Public Water Supply: Sources

and Purification Process

Engr. Sean Kyle R. Mabiog, RMP, SO2
What are the General Sources of Public Water
Supply?
The 2 General Sources of Public Water Supply are:
1. Surface Waters: Streams, Rivers, and Lakes
a. Upland Surface Water
b. Lowland Surface Water
2. Groundwater
Upland Surface Waters
Water Divides and Watersheds
Major Watershed in
Oriental Mindoro
Naujan Lake and Oriental Mindoro
Watersheds (NL&OMW)
Naujan Lake and Oriental Mindoro Watersheds (NL&OMW) are situated
in Oriental Mindoro province (Region 4B, MIMAROPA) and occupy a
total area of 122,000 hectares. The Naujan Lake National Park, covering
21,655 hectares, was proclaimed a Protected Area in 1968 by virtue of
Proc. No. 335. Naujan Lake is the 5th largest lake in the Philippines. It is
recognized as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance and part
of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway for migratory birds.
Meanwhile, the Oriental Mindoro watersheds include the Baco-
Bucayao River, Bucayao River, Mag-asawang Tubig River and Pula River.
These encompass the municipalities of Naujan, Victoria, Socorro, Pola,
Baco, San Teodoro, and Calapan City.
Groundwater
Testing in
Oriental
Mindoro
What is the Purification Process for Surface
Water Supply Source?
Surface water basic treatment process employed by commercial water
provider treats the water using the conventional method comprising of
the following:
1. Storage
2. Aeration
3. Coagulation/Flocculation
4. Sedimentation
5. Filtration
6. Disinfection/Chlorination
Storage
Runoff or surface water is first stored in a dam. Suspended matters
tend to sink to the bottom. In the course of time, disease-producing
organisms tend to die out. Thus, the storing of water improves its
quality.
Linao-Cawayan Mini Hydro Dam – San Teodoro
Inclanay Dam - Pinamalayan
Aeration
Water is sprayed into the air or cascaded in order to release trapped
gases and absorb additional oxygen for better taste. It also removes
iron compounds.
Coagulation
It is the chemical process in which the coagulant reacts with the
sediment to make it capable of combining into larger particles. Alum is
the common coagulant used.
Flocculation
It is the physical process in which the sediment particles collide with
each other and stick together.
Sedimentation
This is the process by which suspended solids are removed from the
water by gravity settling and deposition. The objective of this process is
to remove most of the suspended solids and thus reducing the loads on
the filters.
Filtration
Water is passed through a bed of fine sand in which the suspended
matters that did not settle during sedimentation are trapped and held
in place by the force of gravity or by the direction of flow.
Types of Filters
1. Slow Sand Filter – consists of large tanks with filter bed of 600mm
to 1000mm of fine sand over 300mm of gravel with suitable
drainage pipes to conduct water after passing through the filter
under its own weight.
2. Rapid Sand Filter
a. Rapid Gravity Filter
b. Rapid Pressure Filter
Disinfection/Chlorination
Chlorination is the method of introducing a controlled amount of
chlorine gas or chlorine salts to the water in order to attain a desired
degree of disinfection. Chlorine kills any disease-producing organisms
in the water.
End of discussion.