This article discusses how new membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology makes remote treatment of wastewater feasible for many communities, thus alleviating the need to expand old, centralized wastewater systems in an urban location where expansion can be disruptive and costly. The article discusses how MBR systems provide high‐quality treatment and offers three case studies of MBR satellite treatment facilities in Kissimmee, Florida, in Woods Valley, California, and in Park Place, Georgia.
This report presents the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS), used by the Orange County Water District (OCWD) in southern California, as an example of how integrated membrane technology (microfiltration and reverse osmosis) can be used to supply a new, cost‐effective and reliable source of water. The article describes how GWRS uses a combination of advanced water purification technologies (MF, RO and ultraviolet light) with hydrogen peroxide to purify secondary wastewater to a level of quality similar to bottled water, which is well beyond drinking water standards. Instead of being discharged directly into the ocean, the treated effluent will either be injected into a seawater intrusion barrier along the coast or percolated in ponds near the Santa Ana River to recharge Orange County's groundwater basin, thus providing another option for managing effluent discharge to the ocean during periods of wet weather.
Membranes are used more and more often for the creation of process water and water for in direct potable use from wastewater. The useful life expectancy of the microfiltration (MF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes is projected and planed in general for 5 years, which is consistent with the manufacturers' warranties for membrane systems operating in this type of application where membranes are treating secondary or filtered secondary effluent to produce water for indirect potable use. In some advanced wastewater treatment facilities (AWTF), the membranes have been in service for 6-10 years, surpassing the manufacturers' projected useful life of five years. Replacement of the MF and RO membranes is triggered by either and/or criteria; product water quality, performance efficiency, capacity, and mechanical integrity. The City of Los Angeles Terminal Island Water Reclamation Plant (TIWRP) 5 mg product water AWTF producing finished water for in-direct potable use, in operation since 2001, operating experience is reviewed and MF and RO membrane opportunity for extended the useful remaining life and replacement schedule approaches are presented.
Advanced membrane treatment systems use a comprehensive array of instrumentation and routine water quality sampling to monitor plant performance. Dashboards provide a visual, interactive snapshot of key performance information and trends in a user‐friendly format.
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