Water treatment plants employ a series of processes to make water safe and clean for consumption, starting with steps to remove solid particles.
Initial Steps: Coagulation and Flocculation
A fundamental part of cleaning water involves adding special chemicals that help group small impurities together. According to information on water treatment, plant staff add chemicals to the water that help bind together dirt and other small particles. This process, often referred to as coagulation, uses chemicals that attract and neutralize the negative charges on particles, allowing them to stick to each other.
Common chemicals used for this purpose include specific types of salts, aluminum, or iron.
After these chemicals are added and the particles begin to clump together, the next step is flocculation. As described in the process, Flocculation is next. Flocculation is the gentle mixing of the water to form larger, heavier particles called flocs. This slow, controlled stirring encourages the newly formed, tiny clumps of particles to collide and combine, creating larger, more easily settled masses known as flocs.
These flocs are much larger and heavier than the original individual particles, making them easier to remove in subsequent treatment stages like sedimentation and filtration.
Here's a simple overview of these initial stages:
| Step | Action | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Coagulation | Chemicals (salts, aluminum, iron) are added | Small particles begin to bind together |
| Flocculation | Water is gently mixed | Bound particles form larger clumps (flocs) |
By using chemical addition followed by gentle mixing, water treatment plants effectively gather microscopic dirt and particles into visible, manageable flocs, preparing the water for further purification.
