WATER TREATMENT USING SLOW SAND FILTER

AM FADLINI BINTI FAUZI

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of

the requirements for the award of the degree of

Bachelor of Civil Engineering

Faculty of Civil Engineering & Earth Resources

University Malaysia Pahang

28 NOVEMBER, 2010

ABSTRACT

Studies about the slow sand filtration treats any type of water to see the efficiency of the

treatment performance (consist of 3 layers of fine sand <600.1m, 6001.tm, im, activated carbon,

varies size of river gravel). The purpose of purifying water is to increase the quality of water that

is safe and no harm for human consumptions. The capability of slow sand filter is known as the

most efficient water treatment method base on previous nineteenth century practical used by

using the slow sand filtration method. It is cheapest method comparing to other kind of water

treatment, not to say that other treatment is not functional but instead it is the cheapest and less

maintenance required so it is most common used method in developing countries and small

community on producing a good quality of treated water that are safe and cheap. The removal of

total suspended solids (TSS), color, turbidity, toxic heavy metals iron, biological oxygen demand

(BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), E-coli, were evaluated for water treatment. For 4

weeks slow sand filter filtered untreated water from sungai Belat, successfully reduces the

concentration of physical parameters up to 85% of losses, for chemical parameters and Iron

reduces is 11% until 35% of losses.SSF need further filtration to increase the potential of

filtration.

ABSTRAK

Kajian mi mengenai Slow Sand Filter (SSF) merawat air kotor untuk melihat potensi rawatan mi

yang terdiri dari 3 lapis pasir halus <600 gm, 600j.tm, im, activated carbon, pelbagai saiz batu

sungai. Tujuan merawat air ialah untuk menginginkan kuality air yang selamat dan tiada bahaya

di dalam dan jua luar secara kontak. Kebolehan SSF mi dikenali sebagai teknik yang paling

berkesan dari abad yang ke 19. SSF jua teknik yang murah berbanding teknik-teknik rawatan air

yang lain, bukan secara langsung teknik lain tidak berfungsi tetapi SSF ialah satu teknik rawatan

air yang paling murah di mana penyelenggaran yang kurang jadi SSF dipilih di kawasan yang

membangun dan komuniti yang kecil dalam menginginkan air yang berkualiti tinggi, selamat dan

murah. Pembuangan total suspended solid (TSS), warna, kekeruhan,bahan logam,E-coli, BOD

dan COD dikenal pasti di dalam kajian keberkesanan system penapisan SSF. Selama 4 minggu

SSF menapis air kotor dari Sungai Belat, berjaya mengurangkan konsentrasi fizikal parameter

setinggi 80% pembuangan, untuk parameter kimia dan juga logam Iron pembuangan sebanyak

11% sehingga 38%. SSF memerlukan penapisan selanjutnya untuk meningkatkan potensi system

penapisan SSF.

