Environmental Engineering

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ENVIRONMENTA

L ENGINEERING

EnE 301
 
Why Environmental Engineering:
 The goal of the course is to provide students with the scientific principles,
concepts, and methodologies required to understand the
interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze
environmental problems both natural and human-made, to evaluate the
relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative
solutions for resolving and/or preventing them.

The beginning of 20th century:


 Major emphasis on control of epidemic communicable diseases.
 Importance on water supply and sewage disposal.

The middle of 20th century:


 Solid waste disposal, air pollution control, occupational hygiene gain
significance.

The latter part of 20th century:


 Chemical pollution, radiation hazards, and hazardous waste management
join the array of environmental pollution problems.
Ecology: science dealing with
interrelationship of things.
• Organisms depend on the quality of
environment, and they also exert an influence on
the quality of environment.
• Man exerts a tremendous impact on the
environment through:
Extraction of resources, and
Modification and manipulation of the
environment, and pollution resulting from
deposition of wastes.
Ecological impact on environment:
• on the productivity of the ecosystem (green
plants, atmospheric oxygen)
• on other organisms (microorganisms, insects,
animals)
• on climate (global warming, ozone hole, acid
rain) 

Health impact: 
• Due to microbiological pollution 
• Due to microchemical pollution
Environment:
The human environment encompasses all physical, chemical, biological and social
processes and influences, which individually or in combination exert directly or
indirectly a significant influence on the health and well-being of human race.
 Health: Health is not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, but a state of physical,
mental, and social well-being. (WHO)
 
 In developing countries:
Microbiological pollution is of more significance.
Environmental factors serve as links in the chain of transmission of diseases
Communicable disease like cholera, typhoid, dysentery, malaria, bilharziasis,
etc.
 
 In industrialized countries:
microphysicochemical pollution is of more significance.
microchemical health hazards more complex than communicable diseases
cancer, leukemia, cardiovascular disorders, etc
 
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
definition:
Environmental Engineering is manifest by sound engineering
thought and practice in the solution of problems of
environmental sanitation, notably in the provision of safe,
palatable, and ample public water supplies, the proper
disposal of or recycle of waste water and solid wastes; the
adequate drainage of urban and rural areas for proper
sanitation; and the control of water, soil, and atmospheric
pollution, and the social and environmental impact of public
health, such as control of anthropod-borne diseases, the
elimination of industrial health hazards, and the provision of
adequate sanitation in urban, rural, and recreational areas,
and the effect of technological advances on the
environment. (ASCE)
More population - more food - more water - more of
everything - more industrial goods - more wastes -
more pollution!
 
World population:
1900 - 1.6 billion
1950 - 2.5 billion
1980 - 5.0 billion
2000 - 6.0 billion
2110 - 10.5 billion (estimated)

Rate of population growth in developing countries is


40% greater than in the world as a whole.
Environmental impact of agriculture-
related activities:
Desertification
Dams and ecological disasters
Salinity problems
Use of fertilizers
Use of pesticides
Animal wastes
Environmental impact of
urbanization:
 
Concentration of people
- increased demand on resources
- increased volume of waste-waters
- Production of solid wastes
- Problems of residential environment
- Slums
- Air pollution
 
Closely related to the influence of industrialization!
 
Environmental impact of
industrialization:
• Industrial wastewaters
• Industrial solid wastes
• Hazardous wastes
• Growing numbers and complexity of wastes
• Toxic, carcinogenic, cumulative and synergistic
chemicals
• Increased demand on resources
• Problems of occupational environment
IMPLEMENTING LAWS, RA’S,
• DECREES,
Philippine AND
Clean Air LOCAL
Act of LAWS:
1999 (RA 8749)
• The Clean Air Act promoted cooperation and self-
regulation and pollution prevention as well as
encouraging public participation to air quality
planning and monitoring.
• It advanced the formulation and enforcement of
a system of accountability as regards
environmental impact of a project, program or
activity and converted the Environmental
Management Bureau (EMB) as a line bureau and
created the EMB Regional Offices.
• Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (RA 9275) 
• The Clean Water Act advanced the prevention,
control, and abatement of pollution in water
resources.
• It encouraged that water quality management
issues should not be separated from concerns on
water sources and ecological protection, water
supply, public health and quality of life.  
• The Act thus endorsed management programs to
address water pollution.

