December 2000

RG-379

Total Organic Carbon (TOC)

Guidance Manual

printed on Water Permits & Resource Management Division

recycled paper
TEXAS NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
Guidance Manual

Prepared by
Water Permits & Resource Management Division

RG-379
December 2000
 Robert J. Huston, Chairman
R. B. “Ralph” Marquez, Commissioner
John M. Baker, Commissioner

Jeffrey A. Saitas, Executive Director

Authorization for use or reproduction of any original material contained

in this publication—that is, not obtained from other sources—is freely
granted. The commission would appreciate acknowledgment.

Copies of this publication are available for public use through the Texas
State Library, other state depository libraries, and the TNRCC Library, in
compliance with state depository law. For more information on TNRCC
publications call 512/239-0028 or visit our Web site at:

http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/publications

Published and distributed

by the
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
PO Box 13087
Austin TX 78711-3087

The TNRCC is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. The agency does not allow discrimination on the basis of
race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation or veteran status. In compliance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act, this document may be requested in alternate formats by contacting the TNRCC at (512)239-
0028, Fax 239-4488, or 1-800-RELAY-TX (TDD), or by writing P.O. Box 13087, Austin, TX 78711-3087.

iii
 Table of Contents
1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

2 Applicability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

3 Monitoring Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

4 Monitoring Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

5 Compliance Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

6 Step 1 TOC Removal Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

7 Step 2 Alternative TOC Removal Requirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

7.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
7.2 Frequency of Step 2 Jar Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
7.3 Step 2 Jar Test Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

8 Alternative Compliance Criteria (ACCs or “Outs”) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

8.1 ACC 1: Raw Water TOC < 2.0 mg/L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
8.2 ACC 2: Treated Water TOC < 2.0 mg/L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
8.3 ACC 3: Raw Water TOC < 4.0 mg/L; and Raw Alkalinity > 60 mg/L (as
CaCO3); and TTHM < 40 Fg/L; HAA5 < 30 Fg/L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
8.4 ACC 4: TTHM < 40 Fg/L and HAA5 < 30 Fg/L, Chlorine Only . . . . . . . . 30
8.5 ACC 5: Raw Water SUVA < 2.0 L/mg-m . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
8.6 ACC 6: Treated Water SUVA < 2.0 L/mg-m . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
8.7 ACC 7: Treated Water Alkalinity < 60 mg/L (as CaCO3) (Softening
Systems) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
8.8 ACC 8: Magnesium Removal > 10 mg/L (as CaCO3) (Softening
Systems) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

9 Compliance Determination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

10 Public Notification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

11 Laboratory Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
11.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
11.2 Analytical Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

iv
Appendices
Appendix 1: Total Organic Carbon Monthly Operating Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Appendix 2: Side Effects (for Alum or Ferric Coagulation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Appendix 3: Calculating Chemical Feed Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Appendix 4: Process Control Jar Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Appendix 5: Unregulated Disinfection By-Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Appendix 6: Acronyms and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Appendix 7: Formulas and Conversions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Appendix 8: Lab Approval Form and Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Appendix 9: Densities and Equivalent Weights of Commercial Alum . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Appendix 10: Texas Rules Regarding TOC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

List of figures
Figure 3-1: TOC Sampling Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Figure 5-1: Compliance Determination Flow Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Figure 7-1: Example of PODR Graph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Figure 7-2: Example of PODR Determination (When PODR is Met Twice) . . . . 26
Figure 7-3: Water “Not Amenable to Treatment” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Figure A2-1: Example of Increased Turbidity with Enhanced Coagulation . . . . . . . 52

List of tables
Table 6-1: Step 1 Matrix of Required TOC Removal Percentage . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Table 7-1: Example of PODR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Table 7-2: Coagulant Dosage Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Table 7-3: Step 2 Target pH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Table 7-4: Step 2 Jar Test Procedure Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Table 7-5: Step 2 Dosing Solution Recipes for Dry Chemical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Table 7-6: Example of Step 2 Jar Test Data Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Table 8-1: Summary of Alternative Compliance Criteria (ACCs or ‘Outs’) . . . . . 28
Table 11-1: Analytical Methods for Demonstration of Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Table 11-2: Necessary Analytical Methods for TOC Compliance Strategies . . . . . 37
Table A2-1: Additional Sludge Production Equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Table A5-1: Impact of Changing Disinfection Strategy on DBPs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Table A5-2: Health-Based Values for Unregulated Disinfection By-Products . . . . . 65

List of examples
Example 4-1: Determining Raw Water TOC for a Blended Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Example 6-1: Step 1 Removal Requirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Example 7-1: Converting from Percent to Grams-Per-Liter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Example 7-2: Preparing a 20 g/L Dosing Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

v
Example 7-3: Determining Number of Jars for Water > 60 Alkalinity . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Example 7-4: Determining Number of Jars for Water < 60 Alkalinity . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Example 7-5: Determining the PODR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

vi
1 Introduction
TOC removal is required for certain plants under the Stage 1 Disinfectants and
Disinfection By-Products Rule (DBP1R). The Texas regulations relating to TOC
removal are contained in Appendix 10 of this document. The TOC requirements apply
only to plants that treat surface water or groundwater under the direct influence of
surface water (GUI) using sedimentation for treatment.

Disinfection is a crucial way to protect the public from pathogens. Unfortunately, at the
same time that disinfectants are inactivating pathogens, they are also reacting with
naturally-occurring disinfection by-product precursors (DBP-Ps) to form disinfection
by-products (DBPs). Some of the DBPs, such as trihalomethanes (THMs), are a health
concern. Total organic carbon (TOC) is used as a surrogate measurement for DBP-Ps.
The treatment technique for removal of TOC lessens the concentration of DBP-Ps
available to form DBPs during disinfection.

If you are a treatment plant operator, you will find clear, easy-to-read guidance
on how to comply with the TOC rules in this manual. If you have questions, call the
TNRCC Public Drinking Water Section (Chemical Monitoring Team) at 512/239-
6020.

The material presented here is adapted from the EPA’s Enhanced Coagulation and
Precipitative Softening Guidance Manual. The EPA publication number for this
guidance manual is EPA 815-R-99-012. The EPA guidance document is available from
the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 1-800-426-4791. The EPA Office of
Groundwater and Drinking Water (OGDW) Web site is:
www.epa.gov/OGWDW

The wording in this TNRCC guidance manual, RG-379, has been changed from the
EPA’s to make it more readable, but the requirements are intended to be identical with
EPA’s. This TNRCC guidance manual is available from TNRCC Publications,
512/239-0028. TNRCC guidance documents can also be requested on the Web. Go
to the TNRCC web site below and click on Publications at:
www.tnrcc.state.tx.us

For other information on public drinking water, or for a downloadable version, go to

the TNRCC Web site, click on Index, then click on the letter D, then click on Public
Drinking Water, then click on Surface Plant Evaluation, and finally click on Monthly
Operating Reports . This final page contains a link to the downloadable version of the
TOC Guidance.

Page 1 of 84
2 Applicability
All surface water treatment plants that use conventional treatment must comply with the
TOC requirements. Conventional systems are those that use coagulation, flocculation,
sedimentation, and filtration to treat the water. Each treatment plant must meet the TOC
requirements. The requirements include monthly monitoring, monthly reporting, and
quarterly compliance determinations. You will find the exact rule language for the
applicability requirements in Appendix 10 of this guidance document; the citation is
§290.112(a).

The system must do its own sampling and report the results to the TNRCC each month.
The Total Organic Carbon Monthly Operating Report (TOC-MOR) reporting forms
are shown in Appendix 1 of this document. After the TNRCC receives the reports, we
will determine if the plant has met the monitoring, reporting, and treatment technique
requirements.

Systems serving 10,000 people or more must start monitoring January 2001.
Compliance for these large systems will be calculated starting January 2002. Data
collected during 2001 will not be used for compliance. Systems serving less than
10,000 people must start monitoring January 2003. Compliance for these smaller
systems will be calculated starting January 2004. Data collected by small systems in
2003 will not be used for compliance.

Page 2 of 84
3 Monitoring Locations
Figure 3-1: TOC Sample Set Locations
You will find the exact rule
language for the TOC
monitoring requirements in
Appendix 10 of this guidance
document; the citation is
290.112(c).

Raw Water Sampling Location

Raw water must be sampled before any
chemicals are added. Raw water TOC and
alkalinity samples should be taken at the same
location.

The samples may be taken from the lake, from

the raw water pump station, from an influent
trough or head tank before the rapid mix, or
any place that accurately represents raw water
quality before chemical addition.

Any of the locations labeled Ø in Figure 3-1

are okay for taking raw water samples.

Treated Water Sampling

Location
Treated water samples for TOC analysis must
be taken after sedimentation, but may be taken
after filtration. Any sampling point after the
effluent of the sedimentation basin up to the
point of combined effluent filter turbidity
sampling is acceptable. (From a regulatory
standpoint, it does not matter where the treated
water sample point is in relation to any in-plant
chemical injection points.)

Any of the locations labeled Ù in Figure 3-1

are okay for taking treated water samples.

Page 3 of 84
NOTE ON MONITORING PLAN:
The raw and treated water sampling points must be shown on the plant schematic in the system’s
monitoring plan.

Page 4 of 84
4 Monitoring Frequency
Every plant must sample the raw water TOC, the raw water alkalinity, and the treated
water TOC at least once a month. This group of samples is called a TOC sample set.
The results of the TOC sample set are used to calculate the percent of the TOC in the
raw water that is removed by sedimentation, known as the actual percent TOC
removal. You can find the exact rule language for the TOC monitoring requirements in
Appendix 10 of this guidance document; the citation is 290.112(b).

A plant is required to do at least one TOC sample set every month. If samples
must be sent to a lab, you should consider how long it takes to get samples back from
the lab when scheduling sample collection. For instance, if it takes the lab three weeks
to return sample results, you should probably sample early in the month, so the results
will be back in time to fill out the TOC-MOR.

A plant may choose to do more than one TOC sample set in a month. If you
choose to, you may take more than one TOC sample set in a month; the results of all
TOC sample sets that are taken in accordance with the sampling requirements, and at
the locations designated in the monitoring plan, must be reported. The average removal
ratio for all the TOC sample sets will be used to calculate compliance (see Compliance
Determination). Multiple TOC sample sets may be necessary if a plant treats water that
is highly variable. For instance, if your plant treats water from two reservoirs in one
month, you should probably take a TOC sample set before and after changing between
water sources. Or, if heavy rains change the treatability of the source water, you should
consider taking a TOC sample set before and after the rain.

Collect the raw water alkalinity and the raw water TOC samples at the same time. The
treated water sample should be taken at about the same time as the raw water sample.
The rules say that raw and treated measurements must be taken within one hour of each
other. Some continuous monitoring equipment automatically samples treated water one
detention time later than raw water. If you wish to purchase this type of equipment,
contact the TNRCC for permission (512/239-6020).

NOTE ON SAMPLE SCHEDULING: The water system operator, not

TNRCC’s contractor, is required to take TOC samples. The equipment
currently used to measure TOC is very expensive ($20,000 to $30,000). Many
systems will be unable to purchase it until cheaper methods are approved by
the EPA. Most systems will send TOC samples to outside laboratories, at a
cost of approximately $40 per sample (or $80 for a pair of samples). The labs
will report the analytical results back to the system; the system must report the
results to TNRCC. The lab turnaround time for TOC samples averages from

Page 5 of 84
 two to four weeks. Therefore, you should
take the TOC sample set early in the month, so that the analytical results get
back in time to report to the TNRCC.

4.1 Raw Water Sampling for Systems That Blend

Many utilities use more than one raw water source on a continuous or seasonal basis.
These sources – which may be various surface waters or a combination of surface and
groundwater – are blended together to create the plant influent. Utilities also may
introduce groundwater directly into a treatment train unit process. There are numerous
ways for utilities to blend different raw waters and to introduce them to the treatment
train. Therefore, only general guidelines are provided here. For more assistance,
contact the Chemical Monitoring Team of the TNRCC at 512-239-6020.

TOC samples must be taken from untreated raw water (before any disinfectant,
oxidant, or other treatment is applied). Compliance sampling is complicated by this
requirement, because utilities frequently apply disinfectant in the source-to-plant
transmission lines. This may make it impossible to sample the plant influent immediately
after the raw waters are blended, because disinfectant is present. Sampling schemes
that address this difficulty are discussed below.

4.1.1 Blending of Surface and Groundwaters

Groundwater and surface waters blended before the application of disinfectant can
simply be sampled after blending. Groundwater introduced to the treatment train after
rapid mix should not be included in the raw water TOC sampling.

Systems that blend groundwater and surface water should consider blending the water
after treatment, so that low-turbidity groundwater does not make it harder to treat the
surface water.

4.1.2 One or More Surface Water Sources Oxidized before Blending

Sampling of the blended raw water is not allowed in this case, because disinfectant or
oxidant is present. Get the raw water parameters by using one of the methods below.

COMPOSITE SAMPLE: Get a raw water sample from each source and
create a composite sample by mixing the samples in proportion to the percent
of the influent each compromises. For example, if a source is 30% of the plant
influent flow, it should be 30% of the composite sample’s volume. Once the
composite sample is created, a single TOC or alkalinity analysis can be

Page 6 of 84
 performed. Composite sampling is less expensive than weighted calculation.

WEIGHTED CALCULATION: Sample each raw water source and perform a

TOC analysis. Calculate the blended water’s TOC, based on the flow from
each source. The formulae for weighted calculation are:

Blended TOC = 3 (% source) × (TOC of source) Equation 4-1a

Blended Alkalinity = 3 (% source) × (alkalinity of source) Equation 4-1b

Example 4-1: Three sources

A plant uses water from three raw water sources. They contribute 50%, 20%, and 30% of the
plant influent flow; and the TOC values are 6.0, 4.0, and 3.0 mg/L respectively. The alkalinities
are 70, 90, and 85 mg/L, respectively. What is the blended TOC and alkalinity?
Solutions: The operator can either calculate the solution mathematically, or make a composite
sample and measure it.
(1) Composite Sample:
Collect undisinfected (unoxidized) water from each raw water source. Mix the water together in
the proportion it contributes to flow. Blend 50 mL of source #1, plus 20 mL of source #2, plus 30
mL of source #3. Measure the alkalinity and TOC.
(2) Calculated Solution: The calculated concentrations will be:
Blended TOC =
{(0.5 × 6.0) + (0.2 × 4.0) + (0.3 × 3.0)} = 4.7 mg/L
Blended alkalinity =
{(0.5 × 70) + (0.2 × 90) + (0.3 × 85)} = 78.5 mg/L

Page 7 of 84
5. Compliance Strategy
There are three ways to be in compliance with the TOC treatment technique
requirements:
! Meet the Step 1 TOC removal requirement
! Meet the Step 2 TOC removal requirement
! Meet any of the alternative compliance criteria (ACC or “outs”).
Most systems will find that they will need to meet the Step 1 TOC removal
requirements. The order in which you will consider the plant’s compliance strategy is
shown in Figure 5.1, below.

Figure 5-1: Compliance Determination Flow Chart

Do I meet ACC? YES I am IN

compliance
NO YES
Do I meet Step 1?

NO YES

NO I am OUT
Do I meet Step 2? of compliance

You must first review the ACCs in Chapter 8 of this guidance document. If the plant
can meet one of these criteria, you must still monitor and report the results of your
sample sets each month, However, you do not need to meet a specific TOC removal
requirement.

If you have reviewed the list of ACCs and find that the plant CANNOT meet one of
the criteria, you need to try to meet Step 1 TOC removal requirements in Chapter 6 of
this guidance document.

If you determine that the plant CANNOT meet the Step 1 removal requirements, you
must run a Step 2 jar test. The Step 2 jar test will give you a Step 2 alternative TOC

Page 8 of 84
removal requirement, as described in Chapter 7 of this guidance document.

