PRODUCTION OF POTABLE WATER WITH UF MEMBRANES: A CASE STUDY FROM PILOTING TO PLANT EXPANSION, NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS

摘要

The Lake Dunlap Water Treatment Plant is owned by the Canyon Regional Water Authority (CRWA) and is located in New Braunfels, Texas. It is one of the many drinking water plants that have turned its attention to membrane filtration. In June 2002, the plant upgraded its existing water treatment plant with ultrafiltration (UF) membranes. The UF plant treats surface water after pretreatment with chlorine dioxide. Initial piloting led to the construction of the current four million gallons per day (MGD) ultrafiltration membrane plant. Data from the piloting process allowed for an easy transition to a full-scale plant. This paper will discuss the original pilot testing and how the data was used to design the current 4 MGD plant. It will also discuss the operation of the 4 MGD plant, including how very high recoveries are achieved and a weather event that could not have been predicted during the design phase. However, the experience from this unexpected event was used in design plans for the expansion of the plant to 14.4 MGD. Even before the first expansion is completed, space for a second expansion project is already being allocated. We will look at the history that has persuaded this plant to upgrade from its original 2 MGD traditional sand filters to discussions of possibly more than 23.1 MGD in the near future.