
The most commonly used chemicals for water treatment process are: Algicide Chlorine Chlorine dioxide Muriatic acid Soda ash or Sodium bicarbonate In additions to the above chemicals, there are numerous other water treatment chemicals used.
What chemicals are used in water treatment?
The chemical used in this process are called water treatment chemicals. In additions to the above chemicals, there are numerous other water treatment chemicals used. Coagulants, flocculants, clarifiers and filter cleaners also form an important part of water treatment methods.
What are the different methods of water treatment?
Public drinking water systems use various methods of water treatment to provide safe drinking water for their communities. Today, the most common steps in water treatment used by community water systems (mainly surface water treatment) include: Coagulation and flocculation are often the first steps in water treatment.
What technology is used in water treatment?
Worldwide, a combination of coagulation, sedimentation and filtration is the most widely applied water treatment technology, and has been used since the early 20th century. For more information about the disinfection portion of the treatment process, see the Chlorination fact sheet.
How is water treated at home?
Household Water Treatment. Water Softeners A water softener is a device that reduces the hardness of the water. A water softener typically uses sodium or potassium ions to replace calcium and magnesium ions, the ions that create "hardness.".

What is added to water treatment?
To prevent contamination with germs, water companies add a disinfectant—usually either chlorine or chloramine—that kills disease-causing germs such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, and norovirus.
What are the 5 steps of water treatment?
The 5 major unit processes include chemical coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection (described below). There are chemicals added to the water as it enters the various treatment processes.
What are the 4 steps of water treatment?
4 Steps of Community Water TreatmentCoagulation and Flocculation. ... Sedimentation. ... Filtration. ... Disinfection.
What are the 7 methods of water treatment?
Top 7 Methods of Water TreatmentCoagulation / Flocculation. Coagulation is adding liquid aluminum sulfate or alum and/or polymer to raw or untreated water. ... Sedimentation. When water and flocs undergo the treatment process, they go into sedimentation basins. ... Filtration. ... Disinfection. ... Sludge Drying. ... Fluoridation. ... pH Correction.
What are the 7 steps of water treatment?
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 are the components of water treatment plant?
Components Of Water Treatment PlantRaw water source, for example, and impounding reservoir, lake, or river canal.Intake well.Water pumping system.Cascade aerator.Alum mixer.Clarifier.Filter bed washing system.Sand filters.More items...•
How do you make a water treatment?
4 Methods to Purify Your Water1 – Boiling. Boiling water is the cheapest and safest method of water purification. ... 2 – Filtration. Filtration is one of the effective ways of purifying water and when using the right multimedia filters it's effective in ridding water of the compounds. ... 3 – Distillation. ... 4 – Chlorination.
What minerals is used in water purification process?
Dolomite minerals are commonly used for filtration and processing drinking water: to increase the pH value of the purified water after reverse osmosis system.
What chemicals are used in water treatment?
The broad categories of these chemicals include: Oxygen scavengers. Flocculants. Neutralising agents. pH conditioners. Scale inhibitors. Corrosion inhibitors. Coagulants.
What is the role of oxidants in water treatment?
Oxidants can act as disinfecting agents in water treatment, removing contaminants.
What are flocs used for?
Flocs are cloudy suspensions of cells, formed from bacterial cells and fungal species. These organisms can help to reduce organic matter and reduce biological oxygen demand in water. They are used as part of sewage treatment.
What are coagulants in water?
Coagulants. Coagulants can remove suspended solids in water. They are made up of positively-charged molecules, and may be organic, inorganic or a combination of both. Chemicals commonly used as coagulants in drinking water treatment include: Aluminium sulphate. Polyaluminium chloride. Ferric sulphate.
How does corrosion affect heat exchangers?
Corrosion can be extremely damaging to boilers, heat exchange systems and other metallic devices and components where contact with water is normal. Corrosion inhibitors react with metallic surfaces, providing a level of protection, usually by forming a film on it.
What are disinfectants and biocides used for?
Disinfectants and biocides are used in various industries, for preparing drinking water, treating process water, preparing ultra-pure water and for disinfecting surfaces. They kill micro-organisms in water and include: Chlorine. Chlorine dioxide.
What are neutralizing agents in water treatment?
Neutralising agents in water treatment neutralise acids and basics. Their dosage will depend on the pH of the water. Some neutralising agents increase pH levels, and some will cause them to decline. Neutralising agents include solutions of sodium hydroxide and calcium carbonate, and diluted sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid.
What is added to water to kill bacteria?
Once the water has passed through all the filters in the previous stage, it is disinfected. Carefully calculated doses of chlorine or chloramine are added to kill any remaining parasites, bacteria, and viruses and to protect the water against germs when flowing through the pipes of homes and businesses.
