Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – Noon
T1: AI Can Help Optimize Water Treatment
IWC Rep: Tisha Scroggin-Wicker, Burns & McDonnell, Kansas City, MO
Session Chair: Tom Higgins, Worley, St. Augustine, FL
Discussion Leader: Omkar Lokare, Omkar Lokare, Woburn, MA
Artificial Intelligence (AI) suddenly is having a once-a-generation impact on how we all live and work. For those of us in the water field, it is being incorporated into how we design, construct and operate water treatment systems. This session explores 1) AI-driven optimization to a local scrubber reclaim water system within a semiconductor facility, 2) optimizing cooling tower design and chemical addition to minimize water consumption and prevent fouling, 3) optimizing water treatment ultrafilter backwashing, and 4) real-time optimization of semiconductor water RO treatment using ion specific sensors and intelligent distributed control system.
IWC 26-29: AI’s Water Problem, and a Path to Solve It
Omkar Lokare, Turing AI, Woburn, MA; Nicholas Herold, Turing AI; Sandro Hansen, Turing AI; Sean Patrick, Turing AI; Hiep Le, Turing AI
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure is driving unprecedented demand for semiconductor manufacturing, and with it, a significant increase in industrial water consumption. Advanced semiconductor facilities rely heavily on high-purity water and complex reclaim systems to manage both sustainability targets and operational costs. As AI accelerates global compute demand, water efficiency in semiconductor operations is emerging as a critical constraint and opportunity.
Discusser:
IWC 26-30: Transitioning from Performance Based Control to Knowledge Based Control of Open Recirculating Cooling Waters
Edward Beardwood, Beardwood Consulting & Technologies Inc., London, Ontario, Canada
In an era that has an abundance of on-line sensors and analyzers and an environmental situation that requires minimization of water consumption due to dwindling fresh water supplies and global warming, a solution does exist for utility and industrial cooling waters. Generating a SMART solution requires that the cooling process being reviewed, operated and managed to be done on a holistic basis. This requires correct materials of construction, equipment design, operational control of the hydraulics as well as the designed cooling water chemistry and chemical additive selections. Water conservation requires proper control of cooling waters to maximize cycles of concentration (i.e., lower blowdown rates) while also preventing fouling. Further to this; the application of contingency plans to lower water blowdown rates during upsets without sacrificing the cooling system’s heat extraction, transportation and rejection capabilities will also be required. This will require knowledge-based control algorithms. The logic behind rationalization and development of finger printing forms of corrosion & fouling in cooling waters will be discussed. A KOI KPI Matrix (Digital Twin for the process) defines the multiple KOI trends that are associated with the KPI set points which are then used to identify the 4 forms of corrosion and the 4 forms of fouling through response recognition. Thus, finger prints of each form have been established and the correct change in KOI’s can be made to return the KPI into the control range specified. The matrix defines the multiple KOI trends that are associated with each form and selects a change in a number of KOI’s, such as pH, conductivity, ORP, chemical feed, or an additional chemical to be added and how much to be fed. The what, the how and construction of the Matrix will be presented.
Discusser: Dale Stuart, Chemtreat, Glen Allen, VA
IWC 26-31: Data-Driven Ultrafiltration Backwash Sequence Optimization
Thomas Igou. Ph.D., WaterTectonics, Everett, WA; Yongsheng Chen, Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Using a full year of pilot-scale spent filter backwash water ultrafiltration data (>500,000 data points), this study developed machine- and deep learning models to predict backwash efficiency and membrane resistance without relying on first-principles-grounded phenomenological modeling. Predicted parameter distributions were integrated into stochastic dynamic programming to optimize backwash frequency and duration. Compared with fixed-interval backwashing, optimized policy adjusted to temperature, turbidity, and membrane age, leading to reduced costs and irreversible fouling, especially as membranes aged.
Discusser:
IWC 26-32: Unlocking real-time system optimization and asset protection with multi-node ion specific sensing and decision algorithms
Abheek Banerjee, Saltworks Technologies, RICHMOND, BC Canada; Benjamin Sparrow, Saltworks Technologies, RICHMOND, BC, Canada
Industrial desalination and water reuse systems are increasingly being pushed towards higher recovery rates, brine concentrations, and contaminant loads. Variability in ion composition, common in industrial wastewater, can constrain achievable recovery and compromise system reliability. As a result, operators may adopt conservative operating envelopes that limit recovery or fail to detect transient increases in scaling constituents causing fouling and unplanned downtime.
