Zero Liquid Discharge ROWTP Follow Up

The Zero Liquid Discharge ROWTP was installed at the Texas Golf Course community, commissioned and has been operating for several months. The original system design had called for three reverse osmosis trains followed by evaporators to reduce the already low quantity of concentrate water to a solid sludge. The sludge was to be hauled off to a solid waste landfill.

While the plant was still in the construction phase the facility was granted a permit to discharge the concentrate to the municipal sewer system. This was a fortunate event because it eliminated the need for the evaporator system which would have cost approximately $1M plus annual operating cost of approximately $1M.

The ROWTP has been operating satisfactorily and is producing high quality water for irrigation. Daily product water production is 911,500 gallons. Daily concentrate production is 19,728 based on 24/7 operation. Overall system recovery is 97.5%. The membrane systems are arranged in three stages. The second and third stage trains utilize concentrate water as their feed source.

Fortunately there arose only one problem which was result of the feed water well and not the process equipment. The feed water chemistry has developed some undesirable qualities that were not reported in the original analysis. These parameters include high SDI’s, high levels of BAC and higher silica, iron levels, which were reported as satisfactory or nonexistent in the original analysis. As a result the third stage cannot be operated at the present time due to membrane fouling. So currently total systems concentrate water has increased from 22 gallons to 44 gallons, thereby decreasing the total recovery from 97.3% to 94%. Recovery is still very impressive compared to the industry standard maximum of 85%. The feed water quality issues are currently being addressed and once resolved, the third train will be reinstated.

Water Shortages Likely by 2050

A study sponsored by the Natural Resources Defense Council has concluded that one-third of counties in the US will experience a high risk of water shortage by 2050 as a result of climate change. Tetra Tech, the company that performed the study, has found that more than 400 counties, including many within the Florida peninsular, will face an extremely high risk of not being able to achieve water sustainability within the same time frame. Other areas of the US in jeopardy are the populated regions of the South Atlantic region, the Mississippi River basin, the Arizona/New Mexico region and Washington DC area.
The report did not consider current water conservation programs or water reuse but it seems clear that there should be increased development of ground water supplies that are currently unsatisfactory for potable or industrial use. Agriculture uses the largest amount of available ground water and much farm land sits above untapped aquifers containing brackish water. Golf Course properties, hotels and resorts may also have access to unusable water supplies but have to purchase vast amounts of municipal supplied potable water.

The way to reduce consumption of scare potable water sources and increase the use of what is now considered unusable water, is with the use of brackish water reveres osmosis systems. The use of RO is not new but as present greatly underutilized. Brackish water RO systems are relatively inexpensive to operate and will produce, typically, low TDS potable water from high TDS, example 5000 ppm, ground water. These systems make water that was otherwise unusable into a valuable resource while reducing the demand placed on municipal water supplies.

The Home Water Treatment Question

As an Applications Engineer for industrial and commercial industry for over 20 years I have often been asked the question: What do you use in your home for good tasting safe water? Most of the inquirers assume that my answer will be Reverse Osmosis because that is what I specialize in. But my answer is often not what they expect.
There are only two different sources for all of our drinking water. But water quality can vary tremendously from one water source to another depending on the location. Water comes from surface or underground sources. But how this water gets to our homes also makes a big difference in quality. If you live in a city or county your water will be treated by a public water treatment facility. The Public water company’s job is to treat the water supply to be sure it does not exceed established levels for contaminants, bacteria, and viruses. If you live in a small community your water may come from your small community water treatment system, or simply from a community well and pumping system. These facilities also follow guidelines for safe drinking water. And if you live somewhere that is not served by a public water system it is likely that obtain you water from your own well.
I live in a locality served by a very large public water treatment facility. Raw water is obtained from a very deep well and then treated for the removal or reduction of unsafe levels of contaminates bacteria, and viruses. Most of urban and sub-urban dwellers obtain potable water that way. Most public water treatment plants do a very good job and provide us with good drinking water. The biggest complaint from consumers seems to be taste and order. “How can you drink the water from your tap” is frequently heard in South Florida where I reside. The truth is the water from my tap is quite good. Why? This is what I do. I have installed, under my kitchen sink, twin filter housings each containing a carbon filter cartridge. Carbon cartridges remove the chlorine that the water treatment plant adds to the finished water to prevent bacteria growth in the water as it travels through miles of underground pipe to get to your house. Once chlorine is removed the water it becomes clear and taste great. The housings and filters might initially cost less than $100. The cartridges should be replaced about every 6 months. They cost about $5.00 each. You can get them in your local hardware store.
I don’t believe anything more elaborate is necessary. However homeowners relying on well water for their potable water needs should have their well tested for conformity to safe drinking water regulations. If known contaminates are present in high levels or if there is any doubt at all then a reverse osmosis system and/or other technologies may be needed.

