East Bay MUD adopts new UV light technology to combat water quality threats

"The East Bay Municipal Utility District's newest $325 million addition to the Orinda Water Treatment Plant centers around a high-tech plan to use ultraviolet light as the primary decontamination strategy to combat rising organic matter found in the Mokelumne watershed. The project seeks to protect against future increases in run-off, flooding and water temperatures that lead to more pathogens, viruses and natural organic matter. When organic matter is treated with chlorine, it can create harmful byproducts, known as trihalomethanes (THMs), which can impact human health."

"In the 2010s, EBMUD sensors detected a rise in THMs from environmental changes, and officials adopted a plan to implement a new water-quality system that could safely protect the East Bay's supply for the next 100 years. This is our first water treatment plant that will have an ultraviolet disinfection, said Karlstrand. We're making the largest dollar investment in our infrastructure ever as part of this project."

EBMUD is investing $325 million to add ultraviolet disinfection and a chlorine contact basin to the 90-year-old Orinda Water Treatment Plant to address rising organic matter in the Mokelumne watershed. The upgrade aims to reduce formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) that result when organic matter is treated with chlorine and can harm human health. Historical chlorine disinfection has killed bacteria and viruses but produced chemical byproducts. Sensors detected increased THMs in the 2010s, prompting a century-scale water-quality plan. The project will make ultraviolet light the primary decontamination method, augmenting resilience against runoff, flooding, higher water temperatures and pathogen increases.

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