Page 9 of 84
6. Step 1 TOC Removal Requirements
If the plant does NOT meet one of the alternative compliance criteria (ACC or “outs”)
in Chapter 8, you must determine whether the plant can meet the Step 1 removal
requirement for its water, as shown in Table 6-1. To use the table, measure raw
water TOC and alkalinity and find the box on the table that applies to your raw water.
The percent shown in the box is your plant’s Step 1 required removal percent. (If the
plant CAN’T meet the Step 1 TOC removal requirement in Table 6-1, you must use
the Step 2 requirements in Chapter 7.) You will find the exact rule language for the
TOC removal requirements in Appendix 10 of this guidance document; the citation is
290.112(b).

Table 6-1: Step 1 of Matrix Required TOC Removal Percentage

Raw Water Alkalinity (mg/L as CaCO3)
Raw Water
TOC (mg/L) 0 to 60 > 60 to 120 > 120

$ 2.0 - 4.0 35.0 % 25.0 % 15.0 %

$ 4.0 - 8.0 45.0 % 35.0 % 25.0 %
$ 8.0 50.0 % 40.0 % 30.0 %
Note: Softening plants must meet the TOC removal requirements in the third column, under Raw
Water Alkalinity > 120 mg/L (as CaCO3 ).

The percent removal requirements specified in Table 6-1 were developed based on the
“treatability” of different water. TOC removal is generally more difficult as alkalinity
increases and TOC decreases. In higher alkalinity waters, pH depression to a level at
which TOC removal is optimal (pH between 5.5 and 6.5) is more difficult and cannot
be achieved easily through the addition of coagulant alone. TOC removal is generally
more difficult as the TOC level decreases, because there are fewer opportunities for
particles to contact each other and form flocs.

Month-to-month changes in raw water TOC and/or alkalinity levels will cause some
plants to move from one box of Table 6-1 to another. Therefore, the plant’s required
TOC removal may change, based on the TOC and alkalinity level of the monthly raw
water compliance sample.

Example 6-1: Step 1 Removal Requirement

A plant in southeast Texas is treating water that has an alkalinity of 7 mg/L (as CaCO3) and a
TOC of 8.3 mg/L. What is the plant’s Step 1 required removal?
Solution: The operator looks on the graph at the column for alkalinity between 0 to 60 mg/L (as
CaCO3). Looking down the column, to the row for “Raw Water TOC over 8.0 mg/L,” the Step 1
required removal percent for the plant is 50%.

Page 10 of 84
Page 11 of 84
7. Step 2 Alternative TOC Removal
Requirement
7.1 Introduction
If a plant fails to meet the Step 1 removal requirement in any month (and does not
satisfy one of the ACC), you must determine the plant’s alternative TOC removal
requirement (Step 2 removal requirement).

Utilities that choose to use jar testing (not pilot testing) to determine their Step 2
removal requirements should follow the procedures described in this guidance
document. A system that chooses to use pilot-scale Step 2 testing should follow the
procedures described in the EPA guidance document discussed on page 1.

A Step 2 jar test will set the plant’s required percent removal for up to six months (see
Chapter 9 - Compliance Determination for more details).

PURPOSE OF STEP 2 JAR TEST: The purpose of the jar test is to

establish an alternative TOC removal requirement, not to determine
full-scale operating conditions.

In a Step 2 jar test, 10 mg/L increments of alum (or an equivalent amount of iron
coagulant) are added to determine the incremental removal of TOC. TOC removal is
calculated for each 10 mg/L increment of coagulant added. Coagulant must be added in
the required increments until a target pH is achieved. The point where adding 10 mg/L
more of alum does not remove at least 0.3 mg/L of TOC is defined as the point of
diminishing return (PODR). Table 7-1 provides an example of how data is used to
determine the PODR.

The percent TOC removal achieved at the PODR in the Step 2 jar test is defined as the
plant’s alternative percent TOC removal requirement, subject to approval by the
TNRCC public drinking water program. (Defining the PODR is discussed in detail in
section 7.3.3 of this guidance manual.)

Page 12 of 84
Table 7-1: Example of
PODR Alum TOC Change TOC Calculation
Dose Level in TOC Removal
(mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (%)
0 4.9 NA NA
10 4.2 0.7 14.3
20 3.8 0.4 22.2
30 3.5 0.3 28.6
40 3.3 0.2 32.7
50 3.2 0.1 34.7

PODR
Alternative Percent TOC
Removal Requirement

The goal of the Step 2 procedure is to determine the amount of TOC that can be
removed with reasonable amounts of coagulant, and to define an alternative TOC
removal percentage. The procedure is neither designed nor intended to be used to
establish a full-scale coagulant dose requirement. Once a plant’s alternative TOC
removal percentage is approved by TNRCC, a plant may achieve this removal at full
scale using any appropriate combination of treatment chemicals.

7.2 Frequency of Step 2 Jar Testing

You must perform a Step 2 jar test if the monthly TOC sampling shows that the plant
will not meet the Step 1 removal requirements. After the TNRCC approves the
alternative TOC removal requirement, the plant may use that alternative TOC removal
requirement for each month in the quarter when the Step 2 test was performed and the
following quarter (six months total). For example, if the TNRCC approves the results
of a Step 2 jar test you conducted in February, you can use the results for the months
of January through June. Once you have an approved Step 2 removal requirement, you
may use any combination of coagulant, coagulant aid, filter aid, and pH adjustment to
achieve that removal in the full-scale plant.

After you start being required to do Step 2 jar testing, you may do the jar testing once

Page 13 of 84
 and use those results for six months. However, you may wish to redo the Step 2 jar
testing if your raw water changes due to rain or blending. There is no upper limit on
frequency of jar testing for a plant required to do Step 2.
7.3 Step 2 Jar Test Method
The Step 2 procedure is based on the incremental addition of a metal-based coagulant
to define an alternative TOC removal percentage. Only aluminum- or iron-based
coagulants may be used for the Step 2 procedure. The addition of acid, polymers, or
other treatment chemicals to the jars used in the test is not permitted.

Alum must be used in 10 mg/L increments; the equivalent increments for other
coagulants are shown in Table 7-2.

Table 7-2: Coagulant Dosage Equivalents

Regular Grade Alum Reagent Grade Alum
Ferric Chloride Ferric Chloride Ferric Sulfate Ferrous Sulfate
Jar (Aluminum Sulfate) (Aluminum Sulfate)
FeCl3 •6 H2 O FeCl3 Fe2 (SO 4 )3 •9 H2 O FeSO4 •7 H2 O
No. Al2 (SO 4 )3 •14 H2 O Al2 (SO 4 )3 •18 H2 O
(mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L)
(mgL) (mg/L)
1 10 11.2 9.1 5.5 9.5 9.4
2 20 22.4 18.2 11 19 18.8
3 30 34.6 27.3 16.5 28.5 28.2
4 40 44.8 36.4 22 38 37.6
5 50 56 45.5 27.5 47.5 47
6 60 67.2 54.6 33 57 56.4
7 70 78.4 63.7 38.5 66.5 65.8
8 80 90.6 72.8 44 76 75.2
9 90 100.8 81.9 49.5 85.5 84.6
10 100 112 91 55 95 94

PLANTS NOT USING METAL COAGULANT: Some treatment plants use a

proprietary polymer blend for coagulation. If your plant does not use a metal
coagulant that is mentioned in Table 7-2, you should perform Step 2 jar testing
using alum. (Note: Step 2 jar test results are not used to set full-scale operating
conditions.)

PLANTS USING METAL COAGULANTS WITH ADDITIVES: Some

treatment plants use coagulants that contain other chemicals, such as polymers
or copper sulfate. If your plant uses a liquid coagulant with additives, you
may NOT use that solution in Step 2 jar tests. You must obtain and use one of
the chemicals identified in Table 7-2 to conduct the Step 2 jar testing.

The Step 2 procedure requires that coagulant be added in increments until the pH of the

Page 14 of 84
tested sample is at or below the target pH (Table 7-3). The target pH values are
dependent upon the alkalinity of the raw water to account for the fact that higher
coagulant dosages are needed to reduce pH in higher alkalinity waters.

Table 7-3: Step 2 Target pH

Alkalinity Target pH
(mg/L as CaCO3)
0 - 60 5.5
> 60 - 120 6.3
> 120 - 240 7.0
> 240 7.5

For a water with alkalinity of less than 60 m/L (as CaCO3) – for which addition of small
amounts of coagulant drives the pH below the target pH before significant TOC
removal is achieved – add base to maintain the pH between 5.3 and 5.7 until the
PODR criterion is met. The chemical used to adjust the pH should be the same
chemical used in the full-scale plant, unless that chemical does not perform adequately
in jar tests. Substitute chemicals should be used in this case.

The following jar test procedure should be used to conduct Step 2 testing. This method
relies on the addition of coagulant only; acid and polymers must NOT be used in the jar
test, even if they are used in full-scale treatment. Base must added if the pH of the
water drops too much (see Table 7-3). Table 7-4 summarizes the sequence of the Step
2 jar test procedure.

Table 7-4: Step 2 Jar Test Procedure Summary

1. Gather testing supplies (section 7.3.1).
2. Prepare coagulant dosing solution (section 7.3.2).
3. Determine the initial coagulant dose that you will use (section 7.3.3).
4. Determine the number of jars (and pH adjustment, if applicable) required
(section 7.3.4).
5. Record starting conditions, coagulant dose, pH, alkalinity (section 7.3.5).
6. Collect raw water for testing (section 7.3.6).
7. Set up the jars (section 7.3.7).
8. Rapid mix the jars and add coagulant (section 7.3.8).
9. Slow mix and settle the jars (section 7.3.9).
10. Take samples to measure TOC, pH (section 7.3.10).
11. Determine PODR (section 7.3.11).

Page 15 of 84
7.3.1 Step 2 Jar Testing Supplies
The following equipment and chemical reagents are needed to perform the testing.
! Jar test apparatus with 1 or 2 liter (L) beakers or square mixing jars.
! Dosing solution of alum or other coagulant. The dosing solution must be
freshly prepared the day of the test. See section 7.3.3 for information on
preparing an alum or ferric dosing solution. The dosing solution must be made
from straight coagulant that is NOT blended with polymer or other chemicals.
! Base (if needed to adjust pH).
! Hydrometer. If using a liquid coagulant, a hydrometer or other equipment to
measure the specific gravity of the coagulant.
! pH meter. The pH meter should be calibrated in accordance with Standard
Methods (APHA 1998).
! Sample bottles. Sample bottles for alkalinity and pH analysis of coagulated
water. Sample bottles for TOC analysis.
! 25 and 50 mL pipettes, with bulbs. Pipettes are used to accurately measure
volumes during preparation of dosing solutions. Volumetric pipettes may be
used for more precise dosages. Plastic disposable syringes (without needles)
may be used to measure coagulant doses to be applied during the jar tests, but
not to prepare the dosing solution.
! 1 L graduated cylinders.
! Large carboys for collecting raw water (preferably with siphons or taps for
dispensing water). A suitable laboratory tap may also be used.
! Magnetic stirrer with stirring bars.
! Miscellaneous beakers and other glassware.
! Data sheet (see Figure 7-6 for an example).

7.3.2 Dosing Solutions for a Step 2 Jar Test

You must prepare the Step 2 dosing (stock) solution using a metal-based coagulant. If
you use alum in the plant, you will need to make an alum dosing solution; if you use
ferric in the plant, you will need to make a ferric dosing solution. If you use only
polymer or poly-aluminum chloride (PACl), you will need to obtain some alum to use in
Step 2 jar testing.

Page 16 of 84
 When you prepare the dosing solution, you should make it strong enough so that when
you add 1 ml of it to the jar test jar, you get a 10 mg/L alum dose (or an equivalent
amount of iron). For example, if you are using alum and 1- liter jars, you will need to
make a 10,000 mg/L (10 g/L, 10 mg/mL) solution. That way, when you add 1 ml of
dosing solution to the 1 liter jar, you will get a dose of 10 mg/L. However, if you are
using alum and 2-liter jars, you will need to make the dosing solution twice as strong so
that when you add 1 ml of solution to the larger jar, you still get a 10 mg/L dose.

NOTE ON pH: The pH of the coagulant dosing solution should generally be

below 3.0. If the pH of the coagulant dosing solution is allowed to increase
significantly above 3.0, some precipitation of metal hydroxide may occur,
resulting in the loss of active coagulant. If this happens, you should make a fresh
dosing solution.

7.3.2.1 Dry Coagulant Dosing Solution for a Step 2 Jar Test

If you are using a dry chemical to make your dosing solution, Table 7-5 shows how
much chemical to use to prepare your dosing solution.

Table 7-5: Step 2 Dosing Solution Recipes for Dry (Solid) Chemicals
Desired Increment in Dosing Solution Recipe
Coagulant Chemical Step 2 Jars To dose 1-L jars To dose 2-L jars
Regular Grade Alum (dry) 10 10 grams 20 grams
Al2 (SO 4 )3 •14H 2 O mg – Al2(SO4)3•14H2O
per liter
Reagent Grade Alum (dry) 11.2 11.2 grams 22.4 grams
Al2 (SO 4 )3 •18H 2 O mg – Al2(SO4)3•18H2O
per liter
Ferric Chloride (dry) 5.5 5.5 grams 11 grams
FeCl3 mg – FeCl3 per liter
Ferric Chloride (dry) 9.1 9.1 grams 18.2 grams
FeCl3 •6H 2 O mg – FeCl3•6H2O per liter
Ferric Sulfate (dry) 9.5 9.5 grams 19 grams
Fe 2 (SO 4 )3 •9H 2 O mg – Fe2(SO4)3•9H2O
per liter
Ferrous Sulfate (dry) 9.4 9.4 grams 18.8 grams
FeSO4 •7H 2 O mg – FeSO4•7H2O per liter

To prepare a dosing solution using one of the dry chemicals listed in Table 7-5, use the
following procedure:
1. Add about 400 ml of distilled or deionized water to a 1000-ml volumetric flask.
2. Add the proper amount of dry coagulant to the flask and swirl it until the
chemical dissolves.

Page 17 of 84
 3. Finish filling the flask to the 1000 ml mark with distilled or deionized water.
4. Stopper the flask and completely mix the dosing solution by inverting the flask
several times.

7.3.2.2 Liquid Coagulant Dosing Solution for a Step 2 Jar Test

If you are using a liquid coagulant at your plant, you may be able to prepare your
dosing solution using that material. However, you can do this only if you meet all of the
following four criteria:
! you must be feeding ferric chloride, liquid alum, liquid ferric sulfate, or liquid
ferrous sulfate; and
! your liquid coagulant does not contain any other chemicals, such as polymer,
copper sulfate, etc.; and
! you know the exact amount (concentration) of active chemical in the liquid
coagulant; and
! you must be able to measure the specific gravity of the liquid coagulant.
If you cannot meet all of the four conditions, you must prepare the dosing solution using
the procedure outlined in section 7.3.3.2 above and one of the dry coagulants listed in
Table 7-4.

PLANTS USING LIQUID FERRIC OR LIQUID FERROUS

COAGULANTS: Vendors frequently fail to provide the % ferric (active iron)
of the iron solutions they sell. If you do NOT know the amount of iron in your
solution, you must obtain dry ferric (or ferrous) coagulant.

The most convenient way to measure liquid coagulants is to use volumetric

measurements like milliliters or fluid ounces. However, each ml of the dosing solution
must create an applied dose equal to 10 mg/L of regular grade dry alum. Consequently,
you must prepare the dosing solution on a dry weight basis even if you use a liquid
coagulant. To do this, you must first determine how much dry coagulant is contained in
each milliliter of the liquid, and then figure out how much of the liquid coagulant you
have to use to make the dosing solution.