Environmental Impact Assessment (PD 1151)


RA 6969: Toxic Substances and
Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes
- controlled toxic substances and hazardous and
nuclear wastesControl
by way of Act (1990)
regulating, restricting or
prohibiting the importation, manufacture, processing,
sale, distribution, use and disposal of chemical
substances and mixtures that present unreasonable
risk and/or injury to health or the environment.
It also prohibited the entry, even in transit, of
hazardous and nuclear wastes and their disposal into
the country.
RA 9003: Ecological Solid Waste
Management Act (2000)
• This Act maximized the utilization of valuable
resources and encouraged resource
conservation and recovery.
• It promoted solid waste avoidance and
volume reduction.
• RA 9003 places the primary enforcement and
responsibility of solid waste management with
LGUs and encouraged cooperation and self-
regulation among waste generators.
ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS
“SYSTEMS APPROACH” – looking at all inter-
related parts and their effects on one another.

Three environmental systems:

•Water resource management system


•Air resource management system
•Solid waste management system

Many important environmental problems are not confined


to one of these systems but cross boundaries from one to
the other. These problems are referred to as
MULTIMEDIA pollution problems.
WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

WATER SUPPLY SUBSYSTEM

The components of a water supply system may include:

•collection works
•transmission works
•treatment works
•distribution works

Two major sources of water supply:


•Surface water – streams, lakes, and rivers
•Groundwater – wells
Factors that influence water consumption:
Consumer Groups:
•Domestic and public use
•Industrial and commercial use
•Livestock use
•Waterworks use
•Losses and wastes ('unaccounted for' water)
•Fire demand
Factors influencing water use:
•Size of city
•Climate and location
•Industrial development
•Habits and living standards
•Parks and gardens
•Water quality
•Water pressure
•Cost of water
The following factors also influence water
consumption:

•Extent of sewerage
•Systems pressure
•Water price
•Availability of private wells

•Standard of living
•Per capita water use increases with and increased in
standard of living. Highly developed countries use much
more water than the less developed nations. Likewise,
higher socioeconomic status implies greater per capita
water use hat lower socioeconomic status. Higher average
annual temperature implies higher per capita water use,
whereas areas of high rainfall experience lower water use.
Variations in water demand:
•Average day demand
•Maximum day demand
•Maximum hour demand

Source: to meet average day demand or maximum day demand


Transmission from source to treatment plant:
To meet average day demand or maximum day demand

Water treatment plant:


To meet maximum day demand

Pumping plant:
To meet maximum day demand (if feeding into reservoirs)
Distribution system: to meet maximum hour demand or (maximum fire
demand + fire demand) whichever is greater.
A single family residence uses about 400 Lcpd (liters
per capita per day).

The variation of demand is normally reported as a


factor of the average day.

For metered dwellings the factors are as follows:

Maximum day = 2.2 x average day

Peak hour = 5.3 x average day


Problem 1. A small residential development of 28 houses is being planned. Assume
that the average residential consumption applies, and that each house has three
residents. Estimate the additional average daily water production in L/d that will
have to be supplied by the city.
Solution:
(28 houses)( 3 people/house)(400 Lcpd) = 33,600 L/d

Problem 2. If a faucet is dripping at a rate of one drop per second and each drop
contains 0.150 milliliters, calculate how much water (in liters) will be lost in one
year.
Solution:
(0.150 mL/s)(86,400 s/d)(365 d/y)(1 x 10-3 L/mL) = 4,730 L/y

