7 Key Points in Water Treatment Facilities

The treatment of water is a vital process aimed at eliminating potentially hazardous substances, whether they are biological, chemical, or physical in nature. This comprehensive treatment endeavor is geared towards producing water that is not only safe for human and domestic consumption but also meets the highest standards of clarity, colorlessness, and odor neutrality. Moreover, it is imperative that the treated water is non-corrosive, ensuring that it does not inflict damage to the infrastructure it flows through.

In the context of large-scale water treatment systems for urban municipal water supply, seven pivotal phases are meticulously executed. This article delves into the intricacies of each of these phases to shed light on the intricate process of delivering clean, safe, and high-quality water to our communities.”

Screening:

• The initial stage of water treatment involves the use of screens to safeguard the primary components of a treatment facility and ensure their optimal performance. These screens serve the critical purpose of removing large floating and suspended solids present in the incoming water.
• These solids can include a variety of materials like leaves, twigs, paper, rags, and other debris that have the potential to obstruct the flow within the treatment plant or cause damage to its equipment.
• The screening process encompasses both coarse and fine screens.
• Coarse screens, constructed from corrosion-resistant steel bars spaced at intervals of 5 to 15 centimeters, are employed to prevent larger materials such as logs and fish from entering the treatment plant. These screens are positioned at a 60-degree angle, which facilitates the removal of collected debris through mechanical raking.
• Fine screens, positioned downstream of the coarse screens, serve to prevent materials that can clog pipework within the plant. These screens consist of closely spaced steel bars, typically set 5 to 20 millimeters apart.
• A specialized variant of the fine screen is the micro strainer, which features a rotating drum with a stainless steel mesh boasting an extremely fine mesh size, ranging from 15 to 64 micrometers (15-64 millionths of a meter). This level of precision allows the capture of suspended matter as minuscule as algae and plankton, which are microscopic organisms drifting in water currents.
• The solids captured by these screens are dislodged from the mesh using high-pressure water jets, utilizing clean water, and are subsequently transported for proper disposal. This meticulous screening process ensures that the water entering the treatment plant is free from large and potentially obstructive solids.

Aeration:

Following the screening process, the water undergoes aeration, a vital step in which air is introduced to the water through a series of carefully designed stages. Aeration serves several crucial functions.

First and foremost, it facilitates the absorption of oxygen from the atmosphere into the water. This oxygenation process plays a pivotal role in expelling soluble gases present in the water, such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. Both of these gases are acidic in nature, and the aeration process effectively reduces their presence, rendering the water less corrosive.

Aeration also serves as a means to eliminate gaseous organic compounds that may impart undesirable tastes to the water. By introducing air, these compounds are expelled from the water.

Additionally, aeration aids in the removal of iron and manganese from the water. These substances, when present, can lead to peculiar tastes and the staining of clothing. Aeration triggers the oxidation of iron and manganese, transforming them into insoluble forms. Once in this state, these substances can be effectively removed through subsequent filtration processes.

In cases where an excess of algae is found in the raw water, it can lead to the growth of algae that may eventually clog downstream sand filters. To mitigate this issue, chlorination may be employed in conjunction with or as a substitute for aeration. This approach, known as pre-chlorination, serves to disinfect the water and eliminate algae, thereby preventing potential blockages in the treatment process.

Pre-chlorination also plays a role in oxidizing compounds responsible for taste and odor issues in the water.

Aeration, or pre-chlorination when necessary, represents a crucial preliminary step that sets the stage for the main treatment processes, ensuring that the water is prepared for further purification.”

Coagulation and Flocculation:

• Following the aeration phase, the water treatment process progresses to coagulation and flocculation, two essential steps in removing fine particles suspended in the water, especially those smaller than 1 micrometer (1 µm) in size.
• Coagulation involves the introduction of a chemical known as a coagulant, which possesses a positive electrical charge, into the water. This coagulant effectively neutralizes the negative electrical charge carried by the fine particles suspended in the water.
• This crucial step takes place within a rapid mix tank, where a high-speed impeller vigorously disperses the coagulant into the water. By neutralizing the charges of the fine particles, they lose their mutual repulsion and begin to come together.
• As a result of this interaction, these fine particles agglomerate, forming what are referred to as ‘flocs.’ Commonly used coagulants in water treatment include aluminum sulfate and ferric chloride.
• The subsequent phase is flocculation. During this stage, the water is gently stirred using paddles within a flocculation basin. The flocs formed during coagulation come into contact with one another, leading to their aggregation into larger, more substantial flocs.
• The flocculation basin is often designed with multiple compartments, each having decreasing mixing speeds as the water progresses through the basin. This compartmentalized arrangement allows for the gradual formation of increasingly larger flocs without the risk of them being broken apart by the mixing blades.
• Coagulation and flocculation play a crucial role in the treatment process by facilitating the removal of fine particles from the water, a critical step in ensuring its clarity and quality.

