1.

INTRODUCTION

All surface water and some groundwaters require treatment prior to consumption to ensure
that they do not represent a health risk to the user. Health risks to consumers from poor quality
water can be due to microbiological, chemical, physical or radioactive contamination.

However, microbiological contamination is generally the most important to human health

as this leads to infectious diseases which affect all populations groups, many of which may
cause epidemics and can be fatal. Chemical contamination, with the exception of a few
substances such as cyanide and nitrate, tends to represent a more long-term health risk. An
example of this is nitrate which can cause methaemoglobinaemenia in babies. Substances in
water which affect the clarity, colour or taste of water may make water objectionable to
consumers and hence ability to recover costs. As many microorganisms are found associated
with particles in water, physical contamination may also represent a health risk as it extends
microbial survival.

Most treatment systems are designed to remove microbiological contamination and those
physical constituents which affect the acceptability or promote microorganism survival -
largely related to the suspended solids in the water. A disinfectant is nearly always included in
treatment plants of any size. This is done for two main reasons: firstly it is added to inactivate
any remaining bacteria as the final unit of treatment; and, more importantly, to provide a
residual disinfectant which will kill any bacteria introduced during storage and/or distribution.

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. Surface waters contain
sand, grit, silt and other suspended solids which can damage pumps, block filters, clog pipes
and filter screens, reduce storage capacity and reduce the effectiveness of disinfection.

Sedimentation can remove significant amounts of suspended solids from water.

Numbers of pathogenic (disease-causing) microorganisms are also commonly reduced as
they are often attached to particles and will be removed with them. Sedimentation water
treatment is a practice that’s commonly performed at municipal treatment plants and many
types of industrial facilities. When there’s a need to remove pollutants from wastewater.
Sedimentation is the removal of suspended solids through the settling of particles moving
through a tank at a slow rate. There are a number of forms of sedimentation. In water treatment
plants treating source water a high proportion of suspended solids of coarser grades (e.g. sand
and coarse silt) a grit chamber may be used to remove the largest particles through simple
sedimentation. In this process, water is passed through a tank at a slow rate and suspended
solids fall out of suspension. In small supplies, simple sedimentors may also be used, which
functioning in a similar fashion to grit chambers, although with a slower rate of water
throughflow. Simple sedimentation will not remove fine grained particles because the flow
rates remain too high and the retention time is insufficient. A further common fault with simple
sedimenters is that design flow rates are rarely achieved in practice and a certain element of
‘short-circuiting’ can occur unless construction, operation and maintenance is very careful.
 As a result of the drawbacks in simple sedimentation, it is common to find that the
sedimentation process is enhanced through the addition of chemicals - or coagulation.
Coagulants carry a charge and therefore attract charged clay particles. The particles begin to
aggregate and form ‘flocs’. Once the flocs reach a critical mass, they sink to the bottom of the
settler. The outlet of the sedimenter is generally around the top of the structure, thus the clear
water is removed by a surface channel. This system can be further refined with the use of
modular or plate settlers which reduces the time require for settling by providing a wider surface
area for aggregation of particles.

2. SEDIMENTATION PROCESS

The suspended particles in water vary considerably in

source, composition, charge, particle size, shape and density.
The smaller particles present in water are kept in suspension
by the action of physical forces on the particles themselves.
One of the forces playing a dominant role in stabilisation
results from the surface charge present on the particles. Most
solids suspended in water possess a negative charge and since
they have the same charge sign, repel each other when they
come close together. Therefore they will remain in suspension
rather than clump together and settle. However, under the
influence of gravity, larger particles will settle to the bottom
and can be separated from the water. The optimal holding time
depends on the initial turbidity and water quality requirements for subsequent treatment
steps. This process is referred to as plain sedimentation or settlement.

Adding chemical or natural coagulants to the water can quicken the sedimentation
process. Aluminium sulphate, polyaluminium chloride (also known as PAC or liquid alum)
and ferric sulphate are three common types of chemicals used for coagulation. Some
examples of natural coagulants are prickly pear cactus, Moringa seeds, broad beans and
Fava beans. Some products like “PUR” contain both coagulants and disinfectant. After
sedimentation, the water should be filtered (e.g. slow sand filtration, rapid sand filtration,
etc.) to further remove suspended materials and pathogens.

