Stormwater Management Technologies: Portable Treatment Devices
Following contamination of infrastructure, state and local agencies may need to implement control measures to contain or redirect stormwater. EPA is developing and testing technologies to support stormwater management.
Go back to the Stormwater Management Implementation Control Technologies page.
Disclaimer: Mention of trade names, products, or services does not convey official EPA approval, endorsement, or recommendation.
Portable Treatment Devices
EPA identifies and tests portable water treatment technologies that can be utilized for water disinfection and decontamination operations. Optimally, the equipment should be easy to use by emergency responders, easy to transport in a standard pick-up truck and should not require a forklift for loading or off-loading.
SolstremeTM X35 Ultraviolet (UV) Unit
The SolstremeTM X35 ultraviolet (UV) germicidal water treatment unit first appeared on the market as a commercial product in 2013. The SolstremeTM X35 unit uses a patented microwave-actuated electrodeless lamp technology to provide UV disinfection.
EPA tested the SolstremeTM X35 both at the EPA Test & Evaluation (T&E) Facility located in Cincinnati, Ohio.
EPA then challenged the unit at its Water Security Test Bed, located near Idaho Falls, Idaho, replicating a field-scale emergency response. EPA tested the unit for its ability to effectively treat waters contaminated with Bacillus globigii (a nonpathogenic surrogate for Bacillus anthracis) and for its ability to treat water contaminated with Escherichia coli (lab test only).
The SolstremeTM X35 unit overall was able to consistently disinfect E. coli contamination to over 6-log reduction. The technology was able to consistently inactivate Bacillus globigii spores from 3.5 to 5.0 log reductions at flow rates from 5 to 11 gallons per minute. The influence of turbidity, air pockets, and water temperature on disinfection performance merits further investigation.
Water on Wheels Cart (WOW Cart)
EPA developed a mobile treatment unit utilizing a CRADA with the non-profit humanitarian relief organization WaterStep. The research team first fabricated the Water on Wheels Cart (WOW Cart) at the EPA T&E Facility and then challenged it at the EPA Water Security Test Bed, located near Idaho Falls, Idaho. EPA and WaterStep deployed components of the cart to Puerto Rico in response to Hurricane Maria. The research team modified and expanded the system based upon the field results and challenge at the Water Security Test Bed.
EPA challenged the WOW Cart using lagoon water contaminated with diesel fuel and Escherichia coli. The WOW Cart successfully removed 4 to 6 logs of E. coli and total coliforms, respectively. The WOW Cart removed diesel fuel components to below detection levels, which made the water safe to drink. Results revealed that extremely turbid water (>120 NTU) could foul the chemical water treatment process prematurely and prevent adequate supplies of treated water from being available.
Future research and development on the WOW Cart will include:
- Additional pre-filtration technologies to treat extremely contaminated water
- Evaluation/integration of innovative future treatment technologies
- Real-time instrumentation for remote operating and reporting capabilities
- Applications to medical triage in the field and at forward operating bases
- Case study field evaluations