A state of the art water microfiltration process within a water treatment
plant in Summit County, Utah, is on course to prove that recycled backwash
water from the primary treatment process can be used as drinking water. It is
anticipated that the data collected during operation will show that the filtered
product from the recycled backwash produces the same quality drinking water as
the primary treatment produces. During this innovative process, the overall plant
waste quantity is reduced from 10 percent to 2 percent of the total plant
production. The backwash water used to flush the membrane units is discarded
into a flocculation tank and plate-settler system where it undergoes a clarification
process. This clarified water is then pumped into another microfiltration
membrane unit dedicated to treating only the backwash water. The recycled
backwash water membrane unit's filtered product is then sent to the tank that
provides the backwash supply water for the primary treatment units. In meeting
the highest standards set by the environmental and political community, the
byproducts produced in the recycling process are pumped to the wastewater
collection system, resulting in no on-site discharge.
This project can yield significant results. Recently released studies have
found that if current trends continue, tremendous strain will be placed on water
resources over time. If as successful as predicted, the Summit County facility will
introduce a revolutionary way to preserve one of our most precious resources
and commodities by operating with 98 percent recovery. This ecologically aware
process would be more efficient, reduce cost and, most importantly, create a
viable increase in potable water. Includes tables, figures.