EASTERN VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND ALLIED DISCIPLINE
TACLOBAN CITY
ARCH 213 Building Utilities 1-Plumbing & Sanitary Systems
A Case-Study on Sustainable Water Treatment Methods
Prepared By:
Aidyl Kate A. Bernal
BSAR-2B
Presented To:
Ar. Edison T. Longcop, uap
Instructor
November 2020
Introduction
It is an undisputable fact that clean and safe water is a fundamental necessity for
survival. As water demand rises along with the increase in world population and
improvement of the standard of living, so does the need for water treatment intensifies. Water
treatment is undertaken to improve water quality and make it safe for human consumption.
This process removes all impurities or biological and chemical pollutants present in water
which makes it of great importance not only to human consumption but as well as to
industrial applications and agriculture. However, it is ineluctable that water treatment systems
contribute as much significant environmental impacts as untreated water. It is imperative that
water treatment methods should be given wider view in terms of sustainability and
environmental cost. Among existing water treatment methods, straining and three-pot method
are deemed the most sustainable.
Importance of Water Treatment
The self- cleansing capacity of water has been recognized by some. This phenomenon
happens when contaminants present in water are extracted during biological processes. When
the water settles down on the ground, the soil layers allow the filtration to occur.
Contaminants are broken down, or are left behind in the ground layer. (“Necessity of water
treatment”, n.d.) In addition, the self-cleaning phenomenon in water may also be caused by
bacteria that dissolve and turn polluting substances into inert organic compounds.
Evidently, this process is not effective for all kinds of pollutants and for any volume
of polluting substances found in the water. This is due to the variety of industrial chemicals
that have reached the surface and groundwater for many decades. In some cases, human
intervention is necessary to clean the water reserves that have been polluted. Through water
treatment, clean and safe water is ensured.
It is indubitable that the first known Greek philosophers and medical authors have
recognized the importance of water to public health. (“A Brief History of Water and Health
from Ancient Civilizations to Modern Times”, n.d.) Water has profound impact on human
health and well-being on top of that the quality of water is vital in assessing the health of the
whole community. The World Health Organization found that poor water quality is likely to
lead to outbreaks of infectious water-related diseases. In 1853, a contaminated water pump
has caused a devastating cholera epidemic that killed thousands of people. Among other
illnesses, waterborne diseases cause diarrhea, killing about one million people a year. Most of
them are children under the age of five. In addition, chemical pollutants present in water may
lead to an array of chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and alike, (Levallois and
Villanueva, 2019).
The paramount importance of water treatment is apparent due to the concentration of
contaminants present in water such as suspended particles, parasites, bacteria, algae, viruses,
and fungi as well as levels of organic and inorganic chemicals, such as chloride, copper,
manganese, sulfates, and zinc, microbial pathogens, radioactive materials, and dissolved and
suspended solids all of which are detrimental to public health and the environment.
Essentially, the importance of water treatment is not limited to human health advantage but
also to industrial and agricultural applications. According to a report, water treatment reduces
maintenance cost and increases efficiency and output. Specialized water treatment chemicals
can prevent the build-up of scale and corrosion thus preventing and reversing the effects on
industrial processes. (“The importance of Water Treatment in industry”,2011).
Different Water Treatment Methods
Water treatment can be traced as far back as 2000 B.C. in ancient Greek. The method
of sand and gravel filtration, boiling, straining and heat has a history that stretches back
thousands of years. Since the early 20 th century, a combination of coagulation, sedimentation,
and filtration are the most widely applied water treatment methods. The following are water
treatment methods employed in the present times.
Flocculation
Flocculation is a technique used to neutralize charges and to create a gelatinous mass to catch
(or bridge) ions, producing a mass that is too large to settle or be trapped in the filter.
(Mazille, F, n.d.) By mixing the water, these small non-rigid particles are made to come into
contact and agglomerate with one another. The aggregate will then settle by sedimentation in
still water when the agglomeration of the particles gets large enough the larger particles begin
to aggregate into even larger and heavier particles, these particles become too heavy and tend
to sink and settle. Other suspended particles that do not agglomerate well by flocculation are
removed from the water through the use of polymers.
