Treatment plants

Almost all untreated water contains small particles of soil, dust, pollen and other matter. Even water that looks clear may have tiny particles in it. These particles might not be harmful if we swallow them, but the bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that cling to them could be harmful to humans and our pets and farm animals.

While nature has its own processes for filtering and cleaning water, this takes time and requires pollution-free and ecologically balanced environments. It also does not guarantee the same level of quality every time.

To remove the risk of organisms in water making us sick, today the water we use is processed at a water treatment plant before it reaches our homes. This makes sure that the water we drink is of high quality all the time.

Treating water for human use involves steps including pre-treatment, flocculation, filtration and chemical dosing.

• Pre-treatment involves adding alum and a polymer coagulant to the water. These substances attract solid particles in the water that could host viruses and bacteria. This leaves the water cleaner and less turbid.
• Flocculation is a process of separating the solid particles out of the water. It involves mixing and circulating the water and causing the solid particles caught by the pre-treatment additives to float to the top in a sludgy froth.
• Filtration involves pumping the water through filters to remove any remaining particles.
• Chemical dosing involves adding chlorine to kill any remaining microorganisms (germs), adjusting the water’s pH level (acid or alkaline levels in the water) to balance it and adding fluoride to protect our teeth.