Problem 3. A sanitary landfill has available space of 16.2 ha at an average depth of 10


m. Seven hundred sixty five (765) cubic meters of solid waste are dumped at the
site five days per week. This waste is compacted to twice its delivered density.
Draw a mass-balance diagram and estimate the expected life of the landfill in
years.
Solution:
Compaction to twice delivered density means that the volume is reduced to ½.
The annual volume of compacted solid waste is:
(5 d/wk)(52 wk/y)(765 m3/d)(1/2) = 99,450 m3/y
The available space:
(16.2 ha)(1 x 104 m3/ha)(10 m depth) = 1,620,000 m3
The expected life of the landfill is:
1,620,000 m3 / 99,450 m3/y = 16.3 years
A materials balance approach to problem solving
Matter can neither be created nor destroyed but
that it can be changed in form. This concept
serves as a basis for describing and analyzing
environmental engineering problems. This
concept is called a materials balance, or a mass
balance.

In environmental system or subsystem, the


equation would be written:

ACCUMULATION = INPUT – OUTPUT


EX. Mr. and Mrs. Consumer have no children. In an average week they purchase and bring into their
house approximately 50 Kg of consumer goods (food, magazines, newspapers, appliances,
furniture, and assorted packaging). Of this amount, 50% is consumed as food. Half of the food
is used for biological maintenance and ultimately released as CO 2; the remainder is discharged to
the sewer system. Approximately 1 Kg accumulates in the house. The couple approximately
recycles 25% if the solid waste that is generated. Estimate the amount of solid waste they place
at the garbage cab each week.

Solution:
Mass balance equation:
Input = Output 1 + output 2 + output 3 + output 4 + accumulation

One half of input is food = (0.5)(50 Kg) = 25 kg

One half of food is for biological maintenance = output 1 = (o.5)(25 Kg) = 12.5 Kg

One half of food is lost to sewer system = output 2 = (0.5)(25 kg) = 12.5 kg

The recycled amount is 25 percent of what remains of input after food and
accumulation is removed = Output 3 = 0.25( input –output 1 – output 2 –
accumulation) = 0.25(50 – 12.5 -12.5 – 1) = 6 kg

Output 4 = input – output 1 – output 2 – output 3 – accumulation


= 50 – 12.5 – 12.5 – 6 – 1
= 18 Kg
HYDROLOGY
The continuous circular process, in which the water of the Earth evaporates from the
oceans, condenses, falls to the Earth as rain or snow, and eventually returns to the
oceans through run-off in rivers or streams. Some water is absorbed by plants and
returned to the atmosphere as vapor.
Description
The water cycle has no starting or ending point. The sun, which drives the water cycle, heats
water in the oceans. Some of it evaporates as vapor into the air. Ice and snow can sublimate
directly into water vapor. Rising air currents take the vapor up into the atmosphere, along with
water from evapotranspiration, which is water transpired from plants and evaporated from the
soil. The vapor rises into the air where cooler temperatures cause it to condense into clouds. Air
currents move clouds around the globe, cloud particles collide, grow, and fall out of the sky as
precipitation. Some precipitation falls as snow and can accumulate as ice caps and glaciers, which
can store frozen water for thousands of years. Snowpacks in warmer climates often thaw and melt
when spring arrives, and the melted water flows overland as snowmelt. Most precipitation falls
back into the oceans or onto land, where, due to gravity, the precipitation flows over the ground as
surface runoff. A portion of runoff enters rivers in valleys in the landscape, with streamflow
moving water towards the oceans. Runoff, and ground-water seepage, accumulate and are stored
as freshwater in lakes. Not all runoff flows into rivers. Much of it soaks into the ground as
infiltration. Some water infiltrates deep into the ground and replenishes aquifers (saturated
subsurface rock), which store huge amounts of freshwater for long periods of time. Some
infiltration stays close to the land surface and can seep back into surface-water bodies (and the
ocean) as ground-water discharge, and some ground water finds openings in the land surface and
emerges as freshwater springs. Over time, the water continues flowing, some to reenter the ocean,
where the water cycle renews itself.
The different processes are as follows:
•Precipitation is condensed water vapor that falls to the Earth's surface. Most precipitation
occurs as rain, but also includes snow, hail, fog drip, graupel, and sleet. Approximately 505,000
km³ of water fall as precipitation each year, 398,000 km³ of it over the oceans.

