ADVANCED WASTEWATER

ENGINEERING
WATER TREATMENT

What is the purpose of

water treatment???
WATER TREATMENT
Q: What is the purpose of water treatment?

 The purpose of water treatment is to

provide potable water that is palatable.
WATER TREATMENT
Q: What is the purpose of water treatment?

POTABLE WATER refers to water that is

healthy for human consumption and free of
harmful microorganisms and organic and
inorganic compounds that either cause
adverse physiological effects or do not
taste good.
WATER TREATMENT
Q: What is the purpose of water treatment?

PALATABLE describes water that is

aesthetically acceptable to drink or free
from turbidity, color, odor, and
objectionable taste.

NOTE: Water that is palatable may not be

safe.
CHARACTERISTIC OF UNTREATED
WATER
Typical
General
Specific Constituents Concentration
Classification
Range
Major Inorganic Calcium (Ca2+), Chloride (Cl-), 1 – 1000 mg/L
Constituents Fluoride (F-), Iron (Fe2+),
Manganese (Mn2+), Nitrate (NO3-),
Sodium(Na+), Sulfur (SO42-, HS-)
Minor Inorganic Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Lead, 0.1 – 10 µg/L
Constituents Mercury, Nickel, Zinc, Arsenic
Naturally Occurring Naturally occurring organic matter 0.1 – 20 mg/L
Organic Compounds (NOM) that is measured as total
organic carbon (TOC)
Anthropogenic Organic Synthetic organic chemicals (SOCs) Below 1 µg/L
Constituents and emerging chemicals of concern and up to tens
used in industry, households, and of mg/L
agriculture (e.g. benzene, vinyl
chloride, alachor)
Living Organisms Bacteria, Algae, Viruses Millions
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
NATURAL WATER
Physical Characteristics
TURBIDITY Turbidity measures the optical clarity of water. It is caused by
the scattering and absorbance of light by suspended particles in
the water.

A turbidimeter is used to measure the interference of the light

passage through water. Turbidity is reported in terms of
nephelometric turbidity units (NTU).

WHO reports that a turbidity of <5NTU is usually acceptable but

may vary depending upon the availability and resources for
treatment. In US, many water utilities aim to treat water to
<0.1NTU.
COLOR Color is categorized as apparent or true color. Apparent color
is measured on unfiltered samples, so it includes the color
imparted by turbidity. True color is measured on a water sample
passed through a 40 µm filter.

Color is imparted to water by dissolved organic matter, natural

metallic ions such as iron and manganese, and turbidity.

Most people can detect color at greater than 15 true color units
in a glass.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
NATURAL WATER
Physical Characteristics
PARTICLES Particles in natural waters are solids larger than molecules
but are generally not distinguished by the unaided eye. They
may adsorb toxic metals or synthetic organic chemicals.

Water treatment considers particles in the size range 0.001 –

100 µm. Particles larger than 1 µm are called suspended
solids, while particles between 0.001 and 1 µm can be
considered colloidal particles. Constituents smaller than
0.001 µm are called dissolved particles.

NOM comprises colloidal particles and dissolved organic carbon

(DOC). The DOC is the portion of NOM that can be filtered
through a 0.45 µm filter. It is not classified in terms of
size.
TASTE AND Taste and odor can originate from dissolved natural organic or
ODOR inorganic constituents and biological sources present in raw
waters. They can also be an outcome of the water treatment
process.
TEMPERATURE Surface water temperatures may vary from 0.5 - 3°C in the
winter and 23 - 27°C in the summer. Groundwater can vary from
2 - 25°C depending upon location and well depth.
MAJOR AND MINOR INORGANIC
CONSTITUENTS
Problem in Water Range in
Constituent Source
Supply Natural Waters
Calcium and Surface water Above 60 mg/L can be For Ca2+, less
magnesium and groundwater considered nuisance than 1 mg/L to
as hardness. more than 500
mg/L.