This paper examines real-time optimization using emerging ion specific sensing technology that sequentially monitors multiple process nodes using a single analytical device. The authors developed a flexible multimode automated sampler (‘MAS’), flush system, and process integration package. MAS houses various ion specific sensors capable of measuring several important ions for water and resource recovery optimization. When MAS is coupled with an intelligent distributed control system (iDCS) and appropriate algorithms, they enable dynamic control of water recovery, proactive management of scaling risk for RO, NF, and heat transfer surfaces, and overall process optimization. Advanced measurement diagnostics combined with autonomous fault detection support the transition from overly conservative or reactive operation to real-time automated command and control, enabling continuous optimization and sustained process health de-risking.
MAS integrates various ion selective measurement devices, with the current focus on reagent-free nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements. The authors extensively tested this third-party NMR technology across thousands of samples, confirming less than 10% error versus ICP results. NMR measurement of species such as boron, fluoride, phosphorus and lithium is available with the list growing. Calcium measurement is available through more conventional devices that can also be integrated with MAS.
A semiconductor wastewater case study is presented, with the objective of safely optimizing RO permeate water recovery from a hydrofluoric acid wastewater (HFW) effluent exhibiting variable calcium fluoride scaling risk. Real-time monitoring of fluoride concentrations enabled dynamic adjustment of RO recovery to remain below scale onset, improving uptime and increasing water recovery. A second example from a lithium refining facility demonstrates how continuous monitoring of lithium and key scaling ions increased lithium yield, reduced water consumption, and improved system uptime.
Readers and attendees will learn how emerging ion specific measurement devices can be intelligently integrated into water and resource recovery processes for real-time measurement and decision making. Current limitations and future opportunities are also discussed.
Discusser: Cristina Koss (Piekarz), P.E., GFT, Greenwood Village, CO
T2: Food, Beverage & the Evolution of Water Reuse
IWC Rep: Ed Greenwood, P.Eng., BCEE, WSP, Cambridge, ON, Canada
Session Chair: Julia Mercer, P.E., Grundfos Water Treatment, Coraopolis, PA
Discussion Leader: Asher Benedict, PE, BCEE, Arcadis, Dallas, TX
Food and beverage manufacturers are implementing advanced water treatment technologies as the industry evolves to expand production capacity within existing footprints, address water supply limitations, and improve wastewater management.
Presentations will cover full scale advanced treatment projects including equalization, anaerobic treatment, membrane bioreactors, and membrane reclaim systems in the dairy, beverage, and potato industries.
Speakers will share operational data, factors influencing system upgrades, implementation challenges, and lessons learned from startup and operation of advanced facilities.
IWC 26-33: Industrial Water Reuse Project at New Potato Production Factory
Enos Stover, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, The Stover Group, Stillwater, OK; Molly Dimick, PE, Simplot, Pocatello, ID
Simplot recently constructed a new potato processing facility that due to water right limitations reuses the treated effluent in the production process. The design basis, a process description with a process flow diagram, a PWTF and water mass balance are presented along with actual operations data and treatment performance. The new PWTF consists of screening, DAF pretreatment, primary clarification/oil water separation, and MBR treatment for organics and nutrient removal followed by RO for TDS removal and disinfection.
Discusser: Everett Gill P.E., Brown and Caldwell, Pennbroke Pines, FL, USA
IWC 26-34: Fats, Oils and Grease: Innovative Means of Removal for Food and Beverage Industry
Thomas Flippin, Brown and Caldwell, Nashville, TN; Nathan Hathaway, Brown and Caldwell, Nashville, TN; John Earwood, Brown and Caldwell, Nashville, TN; and Charles Gregory, Atlanta, GA
FOG pretreatment limits vary widely because no federal guideline exists. Limits are set by local regulating authorities. This presentation reviews a practical approach for potentially negotiating reasonable limits. Three dairy industry wastewater case studies demonstrate that similar FOG and BOD removals can be achieved by both high-rate aerobic suspended-growth treatment operating without solids separation and dissolved air flotation. Biological treatment offers lower operating and maintenance complexity for a comparable lifecycle cost.
