BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES AT SAINTS HILL WATER-TREATMENT PLANT, KENT - DISCUSSION

The new treatment plant at Saint's Hill has been operating since May 1 992 and biologically treats ground-water to remove iron, ammonium/ammo nia and manganese. The paper describes the project, the processes invo lved, the significance of pilot-plant studies, the different stages of commissioning and plant efficiency. This method of treatment, althoug h new to the UK, is well-established in France, and reference to exist ing plants using the processes is made for purposes of indicating the range of applicability of biological treatment processes. Specific con ditions are required for biological processes. Not all raw waters can be economically treated to produce an environment which is appropriate for bacterial activity. Conditions for biological iron and manganese removal are different. The paper illustrates the importance of pilot s tudies to establish the feasibility of biological processes and to det ermine the design parameters for industrial-scale works.