•Canopy interception is the precipitation that is intercepted by plant foliage and eventually
evaporates back to the atmosphere rather than falling to the ground.

•Snowmelt refers to the runoff produced by melting snow.

•Runoff includes the variety of ways by which water moves across the land. This includes both
surface runoff and channel runoff. As it flows, the water may infiltrate into the ground,
evaporate into the air, become stored in lakes or reservoirs, or be extracted for agricultural or
other human uses.

•Infiltration is the flow of water from the ground surface into the ground. Once infiltrated, the
water becomes soil moisture or groundwater.
•Subsurface Flow is the flow of water underground, in the vadose zone and aquifers. Subsurface
water may return to the surface (eg. as a spring or by being pumped) or eventually seep into the
oceans. Water returns to the land surface at lower elevation than where it infiltrated, under the
force of gravity or gravity induced pressures. Groundwater tends to move slowly, and is
replenished slowly, so it can remain in aquifers for thousands of years.

•Evaporation is the transformation of water from liquid to gas phases as it moves from the
ground or bodies of water into the overlying atmosphere. The source of energy for evaporation is
primarily solar radiation. Evaporation often implicitly includes transpiration from plants, though
together they are specifically referred to as evapotranspiration. Approximately 90% of
atmospheric water comes from evaporation, while the remaining 10% is from transpiration. Total
annual evapotranspiration amounts to approximately 505,000 km³ of water, 434,000 km³ of
which evaporates from the oceans.

Sublimation is the state change directly from solid water (snow or ice) to water vapor.

Advection is the movement of water — in solid, liquid, or vapour states — through the
atmosphere. Without advection, water that evaporated over the oceans could not precipitate over
land.

Condensation is the transformation of water vapour to liquid water droplets in the air, producing
clouds and fog.
 
TRANSPIRATION

Loss of water from a plant, mainly through the stomata of leaves. Darkness,
internal water deficit, and extremes of temperature tend to close stomata and
decrease transpiration; illumination, ample water supply, and optimum
temperature cause stomata to open and increase transpiration. Its exact
significance is disputed; its roles in providing the energy to transport water in the
plant and in aiding dissipation of the sun's heat (by cooling through evaporation of
water) have been challenged. Since stomatal openings are necessary for the
exchange of gases, transpiration has been considered by some to be merely an
unavoidable phenomenon that accompanies the real functions of the stomata.

•EVAPOTRANSPIRATION
(ET) is a term used to describe the sum of evaporation and plant transpiration from
the earth's land surface to atmosphere. Evaporation accounts for the movement of
water to the air from sources such as the soil, canopy interception, and water
bodies. Transpiration accounts for the movement of water within a plant and the
subsequent loss of water as vapour through stomata in its leaves.
Evapotranspiration is an important part of the water cycle.
•Potential evapotranspiration (PET)

Is a representation of the environmental demand for evapotranspiration and


represents the evapotranspiration rate of a short green crop, completely
shading the ground, of uniform height and with adequate water status in the
soil profile. It is a reflection of the energy available to evaporate water, and of
the wind available to transport the water vapour from the ground up into the
lower atmosphere. Evapotranspiration is said to equal potential
evapotranspiration when there is ample water.

