School of Civil, Environmental, and Geological Engineering

Mapua University
658 Muralla St., Intramuros, Manila, 1002 Metro Manila

Reflection Paper # 6

Water Treatment Processes

ESE 143-2 / A1
(WATER SUPPLY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT)
1st Quarter- School Year 2019-2020

Submitted by:
MAUYAO, DAVID KEITH D.

Submitted to:
ENGR. ALICIA SAN DIEGO
Professor
Dear ESE 143-2 diary,

Since I were a kid I was really amused where do the water from cities come from.
Growing from a rural area, our only source of water is a water pump. Thus, when visiting
other places, I’m looking for their water pumps but there are none. As I grow up, I’ve been
learning a lot of things but still I don’t know how water is being processed but with the help
of the Internet, I’ve researched and found some in answers.

In the article of MWSS, there are 8 steps for water to be distributed to households
and other establishments. The first step is water screening in which surface water from
dams that contains large debris that needs to be remove before entering the treatment
plant. Then the water goes to pre-chlorination or disinfection which kills organisms and
pathogens that needs to be removed. It will be vigorously mix which promotes the
dispersion of coagulation chemicals. The water containing the chemicals then react and
form to a floc, cluster of coagulative chemicals and organize matter. Then, it will gradually
come in contact and particles will get large enough. This will become heavier and sink at the
bottom and will be removed through polymers.

Coagulation is the next part which Aluminum sulfate is added to the water. Mixing it
rapidly will make the particles to clump and will be removed. The water will be put into
sedimentation to remove the other insoluble particles that is settled at the bottom. The
water will be collected from the top to not disturb the layer. The next step will be Filtration
which water will pass through porous medium and will filter the remaining impurities. The
water will be disinfected to remove such organisms that are dangerous to human. This is
also done to the other parts of the process.

The process in which the water goes through is important to ensure the health and
welfare of the end-users. As water is important and limited, we should know how to
conserve it and not waste it into non-meaningful things. Not everyone has access to a clean,
quality and adequate water, every time we use water, we should think about these people
who don’t have the means to access it. We should be grateful on what we have.

Reference: How Water is Being Processed. (n.d.). Retrieved October 17, 2020, from
https://mwss.gov.ph/learn/how-water-is-being-processed/