Abstract: A method cleans a plurality of filters in parallel, each filter having an inlet side and an outlet side separated by a filter barrier. In an operational phase, water is filtered using a plurality of the filters, by passing the water through the filter. In a cleaning phase, at least one of the filters is cleaned while the other filters are filtering water in the operational phase. Each filter is cleaned by supplying sodium hypochlorite to an inlet side of the filter when the filter is off-line. The inlet side of the filter is allowed to soak in the sodium hypochlorite for at least 30 seconds without the sodium hypochlorite being pressurized through the filter barrier during the soaking process. The filters are cycled through the cleaning phase such that each filter is repeatedly cleaned while other filters are filtering in the operational phase.

Abstract: A method cleans a plurality of filters in parallel, each a filter having an inlet side and an outlet side separated by a filter barrier. In an operational phase, water is filtered using a plurality of the filters, by passing the water through the filter, from the inlet side to the outlet side. These filters may be a hollow fiber membrane. In a cleaning phase, at least one of the filters is cleaned while the other filters are filtering water in the operational phase. Each filter is cleaned by supplying sodium hypochlorite to the inlet side of the filter when the filter is off-line. The inlet side of the filter is allowed to soak in the sodium hypochlorite for at least 30 seconds without the sodium hypochlorite being pressurized through the filter barrier during the soaking process. This oxidizes organic contaminates near the surface of the filter. The filters are cycled through the cleaning phase such that each filter is repeatedly cleaned while other filters are filtering in the operational phase.