Efficiency of Pollutant Removal from Surface Water in a Conventional Water Treatment System

Abstract

The article contains an assessment of efficiency of removal of impurities from surface water using the technology employed by “Raba” plant of the Municipal Water and Sewerage Company in Cracow (MPWiK). Research conducted by the laboratory staff shows that the functioning process system for water treatment makes it possible to obtain water with parameters corresponding to the currently applicable regulations on the quality of treated water at the outlet of the plant. Selected microbiological indicators during the treatment process and physicochemical parameters in raw and potable water underwent statistical analysis. In the first case, only Clostridium perfringens bacteria and coliform bacteria were analysed. The other bacteriological parameters in the water production process gave a result of 0 cfu/100 ml. In the second case, the average rates of removal of impurities were calculated in order to check the efficiency of the treatment process. In the examined water, the highest efficiency of removal of impurities was observed with regard to the following indicators: nitrates (III), turbidity, colour, ammonium ion and phosphates. The research conducted showed that the quality of treated water was affected by the degree of pollution of raw water and the use of appropriate stages of the process system which removed impurities and neutralised pathogenic microorganisms.