Water Treatment_Chemical characteristics

• Many dissolved chemicals exist in water and many of

them are of concern such as:-
• Chloride, fluorides, Iron, lead, manganese, sodium, sulfate,
zinc, toxic inorganic substances, toxic organic substances.

• Total dissolved solids:

• Consists of calcium, chlorides and other particles that will
pass through a filter of around 2 microns in size.
• The amount of dissolved substances, such as salts or
minerals, in water remaining after evaporating the water
and weighing the residue.
• Unit of TDS is mg/L

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Chemical characteristics
Conductivity
• Is a measure of the ability of water to pass electrical
current.
• It is affected by the presence of dissolved solids e.g.
chloride.
• In streams it is affected primarily by the geology of
the area through which the water flows.
• Unit of conductivity is µS/cm.

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Chemical characteristics
pH
• It is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions
• pH indicates the degree of acidity or alkalinity of a
substance
• Raw water examined for potential use has an expected
pH value between 4 and 9 and the pH for drinking
water ranges 6.5-8.5.
• Low pH water may corrode distribution pipes in
potable water plants.
• The pH of water determines the solubility and
biological availability of constituents such as nutrients.

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Chemical characteristics
Acidity
• A measure of the capacity to neutralize bases.
• Caused by presence of carbon dioxide and mineral acids.
• Expressed in mg/L.

Alkalinity
• A measure of the capacity to neutralize acids.
• Expressed in mg/L.
• Forms include hydroxide alkalinity and carbonate alkalinity.
• Important parameter in evaluating coagulant dosage.

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Chemical characteristics
Chlorides
• Discharged through urine.
• Excessive presence indicates sewage pollution.

Sulphates
• Associated with sodium, calcium and manganese ions.
• Causes laxative effect in drinking water and scaling in boilers.
• Odour and corrosion problems.

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Chemical characteristics
Hardness
• Caused by metallic cations such as calcium, magnesium, manganese &
ferrous ions.
• Total hardness of water defined as sum of magnesium and calcium
concentrations expressed as calcium carbonate (mg/L).

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Chemical characteristics
Iron
• Can impart bad taste to the water and causes discoloration in clothes.

Nitrates
• In surface water occur by leaching of fertilisers from soil during surface run-
off and nitrification of organic matter.
• Presence if high concentration is an indication of pollution.

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Microbiological Characteristics
• Bacterial examination of water indicates the degree of
pollution.
• Pathogens: viruses, bacteria, protozoa, helminthes
• Pathogenic organisms cause water borne diseases.
• Coliforms used to indicate the contamination of water
with sewage and presence of pathogens.

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Pathogen indicators
Indicator Organisms: one which presumes contamination has
occurred.
• E.g
–Escheriachia coli
–Fecal coliforms
–Total colifirms

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Health risks, Physical and Aesthetic
effects

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Constituents of Emerging Concerns

• Contaminants and pathogens of emerging concern are by their

very nature unregulated constituents that may pose a serious
threat to human health.
• Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products
-evidence of low concentrations of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and
endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in the source water for many communities throughout the
United States and other developed nations.

• Nanoparticles
• Nanoparticles are very small particles ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers (nm) used for
applications such as the delivery of pharmaceuticals across the blood–brain barrier. Because
nanomaterials are relatively new and the current market is small, a knowledge base of the
potential health risks and environmental impacts of nanomaterials is lacking.

• In addition to the constituents listed above, other

constituents of emerging concern include (1) fuel by-
products and veterinary medications that originate
from concentrated animal-feeding operations.
Contaminants_ Heavy Metals
Contaminants_ Heavy Metals
 The steps that are typically involved in the selection and implementation of Water Treatment Plants are;

1. Characterization of the source water quality and definition of the treated water quality
goals or standards
2. Predesign studies, including pilot plant testing process selection, and development of
design criteria
3. Detailed design of the selected alternative;
4. Construction
5. Operation and maintenance of the completed facility

• The selection of which process or combination of processes to utilize is dependent on

several factors, including (1) the concentration of the constituent to be
removed or controlled, (2) the regulatory requirements, (3) the economics
of the processes, and (4) the overall integration of a treatment process in
the water supply system.
Main Challenges in Water Industry
• Deterioration of Raw Water Quality.
• Removal of resistant micro-organisms from Water (e.g Giardia).
• Demand for process flexibility

• (Schutte,2006 Editor)
Water Quality Concepts
• Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) is a health based goal set
at a level of safety to ensure no adverse effect on human health
(Hammer,2008).
• Based on Toxicology data.
• MCLG on cancer causing agents (carcinogenic) is set at zero in
drinking water.
• Multiple Barrier Concept is a system placed to prevent pathogens and
other contaminants from reaching water consumers.
 Water Treatment Processes
The Principle objective is to produce;

1. Water fit for human consumption(see

the Namibian Water Standards)
2. Reasonable Cost

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Standards for Potable water

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Water Treatment Processes
• Unit Processes- Those processes where a chemical or biological
changes takes place.eg. Coagulation
• Unit Operations- Changes in Water quality involving physical
phenomenon. e.g. Filtration.

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UNIT OPERATIONS/PROCESS
Physical Unit Operation
 Sedimentation
 Filtration
Chemical Unit Process
 Aeration and Oxidation
 Coagulation and Flocculation
 Disinfection
Schematic flow diagram used for
the treatment of surface water
Schematic flow diagram for a brackish water
desalting plant using membrane filtration and
reverse osmosis
Water Sampling
Types of Samples
1.Grab Samples:
• Collected at one time and one location.
• Are representatives of only the conditions at the time of
sampling.
• Must be used to determine : pH, dissolved oxygen, faecal
coliform concentrations.

• 2.Composite samples
• Consists of a series of individual grab samples collected
over a specified period of time in proportion to flow.
• Individual grab samples are mixed together to form a
composite sample.
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Global Agendas on Water and
Sanitation

GOAL 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation

for all.