Here’s How the Water Treatment Process Works

1. Piping extending 700 feet out into the Lake, water is pumped to large booster pumps water to the treatment facility. Water is also pumped from groundwater wells into the treatement facility.
2. Chemicals such as Alum, Coagulation Aid Polymers, and Filteraid Polymer are added to the water to help remove impurities and help destroy any bad taste and color.
3. Static-Mixer: The water is mixed rapidly to distribute the chemicals evenly.
4. Adsorption Clarifier: A pretreatment facility. During operation, chemically coagulated water is introduced into the bottom of the adsorption clarifier compartment where it passes upward through a bed of buoyant adsorption media. The adsorption clarifier combines the process of coagulation, flocculation, and settling into one unit process.
5. Chlorination: A small amount of Chlorine is added to deep the water from developing bacteria as it travels to your home. The amount of Chlorine is carefully measured to be the lowest possible amount needed to keep the water free of germs.
6. Filtration: from the clarifier, the water continues on its trip, through the filters, layer of sand, gravel and hard coal (anthracite) are used to remove any other impurities that are left in the water.
7. Clearwell: Water from the filter comes sparkling clear into the clearwell then pumped to the storage tanks.
8. For delivery through the distribution system for your use at home.
9. Backwash System: Water at high volume goes backwards through the filter systems to cleanse the media of contaminates and particles. Water is impounded in the backwash tank, allowed to settle and recycled back to the untreated water line.

Steps of Water Treatment

1. Coagulation: Alum and other chemicals are added to water to form tiny sticky particles called “floc” which attract the dirt particles.
2. Sedimentation: The heavy particles (floc) settle to the bottom and clear water moves to filtration. Follow a drop of water from the source through the treatment process. Water may be treated differently in different communities.
3. Filtration: The water passes disinfection chlorine through filters that help to remove even smaller particles.
4. Disinfection: A small amount of chlorine is added to kill any bacteria or microorganisms that may be in the water.
5. Storage: Water is placed in a closed tank or reservoir where it flows through pipes to homes and businesses in the community.

To download a handout of the Water Treatment Process, click here.