Lessons Learned at the City of Thornton’s MF/UF Wes Brown Water Treatment Plant

The City of Thornton transistioned from ferric chloride to aluminum chlorohydrate coagulant in 2019 and has seen specific flux/temperature corrected permeability (TCP) values return to what was observed after 2-4 years of use with ferric chloride in membranes in their 7th to 9th year of use. The City continues to optimize coagulant dose for TOC removal, aluminum residual, clarifier, and membrane performance. The City has piloted specialty membrane cleaner and performed a clean on a full scale train to evaluate whether membrane performance and life can be extended further.