Water Supply and Public

Health

1
Learning objectives
Defining important terms
Describe the properties of water
 Know the uses of water
 understand impurities of water and their adverse
effects
 know the sources of water and their prevention and
protection measures
 know quality control measures
 What is water
* Water is a common chemical substance that is essential to
all known forms of life

* It is the most familiar and abundant liquid on earth

Human body=made up of water

 about 92% of blood plasma
 about 80% of muscle tissue
 about 60% of red blood cells, and
 over half of most other tissues
 Definition of Terms
Raw water
 Untreated water from suspicious sources
such as rivers, lakes or from unprotected
wells and springs
Contaminated water
 Water which may contain harmful MOs or
toxic chemicals which make it unfit for use
 Generally these contaminants can not be
defected by the organs of sight, taste and
smell
 Definition…
Polluted water
 Water that has come in contact with substances that
alter its physical qualities, so that it changes in
color, level of turbidity, taste or smell
 Pollution can be detected by the sense organs
Clear water
 Water that has sparkling appearance to the eye Such
water could be clean or contaminated
Clean water
 Water that is free of disease causing organisms
 Definition…
Palatable Water
 Water which is pleasant to drink
 It is not necessarily clean or potable
 It can be pleasant to drink, nevertheless may be
contaminated
Potable water
 This is drinkable water
 Water which is free at all times from any harmful
substances (pathogenic organisms or chemicals)
Water Resources of The Earth
Physical properties of water
 Physical cont.
 Density

Temperature (degrees Density (K. grams per cubic

Celsius) centimeter)
0 (solid) 0.9150
4 1.0000
20 0.9982
40 0.9922
60 0.9832
80 0.9718
100 (gas) 0.0006
 Properties cont.
 Cohesion and Adhesion
 Surface tension
 Capillary action
 Specific heat capacity High
 Can absorb/release relatively large amounts of
heat with only a slight change in its own
temperature
 Solvent Nature- “universal solvent”
 salts, sugars, acids, alkalis, and some gases – especially
oxygen, carbon dioxide (carbonation)
 All the major components in cells (proteins, DNA and

polysaccharides)
Chemical properties of water
 Conductivity
 Polarity & Self-ionization
 PH
 is a standard measure of how acidic or basic a
solution is and its range is from 0-14
 Here are some factors that influence/affect the PH

of water
* Ground formation

* Wastewater discharge

o Municipal activities , detergents

o Industrial (5-10)
 Chemical cont.
* Natural processes like Photosynthesis & Respiration
affect its PH-CO2
 Chemical cont.
Hardness: Water hardness is a term used to express
the total concentration of cations; specifically
calcium, magnesium, Iron and manganese and also
other metals like Zinc and Aluminum
It is a measure of the total mineral content expressed
as mg/l equivalents of calcium carbonate
Hardness however, refers primarily to the amount of
calcium and magnesium ions present
Uses of water
 Uses cont.
Domestic cleaning, washing…
Agricultural (irrigation)
Manufacturing
Fish and wild life maintenance
Navigation
Power generation
Construction
Recreational
Impurities of water & adverse effects
1. Suspended and colloidal impurities
 Microorganisms: from air, soil
 Suspended solids:
 Minute particles of soil, clay, silt, soot particles, dead

leaves and other insoluble material get into water

because of erosion and drainage
 Can cause taste, color and turbidity

 Algae:
 Minute plants that grow in sea or stagnant water

 Can cause taste, color, and turbidity

 Impurities cont.
2. Dissolved impurities
 Gases:
 Co H S etc. find their way into water as it falls as
2, 2
rain or as water percolates through the ground
 Co and H S may cause acidity in water
2 2

H s imparts a bad odor to the water

2

 Plant dyes
 Originates from plants which grow in or around
water, and cause color
 Impurity cont.
 Minerals: get access through percolation
 The type of minerals dissolved will depend on the
nature of the specific rock formation of the area
 E.g. Ca, Mg, Na, k and others (fluorides,

Nitrate)
 Ca and Mg cause hardness

 Na , calcium carbonate & K cause alkalinity

 Salts of toxic elements such as lead, arsenic,

chromium, etc., get in to water mainly as industrial

wastes dumped in to streams
Diseases associated with water:
The water-associated diseases can be broadly classified
into five epidemiological groups
Group I = water-borne infections: Several infections
enteric or intestinal diseases of man are transmitted
through water contamination by fecal matter
 Pathogens excreted in water by an infected person
include all major categories such as bacteria, viruses,
protozoa and parasitic warms
 Water acts only as a passive vehicle for the infectious
agent
e.g. cholera, typhoid, infectious hepatitis
 Group I…..
Include cholera, typhoid, amoebic and bacillary
dysentery and other diarrheal diseases as
 Giardiasis (Protozoan)  Shigellosis (Bacteria)
 Cryptosporidiosis (Bacteria)  Viral Gastroenteritis (Virus)
 Campylobacteriosis (Bacteria)  Cyclosporiasis (Parasite)