What is the first step in water treatment?
This is the first step in water treatment. Chemicals with a positive charge are added to neutralize the negative charge of dirt and other dissolved particles. The particles bind with the chemicals to form larger particles called floc.
Is lead in water dangerous?
Lead is introduced into the water via pipes that still contain lead (these pipes have been banned since 1986). This heavy metal is very toxic to children. Exposure to lead can lead to problems with their nervous system, anemia, seizures, and even death. The Broward County Health Department can be contacted for free lead testing. The maximum amount of lead permitted in water is 0.01mg/ml.
What is water treatment?
Water treatment chemicals, a modern approach for safe drinking water. “Millions lived without love, none without water!”. This dihydrogen infused oxygen molecule forms the basis of all living forms on Earth. Whether it’s for cooking or basic sanitation needs, the role of water remains irreplaceable as the entire human survival depends on water.
Why does the chemical industry use water treatment?
Hence, the chemical industry uses the innovative ways of water treatment in order to make water acceptable for end-use, such as drinking, cooking, irrigation and industrial purpose to name a few.
Why is the demand for water increasing?
Contemporarily, the demand for safe and fresh water is consistently rising, owing to satisfy the human needs and to support the industrial activities. With the increasing urbanization and economic development, the current water supply is unlikely to satisfy the ever growing demands.
How many people die from drinking water every year?
It is estimated that about 3.4 million of the world’s population die every year due to deprived access to clean drinking water. Providing safe drinking water remains a global challenge, for which only chemistry has a solution.
Is water from the sea safe for humans?
With the innovative boiler water treatment chemicals and other related chemicals, water from the sea, polluted rivers, and wastewater effluents can now be made safe for human consumption.
What is the most widely used water treatment technology?
Many water treatment plants use a combination of coagulation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection to provide clean, safe drinking water to the public. Worldwide, a combination of coagulation, sedimentation and filtration is the most widely applied water treatment technology, and has been used since the early 20th century.
Why is coagulation important 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 is added to ferric chloride?
If ferric chloride is used, iron and chloride are added. And if aluminum sulphate is used, aluminum and sulphate are added. The majority of municipal water treatment plants use aluminum sulphate as the coagulation chemical. Generally, water treatment facilities have the coagulation process set up so that the coagulant chemicals are removed with ...
What is residual water?
Residuals are the by-products that remain in the water after substances are added and reactions occur within the water. The particular residuals depend on the coagulant that is used. If ferric sulphate is used, iron and sulphate are added to the water. If ferric chloride is used, iron and chloride are added.
What is the charge of ferric sulphate?
ferric sulphate, ferric chloride or polymers, to the water. These chemicals are called coagulants, and have a positive charge. The positive charge of the coagulant neutralizes the negative charge of dissolved and suspended particles in the water.
What is slow sand filtration?
that are used. Slow sand filtration removes bacteria, protozoa and viruses, and produces. essentially clean water, though it is still advisable to use a disinfectant as a precautionary. measure.
How fast does sand flow?
In fact, during rapid sand filtration, the water flows at a rate up to 20 metres per hour.
How do clarifiers work?
The large flocs will settle out of suspension via gravity. Clarifiers can remove a very large percentage of the suspended materials in water. In some plants, clarifiers remove as much as 90% of the suspended solids load. Particles that do not settle will be removed by filtration in the next treatment step.
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.
Why is filter loading rate important?
The filter loading rate is a critical parameter in the operation of the treatment plant because it determines the water velocity through the filter and the filter run times. Filter run time is the length of time that a filter can be in production before it has to be backwashed.
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.
How long does it take for ozone to return to oxygen?
The natural reaction is for ozone to return to its oxygen form, with a reaction time typically taking 10-20 minutes at 20 degrees Celsius. Advantages to ozone water treatment include the minimisation of inorganic, organic and microbiological problems and taste and odour problems.
How is ozone created?
Like a lightning storm, ozone is created when oxygen is exposed to the discharge of a powerful electric current through air. While widely used in Europe for many years to treat municipal drinking water, it has not had a similar acceptance in the US.
What are the six water treatment technologies?
Six essential Water treatment technologies. UV water treatment: shining a light on disinfection. Ozone water treatment: harness ing the power of lightning. Types of water treatment chemicals (and why they are used) Water treatment and water treatment technologies are an essential line of defence to remove contaminants and bacteria before ...
What is the most commonly used coagulant?
Aluminium sulphate and ferric sulphate are two of the most commonly used coagulants , although others are available. Raw water quality near to the inlet of a mixing tank or flocculator determines the rate in which coagulants are dosed in solution.
