Alternative Membrane Module Evaluation for the City of Thornton Submerged Membrane Plant

The City of Thornton (City), Colorado operates a 50 mgd water treatment plant (WTP) with a submerged ultrafiltration system. The Wes Brown Water Treatment Plant was originally constructed as a lime softening and conventional filtration plant. In 2005, the WTP was converted to a submerged membrane filtration plant using Suez membranes with coagulation upstream using tube settlers installed in the solids contact clarifiers. The plant operates with eight membrane filtration trains. The City recently completed a year-long full-scale demonstration pilot to evaluate an alternative direct replacement microfiltration (MF) membrane module provided by Scinor in one of the eight trains with a new Suez train operating alongside it with each operating up to 7 MGD. The evaluation examines the ability to retrofit and install the new membrane system and performance of the train while operating within existing plant parameters. This paper will present the operational data used to evaluate performance parameters such as integrity, specific flux, and cleaning efficiencies. Finally, the summary of the results of the Scinor membrane for use in the WTP will be presented.

This presentation is available to AMTA Members only.