Table of Contents

Chapter Title Page

Acknowledgement

Abstract ii

Abstrak iii

List of Tables vii

List of Figures viii

List of Symbols/Abbreviations xiii

List of Appendices xiv

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Background study 3

1.2 Problem Statement 4

1.3 Objective of Study 5

1.4 Scope of Study 6

1.5 Significant of Study 6

1.6 Expected Result 7

2.0 Literature Review 8

2.1 Introduction 8

2.2 River Water 9

2.3 pollution of River Water 10

2.4 Water Treatment 12

2.4.1 Filtration Method 12

2.5 Types of Filtration Methods 14

2.5.1 Pressure Filters 14

2.5.2 Gravity Filters 15

Iv

V

Chapter

3.0

Title Page

2.6 Slow Sand Filter 18

2.7 Impact of Slow Sand Filter (SSF) 19

2.8 Characteristic of SSF analysis 21

2.8.1 Physical Impurities 21

2.8.1.1 Color 21

2.8.1.2 Turbidity 22

2.8.1.3 Total Suspended Solid (TSS) 23

2.8.2 Chemical Impurities 24

2.8.2.1 Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) 24

2.8.2.2 Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) 24

2.8.2.3 pH 25

2.8.2.4 Escherichia Coli (E.Coli) 25

2.8.2.5 Heavy Metal (Iron) 26

Methodology 28

3.1 Introduction 28

3. 1.1 Methodology Flow Chart 29

3.2 Feasibility Study 30

3.3 Study Area 30

3.4 Model Preparation 32

3.5 Data Collection 41

3.6 Filtration Process 42

3.6 Laboratory Test And Analysis 43

3.6.1 Sieve Analysis 43

3.6.2 Total Suspended Solis (TSS) 45

3.6.3 Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) 50

3.6.4 Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) 53

3.6.5 pH 55

Chapter Title Page

3.6.6 Color 56

3.6.7 Turbidity 58

3.6.8 E.Coli 59

3.6.9 Heavy Metal (Iron) 63

4.0 Result and Analysis 64

4.1 Introduction 64

4.2 Data Collection 65

4.3 Data Analysis 65

4.3.1 Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) 66

4.3.2 Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) 67

4.3.3 Total Suspended Solid (TSS) 70

4.3.4 pH concentration 72

4.3.5 Color Concentration 74

4.3.6 Turbidity 75

4.3.7 Heavy Metal (Iron Concentration) 77

5.0 Conclusion and Recommendation 80

5.1 Introduction 80

5.2 Conclusion 80

5.3 Recommendation 81

Reference

Appendix A: List of reference 82

Appendix B: Drinking Water Quality Standard 2009 84

V1

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE TITLE PAGE

4.1 Result on COD Concentration 67

4.2 Results on BOD removal 68

4.3 Result of Slow Sand Filter on Total Suspended Solid 71

4.4 pH concentration performance 73

4.5 Results obtained from filtration process 74

4.6 Results of turbidity removal 76

4.7 Heavy Metal (Iron) Removal Performance 79

fl

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE TITLE PAGE

2.1 Rivers in Malaysia 9

2.2 Scope Area of Research is Sungai Gambang 9

2.3 The Suspended Particles Are Arrested By the Voids And 13

The Clear Water is allowed to Flow

2.4 The Surface Gathers Gas, Liquid, or Dissolved Solid 13

2.5 Rapid Sand Filter 16

2.6 Slow Sand Filter 17

3.1 Methodology Chart 29

3.2 Surrounding of river Belat 31

3.3 Wood Measurement for layers of rack 32

3.4 Blue Steel Rack Cut Process 33

3.5 Installation of blue steel rack with screw given 34

VIII

Ix

FIGURE TITLE PAGE

3.6 Complete Installation of Rack Model 35

3•7 Completion of Slow Sand Filter Model Using Prespex 36

3.8 Test out 1IodeI 36

3.9 Model Failed to Handle Pressure of Water 37

3.10 Sand Being Washed Removes Soil Excess. 38

3.11 Dry the Sand for 24 Hours for Sieve Process 39

3.12 Sieve Sand Process after Dried the Sand 39

3.13 Installation of layers of slow sand filter 40

3.14 Water Sample Collection 41

3.15 Filtration Process of Slow Sand Filter 42

3.16 Mechanical shaker 44

3.17 Sieve Set 44

3.18 TSS Apparatus 47

x

FIGURE TITLE PAGE

3.19 Samples 48

3.20 Sample poured in bottle 48

3.21 Sample before and after filtration 49

3.22 Sample dried in oven 49

3.23 Filter paper weights 50

3.24 Prepare Dilution Water for BOD Test 51

3.25 Sample Added With Distilled Water 52

3.26 Samples Keep in Incubator for 5 Days 52

3.27 Preparing Vials of Blank and Sample for COD Test 54

3.28 Heat the vials for two hours in COD reactor 54

3.29 The spectrophotometer to read COD value 55

3.29 pH meter to determine the pH of the samples 56

FIGURE TITLE PAGE

3.30 Colorimeter 57

3.31 pH meter 59

3.32 pour in the reagent into the sample 60

3.33 samples poured into quanti-tray 61

3.34 seal the quanti-tray with quanti-tray seal 61

3.34 Incubator 62

3.35 6-Watt fluorescent UV lamp 62

4.1 Result of concentration of COD before and after treatment 66

4.2 Efficiency of slow sand filter of BOD removals 68

4.3 BOD level 69

4.4 Performance of Slow sand Filter on Total Suspended Solid 70

4.5 Results on pH concentration 72

4.6 Color removals by slow sand filter 74

XI

xl'

FIGURE TITLE

PAGE

47 Turbidity removals by slow sand filter 76

4.8 Iron Concentration 78

LIST OF SYMBOL

Mg/L - milligram per litre

TCU-unit for color

NTU-unit for turbidity

SSF-Slow Sand Filter

TSS-Total Suspended Solid

BOD-Biological Oxygen Demand

COD-Chemical Oxygen Demand

E-coli- Escherichia Coli

pH- measure of the amount of free hydrogen ions concentration in water.

mm-milimeter

cm- Centremetres

gm- Micrometer

XIII

LIST OF APPENDICES

No Title page

xlv

Water Quality Malaysian Standard 2009 82

Chapter 1

Introduction

1.1 Background of Study

Untreated water is drinking water that has not been chemically treated, filtered,

or boiled to eliminate infectious bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These organisms can

cause diarrhea and serious illness. To solve the problem of drinking untreated water, the

water treatment is a method to purify the water from dangerous organisms. The most

efficient with low cost of water treatment is slow sand filter. However, whilst widely

used throughout the world, knowledge about filtration mechanism still remains limited

(Ellis 1. K., 1987). For over 150 years, slow sand filters have been an effective means of

treating water for control of microbiological contaminants (Gary S. Logsdon).

