A municipal water reuse plant resolved severe fouling and scaling issues by adopting optimised antiscalant and cleaning solutions. Cleaning cycles extended from 4-6 weeks to 10 months, reducing costs, labour, and operational disruptions. This tailored approach improved system performance, minimised organic fouling, and delivered sustainable long-term savings for the facility.
A municipal water reuse plant processing 8 million gallons per day (MGD) experienced severe fouling and scaling issues, including calcium phosphate and silica deposits. With steep feed pressure increases and differential pressures in both stages, the plant required frequent cleanings every 4 to 6 weeks, amounting to 32 cleanings annually. Each cleaning cycle resulted in operational disruptions, increased costs, and a concerning decline in salt rejection after every cleaning.
An in-depth water analysis and membrane autopsy revealed severe organic fouling and unusual gel-like deposits. By testing cleaning chemicals, a high-pH cleaner (C-227) effectively removed organic foulants, while C-209 tackled silica scale and reversed membrane swelling. Additionally, advanced projections and lab simulations verified the efficacy of A-110 antiscalant at controlling scaling while extending operating intervals.
Foulant collection on lead element
Foulant collection on tail element
Superimposed Elemental Imaging (SEI®) of polymerised silica organic based matter
Electron micrograph of the surface damage at 1000X magnification. The size of the surface damage ranged from~7µm to ~35µm Electron
With the optimised treatment strategy, the plant extended cleaning cycles to 10 months—significantly reducing the frequency of membrane cleanings.
The disappearance of organic fouling highlighted the prior antiscalant’s role in exacerbating the problem. The new antiscalant and cleaning protocol also cut labor costs and improved system performance.
The updated RO treatment plan not only resolved fouling and scaling challenges but also delivered sustainable cost savings and operational efficiency. With extended cleaning intervals and improved membrane performance, the facility has been operating successfully for years and is exploring ways to increase recovery rates. This case demonstrates the value of tailored water treatment solutions for long-term success.
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AWC provides water treatment solutions with a wide range of membrane chemicals, including antiscalants and cleaners for RO, NF, UF, and MF systems. They offer analytical services like membrane testing, cleaning studies, and autopsies, using lab simulations to ensure effective scale inhibition and optimal membrane system performance
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