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FILTRATION

The purpose of filtration is to remove suspended particles from water

by passing the water through a medium such as sand. As the water
passes through the filter, flock and impurities get stuck in the sand and
the clean water goes through. The filtered water collects in the
clearwell, where it is disinfected and then sent to the customers.

Surface water with low turbidity and low colour can treat by
DIRECT FILTRATION - there is no sedimentation prior filtration.
When chemicals used rapid mixing is needed and flocculation stage is
either eliminated or reduced mixing time less than 30 min.
The water quality standards needed for direct filtration varied, but
example quality standard of colour (mgPt/l) and turbidity (NTU) must
be under 25. Often pilot testing is valuable in determining the efficiency
of direct filtration to conventional treatment.
- filtration rate 3-10 m/h
- cheaper than conventional treatment and chemical costs lower

Direct filtration can be used also example when remove Fe from

groundwater (oxidation by air or by chemicals before).
Rapid sand filter (high-rate granular media filtration)
Filtration is usually the final step in the solids removal process which
began with coagulation and advanced through flocculation and
sedimentation. In the filter, up to 99.5% of the suspended solids in the
water can be removed, including minerals, floc, and microorganisms.

In direct filtration it is not sensible to dose metal based coagulant prior

filtration as this would itself impose a heavy solids loading on the
filters, leading short filter runs. Thus the coagulant normally used is a
polymer dosed at low rate, like.
Filter construction http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf8Rn_W6sys

Polymers used two main types. Moderate molecular weight cationic

polymers (DADMA) are added ahead of flocculation to strengthen the
floc while relatively high molecular weight nonionic polymers
(polyacrylamides) are added just before filtration to aid in floc removal.
Polymer aids can be troublesome in some respects. The powdered form
of the polymer is very slippery, so spills should be cleaned up quickly.
In addition, extended use of polymer aids may gum up the filters. As a
result, polymer aids are often used like coagulant aids - in extreme
situations to improve the water quality for a short time.
Another type of filtration, known as in-line filtration (kontaktisuodatin), involves operating the filters without flocculation or
sedimentation. A coagulant chemical is added to the water just before
filtration and coagulation occurs in the filter. In-line filtration is often
used with pressure filters, but is not as efficient with variable turbidity
and bacteria levels as conventional filtration is.
Requirements
Filtration is now required for most water treatment systems. In US
there is requirement that filters must reduce turbidity to less than
0.5 NTU in 95% of each month's measurements and the finished water
turbidity must never exceed 5 NTU in any sample.
As you will recall, TURBIDITY alone does not have health
implications. So, why the strict regulations? Although turbidity is not
harmful on its own, turbid water is difficult to disinfect for a variety of
reasons. Microorganisms growing on the suspended particles may
be hard to kill using disinfection while the particles themselves may
chemically react with chlorine, making it difficult to maintain a
chlorine residual in the distribution system. Turbidity can also cause
deposits in the distribution system that create tastes, odors, and
bacterial growths.

However, turbid drinking water has other troublesome implications as

well. Sand filtration removes some cyst-forming microorganisms,
such as Giardia which cannot be killed by traditional chlorination.
Cysts are resistant covers which protect the microorganism while it
goes into an inactive state.

In US regulations require that at least 99.9% of Giardia cysts and

99.99% of viruses be removed from drinking water. Since it is difficult
to test directly for these microorganisms, turbidity in water can be used
as an indicator for their presence. By requiring a low turbidity in the
finished water, treatment plants are ensuring that few or no Giardia are
present in finished drinking water.
In a few locations, surface waters are used for domestic purposes
without filtration. In these situations, the water is obtained from a
watershed which includes only undeveloped areas. The watershed is
patrolled and carefully managed to prevent contamination.
MECHANISMS OF FILTRATION
There is many mechanisms in filtration and many kind of classificate
them, here one way to classificate those most important for water
purification.

Straining

Adsorption

Passing the water through a filter in which the pores are smaller than the
particles to be removed. The picture below shows an example of
straining in a filter, the floc cannot fit through the gaps between the sand
particles, so the floc are captured. The water is able to flow through the
sand, leaving the floc particles behind.

The second, and in many cases the most important mechanism of

filtration, is adsorption. Adsorption is the gathering of gas, liquid, or
dissolved solids onto the surface of another material, as shown below:

In many cases, the pores between sand particles in the filter are much
larger than the particles captured by the filter. It has been suggested that
small particles become wedged between sand grains as filtration occurs,
making the pore spaces smaller and allowing the filter to strain out yet
smaller particles. However, a clean filter will produce clean water
before any of this pore size-reduction has occurred. Therefore, it is
now believed that straining is not an important part of most filtration
processes.

Coagulation takes advantage of the mechanism of adsorption when

small floc particles are pulled together by van der Waal's forces. In
filtration, adsorption involves particles becoming attracted to and
"sticking" to the sand particles. Adsorption can remove even very small
particles from water.