AQUIFER
 
In hydrology, a rock layer or sequence that contains water and releases it in
appreciable amounts. The rocks contain water-filled pores that, when
connected, allow water to flow through their matrix. A confined aquifer is
overlain by a rock layer that does not transmit water in any appreciable
amount or that is impermeable. There probably are few truly confined
aquifers. In an unconfined aquifer the upper surface (water table) is open to
the atmosphere through permeable overlying material. An aquifer also may be
called a water-bearing stratum, lens, or zone.
Reservoirs

In the context of the water cycle, a reservoir represents the water contained in different
steps within the cycle. The largest reservoir is the collection of oceans, accounting for
97% of the Earth's water. The next largest quantity (2%) is stored in solid form in the
ice caps and glaciers. The water contained within all living organisms represents the
smallest reservoir.
The volumes of water in the fresh water reservoirs, particularly those that are available
for human use, are important water resources.

Volume of water stored in


the water cycle's reservoirs
Reservoir Volume of water Percent
([[1 E+15 m³|106 km³]]) of total
Oceans 1370 97.25
Ice caps & glaciers 29 2.05
Groundwater 9.5 0.68
Lakes 0.125 0.01
Soil moisture 0.065 0.005
Atmosphere 0.013 0.001
Streams & rivers 0.0017 0.0001
Biosphere 0.0006 0.00004
The hydrologic equation:
The total quantity of water available to the earth is finite, the global hydrologic system is
considered to be a closed system: that is self-contained or in mass balance.

VP(ρ) – Vs(ρ) – VR(ρ) – VG(ρ) – VE(ρ) – VT(ρ) = 0

Where:
V = volume
P = precipitation
S = storage
R = runoff
G = groundwater infiltration
E = evaporation
T = transpiration
ρ = density
Infiltration: (Horton’s equation)

f = fC + (fO fC)e – -kt

Where:
f = infiltration rate, mm/h
fC = equilibrium or final infiltration rate, mm/h
fO = initial infiltration rate, mm/h
k = empirical constant, h-1
t = time, h

Note: rate of precipitation > rater of inflation


Evaporation:

E = (es – ea)(a + bu)

Where:
E = evaporation rate, mm/h
es = saturation vapor pressure, kPa
ea = vapor pressure in overlying air, kPa
a , b = empirical constants
u = wind speed, m/s

Note: high wind speeds and low humidities result in large


evaporation rates.
WATER TREATMENT
Water can be consumed in any desired amount without concern for
adverse health effects in termed to be potable water. Potable
water does not necessarily mean that the water tastes good. In
contrast, palatable water, which is one that is pleasing to drink, but
not necessarily safe. Water should be both potable and
palatable.

As population increase, so must water production. Often increased


production requires the use of new water sources that contain
higher contaminant levels. As production increases while plant
capacity remains the same, the task of producing potable water
increasingly difficult.
Water pollutants

OUR BODY DEPENDS UPON WHAT YOU


DRINK!

Information states that there is some kind of toxic


substance in our ground water no matter where we
live. Even materials added to our drinking water to
"protect" us (such as chlorine) are linked to certain
cancers, and can form toxic compounds (THM's)
which adversely affect us. The old adage "If you
want something done, do it yourself" applies to our
drinking water also.
BIOLOGICAL IMPURITIES:

Bacteria, Virus, and Parasites -- Years ago,


waterborne diseases accounted for millions of
deaths. Even today in underdeveloped countries, an
estimated 25,000 people will die daily from
waterborne disease. Effects of waterborne
microorganisms can be immediate and devastating.
Therefore, microorganisms are the first and most
important consideration in making water acceptable
for human consumption.
Generally speaking, modern municipal supplies
are relatively free from harmful organisms
because of routine disinfection with chlorine or
chloramines and frequent sampling. This does
not mean municipal water is free of all bacteria.
Private wells and small rural water systems have
reason to be more concerned about the
possibility of microorganism contamination from
septic tanks, animal wastes, and other problems.
INORGANIC IMPURITIES:

Dirt and Sediment or Turbidity -- Most waters contain


some suspended particles which may consist of fine
sand, clay, soil, and precipitated salts. Turbidity is
unpleasant to look at, can be a source of food and
lodging for bacteria, and can interfere with effective
disinfection.

