1. MicroMedia Filtration, Inc.
with CleanStream® Water Filtration Technology
Solving Water and Sewage Problems Globally
Synopsis of the CleanStream® Technology
The CleanStream Filtration system is the only wastewater filtration system to
include all components necessary for the treatment of domestic sewage. The
system consists of the CleanScreen® separator, CleanBurn® pyrolysis unit
and the CleanScreen filtration vessels. The CleanScreen separator accepts
raw sewage and separates impurities larger than 100 microns. This process
reduces the total suspended solids (TSS) and biological oxygen demand
(BOD) by 50%. The residual solids are removed by use of a continuously
cleaned screen that deposits the residuals into an auger hopper, which
proceeds to dry the residuals into a 25 – 30% dry solid. These solids are
deposited into a disposal container. The treated liquid proceeds into the first
CleanScreen vessel.
The CleanScreen vessels consist of continuous backwash up-flow media
filters that use a chemical polymer to create a “gel barrier” within the media.
All filtration occurs within the gel barrier, not by the media. This
physical/chemical process allows for the removal of virtually all of the
suspended solids. The resultant water meets the water quality requirements
of California’s Title 22. The effluent from the vessels can be used for
irrigation use as reclaimed water. As with all filters, bacteria and viruses can
continue to infect the clean water. The effluent from the filters can be
disinfected with the use of chlorine, UV radiation or ozone depending on the
application needs of the customer and the local and state regulations.
Operation of the CleanStream Filter
The CleanStream filter is a two-stage self-cleaning media filter, which can be
used for the processing of both domestic and industrial wastewater. Water
from the CleanScreen separator (influent) is introduced into the bottom of
the first media vessel and flows upward, while the media flows downward.
During the introduction of the primary influent to the filter, a coagulant
chemical is mixed with the influent. The coagulant forms a “gel barrier”
within the media to allow the filter to trap most contaminants that are
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2. present in the influent. As the water moves up through the media, the
coagulant which holds the contaminants is trapped in the membrane,
allowing clean water to continue upward in the filter. The media is pulled
down to the bottom of the filter through the use of an airlift that continually
lifts contaminated media to the media washer located in the top of the filter.
As the media is lifted into the washer, the agitation of the media releases the
coagulant/contaminant mixture from the media. The clean media falls
through the washer back on top of the media pile in the vessel. The
coagulant/contaminant mixture is removed from the filter in a constant reject
flow equal to 3 – 5% of the total volume of water being treated. This reject is
returned to the CleanScreen separator for reprocessing. By returning the
reject to the CleanScreen, there is no remaining waste flow to be dealt with.
The processed water (effluent) overflows an outlet weir near the top of the
filter and passes to the second CleanStream vessel. The resultant effluent
meets the California Department of Health Title 22 standards for reclaimed
water, allowing it to be used for non-potable uses (agriculture, landscaping
or commercial) or it can be used to recharge underground aquifers through
the use of disseminating ponds for additional filtration.
The Unique Difference in the Technology
The key to the CleanStream system is the patented automation of the
complete operation. CleanStream monitors the contaminant level of the
influent and adjusts the gel barrier formation so as to constantly adjust the
system’s cleaning ability. This consistent monitoring and adjustment allows
CleanStream to accept varying levels of contaminated influent on the fly and
continuously produce clean water that exceeds government standards. No
other media filter on the market today can make this claim. Due to the ability
of CleanStream to produce membrane filtration results with a media filter,
the cost to install and operate the equipment on both clean and wastewater
can be reduced by as much as 70%.
Included with the automated operating system of CleanStream is its remote
monitoring module. With this module, CleanStream’s filtration operation is
able to be monitored and adjusted from anywhere in the world, via the
Internet. With this enhancement, it is possible for dozens of small filtration
installations in remote locations to be monitored at a single, convenient site.
MMF has developed the infrastructure to provide monitoring of all its
CleanStream applications from one location in Southern California. All
CleanStream installations can include satellite uplinks to the internet such
that no area is inaccessible to the control and monitoring of quality water
production. The internal processor will notify the control monitoring base of
any discrepancies in water flow, pressure and turbidity that indicates a
disruption in the CleanStream system. This notification will allow the operator
to examine the data and make any corrective modifications necessary to
bring the filter back within specifications. In the case of a mechanical
problem, the operator can locate the issue and dispatch the necessary
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3. personnel and equipment long before the manually testing of the effluent
would have determined a problem. No other filtration system on the market
today has this capability.
