstream of the test reactors. Flow is measured via magnetic flow meters. The facility can accommodate different inlet and outlet piping configurations, depending on the test requirements. Discharge of seeded/adjusted waters is to a 1.3-MG tank, with a second 0.8-MG tank available.

For additional information on this facility contact Mr. O. Karl Scheible at (201) 529-5151 or via e-mail at kscheible@hydroqual.com.