AWWA MTC57569

ZENON Environmental has introduced a new reinforced hollow-fiber membrane system based on its highly successful ZeeWeed 500 series of membrane. This system has been designed specifically for large-scale drinking water and wastewater plants where moderate to high levels of suspended solids are present in the water to be treated. The ZeeWeed system uses vacuum to generate a differential pressure across the membrane. This allows the membrane to be used in a very high solids environment in an open tank and achieve economies of scale that are not available to pressurized systems. This paper describes the main reasons why the new product was developed, the benefits it offers the end user, and results from pilot and demonstration test work. Design examples explain how the product is applied to actual projects currently under design in North America and internationally. Guidance is given on how to design large drinking water treatment plants using the new system. For example, methods of mixing, flocculation, two-stage membrane filtration and residuals handling are recommended. Includes figures.