8
0
20
40
60
80
Aug-99
Oct-99
Dec-99
Feb-00
Apr-00
Jun-00
Aug-00
Oct-00
Dec-00
Feb-01
Apr-01
Jun-01__Aug-01__Oct-01__Dec-01__MIB,_ng/L'>Jun-01
Aug-01
Oct-01
Dec-01
MIB, ng/L
Figure 2-1. MIB at the inlet to the Val Vista WTP.
MIB concentrations at the Squaw Peak WTP (Figure 2-2) were slightly higher than at
Val Vista. As with Val Vista, MIB values > 20 ng/L occur primarily in late summer and
rarely exceeded 30 ng/L.
0
20
40
60
80
Aug-99
Oct-99
Dec-99
Feb-00
Apr-00
Jun-00
Aug-00
Oct-00
Dec-00
Feb-01
Apr-01
Jun-01
Aug-01
Oct-01
Dec-01
MIB, ng/L
Squaw Peak
Deer Valley
Figure 2-2. MIB at the inlets of the Squaw Peak and Deer Valley WTPs.
9
The stretch of the Arizona Canal from the Squaw Peak WTP to the Deer Valley WTP
was a major source of MIB. The Deer Valley WTP therefore had much higher
concentrations of MIB than Squaw Peak. MIB concentrations at the inlet to the Deer
Valley WTP generally remain above 20 ng/L from August through November, with
sporadic episodes occurring before August.
The frequency of MIB values > 10 ng/L and > 20 ng/L during the three-year T&O study
can be used as a rough guide for planning the annual T&O management program.
Figures 2-3 through 2-5 show the percentage of samples with MIB > 10 ng/L and 20
ng/L during each month of the three-year T&O study. At the Val Vista WTP, MIB
concentrations > 10 ng/L can be expected more than 50% of the time from July through
November. MIB concentrations > 20 ng/L was common in September.
0
20
40
60
80
100
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
% of samples
>20 ng/L
>10 ng/L
Figure 2-3. Percentage of samples with MIB > 10 ng/L and > 20 ng/L at the Val Vista WTP.
0
20
40
60
80
100
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
% of samples
>20 ng/L
>10 ng/L
Figure 2-4. Percentage of samples with MIB > 10 ng/L and > 20 ng/L at the Squaw Peak WTP.
10
0
20
40
60
80
100
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
% of samples
>20 ng/L
>10 ng/L
Figure 2-5. Percentage of samples with MIB > 10 ng/L and > 20 ng/L at the Deer Valley WTP.
At the Squaw Peak WTP, MIB levels exceeded 20 ng/L more than 50% of the time in
September and October. MIB levels were > 10 ng/L more than half the time from June
through December, and in the month of March.
The situation is typically much worse at the Deer Valley WTP. For all months with
observations, MIB levels routinely
exceeded 10 ng/L,
and MIB levels generally
exceeded 20 ng/L from June through December.
In summary, the likelihood of encountering elevated MIB levels at Phoenix’s WTPs
follows the order:
(highest) Deer Valley >> Squaw Peak >> Val Vista >> Union Hills (lowest)
The occurrence of elevated MIB levels at each of the water treatment plants is
summarized in Table 2-1.
Table 2-1. Number of months per year with MIB concentrations above threshold levels at Phoenix’s
water treatment plants
Water Treatment Plant
MIB > 10
MIB > 20
Union Hills
0
0
Val Vista
5
2
Squaw Peak
8
2
Deer Valley
10
7