Creating a Personalized Membrane System

Reverse osmosis system in New Mexico

Membrane technology is just one of many options AdEdge offers to decontaminate water supplies. Whether you require high quality drinking water for a municipal water utility or consistently pure water for bottling and drinking, AdEdge can design and build a customized membrane solution to meet your site’s treatment needs.

AdEdge offers ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis (RO) membrane systems for a variety of industrial, municipal and mining applications. For reducing total dissolved solids (TDS), RO is the perfect choice.

When designing a RO system, we begin with the basics. AdEdge’s team of experts first analyzes the water’s quality and temperature to determine the system’s operating pressure and other elements of the design.

“The RO projection will dictate the operating pressure required by the high pressure RO pump, how many membranes are required, chemical feed requirements and the system array, which is the membrane layout,” said Doug Craver, AdEdge’s Western Region Sales Manager.

Sometimes the water is contaminated with minerals that can harm the surface of the membrane. RO pretreatment is often necessary to treat these contaminants before they have a chance to cause any damage.

Chlorine is one such mineral that can be trouble for an RO system.

“Chlorine is an oxidizer and present in most potable water supplies and, if not removed, this will actually oxidize the membrane surface creating ‘micro-holes’ in the membrane surface,” Craver said. “Where other contaminants plug the membranes, this will actually do the opposite and will ultimately allow more TDS and contaminants to pass through the membranes.”

For effective pretreatment, our RO systems can be integrated with our other treatment technologies to ensure successful removal of harmful contaminants in one convenient system. AdEdge also offers antiscalants to curb buildup on the membrane and soften the water.

Much like our other treatment systems, RO systems are skid-mounted and pre-plumbed, pre-wired and tested before they are shipped to your site. Using a forklift or other heavy lifting equipment, the contractor can simply consult the supplied AutoCAD drawings of the system, making installation a breeze.

Membrane technology is an ideal solution for treating tap, well or surface water applications to produce highly purified water across all industries. Contact AdEdge and let one of our experienced engineers design a custom solution that fits your needs.

Understanding Membrane Treatment

Ultrafiltration system

When it comes to water treatment, there is never a shortage of options available for consumers. Membrane filtration is one item on AdEdge’s long list of treatment solutions designed to produce clean, safe water. But what exactly is membrane treatment and how can it benefit your water supply?

Simply put, in a membrane system, water is forced through a material that is designed to only allow pure water to pass through, leaving the contaminants behind.

No matter the industry, if highly purified water is needed, membrane treatment is an ideal solution. From car washes seeking a spot-free rinse, to the pristine irrigation systems on the green lawns of golf courses, a membrane system can deliver water that is free of fluoride, nitrates, arsenic and total dissolved solids (TDS).

Looking for water that is good enough to drink? Membrane treatment is also great for potable water applications such as restaurants, hotels, schools and resorts.

Reverse osmosis (RO) and ultrafiltration (UF) are the two most common methods of membrane treatment.

“Many products fabricated require high purity water for various aspects of the process, so RO is the most cost effective technology available for reduction of TDS from well and or potable water supplies,” said Doug Craver, Western Region Sales Manager for AdEdge.

An RO system can also help water utilities stay in line with federal regulations when certain contaminants are present at levels higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum contaminant levels. And multiple contaminants are no problem, according to Craver, as RO technology can be combined with other treatment methods into one system for decontamination.

“Depending on the contaminants present, RO can be used by itself to reduce several contaminants at one time or can be used in conjunction with filtration systems to meet the required parameters,” Craver explained.

Ultrafiltration membrane systems, on the other hand, reduce organics and turbidity to bring surface water supplies up to drinking water quality. They are also used to reclaim wastewater for reuse or groundwater recharge. Large particles won’t pass through UF membranes, but ions and small organics will flow through with ease.

AdEdge designs custom membrane treatment solutions that are effective under a variety of conditions and can be combined with other AdEdge treatment technologies for complete contaminant removal. Let us design a membrane system that is right for your water supply.

