Originally published in the Army Logistician, The Professional Bulletin of United States Army Logistics

Water Purification—Acquiring the Tools

to Make It Happen

by Captain John W. Mark, Jr., and Richard E. Long

Have our prayers been answered? For years, unit water purification training has been stymied by the inability of the reverse osmosis water purification unit (ROWPU) to meet the standards set by environmental regulations. In some states, units have been able to operate the ROWPU only without chemicals; in other states and countries, they could operate an ROWPU only under wartime conditions. The Quartermaster Corps soon may have a solution for meeting the Environmental Protection Agency's wastewater requirements—the Multi-functional Modular Fluid Filtration System™ (MMFFS™).

ROWPU's can remove most petroleum products from water. However, fouling of the ROWPU's filter elements and multimedia tanks increases operational costs dramatically and reduces the life of the ROWPU. The MMFFS is a commercially available system that can serve as a pre-treatment method of preventing severe fouling of the ROWPU filter elements and contamination of multimedia tanks.

The real benefit of the MMFFS is realized when it is used as a post-treatment filter of ROWPU backwash residue. This process reduces the residue to a level that can be discharged back into the water source, thus eliminating the requirement to backhaul wastewater to a sewer system. Additionally, this process can recycle the waste as source water in an arid environment where water is scarce.

How the MMFFS Works

The MMFFS was designed specifically to be used with U.S. military tactical water purification, distribution, and storage systems. It is a portable, lightweight, high-flow pre- and post-treatment unit that enhances ROWPU operations and aids in meeting environmental discharge regulations. It can reduce a broad range of inorganic and organic chemicals and compounds. Its three fluid process stages, each designed to remove a specific class of contaminant and enhance the performance of each consecutive down-line stage, are—

· Stage I: A 5-micron (nominal) filter. Here the MMFFS prevents all particulate matter larger than 5 microns from entering the system. It effectively removes dirt, sand, rust particles, debris, and other large particles.

The MMFFS can be carried by four men and takes up only one-half of the cargo bed of a high-mobility, multi-purpose, wheeled vehicle (HMMWV).

· Stage II: Eight modular canisters. The first four modules contain special absorbents; the second four contain research-grade, granular, activated carbon impregnated with specialty adsorbents. These eight modules combine their absorbing, adsorbing, and kinetic processes to reduce oil, grease, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, total organic carbon, benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, xylene, polynuclear aromatics, natural organic material, and certain heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, nickel, zinc, and copper.

· Stage III: A final polishing stage. This stage uses filters to remove trihalomethanes, volatile organic compounds, and other chemicals. Effluent is filtered to 25 microns, with the additional capability of reducing the level to .5 microns.

System Scores High on Tests

The MMFFS was tested successfully at the Army Forces Command Centralized Salt Water Purification Training Site, Fort Story, Virginia, and during numerous training exercises such as Roving Sands '97 and Petroleum Oil and Lubricant Exercise (POLEX) '97. During Roving Sands '97, a leak-and-pressure test was conducted on a petroleum pipeline by flushing the line with water. This procedure led to a mixture of 9,000 gallons of water and 22,000 gallons of JP-8 fuel (or 120 parts per million of JP-8). The MMFFS processed the mixture and reduced the contaminants to a non-detectable level.

During POLEX '97, the 475th Quartermaster Group encountered environmental restrictions on the wastewater being generated at their field laundry and bath sites. The MMFFS was used to remove all detergents and residuals from the wastewater, producing clear, clean water. These tests not only validated the capability of the MMFFS but also illustrated its usefulness to other quartermaster units in overcoming environmental restrictions.

System Improvements Continue

The MMFFS 2000 was sized to work with the 600 gallons-per-hour (GPH) ROWPU. It cannot handle the discharge flow rate from the 3K (3,000 GPH) ROWPU. Currently, the Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, is testing the model MMFFS 2000 to determine the life expectancy of its canisters and polishers. They also are determining the correct size MMFFS needed to meet the discharge pounds per square inch and flow rate of direct discharge from the 3K ROWPU.

The MMFFS, currently being developed by TerraGroup Corporation, will be an investment—around $15,000 for a system complete with accessories—that your unit cannot afford to overlook. If the MMFFS is integrated with the ROWPU, units will be able to get back to training in the field where they belong. ALOG

Captain John W. Mark, Jr., is a senior analyst for services, Army Forces Command Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics (DCSLOG). He has a bachelor of science degree in economics from the University of Southern California and is a graduate of the Quartermaster Officer Basic Course, the Combined Logistics Officer Advanced Course, and the Combined Arms and Services Staff School.

Richard E. Long is the program manager for petroleum and water for the Army Forces Command DCSLOG. He is a retired master sergeant with a wide range of experience in supply and services and logistics.