While ceramic membranes are not new, the trial is testing whether this particular configuration can perform reliably at a much higher capacity.
PUB is also studying how well the system copes when seawater conditions deteriorate, including during algal blooms or oil spills.
Meiden said ceramic membranes are more robust than conventional polymeric membranes and can continue operating under challenging seawater conditions.
“Even with algae blooms in the sea, when water reaches the membrane, we can protect (it from) algae on the surface of the membrane, so the filtered water is kept clean,” said Dr Niwa Terutake, director of Meiden Singapore.
“After the algae sticks on the membrane, we can clean (it) using a chemical cleaner. Then we can maintain the same condition.”
PUB said the durability of ceramic membranes could help make Singapore’s water treatment processes more resilient to disruptions.
“This is becoming increasingly important for us to continue to increase the resilience of our treatment process in the face of climate change, as well as incidents out at sea,” said Dr Gurdev.