Part 9 : GROUNDWATER TREATMENT

A groundwater may require processing to remove toxic contaminants or to improve

aesthetic quality
– Calcium, manganese, iron & magnesium are common
– In agricultural regions, groundwater may contain nitrate from
infiltration of fertilizer and pesticides
– Synthetic chemicals from improper disposal of industrial wastewaters
– Arsenic, radionuclides, and other inorganic chemicals may originate
from natural geological formations

Aeration:



Softening: chemical addition to force hardness ions (Ca and Mg) above solubility
to precipitate
Total hardness = Ca2++ Mg2+
 Hard water is caused by calcium & magnesium ions from water coming in
contact with geologic formation
 Public acceptance of hardness varies………Many customers object to water
harder than 150 mg/l

 Precipitation softening uses lime Ca(OH)2 and soda ash (Na2CO3) to strip
calcium & magnesium from solution

 Lime treatment also has bactericidal action, removes iron, and aids in
clarification of turbid surface waters

1
 Lime added to water reacts first with any free carbon dioxide, forming a
calcium carbonate precipitate…………………Next, the lime reacts with
any calcium bicarbonate present

Since magnesium precipitates as Mg(OH)2 two equivalents of lime are needed

to remove one equivalent of magnesium bicarbonate

 Boiling can remove carbonate (temporary hardness)

Ca(HCO3)2 boiling CaCO3 +H2O+CO2
Insoluble calcium carbonate

Non-carbonate hardness (calcium & magnesium sulfates/chlorides) requires

soda ash for precipitation……..……..

Magnesium sulfate needs both lime and soda ash,

Hardness ( )
mg
L
=C Ca
L ( )
mg Eq . Wt .CaCO3
Eq .Wt Ca
+ Mg
mg Eq .Wt CaCO3
L Eq . Wt Mg ( )
Molecular Weight
Equivalent Weight (Eq .Wt )=
Valence

mg
) C(
( )
meq
L
=
L
Eq . Wt

2
Re-carbonation: readjust the water pH and alkalinity and may cause additional
precipitation of hardness-causing ions.

Why water must be re-carbonated?

A reaction which remove carbonate and non-carbonate hardness require a high pH value and
produce water with high concentration of dissolved lime and calcium carbonate… if such water
entered a system (water distribution system) like this, high pH will corrode the pipe and excess
CaCO3 would precipitate out causing scales…So, the water must be recarbonated first.

CO2 can be applied for re-carbonation after lime treatment to lower the pH
Converts excess hydroxide ion & carbonate ion to bicarbonate ion
Carbon dioxide neutralizes excess lime precipitating it as calcium carbonate
Further re-carbonation converts carbonate to bicarbonate
CaCO3 +CO2+H2O = Ca (HCO3)2
Ca(OH)2+CO2=CaCO3 +H2O

Sedimentation: removes hardness particles that will settle by gravity

Filtration and disinfection: serve for same purpose as for surface water…. BUT
the technology varies..