DRINKING WATER – WATER ANALYSIS

Discover the drinking water treatment flow – from surface or groundwater to running clear from your taps.

Coagulation

When water enters a treatment plant, the first stage is coagulation. This process involves adding chemicals to the water supply to allow microparticles and small solids to stick together. Chemicals used in the water treatment plant process to aid coagulation include polyelectrolyte, ferrous sulphate, and aluminium sulphate.

Adding these coagulating agents during these drinking water treatment plant steps necessitates careful administration by qualified engineers, as chemical measurements must be precise. Quality standards must also be met as part of the regulatory processes within drinking water treatment plants. This includes regular system maintenance by qualified engineers.

Flocculation

After being treated with coagulation chemicals, the water is pumped into a tank with massive paddles. These combine the chemicals and water, allowing the microparticles to form into larger pieces more likely to stick together, improving the sedimentation process in drinking water treatment. This is referred to as flocculation.

Sedimentation

The water enters the sedimentation phase after the flocculation process is completed. The large particles formed during the coagulation and flocculation stages separate and settle once the water enters the primary settling basins. This results in cleaner water for further treatment at the drinking water treatment plant. In addition, the solids form a sludge layer on the tank’s bottom, which is later removed via sludge thickening and reused on the land.

Disinfection

When clarified water exits the drinking water treatment plant’s sedimentation basins, chlorine is added during the disinfection water treatment stage. Following the chlorine disinfectant treatment of wastewater, this treated water is then passed through a second set of basins or channel to complete the disinfection process and insure that chlorine free and pathogen free water is released into nature.

pH adjustment

The water is subjected to a pH treatment stage after the disinfection stage. Lime or calcium oxide reduces the acidity of water while adjusting the pH. It is also gentler on domestic water pipes. At this point, polyphosphate solution is added to the water to keep the lime dissolved.

Filtration

After that, the water is filtered using rapid gravity filters. Sand is commonly used in this type of filter to remove any additional sediment or particles from the water. During the final stage, water is filtered in a controlled manner. Any particles that cling to the filter are removed, allowing clean water to be piped into the municipal supply. Pumping stations use pipelines to deliver water to residential customers.