About Water Treatment Processes
Chemical Addition . Once the pre-screened source water is received into the treatment plant, chemicals are added to help make the suspended particles that are floating in the water clump together to form a heavier and larger gelatinous particle, often called floc. In this process, chemicals used for water treatment are added that reacts with the natural alkalinity in solution to form an insoluble precipitate. Coagulation and flocculation are often the first steps in water treatment. Chemicals with a positive charge are added to the water. The positive charge of these chemicals neutralizes the negative charge of dirt and other dissolved particles in the water. When this occurs, the particles bind with the chemicals and form larger particles, called floc. A rapid mix unit is usually used where the coagulant is added to the water to provide a very quick and thorough mixing. The water mixing is then slowed to allow the water to come in contact with the...