Module 03

Water Treatment Methods

Water Treatment 3. Aeration (Oxidation)

Water treatment is defined as the process of
improving the quality of water to make it appropriate
for its intended use such as for drinking, cooking,
washing, cleaning, cleansing, processing, etc., in
domestic, industrial, agricultural, recreational and
other applications.

The fundamental purpose of water treatment is the

removal of contaminants, namely: physical,
chemical, biological or radiological contaminants
from water thus rendering it fit for its desired end-
use. A number of water treatment methods are
available depending on the kind of contaminant and In aeration, the surface of the water is exposed to
its quantity of concentration in water. The methods to air as much as possible. This process can improve
be used depends on what kind of contaminant is to be the taste and color of water, remove iron and
removed for a specific purpose. manganese, and decrease its corrosiveness. The
possibilities for aeration are varied in its aesthetic
Water Treatment Methods applications such as spraying water into air, water
The following are some of the water treatment cascading into a spillway, flowforms or sculptural
methods ranging from simple to the more complex waterfalls designed to carry water in a rhythmic,
methods of water treatment: pulsating pattern.
4. Ozonation
1. Sedimentation

This process can be employed to remove some

Ozonation is a powerful oxidizing and disinfecting
suspended matter from water by allowing time and method used to destroy bacteria, viruses and other
inactivity of water to do the work of sorting out pathogenic organisms. This is done by passing dry
heavier suspended particles. Heavy suspended air (or pure oxygen) through a system of high
materials settle at the bottom of vessels thereby voltage electrodes to produce ozone where 80% of
rendering water clear or non-turbid. the energy is converted into heat. Bacteria, viruses
2. Coagulation or any other pathogenic organisms that are directly
exposed to ozone is eradicated. Ozonation has a
very wide range of treatment options.

5. Filtration
This common means of water treatment can
remove some suspended particles, some bacteria,
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5.1. Slow Sand Filtration particles in a tank or containment vessel. The
resulting product is a clean and dirt-free water.

5.4. Porous Stone, Ceramic or Unglazed

Porcelain Filters
(Pasteur Filters)
This kind of filter
consists of a
permeable porcelain
unglazed tube called
bisque that contains a
ring of enameled
Slow sand filtration is generally used in porcelain through
rainwater application. This is a low maintenance which water flows and filtered in the process.
method and can easily be constructed. Devices This is usually produced in small sizes for ready
used in this method should be cleaned as often as attachment to water faucets.
possible depending on the degree of turbidity of
water. It can be cleaned by the removal of filters, 5.5. Fine Filtration by Chlorination
which are either washed for reuse or may be
discarded.
5.2. Pressure Sand Filtration

This method of filtration is a combined process

used in removing iron and/or manganese from
water. In this process chlorine chemically
oxidizes iron or manganese which creates
Pressure sand filtration as the name implies uses precipitates. It kills iron bacteria which can form
pressure to force water out of a containment a slimy mass.
vessel such as tank. Sand is used as a filtering
agent. Periodic cleaning is required as dirt 5.6. Activated Carbon Filters
accumulates over time and with the constant
passage of turbid water. It may require the
removal of sand filter or backwashing as a
method of cleaning filters. This system of water
filtration is commonly used in swimming pool
application.
5.3. Diatomaceous Earth Filtration

Activated carbon filters uses granulated carbon

which attracts large quantities of dissolved gases,
soluble organics, and fine solids. Activated
carbon works through a process known as
adsorption whereby contaminant molecules are
trapped inside the pore structure of the carbon
This method of filtration uses diatomaceous substrate. This is particularly effective in
earth filter obtained from diatomite, a naturally removing undesirable taste and odor in water,
occurring siliceous sedimentary rock that easily commonly used in domestic water purification.
crumbles into fine powder that is used as a filter 5.7. Reverse Osmosis (RO)
agent. This agent filters out particles of bigger
size than the filter itself thus retaining suspended
 maintained at low levels in the presence of 1-2
ppm free of available chlorine in the water
supply; however, chlorine is relatively
ineffective against acid-fast bacteria such as non-
tuberculous mycobacteria and cysts such as
those formed by Giardia lambia. Chlorine is
normally pumped into the system from a solution
of sodium hypochlorite or as a gas. Chloride is
readily removed by activated carbon filters, and
can be monitored with simple test kits. It is
easily rinsed out of the system.