Slow sand filters do not need constant operator attention, making them an

appropriate attention, making them an appropriate technology for water systems that are

small or that employ part-time operators (Gary S. Logsdon). Slow sand filter were the

first of the modern treatment techniques devised for the purification of portable water

(Ellis, 1987). In the portable water industry slow sand filtration is still extensively

employed and slow sand

1

filters are known for their ability to produce consistently a high class filtrate with the

minimum of control (Ellis, 1987). In a slow sand filter, the filter bed is constructed of a

medium with high surface area which can be colonized by suppressive micro-organisms

(water and its impurities article).

Slow sand filtration is a simple technology that has been successfully used for

over 200 years in drinking water purification. It is credited as a particle and pathogen

filter that combines biological, physical and chemical processes (Obst, 1990). Slow

sand filters may be adapted for wastewater disinfection but only a few studies have been

conducted on tertiary treatment of wastewater using slow sand filters (Adin, 2003)They

showed total coliform bacteria removal of 0.3-3.5 log-units [(Keraita et al.) , fecal

coliform removal of 2 log-units (Ellis, 1987) and, E. coli reduction of 2.3-3.7 log-units

and Enterococci removal of 2.6 log-units (Mälzer, 2005)depending on raw water

quality, filter design and hydraulic loading rate.

Main advantages of the slow sand filter are its simplicity and economical

construction, operation and maintenance using local materials and skills as well as no

requirements for chemicals or energy (Visscher et al., (1987)).The efficiency of slow

sand filter depends on the particle size distribution of the sand, ratio of surface area of

the filter to depth and the flow rate of water through the filter (water and its impurities

article).

3

1.2 Problem Statement.

Malaysia receives an average annual rainfall of 3 000 mm. Water resources

development has been a catalyst for the socio-economic development of the country

during the past decades. Dams and kilometers of pipelines and canals divert water from

rivers to sustain domestic, industrial and agricultural needs. Lately, the water situation

for the country has changed from one of relative abundance to one of scarcity

(repository).

Population on growth, urbanization, industrialization and the expansion of irrigated

agriculture are imposing rapidly growing demands and pressures on the water resources,

besides contributing to the rising water pollution. Water management is becoming

increasingly comprehensive and complicated due to large concentrations of population,

commercial activities and industries around the cities and towns, increasing water

consumption, increasing water pollution, increasing land use conflicts and climate

changes. At the same time, any new development of water resources to meet the ever-

increasing demand faces rigorous scrutiny from environmentalists and conservationists

(repository).

On 23rd October 2008, the star, news to us about water shortage crisis looms over

Malaysia. It is said that the country's per capita renewable water was about 5,000 cubic

metres. This problem was attributed to unsustainable management of water resources

rather than to the quality of water available for domestic, industrial and agricultural uses.

Datuk Douglas Unggah Embas said a recent study indicated that only 40 percent of the

country's lakes and reservoirs were in good condition.

Water pollution is a serious problem in Malaysia and impacts negatively on the

Sustainability of water resources. It reduces total water availability considerably as the

cost of treating polluted waters is too high and in some instances, polluted waters are not

4

treatable for consumption. I proposed that river water treatment seems to be beneficial

method for minimizing water scarcity in Malaysia.

1.3 Objectives of study

The aim of this study is to made river water as a safe drinking water

resources with water treatment of slow sand filter. These aims can be achieved with the

following objectives:

i. To review the effectiveness of slow sand filter

ii. To identify the quality of river water as a drinking water as an alternative

source that refers to drinking water quality standard 2009.

5

1.4 Scope of Study

The scope of study that in this study is:

i. The area of case study at River Belat, where the samples located.

ii. The effectiveness of slow sand filter to filter river water and turn the water

safeness to a drinking source.

1.5 Significant of Study

The treatment of river water can use to determine efficiency by using slow sand

filter from this study. This investigation is essential as it gives the efficiency of using

slow sand filter as a method of water treatment. It is also crucial for the future to

promote proper water treatment process with low cost of investment.

6

1.6 Expected Result.

Effectiveness of slow sand filtration can be determined

ii. Analysis of result before and after filtration shows decreases of amount

dangerous parameters in water.

iii. The water that had been filtered expected to be safe for drinking purpose.