Biological Action
The third mechanism of filtration is biological action, which involves
any sort of breakdown of the particles in water by biological processes.
This may involve decomposition of organic particles by algae, plankton,
diatoms, and bacteria or it may involve microorganisms eating each
other. Although biological action is an important part of filtration in
slow sand filters, in most other filters the water passes through the
filter too quickly for much biological action to occur.

Absorption
The final mechanism of filtration is absorption, the soaking up of one
substance into the body of another substance. Absorption should be a
very familiar concept - sponges absorb water, as do towels.
In a filter, absorption involves liquids being soaked up into the sand
grains, as shown below:

After the initial wetting of the sand, absorption is not very important in
the filtration process

A electron photomicrograph of the complex biological matrix found in

the schumtzdecke, or biolayer, in a slow sand filter

Plastic carrier large surface to grow for micro-organisms

Some mechanisms whereby particles in a flow of water thorough a

filter may come into contact with a particle of filter media
RAPID FILTERS / Reduction efficiency
In practice those sand filters have grain size ca 1 mm and overflow
rate some 6 m/h, typical particle removal efficiency is shown next
picture. Very small particles are removed predominantly through
diffusion and large particles by straining. Particles around 1m are
removed largely by interception and sedimentation, and these processes
are less effective.

Collision mechanisms in a granular filter

Filter types
There is many ways of classification filter:
- open filters, pressure filters
- up flow down flow
- physical, chemical, biological filters
In here is discussed more of
- rapid filters (open & pressure) (physical filter) (pikasuodatin)
- slow sand filters ( flow rate so small that biological processes have
time to happen) (hidassuodatin)

Typical particle removal efficiency of granular filter

Those typical improvements what can be attained by rapid filtration to
water quality are ca:
Parameter
Before
After filtration
0,5
20
Turbidity (clay), mgPO2/l
5
50
Colour (Fe, humus) mgPt/l
5
30
KMnO4-number, mg/l
0,1
2
Fe (Fe(OH)3), mg/l
0,2
3
Al, (Al(OH)3), mg/l
15-99 % reduction
Microbe,giardia cyst,removal%

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Number of filters / size

For cost point of view, one filter is the most ideal. It is good to have at
least 2 filters parallel, so when 1 filter is in backwashing mode water
income filtering can directed to other filters. In this short time some
overloading of other filters is acceptable. Many times, however, four
filters are the minimum number that should be used to allow filter
washing and occasional need for filter to be out of use for
maintenance.
Filter can be quite big, 420 m2 have been reported. But practical
maximum size a filter is 90 m2provided the plant is not extremely large.
And many times it is better to do more smaller unit - example water
amout for backwashing is wery bin in big filters.
Construction

Open rapid gravity filter using a plenum floor

Open rapid filter: 1- water in, 2- filtrated water 3- backwash air

4- backwash water 5- backwash water out 6. sand 7- filter floor 8purified water tank
Backwash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsTuj9W-9h0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itfrOB2ech0
Water W http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whwEBxqa3yU

Rapid sand filters in water plant

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In single media filters the upper part of filter takes most of the
particles. this phenomena is boosted a by backwashing, when larger
grains settler faster .
Higher loading rates are possible with dual media filters /up around 12
m/h, or for coarse filters for manganese removal up around 15 m/h

Sandfilters&pipingsforbacwashingunderfilters

Used sand and overflow rate of open rapid filter

Grain size 0,8-1,2 mm
- thickness of sand 1,0 1,2 m
- overflow rate 5-6 m/h
- water surface min. 1,0 m up from sand surface
- max hydraulic loss in filtration 1,5 2,0 m

Many media filter,

Grain size 0,5-1,0 mm and 0,4-0,7 mm

- thickness of sand 0,7 1,0 m
- overflow rate 5-6 m/h
- water surface min. 1,0 1,25 m up from sand surface
- max hydraulic loss in filtration 1,5 2,0 m
Nowadays some bigger overflow rates has used, 6-8 m/s. The space
reserve for sand extending in backwashing is at least 50 % (outlet
channels). Outlet channels normal 0,7-1,0 m over the sand, weiroverflow rate 10-20 l/s/m.
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Very common is dual media filter, sand & anthracite (effective size =
d10, uniformity coefficient = d60/d10, number is sieve pass %)

Backwashing, basic types

Filters can run several days without washing. Quite typical is
backwashing once per day. Can control automatic by time, pressure loss
or water turbidity. Water used for bacwashing 2-4 % of treated water.

Various types of uderdrain systems, a) with gravel support b) without

gravel support (more popular).

