Water Purification

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Water Purification
The Water Cycle, Meadville Area Water Authority,
Pittsburghs Water Treatment, Buffalos Water
Treatment, and Wetlands
Alex Alper, John Baker Dan Burgio, Mason Burch
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The Water Cycle - the most natural purification
system
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Groundwater
-Scientists estimate groundwater accounts for
more than 95 ofall fresh water available for
use.-Approximately 50 of Americans obtain all
or part of theirdrinking water from
groundwater.-Nearly 95 of rural residents rely
on groundwater for theirdrinking supply.-About
half of irrigated cropland uses
groundwater.-Approximately one third of
industrial water needs are fulfilled byusing
groundwater.-About 40 of river flow nationwide
(on average) depends ongroundwater. http//www.ct
ic.purdue.edu/KYW/Brochures/GroundSurface.html
-Water that remains underground -If soil remains
unpolluted the water is very clean -Soil
naturally purifies water as it runs through
soil removes impurities and kills bacteria
removes sediments and suspended solids

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Surface Water
-open body of water thats exposed to the
atmosphere (lake, river, stream, etc.) -requires
more treatment because it is openly exposed to
pollution
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Wetlands

• Also known as swamps, bogs, marshes, sloughs,
  etc.
• Called Wetlands because the eco-system is moist
  for long periods of time due to rain deposits and
  retention of water by vegetation.
• High Rate of Biodiversity and activity
• Many eco-system services provided by wetlands
  throughout the planet
• Cheap to maintain unlike human water treatment
  plants

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Process of Wetland Purification

• Vegetation slows water/run off to a standstill
  causing the pollutants, eroded soil, TSS (Total
  Suspended Solids), nitrogen, organic matter and
  phosphorous absorption to be processed into the
  system as energy input. The output is cleaner
  water and rich in nutrients for the plants
• Plants act as anchors and transport
• Sediment eventually buries remaining pollutants
  into the deep soil of wetlands

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Humans VS Nature

• Cheaper to maintain (Catskill Mt. Wetlands in NY
  example from class) compared to building and
  running a treatment plant
• Lacks toxic chemicals like bleach and chlorine to
  clean the water
• No need for electricity (Fossil Fuels)
• Increased Biodiversity of ecosystem
• Ecosystem services
• Above all the water is clean!!

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Safe Drinking Water Act

• The Safe Drinking Water Actgives power to the
  government to protect public water systems
  fromharmful contaminants.
• First enacted in 1974 and amended in 1986 and
  1996, the Act is administered through regulatory
  programs that establish standards and treatment
  requirements for drinking water, control
  underground injection of wastes that might
  contaminate water supplies, and protect ground
  water.
• The 1974 law established the current
  federal-state arrangement in which states may be
  delegated primary implementation and enforcement
  authority for the drinking water program the
  1986 amendments sought to accelerate contaminant
  regulation.
• The state-administered Public Water Supply
  Supervision program remains the basic program for
  regulating the Nation's public water systems.

• http//www.csc.noaa.gov/cmfp/reference/Safe_Drinki
  ng_Water_Act_1974.htm

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Meadville Area Water Authority
-provides water for Woodcock Township, Vernon
Township, West Mead Township, and the city of
Meadville -built in 1904 -serves 5400
people -source of water groundwater -has 3
reservoirs, 7 wells (each about 80 ft. deep),
high ground water table (15 ft below ground)
-each well can produce 1 million gallons of
water a day -influenced by the Casawage Valley
and French Valley water systems, but not directly
so we do not need to use surface water
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Water Pumps
These are two of the seven pumps that pump water
from underground wells to the reservoirs.
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Water Holding Tanks
Once the water has gone through the purification
system, it is stored in this holding tank.
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This is used to measure the amount of water in
the holding tanks. If the water goes over ten
feet, or below a set point on the scale, they
know there is a problem of some sort.
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Pittsburgh Water Purification
http//www.pall.com/water_32956.asp
-surface water (Allegheny River) -water is taken
from source, where it first goes through a screen
that gets rid of leaves, sticks, etc. -chemicals
are added to coagulate smaller particles -static/i
nline mixing to mix the coagulants -clarifier
rids of coagulated sediments and adds a number of
chemicals to clean the water
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Buffalo Water Purification

• Located at the mouth of the Niagara River
• Built 1905
• Has 740mi distributing mains
• Has 5 steam-driven pumps (1,200 horsepower)