AIU Day 4. Water, Water, Everywhere!!

Water Treatment in SW Pennsylvania

Drinking Water – SW PA

Groundwater30%

Surface water70%

Private wells or springs19%

Public ground water11%

Where Does Pittsburgh Water Come From?• Pittsburgh Water System

– Allegheny River

• Roughly 70 million gallons of water are treated every day

• The plant is capable of producing over 100 million gallons per day.

• The treatment process takes three full days and consists of three separate stages

Stages of Drinking Water Processing1. Clarification

River water passes through a process called clarification, in which silts and clays are removed. This stage involves chemical formation of clumped particles called floc which are then physically removed by gravity sedimentation.

2. Filtration The clarified water next passes slowly through sand and gravel filters in order to remove fine particles and microorganisms

3. DisinfectionThe filtered water is finally treated with chlorine

in order to ensure removal of any harmful microorganisms

What is to be Removed?

•Microbial contaminants ("Bugs")

•Salts and Metals •Pesticides•Herbicides•Organics•Radioactive contaminants

Instructions for coag and turbidity

• See the notes section for details on “cleaning” water using the coagulant and for measuring turbidity.