Orange County Water District Utilizes Memcor Membranes

June 2, 2014
Evoqua’s modular membrane system will be used at OCWD’s Groundwater Replenishment System

The Orange County (California) Water District (OCWD), recipient of this year’s prestigious Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize, continues to implement the expanded Evoqua Memcor modular membrane system at its pioneering Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS).

The current expansion increases microfiltration capacity by 44 mgd in addition to the original Memcor CS membrane modules installation of 87 mgd to eliminate all suspended solids, bacteria and other harmful contaminants from the feed stream to deliver high quality effluent to the reverse osmosis (RO) system. 

Once treated by the microfiltration membranes, the RO system, and ultraviolet and hydrogen peroxide disinfection, secondary treated wastewater formerly discharged into the ocean is now used to replenish the local aquifer and act as a barrier to seawater intrusion to protect groundwater. The OCWD also realizes energy savings from the submerged membrane installation that configures the modules 14 ft below the raw water elevation to use the hydraulic gradient to drive feed water into the membranes without the need for electric pumps. 

Currently capable of producing 70 mgd, enough for 600,000 residents, the GWRS produces this water supply using half the energy that would be needed to pump water from northern California—the equivalent energy to power 21,000 homes annually. The GWRS is located in Fountain Valley, Calif.

The OCWD selected the Memcor modular membranes based on multiple factors including a favorable lifecycle cost and environmental sustainability. The membrane expansion phase is expected to be complete by 2015.   

To learn more about Memcor membrane systems and other water treatment technologies for municipal, industrial and marine applications, visit Evoqua June 1 to 4 at SIWW exhibition booth B2–R18 and attend technical sessions presented by Evoqua experts. Memcor and other Evoqua products also will be featured at the American Water Works Assn. ACE Evoqua exhibition booth 2111 June 8 to 11 in Boston.   

Source: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC

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