In addition, water-borne disease can be caused by the pollution of water

with chemicals that have an adverse effect on health
 NO3
 Arsenic
 Fluoride
 Nitrates from fertilizers
 Carcinogenic pesticides (DDT)
 Lead (from pipes)
 Heavy Metals
Diarrheal Disease Pathways
Diseases associated with water…
Group II = Water-shortage (water-washed)
diseases: These comprise diseases linked to a lack of
water for personal hygiene
Group III = water-impounding (water-based)
diseases: These are diseases caused by infectious
agents that are spread by contact with water
The essential part of the life cycle of the infecting
agent takes place from an aquatic animal
Diseases associated with water…

Group IV = water-arthropod (water-related)

diseases:
 These are diseases transmitted by insects that live
close to water
 Infections that are spread by mosquitoes, flies and
other insects that breed in water or near it
Sources of water
Hydrologic Cycle
The ultimate source of all our water supply is rainfall
The constant movement of water from clouds to
earth and back again is known as the hydrologic cycle
or water cycle
Sources of water….
Sources of water for human use
In nature, the sources of water for human uses are
four:
ØGround- water wells and springs
ØSurface water rivers, streams, lakes, etc
ØRain- water collected over impermeable or non
absorbent surfaces
ØSea- water after removing the salt through desalination
by the process of distinctive
Locating and developing adequate
sources of water supply
primary consideration in developing sources of water
include:
i. Determining amount & quality of the water needed
ii. Find and develop a source /sources which will supply
the needs of the community
iii. The sanitary measures to be employed
Locating and developing….
the following tests should be performed before
developing potential water supply sources and
after development at regular intervals to check
subsequent pollution or contamination

- Testing for contamination (microbial)

- Testing for minerals
- Testing for sediments, color, taste, and odor
- Testing for Acidity and alkalinity
Locating and developing….
1.Ground water (underground water)
Ground water is that portion of the rainfall which has
percolated into the earth until it reaches an
impermeable stratum, a layer which it cannot
penetrate
It can be abstracted through wells and springs
Locating and developing….
Advantage
a. Comparatively free from disease causing micro- organisms
b. If properly protected and treated immediately after
completion of construction, it can be used without further
treatment
c. It can be found near a family or a community
 In theory, you can dig for ground water anywhere, but the
depth may vary
d. It is not exposed to evaporation

Disadvantage
a. It normally needs pumping unless from a spring
b. In certain localities may contain excessive dissolved
minerals
Ways In Which Well- Water May Be Contaminated.
Taking a hand- dug well as a model, we find that the
water may be contaminated in the following ways:
a. Infiltration from nearby latrines, cesspools, septic
tanks, etc.
b. Surface water (flood) entering the well
c. Pollutants carrying dirt and microorganisms may fall
into the well (insects, rodents, other small animals,
etc).
d. Use of insanitary bucket and rope to draw water from
the well
Prevention of contamination of a well
1.Proper sitting of the well:
- The well should be sited on a higher level from a
source of contamination (latrines, septic tanks,
cesspools, etc).
The hydrolic gradient should be from the well
towards the latrines ; and never vice versa
Ø In normal soil formations, the minimum distance
between the well and the source of contamination
should not be less than 15 meters
 This rule, however, does not apply to limestone
formations
Prevention Of Contamination Of A Well
2.Protection of the well:
a) Casing the inside wall with waterproof cement work
to a minimum depth of 3 metes from the mouth of
the well
The casing should also be extended for a minimum of
60cm above the surrounding of the well should be
graded off to prevent flow of storm into the well
b) Cover: A concrete cover overlapping the casing
should be fitted to prevent
entry of any sort of contaminants into the well
Prevention Of Contamination Of A Well
c) Ideally a pump should be installed to draw water
without contaminating from the well
 If not affordable a sanitary bucket and rope method
may be used with care
d) Fencing: The immediate area of the well should
preferably be fenced to keep animals away
e) Diversion ditch: should be constructed at around 15
meters away to divert flood coming into the well
Surface Water
 As surface water flows over the earth’s crust, it will
pickup anything in its path that can be moved or
dissolved
 Consequently the quantity and quality of such waters
depend on the conditions of the surface or
catchments area over which it flows
Surface Water….
Pollutants of surface water may be divided into:
a) Human and animal wastes – excreta, domestic
sewage, animal wastes, etc.
b) Industrial effluents (sewages, toxic chemicals)
c) Chemicals from agricultural fields (herbicides,
pesticides, fertilizers etc.)
d) Soil, in the form of silt
 Rain Water
Contamination of rain water:
From the sanitary point of view, rain-water may be the
purest of all sources of water in nature; but it is liable to
contamination under the following conditions:
a) As it falls through the atmosphere may pick various
gases, dust, particulates, soot, plant pollen, bacteria, etc if
the substances are present in the air.
b) As it touches the collection surface, its purity depends on
the cleanliness of the collecting surface
c) It may be contaminated during storage , distribution and
handling
 Thus its protection basically aims at eliminating the above
three ways in which it is likely to be contaminated
 Surface water treatment
Multiple barriers strategy
Applying different barriers is important to reduce the
sanitary risks from drinking water due to microbial,
physical and chemical contaminants
 Selection and protection of the best available water

