Performance evaluation SIX (R) - Ceramac (R) in comparison with conventional pre-treatment techniques for Surface Water Treatment

This paper reviews the progress that has been made during the last four years within the research facilities of PWN. This has resulted in a new pre-treatment process for the direct treatment of water containing high amounts of suspended matter, dissolved organic carbon and nitrate, such as surface waters, based on ion exchange (SIX (R)) and ceramic microfiltration (Ceramac (R)). This paper specifically reviews the results of a performance evaluation that has been made of this new pre-treatment process in comparison with conventional pre-treatment techniques, in this case enhanced coagulation followed by rapid sand filtration. Based on the outcome of this study a new treatment facility has been designed with these new processes which will be operational in 2013 with a capacity of 5000 m(3)/h, this comparison study however is based on a maximum capacity of 4000 m(3)/h. This new pre-treatment leads to a superior water quality, reduced energy consumption, less waste and a smaller carbon footprint.