The South Central Membrane Assn. (SCMA) and the American Membrane Technology Assn. (AMTA) held a technology transfer workshop on South Padre Island, Texas Oct. 1 to 3, 2013.
The theme of the workshop was “Membrane Technologies are Solving Texas Water Shortage Problems,” and 18 presentations discussed a range of topics from membrane basics to specific Texas plant case histories and the current dire water situation in Texas.
On Tuesday afternoon, Judy Adams, manager of water plants for the Brownsville Public Utilities Board, gave a description of the Southmost Regional Water Authority reverse osmosis plant. Attendees then boarded a bus to go to the plant and take a facility tour hosted by the plant operators. That evening, the group took a bus to Louie’s Backyard Sports Grill for an evening of food, fun and networking.
Wednesday’s program featured several case studies of facilities in the Brownsville region along with some talks on produced water needs, troubleshooting Texas membrane plants and membrane directions and improvements.
Don McGhee of Hydro Systems Inc. gave an overview of some industrial membrane plants and the similarities and differences to municipal systems. The workshop featured a mix of basics, case histories on reverse osmosis, microfiltration, ultrafiltration, pilot testing procedures and chemical pretreatment.
Harold Fravel of AMTA, and David Derr and Roy Daly of SCMA were the program chairs and assembled the speakers, sponsors and exhibitors.
The next AMTA Technology Transfer Workshop will be held in Salt Lake City, Dec. 9 to 11, 2013 and will highlight Utah membrane work along with a tour of the Jordan Valley’s Southwest Groundwater Treatment Plant and the Holladay Water Co. water treatment plant.
Source: American Membrane Technology Assn.
