Water treatment processes

Eutrophication

• The process of increase in the nutrients of water and the

resultant spurt in algal productivity is called eutrophication.

• The process of eutrophication starts as soon as the lakes are

formed because of entry of nutrients by natural means.

• The rate of eutrophication remains quiet low under natural

conditions.
 Methods to control eutrophication

• Out of all the factors promoting eutrophication only nutrient

supply is within the scope of human intervention.

• The first step in any control program should be regular

monitoring of certain parameters (e.g. nutrients, algal species,
productivity, etc.).

• The reduction of nutrient supply to the water body can be

brought about by a number of methods involving either the
prevention of entry of nutrients(preventive measures) or by
some in situ water treatment procedures(curative measures )
to curtail the nutrient availability to algae.
 Preventive Measures

• Diversion of nutrients from lakes.

• Removal of nutrients from waste water.

• Zoning and watershed management.

 Curative measures

• Flushing out of polluted water by nutrient poor water.

• Removal of locked-up nutrients.

• Dredging of sediments.

• Covering of sediments.

• Oxygenation and mixing.

• Nutrient inactivation.
 Oil pollution

• Oil is a general term mainly used to denote petroleum products

which mainly consist of hydrocarbons.

• Water pollution by oil is a special problem because of its

unique property to form a thin layer on the vast areas of water.
 Control of oil pollution

Mechanical containment
• This method uses floating containment barriers or booms.

• Made up of relatively compatible plastic materials.

• Another technique is the use of bubble and current barriers.

• It involves the generation of a surface current in opposite

direction of spread of oil by means of spray nozzle or by
generating bubbles at a depth.
 Control of oil pollution

Mechanical recovery
• After the containment, the oil can be removed by a number
of means such as by use of wires, suction devices or by lifting
surfaces.

• The lifting surfaces are oleophilic and hydrophobic which

move through the oil.

• The lifting surfaces may be in the form of vertical discs and

vans which rotate through the oil and are fixed on suitable
inflatable carriers.
 Application Agents

• The use of certain application agents helps in dispersion,

sinking, collection, herding, or burning of floating oil slicks.

• Dispersion agents
These are also called dispersants and promote the dispersion
of oil into the water.

• Sinking agents
The use of these agents is made only in deep waters where
no fish catch is usually made. These agents are oleophilic and
hydrophobic in nature with high density.
• Collecting agents
These agents collect the oil on their surfaces several times of
their weight, and are later removed from the water by some
mechanical means.

• Burning agents
Burning can provide a rapid disposal of a large quantity of oil
in a short period. However, the volatile substances from the oil
are rapidly evaporated leaving behind the oil which requires
some support for combustion.

• Biodegradation
Several components of the oil can be degraded by the
microorganisms. A number of experiments have demonstrated
the possible use of bacteria in producing “ single cell protein”
from certain oil industry wastes, e.g. residual paraffin base oil.