Determining how much dry coagulant is contained in each milliliter of the liquid
coagulant:
The strength of a liquid iron or alum coagulant is typically reported on a percent basis.
For example, each pound of a 30 percent (%) liquid alum solution contains 0.30
pounds of reactive (dry) alum. However, in order to prepare a dosing solution, you
must know the amount of reactive (dry) chemical, in each milliliter of the liquid solution.
Therefore, the first step in preparing a dosing solution is to convert the concentration of
the liquid coagulant from percent (%) to milligrams-per-milliliter (mg/ml) using the

Page 18 of 84
 following equation.
Concentration [mg/ml]
= % Alum [g of dry alum/100 g of liquid coagulant solution]
× Specific Gravity [g solution/mL solution]
× 1000 [mg/g conversion factor] Equation 7-1

Example 7-1 shows the procedure for converting from percent to milligrams-per-
milliliter when using liquid alum.

Example 7-1: Converting from percent to grams-per-liter

An operator uses liquid alum with a specific gravity of 1.33. The liquid alum contains about 48
percent regular grade alum (Al 2(SO4)3•14H2O) on a dry weight basis. What is the concentration
of the coagulant in milligrams of dry alum/milliliter of coagulant [mg/mL]?
Solution:
The concentration can be converted to mg/ml using Equation 7-1.
Alum concentration [mg/ml]=
48 [g-alum/100 g-solution] × 1.33 [g-solution/1 mL-solution] × 1000 [mL/L]
= 641 [mg-alum/mL]

NOTE ON SPECIFIC GRAVITY: As long as the specific gravity of your

liquid alum is between 1.32 and 1.35, you can assume that it contains 48% dry
alum and use the calculations from Example 7-1. If not, use equation 7.1 and
the information contained in Appendix 9 to determine the concentration of your
alum.

Figuring out how much liquid coagulant to use when making a dosing solution:
After you have determined how much dry coagulant each milliliter of liquid coagulant
contains, you can figure out how much liquid coagulant is needed to make a liter of
dosing solution. To make a liter of dosing solution, use the following equation.

Amount of liquid coagulant [ml]

= grams of dry coagulant from Table 7-4 [g of dry coagulant]
÷ coagulant content of liquid [mg dry coagulant/mL solution]
× 1000 [mg/g conversion factor] Equation 7-2

Example 7-2 shows the calculations for figuring out how much liquid alum to use when
making a Step 2 jar test dosing solution.

Page 19 of 84
Example 7-2: Preparing a 20 g/L dosing solution
The operator from Example 7-1 wants to make a dosing solution with the liquid alum he is using
at his plant. The liquid alum contains no additional chemicals, and his jar test apparatus has 2-
liter jars. How much of the liquid alum should he use to make his dosing solution?
Solution:
The liquid alum contains no additional chemicals, so the operator knows it can be used to
prepare the dosing solution. He is using 2-liter jars and alum, so he uses the far right-hand
column of Table 7-4 to find out that he will need 20 g of alum to prepare one liter of dosing
solution. From the calculations he made in Example 7-1, the operator knows that each milliliter
of liquid coagulant contains 641 mg of dry alum. Now he can plug all this information into
Equation 7-2 to find out how much liquid alum he needs to use to make the dosing solution.
Amount of liquid coagulant [mL] =
20 [g of alum] ÷ 641 [mg of alum/mL of liquid alum] × 1000 [mg of alum/g of alum]
= 32.1 [mL of liquid alum]

Preparing the dosing solution:

To prepare a dosing solution using a liquid coagulant, use the following procedure:
! Add about 400 ml of distilled or deionized water to a 1000-ml volumetric flask.
! Add the proper amount of liquid coagulant to the flask and swirl it until the
chemical dissolves.
! Finish filling the flask to the 1000 ml mark with distilled or deionized water.
! Stopper the flask and completely mix the dosing solution by inverting the flask
several times.

7.3.3 Determine the Initial Coagulant Dose

If you are using alum, ferric, or ferrous coagulants at your plant, you can, if you choose,
start dosing jars one increment below the concentration of coagulant that you use full
scale. For instance, if you add 55 mg/L of alum at full scale, you can start your jar test
at a dose of 50 gm-alum/L, so your jars would be: 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 mg/L, and
so on.

However, if you are using other coagulants, such as polymer, polyaluminum chloride, or
alumina chlorhydrate, you must begin your Step 2 jar test with a dose of 10 mg/L alum
dose.

7.3.4 Determine the Number of Jars Required, and pH

Adjustment, If Applicable
You will need enough jars to reach both the PODR and the target pH. If the alkalinity
level of your raw water is at least 60 mg/L, this is a straightforward process; you just
run until the target pH is reached. If the alkalinity level of your raw water is lower than
60 mg/L, the process may be a little more complex, since

Page 20 of 84
 you may need to add a base to keep the pH from dropping to the target pH before you
reach the PODR.

The first time you do a Step 2 jar test, you should start with one full set of jars. If you
meet the PODR after three or four jars, the TNRCC may allow you to run fewer jars in
future tests.

7.3.4.1 Determining the Number of Jars When the Raw Water Alkalinity Is
60 mg/L or Higher
If your raw water alkalinity level is at least 60 mg/L, you can use the following
procedure to determine the number of jars that you will have to run during this first Step
2 jar test.
! Collect a sample of raw water and fill one of the jar test jars to the full mark.
! Measure the pH and alkalinity of the raw water.
! Place the jar on a magnetic stirrer.
! Add alum to this sample in 10 mg/L increments (or equivalent ferric dose). Use
Table 7-1 to determine appropriate incremental doses for each type of
coagulant.
! Measure and record the pH after each incremental coagulant dose.
! Determine the alum or ferric dose required to reach the target pH. Use Table
7.2 to determine the target pH).

The number of increments of alum you have to put in to hit the target pH will be the
number of jars you need to dose with alum (or iron coagulant) when you do the jar test.

Example 7-3 shows how an operator goes through the process of determining the
number of jars needed for a Step 2 jar test when the alkalinity is relatively high.

Page 21 of 84
Example 7-3: Determining the number of jars needed for a Step 2 jar test when the raw
water alkalinity level is at least 60 mg/L.
An operator at a treatment plant that uses ferric chloride has a raw water with an alkalinity level
of 84 mg/L and a pH of 7.6. The plant is currently applying a ferric dose of 19 mg/L.
Solution:
Since the plant is using ferric chloride, the operator uses Table 7-1 to determine that a dose of
5.5 mg/L is equivalent to a 10 mg/L alum dose. Since the plant is currently applying 19 mg/L of
ferric, the operator can determine the plant’s equivalent alum dose using the following equation.
Equivalent alum dose at the plant =
19 mg/L [ferric dose] ÷ 5.5 [mg/L of ferric/10 mg/L of alum] × 10 [mg/L of alum]
= 34.5 mg/L

Using this result, the operator determines that the Step 2 jar test can begin with an equivalent
alum dose of 30 mg/L, i.e., at jar number 3. She then refers to Table 7-1 to determine the
appropriate incremental ferric chloride dose. Since the jar test apparatus has 2-liter jars and the
plant uses a dry coagulant, the operator refers to Table 7-4 and uses 11 grams of FeCl3 to
prepare one liter of dosing solution. Using one of the 2-liter jars and the procedure described in
section 7.3.4.1, she obtains the following results.
Ferric Dose
Jar # Equivalent Alum Dose Alkalinity pH
(ml of dosing solution)
0 0 0 (raw water) 84 7.6
3 30 16.5 7.1
4 40 22 7.0
5 50 27.5 6.8
6 60 33 6.5
7 70 38.5 6.4
8 80 44 6.3
9 90 49.5 6.1

Based on these results and Table 7-3, the operator correctly concludes that she must run the
Step 2 jar test out to an equivalent alum dose of at least 80 mg/L.

7.3.4.2 Determining the Number of Jars When the Raw Water Alkalinity Is
less than 60 mg/l
When the raw water alkalinity level is below 60 mg/L, small increases in coagulant
doses can produce rapid decreases in pH. Consequently, an operator may reach the
target pH long before reaching the PODR. This problem is particularly severe when
the raw water alkalinity level is below 20 to 30 mg/L.

The TNRCC is concerned that the Step 2 Jar Test may be concluded before the
PODR is reached. Consequently, we require that you raise the coagulant dose by at
least 5 increments before concluding the test. Basically, you must run at least five jars
above your current coagulant dose. For example, if you are currently apply 26 mg/L of
alum, the TNRCC might not approve the results of the jar test unless doses of 20, 30,

Page 22 of 84
40, 50, 60, and 70 mg/L are included in the test.

If your raw water alkalinity level is below 60 mg/L, you may find that the pH of your jar
falls below the target pH before you reach the maximum dose you need to apply. In this
case, you will need to add a base to one or more of the jars to keep the pH within the
target pH range. When you have a raw water with relatively low alkalinity, you should
use the following procedure to determine the number of jars that you will have to run
during your first Step 2 jar test.
! Collect a sample of raw water and fill one of the jar test jars to the full mark.
! Place the jar test jar on a magnetic stirrer.
! Measure the pH and alkalinity of the raw water.
! Add alum to this sample in 10 mg/L increments (or equivalent ferric dose). Use
Table 7-1 to determine appropriate incremental doses for each type of
coagulant.
! Measure and record the pH after each incremental coagulant dose.
! If the pH of the jar falls below 5.3, add enough base to raise the pH level to
between 5.3 and 5.7.
! If you have not increased the coagulant dose by at least 5 increments (i.e., 50
mg/L of alum or an equivalent amount of iron), keep going till you have.

The number of increments of alum you have to put in to hit the target pH will be the
number of jars you need to dose with alum (or iron coagulant) when you do the jar test.

Example 7-4 shows how an operator goes through the process of determining the
number of jars needed for a Step 2 jar test when the alkalinity is below 60 mg/L (as
CaCO3).

Page 23 of 84
Example 7-4: Determining the number of jars needed for a Step 2 Jar Test when the raw
water alkalinity level is less than 60 mg/L.
An operator at a treatment plant that uses a pure polymer coagulant has a raw water with an
alkalinity level of 21 mg/L and a pH of 7.3. The plant is currently applying a polymer dose of 6.3
mg/L and uses liquid caustic to adjust the pH of its finished water.
Solution:
Because the plant uses polymer as its primary coagulant, the operator realizes that he must
prepare his dosing solution using dry alum. Since the jar test apparatus has 2-liter jars, the
operator refers to Table 7-4 and uses 20 grams of regular grade dry alum to prepare one liter of
dosing solution.
The operator also realizes that Section 7.3.3 of the guidance manual requires him to begin the
the Step 2 jar test at an incremental alum dose of 10 mg/L, because the plant uses polymer as
its primary coagulant. In addition, he knows that the TNRCC will probably make him apply an
alum dose of at least 50 mg/L (i.e., 5 incremental doses) before they will approve his results.
Each 10 mg/L alum dose will consume about 5 mg/L of alkalinity. Consequently, the operator
knows that he will probably need to adjust the pH for the last couple of doses. To address this
problem, he prepares a 10% dilution of his liquid caustic to use in the test. Then, using one of the
2-liter jars and the procedure described above in section 7.3.4.2, he obtains the following results.

Jar # Alum Dose Alkalinity pH Caustic Applied (mls) pH

0 0 (raw water) 21 7.3 0 7.3
1 10 7.1 0 7.1
2 20 6.7 0 6.7
3 30 6.4 0 6.4
4 40 5.7 0 5.7
5 50 5.3 2 5.5
6 60 5.1 2 5.4
7 70 5.1 4 5.4

Based on these results, the operator concludes that he must run the Step 2 jar test out to an
equivalent alum dose of at least 50 mg/L. However, since the last three increments gave some
unclear results, he decides to run the jar test out to a dose of 70 mg/L, just to be safe. Finally,
he realizes that he will need to add some of the dilute caustic to the last couple of jars to keep
the pH of the settled water between 5.3 and 5.7.

7.3.5 Record Starting Conditions and Desired Chemical Doses

Begin filling out a data sheet similar to the one shown in Table 7-6. Enter the type of
coagulant and the concentration of the dosing solution. If a base is going to be used
during the test, also record the type and concentration of the base solution. Note the
mixing and settling conditions that will be used in the jar test. Record the desired
chemical dose(s) for each of the jars and the volume of dosing solution to be added to
each. Alum should be dosed at increments of 10 mg/L (or iron coagulant equivalent
dose from Table 7-1) up to the maximum increment.

Page 24 of 84
 Table 7-6: Example of Step 2 Jar Test Data Sheet

STEP 2 JAR TEST PARAMETERS

COAGULANT BASE MIXING CONDITIONS Step 2
Removal
Type Dosing Solution Dosing Solution Rapid Mix Flocculation Settling
Concentration Concentration Speed Duration Speed Duration Duration
(g/L) Type (g/L) (rpm) (minutes) (rpm) (minutes (minutes) (%)
)

PERFORMANCE DATA
Jar No. COAGULANT BASE Alkalinity pH TOC Incremental TOC TOC
Dose Volume Dose Volume Removal Removal
(mg/L) (mL) (mg/L) (mL) (mg/Las CaCO3) (mg/L) (mg/L) (%)
RAW
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

TOC
(mg/L)

Coagulant Dose

Page 25 of 84
Page 26 of 84
7.3.6 Collect Raw Water for Testing
You should conduct the jar test with freshly collected water, if at all possible. Collect as
much raw water for the jar test as you will need (10 to 30 liters, depending on number
and size of jars).

NOTE ON TEMPERATURE: It may be difficult to maintain ambient water

temperatures during jar testing. Jar testing may take up to two hours (including
the mixing and settling times). During this time, the water temperature will
gradually change until it reaches the temperature of the room where you are
conducting the test. Temperature change during jar testing may interfere with
the settling of floc, because of convection currents or release of dissolved air
from the water. You should make every effort to minimize temperature change
during jar testing.

NOTE ON STORAGE: If you absolutely must store the raw water for
subsequent testing, the sample should be refrigerated at approximately 4NC.
Before starting any testing with the sample, adjust the temperature of the sample
back to the ambient raw water temperature during collection, by bringing the
temperature up gradually. Samples that have been stored should be inverted to
re-suspend any solids that have settled to the bottom of the container during
storage. It is best to collect fresh raw water for a jar test.

7.3.7 Set up the Jars and Prepare Dosing Syringes

Fill the jar test jars with the proper amount (1 or 2 liters) of raw water and place the
jars on the jar test apparatus. Lower the stirrer paddles, turn on the mixer, and set the
speed just high enough to prevent settling of any suspended materials.

Fill the coagulant syringe for each jar with the appropriate amount of coagulant. If pH
adjustment is needed for one or more jars, fill the base syringe with the appropriate
type and amount of base. Lay the syringes next to the respective jars.

7.3.8 Add Chemicals

Increase the mixing speed to achieve rapid mix conditions, and quickly inject the
chemicals into each jar. If possible, you should inject both the coagulant and the base at
the same time. However, if it is impractical to inject the two chemicals simultaneously,
you should add the base first and then add the coagulant. Regardless of whether the
chemicals are injected simultaneously, be sure that you get all of the chemicals injected
into all of the jars within five or six seconds. Start timing the rapid mix period as soon as
the chemicals are added to the last jar.

Page 27 of 84
7.3.9 Mix and Settle
Rapid mix, flocculate, and settle, using the times listed on the data sheet.

NOTE ON MIXING CONDITIONS: Jar test mixing conditions should reflect

full-scale mixing conditions and detention times at the plant’s maximum daily
flow for the quarter being tested. However, for rapid mixing, a detention time of
at least one minute should be used. If the plant mixing intensities and durations
are not known, use a rapid mix at 100 rpm (for one minute), flocculate at 30
rpm for 20 minutes, and settle for 30 minutes before sampling.

7.3.10 Take Samples to Measure TOC and pH

After settling, sample the supernatant for TOC analysis. Use 25 or 50 mL wide-bore
pipettes, a siphon apparatus, or sampling ports located on the side of the mixing jars.
During sampling, the tip of the pipette should be approximately 4 inches below the
water surface. In a typical 2-liter square jar, the sampling port is also located
approximately 10 cm below the 2-liter mark on the side of the jar. while sampling, be
careful not to disturb the settled floc, and to avoid suspended floc.

