Water Treatment Processes

Introduction

Water is essential for both daily life and industrial processes, making its treatment crucial. Billions are spent annually on water treatment, and this course on water management systems will guide participants in analyzing specific cases to choose appropriate water treatment methods or, in some cases, determine when treatment is unnecessary. Understanding the process is vital to balancing health, safety, and financial considerations effectively.

Achieving these goals requires careful planning and implementation. While legal regulations often mandate water treatment, optimization of processes can reduce costs and enhance quality of life.

Objectives

At the end of this water treatment course, participants will be able to:

• Assess specific requirements and available water resources.
• Select the most appropriate water treatment methods based on collected data.
• Define monitoring strategies to ensure treatment success.
• Apply and optimize selected water treatment techniques.
• Identify and resolve issues related to water treatment methods.
• Interactive lectures
• Case studies and real-life examples
• Group discussions
• Hands-on exercises
• Problem-solving sessions
• Field visits (if applicable)
• Quizzes and assessments
• Role-playing scenarios
• Peer reviews and feedback

Training Methodology

• Interactive lectures
• Case studies and real-life examples
• Group discussions
• Hands-on exercises
• Problem-solving sessions
• Field visits (if applicable)
• Quizzes and assessments
• Role-playing scenarios
• Peer reviews and feedback

Course Outline

Unit 1: Water Quality – Water Chemistry, Microbiology, and Physical Properties

• Chemical and microbiological indicators.
• Basic water chemistry parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, total hardness) and water analysis.
• Major water chemistry constituents: cations, anions, heavy metals, organics.
• Effects of water's physical and chemical properties on applications.
• Water microbiology: water quality indicators, waterborne bacteria, pathogens, and non-pathogenic bacteria.
• Factors influencing bacterial growth, biofilm formation, and its significance.
• Physical properties of water.

Unit 2: Introduction to Water Treatment

• Reasons for water treatment and the option of no treatment.
• Comparative impacts of treatment techniques on water composition (e.g., softening, ion exchange, reverse osmosis).
• Effects of treatment on microbiological quality (e.g., membrane filtration, chlorination, UV sterilization).
• Biological treatment methods for wastewater (e.g., biofilters, aeration).
• Simple physical treatments: sedimentation and filtration.
• Hot and cold water systems: anti-corrosion and anti-scale principles.

Unit 3: Wastewater Treatment

• Types of wastewater (domestic, industrial) and treatment methods (e.g., settlement, flocculation, filtration).
• Biological oxidation (enriched or non-enriched).
• Chlorination and residual treatment options for color and odor.
• Uses and objections to reclaimed wastewater.
• Special wastewater types (e.g., landfill leachates).

Unit 4: Boiler Water Treatment and Steam Generation

• Basic feedwater chemistry and pre-treatment requirements.
• Boiler efficiency and the implications of water quality.
• Standard operating procedures and process documentation.
• Treatment methods typical for boiler feedwater.
• Common problems with fire-tube boilers.

Unit 5: Cooling Water Treatment and Evaporative Cooling Systems

• Types of cooling systems (e.g., enclosed evaporative systems).
• Methods for reducing total dissolved solids in feedwater (e.g., softeners).
• Operation and performance criteria for evaporative cooling systems.
• Specific water supply operations for cooling towers.
• Application of cooling systems and removal of health hazards (e.g., bioaerosols from cooling towers).
• Disease control measures related to cooling towers (e.g., Legionnaires’ disease).