TREATMENT OF WATER

BUILDING SERVICES 1
MODULE -2
Prepared by: Divya Dhananjayan Water supply and sanitation
1
 Flow chart of water
Purpose of treatment of water
treatment
To remove large ,heavy and floating objects for
easy flow of water.

To remove the elements responsible for turbidity,

colour, odour.

To make water aesthetically pleasing.

To remove unpleasant taste to make water

palatable.

To remove pathogenic bacteria and other

disease causing organisms.

To prevent concentration of minerals such as

calcium, fluorine and iodine

To prevent corrosion and incrustation in pipes.

Treatment of water 2
Screens

•Mechanical devices
•To remove floating materials of large size

•3 types

1. Fine screen
 Permit particle of <6mm
 Have perforations of size 1.5mm to 6 mm
Fine screen
 Made of metal plates and wire mesh
 Metals should be resistant to rust and
corrosion.

2. Medium screen
 Openings of 25mm to 75mm
 6 mm thick and 25mm wide ; rectangular
bars inclined at 30⁰ to 60⁰
 Inclination for easy periodic cleaning

3. Coarse screen
 Spacing between bars – 75mm to 100mm.
 Used for treatment of waste water.
Bar screen
Screening 3
Pre-sedimentation
•Sedimentation done before
aeration to reduce suspended
load .
•Similar to sedimentation tanks
but smaller in size.
•Detention period - 30 minutes
Aeration
•The process of bringing water in
close contact with air.
•May kill bacteria to an extend.
•CO₂ can be removed to about
70% ; less corrosion of pipes.
•H₂S can be easily removed by
aeration ; eliminates odour.
•Oxidation of iron and
manganese.
•5 methods
1. Air diffusion
2. Cascades
3. Spray nozzles
4. Tray tower
5. Trickling beds
Pre-sedimentation & aeration
Air diffusion
•Compressed air blown through perforated pipes
installed at bottom of tanks.
•Depth of tank – 2.5m to 3m
•Detention period - 15minutes
Cascades
•Water is allowed to fall along a series of metal or
concrete steps through a height of 1m- 3m.
•CO₂ gets released and oxygen gets added.
Spray nozzles
•Water is sprinkled in fine sprays through nozzles to
a height of 2m to 2.5m
•Removes 90% CO₂ .
Tray tower
•Water drops down a tower made of trays of
different diameter.
•Gets collected in the bottom most tray.
•Removes 95% CO₂.
Tray tower
•Water trickles down though beds of coke 22.5 cm
thick ,placed one above the other at a distance of
10cm -15cm and in the process gets aerated.
4
Coagulation
•To remove colloidal particles
•Size 1nm -100nm
•Large surface area
•Carry electrostatic charge.
So repel each other.
•Coagulants destroy
electrostatic charges of colloids.
•Method used when turbidity of
water is >40ppm.
•Coagulants dissipate +ive and –
ive ions in water
•These +ive ions react with –
ively charged colloidal particles
and neutralise their charge.
•After loosing charge, colloids
come together and form lumps
or flocs. This process is known
as flocculation.
•Floc is heavier than colloidal
particles and settle down . In the
process catch more colloidal
particles.
Coagulation
Usual coagulants
1. Aluminium sulphate Al₂(SO₄)₃ 18 H₂O (Alum)
 Reduces taste, odour,turbidity
 Produces clear water
 Cheap and simple in working
 Floc formed is better and tougher
2. Chlorinated copperas
 Fe(SO₄)₃ & Fe Cl₃
3. Ferrous sulphate and lime
 Forms heavier floc than alum
 Skilled supervision needed for proper dosage
4. Magnesium carbonate and lime
 Forms Mg(OH)₂+Ca CO₃ which settles
 Recycle&reuse by adding CO₂ to the sludge;
80-100% of coagulant recovered.
 Removes color, turbidity ,Iron,Manganese.
5. Poly electrolytes
 Special type of polymers
 Have to be used with alum
 Magnifloc 990, Wisprofloc, Mogul 980
6. Sodium aluminate(Na₂Al₂O₄)
 Removes permanent and temporary
hardness.
 Costly
5
Coagulation( continued)
•Coagulants may be fed or allowed to enter
water in 2 forms.
1. Dry feeding
 Coagulants stored in powder form.
 Simple in operation.
 Requires less space for operation.
 Becomes possible to maintain
neatness.
2. Wet feeding
 Coagulants stored in solution form. Dry feeding by Dry feeding by
 In order to keep the quantity of toothed wheel helical screw
solution of coagulant proportionate
to the volume of flow, various
devices are used.