NOTE ON SAMPLE PRESERVATION: Preserve and/or refrigerate the

samples for subsequent TOC analysis. TOC samples must be acidified with
sulfuric or phosphoric acid if they are not going to be analyzed within 24 hours.
Provide a unique sample ID for each sample, and note the ID numbers on your
data sheet. If you are sending out your samples for analysis, follow the lab’s
instructions.

After settling, measure the pH of the jars. Note the values in the data sheet. Take
samples for alkalinity, if desired, and analyze within appropriate holding times.

7.3.11 Determine the PODR

When you get the results of the TOC analysis, fill in those values on a data sheet (like
that shown in Table 7-6) and determine the PODR.

7.3.11.1 How to Determine the PODR and Alternative Removal Requirement

The PODR is defined at the point where addition of a 10 mg/L increment alum dose (or
equivalent) results in less than 0.3 mg/L of TOC. This can be easily determined by
looking at the data you collect for the Step 2 jar test.

Page 28 of 84
Example 7-5: Determining PODR
A surface water treatment plant runs a step 2 jar test and gets these results:
Example of Step 2 Jar Test Results
Coagulant Dose Settled Water TOC
Jar # (mg/Alum or equivalent dose of iron coagulant) (mg/L)
1 0 8.0
2 10 7.0
3 20 6.6
4 30 6.2
5 40 6.0
6 50 6.0
7 60 6.0
What is the PODR for this jar test? What is the alternative removal requirement for this plant?
Solution:
(1) PODR: The PODR is the point at which 10 mg/L of additional alum removes less than 0.3
mg/L of TOC. Calculate how much TOC each increment of additional alum achieved. Results
are shown below:
Example of Step 2 Jar Test Results with Calculation Results
Coagulant Dose Settled Water TOC Incremental TOC Removed
Jar # (mg/Alum or equivalent (mg/L) (mg/L)
dose of iron coagulant)
1 0 8.0 n/a
2 10 7.0 1.0
3 20 6.6 0.4
4 30 6.2 0.4
5 40 6.0 0.2
6 50 6.0 0.0
7 60 6.0 0.0
The PODR is at Jar 5, 40 mg/L of alum added, where addition of a 10 mg/L increment of alum
results in removal of 0.2 mg/L of TOC, which is less than 0.3.
(2) Alternative removal requirement: The alternative removal requirement is the percent
removal that is achieved in the Step 2 jar test at the PODR. The TOC removal in jar 5 is the
new required removal for this plant. For the that jar:
% TOC removal = (1 - 6.0/8.0) x 100 = 25%
Example of Step 2 Jar Test Results With Calculation Results
Coagulant Dose Raw Water Settled Water Incremental TOC
Jar # (mg/Alum or TOC TOC TOC Removed removal
equivalent dose of iron (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) %
coagulant)
5 40 8.0 6.0 0.2 25.0%
The removal at the PODR is 25% The system must now achieve 25% TOC removal from the
raw water, unless the alternative removal requirement is above the Step 1 requirement.

Graphing your results may help you to better understand the Step 2 jar test. Figure 7-1
shows the results of the jar test in Example 7-5.

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 Figure 7-1: Graph of Step 2 Jar Test Results (Data from Example 7-5)

Slope < 0.3 mg/TOC removed per

10 mg/L alum added

8.0
PODR
New Step 2
7.0 Required
Removal
(25%)
6.0

10 20 30 40 50 60
DOSE (increments of 10 mg/L)

7.3.11.2 Two PODRs

Sometimes, a Step 2 jar test will have two places where the PODR is reached. In this
case, the second point at which the TOC removal drops below 0.3 mg/L per 10 mg/L
increment of alum (or equivalent added) is considered the official PODR. This
situation is shown graphically in Figure 7-2.

Figure 7- 2:
Slope < 0.3 mg/TOC removed per
Example of
PODR
10 mg/L alum added
PODR Reached TWICE Determi
nation 8.0 New When
Step 2
the PODR Required Occurs
Twice 6.0 Removal
(50%)

4.0

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
DOSE (increments of 10 mg/L)

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Page 31 of 84
7.3.11.3 Water “Not Amenable to Treatment”
Sometimes, a Step 2 jar test will show that there is no additional TOC removal, no
matter how much coagulant is added. Plants may apply to the state for a waiver from
the enhanced coagulation requirements if they consistently fail to achieve the PODR
(TOC removal is never greater than 0.3 mg/L TOC removed per 10 mg/L alum or
equivalent dose of ferric salt added at all coagulant dosages during the Step 2 jar test
procedure).

These plants have a water in which enhanced coagulation will not work. An example of
the graph of the Step 2 jar test for water not amenable to treatment is shown in Figure
7-3. The plant should send the TNRCC the Step 2 MOR with the graph showing the
jar test results to the TNRCC to demonstrate that the PODR cannot be achieved.

Figure 7-3: Water “Not Amenable to Treatment”

Slope is ALWAYS LESS THAN

0.3 mg/TOC removed per
10 mg/L alum added
8.0 Water is considered “not amenable to treatment”
7.0
6.0

10 20 30 40 50 60
DOSE (increments of 10 mg/L)

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8 Alternative Compliance Criteria
(ACCs or “Outs”)
The TOC in some waters is not very easy to remove by coagulation or precipitative
softening. For this reason, ACCs were developed to allow plants flexibility for
establishing compliance with the treatment technique requirements. These criteria
recognize the low potential of certain waters to produce disinfection by-products
(DBPs), and also account for those waters with TOC that is very difficult to remove.

A plant can establish compliance with the enhanced coagulation or enhanced softening
TOC removal requirement by meeting any one of the eight ACCs. The ACCs are
summarized in Table 8-1 and discussed in detail in sections 8.1 through 8.8.

Table 8-1: Summary of Alternative Compliance Criteria (ACCs or “Outs”)

ACC Description Additional
sampling
1 Raw water TOC < 2.0 mg/L none *
2 Treated water TOC < 2.0 mg/L none *
3 TTHM < 40 Fg/L; and HAA5 < 30 Fg/L, and raw water none *
TOC < 4.0 mg/L; and raw water alkalinity > 60 mg/L (as
CaCO3);
4 TTHM < 40 Fg/L; and HAA5 < 30 Fg/L, and the system none *
uses only chlorine
5 Raw water SUVA <2.0 L/mg-m Raw water SUVA
6 Treated water SUVA <2.0 L/mg-m Treated water
SUVA (jar test)
7 Softening; treated water alkalinity less than 60 mg/L (as Treated water
CaCO3) alkalinity
8 Softening; magnesium hardness removal greater than or Raw and treated
equal to 10 mg/L (as CaCO3) water magnesium
* Raw water TOC and alkalinity and the treated water TOC must be measured and
reported in the TOC-MOR every month.

All systems that wish to meet one of these “outs” must send in the ACC-MOR, along
with their TOC-MOR. The ACC-MOR is included in Appendix 1 of this guidance
manual, along with other reporting forms.

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8.1 ACC 1: Raw Water TOC < 2.0 mg/L
If the raw water contains less than 2.0 mg/L of TOC, calculated quarterly as a running
annual average, a utility is in compliance with the treatment technique for the whole
year.

This criterion also can be used on a monthly basis. For example, in every month in
which raw water TOC is less than 2.0 mg/L, the plant can establish compliance for that
month by meeting this criterion.

MONITORING: There are no extra monitoring and reporting requirements for

this “out.”

8.2 ACC 2: Treated Water TOC < 2.0 mg/L

If a treated water contains less than 2.0 mg/L TOC calculated quarterly as a running
annual average, the utility is in compliance with the treatment technique for the whole
year covered by the average.

This criterion also can be used on a monthly basis. For example, for individual months
in which treated water TOC is less than 2.0 mg/L, the plant can establish compliance
for that month by meeting that criterion.

MONITORING & REPORTING: There are no extra monitoring and reporting

requirements for this “out.”

8.3 ACC 3: Raw Water TOC < 4.0 mg/L; and

Raw Alkalinity > 60 mg/L (as CaCO3); and
TTHM # 40 Fg/L; and HAA5 # 30 Fg/L
It is more difficult to remove TOC from waters with higher alkalinity and lower TOC
levels. Therefore, utilities that meet the above criteria can establish compliance with the
treatment technique requirements. All of the parameters – TOC, alkalinity, total
trihalomethanes (TTHM), haloacetic acids (group of five) (HAA5) – are based on
running annual averages, computed quarterly. TTHM and HAA5 compliance samples
are used to qualify for this alternative performance criterion.

If the running annual average raw water TOC is less than 4.0 mg/L, and the raw water
alkalinity is more than 60 mg/L, and the running annual average of TTHM is no more
than 40 Fg/L, and the running annual average of HAA5 is no more than 30 Fg/L, the
plant is in compliance for the whole year.

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 This ACC can’t be used on a monthly basis, because the TTHM and HAA5 averages
for a whole year are used to calculate compliance.

MONITORING & REPORTING: Systems that meet ACC 3 do not have to

do extra monitoring, but they must report their TTHM and HAA5 compliance
values on their TOC-MOR.

8.4 ACC 4: TTHM # 40 Fg/L and HAA5 # 30 Fg/L, and Chlorine

Only
Plants that use only free chlorine as their primary disinfectant and for maintenance of a
residual in the distribution system, and that achieve the stated TTHM and HAA5 levels,
are in compliance with the treatment technique. The TTHM and HAA5 levels are
based on running annual averages, computed quarterly. TTHM and HAA5 compliance
samples are used to qualify for this alternative performance criterion.

If the running annual average of TTHM is less than 40 Fg/L, and the running annual
average of HAA5 is less than 30 Fg/L, and the plant uses only chlorine in the plant and
distribution system, the plant is in compliance for the whole year.

This ACC can’t be used on a monthly basis, because the TTHM and HAA5 average
for a whole year (running annual average) is used to calculate compliance.

MONITORING & REPORTING: Systems that meet ACC 4 are not required
to do extra monitoring, but they must report their TTHM and HAA5
compliance values, and certify that only chlorine is used as a disinfectant in the
plant and distribution system.

8.5 ACC 5: Raw Water SUVA # 2.0 L/mg-m

If the raw water specific ultraviolet absorption (SUVA) is less than or equal to 2.0
L/mg-m, calculated quarterly as a running annual average, the utility is in compliance
with the treatment technique requirements. The EPA guidance document includes a
more thorough discussion of SUVA.

If the running annual average SUVA is less than or equal to 2.0 L/mg-m, the utility is in
compliance for the whole year.

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 This criterion also can be used on a monthly basis. For example, in every month in
which raw water SUVA is less than 2.0 L/mg-m, the plant can establish compliance for
that month by meeting this criterion.

MONITORING & REPORTING: Systems that meet ACC 5 must measure

and report raw water SUVA. Raw water SUVA samples must be taken before
any oxidant has been added to the water. If the plant purchases and treats
water that has already been disinfected, the plant must get samples from the
lake or reservoir before the disinfection point.

8.6 ACC 6: Treated Water SUVA # 2.0 L/mg-m

If the treated water SUVA is less than or equal to 2.0 L/mg-m, calculated quarterly as
a running annual average, the utility is in compliance with the treatment technique
requirements.

This criterion is also available on a monthly basis; for individual months in which treated
water SUVA is less than or equal to 2.0 L/mg-m, the plant can establish compliance for
that month by meeting ACC 6.

MONITORING & REPORTING: Systems that meet ACC 6 must measure

and report treated water SUVA. Treated water SUVA sampling is to be
conducted no later than combined filter effluent turbidity The rule also requires
that the sample for treated water SUVA be taken before any oxidant is added
to the water. Many plants add an oxidant (disinfectant) to the raw water, so a
procedure for measuring treated water SUVA in the lab is included under the
analytical methods section of this guidance document (section 11.2.6).

8.7 ACC 7: Treated Water Alkalinity < 60 mg/L (as CaCO3)

(Softening Systems)
Softening plants meet ACC 7 if their treated water alkalinity is less than 60 mg/L (as
CaCO3), measured monthly and calculated quarterly as a running annual average.
Softening plants that currently practice lime softening are not required to change to
lime-soda ash softening.

This criterion can be used on a yearly basis. If treated water alkalinity is less than 60
mg/L, calculated quarterly as a running annual average, the plant is in compliance for the
whole year.

This criterion also can be used on a monthly basis. For example, in every month in

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 which a softening plant lowers treated water alkalinity to less than 60 mg/L, the plant
can establish compliance for that month by meeting this criterion.

MONITORING & REPORTING: Plants that meet this “out” must measure and
report treated water alkalinity, as well as raw water alkalinity.

8.8 ACC 8: Magnesium Removal > 10 mg/L (as CaCO3)

(Softening Systems)
Softening plants meet ACC 8 if they remove at least 10 mg/L of magnesium hardness
(as CaCO3), measured monthly and calculated quarterly as a running annual average.
Softening plants that currently practice lime softening are not required to change to lime
soda ash softening.

This criterion can be used on a yearly basis. If magnesium removal is at least 10 mg/L,
calculated quarterly as a running annual average, the plant is in compliance for the
whole year.

This criterion also can be used on a monthly basis. For example, in every month in
which magnesium removal is more than 10 mg/L, the plant can establish compliance for
that month by meeting this criterion.

MONITORING & REPORTING: Plants that want to meet this “out” must
measure and report raw and treated water magnesium hardness. The operator
must calculate and report the amount of magnesium hardness that is removed.

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9 Compliance Determination
The TNRCC will calculate compliance and notify you if a treatment technique violation
occurs. The compliance calculation method is included here to assist you in determining
whether you are likely to have a violation. If you take more than one sample set in a
month, the results of those sample sets should be averaged. (Process control sample
sets do not have to be reported.)

Compliance is based on a running annual average of quarterly averages of monthly

averages. Compliance is calculated quarterly.You will find the exact rule language for
the TOC compliance determination in Appendix 10 of this guidance document; the
citation is 290.112(f).
Monthly
Actual Removal: Every month, you must take at least
one TOC sample set. For each sample set, calculate the
actual TOC removal. The actual removal is obtained by
first dividing the treated water TOC by the raw TOC,
then subtracting that value from 1.

Actual Removal Percent: All of the compliance

Actual Removal %=
calculations are based on percent removal. The actual Actual
removal percent is just the actual removal times 100. Removal ×100
Required Removal Percent: The next step is to
calculate the removal ratio for the sample set. To do this,
you need the required removal percent.

Step 1: If you are using Step 1, the required removal percent is in the Step 1 Matrix (Table
6-1).

Step 2: If you are meeting Step 2, the Step 2 alternative required removal requirement is
determined by doing a Step 2 jar test (Chapter 7). A plant that fails to meet Step 1, and is
required to go to Step 2, can use the Step 2 alternative removal requirements for the quarter
that the jar test is performed, and the following quarter. The Step 2 alternative removal
requirement can be used for that six-month period, even for months that the plant meets the
Step 1 removal percentage.

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Removal Ratio: The removal ratio for a sample set is Removal Ratio =
the actual removal percent divided by the required
removal percent. If the actual removal is greater than the Actual Removal %
required removal, the ratio is greater than one, and the Required Removal %
plant is in compliance for that sample set.

Alternative Compliance Criteria: In any month (or for

any sample set) that the plant meets one of the eight
ACCs (“outs”), the plant can assign a removal ratio of
1.0 for that month (or sample set).

MULTIPLE SAMPLE SETS IN A MONTH: If a plant takes multiple samples in a month, the
removal ratio should be calculated for each sample set. The average of all the removal ratios,
for all the sample sets taken that month, is reported as the monthly removal ratio for
compliance for that month.

