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LEC (3) env 1

Water is never completely pure and contains various impurities from natural sources, classified into physical, chemical, and bacteriological categories. Impurities can also be categorized based on their state of presence as suspended, dissolved, or colloidal. Each type of impurity affects water's characteristics and can lead to health issues, requiring different methods for removal.

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MOHAMEDELTAHER ABDELHAMID
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2 views

LEC (3) env 1

Water is never completely pure and contains various impurities from natural sources, classified into physical, chemical, and bacteriological categories. Impurities can also be categorized based on their state of presence as suspended, dissolved, or colloidal. Each type of impurity affects water's characteristics and can lead to health issues, requiring different methods for removal.

Uploaded by

MOHAMEDELTAHER ABDELHAMID
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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THE

IMPURITIES
IN WATER
➢ Water is the universal solvent and in nature, it is
never totally pure. No matter how isolated it is
from sources of contamination, it will always have
some chemicals. Gases or minerals in the air, soil, or
rock are dissolved by the water.

➢ Minerals and impurities are normally present in


very small concentrations, and are measured in
parts per million (ppm) (how many parts of
impurities in a million parts of water) or milligrams
per liter (mg/l). The terms are equivalent and are
used interchangeably in water and wastewater.
➢ *Pure water cannot be found in nature even rainwater which
is pure at the instant of originating contains gases, dust and
other substances as it passes through the atmosphere.

➢ The ultimate or primary source of water is water as it


comes to the earth surface which is already impure rain
passing through the atmosphere further picks up the
organic and suspended matter as of surface runoff and
portion of rainwater which percolates into the ground as
groundwater dissolves several salts and minerals, organic
and inorganic matter while infiltrating into subsurface
strata.

➢ The water thus tapped from surface and ground source may
contain undesirable and excess substances as termed as
impurities which may be classified as follows.
Classification on the basis of properties
or characteristics of impurities

➢ a) Physical impurities

➢ b) Chemical impurities

➢ c) Bacteriological impurities
a) Physical impurities

➢ The presence of physical impurities in water


affects physical characteristics such as
colour, odour, taste and turbidity. Colour,
odour and taste in water are due to the
presence of organic matter, minerals,
microorganisms etc. Turbidity in water is
chiefly due to suspended matters whereas
colloidal also liable for turbidity.
b) Chemical impurities

➢ Thepresence of chemical impurities in water


affects the chemical salts of minerals,
characteristics of water such as PH, solids,
hardness, alkalinity, chloride, nitrogen etc.
The presence of chemical impurities may
cause various types of diseases.
c) Bacteriological impurities

The presence of the bacteriological impurities


affects the bacteriological characteristics of
water such as pathogenic microorganisms.
(Salmonella), non-pathogenic (E-coli)
Bacteriological impurities present in water
causes diseases in humans
Classification on the Basis of the
State of Presence/Occurrences

➢ a) Suspended impurities

➢ b) Dissolved impurities

➢ c) Colloidal impurities
a) Suspended impurities
➢ These impurities are a dispersion of solid particles
resulting in turbidity in water. Suspended
impurities include silt, clay, algae, fungi, organic and
inorganic matters, mineral matter etc.

➢ These impurities remain in suspension due to the


same specific gravity as that of water. Suspended
impurities are macroscopic and cause turbidity in
water. The concentration of suspended matter in
water is measured by turbidity. Suspended
impurities can be removed by settling or by
filtration.
b) Dissolved impurities
➢ Water is a very good solvent and can dissolve all that it
comes in contact with the salts to The dissolved impurities
may contain organic compounds, inorganic salts, gases etc.
The amount of dissolved solids is normally expressed in and
magnesium in water causes bad taste, hardness, alkalinity,
alkaline PPm. Salt of calcium etc.

➢ Iron oxide and manganese when dissolved cause odour,


taste, red or black or brown colour, produce stain’s on cloth
in laundries and plumbing fixtures in buildings. Gases like O2
and CO2 causes corrosiveness and H2S causes the smell of
rotten egg. Dissolved impurities is in a liquid having only one
phase so such impurities can be removed only by phase
change such as Precipitation, adsorption, distillation.
c) Colloidal impurities
➢ These impurities are so small that they cannot be removed
by an ordinary filter and are not visible to the naked eye.
These are a dispersion of particles in water with electrically
charged and remain in continuous motion and do not settle
due to the same charge.

➢ These colloidal impurities are generally associated with


organic matter containing bacteria and are the chief source
of epidemics. Colour in water is normally due to colloidal
impurities. Their quantity is determined by colour tests.
Their quantity is determined by colour tests. The size of
colloidal impurities is between 10-3 mm to 10-6 mm. Colloidal
can be removed from water by coagulation and
sedimentation than filtration.

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