PFAS-free into the future: Lindau builds Bavaria’s most modern membrane plant

The town of Lindau on Lake Constance is setting a strong example for sustainable water protection and modern wastewater technology: with the expansion of its wastewater treatment plant, Bavaria’s largest municipal membrane treatment stage will be built by the end of 2025. It is equipped with pioneering MYTEX MBR technology, which completely dispenses with PFAS.

Why this expansion is so important

Lake Constance is one of the most important sources of drinking water in Europe. More than four million people, especially in Baden-Württemberg, get their drinking water from the lake. This makes it all the more important that only the best possible purified wastewater enters this sensitive ecosystem. Lindau has been responsible for high-quality wastewater treatment for years – not only for its own town, but also for six surrounding municipalities. A new chapter is now being opened with the current project: the existing wastewater treatment plant is being comprehensively modernized, expanded and equipped with an additional purification stage.

Technology change with a signal effect: PFAS-free membranes

At the heart of the project is the use of MYTEX membrane technology from WTA UNISOL GmbH. What makes it special is that, unlike many conventional membrane solutions, MYTEX does not contain any PFAS – i.e. perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, which are considered to be particularly persistent environmental toxins. “Precaution is crucial, especially in sensitive drinking water catchment areas such as Lake Constance. With PFAS-free membrane technology, we are consciously taking a sustainable approach,” explains Dr. Heike Burghard, who is responsible for the project on behalf of the city of Lindau.

Key technical data

The new membrane stage will be integrated into the existing wastewater treatment plant, which will be designed for a future load of 72,000 population equivalents (PE). The most important technical data at a glance:

• Average daily load (ADF): 13,306 m³/d
• Peak load (PHF): 1,980 m³/h
• Membrane type: MYTEX H5L5
• Filter area per module: 719 m²
• Total filter area: 64,710 m²
• Cleaning: via backwash cycles (backwash) and in-situ cleaning

This design not only ensures high operational reliability and energy efficiency, but also very good retention of micropollutants such as pharmaceutical residues or household chemicals.

More than just technology – a contribution to drinking water protection

The new membrane stage is part of a comprehensive modernization programme. The aim is not only to bring the wastewater treatment plant up to the latest technical standards, but also to make it future-proof – always with a view to increasing environmental and health protection requirements. The combination of membrane filtration and dosing of powdered activated carbon (PAC) creates a so-called fourth purification stage. This is a decisive step towards the targeted removal of organic trace substances that are difficult to break down.

A flagship project in Bavaria

The project is part of the Bavarian strategy for eliminating micropollutants and is already regarded as a beacon for other local authorities. It shows how efficient technology and consistent environmental protection can be combined – without any fluorine-containing materials. The full technical article has been published in the trade journal GWF – Wasser | Abwasser 09/2025.

Questions or interested in a technical discussion? We look forward to hearing from you!