Environmental Engineering-I

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Zulfiqar Ali Khan

Engr. Muhammad Aboubakar Farooq

Department of Civil Engineering

The University of Lahore
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https://sites.google.com/site/ceeengg/

Water Treatment

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FILTRATION

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 FILTRATION
 It is the removal of suspended particles
from water by passing the water through
GRANULAR MEDIA.
 Most Commonly used media is Sand.
 Other Granular Medias are:
COAL, ANTHRACITE, ACTIVATED CARBON,
BURNT RICE HUSK, COCONUT FIBRE,
GLASS WOOL.

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 Why Filtration is required?
 To reduce turbidity of below 0.5NTU
(Max. 5NTU). As turbid water is difficult
to disinfect for a variety of reasons.
 Turbidity can also cause deposits in the
distribution system that create tastes,
odors, and bacterial growths.
 Due to Turbidity, Micro-organisms may
be hard to kill using disinfection, while
particles may react with Cl2 making
difficult to maintain Chlorine Residual. 5
 Why Filtration is required?
Sand filtration removes some cyst-forming
microorganisms, such as Giardia which
cannot be killed by traditional
chlorination. Cysts are resistant covers
which protect the microorganism while it
goes into an inactive state.

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 Location in Treatment Process
In the typical treatment process, filtration
follows sedimentation (if present) and
precedes disinfection. Depending on the
presence of flocculation and
sedimentation, treatment processes are
divided into three groups:
 Conventional Filtration,
 Direct Filtration,
 In-line filtration.
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 Mechanisms of Filtration
The removal of particles in a filter takes
place under two processes:
 TRANSPORTATION of particle to the
surface of the media.
 ATTACHMENT of particle after coming
in contact with media.
 BIOLOGICAL ACTION

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 Mechanisms of Filtration
TRANSPORTATION PROCESS (4 Phenomenon)
I. Gravitational:
The particle strikes the media under PULL
OF GRAVITY. Particle

Sand

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 Mechanisms of Filtration
TRANSPORTATION PROCESS (4 Phenomenon)
II. Interception:
The particle passing along the stream line
touches the media. Particles

Sand

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 Mechanisms of Filtration
TRANSPORTATION PROCESS (4 Phenomenon)
III. Brownian Movement:
Particles less than 1µm in size are removed
through this phenomenon. VIRUSES are
removed through this action.
Particle

Sand

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 Mechanisms of Filtration
TRANSPORTATION PROCESS (4 Phenomenon)
IV. Straining:
Particles bigger in size than the size of
VOIDS in the media are retained by
straining.
Void Dia. =
Particle 0.15 times dia. of sand

Sand

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 Mechanisms of Filtration
ATTACHMENT PROCESS
Attachment of Particle, after its contact
with the media is a CHEMICAL PROCESS. It
depends upon:
 pH
 Nature and dose of Coagulant
 Surface Conditions of Medium
 CHARGES on Medium & Particles
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 Mechanisms of Filtration
BIOLOGICAL ACTION
This mechanism involves any sort of
breakdown of the particles in water by
biological processes. This may involve
decomposition of organic particles by algae
and bacteria or it may involve
microorganisms eating each other.

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 Types of FILTERS
1. SLOW SAND FILTERS

2. RAPID SAND FILTERS

3. PRESSURE FILTERS

TURBIDITY
PRE-TREATMENT to FILTERS
< 10 NTU
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SLOW SAND FILTERS

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SLOW SAND FILTERS

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 SLOW SAND FILTERS
 It consists of water tight basin containing
a layer of sand ≈ 0.75–1m thick supported
on a layer of gravel ≈ 0.25 m thick.
 The gravel is under laid by a system of
OPEN JOINTS UNDERDRAIN placed 3 to
4m apart which lead the water to a single
outlet where a RATE CONTROL DEVICE is
located.

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 SLOW SAND FILTERS
 The cleaning of filter is done by SCRAPING
about 3–10 cm of sand from the surface
before returning the filter to service.
 Slow sand filters are highly effective to
result in 98-99% reduction in bacteria.
 These filters are not successful for water
with high turbidity as fine clay may clog
the filter.

