We’ve trained, supported, and worked alongside hundreds of wastewater treatment operators—from rookies on day one to seasoned pros with decades behind the console. And if there’s oane thing we’ve learned, it’s this: The perceived complexity of a membrane bioreactor (MBR) system isn’t about the membranes.

It’s about the design.

Let’s be clear: MBR systems are inherently easier to operate than conventional activated sludge (CAS) plants provided they are designed with careful consideration for factors most people don’t see in a sales brochure: biological treatment process design, flow loading, SCADA integration, and how thoughtfully the system accounts for real-world MBR operator workflows.

The team at Integrated Water Services knows this better than anyone.

This article isn’t about the theoretical benefits of MBR technology. It’s about what actually impacts day-to-day MBR operation—and what makes an MBR plant feel intuitive, stable, and predictable… or frustratingly complex.

The Operator’s Reality: What Gets Called ‘Complex’

Operator perception of MBRs tends to follow a pattern. If someone’s new to the system—or comes from a CAS background—they might expect complexity just based on the word “membrane” or “bioreactor.”

But when they actually operate the system, their opinion usually hinges on three things:

1. How well the MBR system was designed
2. Whether training was hands-on and consistent
3. How closely actual loading matches design assumptions

Let’s unpack each one.

1. Design Drives Operator Experience

There’s often a disproportionate amount of focus during procurement on the membrane racks themselves: flat-sheet vs. hollow fiber, cleaning protocols, air scour rates. 

But from an operator’s point of view, those membranes are underwater and out of sight. 

What they interact with every day are:

• Blowers
• Pumps
• Valves
• Screens
• Instrumentation
• SCADA interfaces

In other words, the controls and components above the waterline.

A well-designed MBR plant accounts for everything the MBR operator touches and manages—especially:

• Turndown range: Can the system handle startup flows that are 15% of design and future flows closer to 90%?
• Flow splitting and balance: Are influent loads evenly distributed across membrane trains and biological zones?
• Biological process control: Was the BNR process designed for variability and operator adjustment?
• Access and serviceability: Can you actually reach the valves and sensors without an OSHA nightmare?
  

MBRs that run at <20% or >80% of design flow are inherently more difficult to operate, particularly if the facility is held to tight nutrient or Title 22 limits. 

But if your MBR process is capable of managing flow properly and maintaining a balanced solids concentration, you’re set.

2. Automation Is a Culture Shift

Yes, both MBRs and CAS plants use SCADA. But how they use SCADA is different.

Conventional plants typically use SCADA for monitoring—DO levels, pump status, alarm flags. 

In an MBR system, SCADA is used for real-time process control. 

That includes:

• Dynamic DO control that adjusts blower speeds based on actual oxygen demand.
• TMP monitoring to detect membrane fouling trends early.
• Automated air scour cycles tied to performance metrics, not fixed timers.
• Integrated backpulse and CIP triggers based on real-time resistance data.

This automation reduces the need for constant manual adjustment. Instead of walking the secondary clarifier every morning to spot settleability issues or tweak RAS flow, operators are reviewing trend data, confirming membrane filtration performance, and letting the membrane system adjust itself within tight parameters.

If that sounds like a less labor-intensive job, it is, but only if the training is there.

3. Training Is the Hidden Variable

The best-designed system in the world will still feel complex if no one explains it properly. The operator experience with MBR depends just as much on when and how the training is delivered as it does on the tech itself.

Here’s what works:

• Pre-installation training: Familiarize operators with the SCADA logic, membrane cleaning procedures, and process controls before the plant is online.
• Startup training: Hands-on experience during commissioning, when adjustments are happening in real time, cements understanding.
• 3-month check-in: Once the “break-in period” passes, revisit key procedures and address any confusion.
• 1-year review: As loading ramps up and operations stabilize, reinforce best practices for optimization and troubleshooting.

Our experience demonstrates that when  plants invest in structured training and cultivate robust ,OEM/operator collaboration, MBR systems transition from  manageable to the preferred operational choice.

A Note on Conventional ‘Simplicity’

Let’s not pretend every CAS plant is a breeze to run. 

Sure, a lagoon or oxidation ditch with loose permit limits and low flows can be forgiving. But even those systems come with clarifier headaches, unpredictable suspended solids bulking, and the challenge of hitting tighter BOD/TSS limits with legacy equipment.

MBRs remove a major pain point: the clarifier. That alone simplifies process control more than most realize. 

No more adjusting RAS rates or watching for solids washout during storm events. Instead, the submerged membranes hold the biomass in place, effluent stays consistent, and the operator focuses on control (not reaction).

And still, for plants with tighter discharge requirements in the United States, the predictability and superior effluent quality of MBR is a game-changer.

Bottom Line: MBR Can Be Easier If You Design It That Way

So, is MBR “more complicated”?

It depends.

A poorly designed MBR system with no turndown range, uneven flow distribution, and minimal operator training? That’s a hard plant to run.

But a well-designed, well-automated MBR system with strong training and realistic permit limits? That’s a stable, high-performing, lower-stress operation – delivering high quality effluent with less operator strain.

If your facility is evaluating wastewater treatment upgrades or planning new capacity, don’t just compare membranes—compare the experience.

Design smarter. Train earlier. Support operators. The complexity myth fades real fast.