Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Services

The Palmdale Water District (PWD) is a Community Water System located in Palmdale, California that utilizes two separate types of Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) for potable water treatment. The two GAC's that PWD uses are: 1) Bituminous Coal based GAC from Calgon Carbon; Filtrasorb 400 (F-400). 2) Coconut Shell based GAC from Evoqua / Xylem; AquaCarb AC1230C. Below is more specific information on the two GAC’s PWD uses for water treatment: 1) The Bituminous Coal based GAC from Calgon Carbon; Filtrasorb 400 (F-400), is used for Total Organic Carbon (TOC) reduction. This reduction is primarily achieved by the adsorption of Natural Organic Material (NOM). The F-400 GAC is contained in 8 large GAC contactors and located at the 35 MGD Leslie O. Carter Water Treatment Plant (LOCWTP). Each GAC contactor measures 16’ x 55’ x 8’ and contains 7,040 ft3 of GAC. PWD regenerates the GAC in 4 contactors per year. 2) The Coconut Shell based GAC from Evoqua / Xylem; AquaCarb AC1230C GAC, is used for Total Trihalomethane (TTHM) removal. The AC1230C GAC is contained in a large pressure vessel located at the Upper El Camino Reservoir site and holds 30,000 lbs. of dry virgin GAC. PWD replaces the used GAC in the large pressure vessel every 2 years, and it is due to be replaced in 2025.