Impacts on water quality by in situ induced ozone‑oxygen oxidation in a polluted urban reservoir

The results of the successful implementation of a treatment based on the injection of ozone (O₃) and oxygen (O₂) into a contaminated body of water are reported for the first time. Three decontaminating units (SCAVENGER™), which have the capacity to inject up to 120 g O₃/h and 250 Kg O₂/h in the form of microbubbles (90 ± 10 μm in diameter), were placed in the contaminated Valsequillo reservoir, Central Mexico. In order to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment, 20 physicochemical parameters, 18 organic compounds, 66 inorganic compounds and 11 biological indicators were measured before, during and after the treatment; all of them in several representative sites of the east side of the Valsequillo reservoir. After 5 months of operating the SCAVENGER™ units in the eastern part of the reservoir, the concentration of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) increased 68%. Likewise, the chemical reducing conditions of the reservoir reflected by the low oxidation-reduction potential (ORP; −237 ± 75 mV) became quasi-oxidant (10 ± 58 mV). The treatment was efficient in water disinfection, presenting an 80% reduction in Fecal Coliforms (FC). Some heavy metals also showed a decrease in their concentration, being as follows: Al (65%), Cr (35%), Pb (46%), Zn (60%), Mn (20%), Mo (40%), Fe (32%), As (58%) and Co (26%). Due to the selective reactivity of ozone towards aliphatic and aromatic unsaturated compounds, several organic compounds reduced in their concentration by up to two orders of magnitude. Based on the above, it is evident that the treatment with ozone and oxygen was effective in substantially improving the quality of water in the east side of the Valsequillo reservoir.