Raw water

Raw water is natural water found in the environment and infectious bacteria found in contaminated water.
has not been treated, nor have any minerals, ions, par-
ticles or living organisms removed. Raw water includes Dissolved air molecules, especially oxygen
rainwater, ground water, water from inltration wells, and
water from bodies like lakes and rivers. The character- Salt, which makes water brackish, having more
istics of raw water include physical ones, such as taste, salinity than fresh water, but not as much as seawa-
temperature, or turbidity, chemical ones, such as hard- ter.
ness, acidity/alkalinity, and ion content, and biological
ones, such as organism presences. These characteristics
can vary greatly depending on environmental conditions. Other, less common, contaminants of raw water include:
Pollution can also eect raw water content.
Without treatment, raw water can be used for farming, Natural radioactive particles.[4]
[1]
construction or cleaning purposes. Farmers use it for
watering their crops or give to livestock to drink, stor- Peruorinated alkyl acids, such as peruorooctanoic
ing it in man-made lakes or reservoirs for long periods acid, which are group of pollutants that have been
of time. Construction industries can use raw water for found in wastewater throughout Europe.[5] There
making cement or for damping down unsealed roads to are concerns these chemicals could contaminate raw
prevent dust rising. Raw water can also be used for ush- water sources that are commonly used for drinking
ing toilets and washing cars, as well as any other purpose water.
that do not require it to be consumed by humans. Water
in this form is considered raw, as opposed to water which Endocrine disruptor compounds; chemicals that can
has been treated before consumption, such as drinking interfere with the endocrine system causing cancer-
water or water which has been used in an industrial pro- ous tumors, birth defects, and other developmental
cess, such as waste water. Contaminants usually make disorders.[6]
raw water unsafe for drinking by humans without treat-
ment. However, millions of people in developing coun-
tries rely on untreated raw water for their water supply, These contaminants can be harmful to humans if they
sometimes purifying it by boiling.[2] drink raw water containing them, or if the water is not
treated properly before consumption. The contaminants
Raw water ushing is a method of water conservation
can also have an eect on the local ecosystem. For ex-
where raw water is used for ush toilets.
ample, endocrine disrupting chemicals can have harm-
ful eects on sh populations living in natural lakes and
rivers.[7] These growing health concerns have led to the
1 Composition development of guidelines, such HACCP (Hazard Anal-
ysis and Critical Control Points), for the production of
The composition of raw water is naturally variable, but safe drinking water from wastewater and raw water, and
commonly contains one or more of the following signi- research into sustainable water supply alternatives [8][9]
cant contaminants, in the form of dissolved ions, particles
and living organisms:[3]

Humic acid and other complex acids, produced by 2 Treatment

plant decay. These occur in peat and soil and may
cause discolouration of water. Raw water can be used for many purposes, such as
cooling water, water for rinsing and chemical produc-
Minerals which make water hard. Most common are tion, puried water, and drinking water.[10] However, due
carbonates of calcium and magnesium. to the possible contaminants, raw water must be treated
Particles of clay and silt. before it is allowed for human consumption or industrial
use.[11] There are several steps involved in the treatment
Microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa of raw water, and dierent methods in which it can take
and their cysts. Vibrio cholerae is an example of an place.

