FILTRATION PROCESS TROUBLESHOOTING

Trigger Possible Actions Possible Process

Changes
Sources Water Quality Changes
Changes in :  Perform necessary analysis  Adjust coagulant dosage.
 Turbidity  Asses overall process performance  Adjust mixer/flocculator mixing intensity.
 Colour  Perform jar test  Change frequency of sludge removal
 pH  Increase frequency of monitoring (increase or decrease)
 Temperature  Verify responses to process changes  Change filtration rate (add or delete filters)
 Alkalinity  Add lime or caustic soda if alkalinity is low.  Adjust backwash cycle. (rate, duration)
 Chlorine demand

Clarification Process Quality Changes

Changes in :
 Turbidity or floc carryover
 Metal ion residual carryover.
 Asses overall performance.  Adjust coagulant dosage.
 Perform jar test.  Adjust mixer/flocculator mixing intensity.
 Check that selected chemical doses are being  Change frequency of sludge removal
applied. (increase or decrease)
 Change filtration rate (add or delete filters)
 Adjust backwash cycle. (rate, duration)

Changes resulting in :
 Head loss increase
 Short filter runs
 Media surface sealing
 Mudballs
 Filter media cracks, shrinkage
 Filter will not clean
 Media loss
 Excessive head loss
Changes resulting in :
 Turbidity breakthrough
 Color
 pH
 Chlorine demand
Filtration Problem
 Asses overall performance.
 Perform jar test.
 Verify responses to process changes
 Manually remove mudballs.
 Replenish loss media
 Check head loss indicator for correct
operations.
Filter Outflow Quality Changes
 Asses overall performance.
 Perform jar test.
 Verify process performance.
a) Coagulation-flocculation process
b) Clarification process
c) Filtration process
 Verify response to process changes at
appropriate time.
 Adjust coagulant dosage.
 Adjust mixer/flocculator mixing intensity.
 Change frequency of sludge removal
(increase or decrease)
 Decrease filtration rate
 Adjust backwash cycle. (rate, duration)
 Adjust coagulant dosage.
 Adjust mixer/flocculator mixing intensity.
 Change frequency of sludge removal
(increase or decrease)
 Decrease filtration rate
 Change chlorine dosage.