Evaluation of Artificial Mixing Systems in IRWD’s Reservoirs

Irvine Ranch Water District Engineering, 2001-02

Liaison(s): Arseny Kalinsky, Carl Spangenberg
Advisor(s): Donald Remer
Students(s): Micaela Ellison (TL), Deborah Chun, Angela Hsueh, David Levitt, Markus Ong

Due to low water demand, IRWD’s Coastal Zone reservoirs have long residence times that cause disinfectant degradation, leading to low chlorine residuals and increased microbial growth. IRWD installed submersible mixers to improve circulation and promote thorough mixing in the tanks, however, uneven mixing continued to be detected. The Clinic team evaluated mixing in the reservoirs using two approaches: a tracer study using fluoride, and modeling using Fluent Computational Fluid Dynamics Software.