PILOT-PLANT TRAINING FOR HIGH TURBIDITY

Sierra Pacific Power Company (SPPC), the major water purveyor in north ern Nevada, draws its supply from surface water (75 percent) and groun dwater (25 percent). The Truckee River, which provides SPPC surface wa ter, is a dynamic raw water source that can change from a nominal turb idity of 5.0-ntu to >4,000 ntu in as little as 5 hours. To equip its o perators with the skills to treat such a variable raw water source, SP PC developed an intensive operator training session. An existing pilot plant was modified to accommodate a delivery system capable of produc ing a raw water turbidity of 5 ntu to >4,000 ntu in an 8-hour period. SPPC's training program proved its value Jan. 1, 1997, when a major fl ood transformed the normally calm Truckee River into a turbulent raw w ater source with extreme turbidity fluctuations. Applying the experien ce and knowledge from their pilot training, operators were able to suc cessfully treat the varying raw water conditions and continue delivery of a safe water supply to the cities of Reno and Sparks.