Water quality assessment for indirect potable reuse: a new methodology for controlling trace organic compounds at the West Basin Water Recycling Plant (California, USA)

The West Basin Water Recycling plant (California; USA) was built to increase the region's water resource availability. The plant influent is produced at Los Angeles Hyperion wastewater treatment plant and is treated through two parallel treatment processes depending on the end use : (1) Title 22 water for industrial and urban use, and (2) barrier treatment for groundwater recharge. A new methodology was applied to monitor the fate of base neutral compounds in the water barrier treatment train. The methodology included large sample volumes coupled with integrated chromatographic analysis (ICA). Data indicated a 25% increase in concentration of base neutral compounds after RO pretreatment, followed by a 70% removal efficiency after RO. The increase in concentration after RO pretreatment appears to be linked to the use of lime clarification.