DOMESTIC WATER TREATMENT

Requirements for potable water Drinking or potable water should be Clear,colourless and odourless turbidity not > 10 ppm Free from objectionable minerals & dissolved gases Desirable pH ~ 7.5 8.0 TDS < 500 ppm Free from disease causing microorganisms Free from Pb, As, Cr, Mn, Fe etc. Hardness < 125 ppm

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Potable water / Domestic water / Municipal water Treatment Raw Water from river / lake / pond / well

Process: Screening Aim: To remove large debris, and floating particles by passing through bars / rods

Process: Sedimentation Aim : To remove suspended solids by retaining water in settling tanks

Process: Coagulation Aim : To remove colloidal impurities by adding chemicals such as alum

Process: Filtration Aim : To remove any residual solids, colour & odour by passing through sand filter

Process: Disinfection Aim : To remove pathogenic micro organisms by treating with Cl2 / UV

Storage & Distribution

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Screening The bar racks and screens are used to remove floating particles like leaves, plastic, wood pieces etc.

Sedimentation Water is allowed to stand undisturbed in settling tanks, about 5m deep. The suspended particles settle down at the bottom due to gravitational force The retention period in sedimentation tank ranges from 2-6 hours depending on the quantity of suspended impurity

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Coagulation / Flocculation Chemical coagulation and flocculation are used to produce a flocculent precipitate that encapsules the colloidal and suspended solids in the water. The precipitate is removed by gravitational sedimentation. The commonly used coagulants are alum, sodium aluminate and ferrous sulphate. Alum: Al2(SO4)3 + 6H2O 2Al (OH)3 + 3H2SO4

Sodium aluminate: NaAlO2 + 2H2O Al (OH)3 + NaOH

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Filtration Filtration is used to remove any residual solids remaining after sedimentation. It is done in Sand filters. The water is passed through a bed of fine sand placed over coarse sand layer and gravel. During filtration the sand pores get clogged, due to retention of impurities in the pores. When the process becomes slow the top sand layer is scrapped off and washed with water, dried and reused.

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Disinfection Disinfection is used for destroying pathogenic micro organisms. The chemicals added for killing the bacteria are called disinfectants. Disinfection can be carried out by following methods: Boiling Bleaching powder Chlorination Chloramines Ozonation UV treatment

Bleaching powder About 1kg of bleaching powder per 1000 kilolitres of water is mixed and water is allowed to stand for several hours. The chemical reaction produces hypochlorous acid a germicide which destroys the germs. CaOCl2 + H2O Ca (OH)2 + Cl2 Cl2 + H2O HCl + HOCl Germs + HOCl Germs are killed

Break-point chlorination Break point chlorination is addition of just sufficient amount of chlorine to oxidise organic matter, reducing substances and free ammonia in raw water, leaving behind mainly free chlorine, which possesses disinfecting action against pathogenic bacteria.

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Break Point Chlorination look The Breakpointanother

Chlorine is reduced to chlorides by easily oxidizable stuff (H2 S, Fe2+, etc.) Chloramines Cl2 consumed by broken down reaction with & converted organic to nitrogen matter. If gas which NH3 is leaves the present, system chloramine Breakpoint. formation begins.

Chlorination: Chlorine gas is used. The Process is carried out in a chlorinator. Cl2 + H2O HCl + HOCl Germs + HOCl Germs are killed

Chlorination

Advantages

Disadvantages

Broad Spectrum

Corrosive

Kills Spores and Phage

Irritating to Skin, eyes and mucous membrane

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Liquid or Powder

In some cases leads to stomach dysfunction Very Sensitive to pH

Acceptable for Hard Water

Inexpensive

Sensitive to Organics And has to be preserved 120 F.

Chloramine ClNH2 + H2O HOCl + NH3 Ozonation Ozone is highly unstable and breaks down, liberating nascent oxygen. O3 O2 + [O] [O] + Germs kills the germs Nascent oxygen is a powerful oxidizing agent. 2 - 3 ppm dosage is injected in a sterilizing tank. 10 -15 min contact time

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Advantages Ozone has a greater disinfection effectiveness against bacteria and viruses compared to chlorination. It simultaneously removes colour, odour and taste without giving any residue. It also removes hydrogen sulphide ,manganese and iron Ozone in excess is not harmful, since it is unstable and decomposes into oxygen No detrimental environmental impact Disadvantage Expensive method hence not used for municipal water supply No residual disinfecting effects to keep water disinfected to customer Lesser solubility in water compared to chlorine so special mixing technique has to be employed Potential fire hazards and toxicity issues are associated with ozone generation. Some by products formed during ozonation are carcinogenic Ultraviolet light treatment UV light method of disinfection is economical for disinfecting water only in a small scale. UV light from mercury vapour lamp is capable of destroying all microorganisms within a short time of 10 -20 seconds thereby disinfecting water.

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Mechanism of action The UV light disrupts the DNA in the microorganisms. This inactivates the cells and prevents their multiplication. Thus destroy them completely and effectively The advantages of UV disinfection disinfection without adding chemicals does not change the taste minimal maintenance immediate treatment without the need for holding in tanks low power consumption Inexpensive if sun rays are used as UV light source

Disadvantages No residual disinfecting ( ie. No continued effect) Costly if electrically powered UV lamps are used The colloidal suspension has to be removed by filtration before subjection to UV treatment since they absorb UV light and reduce the amount of radiation available for disinfection.

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Comparison of different methods of treatment

Ozone Treatment

UV Treatment

Chemical Method

Physical Method

In addition to killing micro organisms it also removes colour, odour, H2S, Fe, Mn etc

It only disinfects

Potential Fire Hazard

No such danger

Some by products are carcinogenic

No by products are formed

Expensive

Economic if sunlight is used as source or else as expensive as ozone treatment

Any type of water can be treated

Turbid water cannot be treated

Both are carcinogenic if contacted

No sustained effect (Both are effective only as long as the water is in contact)

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