AWWA MTC69725

Within the last decade, wastewater reclamation using membrane technologies has become not only a realistic possibility for many municipalities, but a necessity for those located within dry, arid regions. The combination of membrane filtration, reverse osmosis (RO), and advanced oxidation (ultraviolet [UV] light and hydrogen peroxide) to treat municipal effluents beyond drinking water qualities has been demonstrated globally as the process of choice for municipalities that are looking to reduce dependence on potable water for industrial or agricultural uses, implement indirect potable reuse applications, or even to create direct potable reuse supplies. Three such municipalities have used this advanced treatment process on their own local wastewater effluents for a variety of uses, but with the common goal of sustaining local potable water supplies. This paper compares operational data and performances for each of these three large scale water recycling facilities that include: the West Basin Municipal Water District in Carson, California; Orange County Water District in Fountain Valley, California; and, the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project (WCWRP) in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Particular attention is focused on the microfiltration (MF) and RO systems at each, with discussion of startup and ongoing issues experienced at each location. Includes figures.