1 water backwashing
- sand extend 30 - 50 %, water flow 10-15 l/m2/s (36-50 m/h)
- 10-20 min
2 water + air backwashing
- 5-10 min air 15- 20 l/m2/s (50-75 m/h) ja water 2-4- l/m2/s ( 7-15 m/h
- 5-10 min water 10-15 l/m2/s (36-50 m/h)
Air makes the abrasion between sand particles better

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Development of sub atmospheric pressure within gravity filter

Filter sand clogging from the top first. If the head loss in the sand at any
point exceed the static head of the water on the filter, sub atmospheric
pressure will be induced which may cause dissolved air to be given off
from the water and result in air binding of the filter. In poorly designed
or operated filters, this tends to happen at around the time that the filter
needs washing. Level control on the filtered water outlet such that
negative pressure cannot develop in the bed is easy way of avoid that.

Sometimes it is used surface agitators with up flow water.

Development of negative pressure in rapid gravity filter. Lines 1 to 2

represents the change in pressure through the filter as the media
becomes blinded. Line 5 results in the development of negative pressure
within the media.

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Performance during working period

Rapid gravity filter can produce relatively high turbidity water (up 0,5
1 NTU) after backwashing. This should drop rapidly to around 0,2 NTU
or less around 30 min. the turbidity of water grows then along using
time when the filtering capacity of media is approached.

Using cycle of gravity sand filter. Those peaks of loss of head are
typically in the time when other filters are backwashed and the flow
grows temporary.

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Good in small water plants possible to have only one pumping.

PRESSURE FILTERS

In communal use normal upright cylinder , height 2-4 m.

- thickness of sand 0,8 2,5 m
- overflow rate 7-10 m/h (7 m/h common)
- sand extending in backwashing ca 50 %
- pressure same than in water network
- backwashing water 8-15 l/m2/s
- backwashing air (if used) 15 l/m2/s
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INVERTED FILTERS (knteissuodatin)

CONTINUOUS FILTRATION

Up flow filter where in bottom is coarser filter media. Overflow rate

without grate 6-8 m/h and whit grate 15-30 m/h. (arinallinen (grate)
knteissuodatin)

The DynaSand filter is based on the counter flow principle.

The water to be treated (red arrow) is admitted through the
inlet distributor (1) in the lower section of the unit and is
cleaned as it flows upwards through the sand bed, prior to
discharge (blue arrow) through the filtrate outlet (2) at the
top. The sand containing the entrapped solids is conveyed
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from the tapered bottom section of the unit (3), by means of

an airlift pump (4), to the sand washer (5) at the top.
Cleaning of the sand commences in the pump itself where
impurities are separated from the sand grains by the
turbulent mixing action. The contaminated sand spills from
the pump outlet into the washer labyrinth (6) in which it is
washed by a small counter current flow of clean water. The
separated solids (brown arrow) are discharged through the
wash water outlet (7), while the grains of clean sand (which
are heavier) are returned to the sand bed (8). As a result,
the bed is in slow, constant downward motion through the
unit. Compressed air for the sand pump is provided by via
the control panel.
Thus, water purification and sand washing both take place
continuously enabling the filter to remain in service without
interruption. Can operates rates up 15 m/h, depending of use.

Process water treatment to a box board manufacturing plant.

Nearest place where used in water plant: Meri Lapin Vesi.

SLOW SAND FILTER (hidassuodatin)

Drinking water treatment.

Industrial effluent treatment and water supply.
Recovery and reuse of water.
Treatment of wastewater before discharge.

SlowsandfilterboostedbyGAC

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SlowsandfilterinVaasawaterworks

biologicalfilter
usedonlytreatmentforgoodrawwaterorsecondarytreatmentfortaste
enhance
water0,71,0moverthesand
overflowrate540cm/h(normal1020cm/h)
maturationcantake36weekstimebiologyneedforstart
whenlossofhead4060cm,skim(peel)23cmtopsand,whensandlayer
near70cmsandwashing/replace
insideoroutsideoutsideskimmingnotinwinter(only2times/year)

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Accessrampandslowsandfilter

Underdraininstallation

Typicalslowsandplantlayout

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Onthegroundbuildslowsandfilter

DIATOMACEOUSAEARTHFILTERS
arecompact,highefficiencyfilterswhicharesuitableforarmiesinthefield,
swimmingpoolsandmeetingshorttermemergenciesandinindustry.
Theyaresmallanddependingonthedepositionoffilterpowdersof
diatomaceousearthontheporousfiltercandlesfortheirfilteringaction.They
cannotdealwithhighlyturbideatersandbecauseextremelyhighheadlosesin
thefiltertheirrunningcostsarehigh.

Sievegraphofgoodslowsandfiltersand.Itwouldbegoodifthesandusedin
slowsandfilterwouldbequitenearsievegraphover,where.

0,35mm
d10
2,5
d60/d10
<0,2mm
<1%
>2mm
<1%
Fe<1%&nohumusorimpurities

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