Ultrafiltration Strengthens Seawater Desalination Reliability

Reliable freshwater supply in coastal urban environments depends heavily on the performance of desalination infrastructure and, in particular, on robust pre-treatment processes. In this context, NX Filtration has been selected to supply ultrafiltration (UF) modules for the 5 MLD Ancol Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) plant in Jakarta, working in partnership with Indonesian system integrator Jaya Teknik Indonesia.

Pre-treatment as a safeguard for SWRO systems
The Ancol SWRO plant is located within Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, one of Indonesia’s most frequented coastal tourism areas, and provides freshwater for hotels, attractions, and supporting infrastructure across the district. In such coastal settings, seasonal variability in seawater quality can directly affect reverse osmosis membrane performance and operational stability.

To address this challenge, the plant integrates NX Filtration’s UF modules as an upgraded pre-treatment step. Ultrafiltration removes suspended solids, colloids, and microorganisms upstream of the reverse osmosis stage, reducing fouling loads on RO membranes and supporting more stable operating conditions over time.

Supporting long-term membrane protection and output stability
By reinforcing the pre-treatment barrier, the UF system contributes to protecting the downstream SWRO membranes against premature fouling and performance degradation. This is particularly relevant in environments where fluctuating seawater conditions can otherwise lead to higher cleaning frequencies, increased chemical use, and reduced membrane lifetimes.

For the Ancol facility, stable pre-treatment performance supports consistent freshwater production, which is critical for tourism-related operations that depend on uninterrupted water availability. Maintaining predictable membrane behaviour also improves overall plant reliability and reduces operational risk.

Local integration and regional water infrastructure
The project is delivered through cooperation with Jaya Teknik Indonesia, which acts as the local system integrator for the SWRO plant. Within this arrangement, NX Filtration supplies the UF membrane technology, while system integration and plant implementation are handled locally. This model combines international membrane expertise with on-the-ground engineering capabilities.

The collaboration also reflects NX Filtration’s broader expansion in Indonesia, where its membrane solutions have already been deployed in municipal and commercial drinking water applications. These projects address the growing demand for dependable water treatment systems in regions facing population growth, urbanisation, and increasing pressure on freshwater resources.

Addressing coastal water supply challenges
Large-scale SWRO facilities such as the Ancol plant play an important role in strengthening water security in coastal cities. Their long-term performance, however, depends on effective pre-treatment that can handle variable raw water conditions without compromising membrane integrity.

By integrating UF technology upstream of reverse osmosis, the Ancol project demonstrates how targeted upgrades in pre-treatment design can enhance the resilience of desalination systems. In doing so, it supports a stable freshwater supply for Jakarta’s coastal tourism district while contributing to the more sustainable operation of desalination assets in Southeast Asia.

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