QUARTERLY
Quarterly Average Removal Ratio: The Quarterly Average
quarterly average removal ratio is the Removal Ratio =
average of the monthly average removal ratios Month 1 Month 2 Month 3
for a calendar quarter. Removal + Removal +Removal
Ratio Ratio Ratio

3
Annual Average Removal Ratio: The
annual average removal ratio is the average Annual Average Removal Ratio =
of the quarterly average removal ratios for last Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4
Average Average Average Average
+Removal
four quarters. Removal + Removal + Removal
Ratio Ratio Ratio Ratio

Compliance: If the annual average removal

1.0
ratio is greater than or equal to 1.0, the system Annual Average
is in compliance.
Removal Ratio

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10 Public Notification
Systems that are required to meet Step 1, and have a annual removal ratio less than
1.00 must notify their customers of the violation. The TNRCC will tell you if you have a
violation. The following language is required by federal law [30 CFR 141.32 (79)].
You will find the exact Texas rule language for the TOC public notification in Appendix
10 of this guidance document; the citation is 290.112(g). In the following paragraph,
replace [words in this font] as needed.

The [name of the public water system] failed to meet the

minimum treatment technique requirements for total organic carbon for the year
running from [month, year] to [month, year].

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water
standards and requires the disinfection of drinking water. However, when used
in the treatment of drinking water, disinfectants react with naturally-occurring
organic and inorganic matter present in water to form chemicals called
disinfection by-products (DBPs). EPA has determined that a number of DBPs
are a health concern at certain levels of exposure. Certain DBPs, including
some trihalomethanes (THMs) and some haloacetic acids (HAAs), have been
shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Other DBPs have been shown to
affect the liver and the nervous system, and cause reproductive or
developmental effects in laboratory animals. Exposure to certain DBPs may
produce similar effects in people. EPA has set standards to limit exposure to
THMs, HAAs, and other DBPs.

After this language, the system may add more explanation, including language that
explains that high TOC alone does not indicate the presence of a known health risk.

The TNRCC will notify you of any noncompliance. We will also tell you if you need to
notify your customers. We strongly recommend that you do not issue a public notice
for a TOC violation unless you have discussed the potential violation with the Chemical
Monitoring Team at 512/239-6020.

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11 Laboratory Methods
11.1 Introduction
This chapter provides an overview of acceptable analytical methods for compliance
with the TOC removal requirements. Required procedures for sample collection,
sample handling, and analysis are summarized, along with recommended quality
assurance and quality control practices. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a
general review of laboratory procedures necessary to implement the TOC
requirements, not to replace the analytical methods required by the DBPR.

The water quality parameters that are important for compliance include TOC, alkalinity,
pH, total trihalomethane (TTHM), haloacetic acid (group of five) (HAA5), ultraviolet
light absorbance at 254 nm (UV-254), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), specific
ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA), and magnesium hardness. The approved methods are
summarized in Table 11.1.

Table 11-1: Analytical Methods for Demonstration of Compliance

Parameter Method
Total Organic Carbon (TOC) SM5310 B Combustion-Infrared
SM5310 C Persulfate-Ultraviolet Oxidation
SM5310 D Wet Oxidant
Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) Same as TOC except for filtration step. (See
discussion on SUVA in this chapter.)
Ultraviolet Absorbance at 254 nm (UV-254) SM5910 B Ultraviolet Absorption Method
Specific Ultraviolet Absorption (SUVA) Calculated - requires methods for DOC and UV-
254.
Alkalinity SM2320 B (Titration), ASTM D-1067-92
pH SM 4500-H+B, EPA 150.2, ASTM 1293-84
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) EPA 552.1, EPA 552.2, SM 6251 B
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) EPA 502.2, EPA 524.2, EPA 551.1
Magnesium hardness SM 3500-MgB - Atomic Absorption
SM 3500-MgC - Inductively Coupled Plasma
SM 3500-MgE - Titrimetric
ASTM D 511-93 A - Titrimetric
ASTM D 511-93 B - Atomic Absorption
EPA 200.7 - Inductively Coupled Plasma

The TOC sample set (required for all compliance strategies) includes both TOC and

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 alkalinity data, which all systems must measure and report on the TOC-MOR. The
reporting requirements for Step 2 are summarized in Chapter 7. The reporting
requirements for ACCs are summarized in detail in Chapter 8. Table 11-2 shows the
methods a system must use, depending on the compliance strategy being used.

Table 11-2: Necessary Analytical Methods for TOC Compliance Strategies

Compliance Stategy Analyses
Step 1 TOC, alkalinity

Step 2 TOC, alkalinity, pH

ACC 1 TOC, alkalinity

ACC 2 TOC, alkalinity

ACC 3 TOC, alkalinity, TTHM, HAA5

ACC 4 TOC, alkalinity, TTHM, HAA5

ACC 5 TOC, alkalinity, DOC, UV-254 (SUVA)

ACC 6 TOC, alkalinity, DOC, UV-254 (SUVA)

ACC 7 TOC, alkalinity

ACC 8 TOC, alkalinity, magnesium

11.2 Analytical Methods

This chapter is not comprehensive for all water quality parameters and methods
required for compliance with the DBPR. Only those methods necessary for the TOC
removal requirement are included.

11.2.1 Total Organic Carbon (TOC)

The methods described here all require analysis using equipment that costs between
$20,000 and $30,000. Consequently, many systems will send TOC samples to a
commercial laboratory. Currently, the turnaround time for commercial labs is about two
to four weeks. Therefore, sampling should be scheduled early in the month.

TOC samples must not be filtered prior to analysis. TOC samples must either be
analyzed or must be acidified to achieve pH less than 2.0 by minimal addition of
phosphoric or sulfuric acid as soon as practical after sampling, not to exceed 24 hours.
Acidified TOC samples must be analyzed within 28 days.

In all of the methods, total organic carbon (TOC) is measured after conversion of

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 organic matter to carbon dioxide (inorganic carbon). The methods to accomplish this
conversion include heat, ultraviolet irradiation, chemical oxidants, or combinations of
oxidants that convert organic carbon to carbon dioxide.

Results are reported in mg/L and are typically rounded to two significant figures. A
minimum reporting level (MRL) of 0.7 mg/L was established by a panel of experts
for the Information Collection Rule (ICR). The practical quantitation limit (PQL)
reported by laboratories performing TOC analysis should be consistent with this MRL.
Values reported by the laboratory at less than the PQL should be reported by the plant
as half of the PQL.

Three Standard Methods – 5310B, 5310C, and 5310D – are included in the DBPR
(Table 11.1). These methods should be followed in accordance with the supplement to
the 19th Edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and
Wastewater, American Public Health Association, 1998. Method 5310B is a
combustion-infrared method; Method 5310C is a persulfate-ultraviolet oxidant method;
and Method 5310D is a wet-oxidant method. A summary of these methods for the
determination of TOC is provided below.

NOTE ON HIGH-TURBIDITY WATERS: The high temperature combustion

method is recommended for high TOC or turbidity waters. One study (Najm et
al., Journal of the American Water Works Association August 2000) notes that
the persulfate method under-reports TOC if there is particulate organic carbon
present in the sample. Therefore, for waters with TOC over about 2 mg/L, or
turbidity over about 2 NTU, more accurate results may be obtained using the
combustion method. However, different instruments perform differently. Some
UV-persulfate analyzers may be able to handle high TOC.

NOTE ON LOW-TURBIDITY WATERS: The UV-persulfate method is

generally recommended for very low TOC or turbidity waters. The minimum
detection limit for the persulfate method is 0.01 - 0.02 mg/L; and the minimum
detection limit for the combustion method is 0.5 mg/L. Therefore, for waters
with a TOC less than 1 mg/L, or turbidity less than about 1 NTU, more
accurate results may be obtained with the persulfate method. However,
different instruments perform differently. Some combustion analyzers may be
able to handle low TOC.

11.2.1.1 Combustion-Infrared Method — Standard Method 5310B

(Recommended for high TOC/turbidity waters)
This method measures organic carbon via infrared absorption of the carbon dioxide gas
that is produced when the organic carbon in the sample is heated and reacted with an
oxidant catalyst. Inorganic carbon is converted to CO2 by acidification to pH # 2 and is

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 purged from the sample prior to analysis. This process also removes volatile organic
carbon from the sample, which contributes to carbon loss. However, this loss is
generally insignificant. The CO2 from oxidation of organic and inorganic carbon is
measured using a nondispersive infrared analyzer or titrated colorimetrically. Any
combustion instrument used for compliance purposes under the DBP1R should be
capable of providing quantitative data at concentrations # 0.5 mg/L.

11.2.1.2 Persulfate-Ultraviolet Oxidant Method — Standard Method 5310C

(Recommended for Low TOC/Turbidity Waters)
This method measures organic carbon via infrared absorption of the carbon dioxide
gas that is produced when the organic carbon in the sample is simultaneously oxidized
by a persulfate solution and irradiated with ultraviolet light. Inorganic carbon is
converted to CO2 by acidification to pH #2, and is purged from the sample prior to
analysis. Significant concentrations of chloride ($ 0.1 percent) and a low sample pH
(<1) can impede the analysis; precautions are specified in the method.

11.2.1.3 Wet-Oxidation Method — Standard Method 5310D

This method has a detection limit of 0.10 mg/L, and is subject to the same interferences
as the persulfate-ultraviolet method. Persulfate and phosphoric acid are added to the
sample, and the sample is purged with pure oxygen to remove inorganic carbon in the
form of CO2. The purged sample is sealed in an ampule and combusted for four hours
at 116-130EC in an oven. This causes the persulfate to oxidize the organic carbon to
CO2.

11.2.2 Alkalinity
Total alkalinity is measured by titration of the sample to an electrochemically
determined endpoint (pH 4.5). Alkalinity is reported in milligrams per liter as calcium
carbonate (CaCO3). The methods are based on the assumption that all of the alkalinity
concentration is the sum of carbonate, bicarbonate, and hydroxide concentrations, and
assume that other alkalinity-contributing compounds are absent. Borates, phosphates,
silicates, or other bases won’t be measured if they are present (Standard Methods,
1989, p 2-35).

Three titration methods are approved for alkalinity measurements at 40 CFR 141.89.
These methods are:
! Standard Method 2320B – in Standard Methods for the Examination of
Water and Wastewater, 19th Edition, American Public Health Association,
1998.
! Method ASTM D1067-92B – in the Annual Book of ASTM Methods, 1998,
Vol. 11.01.
! USGS I-1030-85 – in Methods for Determination of Inorganic Substances

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 in Water and Fluvial Sediments: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of
Water-Resources Investigations.

The sample pH of the raw water where the sample was collected must be recorded.
Care must be used in sampling and storage, and in preparation of the primary standards
for sodium carbonate, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid.

11.2.3 Specific Ultraviolet Absorption (SUVA)

SUVA is an indicator of the humic content of water. It is a calculated parameter, and is
equal to the UV absorption at 254 nm (measured in m-1) divided by the DOC
(measured as mg/L).

Waters with low SUVA values contain primarily non-humic matter that is difficult to
remove with enhanced coagulation. On the other hand, the TOC in waters with high
SUVA values is generally easier to remove using enhanced coagulation. SUVA is an
alternative compliance criterion for demonstrating compliance with TOC removal
requirements. Systems are not required to perform enhanced coagulation or enhanced
softening if the raw or treated water SUVA is #2.0 L/mg-m (Chapter 8).

The equation for SUVA is:

SUVA [L/mg-m] = 100 [cm/m] ( UV-254 [m-1] / DOC [mg/L] )

Two separate analytical methods are necessary to make this measurement: UV-254
and DOC. Although these methods are briefly described in sections 11.2.4 and 11.2.5,
respectively, they are described in greater detail in the EPA guidance document. DOC
and UV-254 samples used to determine a SUVA value must be taken at the same time
and same location. Both samples are filtered according to the procedures outlined in the
discussion of DOC. The TNRCC recommends, but does not require, that both DOC
and UV samples be filtered as one large aliquot.

11.2.4 Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC)

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is that portion of the organic carbon which is fully
dissolved in the water. To measure DOC, the particulate portion of the organic carbon
must be removed before analysis.

DOC measurements are performed using the same analytical techniques used to
measure TOC (methods 5310B, 5310C, and 5310D). However, samples for DOC
measurement must be vacuum-filtered or pressure-filtered through a 0.45 Fm pore size
filter prior to analysis. Filtering should occur before preservation, storing, or shipping
the sample. The lab should ensure that no contamination or dilution of the sample

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 occurs during filtration.

The 0.45 Fm pore filters that are used for DOC samples may contain organic
plasticizers (binding material), which can leach into the sample during filtration. This
leaching can increase the level of organic carbon in the sample after filtration and create
experimental error. To prevent contamination from organic binding material in
membrane filters, the membrane filter must be washed with reagent-grade water before
a sample is passed through it. Typically, washing with several 100 mL volumes of water
is required for a 47-mm diameter filter. Vacuum or pressure filtration can be used to
help this process. You should experiment to find adequate washing procedures for each
batch of filter membranes. Adequate washing is demonstrated when the DOC of the
filtered water is within 5% of the TOC of the water prior to filtration.

High turbidity samples may clog the filter, so more than one membrane may be
needed.When multiple filter membranes are required for a sample, each sequential filter
membrane must be taken through the same washing procedure as described above, and
the presample filter blank should be analyzed.

The last aliquot of deionized wash water passed through the filter prior to sample
filtration must be saved and used as a filtered blank. This filtered blank must be
analyzed using procedures identical to those used for analysis of the samples, and must
have a DOC content of less than 0.5 mg/L. The filtration apparatus should be
adequately washed to remove organic matter.

DOC samples should be analyzed immediately, if possible. If it is necessary to

preserve the samples, filter them first, then acidify them. The filtered DOC samples must
be acidified to a pH less than 2.0 by minimal addition of phosphoric or sulfuric acid
immediately after filtration. Acidified DOC samples must be analyzed within 28 days. If
the DOC of the analyzed sample is less than or equal to the TOC concentration, sample
contamination has occurred, and the DOC results are invalid.

11.2.5 Ultraviolet Light Absorbance at 254 nm (UV-254)

UV-254 is the amount of light with a wavelength of 254 nanometers that a sample will
absorb. The principle behind this method is that UV-absorbing constituents, such as
humic or fulvic acids, absorb UV light in proportion to their concentration. UV-254 is
measured using Method 5910B (Standard Methods for the Examination of Water
and Wastewater, 19th Edition, American Public Health Association, 1998).

UV samples must be measured in waters that do not contain an oxidant or disinfectant.

This is necessary because oxidants react with organic compounds and cleave the
double bonds that absorb UV. Samples for UV-254 must be filtered to remove

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 particles before analysis.

Before measuring UV-254, the sample should be filtered through a 45 Fm pore

membrane filter. To prevent contamination from membrane filters, the filters must be
washed with reagent-grade water before filtering the sample. Typically, several 100 mL
volumes of water are required for a 47-mm diameter filter. Samples must be analyzed
as soon as practical after sampling (not more than 48 hours). The pH of a UV-254
sample must not be adjusted.

UV absorbance is measured at a wavelength of 253.7 nm (rounded to 254 nm), at

ambient pH, using a spectrophotometer. The sample volume is chosen based on how
big the sample cell is, and how much UV light the sample absorbs. If the water’s UV
absorbance is over 0.900 cm-1, dilution is required. The sample should be diluted so
that its UV absorbance is between 0.005 and 0.900 cm-1.

The spectrophotometer must be zeroed using an organic-free water blank. UV-254

should be measured on at least two filtered portions of the sample at room temperature.
The average value is reported in cm-1 (i.e., the result must be divided by the cell length).
UV measurements are typically made within a 1-cm cell.

It is recommended that laboratories performing UV-254 analysis obtain a practical

quantitation limit (PQL) of at least 0.009 cm-1 (the minimum reporting limit of the
Information Collection Rule). When a laboratory reports results that are less than the
PQL, plants are supposed to use half of the PQL for compliance calculations.

NOTE ON USE OF UV-254 AS SURROGATE FOR TOC: Some surface

plants have found that the level of UV-254 in their water is closely correlated to
the level of TOC in their water. You are free to examine this relationship, and if
it exists, to use UV-254 as an indicator of TOC for process control purposes,
but not for compliance with the TOC removal requirements. Before using UV-
254 as a process control surrogate, you should measure and record TOC and
UV-254 from identical samples under all of the raw water conditions likely to
occur at your plant.

