Low Pressure Membrane Filtration: Where Have We Been and Where Are We Headed ?

As membrane filtration technology has matured, valuable lessons have been learned as to where it fits and where it doesn’t. While treated water quality in terms of particle and microorganism removal is rarely compromised, some of the early claims made on sustainable membrane flux and manageable feed water quality in terms of turbidity and organics have been tempered with experience. Challenges with membrane fouling, manufacturing defects, control system complexity and maintenance burdens have presented a level of skepticism on how robust the technology really is. This paper provides an update on the state of the market and the technology to determine where membrane filtration fits in the treatment of surface water for potable use and helps answer the question of “should I use a membrane”?