Abstract: A water treatment system comprising a pressure vessel, vertically aligned separation elements within the vessel each having at least one porous UF or MF membrane, feed fluid passageways, a permeate fluid passageway, a concentrate removal port, and a biocontactor within the vessel that has biogrowth surfaces surrounding flow paths through the biocontactor. The flow paths have a median ratio of surface area to volume which exceeds 15 cm?1. The pressure vessel also contains a pressure plate with holes which separates the vessel into two chambers, a first chamber containing membrane elements and a second chamber that contains the biocontactor. A sealing means contacting the pressure plate prevents fluid flow between the first chamber and second chamber except through the porous membranes.

Abstract: A multi-element filtration vessel included spaced beams for supporting and/or aligning filtration elements from below. The filtration elements have bottom ends adapted to rest upon adjacent support beams and also to extend between them to form a cavity that can capture feed fluid and an aeration gas and conduct it into the filtration element. In another aspect, a multi-element filtration vessel has removable aerators mounted on a projection on the wall of the filtration vessel.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for removing impurities from feed water comprising (A) a loading tank comprising a top, a bottom, and an interior, and further comprising (i) an inlet that conveys the feed water to a water distributor, (ii) a grid located above the water distributor, (iii) an outlet located at a level higher than the grid, (iv) an outlet at the bottom of the loading tank, (B) a regeneration tank comprising (i) a first inlet near the top of the regeneration tank, (ii) a second inlet at the top of the regeneration tank, (iii) an outlet at the bottom of the regeneration tank, (C) a pipe that conveys material from the bottom of the regeneration tank to the top of the loading tank, wherein said regeneration tank is located below the loading tank. Also provided is a method of removing impurities by using such an apparatus.

Abstract: A washing machine comprising: i) a wash tub (12), ii) a water inlet (14) and waste water outlet (16) in fluid communication with the wash tub (12), iii) a fluid pathway (18) extending from the waste water outlet (16) to the water inlet (14), iv) a pump (20) for moving water along the fluid pathway (18), v) a filter module (22) located along the fluid pathway (18), and vi) a valve (16?) located downstream from the pump (20) that selectively directs fluid flow along the fluid pathway (18) to a waste discharge port (28) or the filter module (22).