Drinking water treatment with combined coagulation ultrafiltration—long term experience with Germany's largest plant

In November 2005 one of the largest combined coagulation ultrafiltration plants worldwide and the largest in Germany went into operation. Its maximum capacity is about 7,000 m³/h of drinking water. Furthermore, a secondary UF stage with a capacity of about 630 m³/h has been used to treat the backwash water of the first stage. The innovative plant design results from an intensive preliminary pilot period, during which several advanced concepts were investigated. The paper reflects the long-term experience with operation and monitoring of the plant over a period of about two years. Up to now, expectations regarding performance in terms of permeability, retention, and reliability have been exceeded. The predicted specific treatment costs of about 10 €Ct/m³ drinking water were achieved or even reduced.