•Devices used for floc formation

1. Centrifugal pumps
2. Compressed air
3. Hydraulic jump
4. Mixing channel
5. Mixing basins with baffle walls
6. Mixing basins with mechanical Wet feeding by conical plug and float
means
Coagulation 6
Sedimentation
•Works on the principle that particles heavier
than water are likely to settle down due to
gravity.
•2 types of particles
1. Inorganic suspended solids having
specific gravity of about 2.65
2. Organic suspended solids of specific
gravity 1.04
•Particles with specific gravity >1.20 readily
settles down in water.
•Sedimentation depends on
Velocity of water
Size and shape of particle
Viscosity of water
Types of sedimentation tank
A. Depending up on nature of working
1. Fill and draw type -Also known
as quiescent /intermittent type
• Water is filled and allowed to
rest for a certain time
• When suspended particles
settle, clear water is drawn off
and tank is cleaned of silt and
filled again.
• Retention time – 24hours or
more

•Sedimentations tanks are used for the

purpose of sedimentation.
Water is at rest or with very slow
velocity
Heavy impurities settle at bottom and
lighter ones float on surface
Plain sedimentation tank can remove
Sedimentation
60% suspended matter and 75% bacterial 7
Types of sedimentation tank
(continued)
B. Depending up on shape
1. Rectangular tank with horizontal flow
• Preferred in India
• Rectangular tanks give better results
that square ones
• Width –not more than 12m
• Depth – 2m-4m
• Flow of water is horizontal
Sedimentation
2. Continuous flow type
• water enters tank from one
end and travels towards outlet
at the other end.
• Velocity of water is reduced by
means of baffle walls such
that the suspended impurities
settle down at the bottom.
• Continuous flow, so no
wastage of time.
8
Types of sedimentation tank
(continued)
2. Circular tanks with radial or spiral
flow

• Radial - Water led in through the

centre of the tank and is taken out
at the circumference through draw
of channels
• Spiral – water is led through 2 or 3
openings at the circumference and
allowed to move spirally before
letting out through a submerged
outlet.

3. Hopper bottom with vertical flow

• Bottom of the tank is made to the

shape of a hopper
• Flow of water is vertical . Water
enters from inlets at the top of the
tank and move vertically
downwards by the action of
deflection box

