Exploring source water mixing strategies to reduce chemical consumption and environmental footprint in surface water treatment

Common methods for treating surface waters involve chemical flocculation, for which a significant factor contributing to the total cost and climate impact is the consumption of chemicals, chiefly coagulants and pH-adjusting chemicals. The amount of chemicals required for treating surface waters and achieving suitable flocculation pH depends greatly on the alkalinity of the source water. This study investigates the viability of mixing two surface waters with different chemical properties with the aim of reducing the amount of chemicals used during chemical flocculation. Bench-scale experiments were carried out, and the results were compared with full-scale operations at a surface water treatment plant (WTP). The WTP uses ferric chloride as a coagulant, which effectively removes natural organic matter, but consumes large amounts of hydroxide to manage pH before and after flocculation. As an alternative process, this study tested the use of aluminum sulfate, polyaluminum chloride and ferric chloride at varying dosages in combination with different source water mixtures to achieve suitable flocculation pH. The results showed that pH-adjusting chemicals could be omitted by adding a small amount of high alkalinity surface water to the primary source water, thereby reducing costs and climate impact substantially. HIGHLIGHTS Mixing raw waters with different properties could substantially reduce costs and climate impact.; Aluminum sulfate offered potential cost savings of up to 40% and a reduction in climate impact by up to 36% compared to conventional ferric chloride precipitation.; Polyaluminum chloride with high basicity offered a broader coagulant dosage range, reducing the need for pH adjustment and potentially allowing for higher dosages.;