► 1. Water Quality Testing and Process Planning
River water composition varies significantly due to differences in regional geological environments. Prior to treatment, it is essential to accurately assess water quality conditions by testing fundamental indicators including turbidity, pH value, suspended solids, total dissolved solids, and bacteria. This step determines the direction for selecting subsequent treatment processes. In the field of modern water treatment, the ultrafiltration drinking water system has become a highly regarded technical approach in river water purification due to its exceptional contaminant removal capabilities and stable operational performance.
► 2. Pretreatment and Preliminary Purification
River water typically exhibits relatively high turbidity and contains coarse particulate matter such as silt, leaves, and branches. The pretreatment stage intercepts debris through screens and bar racks, combined with primary sedimentation tanks to remove larger particles, effectively reducing the load on downstream purification units. For water sources with elevated sand content, automatic sewage centrifuges can be employed to further separate suspended solids and sludge. Comprehensive pretreatment prevents damage to downstream equipment and ensures long-term stable operation of the entire system.
► 3. Coagulation and Flocculation Processes
A substantial quantity of negatively charged suspended particles exists in river water, and these particles mutually repel each other, making natural sedimentation difficult. During the coagulation process, positively charged coagulants such as aluminum sulfate or ferric chloride are dosed into the water to neutralize the surface charge of particles, causing fine suspended matter to destabilize and aggregate into larger particles. Subsequently, polymeric flocculants are added to bridge particles and colloids, forming flocs that facilitate subsequent sedimentation and filtration removal. Coagulation and flocculation processes occupy a critically important position within the overall process chain of uf system water treatment.
► 4. Sedimentation and Gravity Separation
Prior to entering sedimentation tanks, river water carries substantial amounts of particulate matter. Controlling water flow velocity is of paramount importance, as it must ensure effective floc settling while preventing floc breakage. Horizontal flow sedimentation tanks are suitable for large-scale water treatment plants; inclined plate sedimentation tanks significantly enhance sedimentation efficiency by increasing contact surface area. Clarified water flows out from the top, while sediments settle to the bottom under gravitational force and are periodically removed.
► 5. Filtration and Membrane Separation Technology
Following sedimentation, clarified water enters filtration units to further remove organic matter, suspended solids, colloids, and microorganisms through physical and chemical mechanisms. Multi-media filters commonly employ filter media such as quartz sand, anthracite coal, and activated carbon; sand filters remove larger particulate impurities, while activated carbon filters adsorb odors, certain organic compounds, and heavy metals.
Membrane filtration technology has advanced rapidly in recent years, with advanced processes such as water ultrafiltration being widely applied. Ultrafiltration membrane pore sizes typically range from 0.01 to 0.1 micrometers, effectively retaining bacteria, viruses, colloids, and macromolecular organic matter. These filtration systems frequently employ corrosion-resistant high-performance ceramic components such as the ceramic membranes from our Taihe Environmental Protection, ensuring equipment durability and extended service life.
In applications with stringent water quality requirements, the ultrafiltration drinking water system can serve as a pretreatment unit for the municipal reverse osmosis system, forming a multi-stage membrane treatment process. Ultrafiltration permeate as reverse osmosis feed water can effectively protect downstream membrane systems, extending their service life and reducing maintenance costs. During the filtration process, impurities gradually accumulate on the filter media surface and within membrane pores, necessitating regular backwashing for cleaning by directing reverse water flow into the bottom of the equipment until effluent clarity is restored, thereby maintaining filtration efficiency and operational stability.
► 6. Disinfection and Safety Assurance
Disinfection serves as the final line of defense for ensuring drinking water safety, directly relating to human health. Chlorine disinfection involves injecting chlorine gas into water to generate strongly oxidative hypochlorous acid, which disrupts bacterial cell membranes, causing DNA and protein leakage, thereby resulting in bacterial death. Additionally, ultraviolet irradiation and ozone disinfection are also commonly employed; ultraviolet light damages microbial genetic material, rendering them unable to reproduce, while ozone oxidizes and decomposes organic and inorganic pollutants. During distribution network conveyance, maintaining appropriate residual chlorine levels inhibits bacterial proliferation, ensuring terminal water use safety.
Modern ultrafiltration drinking water systems integrate conventional processes with advanced membrane technology, providing reliable technical assurance for municipal water supply through modular design, high removal efficiency, and stable operational characteristics.