DEFLUORIDATION OF

GROUND WATER

SUBMITTED BY
PERUMALLA NIKHITHA
17B91A01D1
 CONTENTS

 Introduction
 Definition
 Methods of defluoridation
 Nalgonda technique
 Case study
 Conclusion
 INTRODUCTION

 Fluoride is a normal constituent of natural waters and its concentration varies

depending on the water source.
 Fluoride is beneficial when present within permissible limits of 1.0-1.5mg/litre.
 All ground water resourses are not always safe,some of these have problem such as
excess salinity,iron,nitrate.
 In India the first defluoridation was done by the “National Environmental
Engineering Research Institute” at Nagpur in 1961.

 Defnition:
It is the process of removing excess fluoride which is naturally occurring
from drinking water in order to reduce the prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis.
 Methods of defluoridation

 Providing water, with optimal fluoride concentration is the only way by which
the generation yet to be born can be totally protected against the disease.

 It can achieved by the following methods:

1. Removal of fluoride from water(defluoridation),using suitable techniques.
2. Locating alternative sources of safe water.
3. Bringing in water from a distant, safe source.
 Nalgonda technique

 National Environmental Engineering Research Institute(NEERI),Nagpur

Nalgonda technique in 1974.
 Nalgonda Technique involves addition of Aluminium salts,lime and bleaching
powder followed by rapid mixing, flocculation,sedimentation,filtration and
disinfection.
1. Aluminium salts(aluminium sulfate-alum or aluminium chloride or combination of
these two):responsible for removal of fluoride from water.
2. Lime:facilities forming dense flocks for rapid settling of insoluble fluoride salts.
dose:empirically 1/20th of that of the dose of aluminium salt.
3. Bleaching powder:disinfection-3mg/1
 Mechanism of Nalgonda technique

 Rapid mix:-provides through mixing of chemicals

 Flocculation:-gentle agitation

 Combination of pol hydroxy aluminium complex with fluoride and polymeric

aluminium hydroxides are formed (flocs)

 Turbidity,colour,odour-removed;bacterial load reduces

 Lime ensures that residual aluminium does not remain in treated water
 Sedimentation:-permits settling of flocs loaded with fluorides and other
impurities.

 Filtration:-rapid gravity sand filters

 Disinfection:-rechlorinated with bleaching powder before distribution

 Case study

Nalgonda Technique:
Domestic

Fill and draw for small

community

Fill and draw for rural water

supply
 Advantages of Nalgonda technique

 Regeneration of media is not required.

 No handling of caustic acids and alkalies.
 Adaptable to domestic use.
 Economical
 Can be used to treat water in large quantities for community usage.
 Needs minimum of mechanical and electrical equipment.
 Disadvantages of Nalgonda technique

 Generation of higher quantity of sludge.

 Careful pH control of treated water is required.
 The large amount of alum needed to remove fluoride.
 The daily operations require a trained and conscientious operator.
 High residual aluminium is reported in treated water by some authors.
 Conclusion
 Fluorosis is of major health concern in certain parts of India.
 Appropriate defluoridation measures should be instituted in areas where
fluorosis is endemic.
 Defluoridation measures have social,economic,political,behavioral and
environmental implications,especially in a developing country like India.
 There is no cure to the disease and prevention is the only solution.
 Nalgonda technique is the most suitable technique for Indian rural communities.
THANK YOU