Beenyup Groundwater Replenishment
A Benchmark for Municipal Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR)
The Beenyup Groundwater Replenishment Scheme in Perth, Western Australia, is a world-leading project that demonstrates the effectiveness of MBR technology as a robust pre-treatment for Reverse Osmosis (RO) in high-quality water recycling.
1. Process Flow Diagram
graph LR
A[Raw Sewage] --> B[2mm Fine Screening]
B --> C[Biological Reactor
Anoxic/Aerobic]
C --> D[Immersed MBR
ZeeWeed 500D]
D --> E[UV Disinfection]
E --> F[Reverse Osmosis]
F --> G[Aquifer Recharge]
subgraph MBR_System [MBR System]
C
D
end
2. Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Facility Capacity | 28,000 m³/day (Stage 1 & 2) |
| Membrane Brand | Suez (formerly GE Water) |
| Membrane Model | ZeeWeed 500D (Hollow Fiber) |
| Membrane Material | Reinforced PVDF |
| Nominal Pore Size | 0.04 µm (Ultrafiltration) |
| Installation Type | Submerged / Immersed |
| Configuration | 2 Parallel Trains |
| Cleaning Strategy | Air Scouring (10s on/10s off) + Automated Backpulsing |
3. Key Operational Insights
The project successfully addressed the primary engineering concern: biofouling of the downstream RO membranes. By using MBR instead of conventional clarifiers, the facility achieved a consistently low Silt Density Index (SDI) and near-zero turbidity.