The presence of common pollutants are generally measured by the lack of
clarity in the water, called turbidity and displayed as an NTU value, which is
caused by suspended solids in the water. Effective treatment for reclaimed
water has the NTU standard of 2.0 for a media filter. CleanStream filters
have been tested using influent water with NTU values ranging from 2.5 to as
high as 800. CleanStream filtration has been proven to provide a consistent
NTU value of less than 1.6 for treated water, regardless of how high the NTU
value of the influent. Combined with the 7 log bacteria and virus kill rate,
CleanStream continues to exceed all standards for media filtration and
provides a cost effective alternative to contemporary membrane filtration.
The following schematic details the workings of the CleanStream Filtration
System:
Construction
MMF will utilize various alternatives for the construction of its systems, as
currently used by MMF in its current installations. Smaller installations (those
under 3 MGD) are usually installed as a package plant through the use of
either local subcontractors or MMF installation personnel, depending on
location and availability of local subcontractors qualified for the installation.
These package plant facilities will contain individual filter trains which will be
operated in parallel to provide the combined capacities needed for an
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4. individual job. By using the systems in parallel, MMF will be able to customize
the job to the needs of the specific location. This customization will be not
only for the filtering capacity needed at the jobsite, but also a customized
installation location based on the topography of the jobsite. While placing the
filters near each other is the preferred design to allow for a minimum use of
piping and pumping, there is an ability to separate each train such that
multiple filters can be installed any distance apart from other filters. While
this will require additional plumbing and piping, the ability to customize the
installation will allow certain locations to be used that could not be used
under conventional installations, or allow for installation without extensive
demolition or remodeling of a jobsite.
Larger installations (those generally over 3 MGD) will usually be installed as
an engineered plant in order to reduce the cost of installation. These
installations will require the use of our own international subcontractor or a
larger local construction company. However, in certain instances, as
mentioned above, there may be a prevailing need to design and build a
larger plant with the use of individual filter trains used in parallel. While for
larger volume plants this method is more expensive, it is very manageable
and doable to facilitate installation on a jobsite that cannot provide a suitable
amount of space for an engineered plant installation.
Ongoing Monitoring and Maintenance
MMF maintains a sophisticated monitoring facility located in Southern
California. All CleanStream filtration systems are installed with automation
capability to allow our technicians to monitor and adjust the system installed
most anywhere in the world from our central office. The software which
operates CleanStream monitors the major components of the filtration
operation and water quality to ensure that the effluent that leaves the filters
meets the design standards of the installation. As the effluent approaches
various levels of quality, the system automation adjusts on the fly to modify
the filter’s operation such that the effluent quality remains within
programmed ranges. At the same time, should the quality exceed the built in
levels of the system, a notification is made, via online communication, with
our central monitoring station indicating that the filter is still in compliance,
but out of the ordinarily controlled range. Our technician will be instantly
notified of this situation and has the ability to review historic and current
data to analyze the reason for the alert. This analysis will be made using
criteria pertaining to the influent quality, chemical usage, mechanical
operation of the filter’s pumps and compressor, and effluent quality, as well
as the operation of the automated system. Once the technician has
performed his evaluation, he has the ability to modify several patented areas
of the filter’s software and operational control to provide for unforeseen
changes in the system’s operation. Finally, if the technician determines that
the reason for the performance change is mechanical, he will contact local
repair merchants to arrange for a physical inspection and correction of the
problem. If the technician determines that the repair will not be performed
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5. prior to the complete failure of the filter, he will notify the operator onsite
and have the individual filter taken off line. However, because our technician
is being notified and working on the issues, while the filter is still within
compliance limitations, the problems will generally be solved well before the
effluent leaving the filter exceeds the limits of the location.
MMF has designed the CleanStream system to work without extensive
moving parts that require constant maintenance and attention. The primary
maintenance for the system is comprised of cleaning certain monitoring
devise pickups and refilling of the chemicals being used by the system. The
internal workings of the filter provide for the constant cleaning of the media
maintained within the filter. As such, the media will last for an indefinite
number of years before it will need to be replaced. MMF’s engineers estimate
that media replacement will not be necessary for over 10 years after
installation. The air compressor and chemical pumps used on the system has
been in operation at other installations for over 5 years without the need for
maintenance. And since the systems work primarily through the use of
gravity flow, the only pumping needed is in getting the primary influent up to
the filter. Once it is at the top of the filter, no additional pumping is required.
The water quality monitors do require routine maintenance. This
maintenance will require approximately 30 minutes of operator time per day.
The use of chemicals is monitored by MMF’s technical staff at our central
location and MMF will arrange for the delivery of fresh chemicals well before
the onsite storage is depleted.
