How to Use Potassium Permaganate in Water Treatment

Potassium permanganate (or KMnO4) is used in water treatment to control taste and odor problems. It oxidizes iron, manganese and other compounds. It is also used to disinfect bacterial and viral growth. Though a less effective disinfectant than chlorine, applying KMnO4 early in the water treatment process may reduce the demand for chlorine. Finally, potassium permanganate has been used to reduce nuisance organisms such as Asiatic clams in water sources.

Instructions

• 1

  Don safety goggles and other protective covering to minimize skin contact before handling potassium permanganate. KMnO4 can cause serious eye injury, irritate the skin, nose and throat if inhaled and may be fatal if swallowed.

• 2

  Mix a potassium permanganate solution in a dissolver-storage tank with a metering pump and feed system by combining dry crystalline permanganate solids with water to achieve the desired concentration.

• 3

  Pump the potassium permanganate from the solution tank into the point of raw water intake prior to filtration. Permanganate does not require special mixing equipment as it is a fast-acting, reactive solution.