A Novel Application of the Tertiary Membrane Bioreactor Technology for Water Reuse – A Comprehensive Pilot Testing

Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) combine secondary treatment and solids separation in one system that produces high quality effluent with virtually free of solids. Coupled with widely used biological nutrient removal (BNR) technology, MBR can meet stringent effluent total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) limits, especially where site space limitations force a compact footprint design. While MBR systems have proven for treating municipal and industrial wastewaters, they have never been used for treating secondary or tertiary effluents. West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) have embarked on a project to deliver 12-mgd of high quality ammonia free recycle water to the three major refineries in the Los Angeles Harbor Area providing additional treatment at Carson Water Reclamation Facility (CWRF). This paper presents the treatment and membrane performances under various operating phases of the pilot.

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