What You Need to Know About

RO Feedwater Characteristics
and How They Affect RO Peformance in Commercial Applications

nowledge of the source, the treatment and the physical and chemical quality (i.e., the characteristics) of the water supply is essential for the long-term, trouble-free operation of small commercial/industrial RO systems. The market we are referring to includes small line pressure RO systems of 50-100 gpd that may serve the food service and office or custom home drinking water market; and small pump pressurized systems (<1,000 gpd) that might serve food service, office drinking water, car detail, produce mister, humidification and other applications which operate at low recovery (< 33 percent) and require no special pretreatment other than filtration and chlorine removal; and 1,0003,000 gpd systems that might serve hospitality, small carwash, ingredient water, small manufacturing, etc. and do not operate over 50 percent recovery where the pretreatment is limited to filtration, chlorine removal and softening. Water supply conditions should be obtained from a combination of the water suppliers test reports, past dealer experience and in-house or field testing. It is strongly recommended that dealers create a special form to record the following information and keep it with the customer file for future reference.

By Robert Slovak

means of removing harmful microorganisms. Always check the regulations on such applications with your state and/ or local public health authority.

Deep well or shallow well Private, surface supply Is the water supply quality subject to significant variation depending on the season or the selection of sources by the supplier?

Feedwater Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) level

Measure this parameter using a TDS/conductivity meter, calibrated in ppm (mg/L) or microSiemens (S) with temperature compensation or obtain a complete laboratory test report. The relationship (ratio) between TDS in ppm and conductivity in S depends on the ionic composition of the water but generally falls between 0.5 (for NaCl solutions) and 0.7 (for natural ground waters). The TDS/conductivity level is necessary because: 1. It is an important factor in determining the minimum feed pressure required. The dissolved ions have the effect of reducing the effective feedwater pressure by generating approximately one psi of osmotic back pressure (i.e., reverse pressure) for every 100 ppm of TDS. Example: TDS of the water supply: 1,000 ppm (mg/L) Feed pressure: 150 psi Osmotic pressure: (1,000/100) = 10 psi Net pressure on membrane (not including hydropneumatic tank back pressure, if included in system) = 150 psi 10 psi = 140 psi 2. It is a factor in determining the expected product quality since RO membranes reject a percentage of the feedwater TDS. 3. It should be considered when choosing a membrane type since some have better rejection than others. TFC membranes typically have higher rejection than CA membranes (now rarely used) over a wide range of TDS levels.
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What primary treatment methods are used on the water supply?

This information may be useful when diagnosing system performance problems, especially those related to membrane scaling, fouling and deterioration. None: direct from well or surface source Modern municipal treatment plant Flocculation with alum or polymers Iron sequestration or hardness control with polyphosphates Corrosion control with pH elevation and/or orthophosphates Disinfection with chlorine, chloramines, UV, ozone Treatment for controlling water hardness, iron and/or manganese Temperature fluctuations between winter and summer water temperatures

What is the source of the water supply?

This information may be useful when diagnosing system performance problems and discussing them with the supplier over the service life of the RO system. Municipal, deep well or surface supply Small community Deep well or surface supply Surface supply, small community Private
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Is the water supply potable?

This needs to be answered if the RO system permeate is going to be used for human consumption in any wayincluding ingredient water for beverages or contact with food. Does it meet public health standards for microbiologically safe water? Important! RO systems for potable water applications should only be used on microbiologically safe water supplies and never be used as a primary

Feedwater pressure
If the system is operating at line pressure, measure with a standard pressure gauge anywhere in or outside the location, provided water is not flowing. Important! For well systems, you need to determine both the high and low pump pressure settings. If the system is operating on pump pressure, a permanently installed, liquid-filled pressure gauge is recommended between the pump and the first membrane. 1. RO production rate is directly proportional to the net pressure, which is the feed pressure minus the osmotic pressure minus any backpressure from a hydropneumatic storage tank. For example, doubling the net pressure doubles the production rate and halving the net pressure halves the production rate. Example: Assume: The RO supplier claims that the TFC RO membrane production rate is 75 gpd at 60 psi (net pressure) and 77F. Determine: What is the initial (when the tank is empty) production rate for the same membrane at 100 psi feed pressure, 600 ppm TDS and tank air precharge pressure of 10 psi? Net pressure = (feed pressure)