11.2.6 Finished Water SUVA Jar Testing

ACC 6 allows utilities to comply with the TOC treatment technique requirement by
producing a finished water with a SUVA value of less than 2.0 L/mg-m. The
determination of the SUVA should be made on finished water that has not been
exposed to any oxidant during treatment. If there is no oxidant (such as chlorine) added
prior to the finished water TOC and UV-254 monitoring, and the plant uses alum as its
only coagulant, full-scale samples can be used to calculate SUVA to allow comparison

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 with this criterion.

In Texas, most plants add an oxidative disinfectant to the raw water. If oxidants are
added prior to the finished water TOC and UV-254 monitoring, the utilities are
required to establish treated water SUVA by conducting a jar test in which no
disinfectants are added. The jar test can be performed by adding an equivalent amount
of alum that is used at full-scale (plus any polymer) in a jar test. Due to interference
from iron in the UV-254 measurement, utilities using ferric salts for coagulation should
conduct a finished water SUVA jar test with an equivalent amount of alum.

POLYMER AND ACID: Unlike the Step 2 jar test, if polymer or acid is added
at full scale, they can also be used in the finished water SUVA jar test

FERRIC: Ferric plants must replace the ferric with alum in the finished water
SUVA jar test. Ferric interferes with UV-254 measurements.

OXIDANT: No oxidant may be added when performing finished water SUVA

jar testing.

After completion of the jar test, settled water DOC and UV-254 should be used to
calculate SUVA. Filtration with a pre-washed 0.45 Fm membrane is required for DOC
and UV-254 determination.

General guidelines for performing process control jar tests are included in Appendix 3
of this guidance manual. You may use the guidelines for process control jar testing as a
helpful tool to design appropriate finished water SUVA jar testing for your plant.

11.2.7 Other Methods

Methods for pH, magnesium, haloacetic acids, and trihalomethanes can be found in the
most current version of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and
Wastewater, American Public Health Association.

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Appendices
Appendix 1: TOC-Monthly Operating Reports

Appendix 2: Side Effects of Enhanced Coagulation

Appendix 3: Chemical Feed Rate Calculation Standard

Operating Procedure

Appendix 4: Example Process Control Jar Test Standard

Operating Procedure

Appendix 5: Unregulated Disinfection By-products

Appendix 6: Commonly Used Acronyms and Definitions

Appendix 7: Conversion Factors

Appendix 8: Lab Approval Form and Instructions

Appendix 9: Densities and Equivalent Weights of

Commercial Alum

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Appendix 1: Total Organic Carbon
Monthly Operating Reports
Systems required to remove TOC must fill out the Total Organic Monthly Operating Report (TOC-
MOR) each month and submit it to the TNRCC. Your report is due to the TNRCC no later than the
10th day of the month following the reporting period. The reports must be sent to
TNRCC
Public Drinking Water Section (MC-155)
Water Permits & Resource Management Division
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, Texas 78711-3087

TOC-MOR
You must record the monthly actual TOC removal on the TOC-MOR. The measured
values for raw water TOC, raw water alkalinity, and treated water TOC must be
recorded on this worksheet, no matter what compliance strategy you are using (Step 1,
Step 2, or ACC).

You only have to do one TOC sample set every month. Even though you only need to
do a single monthly TOC sample set, the worksheet has room for you to record the
results for more than one TOC sample set, if you want to do additional sample sets.
Most systems leave all the rows blank except for one. The rows for that data are
labeled as “Dates.” You may want to do more than one TOC sample set on one day. If
you do that, you can change the labeling to reflect the actual date the data was taken.

The results of all sample sets taken in accordance with the monitoring plan at the
designated sampling sites must be reported to TNRCC on the TOC-MOR. If you
want to find out how you are doing without reporting results, you may take process
control samples at sites not designated as compliance monitoring points.

The TOC-MOR worksheet is also the worksheet that will calculate the Step 1 monthly
compliance. Every system required to comply with the TOC rules must send in a
printout of the TOC-MOR worksheet every month.

ACC-MOR
The ACCs are commonly called “outs” because they get you “out” of having to remove
TOC. Some of the ACCs reflect the fact that it is very difficult to remove TOC from
some raw waters. Other ACCs recognize a treatment process that is working well

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 under special circumstances, like softening. Chapter 8 contains detailed information on
the ACCs. You need to submit the ACC-MOR (pages 2 and 3 of the TOC-MOR) if
you are achieving compliance with the TOC rule by meeting one of the ACC.

Step 2-MOR
If you are not able to meet either the Step 1 removal requirement (Chapter 6) or one of
the ACCs (Chapter 8), you will have to do Step 2 jar testing. Chapter 7 contains
detailed information on Step 2. If you can meet the Step 1 removal requirement, or an
ACC, you do not need to do Step 2 jar testing.

You only need to submit the Step 2-MOR (page 2 of the TOC-MOR) to the TNRCC
if you are required to do Step 2 jar testing. Step 2 jar testing is performed in order to
determine your Step 2 alternative removal requirement. You must report the results of
Step 2 jar testing on the Step 2-MOR. These results include the mixing conditions,
coagulant doses, base addition (if any), and pH and TOC from each jar. The Step 2-
MOR includes a graph of your jar test results, which shows the point of diminishing
returns (PODR). The removal the plant gets at the PODR is the plant’s alternative
minimum removal requirement.

If you are required to do Step 2 jar testing, the Step 2 alternative removal requirement
that you determine replaces the value from the Step 1 matrix as the amount of TOC
removal that you need to achieve.

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insert TOC-MOR

Page 52 of 84
insert Step 2 MOR

Page 53 of 84
insert ACC-MOR page 1

Page 54 of 84
insert ACC-MOR page 1

Page 55 of 84
Appendix 2: Side Effects of Enhanced
Coagulation
In pursuing the goal of additional TOC removal, systems should be aware of potential
side effects that may impact their plant. The EPA guidance manual (available from the
Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791) provides additional information on
the secondary effects of enhanced coagulation and enhanced softening. This appendix
merely summarizes some of the possible side effects for systems that are not softening.

Coagulant Dose
Generally, it is necessary to add more coagulant to remove TOC than is needed to
remove turbidity. Therefore, the problems that arise are those you would expect from
increasing coagulant dose and decreasing pH.

pH of Coagulation
Besides adding additional coagulant, it may be necessary to lower the pH in some
waters, so that coagulation occurs at the best pH. For alum, the best pH range is from
approximately 6.8 to 7.5, depending on the water constituents and whether the plant is
operating in the charge neutralization or sweep floc mode. Therefore, the problems that
arise are those you would expect from increasing coagulant dose and decreasing pH.

Floc Quality
Adding additional coagulant (beyond that needed to optimize turbidity removal) and
lowering the pH of coagulation may adversely impact floc formation. Floc may tend to
be larger, fluffier, and more difficult to settle. This is true especially if the plant is
operating in the range of charge neutralization.

Turbidity
Adding additional coagulant, beyond that needed to optimize turbidity removal, may
increase settled water turbidity. This is especially true if the plant is operating in the
charge neutralization range. This phenomenon is illustrated in Figure A2-1. Increased
settled water turbidity may make it more difficult for filters to remove the turbidity and
may shorten filter runs.

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 Figure A2-1: Example of Increased Turbidity with Enhanced Coagulation

TOC line Higher turbidity with

optimized TOC removal
Turbidity line

TOC Turbidity
(mg/L) (NTU)

Dose of coagulant needed Higher dose of coagulant needed

to optimize turbidity removal to optimize TOC removal (PODR)
Number of Increments of Coagulant Added

Sludge Quantity
Adding additional coagulant, beyond that needed to optimize turbidity removal, may
adversely impact the quality and quantity of sludge. Sludge production will likely
increase. In order to estimate how much this will cost, you should do jar, pilot, or full-
scale testing. Full-scale testing will provide the most and best information. Predictive
equations are given in Table A2.1 for sludge production from alum or ferric coagulation,
but the equations are only an estimate.

Table A2-1: Sludge Production Equations

Coagulant Additional Sludge Prediction Variables

S = sludge generated in pounds per day

Alum S = Q×8.34×((AD × 0.36) +X+ TOCrem ) Q = flow in MGD
AD = Alum dose in mg/L or
FD = Ferric dose in mg/L
X = other chemical doses, such as polymer
Ferric S = Q × 8.34 × ((FD×0.5+X+ TOCrem ) or PACl, in mg/L
TOCrem = TOC removed in mg/L
From the USEPA Enhanced Coagulation and Enhanced Precipitative Softening Guidance Manual, publication
number EPA 815-R-99-012, pages 6-24 and 6-25.

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Sludge Quality
Sludge will likely be more difficult to dewater. Enhanced coagulation usually results in
an increased coagulant dose, so clarifier sludge may contain more metals.

Aluminum
If you are using alum or lime that has aluminum in it, the concentration of dissolved
aluminum may increase if the pH is decreased. Aluminum is very soluble from pH 6.2 to
6.5, and over 8.0.

Manganese
For systems that need to remove manganese, if the manganese is not entirely oxidized
before the settling tank, manganese may break through. Chlorine or potassium
permanganate need to be in contact with the water for a period of 15 minutes to four
hours to get complete oxidation of manganese. Chlorine dioxide will oxidize manganese
in 5 minutes. If greensand filters are used to remove manganese, letting the pH get
below 6.2 will make the filters work poorly. Also, manganese may be found in some
ferric coagulant products. If one of these products is used, it may actually add dissolved
manganese to the water.

Corrosion
Lowering the pH and increasing the dissolved metal salts in the water may make the
water more corrosive. Corrosion in a distribution system is not an equilibrium state – it
is always in a state of change. You should check the Langelier index and Baylis curve
for the water entering the distribution system after changing your process to meet the
TOC removal requirements.

Disinfectant
The disinfectant demand may decrease, because TOC is part of the disinfectant
demand. Therefore, reducing the TOC level will reduce chlorine (or other disinfectant)
demand.

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Appendix 3: Chemical Feed Rates
Example Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for
Measuring and Adjusting Chemical Feed Rates

Summary:
In order to treat water effectively, chemicals must be dosed accurately. This SOP contains the
procedures for measuring and adjusting the alum and polymer feed rates. Adjusting the coagulant feed
involves:
1. measuring the current alum and polymer feed rates,
2. calculating the current dosages using the results of the first step,
3. comparing the results of the second step with the target values set using jar tests
or the plant superintendent’s recommendation,
4. making necessary adjustments to the alum and polymer feed rates, and
5. verifying that the new feed rate produces the desired doses.

Equipment Needed (example):

The equipment needed for your plant to go through this process may be different. For the example
here, the operator would need:
! 500 ml and 250 ml graduated cylinder
(a plant may have calibration cylinders on feed pumps),
! bowl to collect lime sample,
! stopwatch or wristwatch with a second hand,
! calculator,
! waste bucket (old milk jug),
! triple beam balance.

Procedure (Example):
A. Measuring Feed Rates
I. Alum
A. Take the stopwatch and the appropriately sized graduated cylinder to the rapid mix (if there
are no calibration cylinders on the feed stream that you can use).
B. Measure and record the volume of alum pumped into the rapid mix for 60 seconds.
1. If you are not going to conduct a jar test, empty the cylinder into the rapid mix.
2. If you are going to conduct a jar test, pour most of the alum into the rapid mix, but keep
enough to prepare the dosing solution.

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 II. Polymer
A. Take the stopwatch and the appropriately sized graduated cylinder to the chemical room (if
there are no calibration cylinders on the feed stream that you can use).
B. Get the waste bucket (old milk jug).
C. Valve off the polymer injection line.
D. Open the valve on the polymer pump sampling tap and flush the injection line into the waste
bucket for 60 seconds.
E. Using the graduated cylinder, measure and record the volume of polymer pumped for 60
seconds.
1. If you are not going to conduct a process control jar test, empty the cylinder back into
the polymer drum.
2. If you are going to conduct a process control jar test, pour most of the polymer back
into the polymer barrel, but keep a little to prepare the dosing solution.
F. Close the sampling tap valve and open the valve to the feed (water) line.

III. Lime
A. Take the bowl and the stopwatch to the lime feeder.
B. Place the bowl under the point where the lime drops into the dilution water, and measure
and record the amount of lime that is fed in 60 seconds.
C. Take the bowl containing the lime to the lab.
D. Set up the balance, transfer the lime to the weighing paper, and weigh the sample.

B. Calculating the Current Chemical Dosage

I. Alum
Since the alum dosing solution for the jar tests is based on a dry weight, the actual chemical
dosages should be calculated on a similar basis, so that the results can be compared. When
calculating the current alum dosage, Equation A3-1 applies.

The following equation assumes that the equivalent dry weight of the liquid alum solution is
5.34 lbs of dry alum per gallon of alum. If the specific gravity of your alum solution is not close
to 1.33, this assumption may be slightly inaccurate. A more accurate approach involves
measuring the specific gravity of each batch of alum delivered by the vendor and then using the
vendor’s product-specific chart that shows the relationship between the specific gravity versus
the dry weight equivalency.

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 Equation A3 & 1: Calculating the Current Alum Dose

alum feed rate ( ml alum ) ( ( gal alum ) ( ( 5.34 lbs dry alum )
minute 3,785 ml alum gal alum
alum dose (ppm) '
gal 8.34 lbs water lbs dry alum
raw water flow rate ( ) (( ) (( )
minute gal water 1,000,000 lbs water

' alum feed rate (ml per minute) ( 5.34 ( 1,000,000

raw water flow rate (gpm) ( 8.34 ( 3,785

alum feed rate (ml per minute)

' ( 169
raw water flow rate (gpm)

NOTE: When comparing the current alum dose with a target dose obtained from
the jar test (see Appendix 4), it is extremely important to use identical values for
the dry weight equivalent in the two procedures.

II. Polymer
Since the polymer dosing solution for the jar tests is based on a purely volumetric basis, the
actual chemical dosages should be calculated on a similar basis, so that the results can be
compared. When calculating the current polymer dose, Equation A3-2 applies:

& 2: Calculating the Current Polymer Dose

EquationA3&

polymer feed rate ( ml of polymer ) ( ( gal polymer )

minute 3,785 ml polymer
polymer dose (ppm) '
gal water gal polymer
raw flow rate ( ) (( )
minute 1,000,000 gal water

' polymer feed rate (ml per minute) ( 1,000,000

raw water flow rate (gpm) ( 3,785

polymer feed rate (ml per minute)

' ( 264
raw water flow rate (gpm)

III. Lime
Since the lime dosing solution for the jar tests is based on dry weight, the actual chemical
dosages should be calculated on a similar basis, so that the results can be compared. When
calculating the current lime dose, the Equation A3-3 applies:

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 Equation A3 & 3: Calculating the Current Lime Dose
grams of lime lb lime
lime feed rate ( ) ( ( )
minute 454 g lime
lime dose (ppm) '
gal water 8.34 lbs water lb lime
raw flow rate ( ) ( ( )( ( )
minute gal water 1,000,000 lbs water

lime feed rate (grams per minute) ( 1,000,000

'
raw water flow rate (gpm) ( 8.34 ( 454

lime feed rate (grams per minute)

' ( 264
raw water flow rate (gpm)

C. Adjusting The Chemical Feed Rates

I. Alum
Adjustments to the alum feed rate should be based on the results of jar tests or
recommendations of the plant superintendent. Because the alum dosing (stock) solution for the
jar tests is prepared on a dry weight basis, Equation A3-4 applies:

Equation A3 & 4: Calculating the Required Alum Feed Rate

required alum feed
lbs alum gal alum 3,785 ml alum
rate (ml per minute) ' dosage ( ) ( ( ) ( ( ) (
million lbs water 5.34 lbs alum gal alum
gal water 8.34 lbs water
raw water flow rate ( ) ( ( )
minute gal water

dosage (ppm) ( raw water flow rate (gpm) ( 8.34 ( 3,785

'
1,000,000 ( 5.34

dosage (ppm) ( raw water flow rate (gpm)

'
169

NOTE: When adjusting the alum dose, it is essential to use the same dry weight
equivalent value in this calculation that was used to prepare the dosing solution for the
jar test. This equation assumes that the equivalent dry weight of the concentrated alum
solution is 5.34 lbs of dry alum per gallon of alum. If the specific gravity of the alum
solution differs substantially from 1.33, this assumption may be slightly inaccurate. A
more accurate approach involves measuring the specific gravity of each batch of alum
delivered by the vendor and then using the vendor’s product-specific chart that shows

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 the relationship between the specific gravity versus dry weight equivalency.

