In October and November 2002, ABL, in conjunction with Rawdon Technologies conducted a three-week pilot study employing the Rawdon Technologies mobile Dissolved Air Flotation pilot plant.

The raw water source is a relatively small reservoir with limited watershed area. The watershed has numerous bogs that contribute to the organic colour of the water, which is prone to significant increases during rainfall and runoff events. The existing municipal water treatment plant is equipped with two powdered activated carbon pressure filters. While the plant provides some treatment for turbidity, the organic colour is not removed. In order to meet requirements for drinking water quality while continuing use of the existing surface supply, further water treatment processes are required. During the pilot testing program conducted in Grand Bank at the municipal treatment plant it was found that DAF or similar high rate clarification processes with multimedia filtration including membrane filtration would be applicable for this water source.