MEMBRANE BIOREACTOR PILOT FACILITY ACHIEVES LEVEL-OF-TECHNOLOGY EFFLUENT LIMITS

The paper describes a pilot study that confirmed that membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology can cost-effectively meet level-of-technology limits for nutrients, organics, and removal of pathogens. The study was conducted for the Loudoun County Sanitation Authority (LCSA) and was operated from September 2000 to May 2001.The pilot study was conducted as part of LCSA planning efforts for the Broad Run Water Reclamation Facility (WRF). The initial capacity of the facility will be between 6.0 and 12.0 million gallons per day (mgd). The Broad Run WRF will discharge 10 miles upstream of an important regional water intake structure which serves the Washington DC metropolitan area. The facility will produce extremely high-quality effluent, as required by treatment objectives in the Dulles Area Watershed Policy (DAWP) and by other regional water quality initiatives, such as the Chesapeake Bay Program.