ARMY TM 10-4610-309-14
MARINE CORPS TM 10802A-14/1
TACTICAL WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM (TWPS)
DESCRIPTION AND THEORY OF OPERATION
EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION AND DATA
EQUIPMENT CHARACTERISTICS, CAPABILITIES, AND FEATURES
The 1500 Gallons Per Hour (GPH) Tactical Water Purification System (1500 TWPS) is a fully contained
mobile water purification system capable of purifying, storing, and dispensing water meeting Tri-Service
Field Water Quality Standards for long term consumption. The TWPS is intended to supply potable water
to ground, amphibious and air-mobile units of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. It can also be used to
provide potable water support to civilian agencies or host nations for emergencies, disaster relief,
humanitarian efforts, and peacekeeping missions.
The TWPS can produce drinking water from a broad range of water sources including:
Fresh water containing dirt (suspended solids) and micro-organisms
Brackish water containing dirt, micro-organisms and salt
Seawater containing dirt, micro-organisms and a high concentration of salt
Freshwater containing nuclear, biological, or chemical warfare (NBC) agents.
The TWPS is designed to produce as much as 1500 gallons per hour (25 GPM) of potable water from a
fresh or brackish water source and 1200 gallons per hour (20 GPM) from a seawater source. The TWPS
design point of reference is 1500 GPH of potable water from a fresh or brackish water source at 50
degrees F that contains up to 5,000 mg/l TDS (total dissolved solids), and 1200 GPH from a seawater
source at 50 degrees F that contains 45,000 mg/l TDS. Because water production is a function of water
temperature and the type of water being processed, water production will vary with the characteristics of
the water source. A summary of production performance with various raw water sources is shown in
Table 1.
Table 1. TWPS Water Production Performance Characteristics.
POTABLE WATER
RAW WATER CHARACTERISTICS
PRODUCTION
Source
Temperature
(normal)
32 to 95 F
Surface water
Up to 20,000 mg/l TDS and up to 150 NTU
1500 GPH
32 to 95 F
Ground water
Up to 2500 mg/l TDS
1500 GPH
50 to 95 F
Ground water
Over 2500 mg/l TDS and up to 150 NTU
1200 GPH
32 to 95 F
Seawater
35,000 mg/l TDS
1200 GPH
50 to 95 F
Seawater
45,000 mg/l TDS
1200 GPH
32 to 50 F
Seawater
45,000 mg/l TDS
1000 GPH
77 F
Seawater
60,000 mg/l TDS
950 GPH
The TWPS is fielded in two versions: a Marine Corps version designated MC-TWPS and an Army version
designated A-TWPS.
MC-TWPS
The MC-TWPS (shown packed out for deployment in Figure 1) is a basic skid-mounted unit with all BII
and a 6,000-gallon water storage and distribution capability. The MC-TWPS may be powered by a 60 kW
Tactical Quiet Generator (TQG), NSN 6115-01-274-7390, or a power distribution grid. It is capable of
transport by the MTVR truck, (MK23 or MK 25, NSN: 2320-01-465-2174, NSN: 2320-01-465-2176).
Forklift pockets and weight allow handling with the standard 5-ton forklift. The MC-TWPS is typically
transported with its General Purpose Cover installed (see Figure 2). Roof support sheets are installed on
top of the TWPS under the cover to prevent the cover from sagging from accumulations of rain or snow.
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