Turbid Water Treatment Solution

The City of Chinook, Montana, is an agricultural community with a population of 1,200 residents. It has used the Milk River for its water supply since the 1930s. The river is also known for its periods of extreme turbidity, heavy sediment, and has recently experienced high levels of organics.

In 2010, the city began having issues with disinfection byproducts (DBPs), equipment reliability, and overall limitations in treatment flexibility due to deteriorating river conditions. Flash turbidity events were common and lasted for weeks. The total organic carbon (TOC) and alkalinity levels began to steadily increase, which made treatment more difficult.