What is involved in the water filtration process?

The water filtration process involves let the water go through a certain type of filter material, or in some cases the use of pressure to enforce the water through it. Depending on the filter medium used, filtration can remove particles, metals and microbial pathogens. Filters come in all sizes, from small models that connect to household faucets, to those used in urban water treatment systems, but all work according to the same basic principles. The sand is commonly used in large water treatment systems and sometimes mixed with anthracite coal. Granular activated carbon - carbon material that has been processed to have a higher surface area so that it can absorb more contaminants - is a popular choice for small household filters. Greensand Manganese is a filter material specially treated for removal of iron and manganese from water. Swimming pools often use diatomaceous earth filters.

Small filters generally contain only one material, but for larger filter media they are layered. For example, sand filters have a layer of gravel with a layer of sand above it. If the filter also includes anthracite coal or some other fine -grained filter of the material, it is layered at the top. Water flows slowly through small particles in the upper layers of the filter, then moves quickly through the gravel layer and eventually collects in the base section until it moves to its next destination.

The only visible action in the water filtration process is that the water flows or is released through the filter, but in fact several processes are carried out to remove contaminants from the water. Larger contaminants will be sown because they cannot move through the filter material. The particleles of the filter material adsorb contaminants such as gases and particles such as metals and minerals. Adsorption means that contaminants connect to the surfaces of the filter material.

for a certain tYP filter called slow sand filter is a biological disintegration Another part of the water filtration process that removes contaminants. Slow sand filters have a layer of microorganisms called Schmutzdecke, which is formed on the upper part of the sand in the filter. Microorganisms in Schmutzdecke decompose organic contaminants and can also consume harmful bacteria that may be present in water.