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Questions or Comments: PTRS@tceq.texas.gov

Membrane Challenge Studies, Cartridge Filter Systems, and Alternative Membrane Filter Monitoring

Public water systems with membrane and cartridge filtration systems for removing Cryptosporidium and Giardia must receive approval from the TCEQ to evaluate each membrane’s ability to remove pathogens. The membrane filtration systems impacted by this requirement are those that were installed or replaced after April 1, 2012. Alternative methods to monitor membrane filters are allowed.

Public water systems must conduct challenge testing for membrane and cartridge filtration systems that are installed to remove Cryptosporidium and Giardia. These tests evaluate how efficiently each membrane model or cartridge filter system removes pathogens and allows the TCEQ to establish a log removal value (LRVC-Test).

Membrane and cartridge filter manufacturers must provide a non-destructive performance test (NDPT) and quality control release value (QCRV). The NDPT and QCRV help verify that all manufactured membrane models and cartridge filter systems that were not subject to challenge testing in the past will achieve at least the same log removal level as more current membrane models and cartridge filter systems that were challenge-tested.

Public water systems with membrane filtration systems will be approved for a removal-credit based on the lower of the LRVC-Test and the log removal value that can be verified through direct integrity testing (LRVDIT).

Challenge studies for the following membrane models and cartridge filter models for Cryptosporidium and Giardia removal have been reviewed and approved by the TCEQ:

Membrane Models

Cartridge Filter Models

Membrane Systems

The following table shows the current membrane systems with their TCEQ-approved credit values for pathogen removal:

Membrane 
Make and Model 

Cryptosporidium 
and Giardia
Log Removal 

Date(s) Approved 
by TCEQ 

 BASF Inge d5000  4.5, deposition mode October 21, 2015
 BASF Inge dizzer  6.2, deposition mode November 14, 2017
 Crosstek Ultressa CPM  4.0, deposition mode May 8, 2023
 Dow UF-SFD2880   3.76 August 3, 2012
 Dow IntegraFlo DW102-1100  6.3, deposition mode March 11, 2015
 Dow IntegraFlux SFD-2880XP  6.15, deposition mode July 18, 2016

 GE

 ZeeWeed 700B-8060/UF10

 ZeeWeed 700B-10060

 5.41, deposition mode

 for each module

September 7, 2017

GE/Zenon

ZeeWeed 1500

4.1, deposition mode

May 15, 2014
 Koch Targa II UF  4.6 June 26, 2013
 Koch Puron MP UF  5.6, deposition mode November 28, 2017
 Nanostone CM-151 UF Ceramic  5.31, deposition mode January 31, 2018
 Memcor L40N  6.14, deposition mode September 13, 2016  

 Memcor

L20N and L10N

6.27 April 26, 2013
 Memcor S10N  5.03 October 23, 2013 

 Memcor

L10Nv2, L20Nv2, and S10Nv2

6.10 September 24, 2021
 Pall Microza 620A MF 

5.84, deposition mode

5.65, suspension mode
May 27, 2021 
 Pentair X-Flow Aquaflex HP and Xiga HP  4.95, deposition mode November 5, 2015
 Pentair X-Flow Aquaflex and Xiga  4.95, deposition mode May 26, 2016
Purifics Ceramic Cuf 5.7 January 26, 2022
 Scinor SMT 600-P50 and SMT 600-P80  6.26, deposition mode August 21, 2015
 Scinor SMT 600-S26  6.19, deposition mode October 30, 2019

 Suez

 ZeeWeed 500D

6.2, deposition mode

6.1, feed-and-bleed mode

July 10, 2019
 Toray HFU-2020AN UF 5.2, deposition mode April 28, 2020
 Toray HFU-2020N UF 4.7, deposition mode May 28, 2014
 Toray HFU-B2315AN UF 5.05, deposition mode January 6, 2020
 Toray HFUG-2020AN UF 5.17, deposition mode February 26, 2021

Cartridge Filter Systems

The following table shows the current cartridge filter systems with their TCEQ-approved credit values for pathogen removal:

Cartridge Filter

Make and Model

Cryptosporidium  

Log Removal

Giardia

Log Removal

Date(s) Approved  

by TCEQ

Graver          QCR II

 2.0 

 

3.0, Bin 1

3.4, Bin 2, Bin 3, Bin 4

 (3.4 each cartridge filter,

 7.3 maximum for two in series) 

April 18,

2018

(LPF Housings)

and

January 3, 2019

(GLP Housings)

Harmsco   HC/170-LT2

 2.0

 

 3.0, Bin 1

 3.1, Bin 2, Bin 3, Bin 4

 (3.1 each cartridge filter,

 6.7 maximum for two in series) 

January 18,

2013

Any manufacturer seeking to distribute a membrane or cartridge filter in the state of Texas must send the challenge study for the particular model to TCEQ for review and approval prior to installation. Challenge studies may be mailed to the following address:

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Technical Review & Oversight Team (MC-159)
PO Box 13087
Austin TX 78711-3087

For more information about these requirements see Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Section 290.42(g)(2)-(3) .