Total Dissolved Solids -- These substances are


dissolved rock and other compounds from the earth. The
entire list of them could fill this page. The presence and
amount of total dissolved solids in water represents a
point of controversy among those who promote water
treatment products. Here are some facts about the
consequences of higher levels of TDS in water:
1. High TDS results in undesirable taste which could be salty, bitter, or metallic.

2. High TDS water is less thirst quenching.

3. Some of the individual mineral salts that make up TDS pose a variety of health hazards.
The most problematic are Nitrates, Sodium, Sulfates, Barium, Copper, and Fluoride.

4. The EPA Secondary Regulations advise a maximum level of 500mg/liter (500 parts per
million-ppm) for TDS. Numerous water supplies exceed this level. When TDS levels
exceed 1000mg/L it is generally considered unfit for human consumption.

5. High TDS interferes with the taste of foods and beverages, and makes them less
desirable to consume.

6. High TDS make ice cubes cloudy, softer, and faster melting.

7. Minerals exist in water mostly as INORGANIC salts. In contrast, minerals having passed
through a living system are known as ORGANIC minerals. They are combined with
proteins and sugars. According to many nutritionists minerals are much easier to
assimilate when they come from foods. Can you imagine going out to your garden for a
cup of dirt to eat rather than a nice carrot; or drinking a whole bathtub of water for LESS
calcium than that in an 8 ounce glass of milk?

8. Water with higher TDS is considered by some health advocates to have a poorer
cleansing effect in the body than water with a low level of TDS. This is because water
with low dissolved solids has a greater capacity of absorption than water with higher
solids.
Toxic Metals or Heavy Metals -- Among the greatest threats to
health are the presence of high levels of toxic metals in drinking
water - Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, Mercury, and Silver. Maximum
limits for each are established by the EPA Primary Drinking Water
Regulations. Other metals such as Chromium and Selenium, while
essential trace elements in our diets, have limits imposed upon them
when in water because the form in which they exist may pose a
health hazard. Toxic metals are associated with nerve damage, birth
defects, mental retardation, certain cancers, and increased
susceptibility to disease.

Asbestos -- Asbestos exists as microscopic suspended mineral


fibers in water. Its primary source is asbestos-cement pipe which was
commonly used after World War II for city water supplies. It has been
estimated that some 200,000 miles of this pipe is presently in use to
transport our drinking water. Because these pipes are wearing, the
deadly substance of asbestos is showing up with increasing
frequency in drinking water. It has been linked with gastrointestinal
cancer.
Radioactivity -- Even though trace amounts of radioactive
elements can be found in almost all drinking water, levels
that pose serious health hazards are fairly rare--for now.
Radioactive wastes leach from mining operations into
groundwater supplies. The greatest threat is posed by
nuclear accidents, nuclear processing plants, and radioactive
waste disposal sites. As containers containing these wastes
deteriorate with time, the risk of contaminating our aquafers
grows into a toxic time bomb.

ORGANIC IMPURITIES:
Tastes and Odors -- If your water has a disagreeable taste
or odor, chances are it is due to one or more of many organic
substances ranging from decaying vegetation to algae;
hydrocarbons to phenols. It could also be TDS and a host of
other items.
Toxic Organic Chemicals -- The most pressing
and widespread water contamination problem is a
result of the organic chemicals created by industry.

