Membrane Processes in Direct Potable Reuse – Equivalency Criteria and Treatment Train Evaluation

As interest in direct potable reuse (DPR) grows, equivalency criteria for comparing water quality after indirect potable reuse (IPR) and DPR must be developed. An expert panel convened by the National Water Research Institute for a WateReuse Research Foundation project has developed public health criteria for pathogens, such as enteric viruses and Cryptosporidium, and chemical contaminants, such as disinfection byproducts and steroid hormones, that can be used to compare IPR and DPR. Pilot-scale treatment trains were developed for a conceptual demonstration of combinations of unit processes that could satisfy these public health criteria. Unit processes included in pilot testing were ozone (O3), biological activated carbon (BAC), ultrafiltration (UF), microfiltration (MF) and reverse osmosis (RO). Treatment trains also included bench-scale testing of ultraviolet (UV) photolysis, advanced oxidation by UV and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and free chlorine disinfection (Cl2). Preliminary data from the startup of the ozone and BAC pilot units and the first phase of testing with treatment trains of UF-O3-BAC-UV and MF-ROUV/H2O2-Cl2 will be discussed.

This presentation is available to AMTA Members only.