Coagulation
The method of coagulation involves adding to the water iron or aluminum salts, such as
aluminum sulphate, ferric sulphate, ferric chloride or polymers. These chemicals are labeled,
which have a positive charge, coagulants. The coagulant 's positive charge neutralizes the
water's negative charge of dissolved and suspended ions. The particles bind together, or
coagulate, as this reaction happens. In order to allow the particles thus formed to agglomerate
into masses large enough to settle or be filtered from solution, flocculation is gentle stirring
or agitation.
Physical-chemical process involved in Coagulation-Flocculation. Source: SNF FLOERGER (n.y.) as
mentioned by Mazille, F. and Spuhler, D. (n.d.)
Sedimentation
Other suspended insoluble particles are also small enough to slip freely though the screens,
such as sand and gravel. Therefore, through another method known as sedimentation, these
particles must be separated from the water. Heavy suspended particles, such as sand, can fall
to the bottom over time if water is left to sit, as they are denser than water. The water can
now be collected from the top without disturbing the layer of sediment at the bottom.
Sedimentation Pro
cess. Source: CASIDAY et al. (1999) as mentioned by Bruni, M, Shrestha, R & Spuhler, D.
(n.d.)
Filtration
Filtration is a process which, by forcing the water to pass through porous media, removes
particulate matter from water. The filtration device consists of filters of various porous sizes
that also consists of sand, gravel and charcoal.
Two specific forms of sand filtration exist; slow sand filtration and rapid sand filtration. Slow
sand filtration, since it requires bacteria to filter the water, is a biological process. On the top
layer of sediment, the bacteria create a culture and disinfect the water as it passes through, by
digesting the pollutants in the water.
Illustration of a slow sand filter with a regulating valve and a subsequent reservoir. Source:
HUISMAN (1974) as mentioned by Bruni, M. and Spuhler D.
A physical mechanism that eliminates dissolved solids from the water is rapid sand
filtration. Since fast sand filters have relatively high flow rates and need relatively little
space to run, rapid sand filtration is far more common than flow sand filtration.
Disinfection
The most serious health risks to certain water sources come not from toxins, but from
contagious agents, such as bacteria, in the water. Chlorine (CI2) is an affordable major
disinfectant which destroys much of the water's extreme disease-causing bacteria. Other
techniques are also used, including coagulation, sedimentation, and filtration, to extract the
organisms.
Straining
Straining is a very basic filtration process. Water is poured through a piece of fabric in this
process, which extracts some of the suspended silt and solids and kills some pathogens.
Water will not be completely drinkable after straining, but it can be a measure to improve
drinking water for those with no other treatment options.
Three Pot Method
The easiest method of water treatment is the three-pot method. The three-pots method is a
means of reducing dirt and micro-organisms in water by storing the water in a container,
allowing the dirt to settle, and transferring the cleaner water over time to various containers.
Water in a container should be allowed to settle into the next container for a day before it is
decanted. It is necessary to consume only water from Pot 3. The water stored for at least two
days kills schistosomes present in water. The water will also contain fewer bacteria as the
conditions in the pot inhibits survival of bacteria.
Comparative Analysis
The table shows a comparative analysis of the different water treatment methods according to
its sustainability, cost and applicability.
Table 1.
WATER
TREATMENT
METHODS SUSTAINABILITY COST APPLICABILITY
Flocculation Moderate Relatively used to separate the suspended
low cost and dissolved compounds
from the water.
suspended mineral, organics,
pathogens, and dissolved
species such as metal ions,
phosphates, fluoride, and
radionuclides can be separated
by these processes.
Coagulation Moderate Relatively used to separate the suspended
low cost and dissolved compounds
from the water.
suspended mineral, organics,
pathogens, and dissolved
species such as metal ions,
phosphates, fluoride, and
radionuclides can be separated
by these processes.
Sedimentation Moderate to Low High to Used with high sediment
Low content / turbidity to remove
solids from water. The basic
sedimentation method is
simple to execute and involves
a minimum of materials and
expertise. It is, however, very
time-consuming and thus
needs major chambers or
basins to work effectively.
