Public Health and Water Treatment: A Simulation Study on the Ozonation of Taste-and-Odor Compounds in Surface Water Resources in the Philippines

The current raw water supply from Angat Dam is insufficient to address the demand in Metropolitan Manila, Philippines. One of the alternatives is the Laguna Lake, the largest freshwater lake in the country, and at the same time the world’s largest septic tank last 2007. Currently, there are drinking water treatment facilities around the lake and soon-to-be constructed for future purposes. Different water quality problems have been reported such as taste and odor (T&O). Geosmin and 2-Methylisoborneol are two of the most recognized T&O compounds from blue-green algae and can be treated through ozonation. However, presence of bromine is also expected since the lake is connected to seawater. This study used advanced chemical reaction kinetics using Polymath® software to verify the extent of treating these contaminants without spending for actual ozonation. Results showed that 3 mg/L of ozone can treat 55 ng/L of each of T&O compounds for 20 minutes while 0.45 mg/L of bromate was also produced. Simulation studies like these are recommended for institutions that are in-search for scientific solutions but quite hesitant to spend high capital costs at first. Simulations can also be used as guidance from conceptualization up to the actual operations of the facility.