sources
 On-site wastewater treatment and reuse; water

treatment;
 Adequate and well-maintained distribution
systems; and
 Safe water practices by consumers
Surface water quality and treatment
Objectives
 To remove pathogenic organisms and consequently
to prevent water-borne diseases
 To remove substances which impart color, taste or
odor to the water
 To remove excess or undesirable gases, chemicals or
minerals from the water
 To regulate essential elements or chemicals, this may
be in excess or lacking in a certain water-supply
system
 E.g. Fluoridation or de-fluoridation of water, softening of
water, etc
 To remove excess or undesirable dissolved
Water can not be consumed in its natural state due
to possible presence of:
Floating objects - Screening
Algae - Straining or Fine Screen
Excessive Fe, Mn or Hardness - Precipitation
Suspended Solids - Sedimentation
Dissolved gases - Aeration
Taste, Odor or Color - Adsorption or Aeration
Organic or bacteriological pollution -
Disinfection
 Conventional Surface Water
Treatment
Raw water
Screening Filtration
sludge sludge
Alum
Coagulation Cl2 Disinfection
Polymers

Flocculation Storage

Sedimentation Distribution
sludge
Screening
Objectives:
Removal of coarse solids (pieces of woods,
plastics, papers, rags, leaves, roots, etc.)
Protection of pump, valves, pipe lines, impellers
Classification Based on:
Opening size: Coarse, Medium, Fine
Configuration: Bar screens, Mesh screens
Cleaning Method: Manual, Mechanical, Raked,
Water jet
Screen surface: Fixed, Moving
12/16/2014 AH on wastewate engineering/mgt. 50
 Aeration
Aeration is the treatment process whereby water is
brought into intimate contact with air
Purpose:
 Increasing the oxygen content… 60-80% of the

maximum oxygen content that the water could

contain when fully saturated

 Reducing the carbon dioxide content, and

 Removing hydrogen sulphide, methane and

various volatile organic compounds responsible for

bad taste and odor
 Coagulation and flocculation
Coagulation and flocculation provide the water
treatment process by which finely divided suspended
and colloidal matter in the water is made to
agglomerate and form flocs
This enables their removal by sedimentation or
filtration

 Reduce turbidity
 Coagulation cont.
Primary coagulants like
 Alum

 Ferric
Salts
Natural coagulant
 extracts of particular seeds of certain tropical trees

Sedimentation
 The heavy floc particles settle to the bottom of
treatment tanks, allowing for their separation from
the water
 Filtration
Filtration is a physical, chemical, and biological
process for separating suspended impurities from
water by passage through porous media
Disinfection
 Disinfection is a way of ensuring that drinking-water
is free from pathogens
 For chemical and solar disinfection to be effective –
and to a lesser extent for boiling – the water should
be free of organic matter and suspended solids
 Hence disinfection should be the final treatment
stage, after any other treatment processes
 Disinfection
 Chemical disinfectants
 Cl2 or its compounds
 Cl tab (halazone) 1 tab/liter
2
 Iodine and its compounds
 iodine tablet per liter
 Others like bromine, silver salts, KMnO4
 Disinfection cont.
However, chlorine and its compounds are the
disinfectant of choice, because:
 Availability(Liquid, Gas, Powder, Tablet)

 Easy to handle, transport and Simple to apply

 Relatively easy to detect in water

 Affordability: Comparatively cheap

 Efficiency: Effective and long lasting(Br< I< Cl)

 Less poisonous than other halogens

 Disinfection cont.
 Factors that influence the disinfecting power of
chlorine & its compounds
 The pH of the water
 Acidic  less Cl i.e. high disinfecting power
2

 Alkaline  more Cl2 i.e. less disinfecting power

 The quality of the water: More pollutants more Cl2 is
required to disinfect
 Contact time: 20-30 min- for effective & reliable
disinfection
 Water Temperature: High T0 high disinfecting power
 Presence of ammonia: … except that it is weak &
needs more contact time
 Distribution
Supply to the consumers
 In summary
the most important criterion in the treatment of
domestic water is
the removal of all pathogenic organisms as well as
high risk chemical substances such as fluoride,
arsenic nitrate and organic constituents
Other substances may also need to be removed or
at least considerably reduced
 suspended matter causing turbidity, iron and manganese
compounds imparting a bitter taste or staining laundry,
and excessive carbon dioxide corroding concrete and
metal parts
Treatment of water on small scale

Small scale/house hold level water treatment