MODULE III

TREATMENT OF WATER

TYPES OF TREATMENT

Screening
Sedimentation
Filtration
Disinfection
Aeration
Miscellaneous treatment for removal of colour, taste and odor
Treatment for removal of iron, manganese and hardness
Fluoridation & De-fluoridation

SEDIMENTATION
2 TYPES:
i) Plain sedimentation
or
Type I settling
ii)Sedimentation with coagulation
or
Type II settling

SEDIMENTATION TANKS
2 Types
i) Intermittent type
ii) Continuous flow type 2 types
ii a) Horizontal flow 3 types
Rectangular with longitudinal flow
Circular with central feed and radial flow

Circular with peripheral feed

ii b) Vertical or up-flow type

HORIZONTAL FLOW RECTANGULAR SEDIMENTATION TANK

HORIZONTAL FLOW CIRCULAR WITH CENTRAL FEED AND

RADIAL FLOW

HORIZONTAL FLOW CIRCULAR WITH PERIPHERAL FEED AND

SPIRAL FLOW

VERTICAL OR UPFLOW TANK

COAGULATION
Removal of suspended particles by destabilizing them and
forming precipitates or flocs which settle down.
Factors affecting coagulation
i) Type of coagulant
ii) Dose of coagulant
iii) Water characteristics temperature, pH, type & quantity of
suspended solids
iv) Extent & method of mixing

COAGULANTS
i) Aluminium sulphate
ii) Chlorinated copperas
iii) Copperas
iv) Sodium aluminate

Aluminium sulphate Al2(SO4)2. 18H2O

A12(SO4)3.18H2O + 3 Ca(HCO3)2 ------------> 2 Al(OH)3 + 3CaSO4 + 6 CO2
Aluminium hydroxide ppt

Copperas or Ferrous Sulphate FeSO4. 7 H2O

FeSO4 .7H2O+ Ca(HCO3)2 ------------> Fe(OH)2 + CaSO4 + 2CO2
Ferrous hydroxide ppt

Chlorinated Copperas Ferric sulphate & chloride[Fe2(SO4)3 &

FeCl3]
Fe2(SO4)3 + 3 Ca(HCO3)2 ------------> 2 Fe(OH)3 + 3CaSO4 + 6 CO2
Ferric hydroxide ppt
2 Fe Cl3 + 3 Ca(HCO3)2 ------------> 2 Fe(OH)3 + 3CaCl2 + 6CO2
Sodium Aluminate - Na2A12O4
Na2A12O4 + Ca(HCO3)2 -----------> CaAl2O4 + Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2

Units of Coagulation sedimentation plant

i) Feeding devices
ii) Mixing devices
iii) Flocculation tank or flocculators
iv) Sedimentation tanks

i) Feeding devices
a) Dry feeding devices

b)Wet feeding devices

ii) Mixing device

a) With baffle walls

ii) Mixing devices

b) With mechanical devices

iii) Flocculator

iv) Sedimentation basin

Coagulation sedimentation tank

FILTRATION
Types of filters:
i) Slow sand filter
ii) Rapid sand filter
a) Gravity filter
b) Pressure filter

i) Slow sand filter

Units of slow sand filter

i)Enclosure tank Rectangular open masonry tank
Slope 1 in 100 towards central drain
Depth 2.5 3.5 m
Plan area 10 - 2000 sq.m

ii) Filter media Sand layers placed over gravel

support
Depth 90 110 cm
D10 of sand 0.2 0.4 mm
Uniformity coefficient 1.8 -3

iii) Base material - gravel

Three to four layers each of 15 -20 cm depth
Coarsest layer at bottom of grain size 40 65mm
Intermediate layer of grain size 6-20mm, 20
40mm
Topmost layer of grain size 3 -6 mm

iv) Under drainage

v) Inlet and outlet arrangement Valve controlled chambers

for smooth entry and exit of water from plain
sedimentation tank
vi) Other appurtenances to measure head loss, constant
discharge, depth of water etc
Loading rate 100 200 L/ h/m2 of filter area
Efficiency High for bacterial removal (98 -99 %)
Less for colour removal
Turbidities < 50 60 mg/L

