NoMonia - Biological Water Filtration Systems
Ammonia is an increasing concern for many communities throughout North America. While it is currently unregulated by the USEPA, the World Health Organization (WHO) set a recommended maximum contaminant level of 0.2 mg/L in drinking water. Concerns, however, related to water contaminated by ammonia should not be taken lightly. If ammonia-generated nitrification occurs in the distribution network, it may lead to pipe corrosion, biofilm generation, poor taste and odor, and elevated nitrate levels. Additionally, ammonia commonly interferes with the removal of contaminants that require oxidation including arsenic, iron, and manganese.
Legacy ammonia treatment approaches such as ion exchange, reverse osmosis, breakpoint chlorination and air stripping often struggle to meet the recommended MCL guideline of 0.2 mg/L. These processes require chemicals and extensive operator attention and are not environmentally sound due to the generation of concentrated wastewater.
NoMonia™ is a sustainable, cost-effective and robust biological treatment approach and an alternative to legacy treatment options. NoMonia was developed and patented by the EPA (EPA Patent # US 8,029,674, October 4, 2011) and relies on naturally occurring bacteria already present in groundwater to enhance the natural nitrification process, during which, in the presence of oxygen, ammonia is converted to nitrite and then nitrate.
The benefits of choosing NoMonia include:
- Multiple contaminant removals to non-detectable levels in a single treatment process with proven performance;
- Significantly lower plant life cycle costs;
- Minimal operator attention and experience required;
- No hazardous waste residual concentrated waste, or brine discharge;
- Sustainable design results in high water recovery rates; and
- No formation of DBPs (THM, HAAs).