Sedimentation 9
Filtration 4 activities happen during filtration
•Most important stage in the purification of 1. Mechanical straining – particles
water which are unable to pass through
•Water is allowed to pass through thick layer sand grains are collected and
of sand. removed
•During filtration 2. Sedimentation – voids between
sand grains act like small
Suspended and colloidal impurities sedimentation tanks
present in water are removed to a great
extent. 3. Biological metabolism - Sand
Chemical characteristics of water is grains collect all biological
altered. impurities and form a zoological
Number of bacteria present is reduced. layer on sand particles which
metabolized harmful compounds
•Filter sand should be free from clay ,loam,
vegetable matter, organic matter etc. 4. Electrolyte charge - Neutralizes
•Anthrafilt is sometimes used instead of sand charges of suspended particles
thus altering the chemical
•Types of filters based on rate of filtration characteristics of water.
1. Slow sand filter
2. Rapid sand filter
•Gravity type
Filtration
•Pressure type 10
1.Slow sand filter
•Water is allowed to pass slowly though a layer of 4. Appurtenances
sand over a base material. •Vertical air pipe through sand for
•improves biological, chemical and physical proper functioning of filter
characteristics of water •Adjustable telescopic tube to
•Water tight tanks -1000m² -5000m²,depth maintain constant discharge
3m-3.5m •Filter head or loss of head –
Parts of slow sand filter difference between levels of water in
1.Under drainage system - Lateral drains placed filter tank and outlet
at a distance of 2.5m -3.5m. chamber.100mm -150mm for fresh
2.Base material – gravel, 300mm-750mm in size, filter.
in layers of 150mm.
•Top most layer – 150mm – 3mm-6mm in size
•Intermediate layer – 150mm ; 6mm-20mm
150mm ;20mm-40mm
•Last layer – 150mm ; 40mm-65mm
3.Filter media
•Layer of sand -600mmto 1000mm
•Effective size of sand - .2mm to .4mm
Efficiency of slow sand filter
1. Bacterial load – 98%-99% can be
removed
2. Color – 20-25% can be removed
3. Turbidity – remove up to 50 p.p.m
4. Quality of effluent – less corrosive
Filtration 11
2.a.Gravity type rapid sand filter
•Improved rate of filtration by
increasing size of sand.
Parts
1.Enclosure tank-
•Masonry or concrete
•Depth 2.5 m-3.5m
•Surface are of 1 unit – 10m² to 50m²
2.Under drainage system –
• Cast iron pipe drains with
perforations of 10mm or
• Lateral drains with strainers.(small pipes Efficiency of rapid sand filter
of brass with holes on its surface) 1. Bacterial load – 80%-90% can be
3.Base material – gravel, 450mm-600mm in removed
size 2. Color – highly efficient method to
•Top most layer – 150mm – 3mm-6mm in remove color.
size 3. Turbidity – remove up to 30-40 p.p.
•Intermediate layer – 150mm ; 6mm-12mm m
150mm ;12mm-20mm Double filtration
•Last layer – 150mm ; 20mm-40mm •Water is filtered twice.
3.Filter media •Water is aloowed to pass through 2 or
•Layer of coarse sand -600mmto more sand filters.
750mm •Water allowed to pass through a rapid
•Effective size of sand - .5mm to 1 mm sand filter before it passes through slow
sand filter.
Filtration
4. Appurtenances 12
2.a.Pressure type rapid sand filter

•Filter is enclosed in a space and water

passes through under pressure >
atmospheric pressure.
•Pressure is developed by pumping.

•Water mixed with coagulant is directly

admitted to the filter.
•No need for sedimentation and coagulation
tank.
•Requires very small space

•Filters are closed steel cylinders horizontal

or vertical.
•Manholes are provided on top of filter for
inspection.

•Less efficient in reducing bacterial load,

color and turbidity.
•Not suitable for public water supply.
•Ideal for small estates.