Taking the Reins

White Horse Youth Ranch in Las Vegas

AdEdge offers numerous custom membrane treatment solutions for reducing total dissolved solids (TDS) in a variety of applications. In 2011, AdEdge was contacted to design a solution for a Las Vegas ranch.

The White Horse Youth Ranch offers underprivileged youth in the area an opportunity to develop respect, trust, responsibility and discipline through learning how to care for and ride a horse.

When some of the horses began getting sick and not eating, they were moved off the ranch and treated. Upon returning to the ranch, they became sick again.

After testing the groundwater, high concentrations of TDS, arsenic and sulfates were found on the property.

The raw water at the ranch has a TDS concentration of 3,680 mg/L. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) maximum contaminant level (MCL) for TDS is 500 mg/L. The arsenic concentration of 0.028 mg/L and the sulfate level of 1,800 mg/L were also well above the MCL of 0.01 mg/L and 250 mg/L, respectively.

“Prior to treating the groundwater supply, they had taken their horses off the ranch’s property and were housing them elsewhere,” said Chad Miller, applications engineer for AdEdge. “Essentially the ranch was shut down until an alternative water source could be identified or treatment of their existing water supply could bring the water to quality.”

The ranch’s owners contacted AdEdge for a treatment solution. By implementing a skid-mounted AdEdge reverse osmosis (RO) unit, AdEdge was able to reduce the facility’s arsenic, sulfate and TDS levels to well below the EPA standards.

AdEdge designed a unit sized for 28 gallons per minute—the size of the existing well’s distribution system. From the well, water is pumped into a 120-gallon hyponeumatic tank that controls pressure.

To eliminate any materials that could potentially clog the membrane, an anti-scalant is injected into the water. From there, it flows into a sediment filter to remove any organics before reaching the RO system, which is made of six 5-inch by 40-inch membranes stacked on top of each other. 

Since the system was started up in October 2011, it has reduced the arsenic concentration to an undetectable level, and the TDS and sulfates have been reduced to well below the EPA’s standard. Today, the White Horse Youth Ranch can continue to its mission to teach important life skills to underprivileged youth with healthy horses.

Contact AdEdge to design a custom membrane treatment system for your site.

Whole-House Arsenic Removal

AdVantEdge Medallion Series point-of-entry system

While point-of-use residential treatment systems treat water at the tap, point-of-entry (POE) systems treat water as it enters the home, ensuring safe, clean water throughout the entire house.

If a home has more than 50 ppb of arsenic or the homeowners are looking for one treatment solution to remove arsenic from every sink, shower and appliance in the home, a POE system is ideal.

The AdVantEdge Medallion Series of POE residential arsenic treatment systems use AdEdge’s Bayoxide E33 adsorption media to safely and effectively remove arsenic from drinking water throughout the entire home.

The system is available in 5-, 7- and 10-gpm sizes, to accommodate household and light commercial applications.

The pre-designed, pre-packaged Medallion system reduces up to 99% of Arsenic (III) and Arsenic (V) without the use of regeneration chemicals, salt or additives. Only periodic backwashing is required and the spent media can be discarded as non-hazardous household waste.

For homeowners with more than just arsenic in their water supply, the Medallion series is compatible with other residential treatment solutions, providing a fully integrated water treatment system.

Contact AdEdge or a local AdVantEdge dealer to rid your entire house of arsenic today.

Treated at the Tap

AdVantEdge DWS-4510 point-of-use system

While most of our products treat water well before it ever reaches a customer’s house, we also offer products that will decontaminate drinking water right at the tap.

For homes with less than 50 ppb of arsenic in their drinking water, an under-the-counter point-of-use (POU) household treatment solution may be the best option for clean, safe and great-tasting water.

AdEdge offers a number of POU systems designed for a variety of flow sizes that can be installed under any sink in a home. With these systems, in the kitchen for instance, homeowners can rest assured that the water they use for cooking, making coffee or washing dishes is virtually contaminant-free.

The AdVantEdge Dual Series is a multi-functional integrated system with a two-stage treatment approach for contaminant removal. With the three different models of the Dual Series system, arsenic, sediment and chlorine can be eliminated, while a taste- and odor-control reduction method ensures refreshing drinking water right from the tap.