1
2 2
Water treatment plant of Bragana, Portugal
2.1 Reverse osmosis
Reverse osmosis has been used for the production of
demineralised water for over 30 years.[10] In reverse os-
mosis, water is transported across a membrane under high
pressure, leaving a product that consists mainly of water
and a concentrate containing most other components such
as minerals and unwanted residues.[12] Many contami-
nants, including iron, manganese, ammonium, traces of
pesticides and medicines, organic micro pollutants, and
radioactive particles can be removed with reverse osmosis
alone.[4][12] This eciency has made reverse osmosis the
primary method of water purication, often being used
in combination with other methods, as a nal treatment.
A downside to reverse osmosis is that the removing of
most minerals from water can have negative eects on its
taste.[12] Minerals are sometimes added to drinking water
that was already ltered to improve its taste.
2.2 Conventional pre-treatment
The conventional treatment method for water purication
is a complex, multistage process that was used for many
years.[10] It generally consists of ve primary steps.[11]
First, raw water is adjusted for alkalinity and pH with
the addition of hydrated lime and carbon dioxide. Sec-
ond, particulate matter is congregated with aluminum
sulphate and other coagulants, such as polymers, which
the water ows in a cascade that mixes the chemicals
and raw water with the coagulants. Third, the water
is slowly mixed in clariers where larger particles set-
tle down to the bottom and are periodically removed
(sedimentation). Fourth, water is directed from the clar-
iers to the lters (e.g. anthracite and sand lter) to en-
trap any smaller particles that survived the clarication
process. Finally, sodium hydroxide is added to adjust the
nal pH/alkalinity, sodium hypochlorite for disinfection
and uoride for uoridation. This process is often used as
a pre-treatment method while another processes, such as
reverse osmosis, is used for the nal treatment.[10] A dis-
advantage of this method is its use of chemicals, such as
ozone, occulents, hydrogen peroxide, lime, and chlorine
TREATMENT
for the ltration process.[10] These chemicals could be
dangerous if used incorrectly or if they remained in the
water after complete treatment. These chemicals could
be dangerous if used incorrectly, or if they remain in the
water after complete treatment. This requires special pre-
cautions, and each step of the process has to be controlled
to achieve an overall optimal performance.[10] The need
for a complex control system for conventional treatment
can result in it being nancially costly.[10] This has led to
the development of alternative pre-treatment and treat-
ment methods for raw water.
2.3 Ultraltration
Drinking water treatment of 300 m/h using ultraltration in
Grundmhle waterworks (Germany)
Ultraltration is a membrane ltration process and pro-
vides an alternative to conventional pre-treatment.[10] In
this method water is only pre-ltered with a common
screen lter before being ltered at high pressure through
a membrane, separating the water from contaminants
within it. Ultraltration can be used on its own for water
purication or as a pre-treatment for reverse osmosis. Its
advantages over conventional pre-treatment include: very
high water quality independent of the contaminants in the
initial raw water, a plant that is simpler in design and
more exible, which makes it easier to automate, lower
use of chemicals, and nal product free of viruses and
microorganisms.
2.4 Biolm pre-treatment and Bio-
diatomite Dynamic Membrane Re-
actor
The biolm membrane ltration method is used to re-
move harmful chemical by-products, such as NH4+-
N, total nitrogen, and dissolved organic matter, that
could form from disinfection processes.[13] Biolm Pre-
treatment is a necessary step for water treatment in many
parts of world due to its low operation cost and eec-
tiveness at pollutant removal. In this process microor-
ganisms remove contaminants in raw and wastewater that
3.1 Turbidity and health concerns
are harmful to humans, but nutrients to them.[13] Bio-
diatomite dynamic membrane reactor ltration combines
dynamic membrane technology for wastewater treatment,
and microbial colonies that form diatomite particles to
purify water.[14] These methods are under development in
China as part of addressing the countrys pollution prob-
lems.
3 Turbidity
Turbid Water
Turbidity is how murky or hazy water seems due to
suspended particles. The more suspended particles, the
higher the turbidity. Turbidity is used to visually measure
water quality. In raw water, turbidity is very common.[15]
High amounts of turbidity in raw water is due to:[15]
Increased ow due to heavy rain fall
Spring turnover of water masses
Bank erosion
Sediment resuspension in shallow areas
Temporary increase from the more turbid areas
3
3.1 Turbidity and health concerns
During high turbidity peaks, pathogens are more com-
monly found in raw water. This can contribute to the
spread of illnesses.[16] When turbidity increases, reported
hospital visits for the elderly (65+) with gastrointestinal
illnesses also increase. Even places with water ltra-
tion systems that meet standards can have an endemic of
gastrointestinal illness, or waterborne infectious diseases.
Those hospitalized represent a small percentage of total
morbidity caused by these illnesses.[9]
3.2 Controlling turbidity
Controlling the land surrounding raw water sources is key