Surface water
concentrations of
Mg2+ are less than
10 up to 20 mg/L.
Groundwater
concentrations
are less than 30
up to 40 mg/L.
Chloride Surface water Above 250 mg/L can Typical surface
and groundwater; impart salty taste. water is usually
saltwater Below 50 mg/L can be less than 10
intrusion corrosive to some mg/L.
metals.
MAJOR AND MINOR INORGANIC
CONSTITUENTS
Problem in Water Range in
Constituent Source
Supply Natural Waters
Fluoride Surface water Toxic to humans at For surface water
and groundwater concentrations of 250 with total
– 450 mg/L; fatal at dissolved solids
Some water concentrations above (TDS)
utilities add 4 g/L. concentrations
fluoride in the less than 1000
form of sodium mg/L, fluoride is
fluoride or usually less than
hydrofluorosilic 1 mg/L.
acid at doses of
about 1 mg/L.
Nitrate Surface water Very high nitrate
and groundwater concentrations may
can contain high produce infant
concentrations methemoglobinemia.
of nitrate from
runoff from
fertilizers
found in urban
and agricultural
watersheds.
MAJOR AND MINOR INORGANIC
CONSTITUENTS
Problem in Water Range in
Constituent Source
Supply Natural Waters
Iron and Surface water Taste threshold of In oxygenated
manganese and groundwater iron for many surface waters,
consumers is around the concentration
0.01 mg/L. Iron can of total iron is
impart a brownish usually less than
color to laundry and 0.5 mg/L. In
bathroom fixtures. groundwater that
has low
Manganese ion can bicarbonate and
impart a dark brown dissolved oxygen,
color. At iron
concentrations around concentrations
0.4 mg/L, manganese can range from 1
can impart an – 10 mg/L.
unpleasant taste to
the water and can The concentration
stain laundry and of manganese ion
fixtures. in surface water
and groundwater
may be less than
1 mg/L.
MAJOR AND MINOR INORGANIC
CONSTITUENTS
Problem in Water Range in
Constituent Source
Supply Natural Waters
Sulfur Surface water Groundwater low in Sulfate
and groundwater dissolved oxygen can concentrations in
contain reduced freshwater can
sulfur compounds, approach 10 mg/L.
which impart
objectionable odors
such as that of
rotten eggs. Sulfates
are also corrosive in
concrete structures
and pipes.
MAJOR ORGANIC CONSTITUENTS
Organic constituents found in water can either be naturally
occurring or associated with human activities.

 NOM in water is the result of the complexation of soluble

organic material derived from biochemical degradation of
vegetation in the surrounding environment.
 SOCs are anthropogenic organic constituents found in water
that are associated with industrial activity, land use by
agriculture, urban runoff, and municipal effluents from
wastewater treatment plants.
MAJOR ORGANIC CONSTITUENTS
Water Treatment
Effect
Process
Disinfection NOM reacts with, and consumes, disinfectants,
which increases required dose to achieve
effective disinfection.
Coagulation NOM reacts with, and consumes, coagulants, which
increases required dose to achieve effective
turbidity removal.
Adsorption NOM adsorbs to activated carbon , which depletes
adsorption capacity of the carbon.
Membranes NOM adsorbs to membranes, clogging membrane pores
and fouling surfaces. This leads to decline in
water passed through the membrane.
Distribution NOM may lead to corrosion and slime growth in
system distribution systems (especially when oxidants
are used during treatment).
MICROBIAL CONSTITUENTS
WHO reports that diarrhea contributed 4.3 percent of the global
burden of disease in 2002. Of that 4.3 percent, 88 percent was
caused by unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene.

 Pathogens are microorganisms that cause sickness and disease.

Pathogens include many classes of microorganisms, among them
viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and helminths.
 Indicator organisms (such as coliforms) have been identified and
are used to monitor the microbial water quality.
 At present, EPA requires water utilities to monitor their water
distribution system monthly for total coliforms. The total coliform
rule maximum contaminant level is based on frequency of
detection (no more than 5 percent for systems collecting at least
40 samples per month) or the combination of a positive E. coli.
Sample (or fecal coliforms) with a positive total coliform sample.