Reverse Osmosis Membrane Market To Increase Nearly 50% by 2020

The total market for membrane-based water treatment will grow from US$ 1.5 billion in 2009 to US$ 2.8 billion in 2020, according to a new report from Lux Research.

Reverse osmosis (RO) membranes are the largest technology, but ultra-filtration (UF) is set for fast growth. Reaching US$ 1.3 billion in 2020, RO membranes will continue to be the biggest segment of the market. However, fueled in part by their promise in treating municipal waste water, industrial process water and other types of water, UF membranes should see a healthy 6.5% compound annual growth rate, expanding from US$ 0.4 billion in 2009 to nearly US$ 0.7 billion in 2020.

Recycled municipal water will boom. In regions of extreme water stress, such as India and China, the idea of municipal water recycling is catching on.

The Indian government alone plans to spend several billion dollars over the next 5-10 years treating the Ganges River. This expansion in municipal water filtration will drive growth in membranes for ultra-filtration, micro-filtration and low-pressure RO.

Zero Liquid Discharge System For Golf Course Irrigation WTP

Phase II has begun for the WTS 1.2 MGD reverse osmosis based water treatment plant that will feature (nearly) "Zero Liquid Discharge" of the RO water concentrate. Water Treatment Systems, Inc and Water Management Group, Inc. have shipped all of the process equipment which is now in the installation phase of the project. When completed the 1.2 MGD reverse osmosis based water treatment plant will feature (nearly) "Zero Liquid Discharge" of the RO concentrate from the systems. RO concentrate water that is to be discharged to a sewer system has been reduced to only approximately 25,000 GPD. That is a design recovery of greater than 98%.
This is a very important development for the RO and also for the Golf industries. In many parts of the country, and indeed worldwide, golf course managers struggle with the problems of availability, cost or quality of water for irrigation of their golf course. Reverse Osmosis has solved the problem of utilizing brackish ground water and many Golf Clubs have planned to purchase and install their own RO water treatment plants only to run directly into a very major obstacle. The problem is finding a suitable location to send the RO concentrate water and obtaining the necessary permits. RO concentrate water is considered 'industrial waste' by the DER and EPA." The lower the amount of RO concentrate, the smaller the problem is.
Reverse Osmosis systems are currently desalinating brackish or sea water at dozens of gold course facilities in the USA and world-wide. The product water from RO systems is very good "irrigation" quality. These facilities discharge their concentrate water, usually about 25% of the feed water, to an appropriate and permittable location. For a one million gallon per day RO system, this can be 250,000 gallons per day. A great many golf club facilities that need to treat their available water do not have an approved location to discharge it to.
The original design for the Texas Golf Club called for total liquid discharge with the use of evaporators as the final treatment phase. Evaporators are expensive both in capital and operating cost. But our client was fortunate to obtain permitting for approximately 5% of the concentrate thus eliminating the evaporation phase which saved about a million dollars". The zero liquid discharge design by Water Treatment Systems, Inc., using membrane systems are a low cost opportunity for golf clubs everywhere.

Floating Potable Water Treatment Systems

The idea isn't new. Reverse Osmosis water treatment plants on ships that sail the sea bringing potable water to people that need it.
Over the years I have heard this idea from various "visionary's" who really want to help people in areas of the world where potable is scarce or expensive. So why haven't we heard of any operating at the current time?

Sea water is everywhere, an unlimited source, so ships equipped with RO desalination systems could make water anywhere in the world. Surely such a ship could have been in place in Haiti these past few months.

The answer is economics. There must not be enough customers with the means to pay for the water that would support the enterprise. There should be plenty of prospective customers. Coastal countries in arid locations come to mind. Many of these are locations are Islands with remote sections that could be developed but for the lack of a potable water supply. Potable water is needed during the construction phase of hotels, resorts with golf courses and housing projects. The ships could be leased by governments. Cities and towns with inadequate water supplies, i.e. coastal California, could purchase water from "Water Ships" until land based Water Treatment Plant projects are completed.

One forward thinking engineer in Boston, USA has developed a plan with a slight twist on the aforementioned possible applications for a floating potable water treatment plant. The plan, developed by Kevin Crawford, Braintree Utilities, calls for the retrofitting of one or two cargo holds of a an unused oil tanker into 1-2 million gallon per day RO desalination systems. Complete water treatment plants with additional cargo holds being used for potable water storage. The initial "water ship" would be berthed adjacent to the retired General Dynamics Shipyard in the Boston MA area. Kevin's in-depth research indicates that such a ship could supply much needed potable water to the nearby towns of Hingham, Hull, and Cohasset at much lower costs than a land based facility.

