TYPES OF CHEMICALS USED AT WATER

TREATMENT PLANTS

Process / Quality
Treatment stage Chemical Dosing Maintenance
Control
Chlorine Chlorinator system Measurement of residual chlorine
Pre-treatment Hypochlorite Dosed as a solution via a positive Measurement of residual chlorine Regular cleaning of precipitate in
displacement dosing pump pipes to avoid blockages
or
Lime As a slurry using a pump or Measurement of pH Regular cleaning of suction and
Intermediate (e.g. before or powder using a screw feeder. discharge pipeworks.
after filtration) Clearing lime caking in screw
feeder.
Bentonite As a slurry, 0.5 to 3% Clarifier over flow turbidity Bentonite slurry can settle in
concentration using a positive Dose estimated by jar tests. delivery pipes and cause
displacement dosing pump Check floc size and settling rate. blockages.
Ozone Dosed as a gas into the raw water Residual ozone Needs careful maintenance
(not normally applied to small followed by a static mixer/ contact regularly
water treatment systems) tank
Potassium permanganate Dosed as a solution for Fe and Mn Measure Fe and Mn on the raw For manganese removal need to
removal, using a positive and final water every 4 hours maintain the permanganate dose
displacement pump at approx twice Mn level in raw
water (1.92 mg/permanganate per
mg/l Mn in raw water)

Activated carbon As a slurry using a positive Taste and odour in final water. Pump suction and delivery
displacement pump UV absorbance at 254nm blockages. Regular inspection
and cleaning required
Coagulation/Flocculation Organic polyelectrolytes May be diluted and dosed via a Jar tests Precipitation in suction and
Inorganic coagulants, (alum, ferric positive displacement pump. Turbidity of clarified water and delivery pipes. Needs regular
chloride) filtered water cleaning
Chlorine gas Chlorinator Residual chlorine Regular cleaning of suction and
Final water Hypochlorite Dosing pump delivery pipes to avoid blockages
HTH (calcium hypochlorite) Dry feeder or pumped as a slurry

PROBLEMS THAT MAY BE EXPERIENCED WITH

CHEMICALS
Possible
Chemical Potential problem Suggested remedies/actions
Causes
Chlorine No chlorine residual Incorrect measurement Check chlorine analyser
Chlorine tank empty Check for leakages
Chlorinator faulty Check chlorinator
High chlorine demand in raw water Increase chlorine dose
Determine chlorine demand
Hypochlorite No chlorine residual precipitate in pipes cause Check for blockages in delivery pipes
blockages
Lime Low pH Suction and discharge pipes Unblock pipes
blocked Clean screw feeder
lime caking in screw feeder.

Bentonite Poor settling in clarifier Blocked delivery pipes Check for blockages
Ozone No residual ozone in water Ozone analyser faulty Check ozone analyser
(not normally applied to Increase ozone demand Increase ozone dose
small water treatment Faulty ozonator Get technical support
systems)

Potassium permanganate High Fe and Mn Underdosing permanganate Check Mn in raw water and adjust
Water turns purple Overdosing permanganate permanganate dose accordingly.
Reduce permanganate dose

Activated carbon
Organic polyelectrolytes
Inorganic coagulants,
(alum, ferric chloride)
Taste and odour in final water
persistent
UV abs at 254nm high
No separation in clarifier
High final water turbidity
Underdosing carbon Increase dose. Check final water for taste
Pipe blockages and odour.
Check and clear pipe blockages
Precipitation in suction and Clear blocked pipes
delivery pipes. Do jar tests and optimise dosage
Over/underdosing Check and correct pH to working range
pH outside coagulant working
range