Water Treatment Solutions for Turbidity Removal - Water and Wastewater - Drinking Water
Turbidity is a measure of the loss of light transmittance through a liquid due to suspended particles. The more particles in the water, the murkier it looks or the higher the turbidity. This is a measure of the quality of the water. It is measured in units called Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU). Turbidity can be caused by run off after a heavy rain as erosion washes soil into a river or lake. It is often increased in the spring and fall when the water temperature at different levels in a lake change causing a turnover of those levels, bringing sediment, plants, and algae to the top.
The EPA has set maximum limits for drinking water ...
The EPA has set maximum limits for drinking water at 1 NTU with the majority of samples required to be below 0.3 NTU. Turbidity is a concern for several reasons. The main one is aesthetic because nobody likes to use dirty water. The particles decrease the effectiveness of disinfection and can provide places for heavy metals and toxic organic chemicals to attach and be transported in the water. The suspended particles absorb heat from the sunlight, raising the temperature of the water. Oxygen concentrations become lower as the temperature rises. Many fish and plants cannot survive in the warmer water. Turbidity also decreases the amount of light that reaches the bottom which also affects many plants and algae.
AdEdge removes turbidity by adding chemicals that cause the particles to clump together or coagulate until they settle to the bottom of a basin while the clearer water is collected for further treatment. In smaller applications, suspended particles are filtered through media filters, bag or cartridge filters, or integrated membrane systems.