Status of Membrane Filtration in Japan : Application for Water Supply

In Japan, the membrane filtration is becoming a common technology for municipal water supply system especially for small plant. 6 years before (1991), the national research project of membrane filtration for small plant has started. The project was named as "MAC 21", MEMBRANE AQUA CENTURY 21. In the project the Ministry of Health and Welfare, 8 universities and 18 water treatment plant companies have been involved. This was the first attempt to research a common theme in joint with government, universities and private companies. After three years, the guide line for membrane filtration application for small plant has been established. This has promoted to install some actual plant. And also, another joint research for "RESEARCH OF MEMBRANE FILTRATION FOR ADVANCED WATER TREATMENT" has started in 1994 and completed in March, 1997. The project was named as MAC21. In the former project the main objectives were removal of turbidity and bacteria from water. However, in new project the objective was establishment of the further advanced membrane filtration technology which would be applicable for trace chemical components removal such as tri-halo-methane pre-courser, agricultural chemicals removal, offensive smell and taste removal and virus removal. For the objectives, application of nanofiltration and hybrid-system, a combination of micro-filtration ultra-filtration with biological, ozone and activated carbon treatment process have been studied. In addition, application of membrane filtration for treatment of back-wash waste water originated from membrane filters and conventional sand filters has.been studied. At the end of March of this year, about 30 membrane filtration plants are actually supplying the water, the total treatment capacity is about 6,000 m$^{3}$/day and another 20 will be installed within one year.led within one year.