Chemicals end up in our drinking water from hundreds of different


sources. There are hundreds of publications each year highlighting
this problem. The effects of chronic long term exposure to these toxic
organics, even in minute amounts, are extremely difficult to detect.
Contaminated drinking water may look and taste perfectly normal.
The users symptoms might include recurring headache, rash, or
fatigue - all of which are hard to diagnose as being water related.
The more serious consequences of drinking tainted water are higher
cancer rates, birth defects, growth abnormalities, infertility, and nerve
and organ damage. Some of these disorders may go unnoticed for
decades!! Just how toxic these chemicals are may be illustrated by
looking at two examples: TCE is a widely used chemical which
routinely shows up in water supplies. Just two glassfuls of TCE can
contaminate 27,000,000 gallons of drinking water! One pound of the
pesticide, Endrin can contaminate 5,000,000,000 gallons of water.
Chlorine -- Trihalomethanes (THM's) are formed when
chlorine, used to disinfect water supplies, interacts with
natural organic materials (e.g. by-products of decayed
vegetation, algae, etc.). This creates toxic organic
chemicals such as chloroform, and Bromodichloromethane.
A further word about chlorine: Scientists at Colombia
University found that women who drank chlorinated water
ran a 44% greater risk of dying of cancer of the
gastrointestinal or urinary tract than did women who drank
non-chlorinated water! Chlorinated water has also been
linked to high blood pressure and anemia. Anemia is
caused by the deleterious effect of chlorine on red blood
cells.
WATER QUALITY
Precipitation in the form of rain, hail, or sleet contains very few impurities. It may
contain trace amounts of mineral matter, gases, and other substances at it forms
and falls through the earth’s atmosphere. The precipitation, however, has
virtually no bacterial content.
Groundwater, therefore, often contains more dissolved minerals than surface
water.
The following four categories are used to describe drinking water quality:

Physical: Physical characteristics relate to the quality of water for domestic


use and are usually associated with the appearance of water, its
color or turbidity, temperature, and, in particular, taste and odor.
Chemical: Chemical characteristics of waters are sometimes evidenced by
their observed reactions, such as the comparative performance
of hard and soft waters in laundering. Most often, differences are
not visible.
Microbiological: Microbiological agents are very important in their relation
to public health and may also be significant in modifying the
physical and chemical characteristics of water.
Radiological: Radiological factors must be considered in areas where there
is a possibility that the water may have in contact with radioactive
substances. The radioactivity of the water is of public health
concern in these cases.
General characteristics of
groundwater and surface water
GROUND SURFACE
Constant composition Varying composition
High mineralization Low mineralization
Little turbidity High turbidity
Low or no color Color
Bacteriologically safe Microorganism present
No dissolved oxygen Dissolved oxygen
High hardness Low hardness
H2S, Fe. Mn Tastes and odors
Possible chemical toxicity
TREATMENT SYSTEM

Treatment plants can be classified a simple disinfection, filter


plants, or softening plant.

Public Water Systems

Public Water Systems (PWSs) come in all shapes and sizes,


and no two are exactly the same. They may be publicly or
privately owned and maintained. While their design may
vary, they all share the same goal - providing safe, reliable
drinking water to the communities they serve. To do this,
most water systems must treat their water. The types of
treatment provided by a specific PWS vary depending on the
size of the system, whether they use ground water or surface
water, and the quality of the source water.
Tapping a Source of Water

Large-scale water supply systems tend to rely on surface


water sources, while smaller systems tend to rely on
ground water. Around 35 percent of the population served
by community water systems (CWSs) drink water that
originates as ground water. Ground water is usually
pumped from wells ranging from shallow to deep (50 to
1,000 feet). The remaining 65 percent of the population
served by CWSs receive water taken primarily from
surface water sources like rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
Treating Raw Water

The amount and type of treatment applied by a PWS varies with the source
type and quality. Many ground water systems can satisfy local as well as
national government requirements without applying any treatment, while
others need to add chlorine or additional treatment. Because surface water
systems are exposed to direct wet weather runoff and to the atmosphere
and are therefore more easily contaminated, regulations require that these
systems treat their water.

Water suppliers use a variety of treatment processes to remove


contaminants from drinking water. These individual processes may be
arranged in a "treatment train" (a series of processes applied in sequence).
The most commonly used processes include filtration, flocculation and
sedimentation, and disinfection for surface water. Some treatment trains
also include ion exchange and adsorption. Water utilities select a
combination of treatment processes most appropriate to treat the
contaminants found in the raw water used by the system.
Water Treatment Plant

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