BUILDING UTILITIES 1

TYPES OF WATER TREATMENT

SEDIMENTATION
This process removes some suspended matter from water simply by allowing time and the inactivity of water to do the
work of settling out heavier suspended particles.

COAGULATION (Flocculation)
This process removes some suspended matter, along with some coloration. A coagulant such as alum (hydrated
aluminum sulfate) is added to form a gelatinous substance called floc.

AERATION (Oxidation)
This process can improve the taste and color of water, remove iron and manganese and decrease in corrosiveness. In
aeration, as much of the water surface as possible is exposed to air.

The methods used are rich in esthetic possibilities:

Spraying of water into air, the fall of a turbulent stream of water over a spillway, and flow forms, sculptural water falls
designed to carry water in a rhythmical, pulsating pattern

OZONATION
Ozonation is a water treatment process that destroys bacteria
and other microorganisms through an infusion of ozone, a gas
produced by subjecting oxygen molecules to high electrical
voltages.
Ozone is a very strong disinfectant, but it does not remain in
water very long. For that reason, chlorine is still added to protect
the water while it is in the distribution system.

FILTRATION
is the process of using a filter to mechanically separate a
mixture of solids and fluids.
TYPES OF FILTRATION

Slow Sand filters

Used for rainwater application, low maintenance, easily constructed devices that should be cleaned as often as the
turbidity of water demands. They are cleaned by the removal of filters, which are either washed for reuse or discarded.

Pressure Sand Filters

It requires control and the attention of the operator, and thus are rarely used for individual water systems

Diatomaceous Earth Filters

Also known as percoat or diatomite filtration, it relies on a layer of diatomaceous earth of a minimum 1/8 in. thick
filter element. This can be either vacuum or pressure type. They require periodic attention (1-4 days) to make it
effective. Diatomaceous earth, a substance composed of fossil diatoms, is used in filters, insulation, abrasives, paints,
and varnishes.

Porous Stone, Ceramic or Unglazed Porcelain Filters (Pasteur Filters)

These are usually made in small sizes so that they can be attached to water faucets

Nanofiltration (Fine Filtration)

These membrane sizes start with pore sizes of 0.2 to 0.3 microns. It is a combined process that removes iron, calcium,
and/or manganese from water. With such extremely small pores sizes, this process requires very high water pressures.

Activated Carbon Filters

These are particularly effective for removing tastes and odor. Water is passed through granular carbon, which attracts
large quantities of dissolved gases, soluble organics and fine solids.

Reverse Osmosis
A widely use method for desalinating seawater, sometimes used to reduce the mineral content in water. An inert, semi-
permeable membrane has higher pressure (30-1000psi) supply water on one side, as the pressure slowly forces water
through this filtering membrane, most of the minerals (dissolved solids) are removed. Dissolved chemicals, however
remain.

DISINFECTION
This is the most important health-related water treatment. Although chlorination has become the standard approach to
removing harmful organism from water, there are other alternatives.

CHEMICAL DISINFECTANTS
Chlorine
It is the most widely used disinfectant in the world, though care must be taken because excessive amounts of
chlorine can cause corrosion as a result of its strong oxidation characteristics. Chloride is readily removed by
activated carbon filters and easily rinsed out from the system.
Chloramines
These compounds resulting from the reaction of ammonia with chlorine in water solution are used due to its
superior chemical stability over chlorine.
Iodine
This common relative of chlorine has been used for years by campers in disinfecting unknown waters, though
some gram-negative bacteria can become resistant to iodine.
Chlorine Dioxide
Chlorine dioxide exhibits stronger disinfecting characteristics than chloramines, but there is little evidence of
extensive use of the disinfectant.
DISTILLATION
In this process, water is heated to allow condensation. As the water turns to vapor, virtually all pollutants are left
behind.

FLUORIDATION
Fluoride may help in minimizing tooth decay but excessive amounts are toxic and caused mottled teeth. Fluoride levels
must be carefully monitored.

CORROSION CONTROL
It is the control of concentration of elements in corroding supply and discharge lines. Corrosion is a slow degradation of
a metal by a flow of electric current from the metal to its surroundings.

NUISANCE CONTROL
Algae growths, the most prevalent nuisance, can usually be controlled by applying copper sulfate (blue stone or vitriol)
to the water body. Cooling towers are an especially difficult water treatment problem. To treat cooling towers water
successfully, a method is used for microbial control, removing organics and precipitating organics.

ADSORPTION An example of an excellent adsorbent

Adsorption is a mechanism of contaminant removal making use of the is the charcoal used in gas masks to
adsorption phenomenon, the act of physical adhesion of molecules or remove poisons or impurities from a
colloids to the surface of the medium w/o chemical reaction. Some porous stream of air.
materials have the ability to attract contaminants.

ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
Exposure to UV radiation is used in small-scale water supplies. Water is exposed to the rays after filtration because
particles of sediment in water might shield the bacteria.

WATER DESALINATION
The procedure is done by heating seawater then pumping water into a low pressure tank, where the water vapor is
condensed and removed as pure water. The remaining liquid is called brine.

COAGULATION SEDIMENTATION FILTRATION DISINFECTION

Chlorine gas, a poison, was the first gas used in chemical warfare in World War I. It causes suffocation, constriction of
the chest, tightness in the throat, and edema of the lungs.

Brine
Salt water, particularly a highly concentrated water solution of common salt (sodium chloride). Natural brines occur
underground, in salt lakes, or as seawater and are commercially important sources of common salt and other salts,
such as chlorides and sulfates of magnesium and potassium.
Brine is used as a preservative in meat-packing (as in corned beef) and pickling. In refrigeration and cooling systems,
brines are used as heat-transfer media because of their low freezing temperatures or as vapour-absorption agents
because of their low vapour pressure. Brine is also used to quench (cool) steel.

Slow sand filter illustration