(osmotic pressure) (tank back pressure) Calculate: Net pressure = 100 6 10 = 84 psi Calculate: New production rate = 75 gpd x (84 psi/60 psi) = 105 gpd @ 77F 2. Feed pressure affects the percent rejection of TDS. As the net pressure falls below a certain level, the percent rejection starts to drop off, too. TFC membranes typically have high rejection (>95 percent) over a wide pressure range. As a general rule, the initial calculated corrected net pressure is 30 psi (when the tank is starting to fill). Example: Conditions: You want to install a small line pressure commercial RO with a TFC membrane at a location with 40 psi feed pressure and 350 ppm TDS. The tank air precharge pressure is 10 psi. Question: Do the conditions meet the minimum initial net pressure recommendation? Net pressure = (feed pressure) (osmotic pressure) (tank back pressure) Calculate: Initial net pressure = 40 3.5 10 = 26.5 psi Installation is not recommended

since 26.5 psi falls below the recommended 30 psi and not sufficient for acceptable results. To improve, you could lower the tank air precharge pressure to five psi (compromising delivery flow) but the best solution is to add a small booster pump or a permeate pump.

Feedwater temperature
Measure with a standard dial or electronic thermometer after allowing the source to flow for at least one minute or determine from historical seasonal records. 1. Water temperature is a major factor in determining the RO production rate because it increases or decreases the viscosity of water. Colder feedwater has higher viscosity (thicker water), which slows down production rate, while warmer water has lower viscosity (thinner water), which increases production rate. For predicting a more exact production rate at higher or lower temperatures, refer to a temperature conversion chart from the manufacturer of the particular membrane being used (see Chart 1). Example: Assume: Most RO membrane suppliers measure membrane production rate at 77F (25C).

