MBR System Expansion

In 2006, the Rio Del Oro conventional activated sludge (CAS) wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was converted to a membrane bioreactor (MBR). The total constructed cost of the original retrofit was roughly 50% lower than the estimate for expanding the legacy process.

In early 2026, MMBR, including team members from the original project, expanded plant capacity again by installing higher-efficiency Toray membrane equipment and larger permeate pumps. The project required minor piping changes, new variable frequency drives (VFDs), control updates, and full system integration. The brownfield upgrade was completed in about 10 days, extending asset life, increasing capacity by 40%, and improving system reliability for the New Mexico Water Service Company. The membrane replacement portion of the project took about 30 hours and was staged to minimize service disruption.