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 SLOW SAND FILTERS
 Slow sand filters are generally employed
in RURAL AREAS for treating waters
WITHOUT COAGULATION.
 Water passes through the slow sand filter
very slowly, and the rate is slowed yet
further by the Schmutzdecke Layer. As a
result, large land areas must be devoted
to filters when slow sand filters are part of
a treatment plant
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SLOW SAND FILTERS

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RAPID SAND FILTERS

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RAPID SAND FILTERS

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RAPID SAND FILTERS

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 RAPID SAND FILTERS
 It consists of a layer of sand supported on
gravel and then an underdrain system.
The filter is CLEANED by BACKWASHING
i.e. reversing the flow of water through
filter so as to expand the sand and flush
the dirt from filter into WASHWATER
GUTTERS.
 The underdrain system collects the
filtered water and distributes the
backwash water. 25
 RAPID SAND FILTERS
 The depth of gravel is 0.5m and under
drains are placed 150mm apart.
 Backwash troughs help distribute the
influent water and are also used in
backwashing .
 The filter has an automatic rate controller.
 The rapid sand filter is not as effective for
BACTERIAL removal as slow sand filter.

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 RAPID SAND FILTERS WASHING PROCESS
DESCRIPTION GENERAL CRITERIA
Rate of washing 0.2 - 1.0 m/min
(Sand expansion 30-50%)
Water required 1-5% (= 2%) of filtered Water
Head required 10 m above wash water trough
Time required 5 MIN FOR WASHING
(10-20 min in total)
Washing After 18-36 hours operation
frequency when head loss reaches 2.5-3 m
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RAPID SAND FILTER

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RAPID SAND FILTER

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RAPID SAND FILTER

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RAPID SAND FILTER OHT

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 SAND FILTER COMPARISON
PARAMETER SLOW SAND RAPID SAND

FLOW RATE 3 – 6 m/day 120 – 360 m/day

SAND SIZE Effective 0.25 – 0.35 mm 0.45 or High

Uniform. Coeff. 2 – 3 1.5 or Lower
SAND DEPTH 75 – 100 cm 60 – 100 cm

DEPTH OF WATER 1 – 1.75 m 1 – 1.5 m

OVER SAND
LENGTH OF RUN 20 – 60 days 12 – 72 hrs

IMPURITIES Superficial Deep

PENETRATION

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 SAND FILTER COMPARISON
PARAMETER SLOW SAND RAPID SAND

COST OF High Low

CONSTRUCTION
OPERATIONAL Low High
COST
METHOD OF Scrapping Upper 1” Layer Back Wash
CLEANING
PRE TREATMENT Generally Nill Or Coagulation
Roughing Filters
BACTERIAL More Effective Less Effective
REMOVAL
DEPTH OF GRAVEL 200 – 300 mm 400 – 600 mm
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 Effective Size:
It is the size when the aggregate weight of
all smaller particle is 10% of the total
weight of sample. This diameter is
designated by D10.
 Coefficient of Uniformity:
The rate of D60 to D10 is called uniformity
coefficient. A uniformity coefficient of 1
means that all grains in the sample are of
the same size.
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 NEGATIVE HEAD
 As clogging occurs in filter, the frictional
losses increases gently, however, mostly in
top layer of filter. When head loss in top
layer becomes greater than the head of
water above the sand, the column of
water below acts as a draft tube and a
PARTIAL VACUUM results. This condition
is known as Negative Head.

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 NEGATIVE HEAD
 Negative Head, when excessive, allows
AIR to escape from water and LODGE in
the sand. This is known as AIR BINDING
and may interfere with the filtration
process.

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FILTER OPERATING DIFFICULTIES

 AIR-BINDING

 MUD BALLS

 CRACKS

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 AIR BINDING
Air binding is the release of dissolved gases
from the water into the filter or underdrain.
It is an important filter operating difficulty.
it is caused by:
 Negative Head
 High Temperature of Water
 Algal Action

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 AIR BINDING
Air binding may be prevented through:
 Avoidance of Excessive Negative Head
 Keeping Filter under SHED
 Algal Control

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 MUD BALLS
During Back Wash, lateral pressures on sand
surface try to push MUD into LUMPS or
BALLS. These appear unsightly at sand
surface. Mud balls may be removed from
the sand bed with RAKES while the bed is
washed.
They range in size from pea-sized to two
inches or more in diameter.

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 CRACKS
Shrinkage of mud blanket at the sand
surface, results in cracks.
Sometimes cracks are quite deep and may
result in SHORT CIRCUITING of filtering
water particularly near the filter walls. Thus
the filtered water quality may be impaired.
Cracks may be avoided by using AIR WASH
SYSTEM & THOROUGH BACK WASH.
 FILTER SIZE L:W = 1.25 TO 1.33
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CRACKS

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