Construction and Testing of a Treatment System for Raw Water

Abstract

Water is a wonder of Nature. One among the major problems confronting the world today is access to clean and safe water. The objective of the study was to assemble an affordable water treatment unit for domestic use. This study was carried out in Auchi, which is located between latitude 70 10’ and 70 20’ North of the equator and longitude 60 16’ and 60 36’ east of the Greenwich Meridian with an altitude of 207m. The components of the treatment system are raw water tank, coagulation tank, sedimentation tank, filtration chamber, micro filters, ultraviolent light and treated water storage tank. Sample of the raw water collected from River Orhle in Auchi was kept at a constant temperature in a refrigerator. The raw and  treated water sample was collected in a four litres jerican for laboratory analysis to test for Turbidity, pH, Appearance, Taste, Colour, Electrical conductivity, total dissolved solid (TDS), Nitrates, iron content, total hardness etc. The results met the desired specifications and standards set by WHO and NAFDAC for potable water usage.

Keywords: Potable water, raw water, water treatment, slow sand filter, ultraviolent light, water quality