The water treatment process to deliver safe and wholesome water to customers includes many steps. Coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection are the water treatment processes that make up a conventional surface water treatment plant.
Full Answer
What are the steps in the water treatment process?
The water treatment process to deliver safe and wholesome water to customers includes many steps. Coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection are the water treatment processes that make up a conventional surface water treatment plant.
What are the objectives of the water treatment process?
Some of the main objectives of the water treatment process are: 1. To reduce the impurities to a certain level that does not cause harm to human health. 2. To reduce the objectionable colour, odour, turbidity and hardness.
How does the surface water treatment rule apply to your system?
In order to meet the requirements of the Surface Water Treatment Rule, a water system must both remove and inactivate the pathogens in the water. This process begins with coagulation, which destabilizes the particles in the water.
What is the 4th step of the water purification process?
Fourth Step Second Filtration - Water trickles through sand which removes algae, bacteria and some chemicals Fifth Step Chlorination - Chlorine kills remaining organisms
What other step must be taken in the treatment of water?
They typically consist of several steps in the treatment process. These include: (1) Collection ; (2) Screening and Straining ; (3) Chemical Addition ; (4) Coagulation and Flocculation ; (5) Sedimentation and Clarification ; (6) Filtration ; (7) Disinfection ; (8) Storage ; (9) and finally Distribution.
What is the second step in water treatment?
Water Treatment ProcessThe first step is coagulation, which involves adding chemicals to the water. ... The second step is called flocculation, in which larger particles called flocc form after coagulation.Sedimentation occurs next when the heavy flocc settles to the bottom and is cleared away.More items...
What is the process of water treatment plant?
The raw water is delivered to the headworks of the water treatment plant where the first of 5 major unit water treatment processes start the treatment to make the water safe to drink. The 5 major unit processes include chemical coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection (described below).
What is the first stage of water treatment?
Primary treatment (stage 1) This is when wastewater is temporarily held in large sedimentation tanks to remove settleable solids. With gravity, heavier solids sink to the bottom while lighter solids rise to the top. Chemicals can also be added as coagulants to remove more solids.
What is the most important step in water treatment?
It is, however, an important primary step in the water treatment process, because coagulation removes many of the particles, such as dissolved organic carbon, that make water difficult to disinfect. Because coagulation removes some of the dissolved substances, less chlorine must be added to disinfect the water.
What are the steps involved in treatment?
Treatment StepsStep 1: Screening and Pumping. ... Step 2: Grit Removal. ... Step 3: Primary Settling. ... Step 4: Aeration / Activated Sludge. ... Step 5: Secondary Settling. ... Step 6: Filtration. ... Step 7: Disinfection. ... Step 8: Oxygen Uptake.
What is the need of the water treatment process?
WATER TREATMENT ENSURING ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER AND AVOIDING CONTAMINATION OF RIVERS AND SEAS. Water treatment is a process involving different types of operations (physical, chemical, physicochemical and biological), the aim of which is to eliminate and/or reduce contamination or non-desirable characteristics of water.
What is a water treatment system?
A wide variety of water treatment systems and devices exist that remove or reduce unwanted chemicals and/or microorganisms through disinfection, physical filtration, adsorptive filtration, oxidation/reduction and chemical exchange reactions in order to make water potable or improve the aesthetics of the water.
Why do we need water treatment?
Water treatment removes contaminants and undesirable components, or reduces their concentration so that the water becomes fit for its desired end-use. This treatment is crucial to human health and allows humans to benefit from both drinking and irrigation use.
What are the 3 stages of water treatment?
There are three main stages of the wastewater treatment process, aptly known as primary, secondary and tertiary water treatment.
What are two main steps to treat water from lakes?
Filtration – the water is sprayed onto specially-prepared layers of sand and gravel. As it trickles through, smaller insoluble particles are removed. The filter beds are cleaned periodically by pumping clean water backwards through the filter. Chlorination – chlorine gas is injected into the water to sterilise it.
What are the 3 stages of water treatment?
There are three main stages of the wastewater treatment process, aptly known as primary, secondary and tertiary water treatment.
What are the four stages of water treatment?
4 Steps of Community Water TreatmentCoagulation and Flocculation. ... Sedimentation. ... Filtration. ... Disinfection.
What are the 7 stages of water filtration?
The Seven Steps Of The Water Purification ProcessION Exchange and Coagulation. This is the first step of the purification process. ... Sedimentation. ... Filtration and Granular Activated Carbon. ... Disinfection. ... Carbon Filters. ... Reverse Osmosis. ... Store Purified Water.
What are the 5 stages of filtration?
The 5 StagesStage 1: 5 Micron Polypropylene Sediment filter. ... Stage 2: Carbon Water Filter. ... Stage 4: Osmotic Membrane. ... Stage 5: Inline Activated Carbon Water Filter.
What is water treatment?
The water treatment process to deliver safe and wholesome water to customers includes many steps. Coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection are the water treatment processes that make up a conventional surface water treatment plant. These water treatment processes ensure that the water consumers receive is safe ...
What is the purpose of the Surface Water Treatment Rule?
The goal of the SWTR is to reduce illnesses related to pathogens in drinking water. These pathogens include coliform, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium .
What is coagulation in water treatment?
History of Coagulation in Drinking Water Treatment. Coagulation has been an important process in high-rate filtration plants in the United States since the 1880s. Aluminum and iron salts have been used in the coagulation process since the beginning. These salts are still the most commonly used coagulants today.
What is turbidity in water?
This cloudiness is known as turbidity . Visual turbidity is unpleasant to consumers. Visual turbidity is also an indicator to operators and regulators that the water may still contain pathogens. The Surface Water Treatment Rule therefore requires that turbidity be removed to very low levels.
