There are now four preconference workshops prior to the Membrane Technology Conference & Exposition being held by the American Membrane Technology Association (AMTA) and the American Water Works Association (AWWA) in San Antonio, Texas, at the end of February 2013.

The workshops, all on 25 February 2013, are:

RO/NF Back to Basics & MF/UF Back to Basics (08:00‑16:30)
The two-part workshop consists of an introduction to membrane technologies and applications. The basics of element, systems, and process design will be presented, as will the basics of pilot-scale operations. The workshop will highlight current case studies that compare piloting/system design with full-scale operation and case studies targeted to systems that are in operation and compared against original design.

SCMA Preconference Workshop – Membrane Cleaning & Troubleshooting For Operators (08:30‑15:00)
This workshop, presented by the South Central Membrane Association, an affiliate of AMTA, is designed for plant superintendents, operating staff, and interested individuals who wish to learn about the basics of membrane operations, and the tools available to properly identify and correct, through cleaning and operational changes, the various fouling and scaling issues that adversely impact membrane operations. While the primary focus will be on reverse osmosis and membrane softening, microfiltration and ultrafiltration optimization will also be discussed.

Produced Water Treatment and Market Opportunities Workshop (13:00‑16:15)
This workshop will present an overview of the produced water market in oil and gas, treatment opportunities, and regulatory issues. Oil and gas extraction are water-intense activities where integrated water management has become a focus. Companies are looking at ways to reduce costs and minimize environmental impacts by reducing the use of fresh water and minimizing residuals. Treatment needs coupled with peaking oil production provide a growth outlook into this market for engineers and technology providers.

TX-AWWA Brackish Groundwater Desalination Program Implementation (13:00‑17:00)
This workshop will discuss the various considerations to determine technical and economic feasibility of implementing brackish groundwater desalination projects in the United States and will include multiple municipal case histories. Considerations discussed will include pilot testing; development of a raw water supply; concentrate management alternatives; permitting; RO system design, including power, instrumentation and controls; project delivery; and startup, testing, and training.

For more details, lists of speakers and registration, consult the AMTA website.