Membranes are the most expensive part of a reverse osmosis (RO) system. In a well-operated system they perform for 3–5 years; in a neglected one they can foul within months.
Pre-treatment is everything
- Remove turbidity and suspended solids with multimedia filters (monitor SDI).
- Remove chlorine with activated carbon or bisulfite dosing; chlorine damages polyamide membranes.
- In hard water, softening or antiscalant dosing prevents scaling.
- Replace cartridge filters regularly.
What to monitor daily
- Feed and concentrate pressure
- Permeate flow and conductivity
- Recovery rate
- Cartridge filter differential pressure
When permeate flow drops by about 10–15%, differential pressure rises noticeably or conductivity increases, plan a chemical clean-in-place (CIP).
During shutdowns
If the system will stand idle for a long time, flush the membranes with permeate and preserve them with a protective solution if necessary.
Our scheduled maintenance packages include regular checks and membrane cleaning for RO systems.