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Alternative Methods for Monitoring Individual Filter Effluent from Membrane Units used for Pathogen Removal

For public water systems (PWS) treating surface water or groundwater under the influence of surface water and utilizing a membrane filtration system for pathogen removal, the PWS must employ a membrane system designed to conduct and record continuous indirect integrity monitoring by using the Hach FilterTrak Method 10133 on each membrane unit. The Hach Filtertrak Method 10133 specifies the use of the Hach FilterTrak (FT) 660 laser turbidimeter.  

The Hach Company ceased producing the FT 660 turbidimeter in 2018. Water systems which continue to use the FT 660 turbidimeter will meet the requirements specified in 30 TAC §290.42(g)(3)(C) and 30 TAC §290.111(f)(3)(B). For water systems replacing or installing a new turbidimeter on the individual filter effluent of a membrane unit used for pathogen removal, both 30 TAC §290.42(g)(3)(C) and 30 TAC §290.111(f)(3)(B) contain a provision which allows for the use of an alternative technology to monitor the quality of the water produced by a membrane unit. This provision could also be used to approve another parameter besides turbidity if adequate documentation can be presented. Equipment manufacturers must apply for and receive approval from the TCEQ prior to the use of an alternative monitoring method to measure individual filter effluent from membrane filtration units used for pathogen removal credits at a PWS in Texas. A manufacturer must establish that an alternative monitoring method is comparable to the Hach FilterTrak Method 10133 and is adequate for meeting the requirements in 30 TAC §290.111(f)(2)(D)(v) for reading low-level measurements commonly seen in water produced from membrane units (ex. - turbidity measurements of 0.15 NTU and lower). An alternative monitoring method must also meet requirements specified in 30 TAC §290.119(b) for acceptable methods.

Comparability studies have been reviewed and approved by the TCEQ for the following monitoring equipment models:

Alternative Membrane Filter Monitoring Methods

The following table shows the current TCEQ-approved membrane filter monitoring method for each equipment manufacturer (make and model) and the TCEQ approval date:

Monitoring Method

Equipment Make and Model

Date(s) Approved by TCEQ 

Hach FilterTrak Method 10133

 Hach FilterTrak 660

January 9, 2008

Lovibond 660-nm LED Method, Revision 1.0, December 28, 2016

Lovibond PTV 2000 (on-line Red LED) turbidimeter

August 28, 2018

Lovibond 6000 Laser Method, Revision 1.0, December 28, 2016

 Lovibond PTV 6000 (laser) turbidimeter

 August 28, 2018

Determination of Turbidity by 360˚ Nephelometry, Hach Method 10258, Revision 1.0, January 2016

Hach TU5400 sc (laser) turbidimeter

February 26, 2019

Determination of Turbidity by 360˚ Nephelometry, Hach Method 10258, Revision 2.0, March 2018

Hach TU5400 sc (laser) turbidimeter

February 26, 2019

Continuous Measurement of Turbidity Using a SWAM AMI Turbiwell Turbidimeter, SWAN White LED Method, August 10, 2009

SWAN AMI Turbiwell

January 11, 2022

Any manufacturer seeking to distribute an instrument to be used as an alternative monitoring method to measure individual filter effluent from membrane filtration units used for pathogen removal in the state of Texas must send comparability study information for the particular model to the TCEQ for review and approval prior to installation. The information may be mailed to the following address:

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Technical Review & Oversight Team (MC-159)

P.O. Box 13087

Austin TX 78711-3087

A manufacturer of an alternative method technology instrument to be used for compliance monitoring of individual filter effluent from membrane filter units used for pathogen removal is required to obtain approval from the TCEQ for the alternative method technology instrument. TCEQ review and approval is required prior to the use of an alternative method technology instrument by a PWS in the state of Texas utilizing a membrane filtration system for pathogen removal, even if an instrument or related method has already received approval from another agency. For example, if an instrument or related method is approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) under the USEPA alternative testing procedure (ATP) program and the ATP approval is published in the Federal Register, a manufacturer is still required to obtain TCEQ approval for the use of an alternative technology to monitor the quality of water produced by a membrane filtration unit used for pathogen removal. The approved monitoring method must appear on this website in order to be eligible to be used for compliance monitoring of individual filter effluent from a membrane filtration unit in use for pathogen removal at a PWS in the state of Texas.

For more information about these requirements in Title 30, Texas Administrative Code see:

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