Arizona’s First Arsenic & Fluoride Removal Plant with ZLD — Without Adsorption Media

The City of Buckeye, Arizona is advancing municipal groundwater treatment through the implementation of a 2 MGD Cuf® drinking water purification system designed to simultaneously remove arsenic and fluoride while achieving true Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD).

This project represents one of the first known municipal facilities in Arizona designed to address combined arsenic and fluoride removal within a single integrated purification platform while maximizing groundwater recovery. Unlike conventional treatment systems that rely on adsorption media, multiple treatment stages, and high residual waste volumes, the Buckeye facility applies a fully automated process designed to simplify operation while minimizing waste generation and operator involvement.

Pilot Verification Program

Prior to full-scale implementation, Purifics conducted an on-site pilot program using mobile Cuf® platform integrated with an SRU® (Solids Recovery Unit) to verify sustained treatment performance and demonstrate Zero Liquid Discharge operation under real groundwater conditions.

The pilot program evaluated groundwater from three municipal wells containing varying concentrations and combinations of arsenic and fluoride. The objectives included:

• Optimization of process parameters

• Demonstration of sustained contaminant removal

• Verification of ZLD performance

• Determination of full-scale operational requirements

• Operator training and regulatory participation with Maricopa County Environmental Services Department

The pilot system operated continuously at 250 GFD while maintaining greater than 99% operational duty.

Simultaneous Arsenic and Fluoride Removal

One of the most significant aspects of the Buckeye project is the ability to remove arsenic and fluoride simultaneously in a single operation without adsorption media, oxidation chemicals, or pre-treatment infrastructure.

The process uses NSF-approved aluminum sulfate as the only treatment chemical. Within the integrated in-situ reactor (ISR), dissolved arsenic and fluoride are adsorbed into concentrated sweep floc and continuously removed through the ceramic membrane process.

Throughout the pilot program:

• Arsenic concentrations in filtrate remained below 1 ppb

• Fluoride removal exceeded 60% under optimized conditions

• Filtrate turbidity remained consistently near 0.03 NTU

• No pre-oxidation or additional process chemicals were required

The pilot also demonstrated removal of arsenic without pre-oxidation, eliminating another common operational requirement associated with conventional arsenic treatment systems.

Eliminating Adsorption Media and Conventional Waste Handling

Traditional arsenic and fluoride systems often require adsorption media replacement, backwash infrastructure, sludge management equipment, and extensive operator oversight.

The Buckeye facility was designed to eliminate:

• Adsorption media replacement

• Backwashing systems

• Bed fluffing procedures

• CIP cleaning systems

• Drying beds and filter presses

• Sewer discharge requirements

The system instead integrates Purifics’ SRU® solids recovery technology, which continuously separates concentrated residuals into stable solids while recycling water back into the purification process.

Combatting Water Scarcity

Water scarcity continues to be one of Arizona’s most significant long-term infrastructure challenges. For this reason, maximizing water recovery was a major component of the Buckeye treatment strategy.

The integrated SRU® system demonstrated true Zero Liquid Discharge performance by processing residuals without generating liquid waste streams. During operation:

• Average blowdown represented approximately 3% of filtrate flow

• Residuals were concentrated and separated without polymers

• Solids naturally dried into stable material under ambient conditions

• TCLP analyses confirmed landfill disposal compatibility

The overall process achieved 99.99% water recovery efficiency while eliminating liquid discharge from the treatment facility.

Fully Automated Operation with Integrated SCADA

The Cuf® platform includes a complete on-board SCADA and control system capable of remote monitoring, alarming, statistical reporting, and mobile accessibility. During piloting, all operational data was continuously monitored through Purifics’ remote communications platform.

The system also demonstrated simplified maintenance requirements:

• No membrane CIP cleaning was required during the pilot

• TMP maintenance rinses are fully automated

• No third-party SCADA integration or specialized instrumentation contracting required

  
  

This level of automation significantly reduces operational complexity compared to conventional groundwater treatment facilities.

Factory Acceptance Testing Completed

Following pilot validation and manufacturing, the Buckeye system recently completed Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) prior to shipment to Arizona.

FAT allows operators and project stakeholders to review the fully assembled treatment platform before installation while receiving direct operational training on system controls, automation logic, maintenance procedures, and process flow. This phase plays an important role in reducing commissioning challenges and supporting long-term operational reliability.

The system is now on its way to the installation site for final deployment and startup.

Advancing Sustainable Groundwater Treatment

The City of Buckeye project demonstrates how integrated treatment systems can simplify municipal groundwater purification while reducing waste, operator burden, and overall infrastructure complexity.

As regulatory pressures and water scarcity concerns continue to grow across North America, projects such as Buckeye highlight the increasing importance of technologies capable of delivering simultaneous contaminant removal, operational efficiency, and maximum water recovery within a single treatment platform.

For additional information regarding Purifics’ municipal groundwater treatment solutions, contact our team or explore additional case studies and technical resources.

Municipal Water Purification | Cuf | SRU Equipment Specification