Municipal Water Treatment (Bicarbus Descaling)
# Municipal Water Treatment (Bicarbus Descaling)
Restoring Capacity and Safety in Aging Water Mains
Many small- to mid-sized municipalities in Texas manage water networks with aging cast iron, ductile iron, or transite pipes. Over decades of service, mineral scale (mainly calcium carbonate) builds up inside these pipes, constricting water flow, lowering water pressure, and harboring bacterial biofilms.
To disinfect scale-filled pipes, cities often increase chlorine dosing, which reacts with organic materials to create harmful, carcinogenic byproducts called Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs).
E3 provides Bicarbus chemical descaling and treatment services. Bicarbus is a safe, budget-neutral technology that dissolves mineral scale in-place, eliminates biofilms, improves water pressure, and helps municipalities comply with TCEQ drinking water standards.
How Bicarbus Descaling Works
### 1. In-Place Calcium Carbonate Dissolution Bicarbus is an eco-friendly, food-grade chemical treatment introduced into the municipal water supply in highly controlled concentrations. It reacts with the calcium carbonate scale, dissolving it back into soluble calcium and bicarbonate ions. This process slowly clears the interior of the pipes without the need for manual flushing or pipe excavation.
### 2. Elimination of Biofilms and Bacterial Harbors Mineral scale has a porous structure that acts as a shelter for bacteria, protecting them from chlorine disinfection. By dissolving the scale, Bicarbus strips away these bacterial harbors, exposing pathogens to standard disinfection and improving overall biological safety.
### 3. Reductions in Chlorine and TTHMs As the water mains are cleared of scale and organic biofilms, the water’s chlorine demand decreases. The municipality can reduce chlorine dosing while still maintaining the required disinfection residuals. Lowering chlorine levels directly prevents the formation of harmful TTHM carcinogens, bringing the city into compliance with environmental standards.
### 4. Improved Water Pressure and Flow Rates As the pipe’s internal diameter is restored, friction losses decrease, water pressure improves at customer meters, and fire hydrant flow rates increase to meet safety codes.
Sizing, Safety, and Environmental Compliance
Water safety is paramount, and chemical dosing must be managed with strict oversight. E3’s water engineers design every Bicarbus system to meet:
- NSF/ANSI Standard 60 Certification: We use only chemicals that are certified safe for drinking water.
- TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) Approval: We secure all required state approvals and manage water quality monitoring during the descaling process.
- Continuous Telemetry and Dosing Controls: We install automated chemical dosing pumps equipped with telemetry systems, adjusting chemical injection in real-time based on water flow rates.
Turnkey Project Implementation
Through our Design-Build process, E3 manages the entire descaling project: 1. Baseline Inspections: Performing CCTV pipe inspections or flow testing to measure scale thicknesses. 2. Dosing System Installation: Setting up chemical dosing equipment at water wells or pump stations. 3. Water Quality Monitoring: Regularly testing water pressure, mineral levels, and chlorine residuals to verify progress. 4. Cooperative Procurement: Pre-approved on BuyBoard and TIPS, E3 helps municipalities fast-track the procurement process without public bidding.