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Water treatment describes those industrial-scale processes used to makewater more acceptable for a desired end-use.

These can include use fordrinking water, industry, medical and many other uses. Such processes may be contrasted with small-scale water sterilization practiced by campers and other people in wilderness areas. The goal of all water treatment process is to remove existing contaminants in the water, or reduce the concentration of such contaminants so the water becomes fit for its desired end-use. One such use is returning water that has been used back into the natural environment without adverse ecological impact. The processes involved in treating water for drinking purpose may be solids separation using physical processes such as settling and filtration, and chemical processes such as disinfection and coagulation. Biological processes are employed in the treatment of wastewater and these processes may include, for example, aerated lagoons, activated sludge or slow sand filters

Potable water purification[edit]


Main article: Water purification

Abandoned Water Purification PlantSpringfield, Tennessee, United States

Water purification is the removal of contaminants from untreated water to produce drinking water that is pure enough for the most critical of its intended uses, usually for human consumption. Substances that are removed during the process of drinking water treatment include suspended solids, bacteria, algae, viruses, fungi, minerals such as iron,manganese and sulphur, and other chemical pollutants such as fertilisers. Measures taken to ensure water quality not only relate to the treatment of the water, but to its conveyance and distribution after treatment as well. It is therefore common practice to have residual disinfectants in the treated water in order to kill any bacteriological contamination during distribution. World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines are generally followed throughout the world for drinking water quality requirements. In addition to the WHO guidelines, each country or territory

or water supply body can have their own guidelines in order for consumers to have access to safe drinking water.

Processes for drinking water treatment[edit]

Empty aeration tank for iron precipitation

Tanks with sand filters to remove precipitated iron (not working at the time)

A combination selected from the following processes is used for municipal drinking water treatment worldwide: Pre-chlorination - for algae control and arresting any biological growth Aeration - along with pre-chlorination for removal of dissolved iron and manganese Coagulation - for flocculation Coagulant aids, also known as polyelectrolytes - to improve coagulation and for thicker floc formation Sedimentation - for solids separation, that is, removal of suspended solids trapped in the floc

Filtration - removing particles from water Desalination - Process of removing salt from the water Disinfection - for killing bacteria.

There is no unique solution (selection of processes) for any type of water. Also, it is difficult to standardise the solution in the form of processes for water from different sources. Treatability studies for each source of water in different seasons need to be carried out to arrive at most appropriate processes. Technologies for potable water treatment are well developed, and generalised designs are available that are used by many water utilities (public or private). In addition , a number of private companies provide patented technological solutions.Automation of water and waste-water treatment is common in the developed world. Capital costs, operating costs available quality monitoring technologies, locally available skills typically dictate the level of automation adopted

Sewage treatment[edit]
Main article: Sewage treatment Sewage treatment is the process that removes the majority of the contaminants from wastewater or sewage and produces both a liquid effluent suitable for disposal to the natural environment and a sludge. To be effective, sewage must be conveyed to a treatment plant by appropriate pipes and infrastructure and the process itself must be subject to regulation and controls. Some wastewaters require different and sometimes specialized treatment methods. At the simplest level, treatment of sewage and most wastewaters is carried out through separation of solids from liquids, usually by sedimentation. By progressively converting dissolved material into solids, usually a biological floc, which is then settled out, an effluent stream of increasing [1][2] purity is produced.

In developing countries[edit]
As of 2006, waterborne diseases are estimated to have caused 1.8 million deaths each year. These deaths are attributable to inadequate public sanitation systems and in these cases, [3] proper sewerage (or other options as small-scale wastewater treatment) need to be installed. Appropriate technology options in water treatment include both community-scale and household[4] scale point-of-use (POU) designs. Military surplus water treatment units like the ERDLator are still seen in developing countries. Newer military style Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Units (ROWPU) are portable, self-contained water treatment plants are becoming more available [5] for public use. In order for the decrease of waterborne diseases to have long term effects, water treatment programs implemented by research and development groups in developing countries must be sustainable by their citizens. This can ensure the efficiency of such programs after the departure of the research team as monitoring is difficult because of the remoteness of many locations.

