Is Your Water Good Enough? The Importance Of Proper Aeration In Water Treatment

Posted on: 22 September 2015

Do you live in an area where you receive your drinking water from a local well? Well water, just like any other water supply, must go through a water treatment process. Water treatment plants have the ability to provide you with with clean, safe drinking water that is free of harmful gasses, chemicals, odors, and tastes. If you experience problems with your water, there may be a problem with the aeration process at your local water treatment plant.

Managing Dissolved Gases

Radon is a colorless, tasteless, and odorless gas that can be found in improperly treated drinking water. When breathed in through the air, radon poses serious health issues. In fact, it has been discovered that breathing in radon while indoors can lead to lung cancer. Approximately 20,000 people died each year in the US as a result of breathing in radon.

Drinking water is the known source of approximately 1% to 2% of all radon breathed in. Properly treated water is less likely to contain radon and therefore, less harmful to human health. Of course, one of the only ways to ensure the removal of dissolved gases, such as radon, is to provide proper aeration during the treatment process.

Proper aeration can be achieved by selecting the right centrifugal blower for the job. Keep in mind that blowers make use of approximately 40% to 75% of the energy consumed in waste water treatment plants. Considering how much energy blowers use, it highlights the fact that blowers are a major component in waste water industry.

Removing Foul Taste and Odor

Water should be odorless and without taste. If water has a foul taste or odor, the problem may be related to methane in the water. By ensuring the use of a suitable centrifugal blower for aeration, it is possible to diminish the problem. Although methane is non-toxic, it poses an explosive risk. Therefore, it is important to remove harmful levels of methane from water.

Mixing air and water is the most effective technology in terms of the removal of methane gas from water. Well water is particularly susceptible to methane, so proper aeration is an important factor with relation to how water treatment plants provide you with your drinking water. If your local water treatment plant fails to properly aerate the water, you will likely notice this in the taste and smell of the water.

If your water happens to taste or smell funny, contact your local water treatment plant. There may be a problem with their aeration system that they are unaware of. Thanks to local residents such as yourself, they will be able to look into the problem and address it in a timely fashion.

Getting Ride of Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, are compounds containing carbon. The carbon compounds typically evaporate from water once exposed to normal air quality temperature, which is why it often produces a very noticeable taste and odor. VOCs are considered highly toxic and therefore harmful to human health.

High levels of VOCs in the water can impact the following areas of human health:

  • Liver
  • Kidneys
  • Central Nervous System

Some VOCs may also cause cancer if exposure is continuous. The best way to remove VOCs from water is through an aeration process. The aeration process works by pushing large quantities of air through the water. The air is then vented to the outside of the plant, which helps to release gasses and VOCs from the water.

If you experience sudden unexplained illnesses, the problem may be related to your drinking water. Get in touch with your local water treatment plant and voice your concerns. Despite having protocols and treatment processes in place, contamination is not always avoidable. However, it is possible to solve contamination before it gets out of hand.

Always let your local water treatment plant know as soon as you notice a problem. Water treatment plants rely on their customers to let them know when something is wrong with the drinking water. It allows them to address issues with various aspects of their plant, including the aeration system. For more information, contact a business such as Compressor-Pump & Service, Inc.

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