Discusser: Bill Malyk, P.Eng., BCEE, WSP Canada Inc., Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
IWC 26-35: Expansion of a Direct Discharge Industrial Dairy WWTP by Alternative Delivery
Jason Vernooy, GHD, Wayne, PA USA
This abstract relates to an industrial dairy food production facility and associated wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in New York. Increasing production targets created an immediate need for additional WWTP capacity. The owner initiated a project to expand the WWTP to 1.15 mgd average daily flow under the facility’s direct surface water discharge permit. The plant outfall is also located within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, so the project included stringent effluent limits for total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP). Design commenced in Fall 2023, and the new systems were placed into operation just over two years later.
Discusser: Mehran Andalib, Arcadis
IWC 26-36: Design and Operation of a Water Reclamation Center (WRC) for Beverage Facility that includes Expanded Granular Sludge Bed (EGSB) and Membrane Bioreactor (MBR). Integration, Sustainability and Performance Evaluation
Andrew Alex, Veolia, Oakville, Ontario, Canada; Wyatt Henke, Veolia, Olathe, KS; Brian Arnsten, Veolia, Oakville, Ontario, Canada; Kritina Gerber, Veolia, Trevose, PA
The state-of-the-art beverage production facility in the United States discharges up to 264,000 GPD of wastewater directly to an on-site water renewal facility for treatment. The influent comprises primary wastewater from the operation of four bottling lines on site as well as a high strength “Can Crush” wastewater stream consisting of expired or off-spec product from the region disposed of at the facility. In line with the design philosophy of sustainability & innovation of the flagship bottling facility, for the WRC Veolia proposed the integration of two of its core advanced wastewater treatment technologies: EGSB and MBR.
Discusser: Brian Scheffe, Nijhuis Saur Industries, Knoxville, TN
IWC 26-T2-R: Wastewater to Pure in Food and Beverage
Travis Hanson, P.E., Apex Water & Process, St. Michael, MN
Waste to Pure piloting, design, and operation for a Food and Beverage plant: Purifying waste streams with biologically active, organic BOD & TSS can be a treacherous undertaking, as results vary across the industry. A successful design needs to consider adequate UF Pretreatment, suitable UF Membrane Selection, and a complimentary chemical treatment program with a robust piloting schedule. This presentation will chronicle how the author studies examples of failed Reclaim Systems and how this influenced Apex engineers to successfully pilot, design, commission, and operate a UF/RO Reclaim System for an East Coast Dairy that satisfies the plant’s evaporative cooling tower demand with reclaimed RO Permeate. Specific attention will be paid to the equipment selection compatibility with the chemistry program and how advanced oxidation plays a key role in membrane reliability. This talk will also discuss lessons learned from the implementation and operation of this UF/RO system over the past two seasons.
T3: Brine Your Own Problems! – Increasing recovery and preventing fouling in reverse osmosis systems to optimize brine management
IWC Rep: Tom Imbornone, Wigen Water Technologies, Chaska, MN
Session Chair: Daniel Wilson, Kiewit, Autsin, TX
Discussion Leader: Ashley Jones, Stantec, Nashville, TN
Brine management and membrane fouling are the biggest obstacles to optimizing RO, MLD, and ZLD costs and. This session evaluates multiple different fouling mechanisms on RO systems and how different membrane selection and operation can improve system performance. Operations look at membrane the use of LSSRO, membrane chemistry, and inorganic and organic fouling mechanisms.
IWC 26-37: Advantages of LSRRO Elements for Ultra-High Salinity Brine Management
Toni Bechtel, Water Solutions – FilmTec, Edina, MN; Claudia Niewersch, DuPont Water Solutions, Tarragona, Spain; Guillem Gilabert Oriol, DuPont Water Solutions, Tarragona, Spain; Steven Jons, DuPont Water Solutions, Edina, MN; Chen Shen, DuPont Water Solutions, Edina, MN
Industrial facilities implementing Minimum Liquid Discharge (MLD) and Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems are under increasing pressure to reduce operating cost, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining reliable, day to day operation. As a result, membrane-based brine concentration is increasingly being utilized upstream of thermal evaporation to reduce the final treatment volume and better enable brine valorization and resource recovery. This paper evaluates low salt rejection reverse osmosis (LSRRO) as a practical and scalable solution for industrial brine concentration.