Slow Sand High Relatively Highly self-help compatible
Filtration
low cost and can help to improve water
management systems due to
construction, operation and
maintenance need not more
than basic skills
Rapid Sand Moderate High The rapid filtration of sand
Filtration Capital and involves very complex
Operational technical installations, highly
Cost trained construction and
operating personnel and large-
scale energy inputs. Filtered
water is not suitable for
consumption until pre-
treatment and disinfection is
applied. Its use is thus
reserved for developed or
metropolitan countries where
land is a limiting factor.
Disinfection Moderate Low cost most commonly used water
disinfectant because it is
inexpensive and reliable. If
high amounts of chlorine-
reacting contaminants in water
(such as natural organic
matter, iron, manganese, etc.)
are present, further treatment
may be done prior to
chlorination to ensure
effectiveness and reduce the
risk of CDBP development.
Straining High Low cost Used as first stage of
treatment. Water obtained
from straining may not be
perfectly safe, but can be a
drinking water option for
people with limited choice.
Water can be treated further
through boiling, chlorination
and alike.
Three pot High Low Cost Easy to operate and maintain;
method It exploits the mechanisms of
self-purification that exist in
natural water bodies and can
be performed inside the
household with any containers.
Results or Findings of the Analysis
Based on the comparative analysis, flocculation and coagulation possess the same
extent of cost and sustainability as well as its applicability. Chemicals are used in flocculation
and coagulation which make it of disadvantage. Transfer of toxic compounds into solid phase
and formation of sludge that has to be treated subsequently is also evident which denotes that
further energy is required thus giving a rate of moderate sustainability.
Sedimentation without using coagulants is time- consuming and not effective. This
denotes that further use of coagulant is required which could be expensive depending on the
type of chemical used. The use of coagulants may be toxic if not properly used. As a by-
product of this method, a watery river of sludge is released. This discharge is partially re-
circulated into the water purification system during biological purification. The sludge must
be more filtered or treated in some cases. It is therefore of low sustainability as it results to
environmental issues and threat.
Slow Sand Filtration and Rapid Sand Filtration are both methods under filtration but
has completely different result in terms of cost and applicability. Rapid Sand Filtration is not
effective in removing bacteria, viruses, fluoride, arsenic, salts, odour and organic matter
which requires pre and post treatment methods. This could mean that high energy input is
being used as well as high capital and operational cost. This denotes that Rapid Sand
Filtration could be of moderate sustainability. Slow Sand Filtration on the other hand as
stated by the WHO, provides a simple but highly effective and considerably cheap tool that
can contribute to a sustainable water management system. It may require electricity when not
constructed with gravity flow. However, slow sand filtration can be categorized as highly
sustainable as it used local materials for construction and no necessity of chemical
applications.
Disinfection comes in different methods but chlorination has been used widely due to
its effectiveness and low cost. While chlorination is effective in improving the quality of
water and killing pathogens, it can lead to the formation of by-products that can be toxic or
cause drinking water problems with taste and odor, so care should be taken to prevent the
formation of these compounds. Base on the analysis, disinfection marks moderate
sustainability and low cost.
Straining and three pot method as water treatments that can be applied in households,
are categorized on low cost but high sustainability as it doesn’t produce energy and further
environmental threat. The three-pot system is a sustainable solution that produces higher
quality water than simple water sedimentation (Chegkazi, 2012). However, these methods
needed more treatment to ensure that the water is of high quality.
Conclusion
The absolute necessity of life is water. Globally, millions of people a year dies due to
water borne diseases which has a huge attribute to poor water quality. Water treatment is
therefore vital to improve quality of water and make it safe for community consumption and
industrial application. Water Treatment methods used in the study are flocculation,
coagulation, slow sand filtration, rapid sand filtration, disinfection, sedimentation, straining
and three pot method. Among the methods, Rapid Sand Filtration has the high cost. Slow
Sand Filtration on the other hand has high sustainability. Flocculation and Coagulation are
methods that are similar in terms of sustainability, cost and differs in applicability. Household
water treatment such as straining and three pot method are options that are easily accessible
and of low cost yet high sustainability. Based on the study conducted, the water treatment
methods are deemed sustainable and are cost effective and efficient. These sustainable water
treatment methods are equally important to one another, as one method doesn’t stand alone
and one may require the use or combination of the other method.
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