Operation
Water from sedimentation / coagulation tanks
inlet chamber filter layer lateral drains
central drain storage tank
Cleaning
Removal of top sand layer, washing and refilling.
Filling water from below to cover the sand layer.
Opening inlet and allowing to stand for 12 hrs
with filtration rate 1/5th of normal, 24 - 36 hrs with
filtration rate 1/3rd of normal before returning to
normal rate. Cleaning interval 30 to 90 days

ii) Rapid sand filter

2 types:
a) Rapid gravity filter
b) Pressure filter

i)Rapid gravity filter

Units of rapid sand filter

i) Enclosure tank Open watertight rectangular
masonry/concrete
Depth 2.5 to 3.5 m
No. of tanks, N = 1.22 (Q)1/2
where Q = Plant capacity in MLD
Area of each tank 20 to 80 m2
Minimum no. of units in each plant = 2

ii) Filter media Sand layer of D10 = 0.35 0.65 mm

Uniformity coefficient 1.3 to 1.7
Depth = 60 to 90 mm
Hudsons formula for min. depth to check against
breakthrough of floc
Qd3h/l = 29323Bi
where Q = Filtration rate in m3/m2/h
d = sand size in mm,
h = terminal head loss in m
l = depth of sand bed in m,
Bi = breakthrough index (0.0004 0.006)

iii) Base material For supporting sand &

uniformly distributing the wash water
Thickness 60 to 90 cm
5-6 layers of 10 15 cm thickness in gradation

iv) Under drainage

iv)Under drainage Manifold and lateral system

40 cm dia manifold along length of filter through
centre. 10 cm dia laterals at 90o in both
directions
2 types:
a) Perforated pipe
b) Pipe and strainer

v) Wash water troughs For carrying dirty water from

filter to the main gutter

CI, steel or concrete., Square, V shaped or semicircular

shape
Bottom 5 cm above top of expanded sand
Top (depth of sand) above sand layer
5cm free board

vi) Air compressor to supply air for agitation

of sand grains during backwash at a rate of
600 -800L/min/m2 filter area.
vii) Head loss indicators
Permissible negative head 0.8 1.2m
Permissible head loss 2.5 3.5m

vii) Rate controllers venturi type

Operational problems
1. Air binding
Caused by :
. Negative head,
. Increase in temperature,
. Oxygen release by algae
Control measures:
. Frequent cleaning to avoid excessive negative head,
. Controlling algal growth,
. Avoiding super-saturation with air

2. Mud ball formation

Caused by :
Sinking of atmospheric mud into sand bed during
washing
Control measures:
Mechanical rakes or water stream under pressure,
compressed air + manual raking,
Surface wash technique,
Use of caustic soda

3. Cracking of filter bed

Caused by : Shrinkage of fine sand layer on top
due to pressure on sand bed
Control measures : same as that for prevention of
mud ball formation

Use and efficiency

80 90% bacteria removal, turbidity 35 40
mg/L, colour upto 10 Burgess units
Economical, ie., best for public supplies in large
towns and cities. 30 times higher yield
compared to slow sand filters.
Rate of filtration - 3000 -6000L/h/m2 of filter
area

b) Pressure filters
i) Horizontal

Pressure filters
ii) Vertical

Aerators
3 Types:
a) Free fall or gravity aetrators
i) Cascade aerators
ii) Inclined apron aerators
iii) Slat tray aerators
iv) Gravel bed aerators or trickling beds
b) Spray aerators
c) Air Diffuser basins

a)Free fall or gravity aetrators

) i) Cascade aerators
) ii) Inclined apron aerators

Slat tray aerators

Gravel bed aerators

Trickling bed aerator