Post-Treatment of Brackish RO Permeate via Upflow Calcite Contactors

Projected decrease in water supplies in Texas due to sediment accumulation in reservoirs and aquifer depletion have led state and regional water planning agencies to turn to brackish water in aquifers as an alternate water supply source to address rising water demands. Reverse osmosis is a viable treatment technology to treat brackish water to potable water, by removing dissolved solids from the source water. The resulting permeate (product water) from the treatment process will typically have unacceptably low levels of calcium hardness and alkalinity, which renders the product water corrosive and aesthetically unappealing. To stabilize the corrosive permeate, post-treatment via pH adjustment and the addition of calcium and alkalinity are needed to remineralize the water.