Raw water is considered to be raw until it is treated by a potable water treatment process which should be less expensive than treated water, but carries risk. Many companies use raw water system to ensure resourceful process with quality efficiency which can avoid costly, expensive maintenance.
What is a Raw Water Treatment System?
A system which is made up of various technologies that address specific Raw Water Treatment needs is called as raw water treatment system. Treating raw water is a dynamic process that needs up-gradation and avoids fluctuations. So, therefore, a well designed and efficient raw water treatment system should able to handle:
▪ Seasonal variation
▪ Understanding of water chemistry (water characteristics)
▪ Flow and turbidity of raw water
▪ Volume adjustment of raw water
What’s included in a basic Raw Water Treatment System?
Raw water treatment system depends on the quality of water being drawn from in relation to the quality of water needed, but in general, a basic raw water treatment system typically includes some type of:
▪ Suspended solids: Coagulation and Flocculation
▪ Larger solids: Settling
▪ Smaller particles: Filtration
How does a Raw Water Treatment System Work?
There are many treatment processes are available but typical raw water treatment technologies usually includes following steps:
1. Intake of Raw Water: Naturally and untreated raw water present in the environment comes from many sources that can be natural or man-made such as rivers, lakes, ponds, oceans, streams etc., when a plant draws water from surface, they pull it in through a screen to eliminate the larger objects.
2. Coagulation: When various chemicals are added to remove large and bulky suspended solids is called as coagulation process. This process starts with adding specific chemicals and takes out all finer particles present in the water by combining them and converting into heavier particles that leads to easy settling in water.
3. Flocculation: After completion of coagulation process, flocculation process starts, where the coagulated particles slowly mixed (stirred) together and create visible, settle able particles.
4. Sedimentation: The process in which solids particles settle down and lead to the formation of sludge blanket and after that solids particles are mixed and the sludge is pumped out from the bottom into de watering or sludge handling operations. Then, de-watering process takes place in which all the water is taken out from the sludge with filter press. Mostly water from this process is reused (added to the clarifier).
5. Filtration: It is process in which water overflow into gravity sand filters as these filters cover big areas because which includes finely crushed silica sand with jagged edges as they are kept around 3-5 feet of sand. The sand is typically used in the filter at a depth which is packed tightly.
ABOUT CHOKHAVATIA ASSOCIATES
Chokhavatia Associates have put up more than 39 years of experience with a global client base. Our services in the environmental sector include the concept of commissioning of Wastewater Treatment Plants for the industries and Sewage Treatment Plant, Effluent Treatment Plant, Operation and maintenance contracts of sewage/wastewater treatment plant, and supervision including turnkey installation of the complete plant, Environmental impact assessment studies, and design of water supply and sewerage systems for the Townships, Environmental Management Planning, and design of disposal structures. The services in the structural sector are for the structural design of treatment units and overhead tanks, designing of intake well and its construction and supervision, design of bridges, culverts, and ports.
This content was first posted on the Chokhavatia website.