to reducing turbidity. Areas of high sediment resuspen-
sion and erosion need attending regularly, and screens and
other devices are needed to catch suspended particles.
Screens that trap particles and debris must be cleaned
consistently. Flushing out water pumps should be done
when demand is lowest. This gives time for the water to
settle, and decrease turbidity before is it needed in high
amounts. Turbidity reduction is best achieved when the
water is run through a series of chemical and physical
treatment methods before reaching the lter.[17]
Waterside of Saint Lawrence River near Kamouraska
4 Important treatment plants and
water sources
The Riverbed Wastewater Treatment Facility
(RHWTF) is a primary treatment plant for St.
Johns, Mount Pearl and Paradise. It treats
approximately 120 million liters per day.[18]
In Montreal, the St. Lawrence River is a source raw
water source that supplies approximately 1.5 million
people with drinking water.[15]
Ottawa uses the Ottawa River as a source of raw
water before treatment in plants at Britannia and
Lemieux. The Britannia Water Treatment Plant
4 7 ADDITIONAL SOURCES
treats an approximation of 200 megaliters per
day.[18]
Toronto receives all drinking water from Lake On-
tario. It is treated in four plants along the shore of
Lake Ontario, and Centre Island.[18]
5 See also
Water portal
Ground Water
Wastewater
Rainwater
Water Conservation
6 References
[1] Perth W.A. (2016) What is Raw Water?. Vintage
Road Haulage. http://www.vintageroadhaulage.com.au/
faq/what-is-raw-water/
[2] Huq, A; et al. (July 1996). A simple ltration method to
remove plankton-associated Vibrio cholerae in raw water
supplies in developing countries. Vol. 62, No. 7. Ap-
plied and Environmental Microbiology. pp. 25082512.
Retrieved June 7, 2012.
[3] Safe Drinking Water Committee (1980), Raw wa-
ter quality, Drinking Water and Health, 2, National
Academies, pp. 7 et seq.
[4] Manu, A., Santhanakrishnan, V., Rajaram, S., & Ravi, P.
M. (2014). Concentration of natural radionuclides in raw
water and packaged drinking water and the eect of water
treatment. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 138,
456-459
[5] Happonen, M., Koivusalo, H., Malve, O., Perkola, N.,
Juntunen, J., & Huttula, T. (2016). Contamination risk
of raw drinking water caused by PFOA sources along a
river reach in south-western nland. Science of the Total
Environment, 541, 74-82
[6] Falconer, I. R. (2006). Are Endocrine Disrupting Com-
pounds a Health Risk in Drinking Water? International
Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,
3(2), 180184
[7] Mills, L. J., & Chichester, C. (2005). Review of evidence:
Are endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the aquatic envi-
ronment impacting sh populations? Science of the Total
Environment, 343(13), 1-34
[8] Dewettinck T, van Houtte E, Geenens D, van Hege K,
Verstraete W. HACCP (Hazard analysis and critical con-
trol points) to guarantee safe water reuse and drinking wa-
ter production. A case study. Water Sci. Technol. 2001;
43: 3138
[9] Rodriguez, C., Van Buynder, P., Lugg, R., Blair, P.,
Devine, B., Cook, A., & Weinstein, P. (2009). Indi-
rect Potable Reuse: A Sustainable Water Supply Alter-
native. International Journal of Environmental Research
and Public Health, 6(3), 11741209
[10] Clever, M., Jordt, F., Knauf, R., Rbiger, N., Rdebusch,
M., & Hilker-Scheibel, R. (2000). Process water produc-
tion from river water by ultraltration and reverse osmo-
sis. Desalination, 131(13), 325-336
[11] Bertone, E., Stewart, R. A., Zhang, H., & O'Halloran, K.
(2016). Hybrid water treatment cost prediction model for
raw water intake optimization. Environmental Modelling
& Software, 75, 230-242
[12] Vingerhoeds, M. H., Nijenhuis-de Vries, M. A., Ruepert,
N., van der Laan, H., Bredie, W. L. P., & Kremer, S.
(2016). Sensory quality of drinking water produced by
reverse osmosis membrane ltration followed by reminer-
alisation. Water Research, 94, 42-51
[13] Yang, G., Feng, L., Wang, S., Zhou, J., Guo, C., Xia, T.,
Sun, W., Jiang, Y., Sun, X., Cao, Lian., Xu, X., Zhu, L.
(2015). Potential risk and control strategy of biolm pre-
treatment process treating raw water. Bioresource Tech-
nology, 198, 456-463
[14] Chu, H., Cao, D., Dong, B., & Qiang, Z. (2010). Bio-
diatomite dynamic membrane reactor for micro-polluted
surface water treatment. Water Research, 44(5), 1573-
1579
[15] Gauthier, V., Barbeau, B., Tremblay, G., Millette, R., &
Bernier, A. (2003). Impact of raw water turbidity uctu-
ations on drinking water quality in a distribution system.
Journal of Environmental Engineering and Science, 2(4),
281-291
[16] Schwartz, J., Levin, R., & Goldstein, R. (2000). Drinking
water turbidity and gastrointestinal illness in the elderly of
Philadelphia. Journal of Epidemiology and Community
h, 54(1), 4551
[17] Sattereld, Z. (2006). Turbidity Control. Tech Brief,
6(2), 1-4
[18] Canada. Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Wastewater. 2016. http://www.ec.gc.ca/eu-ww/
7 Additional sources
Clark, J. A.; et al. (1982). Characterization of indi-
cator bacteria in municipal raw water, drinking wa-
ter, and new main water samples. 28 (9). Cana-
dian Journal of Microbiology. pp. 10021013. Re-
trieved June 6, 2012.
LeChevallier, M W:; et al. (November 1980).
Enumeration and characterization of standard plate
count bacteria in chlorinated and raw water sup-
plies. Vol. 40, No. 5. Applied and Environmen-
tal Microbiology. pp. 922930. Retrieved June 7,
2012.
 5

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