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ENGINEERING
WATER TREATMENT
Most people can detect color at greater than 15 true color units
in a glass.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
NATURAL WATER
Physical Characteristics
PARTICLES Particles in natural waters are solids larger than molecules
but are generally not distinguished by the unaided eye. They
may adsorb toxic metals or synthetic organic chemicals.
Surface water
concentrations of
Mg2+ are less than
10 up to 20 mg/L.
Groundwater
concentrations
are less than 30
up to 40 mg/L.
Chloride Surface water Above 250 mg/L can Typical surface
and groundwater; impart salty taste. water is usually
saltwater Below 50 mg/L can be less than 10
intrusion corrosive to some mg/L.
metals.
MAJOR AND MINOR INORGANIC
CONSTITUENTS
Problem in Water Range in
Constituent Source
Supply Natural Waters
Fluoride Surface water Toxic to humans at For surface water
and groundwater concentrations of 250 with total
– 450 mg/L; fatal at dissolved solids
Some water concentrations above (TDS)
utilities add 4 g/L. concentrations
fluoride in the less than 1000
form of sodium mg/L, fluoride is
fluoride or usually less than
hydrofluorosilic 1 mg/L.
acid at doses of
about 1 mg/L.
Nitrate Surface water Very high nitrate
and groundwater concentrations may
can contain high produce infant
concentrations methemoglobinemia.
of nitrate from
runoff from
fertilizers
found in urban
and agricultural
watersheds.
MAJOR AND MINOR INORGANIC
CONSTITUENTS
Problem in Water Range in
Constituent Source
Supply Natural Waters
Iron and Surface water Taste threshold of In oxygenated
manganese and groundwater iron for many surface waters,
consumers is around the concentration
0.01 mg/L. Iron can of total iron is
impart a brownish usually less than
color to laundry and 0.5 mg/L. In
bathroom fixtures. groundwater that
has low
Manganese ion can bicarbonate and
impart a dark brown dissolved oxygen,
color. At iron
concentrations around concentrations
0.4 mg/L, manganese can range from 1
can impart an – 10 mg/L.
unpleasant taste to
the water and can The concentration
stain laundry and of manganese ion
fixtures. in surface water
and groundwater
may be less than
1 mg/L.
MAJOR AND MINOR INORGANIC
CONSTITUENTS
Problem in Water Range in
Constituent Source
Supply Natural Waters
Sulfur Surface water Groundwater low in Sulfate
and groundwater dissolved oxygen can concentrations in
contain reduced freshwater can
sulfur compounds, approach 10 mg/L.
which impart
objectionable odors
such as that of
rotten eggs. Sulfates
are also corrosive in
concrete structures
and pipes.
MAJOR ORGANIC CONSTITUENTS
Organic constituents found in water can either be naturally
occurring or associated with human activities.