What is the process of removing turbidity, algae, and other microorganisms from surface water
Coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation are processes used to remove colour, turbidity, algae and other microorganisms from surface waters. Chemical coagulants can be added to the water for the formation of a precipitate, or floc to entrap these impurities.
What is a bench scale coagulation test?
Bench scale coagulation tests can be used to determine which coagulant to use for a specific raw water. As a result, to remove colour and turbidity, coagulation and flocculation are considered the most effective treatment techniques. However, for small water supplies they may not be suitable.
When to use ozone?
Ozone can be used throughout water treatment, for example during pre-oxidation, intermediate oxidation or final disinfection as it has excellent disinfection and oxidation qualities. Usually, it is recommended to use ozone for pre-oxidation, before a sand filter or an active carbon filter (GAC).
How much water does a leaky tap waste?
A drip from a tap can fill buckets. Remember those billion people who don’t access to water. Well, a leaky tap can waste well over 100 litres a day if left unchecked. Not only that, but over the course of a year, you will be paying a great deal more than you have to in your utility bills.
How many litres of gasoline are unsuitable for drinking?
5. It doesn’t take much to contaminate water. Just 4 litres of gasoline can cause 2.8 million litres of water to be unsuitable for drinking.
Why is water used in industrial processes?
Water is used on an industrial scale to cool and lubricate machinery . When this water has been used a few times it is often contaminated with so many chemicals that it can’t be treated. This water needs to then be disposed of in such a way that it won’t enter the water table.
Why is water important to the environment?
Water is needed to grow crops and feed animals. So when you think about the environmental impact of your meal, be sure to think about how much water is used. This is especially true of nut-based milk like almond milk. 8. Industrial wastewater is a real problem.
Why is there no water in the world?
This is a staggering number. The lack of accessible drinking water is due to poor infrastructure and arid weather conditions. Although progress is still being made it is not fast enough.
How long can you go without water?
You can only last about a week without any water. Dehydration can ve very serious and even a few days without water can result in hospitalization. If possible, always try to carry a bottle of water with you at all times.
Why do we need reusable water bottles?
Getting one reusable water bottle and filling it up at a water fountain saves a huge amount of plastic waste. Not only does this help to save the planet thought there being less landfill, but it also means that fewer single-use plastic bottles need to be made.
What is the most common chemical used to treat water?
The most common of these chemicals is chlorine. Chlorine is the most common of the types of chemicals currently being used to treat public water supplies. It is used to remove and to kill any bacteria which could be living in the water. This type of treatment prevents people from getting ill from drinking unsanitary water.
Why are chemicals used in drinking water?
Chemicals, such as pesticides and fertilizers in drinking water have been linked to birth defects. Yet, chemicals have been used for years to purify drinking water by killing the parasites that live in it. However, experts say that these parasites are becoming immune to the chemicals and are living after purification treatments.
What chemicals are in water?
Some Types of Chemicals in Drinking Water 1 Chlorine – Can cause bladder and rectal cancers, and also asthma. Recently, experts have linked chlorine to breast cancer. 2 Lead – Lead enters tap water through corroded pipes. Lead in drinking water is harmful for pregnant mothers and children. Lead poisoning has been proven to cause learning disorders and severe developmental delays. 3 Giardia and Cryptosporidium – These types of protozoa are responsible for widespread and severe outbreaks of gastro-intestinal diseases. They will make their way in the water system whenever here has been a sanitation breakdown.
What are the toxins in drinking water?
This is a brief list of the types of toxins in drinking water and what effects they can have on your health. Chlorine – Can cause bladder and rectal cancers, and also asthma. Recently, experts have linked chlorine to breast cancer. Lead – Lead enters tap water through corroded pipes.
Why do people bottle water?
Many people have been turning to bottle water in order to avoid drinking tap water. At first glance, this would seem to make perfect sense, except for the expense of buying bottled water. However, the main problem with any type of bottled water is the containers which they come in. The plastic which are used to make the containers contain chemicals ...
Does the government regulate drinking water?
The government regulates the processing of drink water through the EPA and FDA. They are aware that dangerous chemicals may still remain in the drinking water. While there are standards in place for the maximum amount of contaminants allowed in water, none of these levels are at zero.
Does plastic water contain chemicals?
The plastic which are used to make the containers contain chemicals are well. These chemicals are absorbed by the water when it comes in contact with the container. The chemicals in the plastic containers have also been proven to cause cancer. The best way to guarantee that you are drinking water which is pure would be to install ...

Oxygen Scavengers
Flocculants
Neutralising Agents
Ph Conditioners
Scale Inhibitors
Corrosion Inhibitors
Coagulants
Antifoams
Algaecides
Disinfectants and Biocides
What Are Water Treatment Chemicals?
Common Water Treatment Chemicals
Embracing The Future Water Treatment Industry