Industrial water treatment[edit]


Main article: Industrial water treatment

Two of the main processes of industrial water treatment are boiler water treatment and cooling water treatment. A lack of proper water treatment can lead to the reaction of solids and bacteria within pipe work and boiler housing. Steam boilers can suffer from scale orcorrosion when left untreated leading to weak and dangerous machinery, scale deposits can mean additional fuel is required to heat the same level of water because of the drop in efficiency. Poor quality dirty water can become a breeding ground for bacteria such asLegionella causing a risk to public health. With the proper treatment, a significant proportion of industrial on-site wastewater might be reusable. This can save money in three ways: lower charges for lower water consumption, lower charges for the smaller volume of effluent water discharged and lower energy costs due to the recovery of heat in recycled wastewater. Corrosion in low pressure boilers can be caused by dissolved oxygen, acidity and excessive alkalinity. Water treatment therefore should remove the dissolved oxygen and maintain the boiler water with the appropriate pH and alkalinity levels. Without effective water treatment, a cooling water system can suffer from scale formation, corrosion and fouling and may become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria such as those that cause Legionnaires' Disease. This reduces [6] efficiency, shortens plant life and makes operations unreliable and unsafe.

Water Treatment Process


Follow a drop of water from the source through the treatment process. Water may be treated differently in different communities depending on the quality of the water which enters the plant. Groundwater is water located under ground and typically requires less treatment than water from lakes, rivers, and streams. Stop at each treatment point to show where the water is along the treatment path. You may click on each treatment point on the image for a little information about that treatment point.

Water Treatment Process - Coagulation

Coagulation removes dirt and other particles suspended in water. Alum and other chemicals are added to water to form tiny sticky particles called "floc" which attract the dirt particles. The combined weight of the dirt and the alum (floc) become heavy enough to sink to the bottom during sedimentation.

Water Treatment Process

Water Treatment Water treatment is a process of removing contaminants from raw water to produce water that is chemically and bacteriological safe for human consumption. The water must also be aesthetically acceptable, free from apparent turbidity, colour, objectionable taste and odour. The conventional treatment plant comprises of the following processes: Screening Floating debris such as woods, leaves, aquatic plants and others are screened at the intake. After screening, the denser suspended matters are removed by allowing water to pass through chamber where it settles down to the bottom. Aeration Raw water pumped from the intake is mixed with air at the aerator. The aeration process provides oxygen from atmosphere for the oxidation of dissolved iron and manganese to their insoluble form thus enable their removal. The process also helps in the removal of taste and odour. Coagulation / Flocculation Coagulants, usually alum, are added leading to the formation of microscopic particles in water. This is followed by gentle agitation causing small particles in the water to collide and combine to become bigger settleable flocs. Sedimentation The flocs are allowed to flow through the sedimentation tank as uniform as possible for long enough period for them to settle. The clarified water will be collected from the top. If the flocs are light, another process will apply. In this process minute air bubbles are introduced. The flocs will stick to the air bubbles and float to the top. The clarified water will be collected from the bottom.This process is called Dissolve Air Flotation. Filtration The settled water then goes through filters where the fine particles and bacteria are trapped. The clean water then goes to the clear water tank. The filters are backwashed regularly through a combination of agitation by air and water to ensure efficient operations. Disinfection /pH Adjustment In the clear water tank, the water is disinfected to destroy microorganism still remain in water after filtration. Gaseous chlorine or chlorine compound are normally

used for disinfections. The pH is adjusted using lime or soda ash.

Clear Water Tank Treated water will be collected and kept in Clear Water Tank for distribution.

Water Supply Distribution From the clear water tank at the water treatment plant, treated water is pumped through long pipelines to balancing reservoirs with sufficient height for distribution by gravity to service reservoirs in various demand centers. In areas where water is unable to be supplied by gravity, secondary pumping systems will be introduced.

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