II. Polymer
Adjustments to the polymer feed rate should be based on the results of jar tests or
recommendations of the plant superintendent. Because the polymer dosing solution for the jar
tests is based on a purely volumetric basis, Equation A3-5 applies:
Equation A3 & 5: Calculating the Required Polymer Feed Rate
required polymer feed
gal water gal polymer
rate (ml per minute) ' raw water flow rate ( ) ( dosage ( )
minute million gal water
3,785 ml polymer
. ( ( )
gal polymer
raw water flow rate (gpm) ( dosage (ppm) ( 3,785
'
1,000,000

raw water flow rate (gpm) ( dosage (ppm)

'
264

III. Lime
Adjustments to the lime feed rate should be based on the results of jar tests or
recommendations of the plant superintendent. Because the lime dosing solution for the jar test is
on a dry weight basis, Equation A3-6 applies:

Equation A3 & 6: Calculating the Required Lime Feed Rate

required lime feed lbs lime 454 g lime
' dosage ( ) ( ( ) (
rate (grams per minute) million lbs water lb lime
gal water 8.34 lbs water
raw water flow rate ( ) ( ( )
minute gal water

dosage (ppm) ( raw water flow rate (gpm) ( 454 ( 8.34

'
1,000,000

dosage (ppm) ( raw water flow rate (gpm)

'
264

IV. Adjusting Feed Rates

Anytime that the alum or polymer feed rates are adjusted, you must verify the impact of the
adjustments by repeating the feed rate measurement and dosage calculations from steps 1 and

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2.

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Appendix 4: Process Control Jar Testing

Example Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for

Process Control Jar Test

Summary
Jar testing can be a very useful way to determine the desired coagulant feed rate and the effect of
different coagulants or coagulant aids, like polymers. Process control jar testing is very different than the
Step 2 jar testing described in Chapter 4 of this guidance manual. For process control jar testing, you
can choose what chemicals to feed and what doses to feed. When the process control jar test is
finished, you will have useful information to run the plant better. A Step 2 jar test is much more limited,
and it only results in a regulatory compliance number. However, after running a Step 2 jar test and
determining the plant’s new required TOC removal, doing a process control jar test may help you set
full scale operating conditions to meet that new required removal.

This example SOP provides instructions on the preparation of dosing solutions and procedures for a
process control jar test. It should be used in conjunction with Appendix 3, which discusses chemical
feed-rate measurement and adjustment. This example is for a plant that uses alum, polymer, and lime
(or caustic), and that has two-liter jars.

NOTE ABOUT PERSONALIZING THE SOP: You will need to modify this example
to work for other chemicals or operating conditions. In other words, if your plant uses
other chemicals, or uses different solutions than those in this example, you must write an
SOP that works for those chemicals.

NOTE ABOUT MIXING TIMES: Generally, jar tests result in better coagulation and
settling than occurs full scale. One main reason for this is that mixing in jar tests is
perfect, and mixing full-scale is not. Obviously, the hydraulics in a 2-liter jar are more
controlled than in a large flow-through plant where short circuiting and dead zones are
present. It may be necessary for the operator to modify the mixing times for jar testing
to better match full-scale results. One way to start down this road is to determine the
hydraulic detention time and baffling factor in each process unit and compare the
resulting mixing times with the mixing times recommended in this SOP and the Step 2
process. Then, the operator can go through a process of changing the mixing times,
comparing the results to full scale, until the results correlate better.

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Equipment Needed (Example)
The equipment needed for your plant to go through this process may be different. For this example, the
operator would need:
! the log book for jar test results,
! two 2-gallon raw water containers,
! jar test apparatus with six 2-liter jars (this example uses 2-L jars),
! three 1000 ml volumetric flasks,
! 10 mL TenSette (automatic pipettor),
! several 5-mL, 10-mL, and 25-mL syringes,
! equipment to conduct pH, turbidity, and alkalinity tests, and
! triple beam balance.

Procedure (Example):
I. Preparation of Dosing (Stock) Solutions:
Dosing solutions must be prepared in concentrations that allow accurate dosing of the amount of
raw water being tested in a jar test. Dosing solutions tend to lose their strength over time and should
be used within 24 hours of preparation.

A. Polymer dosing solution (0.2% solution on a volumetric basis)

A dosage of 1.0 ml of this solution to 2 liters of raw water is a dosage rate of 1.0 ppm on a
volumetric basis.
1. Using a TenSette pipette, measure 2 ml of polymer solution.
2. Place the 2 ml of polymer into a 1000 ml volumetric flask.
3. Add enough demineralized water to bring the volume in the flask to the 1,000 ml mark.
4. Stopper the flask and mix the solution.
5. Use the dosing solution within 24 hours of preparation.

B. Alum Dosing Solution (2.0% solution on a dry weight basis).

A dosage of 1 ml of this solution to 2 liters of raw water is a dosage rate of 10 ppm on a dry
weight basis.
1. Using the TenSette pipette, measure 31 mL of liquid alum solution (see Equation A4.1).
2. Place the 31 mL of liquid alum into a 1000 mL volumetric flask
3. Add enough demineralized water to bring the volume in the flask to the 1000 mL mark.
4. Stopper the flask and mix the solution.
5. Use the dosing solution. Discard it when it is 24 hours old.

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Equation A4 & 1: Preparing the Alum Dosing (Stock) solution

g dry alum
% dry weight of stock solution ( ) ( 1000 ml of stock solution
ml (liquid) alum 100 g water
'
per litre of stock solution 0.48 g dry alum 1.33 g alum
concentration of alum ( ) ( specific gravity of alum (
g alum g water
% dry weight ( 1000
'
100 ( 0.48 ( 1.33

' % dry weight ( 15.6

C. Lime Dosing Solution (2.0% solution on a dry weight basis).

A dosage of 1 mL of this solution to 2 liters of raw water is a dosage rate of 10 ppm on a dry
weight basis.
1. Add about 20 mL of distilled water to a 1000 mL volumetric flask.
2. Using the balance and weighing paper, measure 2 grams of lime.
3. Carefully add the lime to the volumetric flask.
4. Add enough demineralized water to bring the volume in the flask to the 1000 mL mark.
5. Stopper the flask and mix the solution.
6. The dosing solution should be used within 24 hours of preparation.

D. Caustic Dosing Solution (alternative pH adjustment)(0.2% solution on a volumetric basis)

A dosage of 1 mL of this solution to 2 liters of raw water is a dosage rate of 1 ppm on a purely
volumetric basis.
1. Using the TenSette pipette, measure 2 mL of caustic solution.
2. Place the 2 mL of liquid alum into a 1000 mL volumetric flask.
3. Add enough demineralized water to bring the volume in the flask to the 1000 mL mark.
4. Stopper the flask and mix the solution.
5. The dosing solution should be used within 24 hours of preparation.

II. CONDUCTING THE JAR TEST

A. Record the test conditions.

In the jar test log book, record the combinations of polymer and alum dosages you wish to test.
These will be the dosages. Generally, you will hold one of the dosages constant and vary the
other to make your combinations.
B. Collect raw water.
Fill the two 2-gallon raw water jugs with raw water from the raw water sample point. When
you reach the lab, invert the raw water jugs three times to ensure that settling has not occurred.

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C. Fill the jar test jars.
Fill each of the five jar test jars halfway full with the raw water from one of the jugs then finish
filling the five jars to the 2 L mark with the water from the other jug.

D. Measure raw water turbidity, pH, and alkalinity.

Fill the 250 mL raw water beaker with some of the raw water. Use this water to run raw water
turbidity, pH, and alkalinity.

E. Set up the jars.

Place the five jars on the jar test apparatus, lower the stirring paddles into the beakers, lock the
paddle shafts, and start stirring the raw water samples at a rate of 100 rpm.

F. Prepare the dosing syringes.

Fill the polymer, alum, and lime syringes with the appropriate volume of dosing solution to reach
the dosage you are testing. (NOTE: mix the flask of lime dosing solution thoroughly before
filling each syringe.) Place each of the syringes next to the jar it will be injected into.
! Use 1 cc of alum dosing solution for each 10 ppm of alum dosage required.
! Use 1 cc of lime dosing solution for each 10 ppm of lime dosage required.
! Use 1cc of polymer dosing solution for every ppm of polymer dosage required.

G. Dose the jars.

As quickly as possible, inject each sample of raw water with the required alum and polymer
dose.

H. Flash mix.
Let the samples stir at 100 rpm for 30 seconds to simulate the flash mix (use the time and speed
that best represents your plant, if known).

I. Flocculate.
Reduce the stirring rate of the jar test apparatus to 30 rpm, inject each sample of coagulated
water with the required lime dose, and let the samples mix for 15 minutes to simulate the
flocculator (use the time and speed that best represents your plant, if known).

J. Settle.
Turn the stirrers off and let the samples sit for 30 minutes to simulate the sedimentation process
(use the time and speed that best represents your plant, if known).

K. Evaluate the flocculation and settling process.

During the jar test, the following evaluations should be made:

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 1. Which combination of dosages formed a floc first?
2. What is the appearance of the floc in each sample?
3. After flash mix and flocculation, which sample had the best settling flock?
4. What is the appearance of the settled water in each sample?

L. Collect supernatant samples.

At the end of the settling time, flush the jar test sample spigots and collect a sample of settled
water from each jar.

M. Measure the turbidity and pH.

Measure the turbidity and pH of each sample to determine the effect of coagulation on the raw
water samples.

N. Record the data.

Record the dosages for each sample of raw water, and the observations and results of the jar
test on the jar test work sheet.

O. Choose the best chemical combination.

Based on the observations made during the jar test, record your conclusions of which
combination of coagulant and coagulant aid dosages gave the best results for the raw water
tested.

P. Make changes, as appropriate.

If appropriate, contact the supervisor, make necessary adjustments to the coagulant feed rate,
and then verify and document the new feed rate on the jar test result log and the daily
operational log.

NOTE ON DYNAMIC JAR TESTING: In this SOP, and in most jar testing, disinfectants
are not added. Because disinfectants may act as a coagulant aid, leaving them out may
prevent the jar test not from matching full-scale results. One way that you may be able to
make the jar test match full-scale results is to pull samples for jar testing from the plant after
disinfectant is added. If coagulant is added concurrently with disinfectant, this can be tricky.
You will need to consider where in the plant samples can be taken to best represent the
water entering the settling basins. Or, possibly, you could add disinfectant to the jars, but
this is less likely to represent full-scale conditions.

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 Appendix 5: Unregulated Disinfection
By-Products
Table A5-1: Impact of Changing Disinfection Strategy on DBPs
Changing from... to..... Will make these DBPs....
(plant(1)/distribution
system (2)) Decrease, or increase or not change
Cl2 /Cl2 Cl2 / TTHM, HAA5, HAN, HAK,
chloramine (3) CP, CNX
chloramine/ TTHM, HAA5, HAN, HAK, CNX CP
chloramine (3) aldehydes
(3)
O3 /Cl2 TTHM (4), HAA5 (4), HAN (4) HAK (4), CP,
aldehydes (4)
O3 /chloramine TTHM (5)
ClO2 /chloramine TTHM (5)
Cl2 /chloramine Chloramine/ TTHM (5)
chloramine
O3 /chloramine (3) TTHM, HAA5, HAN, CP HAK, aldehydes (6) CNX
ClO2 /chloramine TTHM (5)
O3 /Cl2 O3 /chloramine (3) TTHM, HAA5, HAN, HAK, CP, CNX
aldehydes
Chloramine/ O3 /chloramine (3) TTHM (4), HAA5 (4) HAK (4), aldehydes, HAN
chloramine CP, CNX
DISINFECTANTS:
Cl2 = Free chlorine
Chloramine = Monochloramine-dominant mixture of the chloramines (mono-, di- and tri-) formed as reaction products of free chlorine and
nitrogen (from ammonia) at a mass ratio of between 3:1 to 5:1 Cl2 :NH4 -N. (If chloramines are used in the plant, free chlorine is
not used in the distribution system.)
ClO 2 = Chlorine dioxide (ClO 2 is only suitable as a primary disinfectant)
O3 = Ozone (O3 is only suitable as a primary disinfectant)

DISINFECTION BY-PRODUCTS:
TTHM = Total of the four trihalomethanes that contain bromine or chlorine. HAK = Haloketones
HAA5 = Total of the five haloacetic acids (that contain bromine or chlorine) HAN = Haloacetonitriles
that are regulated CNX = Cyanogen halides
Aldehydes: includes halogenated and non-halogenated aldehyde species. CP = Chloropicrin

NOTES:
(1) Plant disinfectant is the primary disinfectant.
(2) Distribution system disinfectant is the secondary disinfectant.
(3) Adapted from Table 3-2. Impacts of Disinfection Practice on DBP Formation, EPA Guidance Manual: Microbial and Disinfection By-
product Rules Simultaneous Compliance Guidance Manual (EPA 815-R-99-011) August 1999, U.S. EPA, Washington D.C. Available

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 from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline, 1-800-426-4791).
(4) One of the two utilities reported no change.
(5) From experience with Texas utility data.
(6) One of the two utilities did not analyze for this DBP.

Table A5-2: Health-Based Values for Unregulated Ozonation Disinfection By-products*

(1)
Disinfection By-Product MCL or Health-based Limit
Determined by TNRCC
(mg/L)
Aldehydes:
Formaldehyde 1
Benzaldehyde 0.7
Acetone 0.7
Acetonitrile 0.04
Haloacetonitriles (HANs)
Dichloroacetonitrile 0.02
Bromochloroacetonitrile 0.03
Dibromoacetonitrile 0.05
Haloketones (HAKs)
1,1,Dichloropropanone 0.007
1,1,1-Trichloropropanone 0.02
Cyanogen Halides (CNX)
Cyanogen Bromide 0.6
Cyanogen Chloride NHL
Trichloroacetaldehyde 0.01
(Chloral Hydrate (CH))
Chloropicrin (CP) 0.02
Total Organic Halides (TOX) 0.08
* Developed by the Toxicology and Risk Assessment Section of the Texas Natural Resource
Conservation Commission.

