The research team has developed a project approach to provide utilities, their consultants, and state regulators with the information required to evaluate alternative high-rate SFBW treatment devices to achieve an overall lower cost and footprint requirement. This included identification and evaluation of existing data, complemented by collection and evaluation of new data from bench-, pilot-, and full-scale studies. The existing data includes both published data and previously unpublished data from drinking water utilities and equipment manufacturers for high-rate SFBW treatment processes only.

The pilot phase of the project took place at two cities representing the broad range of conditions identified in previous EE&T research for the Foundation (Cornwell et al. 2001, Foundation Project 352). The Morgan WTP in Cleveland, OH generally has a SFBW turbidity of about 20 ntu and is typical of reservoir/lake conventional treatment while Utah Valley WTP in Orem, UT has a SFBW turbidity of about 200 ntu and is typical of direct filtration and river sources. The pilot testing at both facilities included high rate DAF and solids contact clarification systems. Full scale monitoring of an existing standard-rate DAF unit was conducted at the Betasso WTP in Boulder, CO in both cold and warm seasons.

Bench scale testing of low pressure tubular, hollow and ceramic MF/UF membranes was conducted at the University of Massachusetts.