 Chloramines
A widely used method in removing many types These compounds result from the reaction of
of dissolved or suspended chemical as well as ammonia with chlorine in water solution. They
biological contaminants. Reverse Osmosis (RO) are commonly used in municipal water systems
is also used in desalting seawater by reducing the due to the superior stability of chloramine
mineral content in water. RO uses an inert semi- compounds over chlorine, however, chloramines
permeable membrane where higher water are not as strong as chlorine and thus have less
pressure supply on one side forces water out on bacteria-killing ability in comparison.
the other side through a filtering membrane,
most of the chemicals (dissolved solids) are  Chlorine Dioxide
removed. However, dissolved chemicals remain. Chlorine dioxide exhibits stronger disinfecting
characteristics than chloramines, but there is
6. Disinfection little evidence of extensive use of the
This is the most important health-related water disinfectant.
treatment. Chlorination is considered as the
standard approach to removing harmful organisms  Iodine
from water. Other alternatives includes: UV This common relative of chlorine has been used
(ultraviolet) light, bromine, iodine, and heat for years for disinfecting drinking water of
treatment among others. Although chlorine affects unknown quality. Unfortunately, certain kinds of
the taste and odor of water, it is also effective in gram-negative bacteria can develop resistance to
removing less desirable tastes and odors. Factors iodine.
affecting chlorine’s ability to disinfect include:
7. Distillation
Chemical Disinfectants
 Chlorine

In this process, water is heated to allow

condensation. As the water turns to vapor,
virtually all pollutants are left behind. When this
purified vapor makes contact with cooler
surfaces, it condenses, leaving behind pure
water. The resulting water may be flat in terms
This is the most widely-used disinfectant in of taste. Distillation relies on evaporation to
municipal water systems across most of the purify water. It effectively removes inorganic
world. Chlorine has been under scrutiny because compounds such as metals (lead), iron and
of its propensity to form possible carcinogens nitrates. IT also kills microorganisms such as
(trihalomethanes) upon reaction with naturally- bacteria and some viruses.
occurring organic material such as humic acid or
human-made organic effluent. Bacteria can be
8. Fluoridation

12. Ultraviolet Irradiation

A major advantage of fluoridating water is that

children who drink fluoridated water have lower
rates of tooth decay. However, this benefit only
applies to children, not adults, and in amounts
higher than those used in water treatment;
fluoride is toxic and can cause mottle teeth. As
such, while fluoridation units can be installed
into small water systems, fluoride levels in the
water supply must be carefully monitored.
One means of treating relatively small-scale
9. Corrosion Control water supplies is exposure to UV (ultraviolet)
Corrosion is defined as the slow degradation of a radiation. In this process, the water is exposed to
metal by the flow of an electric current from the UV radiation after it has been filtered. Only
metal to its surroundings. It is important to momentary exposure is required to kill bacteria,
control corrosion in order to keep water systems but these conditions may not be fulfilled if the
operating freely and to prevent corrosive water bacteria are shielded by particles of sediment in
from increasing the concentration of hazardous the water.
materials (such as those from copper pipes).
13. Water Desalination
10. Nuisance Control
Some organisms may not be injurious to health
but can multiply so rapidly that piping or filters
become clogged, or affect the quality of the
water’s taste, odor, and appearance. One of the
most prevalent nuisances, algae growths, can be
usually controlled by the addition of copper
sulfate (blue stone or blue vitriol) to the body of
water. Cooling towers are an especially difficult
problem for water treatment. In order to
successfully their water supply successfully, a
method for microbial control is used, which This procedure is done by heating seawater, then
removes organics and precipitating organics. pumping water into a low pressure tank, where
the water partially vaporizes. The water vapor is
11. Adsorption condensed and removed as pure water. This
A mechanism of contaminant removal making process is then repeated many times. The
use of the adsorption phenomenon, the act of remaining liquid, called brine, contains a large
physical adhesion of molecules or colloids to the amount of salt, and is removed and often
surface of the medium without chemical processed for minerals.
reaction. Some porous materials have the ability
to attract contaminants to their surfaces, thereby
removing them from solution.
 Common Water Quality Problems and
Corresponding Treatment

Water Cause Negative Correction

Quality Effect(s) Method
Problem
Hardness Calcium and Clogging of Ion-
magnesium salts pipes by scales, exchanger
from burning out of (Zeolite
underground boilers and process)
flow impairing
laundering and
food
preparation
Corrosion Acidity, Closing of iron Raising
entrained pipes by rust, alkaline
oxygen, and leaking content
carbon dioxide connections,
(low pH) destruction of
brass piping
Contamination Contamination Diseases Chlorination
(biological) by organic by sodium
matter/sewage hypochlorite
or chlorine
gas; or
ozonation
Color Iron and Discoloration Chlorination
Manganese of fixtures and or ozonation
laundry and fine
filtration
Taste & Odor Organic Matter Unpleasantness Filtration
through
activated
carbon
purifier;
aeration
Turbidity Silt/suspended Unpleasantness Filtration
matter picked up
in surface of
water

End