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How an existing water treatment system was upgraded with an automated ultrafiltration solution to achieve more stable water quality and a more compact operation.
Caption : Project site at a Biosafety Industrial Park
For large residential water treatment systems, stable water quality is just as important as treatment capacity.
In this project, the existing treatment process relied mainly on conventional filtration. However, water quality fluctuations and algae-related contamination created challenges for stable downstream operation.
Instead of simply adding another conventional filtration stage, the project required a more reliable and automated filtration solution.
The goal was clear: improve filtration performance while making the system easier to operate and manage.
Caption : Existing sand and carbon filtration equipment at the project site
Hinada upgraded the existing treatment process with an Ultrafiltration (UF) membrane system.
The UF system uses hollow fiber membranes with micropores to physically separate suspended solids, colloids, bacteria and other contaminants from the feed water.
Compared with conventional filtration, UF provides a more consistent physical barrier and produces a more stable filtrate for downstream treatment.
The upgraded system was designed around three key requirements:
This made UF a practical choice for upgrading the existing treatment system without relying solely on conventional filtration.
Caption : Integrated UF equipment designed for reliable and automated operation
One of the key considerations was not only treatment performance, but also how the new system would operate in the existing facility.
Hinada designed the UF system with an integrated skid-mounted configuration, combining membrane modules, piping, valves, instruments and control components into a compact arrangement.
The system also incorporates PLC-based automatic control, reducing the need for frequent manual intervention and making daily operation easier for the plant team.
The optimized layout reduced the required floor space by approximately 30%, while maintaining the required treatment capacity.
The core of the system is the PVDF hollow fiber UF membrane.
Caption : Hollow fiber ultrafiltration membranes use fine pores to separate contaminants from water
Feed water enters the membrane modules under pressure. Water passes through the microscopic membrane pores, while larger suspended particles, colloids and microorganisms are retained.The overall process integrates:
Pre-filtration → UF Membrane Filtration → Automatic Control → Treated Water
Caption : Engineering drawings showing the UF system layout and process design
The system was also integrated with the existing treatment equipment, allowing the upgrade to work as part of the overall water treatment process rather than as an isolated unit.
The upgraded system was designed to support water treatment for a residential community serving more than 20,000 residents.
Key project parameters include:
These parameters demonstrate that the project was not simply a membrane replacement, but a system-level upgrade focused on reliability, automation and space efficiency.
By replacing the limitations of conventional filtration with an automated UF membrane process, the upgraded system provides a more consistent filtration barrier and better control of treated water quality.
The project demonstrates an important approach for existing water treatment plants:
When conventional filtration can no longer provide the stability required, upgrading the filtration stage can be more effective than simply expanding the existing process.
For facilities facing similar challenges, an appropriately designed UF system upgrade can improve filtration performance while also reducing operational complexity and equipment footprint.
Whether you are building a new water treatment plant or upgrading an existing filtration system, the right membrane configuration depends on your feed water, treatment capacity and required water quality.
Hinada provides customized UF membrane systems and water treatment solutions for residential, municipal and industrial applications.
Have an existing filtration system that needs upgrading?
Contact us to discuss your water quality and treatment requirements.