Book excerpt: Based on new primary and secondary drinking water standards, this detailed manual presents water treatment methods that are considered the "best available technology" by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It examines the design of water supplies for membrane water treatment plants, including reverse osmosis, membrane filtration, and electrodialysis methods, and it explains process design and the water quality problems associated with each process. It also considers significant aspects of membrane process and groundwater and surface water supply development. Information necessary to operate water supplies and evaluate problems in the system are provided, in addition to specific well construction details necessary for the water wells used to supply membrane plants.