Nanofiltration Systems
Targeted membrane treatment for hardness, colour, organics and partial TDS reduction, without the cost or complexity of full reverse osmosis.
If your bore water is scaling equipment, your surface water is discoloured, or you need to reduce dissolved organics without going all the way to full desalination - nanofiltration is likely the most practical fit. It sits between ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis, targeting the contaminants that matter most to your site while keeping energy and operating costs lower than RO.
Centurion designs and supplies nanofiltration (NF) systems for mining, industrial, municipal and remote sites across Australia. To discuss your water quality or treatment requirements, contact the team on: T: 1300 987 955, cwwsau@centurionaprs.com, or fill in the form.
At a Glance
- Reduces hardness (calcium and magnesium) to protect pipes, pumps, membranes and process equipment from scaling
- Removes colour and Total Organic Carbon from surface water
- Targets dissolved organics, pesticides, herbicides, nitrates and selected contaminants
- Provides partial TDS reduction where full desalination isn't required
- More selective than ultrafiltration, lower energy demand than reverse osmosis
- Supplied as a standalone system or as part of a complete treatment train
How Nanofiltration Compares
| Technology | Best for | |
| Media filtration | Suspended solids, turbidity, large particles | |
| Ultrafiltration | Fine particles, bacteria, viruses — TSS ~30–150 mg/L | |
| Nanofiltration | Hardness, colour, TOC, dissolved organics, partial TDS | |
| Brackish Reverse Osmosis | Broader dissolved salt removal, TDS up to 10,000 mg/L | |
| Seawater Reverse Osmosis | High TDS feedwater up to 45,000 mg/L | |
Nanofiltration targets multivalent ions like calcium and magnesium while allowing many monovalent ions such as chlorides to pass, making it more selective than UF but less intensive than full RO.
Where Nanofiltration Works Best
Bore water softening
Hard bore water scales pipes, pumps, boilers and downstream membranes. NF reduces calcium and magnesium effectively and can also support removal of selected naturally occurring contaminants depending on your water chemistry.
Surface water treatment
High colour and Total Organic Carbon in surface water can affect water quality and increase treatment load on downstream systems. NF addresses both, making it a practical fit before potable, process or reuse applications.
Low-TDS water improvement
Where TDS is already relatively low, full reverse osmosis is often more treatment than you need. NF delivers targeted hardness and organic reduction without the energy and cost overhead of RO.
Process water and reuse
NF can improve process water quality and support reuse applications where the goal is fit-for-purpose water rather than full desalination.
End-to-End from Centurion
Centurion doesn't just supply equipment - we manage the full process from design and build through to commissioning, operator training, maintenance and 24/7 remote or on-site support across APAC.
NF systems are designed around your site: raw water source and variability, hardness and scaling risk, TDS and TOC, flow rate, treated water targets, available footprint and integration with existing assets. Systems are modular and scalable, supporting sites from small remote camps through to communities of 16,000+ people.
Flexible delivery options include purchase, rental and rent-to-own. Spares, filters, chemicals and servicing are all available from one provider.
FAQs
Q: How do I know if I need nanofiltration or reverse osmosis?
A: The key question is what you're trying to remove. If the main issue is hardness, colour or dissolved organics, and your TDS is relatively low - NF is usually more efficient and cost-effective. RO is the better choice when you need to remove a broad range of dissolved salts or achieve high-purity water. Centurion can assess your feedwater and recommend the right technology.
Q: Can nanofiltration handle variable feedwater quality?
A: Yes, with the right design. Centurion accounts for feedwater variability - including seasonal changes in surface water colour or bore water chemistry - during system design and can incorporate pre-treatment to protect the NF membranes where needed.
Q: What pre-treatment does a nanofiltration system typically need?
A: It depends on your feedwater. NF is often paired with media filtration or ultrafiltration upstream to reduce TSS and protect the membranes from fouling. Centurion designs the full treatment train so each stage is matched to your water quality and target.
Q: How does nanofiltration affect operating costs compared to RO?
A: Where full desalination isn't required, NF typically operates at lower pressure than RO, which reduces energy consumption. It can also reduce chemical and maintenance demand on downstream equipment by removing the scale-forming minerals before they become a problem.
Talk to Our Team
Not sure whether nanofiltration, ultrafiltration or reverse osmosis is the right fit? We can assess your water quality and recommend the most practical treatment approach. T: 1300 987 955, E: cwwsau@centurionaprs.com, or fill in the form.