Water Purification Systems To Treat Raw Water


Raw water is a term used for any untreated water that is naturally found in the environment. These include water sources like rainwater, groundwater, wells, lakes, and even rivers. Before this water can be used for cooling, rinsing, product formulations and even human consumption in industry settings, it needs to be adequately purified.

Water purification systems are used to treat raw water, generally to use the water to improve the production process and overall performance for a particular application, for example, feed-water, production water and water for drinking. Raw water treatment is focused on protecting the equipement through which the water will pass from scaling, fouling, corrosion and any other forms of damage or wear due to the contaminants present. The water purification systems are used to remove any colloidal solids, silica, iron, bacteria and hardness.

How Do Water Purification Systems Treat Raw Water

The treatment process of raw water is customized based on the goals and applications. Hence, the exact procedure may differ depending on the requirements. However, the following steps that are given below display how the water purification system commonly treat raw water:

Intake

With the help of gravity, and sometimes pumps, raw water is drawn into plants. Then, the water is passed through a metal grate or a mesh screen to filter out any large objects before they enter the system.

Clarification

Once filtered, the water then moves to a multi-step process, which aims to remove suspended solids from the solution, also known as clarification. This process begins with coagulation, wherein chemical and pH adjustments force the particles present in the water to clump together. This is followed by flocculation, which is the physical agitation that encourages the formation of larger particles. The sedimentation step follows, in which the steam of water flows to a gravity settler, which allows the solids to settle to the bottom. Finally, the water is processed through a sand filter which takes out any small particles that didn’t settle in the sedimentation step.
               
Disinfection

In some severe cases, especially when biological contamination may be involved, the water may be disinfected to remove pathogens. This is accomplished through the application of chemical disinfectants, physical disinfectants, and other forms of membrane filtration.

Lime Softening

Another added step that is applied to some cases is lime softening, which is used to reduce the hardness in the water with the help of high mineral or sulfate content. Lime or lime soda is used to raise the pH levels in the water, which then increases the mineral constituents to precipitate out of solution.

Ion exchange

Water purification systems tasked with filtering raw water may include an IX unit for hardness removal or any other specialized water treatment needs. Also known as ion exchange, IX softening directs the water through a strong acid cation resin, which is highly laced with sodium. As the water flows, the resin captures the hardness-causing calcium or magnesium ions, while releasing the sodium ions are released into the water.

After this process is completed, the filtered water is used to fulfil its purpose by aiding a process in the factory. The importance of filtering raw water before use cannot be stressed upon enough. If you’re looking for a good water purification system to protect your machinery, contact a manufacturer like Thermax today!

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