AWWA ACE93197

Considerable planning is a requirement when incorporating the use of a surface water as a raw water supply for a membrane process plant. The raw water quality is a major factor involved in almost every facet of the process design and planning effort; therefore, it is in the designer's best interest to base the effort on reliable and adequate water quality data. Surface water supplies should only be used for membrane process plants when an adequate groundwater supply is unavailable. If the designer of a membrane process plant takes into consideration the surface water issues mentioned in this paper (water quality variations, reliable data, minimum standards for raw water quality, pretreatment options to prevent fouling) in the design of the proposed membrane process plant, the longevity of the membrane system under design should be prolonged.