Gravity Filtration

Gravity filters are commonly used in applications where liquid-solids separation is required in a
variety of different applications for finish water treatment. Gravity filters can incorporate various
types of media such as silica sand, anthracite coal, greensand, and granular activated carbon
(GAC) to meet each plants water treatment needs. In addition, gravity filters allow for easy
inspection during operation and typically have a smaller profile.
Process
Conventional Gravity Filters provide three stages of water treatment consisting of flocculation,
clarification, and filtration. Conventional filters are recommended for raw waters with turbidity
greater than 5 NTU and/or colour greater than 20 TCU.

Gravity Filtration
A

diagram of a typical rapid sand filter is shown above. The filter is contained within a filter box,
usually made of coated steel, stainless steel or aluminum. Inside the filter box are layers of filter
media (sand, anthracite, etc.) and gravel. Below the gravel, a network of pipes makes up the
underdrain which collects the filtered water and evenly distributes the backwash water.
Backwash troughs help distribute the influent water and are also used in backwashing.
Operation: The influent flows down through the sand and support gravel and is captured by the
underdrain. Because of the relatively clear influent water in a rapid sand filter due to
coagulation/flocculation and sedimentation, rapid sand filters operate much more quickly and
efficiently. In rapid gravity filtration the particulate impurities are removed in or on the media,
thus causing the filter to clog after a period. Clogged filters are cleaned by backwashing.

Backwashing: Is the process of reversing the flow of water through the filter media to remove
the entrapped solids. Napier-Reids backwashing procedure comprises the application of air and
water simultaneously to obtain the most efficient wash process. As soon as most particles are
washed out and the backward flowing water is clear, the filter is put back to operation. Clearly,

relatively large quantities of sludge are generated through backwashing and require some form of
treatment before discharge into the environment. The filtered water collects in the clearwell,
where it is disinfected and then sent to the customers.
Filter Media: The filter media is the part of the filter which removes particles from the water
being treated. The gravel at the bottom of the filter is not part of the filter media, it provides a
support between the underdrains and the media and allows an even flow of water during filtering
and backwashing.

The sand used in rapid sand filters is coarse sand. In many cases, multiple types of media are
layered within the filter. Typically, the layers (starting at the bottom of the filter and advancing
upward) are sand and anthracite coal, or garnet, sand, and anthracite coal. The picture above
shows a cross-section through a dual media filter. The media in a dual or multi-media filter must
have varying density as well as varying pore size so that they will sort back into the correct
layering arrangement after backwashing. Anthracite coal is a very light (low density) coal which
will settle slowly, ending up as the top layer of the filter.