Discusser: Richard Stover, Ph.D., GP Water, Waltham, MA
IWC 26-38: The Irony of Iron Fouling: It’s Not That Simple
Miranda Marsh, Kurita America, San Marcos, CA; Ike Anderson, Kurita America, San Marcos, CA
This paper looks at iron-related fouling in municipal NF and RO systems and why it can be difficult to diagnose in the field. Using full-scale municipal case studies, it shows how trends in performance and procedures can help operators identify the real fouling mechanism. Examples will highlight how biological activity, oxidation conditions, and operational practices can each contribute to fouling behavior. By understanding these patterns, operators can identify fouling earlier, troubleshoot more effectively, and make more informed decisions to improve their system performance and membrane life.
Discusser: Kaitlyn Clark, Ecolab, King of Prussia, PA
IWC 26-39: Reducing Volume and Recovering Potential Valuable Byproducts from RO Reject Streams
Brad Buecker, SAMCO Technologies, Buffalo, NY; Daniel Lord, SAMCO Technologies, Buffalo, NY
In the final three decades of the last century, power plant personnel began to recognize that reverse osmosis (RO) could serve as a valuable retrofit technology ahead of existing ion exchange (IX) demineralizers. By removing up to 99% of dissolved ions, RO greatly extended IX resin run lengths and reduced regeneration frequency. RO has since become a core demineralization process at many facilities. A complicating factor, however, is that the reject stream in conventional systems is typically 25% of the original influent, which must be disposed. Also in some cases, the reject stream may contain useful minerals and perhaps even important metals that can be utilized for industrial applications. This paper examines techniques for reducing RO reject volume, and it also considers methods to recover potentially valuable constituents from this stream. These technologies may also be applicable to recovery of other materials such as rare earth elements (REE) in mine waste streams.
Discusser: Kirsten Sims, ClearStream Environmental, Sandy, UT
IWC 26-40: Development & Evaluation of Advanced Low Fouling RO Membrane Chemistry for High Fouling Potential Water Replenishment Systems
Elke Peirtsegaele, Toray Membrane USA, Inc., Poway, CA; Han Gu, Ph.D., Orange County Water District, Fountain Valley, CA; Megan Plumlee, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, Orange County Water District, Fountain Valley, CA
Water replenishment facilities treating impaired surface water and advanced treated wastewater require reverse osmosis (RO) membranes that sustain high flux and stable rejection under severe fouling. At Orange County Water District’s Groundwater Replenishment System, long-term full-scale testing of low-fouling membranes shows next-generation chemistries maintain permeability, improve flux recovery, and resist irreversible fouling. A newly developed membrane demonstrated up to 12% lower flux decline over 31 months, enhancing energy efficiency, cleaning intervals, reliability, and lifecycle costs.
Discusser:
IWC 26-T3-R: Enabling Reliable High-Recovery RO/NF Operation and Chemical Optimization Through Advanced pH and Scale Modeling
Mo Malki, American Water Chemicals, Plant City, FL USA; Beatriz Colacioppo, American Water Chemicals, Plant City, FL
Accurate prediction of scaling behavior is essential for maximizing recovery, optimizing chemical dosing, and ensuring reliable operation in reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) systems. However, widely used modeling approaches often rely on simplified assumptions that do not fully represent the complex chemical equilibria governing membrane processes. As a result, scaling potential, chemical demand, and operating limits are frequently misestimated, leading to overly conservative operation, unnecessary chemical consumption, or unexpected scaling despite apparently safe design conditions.
T4: Innovations in Produced Water Treatment in Oil & Gas Operations
IWC Rep: Ivan Morales, Nalco, and Ecolab Commpany, Houston, TX
Session Chair: Juvencio Casanova, Veolia, The Woodlands, TX
Discussion Leader: Bryan Hansen, Burns & McDonnell, Kansas City, MO
This session explores advances in produced water treatment across upstream oil and gas applications. The topics covered include a novel analytical method for measuring chelated hardness in SAGD produced water to prevent boiler fouling, a comparative evaluation of five desalination technology categories for produced water reuse, developing standardized inorganic scale risk frameworks adaptable to desalination and brine management, and chemistry-enabled operational flexibility during SAGD lime softener pretreatment.