Sedimentation:

• After the formation of substantial flocs, the next step is sedimentation, a crucial process in which these flocs are allowed to settle to the bottom of a settling tank. This settling action effectively separates the clarified water from the solid particles.
• The water, having undergone coagulation and flocculation, is directed into a settling tank and held there for a period of several hours. During this time, sedimentation occurs as the larger flocs gradually descend to the floor of the tank due to their increased weight.
• The solid material that accumulates at the bottom of the tank is commonly referred to as sludge. It is essential to remove this sludge regularly to ensure the continued effectiveness of the treatment process and maintain the capacity of the settling tank.
• Proper disposal methods are employed for the removed sludge to minimize environmental impact and ensure responsible waste management. The sedimentation phase plays a pivotal role in clarifying the water and separating it from suspended particles, ensuring the production of clean and high-quality water for further treatment.”

5. Filtration:

• Filtration is a pivotal phase where solid particles are separated from a liquid. In the context of water treatment, this process is employed to remove any remaining solids that were not separated during the sedimentation phase. This ensures the production of clean and clear water.
• The filtration process entails passing the water through layers of sand and gravel beds. These beds act as filters, trapping and removing any lingering solid particles from the water.
• Rapid gravity filters are a commonly used filtration method, boasting a flow rate typically ranging from 4 to 8 cubic meters per square meter of filter surface per hour.
• As the filters become filled with trapped solids, they undergo a back-washing procedure. During back-washing, clean water and air are pumped upward through the filter to dislodge and flush out the accumulated impurities.
• The water carrying the dislodged dirt, known as backwash, is directed either into the sewerage system (if available) or, as an alternative, it may undergo further treatment after a settlement stage in a sedimentation tank to remove the solids before being discharged back into the source river.
• Filtration represents a crucial step in ensuring that the water is free from residual solid particles, contributing to its clarity and safety for consumption and other uses.

Chlorination:

• Following the sedimentation process, the water undergoes a crucial disinfection step to eliminate any remaining pathogenic microorganisms, ensuring the water’s safety for consumption.
• Chlorine, in the form of a liquid (such as sodium hypochlorite, NaOCl) or a gas, is the most widely employed disinfectant for this purpose. Chlorine is preferred for its cost-effectiveness and ease of use.
• When chlorine is introduced into the water, it initiates a reaction with any contaminants present, including microorganisms. This reaction occurs over a specific duration known as the contact time.
• The chlorine effectively neutralizes and disinfects the water, rendering it safe for consumption. Any surplus chlorine remaining in the treated water is termed residual chlorine.
• Residual chlorine plays a vital role as the water is transported through the distribution system. It acts as a protective barrier, guarding the water against potential contamination by microorganisms that may enter the system during its journey to consumers.
• Chlorination represents a critical step in ensuring the microbiological safety of the water supply, safeguarding public health by preventing waterborne diseases and pathogens from reaching consumers.

According to World Health Organization guidelines (WHO, 2003), water should have no more than 5 mg of residual chlorine per liter. After 30 minutes of contact, water should have a minimum residual chlorine content of 0.5 mg l-1 (WHO, n.d.). There are further methods (such as employing the ozone gas or ultraviolet radiation) for disinfecting water. Still, once it has left the water treatment plant, these cannot keep it from becoming contaminated by microbes. The cleaned water is then fed into the distribution system after disinfection.

Supplementary Treatment:

• Supplementary treatment measures may be necessary to further enhance the quality and benefits of the treated water, especially with the welfare of the population in mind.
• One such instance is the process of water fluoridation, which involves the controlled addition of fluoride to the water. This practice has been endorsed by the World Health Organization as an effective public health intervention for preventing dental decay.
• According to the World Health Organization’s recommendations, the optimum fluoride level in water is approximately 1 milligram per liter (1 mg/l).
• It’s important to note that there are alternative methods for disinfecting water, such as using ozone gas or ultraviolet radiation. However, these methods may not provide long-term protection against microbial contamination once the water has left the water treatment plant.
• Following the disinfection and any supplementary treatment, the treated water is pumped into the distribution system. From there, it is conveyed to the various points of consumption, ensuring that communities receive safe and reliable access to clean and potable water.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the seven major stages in a water treatment plant: