Pilot Testing an Advanced Oxidation System at Salton Sea, Salton Sea Authority, Imperial County, California

Fish die-offs during warm summer days at the Salton Sea occurred as a result of low water quality and low oxygen transfer rates to hypolimnetic water. To solve the problem the Salton Sea Authority commissioned a project to evaluate the alternatives to restore the lake water quality, prevent fish die-offs, and improve water aesthetics. The Authority commissioned a pilot test to evaluate the performance of an ozone system to oxidize hydrogen sulfide in water. The pilot plant consisted of a skid mounted advanced oxidation system with a capacity of 10 gallons per minute. The purpose of the pilot test was to demonstrate the technology to the client, obtain operation data, and estimate costs for a full scale water treatment system. The system included tanks, pumps, and filtration systems and was operational within two weeks of equipment delivery. The project was contracted as a fixed-price project.