Test Procedure
Raw Water Jar Test
JAR TESTING
Raw water characteristics and treatment
processes vary widely, but water treat-
ment experts agree that the chemicals
needed to accomplish treatment goals can
be screened by jar testing.
However, the chemicals and dosages
needed for optimal coagulation and
flocculation are bestdetermined in
practice by full-scale evaluation. To
accomplish appropriate product selection
at the bench, jar testing techniques are
used to simulate the
treatment process
Standard jar test mixing parameters and full-scale
1) FAST MIX — to disperse the chemical and form pin floc performance.
via charge neutralization of suspended solids Parameters of
chemical type,
2) SLOW MIX — to allow particle to particle collisions for chemical dosage,
additional floc formation and growth mixing energy, and
duration of mixing
3) SETTLING TIME — to simulate sedimentation processes are typically varied
in bench tests
known as jar tests.
A multiple station paddle mixer, or gang
stirrer, is typically used for testing.
The duration of each mixing step must be
determined for the individual application.
For example, if alum is added at the raw
water intake one-half mile away from the
clarifier, then the fast mix should be
longer than if alum is added only 20 feet
before the clarifier. A plant that is
hydraulically overloaded suggests a
shorter slow mix time be used. Some-
times, appropriate jar testing parameters
can be learned from experienced plant
personnel. Also, they can be determined
empirically by varying the mixing param-
eters and measuring performance.
NOTE: Jar testing only simulates
sedimentation and cannot simulate
filtration through a sludge blanket or
sand filter.
Jar tests should be benchmarked using a
plant’s current treatment program. This
allows the testor to adjust fast/slow/
settling times to correlate with full scale
performance. The actual dose in use
in the plant at the time of the tests is set
as the Benchmark for the series of tests.
FAST MIX
The time and energy of the rapid mix
portion of the test is chosen to approxi-
mate plant conditions. Usually, a fast mix
of 20 sec to 3 minutes is used. Mixing
energy is at relatively high rpm, about
200 rpm or 70-100% of gang stirrer
maximum speed. Primary coagulant such
as alum, ULTRION, etc. is added at the
beginning of the fast mix. Since mixing is
important, all jars should have coagulant
added in exactly the same manner each
time. The syringe should be at the same
angle, with chemical going into the same
part of the vortex every time. Avoid
splashing chemical, getting a lower than
expected dose. If flocculant is being used,
this is normally added just before the
end of the fast mix which is a compro-
mise between thoroughly mixed and
minimally sheared flocculant.
SLOW MIX
This part of the process simulation is
generally accomplished in much less time
but at higher energy than the actual
plant operation. After the fast mix, the
stirrers are turned down to a slower
speed (15 to 40 rpm) to allow particle
to particle contact without shearing of
the floc. Slow mixing is continued for a
period of time varying from about 5 to
20 minutes. If the sample water has high
turbidity, the rate of particle collisions
may be high enough to shorten the slow
mix time. Relatively clean water (low
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Form 646
turbidity) may require a longer slow
mix to get a sufficient number of
collisions for floc growth.
Floc size of the average particle formed
in the flocculation stage is usually
ranked versus the benchmark under
the same mixing parameters. Other
factors such as water clarity between
floc particles, floc shape, tightness, etc.
should be noted for comparison.
SETTLING
After stopping the stirrer, the stirring
paddles are removed and the treated
water is allowed to settle undisturbed
for sufficient time to settle solids and
clarify the supernatant. This usually is
done in 5 to 30 minutes, but may take
over an hour. Supernatant is then
withdrawn from the jars, and turbidity
is measured in a turbidimeter.
PRODUCT MAKE-UP
Coagulants can be diluted for easy
dosing; aqueous solutions concentra-
tions are usually 1, 5, or 10%.
Flocculants require lower solution
concentration of about 0.1 percent to
allow for adequate mixing in the jar
test. Emulsion polymers must be
properly inverted prior to dilution.
Actual product dosages required
depend on the application.
TEMPERATURE
Water temperatures will increase
rapidly in indoor jar tests and changing
water temperature may change test
results. Use water of the same temper-
ature as the plant raw water in the jar
tests. To minimize any temperature
increase, try turning off the lights
illuminating the jars until needed in
the settling tests.
SAMPLING
Settled water turbidity
measurements are generally
used to make quantitative
comparison of the jar tests as
a function of the principal
parameter of the test. A
syringe or pipette can be
used for sampling the
supernatant water in the jars
at a depth where the settled
solids will not be disturbed.
Some jars may have built-in
sampling ports. Water is
usually sampled approxi-
mately 1 cm below the
surface and is usually the Figure 1 — Typical dosage curve for an organic coagulant.
cleanest possible water.
Sampling can also be done 5 to 10 cm
below the surface to determine if slow • Measure water volume — consistently!
settling floc is a problem. This would be
important in hydraulically overloaded • Inject into vortex — avoid splashing.
water treatment plants. In many plants,
• Treat a dosage RANGE to avoid a false
other parameters are important, such as
minimum.
pH or alkalinity, so these tests may also be
performed. • If a plant has a Jar Test Procedure, use
it, especially to finalize product
selection.
• Dosage range should start at 25%
PRODUCT PERFORMANCE increase to 150% of current program’s
COMPARISON dosage and adjusted accordingly.
Product performance is usually compared • Always benchmark versus the current
to the current customer treatment program.
program. Settled solids volume, supernatant
• Coagulation curves initially decrease
turbidity and program cost (i.e., $/volume
turbidity, but overdosed coagulant
water treated) can be used to establish the
tends to resuspend particles. This is
cost effectiveness of various treatment
programs which meet customer perfor- especially true of organic coagulants.
mance requirements. Figure 1 is a typical dosage curve for an
organic coagulant. The second, ‘false’
minima occurs presumably due to
coagulant polymer forming multiple
RAW WATER
layers on a particle. Because of such
JAR TESTING TIPS potential behavior, dosage ranges should
• Jar testing cannot simulate a sand filter be tested.
or a sludge blanket!
• Try to treat every jar the same.
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