Australian water utilities are increasingly relying on high-performance treatment solutions to manage taste and odour issues, algal events and emerging contaminants, with powdered activated carbon (PAC) continuing to play a critical role in maintaining water quality standards.
According to water treatment specialist James Cumming, the effectiveness of PAC programs depends not only on dosing strategies, but also on the consistency and quality of the carbon itself.
PuraZorb Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC), supplied by James Cumming, is used by utilities across Australia as a flexible treatment solution for the rapid adsorption of contaminants including natural organic matter, algal metabolites, taste and odour compounds and industrial organics. Unlike granular activated carbon, PAC is dosed directly into the treatment process and removed with sludge, making adsorption performance per kilogram a key operational consideration.
The company said PAC has become an essential treatment tool for both routine operations and emergency response situations, particularly during blue-green algae outbreaks, bushfire runoff events and seasonal taste and odour spikes that can place significant pressure on water treatment systems.
James Cumming explained that inconsistent or poorly specified PAC can create a range of operational challenges for utilities, including increasing dosage rates, reduced contaminant removal performance, higher sludge volumes and rising disposal costs.
The company noted that particle size distribution, pore structure and surface chemistry all influence adsorption efficiency and contact effectiveness, meaning not all PAC products deliver the same treatment outcomes under variable raw water conditions.
One of the clearest indicators that a PAC program may require review is when utilities need to continually increase dosage rates to achieve the same treatment results. This can point to inadequate adsorption capacity, unsuitable pore structures for target contaminants, or carbon degradation during storage and handling.
Operational instability can also occur when PAC products do not disperse consistently through the treatment process. Poor dispersion or inconsistent particle sizing can interfere with coagulation, floc formation and clarifier or dissolved air flotation performance, increasing process risk during high-demand periods.
James Cumming said coal-based powdered activated carbon remains widely used throughout Australian municipal drinking water and desalination pre-treatment applications because of its broad pore size distribution and ability to adsorb low-molecular-weight organics effectively across varying water chemistries.
The company’s PuraZorb PAC solutions are supplied to utilities, councils and contractors nationwide, with a focus on consistent adsorption performance, supply reliability and compatibility with Australian treatment infrastructure.
James Cumming also provides technical support to utilities seeking to optimise PAC dosing and performance, including assistance with product selection, benchmarking and long-term supply agreements.
The company said utilities should consider reviewing their PAC strategy when taste and odour complaints increase, sludge handling costs rise, emergency events become harder to control or dosage requirements continue trending upward year-on-year.
With climate variability and raw water challenges continuing to impact treatment operations across Australia, utilities are increasingly focused on ensuring PAC performance remains reliable, efficient and fit-for-purpose.
For more information, visit jamescumming.com.au
