• AWWA MTC57548
Provide PDF Format

Learn More

AWWA MTC57548

  • A Pilot Evaluation of Low-Pressure Membranes for the Removal of Bacteria and Viruses with Municipal Waters
  • Conference Proceeding by American Water Works Association, 03/05/2003
  • Publisher: AWWA

$12.00$24.00


The traditional method for determining whether a membrane is considered an ultrafiltration (UF)or microfiltration (MF) membrane is based upon the molecular weight cutoff of the membrane.Microbial removal performance does not currently play a quantitative role in determiningwhether a membrane is classified as MF or UF. This leads to ambiguity in the classification oflow-pressure membranes. The overall goal of this AwwaRF-funded research is to develop asystematic performance testing protocol and specification for MF and UF membranes withrespect to removal of viral and submicron bacterial pathogens with various water qualities andoperating conditions. Pilot studies were conducted at the Atlanta Fulton County WaterTreatment Plant in Georgia, with a continuous microfiltration (CMF) unit (hollow fiber, PVDFmembrane) to evaluate its capability to remove microorganisms under selected water qualityand operational conditions. The microorganisms tested were MS2 phage, PRD1 phage andPseudomonas diminuta. The pilot was fed with dechlorinated tap water (finished water) or rawwater from the Chattahoochee River. Pseudomonas diminuta was removed to the detection limitof its assay (5-6 Logs) while using dechlorinated tap water. When fed with raw water and afterallowing cake to form on the membrane, the system achieved an average removal of 0.7 Log(MS2) and 2.3 Log (PRD1). In comparison, low removal of MS2 and 1.4 Log-removal of PRD1were observed while using dechlorinated tap water. Under these conditions, the flowrateappeared to have very little effect, if any, on the removal of MS2 and PRD1 phages. The resultsobtained at bench-scale were comparable to the pilot-scale results. The highest viral removalwas observed under the hydraulically/pneumatically irreversible fouling conditions (PRD1=4.1-6.1 Log; MS2=0.5-5 Log). This can be attributed to a greater specific flux decline during theextended operation of irreversible fouling conditions. Includes 9 references, tables, figures.

Related Products

AWWA DSS60330

AWWA DSS60330

Developing Nashville's Master Water Plan..

$12.00 $24.00

AWWA CONS51061

AWWA CONS51061

Rates, Water Budgets and Outdoor Water Use..

$12.00 $24.00

AWWA ACE99537

AWWA ACE99537

Leveraging Optimization Success Throughout a Utility..

$12.00 $24.00

AWWA ACE95175

AWWA ACE95175

FIELD LOK Gaskets, An Effective Ductile Iron Pressure Pipe Joint Restraining System..

$12.00 $24.00