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WaterSolutions Membranes Troubleshooting - Low Flow/High Feed Pressure

Symptom	Possible Causes	Solution
Low Flow (High Feed Pressure) and Low Salt Passage	Organic Fouling	Clean (279KB PDF) elements. Refer to the prevention guidelines (32KB PDF). Good for some organics, not for polyelectrolytes. Difficult to remove some organics like oils. Can try detergents at pH 12 for oils.
	Calcium Carbonate Scale	Clean (279KB PDF) elements. May need repetitive cleanings for excessive scale. May not be economical to attempt repeated cleanings, therefore replace elements. Weighing tail element can give a measure of extent of scaling. Refer to scale control (30KB PDF).
	Calcium, Barium, or Strontium Sulfate Scale	Clean (279KB PDF) elements. May need extensive and repetitive cleanings. May not be economical to attempt repeated cleanings, therefore replace elements. Weighing tail element can give a measure of extent of scaling. Refer to scale control (30KB PDF).
	Excessive Water Hammer	Replace damaged elements.
Low Flow (High Feed Pressure) and Normal Salt Passage	Biological Fouling	Clean (279KB PDF) and sanitize entire system. Refer to the prevention guidelines (32KB PDF). Weighing lead element can give a measure of extent of fouling.
	Natural Organic Matter (NOM) Fouling	Clean (279KB PDF) and sanitize entire system. Refer to the prevention guidelines (32KB PDF).
	Ineffective Preservation (at Startup or After Layup)	Clean (279KB PDF) elements.
	Carbon Fines or Sand	Permanent flow loss will occur. Individual element cleaning may partially restore performance using procedures from FILMTEC™ Cleaning Technical Bulletin (279KB PDF).
Low Flow (High Feed Pressure) and High Salt Passage	Organic Fouling (with oils)	Clean (279KB PDF) elements. Change pretreatment to reduce oils reaching elements. Can try detergents at pH 12 for oils.
	Silt or Clay Fouling	Clean (279KB PDF) elements. Refer to the prevention guidelines (32KB PDF).
	Silica Fouling (colloidal)	Clean (279KB PDF) elements. Refer to the prevention guidelines (32KB PDF).
	Iron Oxide Fouling	Clean (55KB PDF) elements.
	Other Heavy Metal Oxide Fouling	Clean (279KB PDF) elements.
	Iron Sulfide Fouling	Clean (279KB PDF) elements. Eliminate source of air.
	Calcium Carbonate Scale	Clean (279KB PDF) elements. Refer to scale control (30KB PDF). May need repetitive cleanings for excessive scale. May not be economical to attempt repeated cleanings, therefore replace elements. Weighing tail element can give a measure of extent of scaling.
	Calcium, Barium or Strontium Sulfate Scale	Clean (279KB PDF) elements. Refer to scale control (30KB PDF). May need extensive and repetitive cleanings. May not be economical to attempt repeated cleanings, therefore replace elements. Weighing tail element can give a measure of extent of scaling.
	Calcium Fluoride Scale	Clean (279KB PDF) elements. Refer to scale control (30KB PDF).
	Calcium Phosphate Scale	Very difficult to clean. Replace affected elements.
	Silica Scale	Clean (279KB PDF) elements.
	Membrane Plugging and Surface Abrasion with Foreign Material (like sand)	Probe (77KB PDF) will indicate the damage. Correct pretreatement and replace elements.

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