Water treatment
Drinking and process water production
What is water treatment?
Water treatment encompasses a series of processes aimed at improving the quality of water to make it suitable for a specific end-use. The goal is to remove contaminants and undesirable components or reduce their concentration so that the water becomes fit for its desired use, whether that be drinking, industrial water supply, irrigation, water recreation, or being safely returned to the environment.
These processes can include physical, chemical, and biological treatment methods designed to remove particles, pathogens, and toxins, ensuring the water meets regulatory standards and is safe for humans and the environment.
Water from any source
We offer conventional polishing as well as membrane technologies and other water treatment technologies for the production of drinking water and process water. Containerized drinking water technology is available for emergency use, allowing fast deployment water available from any source, anywhere.
- Process water
- Drinking water
Water treatment solutions for every application
We will provide you with any type of process water. Our water treatment technologies, like AQUALITY® membrane filtration technology, produces tailor-made process water from any source in a compact configuration.
Membranes are (porous) selective barriers that will pass some substances and will retain others. In process water production applications and in wastewater treatment the substance to be passed is water. The substance to be retained can be very much dependent on the application. The driving force for the separation is generally a pressure gradient.
Our range of proprietary membrane-based solutions includes
- AQUALITY® UF: micro-filtration and ultra-filtration technology retaining suspended solids, colloidal material and bacteria and offering a stable quality water.
- AQUALITY® RO: Reverse Osmosis technology retaining dissolved solids, drastically reducing the salt content of the water.
- AQUALITY® High Recovery Reverse Osmosis: our advanced Reverse Osmosis technology enabling increasing water recovery from 70 to 90%.
Combining Ultra-filtration and Reverse Osmosis technology enables the production of quality process water and safe drinking water to comply with WHO regulations from any source, in a compact set-up.
Water treatment steps and processes: How does purification work
Water purification is a multi-step process designed to remove or reduce contaminants and impurities from water, making it safe for human consumption and various uses. The journey begins with pre-treatment, including screening to remove large debris and pre-chlorination for algae control and reduction of waterborne pathogens.
Following this, coagulation and flocculation are applied, where chemicals are added to the water to form sticky particles called floc, which attract dirt and other particles. The next step, sedimentation, allows these particles to settle at the bottom of a water tank. Filtration then removes smaller particles not eliminated by sedimentation, by passing water through filters made of sand, gravel, or charcoal, which trap and remove these particles.
The final critical step is disinfection, where chemical or physical processes are used to kill any remaining microbial contaminants. Chlorination is the most common disinfection method, but ultraviolet light and ozone are also used. Some systems incorporate advanced treatment methods such as activated carbon filters, membrane filtration (e.g., reverse osmosis), or ion exchange to target specific contaminants like industrial chemicals, heavy metals, or saline. Each of these steps plays a vital role in ensuring that the water meets safety standards for drinking and is suitable for its intended use, reflecting a comprehensive approach to managing water quality and protecting public health.
Conventional drinking water production stages
Our conventional AQUALITY® drinking water solution offers a reliable and robust solution for the production of large quantities of safe drinking water. Its basic design contains cascade aeration, coagulation, flocculation, lamella decanting as well as sand filtration. Additional polishing will produce a safe drinking water. Our conventional AQUALITY® drinking water technology integrates all steps into a single compact structure, limiting footprint and costs.
Membrane drinking water production stages
The AQUALITY® UF, RO, HRRO water production solutions make use of advanced membrane technology, enabling the production of safe drinking water or process water from any source:
- Brackish water
- Seawater
- Ground and surface water
Emergency drinking water production
For the production of safe water in disaster-struck communities, the AQUALITY® drinking water technology is available in modular and containerized units. The plug& play emergency solution can be deployed and operational within 24 hours, anywhere in the world.
Industrial water treatment plants and cases
Drinking water for Abha Dam
Low-footprint drinking water plant providing 20,000 m³/day, situated near the Abha Dam city center.
Compact drinking water plant in Khemmiset
Doubling capacity to meet the demands of a growing population.
Drinking water for Tshikapa
Improving sanitary conditions for a population struck by poverty and migration
Interested in our drinking water production solutions?
Frequently asked questions
Purifying Drinking Water and Process Water
Purifying drinking water involves several key steps to remove impurities and pathogens, making it safe for consumption. This process typically includes coagulation and flocculation to remove suspended particles, sedimentation to allow particles to settle, filtration to remove smaller particles, and disinfection to eliminate pathogens. In addition to these, advanced treatments like activated carbon filtration, membrane technologies, and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection can be employed to address specific contaminants like chemicals, metals, and microorganisms.
For process water, which is used in industrial or manufacturing processes, the purification requirements depend on the specific industrial use. Process water treatment aims to prepare water for use in manufacturing, production, heating, cooling, washing, and for achieving the quality needed for product-specific applications.
This might involve removing minerals, controlling pH, or eliminating specific contaminants to prevent damage to equipment, ensure product quality, and maintain safety standards. In both cases, the purification processes are tailored to meet the strict quality requirements of drinking water standards or the specific needs of industrial applications, ensuring efficiency, sustainability, and compliance with environmental regulations.
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