Is Specialty Water Treatment Necessary? Which are the Most Commonly Used Chemicals?

“Millions lived without love, but none without water!” this well-said quote by W.H. Auden appropriately describes the human dependency and survival on water. Whether its for cooking, sanitation purposes, or for industrial operations, water is an irreplaceable source without which about 3.4 million people die every year. Since our mother earth is no longer a clean and green abode, water sources have become contaminated and so, providing safe drinking water still remains a challenge for many countries. To address this global issue, several chemical industries have come up with water treatment chemicals that not only eases the access to clean drinking water but also protect the environment and keep diseases away.

The Importance of Specialty Water Treatment

Water is the basic resource that guarantees the life of all living beings and access to safe drinking water for hygiene and sanitation is a fundamental right. Yet billions of people struggle for this basic need due to water contamination. Although 2.1 billion people have gotten the improved access to water, the depleting availability of clean drinking water is the global issue that persists in many continents. It is estimated that only 0.4% of water is fit for human consumption and so, investing in water treatment has become the need of the hour.

As per market analysts, the global specialty water treatment chemical market is expected to generate a revenue of $53,465.0 million and grow at 6.1% CAGR in the 2019-2026 forecast timeframe.

Some Commonly Used Water Treatment Chemicals

The most used water treatment chemicals are:

1. Chlorine
2. Algicide
3. Muriatic acid
4. Chlorine dioxide
5. Sodium bicarbonate
6. Coagulants
7. Flocculants
8. Clarifiers

What are the Steps of Water Treatment Process?

The purification process consists of elimination of toxic substances like algae, bacteria, zinc, lead, chromium, etc. that are present in water.

Belo are the main steps involved in a water treatment process:

1. Collection: Before treating contaminated water, the foremost step is to collect water from water bodies like rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Usually, the collected water is transferred to a treatment plant through a complex chain of pipelines and pumps.
    
2. Screening and Coagulation: Once the water is collected for treatment, it is then screened to remove larger items like plants, rubbish, tress, animal debris, etc. As the name suggests, these large particles are removed by using a large metal screen.

The next step consists of adding chemicals that encourage smaller particles to clump together and form a floc. The chemicals used in this step are called coagulants. Once the coagulants are added, the water is mixed at high speeds to let the flocs form.

3. Sedimentation and Filtration: After this, the water is passed to a sedimentation basin where the clumps of flocs are settled down and later removed in a disposal pond.

Afterwards, the remaining water is filtrated via multiple filtration media like sand and granular activated carbon to remove the smaller persistent particles.

4. Disinfection and Distribution: After filtration, what we get is a clear water that still might contain bacteria and other microorganisms. Therefore, the water is treated with enough chlorine to remove such toxic substances but not too much, or else the water’s taste and odor gets affected.

Lastly, the water is considered fit for consumption and is then distributed for public use via a system of tanks, pipelines, hydrants, valves, etc.

The Future of Water Treatment Chemicals Industry

The use of chemicals in treating water is undoubtedly a huge benefit for humans as well as the environment. With the innovative use of boiler water treatment chemicals like chlorine, sodium bicarbonate, and algicide, water from polluted rivers and seas can be treated effectively to prevent water-borne diseases.

About the Author(s)

Princy A. J

Princy holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the prestigious Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. University at Chennai, India. After a successful academic record, she pursued her passion for writing. A thorough professional and enthusiastic writer, she enjoys writing on various categories and advancements in the global industries. She plays an instrumental role in writing about current updates, news, blogs, and trends.