Growing Use of Membrane Technology for Water Treatment
Better filtration. Greater efficiency. Automated operation.
With many utilities facing threat of contamination from an increasing number of sources, the need for new and better ways to treat and protect our water supplies is paramount. Membrane filtration has gained mainstream acceptance and is the preferred technology for many surface waters, for iron and manganese removal in groundwaters, and for the removal of protozoans such as cryptosporidium.
The Benefits of Membrane Systems:
Better removal of contaminants
Smaller, absolute pore sizes offer a higher removal rating for many contaminants as compared to conventional treatment.
Higher Efficiency
Water produced/water fed ratios to the system reach as high as 99+%. This is particularly important in areas of New
England that require water conservation.
Integrity Assurance
Automated procedures allow in-place testing to quickly confirm that the membrane is not breached.
Variable filtration ratings
Systems employing differing classes of membranes ranging from microfiltration to reverse osmosis allow for precise contaminant removal at the lowest total cost. Using the right class of membrane optimizes the required membrane pressure thereby resulting in lower energy costs.
Smaller footprint
Membrane systems typically require 50-70% less space than conventional technologies. Smaller footprints result in substantial energy savings.
Consistent operation
Conventional technologies often require continuous adjustment of conditions via chemical addition to achieve contaminant removal. This means a high level of operator intervention and higher risk of contaminants in the finished water.
Membrane systems provide automated controls to enable consistent, trouble-free operation, require far less operator attention, and provide automated alarms when attention is needed.
Environment friendly
Because membrane processes provide a physical barrier between feed water and product water, fewer chemicals are used than in traditional water treatment. Furthermore, the residual can be safely discharged or disposed in a cost-effective, environmentally safe way.
Wright-Pierce has experience with membrane systems. We provide a host of water treatment solutions and work with municipalities throughout New England.