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The water treatment is made up of various stages or unit processes combined to form one treatment system.

The initial stage in the wastewater treatment process (following collection and influent pumping) is preliminary
treatment. Raw influent entering the treatment plant may contain many kinds of materials (trash). The purpose of
preliminary treatment is to protect plant equipment by removing these materials that could cause clogs, jams, or
excessive wear to plant machinery. In addition, the removal of various materials at the beginning of the treatment
process saves valuable space within the treatment plant. Typical pretreatment processes include the following:
1. Removal of debris from water from rivers and reservoirs that would clog pumping equipment..
3. Chemical treatment of reservoirs to control the growth of algae and other aquatic growths that could result in taste
and odor problems.
4. Presedimentation to remove excessively heavy silt loads prior to the treatment processes.
. Aeration to remove dissolved odor-causing gases, such as hydrogen sulfide and other dissolved gases or volatile
constituents, and to aid in the oxidation of iron and manganese. (manganeseor high concentrations of iron are not
removed in detention provided in conventional aeration units).
6. Chemical oxidation of iron and manganese, sulfides, taste- and odor-producing compounds, and organic
precursors that may produce trihalomethanes upon the addition of chlorine.
7. Adsorption for removal of tastes and odors.
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The purpose of screening is to remove large solids, such as rags, cans, rocks, branches, leaves, roots, etc., from the
flow before the flow moves on to downstream processes. A bar screen traps debris as wastewater influent passes
through. Typically, a bar screen consists of a series of parallel, evenly spaced bars or a perforated screen placed in a
channel. The wastestream passes through the screen and the large solids (screenings) are trapped on the bars for
removal. The bar screen may be coarse (0.2 to 6-in. openings) or fine (<0.2. openings). The bar screen may be
manually cleaned (bars or screens are placed at an angle of 30Ñ for easier solids removal; see Figure 18.2) or
mechanically cleaned (bars are placed at 4Ñ to 60Ñ angle to improve mechanical cleaner operation). The
screening method employed depends on the design of the plant, the amount of solids expected, and whether the
screen is for constant or emergency use only.
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-anually cleaned screens are cleaned at least once per shift (or often enough to prevent buildup that may cause
reduced flow into the plant) using a long tooth rake. Solids are manually pulled to the drain platform and allowed to
drain before storage in a covered container. The area around the screen should be cleaned frequently to prevent a
buildup of grease or other materials that can cause odors, slippery conditions, and insect and rodent problems.
Because screenings may contain organic matter as well as large amounts of grease they should be stored in a
covered container. Screenings can be disposed of by burial in approved landfills or by incineration.
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-echanically cleaned screens use a mechanized rake assembly to collect the solids and move them (carry them) out
of the wastewater flow for discharge to a storage hopper. The screen may be continuously cleaned or cleaned on a
time or flow controlled cycle. As with the manually cleaned screen, the area surrounding the mechanically operated
screen must be cleaned frequently to prevent buildup of materials, which can cause unsafe conditions. Screenings
from mechanically operated barscreens are disposed of in the same manner as screenings from manually operated
screens. These include landfill disposal, incineration, or the process of grinding into smaller particles for return to
the wastewater flow.

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As an alternative to screening, shredding can be used to reduce solids to a size that can enter the plant without
causing mechanical problems or clogging. Shredding processes include comminution (comminute means cut up) and
barminution devices.
 
 

The comminutor is the most common shredding device used in wastewater treatment. In this device all the
wastewater flow passes through the grinder assembly. The grinder consists of a screen or slotted basket, a rotating or
oscillating cutter, and a stationary cutter. Solids pass through the screen and are chopped or shredded between the
two cutters. The comminutor will not remove solids, which are too large to fit through the slots, and it will not
remove floating objects. These materials must be removed manually. -aintenance requirements for comminutors
include aligning, sharpening and replacing cutters.
  
 

In barminution, the barminutor uses a bar screen to collect solids that are shredded and passed through the bar screen
for removal at a later process. In operation each device¶s cutter alignment and sharpness are critical factors in
effective operation. Cutters must be sharpened or replaced and alignment must be checked in accordance with
manufacturer¶s recommendations. Solids, which are not shredded, must be removed daily, stored in closed
containers, and disposed of by burial or incineration. Barminutor operational problems are similar to those listed
above for comminutors.


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The purpose of grit removal is to remove the heavy inorganic solids that could cause excessive mechanical wear.
Grit is heavier than inorganic solids and includes, sand, gravel, clay, egg shells, coffee grounds, metal filings, seeds,
and other similar materials. There are several processes or devices used for grit removal. All of the processes are
based on the fact that grit is heavier than the organic solids, which should be kept in suspension for treatment in
following processes. Grit removal may be accomplished in grit chambers or by the centrifugal separation of sludge.
Processes use gravity and velocity, aeration, or centrifugal force to separate the solids from the wastewater.