Basic HTML Version
MERC - Boll & Kirch Test Plan
3
the performance of the systems evaluated. Thus, a final report specific to the filter evaluated will
be written upon completion of the evaluation.
MERC will allow each filter system to conduct one calibration trial to assure proper
operations. Three independent test trials will then be conducted at least twice during different
seasons (to capture a range of natural challenge water conditions) and each test trial will be
carried out over a single ballasting event.
Individual test trials for each filter system tested will
be separated by at least one day. The inability to successfully complete (without interruption) an
individual one-day test trial, will be considered a “failure”. If a failure is determined to be a
result of problems associated with the MERC test system or process (e.g., problem with ship’s
ballast system), the test trial will be discarded and repeated. If the failure is determined to be a
result of the filter system (e.g., a mechanical failure resulting in an interruption of filtration
during a test run), the results will be noted and included in the final report. Depending on the
nature of the failure, two failures on the part of the filter system may result in the termination of
testing prior to the anticipated date of completion. In such event, MERC Senior Management
will make the decision to terminate testing, in consultation with filter manufacturer.
These evaluations will be based upon a simple comparison between organisms and
suspended particles found in ambient challenge water upon ballasting (just upstream of the filter
system) and organisms and suspended particles just downstream of the filter. Results will be
presented as total concentrations of zooplankton (live plus dead), total concentrations of
phytoplankton, total suspended solids (TSS), and particle size distributions (PSD), all measured
both before and after the filter systems in independent trials. See Figure 1 and pages 11 and 12
for more details on the filter evaluation system design.