Water Conditioning & Purification

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UV or ozone or not disinfected at all. It is best to contact the local supplier or private water supply operator and ask how often and with what do they disinfect the water supply. If this information is not available, use a test kit for free and total chlorine to determine if any form of chlorine is present in the water. It is very important to understand the different forms of chlorine and how they are measured. The very basic relationship is expressed as: Total Chlorine = Free Chlorine + Combined Chlorine (e.g., chloramines) In the application of RO systems, a public water supply is considered disinfected if it is disinfected at a central source, either continually or on some regular schedule. A residual of disinfectant does not necessarily have to be measurable at the installation location (i.e., it can dissipate in the distribution system). A private water supply is considered disinfected if it is continuously or periodically disinfected with an approved method and/or regular tests confirm that it is free of harmful microorganisms. CA membranes should only be used on disinfected water supplies due to the potential for bacterial degradation. Consult the membrane supplier for their recommendation. TFC membranes, which NR = operation not recommended at this temperature. Important! This table provides generic temperature corrections. dominate this market, must be Consult your membrnae supplier for exact temperature correction protected with a dechlorinating media or filter whenever there is values. To estimate the RO daily production rate at a known local water a chance that measurable free chlotemperature (make correction for local feedwater pressure, also, if rine is in the feedwater. Chloramdifferent from 60 psi standard test pressure): 1) Find the temperaines have much less oxidizing ture correction factor corresponding to the local water temperature. effect on TFC membranes, but 2) Multiply the correction factor times the POU RO suppliers there is generally some free chlospecified production rate at 77F (25C). rine present in water supplies disinfected with chloramines. solved solids such as iron, manganese The deterioration of TFC membranes and hardness minerals will become less due to disinfecting/oxidizing agents is Feedwater pH soluble and cause a potential scaling/ expressed in ppm-hours (e.g., ppm of free Measure pH only at the installation fouling problem. Generally, the higher chlorine x hours of exposure). It specilocation (with time, the original pH of the pH, the greater the problem these disfies, approximately, the number of hours water samples is likely to change). Use a solved solids present in precipitating and of continuous exposure at a given ppm high-quality, reliable and calibrated pH scaling and, thereby, in fouling the memconcentration of the oxidant that the meter. brane. membrane can tolerate before a detect1. Feedwater pH is less of a factor able loss of performance. Modern TFC today because TFC membranes are alHow is the feedwater membrane formulations typically have a most exclusively used. TFC membranes disinfected? 1,000 ppm-hour tolerance to free chlorine can be installed on virtually any water Public water supplies may be disinand more than 5,000-ppm hours to supply pH (up to pH 10+) without loss fected with chlorine, chloramines, chlochloramines. Always contact the memof performance. rine dioxide or ozone. Private and well brane manufacturer for their specific 2. Feedwater pH is a significant facsupplies can be disinfected with chlorine, guidelines. tor in determining whether some disThe RO you are installing claims a TFC membrane production rate of 750 gpd at 150 psi and 77F. Conditions: You want to install the commercial RO at a location with 50F (10C) feedwater. Question: What is the expected decrease in production rate of the RO membrane just due to temperature effects? Look up temperature correction factors for TFC membranes. At 50F find the correction factor of 0.61. Calculate: Multiply this factor times the production at 77F: 0.61 x 750 gpd = 458 gpd. 2. Do not exceed the maximum operating temperature or membrane degradation will occur within a short period of time. The typical recommended maximum operating temperature for TFC membranes is 100F (38C). (Geographic note: In the southwest, it is not all that uncommon for water out of the well to hit 120 Fwhere not really recommended, these RO units do continue to work well. In such cases, try to either install a cooling pre tank or change out membranes more frequently.) 3. Membranes should never be allowed to freeze or permanent damage is likely to occur. (Survival storiescases where small elements have been subjected to freezing temperatures for extended periods and survivedappear to be due to new unwetted membranes and/or dry assembly.) 4. Warmer feedwater may promote hardness scaling and bio-fouling on the membrane surface, resulting in loss of performance and shortened life. Chart 1. Typical RO membrane temperature correction table Water temp. Water temp. TFC correction CTA correction F C factor factor 36 2.2 0.408 0.635 38 3.3 0.437 0.647 40 4.4 0.466 0.659 42 5.6 0.494 0.671 44 6.7 0.523 0.684 46 7.6 0.552 0.697 48 8.9 0.581 0.711 50 10.0 0.610 0.726 52 11.1 0.639 0.741 54 12.2 0.668 0.756 56 13.3 0.697 0.773 58 14.4 0.726 0.790 60 15.6 0.754 0.808 62 16.7 0.783 0.826 64 17.8 0.812 0.846 66 18.9 0.841 0.867 68 20.0 0.870 0.888 70 21.1 0.899 0.911 72 22.2 0.928 0.935 74 23.3 0.957 0.960 76 24.4 0.986 0.986 77 25.0 1.000 1.000 78 25.6 1.017 1.014 80 26.7 1.061 1.044 82 27.8 1.085 1.075 84 28.9 1.121 1.109 86 30.0 1.157 NR 88 31.1 1.195 NR 90 32.2 1.233 NR 92 33.3 1.273 NR 94 34.4 1.313 NR 96 35.6 1.354 NR 98 36.7 1.396 NR 100 37.8 1.439 NR
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Does the RO feedwater contain any impurities that are likely to scale or foul the membrane in normal use?
Excessive hardness, iron, manganese, alum, silt, silica, tannins, iron bacteria and algae could potentially foul or scale membranes. In general, these impurities should be minimized using pretreatment prior to the RO. Consult with the RO system supplier for their recommendations on the limitations of these impurities. The recovery of the RO system is the primary factor in determining the likelihood of scaling and fouling because it specifies to what degree the impurities are concentrated in the reject stream. The definition of the percent recovery and its relationship to the concentration factor of feedwater impurities is as follows: Recovery = (permeate flow/feed flow) x 100 Recovery = (permeate flow/[permeate flow + reject flow]) x 100
Recovery Reject : Permeate Conc. factor

