Water Treatment in Sydney
The process of the treatment of water takes place so that the water we drink and use is not contaminated and is safe to consume. Without water treatment plants, many people would become fatally ill due to consumption of dirty or unsafe water, which is often the case in developing countries*.
At a water filtration plant, raw water is:
To filtrate the water and to remove any large materials such as leaves, twigs and other particles, raw water is run through fine screens. The next part of this process is to add chemicals so that any remaining particles coagulate (join together) into larger parts. These chemicals include ferric chloride and polyelectrolyte, which help the filtration process.
After this, the water is run through another filter that includes either sand or layers of sand and anthracite (crushed coal), which trap the larger parts and separate it from the filtered water. To help kill any remaining microorganisms and stop them reforming, Chlorine is added
in this part of the process.
Then, Fluoride is added to the water, as under the direction of the NSW Health, to help prevent tooth decay.
In the final steps of the process, the water may be treated with small amounts of carbon dioxide and lime, which aids corrosion prevention of water pipes. Finally the water makes it's way through reservoirs and pumping stations.
To find out more,
At a water filtration plant, raw water is:
- filtered to remove particles
- disinfected to kill microbiological organisms
- treated with fluoride, as required by NSW law
- treated with chemicals to control acidity (pH) and prevent pipe corrosion.
To filtrate the water and to remove any large materials such as leaves, twigs and other particles, raw water is run through fine screens. The next part of this process is to add chemicals so that any remaining particles coagulate (join together) into larger parts. These chemicals include ferric chloride and polyelectrolyte, which help the filtration process.
After this, the water is run through another filter that includes either sand or layers of sand and anthracite (crushed coal), which trap the larger parts and separate it from the filtered water. To help kill any remaining microorganisms and stop them reforming, Chlorine is added
in this part of the process.
Then, Fluoride is added to the water, as under the direction of the NSW Health, to help prevent tooth decay.
In the final steps of the process, the water may be treated with small amounts of carbon dioxide and lime, which aids corrosion prevention of water pipes. Finally the water makes it's way through reservoirs and pumping stations.
To find out more,
*Click on the button below to view a video about this issue on the HOME page (bottom of page).