Wastewater reuse is expected to become a key water recovery strategy in the next decade. The impacts of severe regional droughts and rapid urbanization have led to a variety of new membrane technologies that support this initiative.
The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) selected CDM to conduct a study analyzing various types of membranes necessary to attain water quality for diverse forms of reuse. This report is a guide for researchers, membrane manufacturers, regulators, and water and wastewater utilities.
Phase 1 of the project, a 4-year-long study, assessed agricultural, non-potable, indirect potable, industrial, and environmental water reuse using membrane bioreactors, microfiltration, nanofiltration, and ultrafiltration technologies. Fouling rates of various membrane technologies, pre-treatment technology for high pressure membranes, removal of microbial contaminants, and membrane residuals management were also analyzed. Phase 2 is a pilot plant study evaluating two different membrane pre-treatment processes on fouling nanofiltration and reverse osmosis systems.
For more information, read the Viewpoint on wastewater reclamation using membranes.