25 percent 33 percent 50 percent 66 percent 75 percent

3:1 2:1 1:1 1:2 1:3

1.3 X 1.5 X 2.0 X 3.0 X 4.0 X

For line pressure commercial RO systems, which typically operate at 25 percent recovery into an open container, the following guidelines are generally applicable: 1. If hardness exceeds 15-20 grains per gallon (257-342 mg/ L), a softener is normally required, assuming less than 0.3 ppm of iron is present. If iron is present, a softener or iron removal filter may be required at lower hardness levels. Tech tip: Be aware that demand water softener flow meters may not register the flow of small RO systems, with less than 100 gpd permeate flow. Compensation may be required by making appropriate changes to the softener control valve settings. 2. If dissolved iron exceeds 0.3 mg/L, an iron filter or softener is required. 3. If iron bacteria are present, they must be eliminated with industry-recommended treatment. 4. If manganese exceeds 0.05 mg/L, an oxidizing filter is normally recommended. 5. If tannins exceed one mg/L, they must be removed with industry-recommended treatment. 6. If the Silt Density Index (SDI) of the water supply exceeds five (most likely only in surface water supplies), particulate fouling of the membrane and loss of production performance may occur in a short time. Special backwashing media and/or filter cartridges are recommended for these applications. Consult your supplier for their recommendation. For larger pump pressurized commercial RO systems that operate at higher recoveries (33 to 50+ percent) there are no hard and fast rules. At hardness levels over 10 grains per gallon (171 mg/L), a softener can be excellent insurance against scaling. Also, the prefiltration capability in terms of particle size removal should be upgraded. Under circumstances involving high dirt loads and oxidizeable metals or biological loads, periodic fast-forward flushing of the membrane may also extend membrane life. Potable water applications: Does the feedwater contain any health-related contaminants such as nitrate, heavy metals, radionuclides, Cryptosporidium etc., which may exceed EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) Standards? Determine the levels of these contaminants from a current and reliable water analysis. The dealer has the responsibility for making sure health-related contaminants, which can be conWater Conditioning & Purification

trolled by RO technology, are reduced to safe levels over the systems service life. Important! RO membranes do not reject all individual dissolved solid contaminants to the same percent rejection as the TDS. Some contaminants such as nitrate and Arsenic III have unique chemical characteristics that allow them to permeate the RO membrane more easily. The rejection level of these types of contaminants is further dependent on the membrane type (CTA versus TFC), water chemistry and operating parameters (i.e., pressure, temperature, pH, cations and anions, oxidation-reduction potential [ORP], etc.). Extensive research has been conducted on ROs ability to reduce arsenic. It is important to note that RO membranes will reduce initially on average 98+ percent of Arsenic V and 65-75 percent of Arsenic III. It is beyond the scope of this article to discuss the details of these special RO performance characteristics. Contact your supplier for additional advice in dealing with individual health-related contaminants. Important! If the RO system is being used to control healthrelated contaminants, it is essential that the local Health Department be consulted for their requirements. Third-party testing is also recommended. A reliable RO water quality monitor must be installed and, if applicable, a specific contaminant (e.g., nitrate) test kit supplied to the customer. Periodic lab testing is also recommended to provide verification that the RO system is performing as expected.

About the author

Robert Slovak, cofounder of Water Factory Systems and a principal of Next RO, is the author of a definitive text on installing POU RO devices. Contact him at RobtSlovak@aol.com or at Next-RO, 217 South Pacific Coast Highway,Redondo Beach, CA 90277. Tel: (310) 379-0610; Fax: (310) 634-1841; info@nextro.com; www.next-ro.com.

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