Driving Energy Efficiency of MBR with a Giant LEAP Forward

The City of Riverside (City) is currently constructing the largest Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) retrofit in the United States as part of the $200 million Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP) Phase 1 expansion project. The City evaluated the total cost of MBR ownership and membrane system supplier experience and selected GE/Zenon Environmental Corporation (GE) in July of 2010 as providing the best overall value. Initially the City selected GE/Zenon to supply their “10/30 Eco-Aeration Design” system. In July 2011 at the time of the project's 100 percent design submittal, GE released the LEAPmbr system. The City had to decide if the risk of applying the new technology were acceptable. The City decided that the savings in construction cost and energy were worth the risk and delays of implementing the new system. The board approved the change in the system.