160 MLD WTP: Ceramic Membrane + PAC

World's Largest Ceramic Membrane Drinking Water Plant for PFAS Removal
Location

Rander, Surat, Gujarat, India

Procedure

EPC Turnkey – Advanced Membrane Filtration & Adsorption Upgrade

Contract Type

Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC)

Capacity

160 MLD (River Water Treatment)

160 MLD Ceramic Membrane WTP: Pioneering PFAS-Free Drinking Water in Surat

Awarded to Enviro Control and completed/operational post-2023 for Surat Municipal Corporation, this landmark project is the world’s largest drinking water treatment plant using ceramic membrane filtration technology, integrated with powdered activated carbon (PAC) via Active Cake Layer Filtration (ACLF) for exceptional contaminant removal.

Sourcing raw water from the Tapi River, it upgrades existing infrastructure (sand filter rehab) to deliver ultra-pure drinking water compliant with stringent US/EU standards — achieving >99% removal of PFAS (forever chemicals), pesticides, organics, THM, TEP, and colloids. Supplying high-quality water to zones like Athwa and Rander (~16 lakh people), it ensures consistent performance, long membrane lifespan, and positions Surat as a global leader in advanced, sustainable drinking water treatment.

Delivering PFAS-Free, High-Purity Water at Mega Scale

Core goals:

  • Treat 160 MLD river water to meet/exceed latest international drinking water standards (US EPA/EU) for emerging contaminants like PFAS.
  • Implement ceramic membrane + PAC adsorption for reliable removal of forever chemicals, toxins, and dissolved organics.
  • Upgrade existing WTP infrastructure with minimal footprint changes and long-term durability (ceramic doesn’t degrade).
  • Provide odorless, pure water to growing urban population in Surat.
  • Set a global benchmark for large-scale PFAS mitigation in municipal drinking water.

Scaling Advanced Membrane Tech for Mega-Capacity Drinking Water

Key challenges:

  • Retrofitting/upgrading existing sand-based WTP to ceramic membranes at 160 MLD without major downtime.
  • Ensuring >99% PFAS/organics removal under variable river water quality (Tapi flows/seasons).
  • Integrating PAC adsorption (ACLF) effectively for dissolved contaminants while maintaining high flux/recovery.
  • Achieving consistent ultra-purity (low THM/TEP/colloids) at scale with energy/chemical efficiency.
  • Coordinating large EPC in active urban supply zones (e.g., managing temporary water cuts during trials).

Ceramic Membranes + ACLF-PAC for Robust, Future-Proof Treatment

Core process: Advanced ceramic flat-sheet membranes (German-origin, high durability) for micro/ultrafiltration-level solids/bacteria/virus removal, combined with powdered activated carbon adsorption in Active Cake Layer Filtration mode for targeted dissolved organics/PFAS/pesticides elimination.

Highlights:

  • Ceramic membranes offer superior chemical/thermal resistance, long life (no weakening), and high flux.
  • ACLF with PAC ensures dynamic cake layer for enhanced adsorption (>99% PFAS removal).
  • Multi-barrier design (membrane + adsorption) for comprehensive contaminant control.
  • Automated controls for dosing, backwashing, and monitoring to optimize performance/energy.

This delivers world’s-largest-scale PFAS-safe drinking water with sustainability focus.

Assessment & Planning

Raw water quality analysis, existing WTP audit, and feasibility for ceramic + PAC upgrade to 160 MLD PFAS removal.

Design & Technology Integration

Detailed engineering of ceramic membrane system, ACLF-PAC dosing, and retrofit layout for minimal civil works.

Construction & Installation

EPC execution — membrane modules, PAC systems, piping, automation — phased to maintain partial operations.

Commissioning & Optimization

Startup, flux/PFAS testing, adsorption tuning, and performance validation to hit ultra-purity targets.

Validation, Handover & Monitoring

Full compliance testing (>99% PFAS removal), SMC handover, and ongoing quality/operation protocols.
Stage One
Stage Two
Stage Three
Stage Four
Stage Five

Project Partners

Fostering high-impact collaborations to deliver resilient environmental infrastructure and localized engineering excellence.
Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC)
Enviro Control Pvt. Ltd.

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