News Release

UT Arlington research to benefit quality, flow in 150-mile Integrated Pipeline

Grant work to eliminate biofilm, zebra mussels

Grant and Award Announcement

University of Texas at Arlington

A UT Arlington environmental engineer has been awarded a $394,300 grant from the Tarrant Regional Water District to ensure water quality and flow in the new facilities of the 150-mile Integrated Pipeline Project.

Andrew Kruzic, UT Arlington associate professor of civil engineering, will investigate the best methods and locations to add monochloramine to the water in an effort to eliminate biological growths in the new pump stations and pipelines. Adding monochloramine is widely practiced throughout the United States.

Biological growth decreases the flow rate in the pipelines and increase the cost to deliver the water.

The monochloramines will be removing biofilm and invasive species, such as the zebra mussels, that have infested some North Texas lakes. Kruzic also will study how to inhibit internal corrosion, and recommend locations along the pipeline for water treatment.

"As North Texas builds the $2.3 billion, 150-mile pipeline from Lake Palestine in East Texas to Tarrant County, the builders have to ensure what they're getting will be as efficient and last as long as possible," Kruzic said. "We want to make sure the pipeline is flowing as much water as possible to North Texas."

The first portion of the pipeline is scheduled to be operational by 2021 and will deliver up to 350 million gallons of raw water per day to North Texas. The Tarrant Regional Water District and Dallas Water Utilities are teaming together for the project. TRWD has 70 customer cities. DWU has 27 customer cities. Together, the two providers supply water to more than 4.4 million people in 13 North Texas counties.

"Dr. Kruzic's research is necessary to help us operate the pipeline efficiently, while also meeting the targeted project-life of 100 years," said David Marshall, engineering services director for the Tarrant Regional Water District. "The Integrated Pipeline Project is critical to ensuring water supplies to support long term growth in North Texas."

Currently, water utilities rely on monochloramine, a combination of chloride and ammonia, to disinfect and protect water supplies from disease-causing microorganisms, Kruzic said.

Kruzic is teaming with Kevin Schug, a UT Arlington associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, in the research. Schug also is the Shimadzu Distinguished Professor of Analytical Chemistry. His work is based in the Shimadzu Center for Advanced Analytical Chemistry at UT Arlington. The research will rely on one of Shimadzu's chemical analysis machines.

Kruzic also said that he will serve as a consultant to the Tarrant Regional Water District to choose instrumentation for chemical and environmental monitoring on the pipeline. Finally, part of the grant calls for Kruzic to help incorporate the research results into final design for the pipeline.

Khosrow Behbehani, dean of the UT Arlington College of Engineering, said Dr. Kruzic's work is vital to ensure continued growth in North Texas.

"This pipeline can get needed water resources to North Texas," Behbehani said. "Dr. Kruzic's research will have long-lasting impact on providing safe water for current and future North Texas residents and businesses. His methods and procedures certainly could be used by future projects involving large volumes of water."

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The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive research institution of more than 33,800 students and 2,200 faculty members in the heart of North Texas and the second largest member of The University of Texas System. Research activity has more than tripled over the past decade to $71.4 million last year with an emphasis on bioengineering, medical diagnostics, micro manufacturing, advanced robotics and defense and Homeland Security technologies, among other areas. Visit http://www.uta.edu to learn more.


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