For a higher capacity solution, the AdVantEdge 4510 undercounter system removes contaminants with a cartridge that lasts up to 12 months or 3,000 gallons—whichever comes first.

The AdVantEdge Plus POU system offers an advanced, cost-effective solution, which is proven to remove 57 contaminants for about 8 cents a gallon. The solid block carbon filtration provides extra efficient contaminant reduction, and a digital flowmeter will automatically shut the system off when 960 gallons have been treated and a new filter is needed.

Replacement cartridges can be purchased through any authorized AdVantEdge dealer and an AdEdge residential products expert can help determine which is best for your water supply.

Contact an AdVantEdge dealer today to find the best under-the-counter solution for clean, safe drinking water.

Bring AdEdge Home

AdVantEdge DWS-2S2710-01 point-of-use system

Our water treatment technologies are perfect for municipal, industrial and commercial applications. But we also offer residential treatment with our AdVantEdge line of products, designed to remove arsenic from household drinking water.

“Residential water treatment is important for those who access water from unregulated water sources,” says Carolyn Spencer, customer service manager for AdEdge. “Regular testing of the wells could reveal elevated levels of contaminants that could pose either health concerns or aesthetic issues in homes. Many contaminants are not visible to the naked eye.”

Arsenic is one such contaminant. It is odorless and colorless, and can lead to serious health problems if consumed in large amounts. A certified water system dealer should test the water to determine whether an in-home treatment system is needed.

If a home’s water supply is found to have elevated arsenic levels, AdEdge can help.

The AdVantEdge line of residential water treatment options is available as either point-of-use or point-of-entry systems and is specifically designed for the removal of arsenic using AdEdge’s proven technology.

“Our residential treatment systems feature our E33 granular ferric oxide media, which has been installed in more than 500 systems throughout the United States and throughout the world,” Spencer says. “This media was rated the highest-performing arsenic removal media by a third party testing lab.”

For the treatment of other household contaminants, Spencer notes that AdEdge will work with a customer’s local dealer to determine the best system for each particular application.

“Our treatment systems work in conjunction with other residential treatment solutions to provide a fully integrated water treatment system,” Spencer says.

Let us help you find the best residential water treatment system for your home. Contact your local AdEdge dealer and be on your way to cleaner, safer water.

World Water Day Series #8 - “We Know the Value of Water When the Well is Dry” Ben Franklin

By Rich Cavagnaro, President

Welcome to our blog series in honor of World Water Day! The United Nations declared 2013 as the “International Year of Water Cooperation.” The employees at AdEdge have a passion for clean water and providing safe drinking water for people throughout the world. 

World Water Day 2013 is here and as we think of the many issues facing the water industry in the coming year(s), Steve Maxwell author of “The Future of Water” has said, “one thing for sure is known, we are inevitably faced with the challenge that water is going to cost more…the question is how much more?”

In the United States, we are faced with an aging infrastructure, new regulations, water scarcity issues, climate change challenges, lack of funding and operator staffing needs. These issues aren't unique to the U.S. and the rest of the world faces similar challenges and likely may be in worse shape due to the lack of existing infrastructure. Population growth in many countries coupled with emerging water stressed regions is causing havoc on communities to even survive and can cripple their economic development. The financial hurdle to fund this infrastructure ensuring safe drinking water or proper wastewater treatment systems is not readily available. Therefore the cost of funding these projects will have a cost associated with it.

AdEdge has been meeting these challenges with our customers around the world by offering treatment technologies to remove a multitude of contaminants including arsenic, iron, uranium, VOC’s and many others. We design our systems to: minimize energy consumption, conserve water, lessen or eliminate operator resources, choose technologies that lower capital costs, and to protect our customers on increasing water rates by offering water reuse capabilities.

So, while water remains under appreciated and undervalued, our customers are not. Our staff constantly rises to the challenge of working with our clients around the world to create a positive impact on their water treatment needs and thereby ensuring we carry out and share our Passion for Clean Water.