Research & Services
Lowry Water Technologies provides water treatment systems and engineering services for design-build water treatment projects and is a consultant to government agencies, other engineering firms, professional societies, and private water utilities.
As professional engineers building and designing water treatment systems for nearly 40 years, we’ve researched and tested the best methods for solving contaminant issues for public drinking water utilities, schools, and corporate clients alike.
Curious about how we can help you with your water treatment needs? We are available to answer your questions. Let us know how we can help!
Keep scrolling to:
Read
our original research studies and findings by our founding engineers.
Learn more
about the processes we use in our water treatment systems.
Download
our Product cut sheets.
-
Radionuclides research
Lowry Water Technologies has performed many studies on the removal of radionuclides from water supplies. Dr. Jerry Lowry and his students at the University of Maine conducted some of the first studies on the removal of radon and radon progeny.
Research studies conducted for the American Water Works Research Foundation, the EPA, and private firms focused on the measurement and the removal of uranium, radium, radon, and polonium. These efforts over a 35-year span have resulted in numerous papers and presentations, as well as the design and commissioning of many drinking water facilities.
American Water Works Association Journal: “Measuring low radon levels in drinking water supplies”(1991)
New England Water Works Association: “Granulated activated carbon water treatment and potential hazards” (1989)
New England Water Works Association: “Modeling point of entry Radon removal by GAC and evaluating aeration technology for radon removal” (1987)
-
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) research
Lowry Water Technologies has addressed the removal of VOCs over 30 years, both with research studies and the design and commissioning of many water treatment facilities.
Early work with removing gasoline-related contamination led to studies for the EPA, state regulatory agencies, and private and public water utilities. This led to more current work on the removal of VOCs from drinking water supplies and a study for the EPA to develop removal data for the multi-stage DeepBubble™ air stripping process.
Water Treatment Adaptation Tool Development for EPA (2013)
-
Corrosion Control/pH Adjustment research
Lowry Water Technologies has designed over 100 air-stripping plants for the removal of carbon dioxide to eliminate low pH and corrosion.
This large body of work done across North America is summarized in the “Corrosion Control with Air Stripping” presentation below. A recent study on the production, corrosiveness, and removal of nitrogen trichloride (trichloramine) in a drinking water supply summarized the rapid corrosion of stainless steel.
California-Nevada Section of the American Waterworks Association (CA-NV AWWA): “Rapid corrosion of a stainless steel air stripper by trichloramine” (2013 presentation)
Original research findings: “Corrosion control with air stripping” (2010)
American Water Works Association Journal: “California’s first aeration plants for corrosion control” (2002)
What are Air Strippers?
Air strippers remove volatile contaminants from water by contacting air and water to optimize transfer kinetics. Common types of air strippers include packed towers, multi-stage bubble systems, venturi eductors, and spray nozzles.
How we utilize Air Strippers for water treatment:
-
Lowry Water Technologies designs and manufactures multi-stage DeepBubble™ air strippers to remove volatile organics, radon, carbon dioxide, THM’s, methane, and hydrogen sulfide, and to oxidize iron for subsequent removal by filtration. DeepBubble™ models are offered to treat water supplies with flow rates ranging from a few gpm to over 8,000 gpm. The amount of removal is related to the A:W ratio; we select the appropriate design A:W ratio based upon years of research, modeling, and field experience. Treated water is discharged either by gravity into a clear well or pumped directly out of the air stripper vessel.
Our DeepBubble™ systems are engineered for simple and efficient operation, accessibility and ease of maintenance. All of our systems are less than 6 ft in height and can be easily installed in existing or standard buildings. In warmer climates, our systems can be installed and operated outdoors.
-
For hydrogen sulfide, we can selectively add carbon dioxide to our bubbles to add hydrogen ions (lower pH) in the first few stages. This enhances the rate and degree of sulfide removal. Excess carbon dioxide is stripped in the final stages.
In applications involving lowering pH in RO or CMF processes, carbon dioxide is added or produced by the addition of strong acids. DeepBubble™ systems are ideal for stripping the excess carbon dioxide post-treatment.
-
Over the past 30 years, many DeepBubble™ systems have been used to provide a non-chemical solution to problems with corrosion (Pb & Cu) in distribution systems. The natural carbon dioxide is air-stripped and the pH is raised. We have treated supplies containing >200 mg/L carbon dioxide and eliminated the use of existing corrosion control chemicals. Air-stripped water quality is superior to water quality after caustic and/or phosphate addition. Air stripping eliminates the need for corrosion control chemicals.
We have more than 30 years of experience with air strippers fabricated in various materials and in many operating environments. We fabricate our air strippers using an extrusion-welded HDPE (NSF61) tank that is insulated to create a low-sweat vessel. The vessel is supported by a non-rusting anodized aluminum profile frame. This gives our clients the best of all worlds - a corrosion-free vessel, a strong non-ferrous metal support frame, and a secure and easy-to-maintain and access system with lockable and hinged lids.
What are Granular Media Filters?
Granular media filters remove suspended or colloidal particles, such as removing suspended solids remaining after sedimentation clarification. Lowry Water Technologies designs and builds granular adsorption media systems to remove arsenic, iron/manganese, chlorine, and organics/pesticides.
How we utilize Granular Media Filters for water treatment:
-
Our systems are designed using parallel and/or series operation in a down-flow mode. Some systems can be designed with one-use media or with recycle and solids disposal to eliminate backwash requirements and the need for a sewer or on-site discharge of wastewater.
What is Ion Exchange?
Ion exchange is a specific chemical process where unwanted dissolved ions in water or wastewater, such as nitrate, arsenic, sulfate, and iron, to name a few, are exchanged for other ions with a similar charge. Alkalinity, hardness, and other elements such as manganese, radium, and uranium are removed using cation, anion, or mixed-bed ion exchange resin beds.
How we utilize Ion Exchange for water treatment:
-
Lowry Water Technologies brings 30 years of experience designing and building ion exchange systems to remove a variety of contaminants from groundwater supplies.
We were one of the first to use ion exchange to routinely remove arsenic, radium, and uranium from water supplies across the U.S. We continue research and consulting on radionuclide issues involving treatment and disposal of residuals.