4th Annual Slow Sand and Alternative Biological Filtration Conference

Slow sand filtration is typically cited as being the first “engineered” process to improve the quality of drinking water in both modern Europe and the USA. Recent modifications to the conventional slow sand filtration process, the awareness of induced biological removals in riverbank filtration systems, and the growth of oxidant-induced biological activity in more rapid-rate filters, e.g., biological activated carbon, demonstrate the renaissance of biofiltration (including slow sand filtration) as a viable drinking water treatment process for both small, rural communities and major cities. Biofiltration is expected to become even more common in the future as efforts to decrease disinfection by-products in drinking water, minimize microbial regrowth potential in distribution systems, and where operator skill levels are emphasized. The objective of this conference is to provide an updated perspective on the physical, chemical, biological, and operational factors affecting the performance of biological filtration systems from slow sand and riverbank filtration to more advanced biological treatment techniques such as biological activated carbon (BAC)