Pilot Scale vs. Full Scale Pressure Membrane Plant Performance After Two Years of Operation

This paper compares the results of the validation pilot study and full scale plant performance of a direct filtration pressure membrane system for the growing City of Pasco, WA. The City relies on the McNary Pool of the Columbia River as its water source, which is generally low turbidity, low TOC and experiences seasonal taste and odor events in the spring and fall. The full scale treatment plant was sized to treat 6 MGD, with the built in potential to expand to 18 MGD. The pilot study, performed in early 2009, explored the use of sodium hypochlorite and sodium permanganate as pre-oxidants along with the use of aluminum chlorohydrate (ACH) as a coagulant. ACH was selected to address potential fouling issues observed in other membrane plants in the Northwest with only small changes in TOC as well as to reduce the disinfection byproduct formation potential. Extended run time scenarios were performed in the pilot study to determine if the increased cost of dosing ACH could be recuperated by reduced cleaning frequencies. The pilot results will be compared with the full scale operational data from a monitored performance period after start up, through a site visit in the summer of 2012.

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