MBR Technology Assistant
MBR Retrofit & Life Extension

Upgrade and expand
your existing MBR

New membranes, controls, and process equipment for an MBR that is aging, maintenance-heavy, locked to a discontinued product, or out of capacity inside its current footprint.
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the challenges

Why Retrofit an Existing MBR ?

M|MBR supports customers evaluating MBR retrofit projects with product-related design, installation, startup, and ongoing support services. We can provide the equipment and components needed for an upgrade as loose parts, integrated assemblies, or part of a turnkey delivery.

Cleaning frequency is climbing

Recovery cleans that used to be occasional are now scheduled, and flux is not what it was.

Controls are past support

The PLC is obsolete, the HMI is unsupported, and nobody wants to touch the code.

Maintenance is eating the budget

The plant runs, but it takes more people, more chemical, and more downtime than it should.

Your product is discontinued

The membrane you own is no longer made, and the OEM’s replacement means a redesign.

You are out of capacity

Flows have grown past the design point and there is no room to expand the footprint.

Any two of the above

Individually these are maintenance items. Together they usually mean the economics of a planned upgrade beat another year of unplanned ones.
We are not tied to one OEM

Membrane-agnostic, by design

We are not tied to one OEM’s roadmap, which matters most when the product you own has been discontinued. We supply upgrade equipment as loose parts, integrated assemblies, or turnkey delivery, and support it from design through startup and beyond. 400+ projects delivered, 25+ years of MBR experience.
all things mbr

Who We Work With

M|MBR can support any project type. We specialize in supporting all who share our passion for MBR

  • Private Utilities
  • Tribal Communities
  • Developers
  • Middle-Market Municipalities
  • Decentralized Applications
  • Reuse Applications

Is Your Plant a
Retrofit Candidate?

Try Our MBR Technology Assistant
Technology Assistant
MMBR Systems digital dashboard displayed on a tablet with stylus for data management.

Are your membranes at end of life, or out of capacity?

Comprehensive membrane bioreactor inspections with detailed scoring, photo documentation, and actionable recommendations for your facility.

Ask for a free health check
Upgrades & Expension Case Studies

MBR upgrades we have delivered

We’ve successfully upgraded and expanded numerous existing MBR facilities. Past projects modernized existing MBR facilities with new membrane equipment, controls, and process upgrades. These projects are typically driven by aging assets, maintenance burden, performance goals, or the need to add capacity within the current plant footprint.

Small Plant · 0.025 MGD

Pilot Travel Center, MA

Packaged MBR, RBC retrofit, 2013 / 2025

M|MBR supported the design and delivery of a packaged 0.025-MGD MBR system in 2013 as part of an RBC retrofit. In 2025, M|MBR returned to remediate the plant with new fine screens, membrane units, anoxic and aeration basin equipment, feed-forward pumps, a new control panel/HMI, and startup and training. The new membrane units added 75% more filtration area, decreasing maintenance and increasing uptime.

Why M|MBR

Experience, multi-disciplinary team, technology, vertical integration. Pre-selected by the project engineer. Performance bond included.

  • Extended Asset Life
  • Reduced Maintenance
  • Improved Performance
Life Extension
Medium Plant · 0.30 MGD → 0.42 MGD

Rio Del Oro, NM

CAS → MBR, 2002; upgraded 2025

M|MBR supported the conversion of an existing CAS plant to an MBR in 2002. In 2025, M|MBR replaced antiquated flat sheet product with a newer product in a turnkey project: new permeate piping, new VFDs, new permeate pumps, new membrane equipment, and programming modifications. Completed live, while the plant received design flowrates.

Why M|MBR

Experience, multi-disciplinary team, technology, vertical integration. Guaranteed not-to-exceed price.

  • 40% Increased Capacity
  • Improved Performance
Expansion
Large Plant · 1.50 MGD → 1.90 MGD

Ballina, Australia

Live MBR retrofit, 4 phases / 6 months

M|MBR supported the conversion of an existing MBR. This live retrofit was completed in 4 phases over about a 6-month period. The overall upgrade included new UV technology, new membrane equipment, and other plant modifications.

Why M|MBR

Experience, multi-disciplinary team, technology, vertical integration.

  • 27% Increased Capacity
  • Improved Performance
Expansion
Life Extension Services

Single Source Responsability,
Lifecycle Accountability

The design, project management, installation, commissioning, startup, and support services needed to deliver retrofit projects are collectively referred to as asset Life Extension Services. One team, one scope, from the first site walk to the plant back in full operation.

Design

Retrofit-specific product design, equipment selection, and integration with the project engineer’s drawings.

Project Management

One point of contact, one schedule, one accountable party across the equipment scope.

Installation

Loose parts, integrated assemblies, or full turnkey installation, depending on how you want to run the job.

Commissioning

Functional testing and process tuning against the permit you have to meet.

Startup

Bringing membranes and controls online, with operator training on the equipment as installed.

Ongoing Support

Technical support, spares, and service after the contractor demobilizes.