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This research identified unintended consequences of integrating ultrafiltration and its required ancillary cleaning systems within conventional surface water treatment facilities. Carboxylic acids, used in ultrafiltration membrane chemically enhanced backwashes, were demonstrated to interfere with ferric chloride and alum coagulation if recycled into coagulation basins at sufficient acid to coagulant (A/C) molar ratios. Tricarboxylic citric acid and monocarboxylic acetic acid were shown to interfere with conventional coagulation process performance. Significant changes in settled water turbidity, true colour and metal concentrations were observed in jar tests designed to simulate fullscale water treatment plant operations. A threshold A/C molar ratio for coagulation interference was identified for three surface waters in the United States based on sedimentation basin performance goals established by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Citric acid interfered with coagulation at A/C molar ratios as low as 0.028; whereas acetic acid negatively influenced coagulation at A/C molar ratios in excess of 18.0.

A pilot test program was conducted to evaluate methods for maintaining the productivity of a hollow fiber ultrafiltration membrane operating at constant flux values of 49.2 and 62.3 gallons/ft2-day. The ultrafiltration pilot filtered settled water from a conventional surface water treatment plant in Florida. The testing assessed the impact of different chemical maintenance protocols on UF membrane performance. Seasonal variations in water quality necessitated changes in the type and combination of cleaning agents used to maintain membrane performance. Sodium hypochlorite, citric acid and sodium hydroxide were used during pilot testing as the fouling characteristics of the water changed with time. Pilot results were used to develop alternative chemically enhanced backwash strategies that varied with seasonally-impacted changes in feed water quality. Citric acid, with a target pH of <3, was found to be effective in August and September; whereas, a combination of citric acid and high pH sodium hydroxide chemically enhanced backwashes successfully maintained performance between November, 2010 and May, 2011.

Municipalities Considering Membrane Filtration can Benefit from a Collaborative Pilot Study, Which Allows for Expanded Study Scope and Resource Sharing Among Multiple Stakeholders.