Sample Projects
The CleanStream application is the 3rd generation of the media filtration
system. MMF ‘s founder Ken Stedman was involved in the 2nd generation use
of the filter, with its installation as a purifier for the drinking water of New
York City and the pre-treatment filter for a 50 million gallon per day (MGD)
facility in Tampa, Florida. Both of these installations provided for a practical
demonstration of the filters ability to filter water that has a constant quality
of influent.
To prove the system’s filtration ability on variable qualities of influent, Mr.
Stedman and MMF installed pilot units at Las Gallinas in Northern California,
Caldones, Spain and Ipswich, Australia. Additionally, a demonstration
treatment facility was operated in conjunction with the Santa Margarita
Water District, at its Chiquita Water Reclamation Facility, where raw sewage
waste was being processed.
The following summarizes each of these installations.
New York Watershed
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection developed a
protocol for the treatment of wastewater and the use of the effluent for the
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6. recharging of wells providing drinking water for the City of New York. The
wastewater is pumped up the Hudson River to Stamford, New York for
processing. This water is treated using conventional wastewater treatment
methods and then filtered through the predecessor to the CleanStream
process. The effluent from the filter is then used to recharge the wells and
provide drinking water to New York City. This filtration process has been in
use since 1997.
Las Gallinas
MMF conducted a pilot study at the Las Gallinas Water Treatment Facility
located in Northern California. This study was conducted by MMF, Dr. George
Tchobanoglous, a professor from the University of California, Davis, and Ed
Nute, a local engineer. The study was conductor to test the efficiency of the
CleanStream filters in the treatment of primary effluent wastewater. The
tests were conducted during the first quarter of 2002 and provided support
to CleanStream’s removal of contaminants and its ability to produce Title 22
quality reclaimed water from the treatment of wastewater.
Caldones, Spain
This pilot unit was installed as a test of CleanStream’s ability to treat
secondary effluent and produce water with reclaimed water quality. The
system was feed secondary effluent from the existing wastewater treatment
plant. During the test, the treatment plant mechanism failed and the system
was feed water with quality levels well below the normal plant effluent. The
water quality levels introduced into the filter were that of primary effluent
that had not been treated. The filters continued to process this low quality
water and produced an effluent equal to that which was produced when the
plant operated normally. This result was monitored for a 48-hour period
while the plant owner corrected the problem. The results of this study
allowed for the contract being let to install filters in Telde, Spain.
Napa, California
MMF has installed its CleanStream system for the processing of high BOD
wastewater from a winery located in the Napa Valley. The system processes
wastewater influent with TSS of approximately 6,000 and BOD of
approximately 8,000. The resultant effluent has TSS and BOD of less than
100 mg/L and is discharged into the local sewer system.
Smartville, California
MMF has installed its CleanStream system to treat the domestic sewage from
a community of 83 homes. The system has been in operation since March
2007 and meets all discharge requirements for the distribution of the final
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7. effluent to a local hillside. The installation was made to replace a failed
treatment facility which forced residents to abandon all use of their non-toilet
water use for almost 4 months. Additionally, the toilet discharge was placed
into a pond for later treatment. Our equipment was installed within 10 days
and the residents were allowed full use of their wastewater (showers,
garbage disposals, washing machines and dishwashers) shortly thereafter.
Along with the processing of their sewage, the CleanStream system has
completely drained and processed the sewage placed in the pond.
Adelanto, California
The CleanStream Filtration System has been selected and approved by the
City of Adelanto for the renovation of their wastewater facility. The designed
plant will process up to 3 million gallons per day of raw sewage and provide
the City with certified reuse water. Based on the City’s engineering plans, the
facility is projected to be operating in mid 2008.
Fontana, California
ProLogis Management, Inc. has selected the CleanStream Filtration System
for modernization of its Kaiser Wastewater facility located in Fontana,
California. The designed facility will process a maximum of 120,000 gallons
per day of sewage from the industrial complex surrounding the facility. This
facility will be operational in the fall of 2007.
Demonstration Facility City of Dallas Water Utilities South Side WWTP
Dallas Water Utilities in partnership with Alan Plummer Associates, Inc. is
conducting a study to evaluate the performance of a demonstration Clean
Stream® Filtration System plant supplied and installed by Micro-Media
Filtration, Inc., at DWU’s Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant The
purpose of the study and evaluation is to test the performance of the plant to
process raw wastewater to produce treated effluent consistent with
requirements for Type I and/or Type II reclaimed water as specified in Texas
Administrative Code Chapter 210 and governed by the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
Our technology has met the water quality standards in California where we
have achieved Title 22 Standards indicating water treated by our system is
suitable for re-introduction into a reservoir used for drinking water further
treatment
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