Filtration 13
Disinfection
•To remove harmful bacteria which have
escaped through the filter plant.
•To prevent contamination during transit.
•Materials used for disinfection are known
as disinfectants.
•Should be effective in killing all
harmful pathogenic organisms.
•Should be harmless to health ,
unobjectionable, economic and easily
available.
•Should not require skilled labour.
•Should take only reasonable time for
disinfection.
Minor methods of disinfection
1. Boiling
• Boiled above a certain temperature for
15-20 minutes, bacteria are killed.
• Most effective method.
• Impractical on a large scale but
advised during epidemics.
Disinfection – Minor methods
2. Excess lime treatment
• Increases the pH value of water which
is detrimental to bacteria.
• pH>10.5 – 99% bacteria can be
removed.
• Excess lime has to be removed after
disinfection.
3. Iodine and bromine treatment
• Dosage -8p.p.m for 5 minutes
• Limited to small water supplies such as
swimming pool, troops of army, private
plants etc.
• Less irritating to eyes than chlorine.
4.Pottasium permagnate KMnO₄
• Effective in killing cholera bacteria.
• Powerful oxidizing agent.
• Dosage -2.1p.p.m for 3-4 hours
• The treated water produces a dark
brown coating on porcelain vessels.
14
Minor methods of disinfection(continued)
5. Ozone treatment
• 3O₂---------electric current------------2O₃
(closed chamber)
(ozone)
• The third atom of ozone is loosely
bound and breaks easily to release
nascent oxygen.
O₃------------O₂ + O( nascent oxygen)
• Nascent oxygen is very powerful in
killing bacteria.
• Ozone also unites with organic matter
and it is effective in removal of the
same.
•• Costly method; requires skilled labour.
Color of water is removed.
• Odour and taste is removed
• Ideal for small scale treatment plant.
Disinfection – Minor methods
6. Silver treatment
• Ions of silver have disinfecting
properties
• Metallic silver is placed in filter media
while filtration
• Dosage .05 - .1 p.p.m for 15minutes -3
hours.
• Silver being costly, method is employed
7. inUltra
private houses
–violet only.
ray treatment
• Effective in killing all types of bacteria,
viruses and bacterial spores.
• For generating the rays, mercury is
enclosed in one or more quartz bulbs
and electric current passed through it.
• Does not change the physical or
chemical properties of water.
• 99% efficient method.
• Safe, easy ,convenient, cost effective
method with minimum maintenance.
• Used to destroy excess ozone after
ozonisation.
15
Main method of disinfection
1.Chlorination
• Chlorine and its compounds are used as
disinfecting materials.
• High solubility;7000mg/L
• Easily available as gas, liquid, powder.
• Very toxic to most micro-organisms.
Unites with the cell structure of
bacteria and form chloro-products
which are toxic to bacteria.
• Improves coagulation. Leaves
harmless residue.
• Produces desired results that last
longer. Cheap and reliable.
• Reduces BOD.
• When chlorine is added to water
Cl₂ + H₂O--------- HCl + HOCl (responsible
HOCl <=======˃ H⁺ + Ocl⁻ for
disinfection)
• Disinfection of Cl directly proportional to
water pH.
• pH <7 ---˃ rapid disinfection.
• Dosage - .20p.p.m to 1 p.p.m for 1-4 hours
• Disinfection reduces in cold water.
Disinfection - Main method
Applications of Chlorine
1. As bleaching powder Ca (OCl)₂
• Needs careful storing
• Form HOCl on contact with water
–hypochlorination.
• Dosage - .5-2.5 kg/million L of
water.
2. Chloramines
• Formed when chlorine is added to
water with ammonia.
• Have disinfecting properties.
• Removes odour to a certain
extent.
• More effective that chlorine alone.
• Quality of chlorine required
becomes less.
• Effect last for long.
3. Free Cl gas
• Cl gas is dissolved in small
amount of water and added to the
water under treatment.
• Highly effective in killing bacteria.
• Can be stored for a long time. 16
Forms of chlorination.
1. Plain chlorination
• Only chlorine treatment is given to raw
water .
• To control growth of algae, remove
bacteria, organic matter and color
from water.
• Useful when raw water is considerably
clear or in case of emergencies .
• Dosage - .5p.p.m or more.
2. Pre-chlorination
• Chlorine is added to raw water before
any treatment.
• Reduces taste and odor
• Improves coagulation
• Helps to maintain the sand of the
filter clean.
• Controls growth of algae in
sedimentation tanks and filters.
• Prevents putrefaction/decay of sludge
in the settling tanks.
Disinfection - Main method
3. Post-chlorination
• Application of chlorine after all
treatments are completed.
• Standard treatment. Chlorine is added
after water leaves the rapid sand
filters and before it enters the
distribution system. Ensure final
safety to water.
• Dosage - .1 to .2 p.p.m
4. Double chlorination
• Chlorine is added to water at more
than one point.
• Necessary when raw water is highly
contaminated.
• Pre-chlorination and post-chlorination
are adopted.
5. Break point chlorination.