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Appendix 6: Acronyms and Definitions
A5.1 Acronyms
AA atomic absorption
ACC alternative compliance criteria. The eight alternative compliance criteria are part of the
TOC removal requirements of the DBP1R. A plant that meets one of the ACC is not
required to remove TOC for the period of time that the ACC covers.
AOC assimilable organic carbon. A parallel measurement to biodegradable organic carbon
(BDOC).
AOP advanced oxidation process
ASTM American Society for Testing Materials
AWWA American Water Works Association
AWWARF American Water Works Association Research Foundation
BAT best available technology
BCAA bromochloroacetic acid (see HAA)
BDL below detection limit. If a contaminant is measured in a concentration lower than the
method can be accurately used, it is considered BDL. Often, values reported as BDL are
reported as zero. See MDL.
BDOC biodegradable organic carbon. This is a concern in distribution systems, because a high
concentration of BDOC may result in regrowth of microorganisms in the distribution
system. A parallel measurement to AOC.
BF baffling factor. The BF is used to account for potential short circuiting when calculating
the effective contact time for calculating CT.
BOD biological oxygen demand. Usually used in wastewater applications. This is a measure of
how much oxygen will be used up by the biological components present in water.
CCP Composite Correction Program. This is the EPA evaluation and adjustment program,
which includes the CPE and CTA processes.
CCPP calcium carbonate precipitation potential. This describes the extent to which a water may
tend to form calcium carbonate scale on surfaces such as pipes.
CDBAA chlorodibromoacetic acid (see HAA)
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
COD chemical oxygen demand. Usually used in wastewater applications. This is a measure of
how much oxygen will be used up by the chemical components present in water.
CPE Comprehensive Performance Evaluation. This is the extensive evaluation process
designed to determine what specific factors are limiting a plant’s ability to achieve
optimized performance. The CPE is part of the EPA’s Composite Correction Program
(CCP).
CT concentration-time (the product of disinfectant concentration and effective contact time
(T10). This value describes the effectiveness of a given level of disinfectant in a given
unit process.
CTA Comprehensive Technical Assistance. An intensive period of technical assistance to a

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 plant, in which technical skills are transferred to the plant operators. CTA is part of the
EPA’s Composite Correction Program (CCP).
CWS community water system
DAF dissolved air flotation
DBP disinfection by-product
DBP1R Stage 1 Disinfection By-Product Rule
DBP2R Stage 2 Disinfection By-Product Rule
DBPFP disinfection by-product formation potential
DBPP disinfection by-product precursor. Molecules present in natural water that will tend to
form disinfection by-products when the water is disinfected. The EPA is using total
organic carbon (TOC) and specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA) as surrogates for
DBPP.
DBPR Disinfection By-Product Rule
DCAA dichloroacetic acid
DI deionized
DOC dissolved organic carbon. This group parameter measures the total amount of carbon
present in organic molecules dissolved in the water. Basically, it is done on the same
machine as total organic carbon (TOC), but the sample is filtered before analysis.
DOX dissolved organic halogen. This group parameter measures the total amount of dissolved
organic carbon that has halogen atoms attached to it. The halogens of interest are
bromine and chlorine. Iodine and fluorine are generally not of interest in this context.
EBCT empty-bed contact time
EC enhanced coagulation
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
ES enhanced softening
ESWTR Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
FACA Federal Advisory Committee Act
FP formation potential (as in DBPFP)
G velocity gradient. It is used to calculate the energy transferred to water in a mixing
process.
GAC granular activated carbon. GAC is a form of carbon that has been activated using heat so
that each grain contains many pores. The surface area of a gram of GAC is the size of a
football field. Because of this high surface area, GAC has many more sites upon which
contaminants can adsorb than other filter media, such as sand.
GC gas chromatograph
HAA haloacetic acid (a DBP). There are nine different HAAs.
HAA5 haloacetic acid (group of 5). The Stage 1 Disinfection By-Product Rule includes a
maximum contaminant level (MCL) for the sum of five HAAs. These are
monochloroacetic acid (MCAA), dichloroacetic acid (DCAA), trichloroacetic acid
(TCAA), monobromoacetic acid (MBAA), and dibromoacetic acid (DBAA).
HAAFP haloacetic acid formation potential. The theoretical maximum amount of HAA a water
can form.

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HDT hydraulic detention time
HLR hydraulic loading rate for filters (see SLR).
ICR Information Collection Rule
IESWTR Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
LCA Limited Compliance Assistance
LSI Langelier saturation index
LT1ESWTR Stage 1 Long-Term Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
LT2ESWTR Stage 2 Long-Term Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
LTA Limited Technical Assistance
LTESWTR Long-Term Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
MCL maximum contaminant level. The concentration level of a contaminant that is regulated. If
a system has a contaminant concentration greater than the MCL, they may be in violation
of the regulations (see RAA).
MCLG maximum contaminant level goal. The health-effects based ideal level for a contaminant.
This is not the regulated concentration.
MDL method detection limit. The concentration below which a given method cannot accurately
measure concentration (see BDL).
MF microfiltration
MIB methylisoborneol. An odor-causing compound produced by some algae.
MOR monthly operating report
MRDL maximum disinfectant residual limit. Regulations promulgated by EPA in November 1998
put in place these limits on the allowable concentration of disinfectant leaving a plant.
MRDLG maximum disinfectant residual limit goal
MTBE methyl tert-butyl ether
MW molecular weight
MWCO molecular weight cutoff
NF nanofiltration
NOAEL no observed adverse effect level
NOM natural organic matter
NPDWR National Primary Drinking Water Regulation
NTNCWS nontransient, noncommunity water system. A water system that serves the same people
all year, but is not a community. A school or factory may be a NTNCWS.
NTU Nephelometric turbidity unit. A measurement of the cloudiness of water.
PAC powdered activated carbon (often used to remove taste and odor compounds)
PACl polyaluminum chloride (sometimes abbreviated as PAC, but not to be confused with
powdered activated carbon)
PE professional engineer or performance evaluation
PODR point of diminishing returns. This has specific meaning for the DBP1R TOC removal
requirements. In a Step 2 jar test, the PODR is the point at which an additional 10 mg/L
of alum results in the removal of no more than 0.3 mg/L of TOC.
psi pounds per square inch (pressure)

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RAA running annual average
RO reverse osmosis
rpm revolutions per minute
SDS simulated distribution system
SDWA Safe Drinking Water Act
SHMP sodium hexametaphosphate
SLR surface loading rate for filters (also referred to as HLR)
SMCL secondary maximum contaminant level
SOC synthetic organic chemical
SOR surface overflow rate or supplemental operating report
SUVA specific ultraviolet absorbance
SWTR Surface Water Treatment Rule
T detention time (see HDT) or temperature.
T10 effective contact time. The time within which 10% of a tracer material will have passed
through a unit process. Theoretical T10 can be calculated by multiplying the baffling
factor (BF) by the theoretical hydraulic detention time (HDT).
TBAA tribromoacetic acid (see HAA)
TCAA trichloroacetic acid (see HAA)
TEEX Texas Engineering Extension Service.
THM trihalomethane (a DBP). These are halogenated organic molecules with one carbon,
three halogens, and one hydrogen. The four THMs of interest are: chloroform (three
chlorines, also called trichloromethane), dichlorobromomethane, dibromochloromethane,
and bromoform (three bromines, also called tribromomethane).
THMFP trihalomethane formation potential. A group parameter describing what concentration of
THMs a water may form under set conditions (see FP and UFC).
TNRCC Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
TOC total organic carbon. A group parameter measuring the total amount of carbon in a water
present as organic molecules. EPA is using TOC as a surrogate for DBPPs in the
DBP1R (see DOC).
TON threshold odor number
TOX total organic halogen
TTHM total trihalomethanes. The sum of the four THMs (see THM).
TWDB Texas Water Development Board
TWUA Texas Water Utilities Association
UF ultrafiltration
UFC uniform formation conditions. Specific disinfection conditions for measuring how much of
a given disinfection by-product a water may form.
UV ultraviolet
UV-254 absorbance of ultraviolet light at a wavelength of 254 nanometers

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A5.2 Definitions
Enhanced Coagulation
Enhanced coagulation means the addition of sufficient coagulant for improved removal of disinfection by-
product precursors by conventional filtration treatment (EPA definition).

Enhanced Precipitative Softening

Enhanced softening means the improved removal of disinfection by-product precursors by precipitative
softening (EPA definition).

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Appendix 7: Formulas and Conversions
Percent Solution Values Feed Rate Formulas
1% = 0.084 lb/gal or 1.3 oz/gal
(or 10,000 mg/L) ppm (mg/L) x GPM = lb/hr
2% = 0.170 lb/gal or 2.7 oz/gal 2000
3% = 0.258 lb/gal or 4.1 oz/gal
4% = 0.348 lb/gal or 5.6 oz/gal ppm (mg/L) x GPM x 0.06 = gal/hr
5% = 0.440 lb/gal or 7.0 oz/gal % solution
6% = 0.533 lb/gal or 8.5 oz/gal
7% = 0.629 lb/gal or 10.1 oz/gal (lb/6-minutes) x 20,000 = ppm (mg/L)
8% = 0.726 lb/gal or 11.6 oz/gal gpm
9% = 0.825 lb/gal or 14.9 oz/gal
(or 90,000 mg/L) (gram/6-minutes) x 44 = ppm (mg/L)
____________________________________ gpm
_
* gpm = gallons per minute of plant
* 6 minute collection for dry feeder
________________________________
Conversions
Ounces (fluid) × 29.57 = mL Equations
Ounces (dry) × 28.35 = grams
Cubic Ft. × 7.48 = gallons In the following calculations:
Gal × 8.34 = lbs pi = 3.14, L = length, W = width,
Gal × 3785 = mL d = diameter, r = radius, H = height
Gal/Hr × 63 = mL/min
Grains/gal × 17.1 = PPM Area = A (sq ft):
Grams × 15.43 = grains Rectangle: A = L × W
MGD × 694 = gpm Circle: A = pi × r × r
10,000 ppm (mg/L) = 1% Volume = V (cu ft):
Pounds × 453 = grams Rectangular tanks: V = L × W × H
ppm × 8.33 = lb/million gallons
Quarts × 946 = mL Circular tanks: V = pi × r × r × H
Cubic Ft. × 62.4 = Pounds
Pounds × 7000 = Grains
Gal × 3.785 = Liters In pipes: V = pi × d × d × L
1 mile = 5280 ft 4
2.31 ft of water = 1 psi
0.433 psi = 1 ft of water (Divide pipe diameters by 12 to convert from
inches to feet.)

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Appendix 8: Laboratory Approval Form
and Instructions
Lab Approval Instructions

Approved-Lab Analytes
Public water systems must run samples for:
! alkalinity,
! turbidity,
! pH,
! temperature,
! disinfectant residual,
! daily point-of-entry chlorite,
! chlorine dioxide,
! calcium, and
! phosphate
at a laboratory approved by TNRCC. Utilities collect these samples themselves. Most
utilities will analyze these samples at their own lab.

Lab Approval Procedure

In order for a utility’s lab to be approved, the utility must submit (and have approved)
the Laboratory Approval Form, indicating the methods and quality control procedures
used at the utility. The form must be signed by the certified operator with responsibility
for laboratory operations. The TNRCC will review these forms upon receipt and
contact the system if the form is incomplete or if the methods noted are not acceptable.

If the system sends any of the samples listed on the Laboratory Approval Form to an
outside lab that is NOT run by a public water system (a commercial lab), that lab must
be certified by the Texas Department of Health (TDH) to perform those analyses. For
information on laboratory certification, contact the TDH at 512/458-7587.

Analytes Run by Other Labs

Utilities may have approved lab analytes run by commercial labs or other water system
labs, if that outside lab is approved by TNRCC. When you fill out the lab approval
form, write the name of the outside lab in the line for the analyte they measure.

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“Not Required” Analytes
The analytes that are listed on the form include all of those that must be analyzed at an
approved lab. Your system may not be required to analyze for all of the analytes on the
list. For example, if your system treats groundwater, you are not required to measure
turbidity, and you should write “Not Required” on the form in the line for turbidity.

As another example, only systems that use chlorine dioxide must measure chlorite and
chlorine dioxide. If you do not use chlorine dioxide, write the words “Not Required” in
the space for chlorite and chlorine dioxide.

Calcium and phosphates are also examples of chemicals a system may not be required
to measure. If you are not required to optimize corrosion control as a result of the
Lead/Copper Rule, write “Not Required” on the lines for calcium and phosphate.

Certified-Lab Analytes
Public water systems must have the following analyses performed by a lab certified by
the TDH:
! bacteriological,
! trihalomethane (TTHM),
! haloacetic acid (HAA5),
! bromate,
! synthetic organic chemical (SOC),
! volatile organic chemical (VOC),
! inorganic chemical (IC), and
! monthly distribution system chlorite.

Except for the bacteriological samples and monthly chlorite samples, all the certified-lab
analyte samples are collected by TNRCC’s sampling contractor. The contractor
delivers the samples to TDH for analysis.

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Monitoring Plan
A copy of the Laboratory Approval Form must be attached to the system’s monitoring
plan. For information on monitoring plans, contact the TNRCC’s Public Drinking
Water Chemical Monitoring Team at 512/239-6020. On the monitoring plan, the
system must attach documentation showing that any outside labs it uses are approved
or certified, as appropriate.

If you send approved-lab analytes to a commercial lab, that commercial lab must be
TDH-certified in the appropriate analysis. Evidence of the commercial lab’s
certification must be attached to the monitoring plan.

If you send approved-lab analytes to a different public water system’s lab, that public
water system’s lab must be TNRCC approved in the appropriate analysis. You must
attach a copy of that public water system lab’s Laboratory Approval Form to your
monitoring plan.

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 LAB APPROVAL FORM

PUBLIC WATER PLANT NAME OR

SYSTEM NAME: NUMBER:

PWS ID No.: Date:

I certify that I am familiar with the information contained in this report and that, to the best of my knowledge, the
information is true, complete, and accurate.
Operator's
Signature:
Certificate No.
& Grade:

Analyte 1 Method Accuracy Calibration Record

(& Analyzer Retention
Type) Frequency Method
Turbidity

pH

Temperature

TOC

UV254

Alkalinity

Disinfectant 2
Free Chlorine
Total Chlorine
Chlorine Dioxide
Chlorite 3
at point of entry
Calcium 3

Phosphate 3

1 Write “Not Required” next to analytes you are not required to measure. If samples are sent to an outside lab, write the name of
the lab next to the analytes you send there.
2 For systems using chlorine dioxide.

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3 For systems reporting water quality parameters for the Lead/Copper Rule.

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Appendix 9: Densities and Equivalent
Weights of Commercial Alum
Solutions
Specific Gravity Lb/Gal % A l 2O 3 Equivalent % Pound Dry Alum Gram Dry Alum
Dry Alum* per Gal Solution per Liter
Solution
1.0069 8.40 0.19 1.12 0.09 11.277
1.0140 8.46 0.39 2.29 0.19 23.221
1.0211 8.52 0.59 3.47 0.30 35.432
1.0284 8.58 0.80 4.71 0.40 48.438
1.0357 8.64 1.01 5.94 0.51 61.521
1.0432 8.70 1.22 7.18 0.62 74.902
1.0507 8.76 1.43 8.41 0.74 88.364
1.0584 8.83 1.64 9.65 0.85 102.136
1.0662 8.89 1.85 10.88 0.97 116.003
1.0741 8.96 2.07 12.18 1.09 130.825
1.0821 9.02 2.28 13.41 1.21 145.110
1.0902 9.09 2.50 14.71 1.34 160.368
1.0985 9.16 2.72 16.00 1.47 175.760
1.1069 9.23 2.93 17.24 1.59 190.830
1.1154 9.30 3.15 18.53 1.72 206.684
1.1240 9.37 3.38 19.88 1.86 223.451
1.1328 9.45 3.60 21.18 2.00 239.927
1.1417 9.52 3.82 22.47 2.14 256.540
1.1508 9.60 4.04 23.76 2.28 273.430
1.1600 9.67 4.27 25.12 2.43 291.392
1.1694 9.75 4.50 26.47 2.58 309.540
1.1789 9.83 4.73 27.82 2.74 327.970
1.1885 9.91 4.96 29.18 2.89 346.804
1.1983 9.99 5.19 30.53 3.05 365.841
1.2083 10.08 5.43 31.94 3.22 385.931
1.2185 10.16 5.67 33.35 3.39 406.370
1.2288 10.25 5.91 34.76 3.56 427.131
1.2393 10.34 6.16 36.24 3.74 449.122
1.2500 10.43 6.42 37.76 3.93 472.000
1.2609 10.52 6.67 39.24 4.12 494.777
1.2719 10.61 6.91 40.65 4.31 517.027
1.2832 10.70 7.16 42.12 4.51 540.484
1.2946 10.80 7.40 43.53 4.71 563.539
1.3063 10.89 7.66 45.06 4.91 588.619
1.3182 10.99 7.92 46.59 5.12 614.149
1.3303 11.09 8.19 48.18 5.34 640.938
1.3426 11.20 8.46 49.76 5.57 668.078
1.3551 11.30 8.74 51.41 5.81 696.657
1.3679 11.41 9.01 53.00 6.05 724.987

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* 17% Al2O3 in Dry Alum + 0.03% Free Al2O3 (From Allied Chemical Company Alum Handbook and EPA CPE Handbook, page K-2)

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