Disinfection and Disinfectants

• The filtered water which is obtained either

from the slow sand filters or rapid gravity
filters, may, normally contain some harmful
disease producing bacteria.
• These bacteria must be killed in order to make
the water safe for drinking.
• The chemicals used for killing these bacteria
are known as disinfectants, and the process is
known as disinfection or sterilization.
• This process of purification is the most
important for the safety of public health and
life.
• The presence of turbidities, color, or minerals,
etc may not be dangerous, but the presence of
even a single harmful organism will definitely
prove dangerous.
• Water supplies to armies in war times when
complete treatment including sedimentation,
filtration, etc. cannot be given, the disinfection
is the only treatment which is given to the raw
water.
• The disinfection not only removes the existing
bacteria from the water at the plant, but also
ensures their immediate killing even
afterwards, in the distribution system.
• The chemical which is used as a disinfectant
must, therefore, be able to give this residual
sterilizing effect for a long period, thus
affording some protection against
recontamination.
• In addition to this, is should be harmless,
unobjectionable to tongue, economical, and
measurable by simple tests.
 Chlorine
• Chlorine has been found to be the best and the
most ideal disinfectant.
• Disinfection, chlorination, and sterilization are
used as synonymous to each other.
• Besides chlorine, there are, however, other
minor methods of disinfection.
 Note:
• Disinfection means killing of only the disease
producing bacteria; whereas, sterilization
means killing of all the bacteria of all types.
• However, the two terms are generally used as
synonymous to each other, in Water Supply
Engineering, both meaning, the killing of
harmful bacteria.
 Minor Methods of Disinfection
The following are the minor methods of disinfection:
• (1) Boiling of water:
• (2)Treatment with excess lime;
• (3) Treatment with ozone;
• (4)Treatment with iodine and bromine;
• (5)Treatment with ultra-violet rays;
• (6)Treatment with potassium permanganate ;
• (7)Treatment with silver, called Electra-Katadyn
process.
 Chlorination
• Chlorine in its various forms is invariably and
almost universally used for disinfecting public
water supplies.
• It is cheap, reliable, easy to handle, easily
measurable, and above all, it is capable of
providing residual disinfecting effects for long
periods ,thus affording complete protection against
future recontamination of water in the distribution
system.
• Its only disadvantage is that when used in
greater amounts, it imparts bitter and bad taste
to the water, which may not be liked by certain
sensitive-tongued consumers.
 Disinfecting Action of Chlorine
• When chlorine is added to water, it forms
hypochlorous acid or hypochlorite ions, which
have an immediate and disastrous effect on
most forms of microscopic organisms.
• The reactions that take place are:
• The hypochlorous acid is unstable and may
break into hydrogen ions and hypochlorite ions.

• The above reaction is reversible and depends

upon the pH value of water.
• The dissociation of hypochlorous acid into ions
is more effective at high pH values and vice
versa.
• Thus, at pH values greater than 8, only OCI ions
are found;
• while in pH values of less than 7 (more than 5),
HOCI will generally exist without dissociating
into OCI ions;
• In the pH range of below 5, chlorine does not
react and remains as elemental chlorine.
Microorganisms in drinking water
 Various Forms in which Chlorine can be
Applied
Chlorine is generally applied in the following
forms:
(1) In the form of liquid chlorine or as-chlorine gas as
combined chlorine
(2) In the form of hypochlorites or bleaching powder.
(3) In the form of chloramines, i.e. a mixture of
ammonia and chlorine.
(4) In the form of chlorine dioxide.
 Advantages of Using Free Chlorine as a Disinfectant

• It can be easily stored for a long period

without any risks of its getting deteriorated.
• It is quite cheap and easily available.
• It occupies less space for storage.
• It can be easily and cheaply transported.
• The chlorine dose to be added can be easily
measured, and hence the chances of
overdosing or under-dosing are minimum.
• The initial cost of installing the chlorination plant
is quite low.
 Advantages of Using Free Chlorine as a Disinfectant

• It is a very powerful disinfectant, and may remain

in water as residual for good enough time ;
especially if ammonia also happens to be present
in water.
• It can be uniformly applied to the entire body of
water.
• The operation of the plant does not require much
skilled supervision; although the storage of
chlorine and its use may need careful handling.
• No sludge is formed in its application, as may be
formed by using hypochlorites or chloramines.
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