Water Treatment Process
Water Treatment Process is the removal of contaminants from untreated water to produce
water that is pure enough for its intended use, most commonly human consumption. Substances that are removed during the Water Treatment process include suspended solids, bacteria, algae, viruses, fungi, minerals such as iron, manganese and sulphur, and man-made chemical pollutants including fertilisers. In general the methods used include physical processes such as filtration and sedimentation, biological processes such as slow sand filters or activated sludge, chemical processes such as flocculation and chlorination and the use of electromagnetic radiation such as ultraviolet light.
Water is purified often using two methods: reverse osmosis, sometimes called ultra filtration, and distillation. In reverse osmosis, water is ran through a semi-membrane under high pressure. Pores in this membrane are small enough to let water molecules run through it while stopping larger molecules of contaminants unable to penetrate the membrane. Pressure is needed in order to prevent osmosis, in which water passes from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.
Distillation is the process of systematically removing contaminants from water by boiling the water and then capturing the resulting condensate which is purified water. By boiling the water inorganic compounds calcium, iron, bacteria and organic substances that boil at temperatures above water's boiling point can be removed.
The water treatment Process is done by the combination of following processes worldwide:
Flocculation/Sedimentation
Flocculation refers to water treatment processes that combine or coagulate small particles into larger particles, which settle out of the water as sediment. Alum and iron salts or synthetic organic polymers (used alone or in combination with metal salts) are generally used to promote coagulation. Settling or sedimentation occurs naturally as flocculated particles settle out of the water.
Filtration
Many water treatment facilities use filtration to remove all particles from the water. Those particles include clays and silts, natural organic matter, precipitates from other treatment processes in the facility, iron and manganese, and microorganisms. Filtration clarifies water and enhances the effectiveness of disinfection.
Ion Exchange
Ion exchange processes are used to remove inorganic contaminants if they cannot be removed adequately by filtration or sedimentation. Ion exchange can be used to treat hard water. It can also be used to remove arsenic, chromium, excess fluoride, nitrates, radium, and uranium in the water treatment process.
Adsorption
Organic contaminants, unwanted coloring, and taste-and-odor-causing compounds can stick to the surface of granular or powder activated carbon and are thus removed from the drinking water.
Disinfection (chlorination/ozonation)
Water is often disinfected before it enters the distribution system to ensure that potentially dangerous microbes are killed during the water treatment process. Chlorine, chloramines, or chlorine dioxide are most often used because they are very effective disinfectants, not only at the treatment plant but also in the pipes that distribute water to our homes and businesses. Ozone is a powerful disinfectant, and ultraviolet radiation is an effective disinfectant and treatment for relatively clean source waters, but neither of these are effective in controlling biological contaminants in the distribution pipes.
Desalination
Desalination is the removal of salts from ocean or brackish waters using various technologies. Electrodialysis Reversal (EDR), Multiple Stage Flash (MSF) and Reverse Osmosis (RO) are some of the technologies that are capable of removing nutrients and salts that make the water unfit for human consumption.
In brief, World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines are generally followed throughout the world for drinking water quality requirements. In addition of the WHO guidelines, each country or territory or water supply body can have their own guidelines in order for consumers to have access to safe drinking water.
Water Treatment Process
By: erics velez
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