| Application of membrane treatment technologies to surface water with high NOM concentrations is often done in the presence of coagulation and flocculation. Coagulation processes produce residual wastes that must be land filled and may contain high levels of aluminum or other metals. In this study, bench and pilot-scale membrane systems in the ranges of microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), and nanofiltration (NF) were tested on two source waters with elevated NOM levels. The first source in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia has periodic spikes in turbidity and TOC resulting from surface runoff into the source water. The second source in Shelburne, Nova Scotia is low turbidity surface water with high levels of color and associated NOM parameters. Results of pilot testing show that MF and OF processes consistently achieve >90% removal of particulate matter, including, turbidity and particle counts. However they are less effective in removing TOC and organic matter. NF treatment was shown to consistently remove between 90 and 100% of DBP precursor material. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
