Guidance and recommendations for posttreatment of desalinated water

Abstract

As part of a Water Research Foundation project called Post-Treatment Stabilization of Desalinated Water, current posttreatment issues related to desalination were explored in an effort to provide guidance to the water industry. Although literature on posttreatment exists, there are fundamental knowledge gaps on accepted water quality goals for posttreated finished water related to location, source water, and membrane process. This article provides a current overview of the literature on posttreated desalinated water and discusses posttreatment issues identified and ranked by experienced desalination professionals. Guidance and recommendations were developed for priority issues regarding posttreatment design and operation (including increased characterization of membrane permeate quality), membrane pilot-study evaluations (including posttreatment evaluations), and increased distribution system monitoring after full-scale operation. Finished water quality goals and posttreatment processes were developed according to type of source water and membrane process and are recommended on the basis of available literature, industry experience, and research findings. © 2012 American Water Works Association.