AWWA MTC57649

AWWA MTC57649 Key Considerations for Integrating Low-Pressure Membrane Filtration into Existing Treatment Facilities
Conference Proceeding by American Water Works Association, 03/05/2003

White, Mark C.; Schideman, Lance C.; Rago, Leonard M.; Bunker, Thomas J.; Jensen, Donald M.

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Low-pressure membrane filtration systems can be successfully integrated into various stageswithin existing water treatment facilities to provide advanced treatment and/or additionaltreatment capacity. The determination of the optimal location for implementing a membranesystem within a sequence of treatment processes depends upon system specific considerations.Key system considerations that often impact the location of the membrane system include thefollowing:benefit of pretreatment - membrane performance may be improved from pretreatment ofthe membrane system feed water, often resulting in decreased capital and operationalcosts;ease of pumping and treatment operations - an increasing number of pumping and/ortreatment steps can increase the complexity and cost of plant operations and maintenance;availability/cost of pretreatment - the availability of existing pretreatment facilities andthe costs (capital and operational) associated with new or modified pretreatment;reuse of facilities - impact of the membrane process location on potential value fromreuse of existing facilities;treatment goals - impact of the membrane process location on the ability to achieve theprimary goals of the membrane treatment facilities;waste disposal - impact of membrane process location on waste disposal issues;ease of implementation - impact of membrane process location on constructability andease of implementation; and,redundancy/reliability - impact of the membrane process location on redundancy andreliability of the water treatment system.The means by which these considerations can impact the optimal location for implementingmembrane facilities is demonstrated in this paper through a review of the experiences of threeutilities implementing membrane systems into existing treatment facilities located on LakeMichigan. Although each utility treats water from the same source, the water treatment utilitiesin Manitowoc, Wisconsin; Racine, Wisconsin; and Highland Park, Illinois has each proceeded with a differentstrategy for implementing membrane treatment as a result of these system specific considerations. Includes tables, figures.