Side by Side Comparison of 400ft2 and 440ft2 Membranes in a High Fouling Environment

The Sweetwater Authority owns and operates a 10 mgd groundwater desalter in Chula Vista,CA. The facility has a unique characteristic with three reverse osmosis trains operating with four hundred square foot membranes and the remaining three trains operating with four hundred and forty square foot membranes. Over the last two years of operation, data has been collected on this side by side comparison of the 400 ft2 versus the 440 ft2 operating on the same feedwater to determine if there are differences in fouling rates, cleaning effectiveness, or any other operational differences between the two types of membranes. A special focus has been on fouling rates and chemical cleanings as this facility has historically had significant iron fouling.