Analysis of the limits in the application of membrane technologies in Polish water supply systems using the reverse osmosis process as an example

This article presents a theoretical analysis of the feasibility to use membrane technologies, based on the example of the reverse osmosis process in Poland’s public water supply system. Barriers to the potential implementation of the reverse osmosis process into the national public water supply system were defined according to the characteristics of the systems currently in operation, as process pressure, percentage of wastewater and physico-chemical parameters of the feed water. For the purposes of the analysis, water quality data were used from the central Hydrogeological database, for underground intakes in central Poland where higher chloride concentrations were diagnosed. To analyse process pressure, recovery rate and process efficiency, a calculation programme from a membrane module manufacturer was used. A comparative study of the amount of water generated as a reject from the reverse osmosis process in relation to classical filtration processes was also carried out. The results showed a classification system for water types with elevated chloride concentrations according to values limiting the use of dedicated membrane processes in Polish drinking water supply systems.