TREATMENT OF WATER

Introduction:

There are comparatively few public water supplies of any magnitude if any in which the water
does not require any form of treatment before distribution to the consumers.

The term treatment means a process whereby impurities are removed from the water. The process
is not only a simple one of straining water but it is a complex process partly physical, chemical
and natural or biological and its true nature has not been satisfactorily and completely explained.

All water from whatever source requires treatment for one or more of the following reasons:-

i. To remedy pollution i.e removal of colour or taste and odour, suspended matter and
organic matter.
ii. To remove metals e.g Iron and Manganese.
iii. To remove dissolved mineral salts e.g bicarbonates, Sulphates, Chlorides of Ca, Mg, etc.
iv. To neutralize acidity and Corrosive activity and plumbo-solvency.

By employing available processes of water treatment a great many polluted or otherwise

unsatisfactory waters can readily be made suitable for drinking and other domestic purposes.

The objective of all water treatment is to obtain water that is :

a) Clear and bright or sparkling

b) Colourless
c) Palatable (free from bacteria and other dangers).
d) Hygienic
e) Safe (wholesome and potable).
f) Not hard.
g) Without corrosive and solvent action of metals (non-plumbo-solvency).

The methods usually employed to obtain such products depending upon the quality and quantity
of water to be treated are:-

 Screening.
 Storage.

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  Sedimentation with or without chemical coagulation.
 Filtration.
 Disinfection.

SEDIMENTATION OR SETTLEMENT

This is done by letting water to stand in a container for about 30 minutes to one hour. The solids
in the water settle to the bottom leaving clear water at the top which can be decanted. In so doing
the appearance of the water is highly improved and there is paramount reduction in the total
amount of bacteria.

The three pot system of sedimentation works on this principle.

FILTRATION

This is one of the earliest methods of water treatment known and it’s still an essential part. The
method consists of passing water through a porous medium which is usually sand.

Whatever type of filter used, the important action takes place at the surface of the sand where the
gelatinous layer of bacterial nature is formed and increases as the use of the filter continues.
Until this layer has been formed, the efficiency of the filter is not very good. The greater the
thickness of the film, the more resistant it becomes to allow suspended matter to pass through it
and this impedes flow of more water through the filter.

At this stage it is necessary for this layer to be removed. There are 3 types of filters in common
use for large scale filtration:-

i. Slow sand filter

ii. Rapid or gravity sand filter
iii. Pressure filter or mechanical filter.

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COAGULATION IN WATER TREATMENT

If there are suspended particles in water such as colloids, they cannot be removed by
sedimentation or filtration.

Chemicals are added to neutralize the chemical charges of colloids and bring together the finely
divided particles in to larger flocs which are precipitated. These can be removed by
sedimentation or filtration. This is achieved in the following manner:-

 The like electric repelling charges on the particles are neutralized.

 Particles are trapped between precipitates formed by the coagulants and get washed
down as precipitate.
 Dissociation of substances with solvent forming in to a precipitate.

Why coagulation is done:

It’s done to achieve removal of the following-

 Turbidity - Organic and inorganic.

 Colour – true and apparent.
 Harmful bacteria and other organisms.
 Algae and other plankton organisms
 Tastes and odour producing substances.
 Phosphates which serve as food nutrients for growth of algae.
 Remove hardness.

Removal of these materials produces water that is acceptable and which is properly disinfected.

In addition, the clearified water is rendered much easier to filter through sand especially rapid
filters.

In water, most of the colloidal substances negatively charged are therefore dissolved by certain
minerals. Usually Iron and Alluminium are used to coagulate them. Chemical coagulation is also
known as chemical sedimentation. It’s a delicate and chemically complicated process which
involves:-

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 i. Addition of measured quantities of chemicals to water and their thorough mixing.
ii. Formation of a precipitate which coalesces or coagulates and forms floc.
iii. Sedimentation.

Common coagulants:

 Ferrous Sulphate, FeSO4

It is also traditionally referred to as “copperast”. It can be used as a coagulant under alkaline

conditions in water softening. However it has too high a solubility to act as a satisfactory
coagulant at usual PH ranges.

 Alluminium Sulphate, Al2(SO4)3

Also referred to as “ALUM”. Alum is the most widely used coagulant in public water
undertakings.

Application: There are several methods of applying Alum which include-

i. Homogenous
ii. Hydraulic jam
iii. Flash mix (Turbines).
iv. Paddle mix
v. Manual labour.

Homogenisation:

Homogenous mixing of the chemical coagulants is ensured by mixing chemicals with water to be
treated in the following way:-

 Alluminium Sulphate is mixed in the tank which is above the level of the channel. This
can be manual or mechanical mixing.
 The solution is released in a narrow part of the channel where raw water passes.
 The raw water moves in the channel which contains baffles.
 At the outlet of the channel, it has been thoroughly mixed and directed to settlement tank
where clean be decanted.

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 Diagram:

Hydraulic jam:

1. Water is injected through a narrow diameter pipe in to an opening with a wider diameter.
2. At the end of the narrow diameter pipe, chemical coagulants are introduced.
3. Water introduced at high velocity, looses momentum and energy at the point of incidence
where chemicals are added.
4. Lowered velocity allows free mixing.
Diagram

Flash mix:

Diagram

1. Dosed water is introduced in the tank where there are turbines and stirred by motorized
turbines.
2. Coming out from the tank, it is thoroughly mixed.

Paddle mix:

Diagram

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1. Dosed water is introduced in a tank which has paddles.
2. The paddles are rotated by electric motor.
3. The paddles mix the water.
4. At the outlet it is thoroughly mixed.

Manual labour mixing:

Involves adding chemicals to water and stirring until it’s thoroughly mixed.

NB. The amount of Alum added depends on the turbidity of the water.