8

Chapter 2

Literature Review

2.1 Introduction

Man cannot survive without water. Water is the universal solvent. In nature, it

is never totally pure. No matter how isolated it is from sources of contamination, it

will always have some chemicals. Gases or minerals in the air, soil or rock are

dissolved by the water. Human can cause contamination through the improper use of

pesticides or fertilizers and through the disposal of waste. These impurities can

dissolve in the water, causing it to be contaminated. Construction areas also have

substantial exposed surfaces that erode in the right conditions. Runoff from these

sites carries sediment into drainage networks and then to ecosystem downstream

(river, lakes etc). There are many examples of poor pollution control that leading to

increased water pollution, reduced quality in downstream waters. There are many

ways in which pollution can be managed to reduce unqualified water.

In early days, these types of surface water and groundwater were consumed

by human beings for bathing, drinking, washing, etc. Those days, man did not have

technical knowledge for purifying contaminated water. As a result, man had to suffer

water-borne diseases like dysentery, cholera, etc. With the growth of civilization and aevelopment of towns and cities, man began to think over the issues of pure water

for drinking, safely of life and healthy environment. Though absolute pure water

9

cannot be available, but it should contain the least amount of impurities which may

not be harmful to human health.

2.2 River water

.\t '\ Sungol Kelonton

S_5S 0

ung Kern i 1

Sungnilerenggonu If /\ ) S

1osikKenyr Sungo Pohong

rgi Pe'ak1ok8ero

0100M S I Swi

SungaRomprn

lasikchini" 0

Sitgoi Moor - gal Endou

Sungol iohor

Figure 2.1 rivers in Malaysia

_

Terenggdnu

KQ. R1nb.s. . amtmng lcQSwi J

K. N

K9,IC Iwd.e K9. CQ

/. Ben*ort sPcg T.FsI

k 5.'

Chenor

) KNsl .Tnoietloh

- Pahang

Figure 2.2 scope area of research is Sungai Gambang

10

River is a large natural stream of water emptying into an ocean, lake, or other

body of water and usually fed along its course by converging tributaries. Rivers are

of immense importance geologically, biologically, historically and culturally.

Although they contain only about 0.0001% of the total amount of water in the world

at any given time, rivers are vital carriers of water and nutrients to areas all around

the earth. They are critical components of the hydrological cycle, acting as drainage

channels for surface water - the world's rivers drain nearly 75% of the earth's land

surface (Paul D. N. Hebert, 2009).

They provide habitat, nourishment and means of transport to countless

organisms; their powerful forces create majestic scenery; they provide travel routes

for exploration, commerce and recreation; they leave valuable deposits of sediments,

such as sand and gravel; they form vast floodplains where many of our cities are

built; and their power provides much of the electrical energy we use in our everyday

lives. Rivers are central to many of the environmental issues that concern society,

and they are studied by a wide range of specialists including hydrologists, engineers,

ecologists and geomorphologists (Paul D. N. Hebert, 2009).

2.3 Pollution of river water

Pollution is when water, air or land becomes very dirty. Pollution can come in

4 different types effecting different types of areas in the world that are air pollution,

water pollution, land pollution and also noise pollution. We all contribute to

pollution in some way or another. Whether it is with a large amount or small amount,

it can still cause major damage to our health and the environment. However, only a

minority of people who realize how much pollution can cause damage on us.

Pollution is gradually destroying our planet and also killing us too. Water pollution

11

affects the water and marine life. However, it doesn't end just like that. It will be like

a chain virus when people use the polluted water, eat the polluted water animals, and

then starting to give birth to unhealthy children due to polluted water used. This is

only a small scope of how danger and how much harm can water pollution cause us.

In this topic, we will discuss only about water pollution, or more specifically; river

pollution due to domestic effluent.

River pollution can be caused by several effluents and their effects are of

great concern to health. Disposal of waste water generated from municipal and

industrial sources with little or no treatment prior to discharge is a common practice

in many developing countries including Malaysia. This practice has been continuing

over the history of civilization and as a result of population growth and increasing

industrialization, serious problem of the water quality are common place. Rivers play

a major role in assimilating or carrying off industrial and municipal wastewater,

manure discharges and runoff from agricultural fields, roadways and streets, which

are responsible for river pollution (Ward and Elliot, 1995).

Peninsular Malaysia has been categorized as very polluted. Until 1999, there

were about 13 polluted tributaries all over Malaysia with 36 polluted rivers due to

human activities such as industry, construction and agriculture at the tributaries

(DOE, 1999). In 1990, there were 48 clean rivers compared to only 32 rivers in 1999

that could still be classified as clean (Rosnani Ibrahim, 2001). Basically, the river

effluents created from domestic activities such as cooking, washing, and bathing are

a major cause of pollution of public waters. It happens everywhere including here in

Malaysia. Domestic activities come from 2 types of area. Those are rural and urban.

It is a common sense to know that some part of rural area doesn't have the

technologies that we call sewerage system, or septic tank, or whatever. So, this is

where the pollutions exist that is whatever they do, the wastes will go into the river.