How Do Water Treament Plants Work?

One of the most important aspects of public health is safe drinking water. Water treatment plants take groundwater from natural sources and purify it to make it safe for drinking and household use.

Reservoirs

• The source of drinking water for most towns and cities is one or more reservoirs. These can be man-made, or they can be natural lakes or rivers. In drier climates, the main source might be an underground aquifer.

Sediment

• The first step in the treatment process is the removal of large sediment and other contaminants. This is done through filtration as well as the introduction of coagulant chemicals which cause sediment particles to combine and sink.

Mineral Content

• Another important step in water treatment is water softening, as many sources of natural water contain high levels of dissolved minerals. Salts or soda ash are typically used to remove the excess minerals.

Disinfection

• Ozone, chlorine, ultraviolet light or a combination of the three can be used to kill bacteria and pathogens that might be present in the water, rendering it safe to drink.

Final Steps

• After a final filtration to remove any remaining contaminants, the water is pumped into the municipal water system for use by households and businesses.