3. CLASSIFICATION

3.1 Types of sedimentation tanks

3.1.1 Rectangular Horizontal Flow Tank
 3.1.2 Circular Radial-flow Tank

3.1.3 Hopper-bottomed, Upward Flow Tank

The circular and rectangular tanks are equipped with mechanical sludge-
scraping devices to remove the wet sludge that has settled. In hopper-bottomed
tanks, the sludge concentrates at the bottom of the hopper from where it can be
drawn off. In radial and horizontal flow tanks any floating material is skimmed from
the surface by a blade carried by the scraping mechanism, and is discharged to be
combined with the settled sludge. In upward flow tanks, the main sludge removal
is from the top of the sludge blanket
3.2 Most sedimentation tanks are divided into these separate zones:
- Inlet Zone
The inlet or influent zone should distribute flow uniformly across the inlet to
the tank. The normal design includes baffles that gently spread the flow across the
total inlet of the tank and prevent short circuiting in the tank. The baffle is
sometimes designed as a wall across the inlet, with holes perforated across the width
of the tank.
- kSettling Zone
This zone provides the calm area necessary for the suspended particles to settle.
- Sludge Zone
 The sludge zone, located at the bottom of the tank, provides a storage area for
the sludge before it is removed for additional treatment or disposal. Basin inlets
should be designed to minimize high flow velocities near the bottom of the tank. If
high flow velocities are allowed to enter the sludge zone, the sludge could be swept
up and out of the tank. Sludge is removed for further treatment from the sludge zone
by scraper or vacuum devices which move along the bottom.
- Outlet Zone
The outlet zone should provide a smooth transition from the sedimentation zone
to the outlet from the tank. This area controls the depth of water in the basin. Weirs
set at the end of the tank control the overflow rate and prevent the solids from rising
to the weirs and leaving the tank before they settle out.

4. THE USE OF SEDIMENTATION

4.1 AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

The technology for treating the

industrial wastewater produced in the
automotive industry makes it possible to
separate out the aqueous paint,
adhesives, and cutting emulsions
released during the production process.
The principle of industrial
wastewater treatment consists in
chemical stabilization, precipitation,
and sedimentation, with subsequent
filtration and dewatering in a filter press.

4.2 WOODWORKING INDUSTRY

The industrial wastewater treatment

technology is able to remove aqueous
paint as well as starch adhesives from
the polluted industrial wastewater
produced in the woodworking industry.
The treatment technology can be used
both for mixed wastewater (wastewater
containing paint and adhesives) and for
wastewater polluted by only residual
paint or adhesives. The treatment
principle consists in chemical
stabilization, precipitation, and
sedimentation, with subsequent
filtration and dewatering in a filter press.
4.3 PAPER-MAKING INDUSTRY

The technology for treating the

industrial wastewater produced in the paper-
making industry is able to separate aqueous
paint as well as starch adhesives from the
polluted industrial wastewater coming from
the industrial process. The treatment
principle consists in chemical stabilization,
precipitation, and sedimentation, with
subsequent filtration and dewatering in a
filter press. For the separation of polluted
wastewater, technology can be used for
water containing adhesives and paint
separately or together.
4.4 CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

The treatment technology for wastewater

produced by the construction industry enables the
separation of aqueous paint, pigments, binders,
mechanical particles (sand), and dispersion water-
soluble adhesives. The treatment principle
consists in chemical stabilization, precipitation,
and sedimentation, with subsequent filtration and
dewatering in a filter press.

4.5 ENGINEERING INDUSTRY

The technology for the treatment of industrial

wastewater from the engineering industry makes
it possible to separate cutting emulsions, colour
pigments, soldering paste and degreasing agents
from the polluted wastewater coming from the
industrial process. The treatment principle
consists in chemical stabilization, precipitation,
and sedimentation or flotation, with subsequent
filtration and dewatering in a filter press.
4.6 PRINTING INDUSTRY

The technology for the treatment of industrial

wastewater produced in the printing industry is
able to separate aqueous ink from the polluted
industrial wastewater coming from the industrial
process. The treatment principle consists in
chemical stabilization, precipitation, and
sedimentation, with subsequent filtration and
dewatering in a filter press.

4.7 TEXTILE INDUSTRY

The technology for treatment of industrial

wastewater produced in the textile industry is able
to separate aqueous dyes, bleaching agents, and
mechanical particles from the polluted industrial
wastewater coming from the industrial process.
The treatment principle consists in chemical
stabilization, precipitation, and sedimentation or
flotation, with subsequent filtration and
dewatering in a filter press.

4.8 LAUNDRIES
The technology for the treatment of
wastewater from laundries makes it possible to
separate dirt, residual pollution by mechanical
particles, bleaching agents, and tensides from the
polluted industrial wastewater. The treatment
principle consists in chemical stabilization,
precipitation, and sedimentation or flotation, with
subsequent filtration and dewatering in a filter
press.
References

AMAGLOH, F.K. ; BENANG, A. (2009): Effectiveness of Moringa Oleifera Seed as

Coagulant for Water Purification. In: African Journal of Agricultural Research: Volume 4 ,
119-123.
Government of Canada. 2015. Drinking Water. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-
canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/water-quality/drinking-water.html

World Health Organization. 1996. Water Sanitation and Health: Simple sedimentation.
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/hygiene/emergencies/fs2_10.pdf

World Health Organization. 2007. Water Treatment.

http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/S12.pdf

World Health Organization. 2010. Water Treatment

https://www.sswm.info/sswm-university-course/module-6-disaster-situations-planning-and-
preparedness/further-resources-0/sedimentation-%28centralised%29

Waste Water Treatment

https://www.asio.cz/en/wastewater-treatment-plants-for-industry