PURIFICATION PROCESS (WATER)

The sequence of steps taken, beginning with unpurified water, which results in purified water delivered through a water system to the ultimate consumer. This sequence would normally include most or all of the following: (1) Begin with unpurified water; (2) Screening: removal of leaves, sticks and large foreign material; (3) Pre-Chlorination: removal of disease organisms, bad taste, and odors; (4) Pre-Settling: settling out large dirt particles; (5) Flash Mix: a process in which chemicals are added to cause fine dirt to clump together; (6) Coagulation/Flocculation: a process in which flash mix particles are gathered and made even larger; (7) Sedimentation: a process in which gravity is used to settle out the large particles formed in coagulation/flocculation; (8) Filtration: removal of any remaining particles; water is at least 99 percent particle-free at this point in the process; (9) Final Chlorination: removal of any remaining disease organisms and adds necessary chlorine to prevent microbe regrowth in the distribution system; (10) Corrosion Control: a step in which chemicals are added to neutralize the corrosive effects of "soft" water systems, thereby preventing damage to plumbing and fixtures; (11) Finally, effluent pumps send the purified water to residential, commercial, and industrial establishments.