SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN MEMBRANE DESALINATION - 1979

A brief summary of several recent developments connected with the Office of Water Research and Technology (OWRT) program on advancing membrane desalination technology is presented. The impact of recently enacted legislation on the OWRT program and newly obtained results of operational testing with reverse osmosis composite membranes for both seawater and low pressure brackish water desalting applications are described. The status of the 96 mgd Yuma, Arizona brackish water desalting plant is discussed. A synopsis of the 3.2 mgd (12,000 m3/day) Jedda, Saudi Arabia reverse osmosis seawater desalting plant and a description of a high temperature electrodialysis pilot plant of 50,000 gpd capacity designed for seawater desalination are given. Finally, estimated costs for both seawater and brackish water desalting using reverse osmosis and electrodialysis membrane plants of up to 10 mgd capacity are provided. © 1979.