ARMY TM 10-4610-309-14
MARINE CORPS TM10802A-14/1
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TACTICAL WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM (TWPS)
OPERATOR INSTRUCTIONS
OPERATION UNDER UNUSUAL CONDITIONS
NBC DECONTAMINATION WATER PURIFICATION MISSION
Follow established doctrine for identifying the agents contaminating the raw water source and for product
water quality release prior to distribution.
Single Pass NBC Filtration
The TWPS set up for a single pass through the NBC filter (WP 0010) will produce potable quality water
from water contaminated with agents and concentrations as listed in Table 3.
Table 3. NBC Agents and Concentrations Treatable with Single Pass RO and NBC Filtration.
Agent
Concentration
VX, GD, GB, GA,
3 mg/l each
T-2 toxins
3 mg/l
Lewisite
3 mg/l
BZ
3 mg/l
Sulfur mustard
3 mg/l
Lindane
2 mg/l
The NBC filter will provide treatment with a wide margin of safety for 100 hours of water production at 25
gpm. The total amount of water that the filter can process is 150,000 gallons. Note the Hour Meter
reading and the Product Totalizer reading at the beginning of the mission. The hour meter provides a
backup in the event that the totalizer fails during the mission. When the NBC filter life has been spent,
disconnect the hoses and allow it to drain. Cap the inlet and outlet connections. If the mission requires
continued operation, a new filter and new filter media will be required. At the end of the mission, the filter
or filters used are to remain in place for later disposal.
Double Pass NBC Filtration
The agents listed in Table 4 are not sufficiently removed by one TWPS with a single pass through the RO
system and the NBC filter. Double pass reverse osmosis is required prior to the NBC filter.
Table 4. NBC Agents and Concentrations Requiring Double Pass RO and NBC Filtration.
Agent
Concentration
Acceptable Quantity
Cyanide
30 mg/L
2 mg/L
2 mg/L
0.02 mg/L
Radioactive iodide
167 micro-curies
0.05 micro-curies/L
Double pass NBC filtration may be accomplished by processing the water twice with one TWPS or by
using two TWPS to provide product water to feed a third TWPS. When treating water contaminated with
cyanide, the pH of the product water from the first pass is increased with caustic for use as feed water for
the second pass.
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