IWC 26-41: A Novel Method for SAGD Operations
Basil Perdicakis
Discusser:
IWC 26-42: A Comparative Study of Desalination Technologies for Produced Water Treatment
Lathika Varanasi, Tetra Tech, Houston, TX
A comparative study of five categories of desalination processes, namely: 1. Thermal based desalination; 2. Membrane based desalination; 3. Combination of Thermal and Membrane based desalination (i.e. Hybrid desalination); 4. Solvent extraction based membrane process and 5. Fractional freeze distillation, was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of the application of these processes for the desalination of produced water. A specific technology was selected from each of the five desalination process categories and evaluated to determine the technology’s effectiveness in treating produced water to a quality that is satisfactory for the following potential end uses: a) Discharge of treated produced water into surface water for beneficial stream effects; b) Application of treated produced water for land irrigation; and c) Application of treated produced water for beneficial reuse, such as for industrial service water use, thus offsetting fresh groundwater use. Parameters used for the assessment of each technology included but were not limited to: a) process treatment train of the technology, b) key pre and post treatment requirements for the technology, c) technology process efficiency and process uptime, d) power requirements and energy efficiency, e) critical equipment/controls used for technology operations and f) benefits and drawbacks of the technology. This presentation summarizes the key findings of the evaluation study.
Discusser:
IWC 26-43: Toward Standardized Inorganic Scale Risk Guidelines for Produced Water Treatment and Desalination: Lessons from Upstream Oil & Gas
Mallory McCaskill, OLI, Parsippany, NJ; Leslie Miller, OLI, Parsippany, NJ; Dr. Giulia Ness, OLI Systems, Paphos, Cyprus
Inorganic scale remains a persistent challenge in produced water treatment, desalination, and direct lithium extraction, yet no standardized risk framework exists for these applications. The upstream oil and gas industry recently developed a comprehensive, software-agnostic scale risk evaluation framework built around fluid sampling, thermodynamic modeling, and structured risk classification. This paper examines how that framework transfers to water treatment contexts, identifies technical gaps requiring adaptation, and proposes a cross-industry working group to develop unified scale risk guidelines for the broader water treatment community.
Discusser: Dale Stuart, Chemtreat, Glen Allen, VA
IWC 26-44: Chemistry-Enabled Temporary Bypass of Warm Lime Softening Unit in SAGD Produced Water Treatment Train
Corbin Ralph, ChampionX/SLB, Calgary, AB, Canada; Shawn He, ChampionX/SLB, Calgary, AB, Canada; Kaylie Young, ChampionX/SLB, Sugar Land, TX; Ken Squire, Strathcona Resources Ltd., Bonnyville, AB, Canada
This paper presents field results from a SAGD facility where a tailored chemical program enabled the temporary bypass of a warm lime softening during a maintenance event while sustaining operations. Treated produced water stayed within hardness and silica limits, and OTSG performance showed no abnormal fouling or heat transfer degradation, allowing for continued steam generation. The approach demonstrates a practical, field-validated model for maintaining full system operability, minimizing steam curtailment, downtime and associated lost revenue.
Discusser: Sean Cotton, Aquatech International, Canonsburg, PA
IWC 26-T4-R: Optimizing Production Availability for SAGD Facilities Through RAM Analysis: A Case Study of An Existing CPF
Eric Meng, Calgary Water and RAM Consultings Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Ron Bettin, Adduco Inc., Calgary, Canada
A Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (RAM) study was conducted for an existing SAGD facility, which has been operated for over seven years, to evaluate current performance and identify production improvement opportunities. The study utilized engineering simulation with Isograph Availability Workbench, incorporating site-specific “bad actor” data, maintenance strategies, operational logic, and industry reliability databases. Seven scenarios were evaluated, including benchmark, run-to-failure, base case, and four sensitivity cases.
This paper will demonstrate how the RAM models quantify production, predict downtime and outage frequency, perform critical equipment ranking, identify bottleneck and optimization options. This paper will also demonstrate how “run to failure” will impact a facility’s reliability and production performance.
The study also identified critical equipment contributors to production loss and highlighted the importance of preventive maintenance and condition-based strategies for the site specific process configuration. Recommended improvements include implementing some equipment redundancy, optimizing maintenance programs, and addressing bad actor equipment through reliability engineering initiatives. These findings provide a practical framework for improving operational reliability and maximizing production performance in existing SAGD facilities.