University of Massachusetts Amherst
Water and Energy Technology Center
UMass Mobile Water Innovation Lab
The heart of our facility is the UMass Mobile Water Innovation Lab, a fully equipped laboratory on wheels!
This versatile asset allows us to bring our expertise directly to you, wherever you may be. Whether it’s a treatment plant, a remote water source, or another location of interest, our mobile lab can be easily transported to conduct on-site testing and analysis. This flexibility enables us to provide timely and accurate data to support your research, development, and decision-making.
UMass Mobile Water Innovation Lab’s Mission is four fold:
- Provide a Platform for 3rd party Evaluation of Innovative Water Treatment Technologies
- Provide a hands-on classroom for students studying water treatment technologies
- Test new Treatment Technologies in continuous Flow Pilot Scale
- Assist Businesses in Developing new Treatment Technologies
UMass Mobile Water Innovation Lab Description and Features
The heart of the UMWIL is a 36 foot insulated trailer that can either be used at its University of Massachusetts Amherst home adjacent to the WWPP, or transported to remote locations. (e.g., treatment plants or other sites with water intended for testing).
While parked in its bay at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, it draws raw water from the Mill River and electricity from a 100 W plug-in.
When deployed remotely, it can be connected to the grid (e.g., a WTF) or run from a gasoline-powered generator.
Inside the UMWIL is a fully-functioning pilot water treatment plant that can be quickly re-configured based on the testing plan.
Under normal operating conditions it is composed of a full experimental train with chemical addition, mixing, pre or intermediate oxidation of various types, up flow clarification, and dual media filtration.
A control train is also available. Flow rates are typically about 10 gpm. The UMWIL also features many types of on-line sensors that can record operation (e.g., flow, filter headloss) and water quality (e.g., turbidity, particle counts, pH, UV absorbance, oxidant residual).
The signals from these sensors are aggregated into a single source for monitoring and control.
Treatment Processes available in the UMWIL:
- Pre or Intermediate Oxidation/Disinfection: Chlorine, ozone, chlorine dioxide, ferrate, AOPs
- Coagulation: ferric, alum, other
- Clarification: upflow with plastic media
- Filtration: anthracite, sand, GAC, monomedia or dual media
- Ion Exchange
- Biofiltration
- Adsorption
- UV treatment: alone or with activator (i.e., AOP)
Continuous On-line Instrumentation:
| Type | Manufacturer & Model |
|---|---|
| DOC | Sievers M5310 |
| UV absorbance | RealTech UV254 |
| Multi-spectral | RealTech (196/scan) |
| Turbidity | Hach 1720D |
| Particle Counting | Chemtrac PC 2400K |
| pH | |
| Chlorine Residual | |
| Ozone Residual |
Our Debut in Boston!
The UMass Mobile Water Innovations Lab debuted in the heart of Boston, where it was welcomed by excited State Representatives. As the Mobile lab represented new opportunities, and a valuable asset in the face of any emergency cases.
“Some of our smaller towns are risk-averse to testing new technologies on their water treatment,” said Rep. Smitty Pignatelli, D-Lenox. “This would allow them to kick the tires and test it on a much smaller basis.”
On the Boston Common, the Mobile Water Innovations Lab was open for all to explore. Visitors, including state officials and local residents, had the chance to see firsthand the lab’s advanced water treatment technologies and learn about its potential applications.
The lab’s presence in Boston provided a rare opportunity for community members to engage with this technology, illustrating how mobile, adaptable infrastructure can support towns of all sizes in improving water safety and resilience.
Additional UMWIL History
While at UMass the Mobile Treatment Facility is parked next to the EWRE water and wastewater pilot plant. The Mill River field station is also located on this site.
The field site is adjacent to the Mill River and the Amherst municipal wastewater treatment plant. It was originally developed with the help of research funding from the Massachusetts Division of Water Pollution Control (MDWPC).
These grants were key to the early growth and success of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Environmental Engineering Program (later EWRE). They supported a substantial expansion of the Master’s program thereby helping to meet the growing regional and national need for environmental engineers.
The UMWIL was designed and realized by Patrick Wittbold, the facility’s research engineer, along with advice from the EWRE faculty (e.g., Dave Reckhow & John Tobiason) and help from many undergraduate interns. The resulting system is uniquely flexible and broad in its capabilities.
Special thanks to our corporate partners: AECOM, CDM-Smith, ThermoFisher and Element 26. This would not have been possible without their help.
Off-line Testing and Instrumentation:
- Fluorescence EEMs: Horiba Aqualog
- Disinfection Byproduct Precursor Analysis
- Microbial Analysis
- Mass Spectrometry
Supporting Facilities:
Source Water:
- Pump and Transmission
- Background on Mill River