CHEMCAL PROCESS INDUSTRIES WAH ENGINEERING COLLEGE

MUNICIPAL WATER TREATMENT PROCESS FLOWCHART

Following are the step wise description of this flowchart is described below:
 COLLECTION:
The source water for a municipal surface water treatment plant is typically a local river, lake, or reservoir. There
must be a method to get this water to the water treatment plant. Quite often, a series of pumps and pipelines
transport the water to the treatment plant.
Larger water supplies serving many properties or commercial or industrial premises usually have shared
upstream treatment systems similar in principle to those used at municipal water treatment works. This means
that water is fully treated before being supplied to a distribution system from where it will go on to feed
consumers. Smaller supplies, such as those feeding individual properties, would normally still be expected to
have a suitable form of treatment situated.

 CHEMICAL ADDITION:
Chemicals used as coagulants in drinking-water treatment include aluminium and iron salts, such as
aluminium sulfate, polyaluminium chloride or ferric sulfate. ... Sometimes organic polymers, known as
coagulant aids, are used to assist with coagulation.
In this process, a chemical is added that reacts with the natural alkalinity in solution to form an insoluble
precipitate. There are many different chemicals on the market that are used in this process. These chemicals are
called coagulants. One of the most common that has been used for many years is aluminum sulfate, or alum,
hydrated lime, activated carbon.

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 CHEMCAL PROCESS INDUSTRIES WAH ENGINEERING COLLEGE

Addition of chlorine is called CHLORINATION. Chlorination is the process of adding chlorine to drinking
water to disinfect it and kill germs. Different processes can be used to achieve safe levels of chlorine in
drinking water. Chlorine is available as compressed elemental gas, sodium hypochlorite solution (NaOCl) or
solid calcium hypochlorite (Ca(OCl)2

 COGULATION AND FLOCULATION:

During coagulation, liquid aluminium sulfate (alum) and/or polymer is added to untreated (raw) water. When
mixed with the water, this causes the tiny particles of dirt in the water to stick together or coagulate. Next,
groups of dirt particles stick together to form larger, heavier particles called flocs which are easier to remove by
settling or filtration.

 SEDIMENTATION AND CLARIFICATION:

As the water and the floc particles progress through the treatment process, they move into sedimentation basins
where the water moves slowly, causing the heavy floc particles to settle to the bottom. Floc which collects on
the bottom of the basin is called sludge, and is piped to drying lagoons. In Direct Filtration, the sedimentation
step is not included, and the floc is removed by filtration only.

 FILTRATION:
Water flows through a filter designed to remove particles in the water. The filters are made of layers of sand and
gravel, and in some cases, crushed anthracite. Filtration collects the suspended impurities in water and enhances
the effectiveness of disinfection. The filters are routinely cleaned by backwashing.

 STORAGE:
Once the disinfection process is complete, the water is stored. Storage usually takes place in an underground
storage tank called a “clear well”, and also in elevated storage tanks that are visible around town. There must
always be an ample supply of water available in the event of emergencies. These can include power outages,
fires, floods, etc.

 DISTRIBUTION:
So how does the water come out of your kitchen tap? The stored water is pushed through underground
pipelines all over town in what is called a “distribution system”. The distribution system consists of large water
pumps at the treatment plant, overhead water storage tanks, large pipelines, smaller pipelines, fire hydrants,
valves, and water meters in your front yard.