Optimization of the Performance of Thunder Bay Drinking Water Membrane Filtration Plant
Type of initiative
FCM Green Municipal Fund - Plans, Studies, Pilots
Sector
Water
Project value$220,000
Project Type
Feasibility Study
Sub Sector
Drinking Water Quality
Grant amount$55,000
Program type
GMF
Municipality
City of Thunder Bay, ON
Status
Fully Disbursed
Population
108,843
Project timeline
2009 - 2013
Project number
10019
Description
The City of Thunder Bay plans to conduct a study of the process used to clean membranes at its water filtration plant to identify the best cleaning materials and methods for membrane filtration plants. The goal is to reduce energy and chemical costs and extend the life of the membranes used in the plant. The project team will study cleaning methods to identify the ideal strength and temperature of the cleaning solution and the best length of time to spend cleaning the membranes. The team will study used filter fibres to learn more about the nature of the elements being filtered out of the water (the “foulants”). The team will then experiment with a number of commonly used membrane cleaning materials to identify the most efficient, economic and environmentally friendly materials. After comparing the costs and savings involved in different cleaning strategies, the City will adopt the best strategies. The City expects that the study will lead to a two per cent reduction in energy costs, a 10 per cent reduction in chemical costs and a five per cent reduction in membrane costs. The City also expects that the new cleaning methods will eliminate certain harmful cleaning chemicals from the system, reducing wear and tear on equipment and saving energy currently used to neutralize those chemicals.
Applicant
City of Thunder Bay, ON