HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.f. Introduction to Membrane Filtration Pilot Project Page 1 of 5
Item 9.L
,ek CENTRAL SAN
SANITARYCENTRAL CONTRA COSTA , .
January 16, 2020
TO: HONORABLE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FROM: AMANDA CAUBLE, ASSOCIATE ENGINEER
DAN FROST, SENIOR ENGINEER
REVIEWED BY: MELODY LABELLA, RESOURCE RECOVERY PROGRAM MANAGER
DANEA GEMMELL, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIVISION
MANAGER
JEAN-MARC PETIT, DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL
SERVICES
ROGER S. BAILEY, GENERAL MANAGER
SUBJECT: RECEIVE INTRODUCTION TO MEMBRANE FILTRATION PILOT PROJECT
Central San staff submitted this memorandum for the December 16, 2019 Real Estate, Environmental,
and Planning (REEP) Committee meeting and the January 16, 2020 Board Meeting to provide an
introduction to a Membrane Pilot Project and for discussion and feedback.
Project Background and Objectives:
Central San staff is working on the design of renovation improvements to existing Filter No. 3 as part of the
Filter Plant and Clearwell I mprovements Project Phase 1 A, District Project (DP) 7361, which is scheduled
to start construction in the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2020-21. Prior to constructing improvements to
existing Filter No. 3 and prior to eventual renovation of the other three remaining dual granular media filters,
staff is pursuing this Membrane Pilot Project (Pilot Project)to conduct proof-of-concept testing and
evaluate the feasibility of new tertiary membrane filtration in lieu of renovating existing filters.
Staff met with representatives of Fibracast (including Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Diana Benedek), an
Anaergia Company and leading manufacturer of membrane technology, at both the 2019 Annual
WateReuse Symposium in San Diego and the Water Environment Federation's Technical Exhibition and
Conference (WEFTEC) in Chicago in September 2019. Fibracast offered to supply an available unit to
assist with the Pilot Project. Attachments 1 and 2 illustrate the configuration and size of a membrane pilot
unit.
This Pilot Project is to demonstrate membranes as a technology for tertiary filtration at Central San, using
the Fibracast membrane as an example membrane to produce recycled water. The use of the Fibracast
membrane for the pilot would not preclude other membrane manufacturers from participating in any future
testing and design, if the Pilot Project concludes that a tertiary membrane filtration alternative is more
January 16, 2020 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet- Page 190 of 232
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feasible than renovating the existing dual granular media filters. Data will be gathered during the Pilot
Project to evaluate the performance and feasibility of tertiary membrane filtration, including flux rates,
fouling rates and cleaning requirements, membrane feed water quality and temperature, backwash water
quality, and treated permeate water quality such as turbidity, pH, TDS, UVT, and bacteria and virus
removal.A business case evaluation will then be prepared to compare renovation of the existing dual
granular media filters with membrane filtration for meeting Central San's Title 22 recycled water quality
requirements and demands.
Coordinating with Possible Future Needs:
As part of the Comprehensive Wastewater Master Plan (CW MP) and recent recycled water planning
efforts, Central San has identified dual granular media filtration and tertiary membrane filtration as two
possible technologies that could be used in various treatment alternatives to meet existing and future
recycled water needs.
In summary, Central San staff could use this Pilot Project to help inform both existing and future needs:
1. Conduct proof of concept testing that tertiary membrane filtration technologies can treat Central
San's existing secondary effluent to produce Title 22 recycled water for meeting treatment plant and
Zone 1 recycled water customer needs, and potential future demands for the Concord Community
Reuse Project.
2. Complete a business case evaluation comparing new tertiary membrane filtration with plans to
renovate the existing dual granular media filters (which includes new underdrains and media, new
chemical feed systems, and process optimization).As mentioned previously, the current plans
include renovation of existing Filter No. 3 as part of current Filter Plant and Clearwell Improvements
Project Phase 1 A starting in FY 2020-21 followed by renovation of the remaining three filters as part
of a future Filter Plant and Clearwell Improvements Project Phase 1 B.
3. Use the data and results to better inform the viability of membranes as pre-treatment for reverse
osmosis, for potential future advanced recycled water opportunities.
4. Use the data and results to assess potential benefits from membrane filtration on reduced
disinfection system sizing (e.g. for future sizing of chlorine contact basins anticipated in Filter Plant
and Clearwell Improvements Project Phase 113, for potential future replacement of the existing
ultraviolet disinfection system, and for ultraviolet disinfection for possible future advanced recycled
water opportunities).
Pilot Project Budget and Financial Impact:
The Pilot Project will be funded from the Applied Research and Innovations Project, DP 7315, and does
not require an additional budget. The membrane pilot rental agreement with Fibracast is anticipated to be
around $75,000 (with an optional rental extension as described below), and the total estimated budget
required to conduct the Pilot Project is approximately$200,000 to $250,000 (including the Fibracast rental
agreement). The following Pilot Project costs elements are within staff and General Manager authority
limits:
• Fibracast Membrane Pilot Rental Agreement: Central San staff is working with Fibracast to
finalize the Pilot Project scope and budget. The Fibracast rental cost of around $75,000 includes
some minor upgrades to the pilot, transporting the pilot, training staff and assisting with startup and
commissioning, and decommissioning. I n addition, this fee includes the cost to rent the pilot system
at$6,000 per month and is anticipated to cost$36,000 assuming 6 months. Staff is working to
develop a test plan and anticipates that 3 to 6 months will be required.An optional rental extension, if
requested by Central San, could be included in the agreement.
January 16, 2020 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet- Page 191 of 232
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• Pilot Installation: The cost to install and connect the membrane filtration pilot system at Central San
is expected to be within staff authority limits. Staff will either contract the work through a change order
with an existing Central San contractor or, depending on cost and schedule considerations, will bid
the work through the Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act(UPCCAA) process.
• Consultant On-Call Support: Central San staff will issue task orders through an existing on-call
engineering consultant support agreement to provide specialized expertise and assistance for
preparing the pilot operating and testing plan, provide quality assurance for data gathering, evaluate
pilot performance, and assist with pilot inter-connection, if required.
• Staff Support and Testing: Existing Central San staff will manage and conduct the Pilot Project,
utilizing vendor and consultant support as described above. Staff will also perform water quality
sampling and analyses, and use existing outside laboratory agreements for analyses that cannot be
completed by staff.
Pilot Project Schedule:
The Pilot Project is anticipated to start in Winter 2020 and operate for three to six months (with an optional
extension, if requested by Central San). Results from the Pilot Project are anticipated in Spring 2020 to
inform Central San staff regarding the feasibility of secondary effluent membrane filtration prior to
construction for the Filter Plant and Clearwell Improvements Project Phase 1 A.
Strategic Plan Tie-In
GOAL TWO: Strive to Meet Regulatory Requirements
Strategy 1 - Strive to achieve 100%permit compliance in air, water, land, and other regulations
GOAL THREE:Be a Fiscally Sound and Effective Water Sector Utility
Strategy 1 - Conduct long-range financial planning
GOAL SIX:Embrace Technology, Innovation and Environmental Sustainability
Strategy 1 -Augment the region's water supply
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Example Isometric View of a Fibracast Membrane Pilot
2. Example Photo of a Fibracast Membrane Pilot
January 16, 2020 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet- Page 192 of 232
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Attachment 1 : Example Isometric View of a Fibracast Membrane Pilot
41000 GPD - MEMPAC-M E-SERIES
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