What is the process of increasing the tendency of small particles to attach to one another and to attach to surfaces such as the
Coagulation . Coagulation is defined as the water treatment process of increasing the tendency of small particles to attach to one another and to attach to surfaces such as the grains of a filter bed. Many surface water supplies contain particles that are too small to settle out of solution on their own.
What are the common coagulants used today?
Common coagulants used today include aluminum sulphate (alum), ferric sulphate, ferric chloride, and sodium aluminate. Synthetic organic polymers were introduced in the 1960s. Depending on your system’s water quality, it may be necessary to employ a combination of two or more coagulants.
How does contact time work in water treatment?
In order for systems to be sure that they are properly disinfecting the filtered water, the Surface Water Treatment Rule requires systems to provide enough contact time. Contact time (CT) is a function of the known disinfection concentration and the amount of time that the disinfectant is in contact with the water. Contact time is expressed in terms of mg/L-min. The EPA has published tables that show how much CT credit water systems will receive. In order to use these tables you use the concentration of chlorine, time, water temperature and pH.
What happens after a wastewater treatment plant meets all permit specifications?
After meeting all permit specifications, clean water is reintroduced into the environment. Although testing is continuous throughout the wastewater treatment process to ensure optimal water flow, clarification and aeration, final testing is done to make sure the effluent leaving the plant meets permit specifications.
What is the process of removing large items from the influent?
Removal of large items from the influent to prevent damage to the facility’s pumps, valves and other equipment .#N#The process of treating and reclaiming water from wastewater (any water that has been used in homes, such as flushing toilets, washing dishes, or bathing, and some water from industrial use and storm sewers) starts with the expectation that after it is treated it will be clean enough to reenter the environment.#N#The quality of the water is dictated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Clean Water Act, and wastewater facilities operate to specified permits by National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). According to the EPA, The Clean Water Act (CWA) establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters. Under the CWA, EPA sets wastewater standards for industry. The EPA has also developed national water quality criteria recommendations for pollutants in surface waters. EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program controls discharges.#N#As an example of expected standards, the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of average wastewater effluent is 200 mg/L and the effluent after treatment is expected to be >30 mg/L. It is crucial a wastewater facility meets these expectations or risk stiff penalty.#N#The physical process of wastewater treatment begins with screening out large items that have found their way into the sewer system, and if not removed, can damage pumps and impede water flow. A bar screen is usually used to remove large items from the influent and ultimately taken to a landfill.
Why is wastewater pumped into a secondary clarifier?
Treated wastewater is pumped into a secondary clarifier to allow any remaining organic sediment to settle out of treated water flow. As the influent exits the aeration process, it flows into a secondary clarifier where, like the primary clarifier, any very small solids (or fines) sink to the bottom of the tank.
What is activated sludge?
These small solids are called activated sludge and consist mostly of active bacteria. Part of this activated sludge is returned to the aeration tank to increase the bacterial concentration, help in propagation, and accelerate the breakdown of organic material. The excess is discarded.
What happens if water flows too slow?
If the water flow is too slow, it impacts the process up stream. The solids that fall to the bottom of the clarifier are know as sludge and pumped out regularly to ensure it doesn’t impact the process of separation. The sludge is then discarded after any water is removed and commonly used as fertilizer.
Why is chlorine added to water?
Chlorine is added to kill any remaining bacteria in the contact chamber. With the enhanced concentration of bacteria as part of the aeration stage, there is a need to test the outgoing effluent for bacteria presence or absence and to disinfect the water.
What is a bar screen in wastewater treatment?
A bar screen is usually used to remove large items from ...
What is the most widely used method of water treatment?
Among them; chlorination is the most widely used method. So, we are explaining only chlorination. Chlorination is the process of addition of chlorine to kill the bacteria. Chlorination is widely adopted in all developing countries for the treatment of water in the public water supply system.
What is water treatment?
Water from any source may contain various suspended, colloidal and dissolved impurities which may be harmful or useful for drinking purpose. The process of removal of undesirable matters and pathogens from water is called the water treatment process. The degree of treatment depends upon the quality ...
How long does it take for particles of 0.006 mm to settle in plain sediment?
Particles of sizes 0.006 mm required 10 hours to settled in plain sedimentation. Therefore we need certain chemicals to add in the water to remove such impurities which are not removed by plain sedimentation. These chemical are known as coagulants and the process is called sedimentation with coagulation.
What is sedimentation tank?
The particles whose specific gravity is greater than that of water gets settles down under the action of gravity. Sedimentation tanks are designed to reduce the velocity of flow of water so that the suspended particles get settled under the action of gravity. Sedimentation can be achieved in two ways. 1.
What are the different sizes of impurities?
There are various impurities having sizes as : 1. Suspended Impurities – a size larger than 10⁻³ mm. 2. Colloidal Impurities – a size between 10⁻³ mm to 10⁻⁶ mm. 3.
What is the process of removing suspended particles by gravitational settling called?
The process of the removal of suspended particles by gravitational settling is called sedimentation. The water after screening may contain various suspended impurities like silt and clay particles. So to remove such particles sedimentation is done.
What is the term for the killing of harmful bacteria?
The killing of harmful bacteria with the help of chemicals or substances is called disinfection and chemical used are called disinfectant. Examples of disinfectant are hydrogen peroxide, formaldehyde, sodium hypochlorite phenol, etc.
Coagulation
Flocculation
Sedimentation
Filtration
Disinfection
Chlorination Operations
Conclusion
- Following the coagulant chemical addition and the rapid mix processes, the raw water will continue on to a flocculation basin. The goal of the flocculation treatment process is to increase the size of the flocs in order to increase their ability to settle out.