Can anyone suggest a simple way of clarifying water, other than by settling?
A contact in Haiti has placed a number of pumps to bring up groundwater and is in need of a really simple approach... perhaps coagulant or flocculent... to clarify water prior to treating this for portability.
Barring imported approaches, what might work? Thanks!
Might be a little late on this thread but for cost effectiveness ACH (aluminum chlorohydrate) is a great low cost and effective coagulant even at low doses (below 5 mg/L). Especially if it's added upstream from a static mixer. Very little maintenance when compared to traditional mixers.
Might be a little late on this thread but for cost effectiveness ACH (aluminum chlorohydrate) is a great low cost and effective coagulant even at low doses (below 5 mg/L). Especially if it's added upstream from a static mixer. Very little maintenance when compared to traditional mixers.
Install Hydroflow equipment discharge of each pump or make a common header and then install. Subject equipment shall not let form any deposits. The bulk then may pass through a Charcoal filter if required. U may contact Mr. Rashid Faruqi at rashid.faruqi@atg-gis.com for further info.
I recently had success in filtering a very difficult-to-settle & dilute (400 ppm) suspended solid (humate) in the effluent from a heavy mineral sand processing plant in Georgia, USA. The process is a sloping sand bed (as opposed to a typical horizontal sand-filed filter) - its design was based on a process used for dewatering very fine grained mine tailings. I posted the PowerPoint presentation on Research Gate and attach the abstract for your consideration below. The presentation shows photos of a very simple bench testing apparatus that could be fabricated for less than $US100. The process should work on ground water containing trace amounts of dissolved and suspended iron and manganese, too. Good luck. J. Gusek
Dear Anthony, It is a pity that did not tell us the indicators and causes. You can try filtration across crushedrecycled glass instead of sand. In the presence of organic substances can try additionally a well-known additive (not a coagulant, and not a floculant).
We have been running experiments using a new innovative filtration textile designed by a leading South African University. The trials have been really well received. Have a look at the attached specification. The textile is easy to use, cost effective and reusable. We are happy to facilitate to your contact in Haiti.
You are welcome to use the ClariWash system by WaterReach - which can be built locally using plastic pipes and tanks with a degree of DIY competence. It provides clarification and rapid filtration with no moving parts/low maintenance.
I attach an information about the system and can provide detailed drawings should you wish to use it.
The process depends on raw water quality, treated water quality (Potable water - quality known), quantity of water to be treated, available area, Local laws etc.
When I was a child in the 50's and 60's we lived in a rural farm setting where our water supply came via a channel. There was a considerable amount of suspended clay and some minor very fine organic matter. My father used to broad cast (sprinkle) over the surface of our concrete water tank a liberal amount of calcium suphate which had the desired effect of clarifying the water for washing, cleaning and cooking. Our drinking water was boiled and cooled so we always had clear and clean water to drink and very low in calcium due to the boiling.
There is a TEXAS A&M report ; T.L. Provin and J.L Pitt Professor and Soil Chemist, Program Specialist Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory Department of Soil and Crop Sciences NO. SCS-2013-02 refer page no.7 which in part says;
"If the cause of turbidity is chemical in nature, gypsum (calcium sulfate), Epson salts (magnesium sulfate), aluminum sulfate (alum), or limestone (calcium carbonate) can be used to clear muddy ponds by removing suspended clay particles. Gypsum is a neutral salt and will not affect the pH of the pond."
My health and that of my siblings is fine even at this time some 60 years later. given that you are after a simple and inexpensive process i hope that the reference and the experience will help.
One of the best approaches to removal of suspended matters is phyto remediation.
Passing water through Vetiver bed (Vetiveria zizanoides or Chrysopogon zizanoides ) of appropriate dimension can remove all kinds of suspended matters and make it pure of crystal clear clarity. Please refer to: https://vetivernetinternational.blogspot.com/
Our company produces a 100% organic liquid solution that acts as a water clarifier and will further clean the water to some degree and remove odour ans stop build up of sludge and scum in tanks.
If clarifying is your goal there are many very inexpensive products on the market. Most have their company name and then say Clarifier. Almost all use the same ingredients with different concentrations. Cupric Sulfate. Liquid. very blue. A few drops to a few ounces. your observations are the best applications rates. Almost every store carries this.