James J. Houtz, president of SIONIX Corporationtoday announced that SIONIX has completed a drinking water analysis in accordance with Title-22 of the California Code of Regulations of its containerized water treatment system at the Villa Park Dam in Orange County, California. These results were independently overseen and verified by Weck Laboratories, an environmental testing laboratory accredited by the State of California under its Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program. Title-22 establishes the standard that drinking water must meet in the State of California.

The Serrano Water District agreed to the implementation and testing of the SIONIX Elixir 225 water treatment system at the Villa Park Dam in an effort to support the exploration of an affordable solution for reducing the high levels of iron and manganese in its water stream. The analysis undertaken by Weck Labs consisted of over 75 different tests ranging from manganese to radium 226/228. The SIONIX system successfully treated the water with iron and manganese levels of more than 3000 PPB and 5000 PPB to N/D (non-detectable levels) and 17 PPB, respectively, bringing these abnormally high results well below Title 22 maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) allowable for drinking water.

All the results from the study were satisfactory with the exception of total dissolved solids (TDS) and the organic coliform, Houtz said. These unusually high data readings were due to the unexpected draining of the Villa Park Dam to facilitate maintenance and repair of the dam’s gate system. It was during this period of drainage that water samples were taken for testing and as a result an unexpectedly large amount of bottom sedimentation was mixed into the water system intake pipeline where the laboratory collected its samples. The tests occurred at this inopportune time, yet due to timing issues and with the change of seasons, the company chose to proceed with the testing because it was estimated that it could take several months to fill the 16,000-acre capacity dam back to an operational level.

"The TDS readings would be avoided by not operating the equipment at the same time the dam is being completely drained," Houtz said. In addition, the intake for the water treatment system is through a slotted pipeline 140 feet long that is buried at the lowest point of the lake and stretches away from the dam face. This condition allowed septic water from the decay of foliage and other sedimentation to be drawn into the intake pipeline when the dam was drained at the time of the testing.

"The high total dissolved solids and total coliform count was a direct result of this unusual circumstance of the dam being drained and stirring up the bottom of the dam where the drain pipe is located. The high coliform count can easily be eliminated by employing a simple carbon treatment system," said SIONIX head engineer Blake Fulmer.

Houtz explained that, "The successful testing of the remaining 75 contaminants outlined in the independent, third-party 55 page report further validates that the SIONIX Elixir-225 packaged patented system has satisfied the requirements to purify water from a contaminated reservoir and will be able to meet the strict California drinking water standards."

The SIONIX portable water treatment system, intended for government and industry, uses dissolved air floatation (DAF) technology to remove 99% of contaminants without chemical byproducts. Built into a standard ISO shipping container, the system is modular, easy to install and cost-efficient, with low energy consumption. In addition, the SIONIX system achieved these results at an extremely low chemical cost of only $0.18/1000 gallons. The tests, utilizing the SIONIX system, involved using only Potassium Permanganate, a much less expensive chemical compared to the flocculants and coagulants used by other water treatment systems.

"Our advantage lies in having developed a prepackaged system for quick delivery and easy installation to purify water at relatively low capital and operating costs. The benefits are quite compelling," Houtz said. "These tests verify the steps the company is taking to provide a convenient and cost-effective system for clean and affordable drinking water."

The Villa Park Dam is part of a state and county flood control system and was not intended to provide potable water to residents.