Water Online

July 2015

Water Online the Magazine gives Water & Wastewater Engineers and end-users a venue to find project solutions and source valuable product information. We aim to educate the engineering and operations community on important issues and trends.

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permission to bypass the UV system. To date, the Hutchinson facility MBR system continues to produce water within the permit requirements without the additional treatment step. As a result, the city has saved several hundred thousand dollars by not having to purchase previously planned UV facilities, and has reduced operational, electrical, and maintenance costs. Southwest Water Reclamation Facility – City of Henderson, NV The Southwest Water Reclamation Facility (SWRF) in Henderson, NV, consists of a biological treatment system designed to include nutrient removal followed by a GE MBR system. The MBR effluent is directed to the UV facility, followed by postchlorination. The SWRF is designed to treat annual average daily flow of 8.0 MGD and peaking to an hourly flow rate of 13.6 MGD. The city's permitted requirements for bacteriological parameters, driven by the reclamation of the water, requires the effluent to meet <2.2 MPN of fecal coliforms per 100 mL as the mean of all samples taken in the month and a daily maximum of 23 MPN of fecal coliforms per 100 mL. In 2012 and 2013, the municipality conducted a study to validate the treatment facility's ability to remove various virus and bacteria without the use of disinfection. During this time, samples of the MBR permeate were taken during various phases of operation (i.e., normal operation, high-flux operation, post- citric acid cleaning, and post-sodium hypochlorite cleaning). The samples were tested for total coliforms, fecal coliform, and E. coli, as well as for viruses. The study concluded that the MBR system was very effective at reducing virus and bacteria concentrations to very low levels and, in most cases, to non- detect levels without disinfection. The city of Henderson was given permission by the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection to bypass the UV system. Postchlorination is still maintained to prevent bio- growth in the reclaimed water system. To date, the Henderson facility continues to bypass its UV system and the MBR system continues to produce water within the permit requirements. As a result, the city of Henderson is currently saving an estimated $93,000 a year in operational costs. As proven by the data and shown in the case studies above, MBR systems are capable of removing microbial contaminants and, therefore, do not need a disinfection step for discharge to surface waters. This presents a much needed opportunity for municipalities to save money. *Trademark of General Electric Company; may be registered in one or more countries. 16 wateronline.com ■ Water Innovations Stephen Katz, PE, is a product manager for GE Water & Process Technologies with more than 10 years of experience in the water and wastewater treatment market. In his current role, he is focused on technical and commercial guidance for membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology, commercialization of new technologies for wastewater treatment, and strategic partnerships for the sale of GE's equipment portfolio. Katz graduated from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. About The Author ACTIVATEDSLUDGE City of Hutchinson's final effluent after MBR treatment

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