Ohio Welcomes World's Largest Membrane-Treatment Facility

Canton, OH, is bidding farewell to its wastewater treatment facility and welcoming a massive, new water-technology center.

After reaching a deal with Kubota Membrane-USA, the city launched into "an $80-million conversion of its wastewater plant into the world’s largest membrane treatment facility," according to WKSU News.

The research and development facility will replace Canton's water reclamation facility."The company will be developing new wastewater treatment technology at the location, though the project specifics are still under discussion, officials said. They expect to initially employ four people and hope to open in December," the Canton Repository reported.

The innovation center will focus on technologies that filter water at the molecular level. The center, located in a region known for its shale, may treat fracking wastewater as well as other types of waste, according to Mayor William Healy.

“They’re not only going to be doing R&D for the normal waste. Because of the oil and gas development, they also want to find a way to see if they can clean the fracwater. That’s one of the reasons that they’re here: the dual opportunities," he said, per the report.

"Imagine if they’re able to find a solution to the fracwater problem? And that’s one of their goals to be worked on here in R&D," he continued.

Officials framed the deal as a big win for Canton. "Service Director William Bartos said the real value for the city is having a major corporation operate here and that some treatment cost savings are anticipated because the corporation will do wastewater treating and testing as part of its research," the Repository reported.

For more on the use of membranes in wastewater treatment, visit Water Online’s Wastewater Membranes Solution Center.