Membrane Treatment

The application of membranes in both water and wastewater treatment has increased significantly in the past 10 years. Seawater desalination is rapidly becoming an attractive water supply option for many utilities located along the coast and even for some utilities located hundreds of miles inland. In addition, membrane technology is becoming more feasible for other water and wastewater treatment applications, such as in place of clarification, filtration, and chemical softening.

Why are more utilities turning to membrane treatment?
Membrane processes provide many benefits that water and wastewater utilities are finding to be more and more attractive:

• Ability to meet higher water quality standards
• Reliable and consistent performance
• Space savings
• Reduced staffing requirements

• MF & UF - Replaces clarification and filtration in both water and wastewater plants. Removes suspended solids, turbidity, and microorganisms.
• NF & Reverse Osmosis - Used for softening and desalination applications. Removes hardness and total dissolved solids in addition to suspended solids, turbidity, and microorganisms.
• Membrane Bioreactors - Used in wastewater as single-unit process to remove biological oxygen demand, total suspended solids, turbidity, microorganisms, and nutrients.

Seawater Desalination
The cost of reverse osmosis (RO) treatment for seawater has decreased significantly in the past 10 years, and it is expected that the cost will continue to decrease over the next 10 years as operating pressures are reduced further and membrane life spans increase. There are many proven RO desalination plants in operation in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, and there are several new large-scale installations planned to go into operation in the near future in the United States.

PBS&J, a pioneer in the application of membrane technology, can help you determine if seawater desalination is appropriate for your applications. Our staff has been involved with the development of many of the large seawater RO plants currently being planned for operation in the United States. We have worked with many of the world’s leading membrane suppliers, membrane system design and operations firms, and companies that offer alternative delivery financing. We understand the challenges and pitfalls of permitting and financing, which are often the most difficult aspects of any new seawater desalination facility.

What we offer:

• Cost of water feasibility evaluation
• Site selection and evaluation
• Environmental and water quality permitting
• Site and system layout
• Design and construction phase services
• Distribution system integration
• Water quality implication evaluation
• Alternative delivery evaluation and development
• Financial planning
• Operations and start-up phase services
• Post-operation water quality monitoring (e.g., discharge, process monitoring, permit compliance)

PBS&J’s Services
PBS&J can assist in the development of cost-effective membrane treatment solutions with services that encompass all phases of a project from concept to completion.

Program Management
PBS&J's customized program management services include consensus-building, financial rate impact analysis, and management of entire budgets and schedules.

Planning
PBS&J will work with your staff to evaluate and select the best membrane technology for your needs, including pretreatment processes.

Environment Compliance
PBS&J will assist in developing the environmental documentation needed for your project.

Permitting
PBS&J will assist you to obtain the water supply or concentrate discharge permits needed for your project.

Cost Estimating
PBS&J is experienced with developing cost estimates for membrane applications.

Design
PBS&J is one of the top design firms in the United States and can provide you with design services to suit your membrane application.

Construction Administration
PBS&J offers a full range of services during construction.