Case Study
system operators (BLS.com), a lower level of system automation could add over $320,000 to the water district's operating costs over 20 years.
Media
$270,000 (1.7% of total system cost) While the district's initial media costs were higher at installation, the customized media in its new filtration system never needs to be replaced because of its application-specific nature and the efficiency of the system's short backwash cycle. Instead, every five years this permanent media is replenished; that is, approximately 10% more media is added to the system to replace media that may have washed out. For the district's system, total media replenishment costs are approximately $27,000 every five years, or $54,000 over its 20-year system lifecycle, with the first replenishment load cost included in the installation price. On average, approximately 20% of total media in the district's system will be replenished over 20 years.
In comparison, non- customized media in systems with longer backwash cycles require total replacement every three to five years when it becomes expended and allows containment breakthrough. This results in ongoing media costs of approximately $190,000 per exchange, not including the
Chemicals
Chemical costs are often a significant percentage of operating cost. The chemicals used in the filtration
cost of removal and disposal of the spent media. Over a 20-year lifecycle, this amounts to $570,000 in media replacement costs, or $516,000 more than the water district's projected media costs.
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