Predicting total trihalomethane formation in finished water using artificial neural networks

This paper reports on the application of artificial neural network (ANN) techniques for predicting the concentration of trihalomethanes (THMs) in finished water at the E.L. Smith Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The formation of THMs in finished water involves many complex chemical reactions and interactions that are difficult to model using conventional methods. The formation of THMs has been found to be correlated to raw and treated water quality characteristics such as colour, pH, and temperature and chemical addition such as chlorine, alum, and powder activated carbon (PAC). Three models were derived using raw water, post clarification water, and a combination of raw and post clarification water parameter inputs. The model that most successfully predicted the concentration of THMs in finished water is the model that uses clarifier effluent parameter inputs. This model can be used at the E.L. Smith WTP for early detection of potentially high THM concentrations in finished water and gives plant operators enough advanced warning to reduce THM precursors. With an adequate understanding of water treatment plant processes and THM formation potential it will be fairly easy for any water treatment facility, which has a few years of historical plant data, to develop its own ANN model for predicting the formation of THM in finished water. Key words: artificial neural networks, water treatment process, water treatment modeling, trihalomethane formation.