• Chlorine when added to water first
performs the function of removing the
bacteria.
• Residual chlorine in water increases
with increase in applied chlorine till a
point after which the residual chorine
starts to decrease.
17
Break point chlorination(continued)
• At this point, bad smell and taste is
observed.
• This indicates that chlorine is
performing its next function of
oxidizing the organic matter.
• On further addition of chlorine, another
stage is reached when the bad smell
and taste suddenly disappears and
residual chlorine start to accumulate
again. This stage is known as the
break point .
• Any further chlorine added beyond
break point, appears as residual
chlorine.
• Following activities take place at break
point.
• Algal growth is controlled
• Bacteria are killed
• Chloramines are oxidized.
• Color ,taste and odour due to organic
compounds are removed.
• Free residual chloramines start to
Disinfection
build up. - Main method
6. Super-chlorination
• Application of chlorine beyond the
stage of break point.
• Usually done at the end of filtration.
• Adopted when there is epidemic in the
locality and water is likely to contain a
high content of organic impurities.
• If super-chlorination is done, excess
chlorine needs to be removed before
the water reaches the consumers.
7. Dechlorination
• Removal of excess chlorine from
water.
• Done in such a way that some residual
chlorine remains in water enough to
disinfect it while flowing through
distribution system.
• Chemicals used – sodium
thiosulphate, sodium sulphite ,
activated carbon , potassium
permanganate , sulphur dioxide.
18
Water softening
• Hard water causes
 Corrosion of pipes
 More consumption of soap
 Makes food tasteless
 Creates scales on boilers
• Water softening is done to bring down
hardness to 5⁰-8⁰ and make the water
soft.
• Improves taste of food
• Increases life of textiles
• Makes washing easy
• Less consumption of soap
Types of hardness
1. Temporary
• Carbonate hardness
• Presence of bicarbonates of Ca and
Mg
• Removal by boiling or adding lime
2. Permanent
• Non-carbonate hardness
• Presence of sulphates ,chlorides and
nitrates of Ca and Mg.
• Removal by water softening
Water softening
Removal of permanent hardness
4 methods
1.Lime – soda process
• Lime and sodium carbonate or soda
ash is used.
• Hardness is brought down to 3⁰-4⁰.
• Only soda Na₂CO₃ is required for
removal of Ca Cl₂ & CaSO₄.
• Soda lime required for removal of
hardness due to MgCl₂ & MgSO₄.
MgSO₄+Ca(OH)₂---˃Mg(OH)₂↓+CaSO₄
CaSO₄+ Na₂CO₃ ---˃ CaCO₃ ↓+ Na₂SO₄
CaCl₂+ Na₂CO₃ ---˃ CaCO₃ ↓ + 2NaCl
MgCl₂+ Na₂CO₃ ---˃ MgCO₃ ↓ + 2NaCl
• CaCO₃ and Mg(OH)₂↓ are insoluble in
water and can be removed after
sedimentation.
• Increase in pH ;less corrosion of pipes
• Less coagulants needed
• Kills pathogenic bacteria
• Economical , can be incorporated in
the filter system
• Large quantity of sludge is formed
19
2. Zeolite process Advantages
• Also known as base exchange /ion
exchange process • No sludge is formed
• Zeolites – compounds of Aluminium, • Compact ,easily operated and
silica and soda does not require skilled
• Natural zeolite is green in color. supervision.
• Artificial or synthethic zeolite – Permutit • Reduces hardness to 0.
( 2SiO₄ Al₂O₃ .Na₂ O) • Economical
 Aluminuim – 22% • Automatic process
 Silica – 46% • No problem of deposition of Ca
 Sodium oxide – 13.6% CO₃ in the distribution system.
 Water - 18.4%
• When hard water comes in contact with
zeolite, Calcium and Magnesium are Disadvantages
removed and Sodium is given in
exchange. • Does not work for highly turbid
water or water with oil or H₂S.
2SiO₄Al₂O₃.Na₂O+CaSO₄ ---˃2SiO₂Al₂O₃ .CaO + Na₂SO₄
• Unsuitable for water containing
• Sodium content of water increases. iron or magnesium > 2mg/L.
• Sodium from the zeolite is regenerated • Water should not be chlorinated
by passing a solution of salt(NaCl) so that before zeolite process.
it can be reused.

Water softening 20
3. Reverse osmosis 4. Demineralisation process

• Also known as hyper filtration. • Also known as de-ionisation process.

• Works on principle of diffusion – • Hard water passed through bed of
movement of molecules from region resin or carbonaceous material in the
of higher concentration to lower hydrogen form.
concentration. • Treated water contain carbonic acid,
• Osmosis – molecules are water and sulphuric acid, hydrochloride acid
concentration of gradient occurs which can be removed by adding
across a semi-permeable membrane. required amount of alkaline water.
• Semi –permeable membrane allows • mainly used for preparing water for
passage of water but not ions like Na⁺, industrial use.
Ca⁺²,Cl⁻ or large molecules like
glucose, urea, bacteria.
• Larger the charge on particles more
likely it will be rejected.
• Osmosis reversed by applying
sufficient pressure - reverse osmosis
• Water is moved across the membrane
from lower concentration to higher
concentration.
• Method used to filter saline water.

Water softening 21