The process equipment and the design of the WTP was developed by Water Treatment Systems, Inc of Boca Raton, FL. The systems can be supplied and installed relatively inexpensively and it would be a great use of ships that are not being used for their original intention. Such ships could be deployed where ever they are needed for commercial projects or for disaster relief.

".... now we just need an investor with insight and fairly deep pockets" Kevin told me just recently. If anyone is interested contact me by E-Mail.

More Florida Counties Look To Sea Water Desalination

Sea Water Desalination is the future. And the future is now in Florida. Officials in several Florida counties are in the early stages of planning for a project to desalinate sea water in order to augment ground water supplies. A partnership involving Flagler, Volusia and St. Johns counties would create a 20 million to 50 million gallon per day water treatment plant. The plant is expected to be operational in 2017.

"This would be a regional seawater desalination plant designed to serve multiple communities," said Richard Adams, public works director for Palm Coast in Flagler County. Once a plant becomes operational, it will be a valuable tool in helping the fast growing part of the state meet its future water needs.

The partnership includes the Lake County cities of Mount Dora and Leesburg; Palm Coast and Brunnel; Flagler and St. Johns Counties and the Dunes Community Development District.

The cost to produce water at the proposed plant is estimated to be $3.70 to $4.25 per thousand gallons. This is within the range of $2.10 to $5.80 per thousand gallons for other desal plants around the world. (These numbers are for municipal WTPs.  Water Treatment Systems, Inc commercial industrial desal systems generally operate at about $2.00 per thousand gallons).

"Our challenge right now is to determine the size of the plant and who the customers are going to be,: Adams said. "We have an excellent design team that is quite confident about making progress with this project".

New Sea Water Solution From Koch Membranes

Koch Membrane Systems, Inc. (KMS), a pioneer in membrane technology filtration systems, engineering, and process expertise for close to half a century, announces its new solution for large capacity seawater reverse osmosis (RO). KMS' new seawater solution will feature pre-engineered packaged plants up to 2 MGD as well as larger, modular building blocks for higher capacity requirements of up to 50 MGD.

Featuring a lightweight, large diameter pressure vessel-element combination, the new offering will utilize KMS' MegaMagnum PLUS seawater elements. This low-cost seawater solution offers the first economically attractive large area alternative to the older 8-inch technology.

According to Imran Jaferey, KMS vice president of water and wastewater, "KMS was the first to pioneer larger capacity RO elements and currently has the greatest global installed base of these high performance products. Our experienced and knowledgeable staff will be working closely with design and engineering firms around the world to demonstrate our new cost-effective seawater solution."

SOURCE: Koch Membrane Systems, Inc.

Worldwide Desalination Volume Up 8.5%

Recent data indicates that the current capacity for desalination plants world-wide has grown to 69 M3/Day, an 8.5% increase from 2008 statistical data. The data measures only desalination plants larger than 100 M3/day and in the first 6 months of 2009 there were 13,868 plants. Currently the number of plants either in operation or under contract is 14,754.

The "hottest" areas of late for desalination projects have been in Spain, Algeria, and Australia. Reverse Osmosis technology (61%) is the most often selected and municipalities (66.2%) dominate the user market followed by industry (23.5%)  and power (5.5%).

It is important to note also that there are a great many RO desalination plants under 100 M3/day operating around the world but that are not included in the data. Sea water desalination capacity is rising faster than brackish or other water qualities.

Water Treatment Systems.us Sea Water Systems Ready For Haiti

Water Treatment Systems, Inc. a Boca Raton based manufacturer of industrial and commercial RO systems has two (2)sea water desalination systems available for immediate delivery to Haiti. The systems were build for a private client who has agreed to let their systems be sold to anyone with the means to ship the one or both RO systems to the earthquake stricken country.

Each of the the systems is capable of supplying 55,000 gallons of much needed potable water per day. They can be picked up at Water Treatment Systems' factory in Ft. Pierce Florida or WTS will send them to a freight forwarder in South Florida.

The Future of Reverse Osmosis Systems

The future is now! Indeed RO systems are being utilized right now all over the world.
As water supplies continue to degrade or in many countries, simply not available, RO systems will be in greater demand. Desalination of sea water in arid climates is absolutely essential. In many industrial countries, good quality water sources for potable and for irrigation use are becoming hard to find. What little there is becomes very expensive.

Reverse Osmosis is a process that treats water that would otherwise be unsuitable for use and turns into potable water quality. It makes it possible to utilize water sources that are highly saline or brackish, thus freeing up the available "clean" water sources and keeping prices within reason.

Please check back with me often. I will be writing all about RO and RO applications on this first blog about the subject.