Approval testing of membrane filtration systems for effects of materials on water quality

Abstract

The increasing interest in the use of membrane filtration systems for the production of drinking water, requires that these products are approved by those regulators who are concerned by the potential adverse impact of materials on water quality. There is a variety of national approval schemes for products (including pipes, tanks, coatings, treatment chemicals, etc.) in contact with water. Each of these schemes has now to take on the challenge of testing and approving suitable membrane filtration systems. In this article, Dr Bernard Hegarty from independent R&D consultants and test laboratory WRc plc (Marlow, UK), examines the issues, describes the approval schemes operating in UK, France, Netherlands and Germany, and reports on a recent initiative aimed at developing harmonised test protocols for testing the products.