FORMS OF CHLORINATION

• Depending upon the stage of treatment at

which chlorine is added and also the
expected results of chlorination, the
various technical terms of chlorination
have come into existence.
 Technical terms of chlorination

(1) Plain chlorination

(2) Pre-chlorination
(3) Post-chlorination
(4) Double chlorination
(5) Break point chlorination
(6) Super-chlorination
(7) Dechlorination.
 Plain chlorination
• This term is used to indicate the fact that only
chlorine treatment is given to the raw water.
• The chlorine is added to the raw water to control
the growth of algae and to remove bacteria.
• It also removes organic matter and color from
water.
• Thus the raw water is supplied for consumption
after giving chlorine treatment only.
• Such type of treatment is useful when the raw
water is sufficiently clear or in case of emergencies
such as supply of water to the armies.
• The quantity of chlorine to be added to the raw
water is about 0.50 p.p.m. or more.
 Pre-chlorination
• When chlorine is added to the raw water
before any treatment, it is known as the pre-
chlorination.
• Thus the chlorine is added in small dosage
before raw water enters sedimentation tanks.
• The dosage should be so adjusted that about
0.10 to 0.50 p.p.m. of chlorine comes to the
filter plant.
 Advantages
(i) It reduces taste and odour of water.
(ii) It improves coagulation and less quantity of coagulant
is required when this treatment is adopted.
(iii) It aids in maintaining filter media of sand clean and
thus the interval of cleaning filters may be increased.
(iv) It controls the growth of algae in sedimentation tanks
as well as in filters.
(v) It prevents the putrefaction of sludge in the settling
tanks.

Putrefaction: The process of decay or rotting in a body or other organic matter.

 Post-chlorination
• This term indicates the application of chlorine
after all the treatments of purification of water are
completed.
• This is the standard treatment and chlorine is
added to the water after it leaves rapid sand filters
and before it enters the distribution system.
• The dosage of chlorine should be such that a
residual chlorine of about 0.10 to 0.20 p.p.m.
appears in water at the point of its entry into the
distribution system.
• Thus it ensures final safety to the water and
hence, it should always be adopted or
recommended.
 Double chlorination
• When chlorine is added to the raw water at more than
one point, it is known as the double chlorination.
• When raw water is highly contaminated and contains
large amount of bacterial life, it becomes necessary to
adopt pre-chlorination and post-chlorination for such
water.
• The advantages of this treatment are similar to those of
pre-chlorination treatment.
• In addition, the second unit of chlorination plant serves
as a stand-by unit and the load of impurities of filters is
greatly reduced.
 Break point chlorination
• This term has come into practical use to refer the
amount of chlorine required to treat the water.
• If water is pure and if it has no chlorine demand, any
chlorine that is added to such water will come out as
residual chlorine.
• This is shown by line P in figure.
• But for water containing organic matter, the chlorine
has to perform the following two functions:
• (i) To remove bacteria from water; and
• (ii) To oxidize the organic matter present in water.
Break point chlorination
 Break point chlorination
• The chlorine, when added to the
water, performs the function of
removing bacteria first represented
by curve OM.
• Then it starts to accumulate upto a
certain point represented by curve
MA.
• This point is represented by point A
on curve Q of fig. 9-1.
• At this stage, if further dosage of
chlorine is added in water, it is
followed by a sudden decrease in
residual chlorine content.
• Here, chlorine added is equal to
chlorine residual, as no chlorine is
consumed after point B, line R is
known as no demand curve.
 Break point chlorination
• This stage is sometimes
accompanied by bad
smell and taste.
• This naturally indicates
that the extra quantity of
chlorine added after point
A on curve Q has been
utilised for second
function of chlorine i.e.,
oxidization of organic
matter present in water.
 Break point chlorination
• If still further chlorine is added
in water, a point B is reached
on curve Q when bad smell
and taste suddenly disappear
and residual chlorine
henceforth tends to
accumulate as represented by
line R of fig.9.1.
• The point B on curve Q is
known as the break point as
any chlorine that is added to
the water beyond this point
breaks through the water and
appears as residual chlorine.
Thanks