Validation slow sand filtration at De Punt

Slow sand filtration is a treatment process that contributes importantly to drinking water safety. In water practice, however, the concentrations of microorganisms are so low that one cannot demonstrate the level of a filter’s effectiveness. This will therefore be studied in an experimental column set-up, in which doses of high concentrations of organisms will be added to the water.

The results will be used to validate a model which can predict the effectiveness of slow sand filtration under different operational conditions. The safety of drinking water can thus be continuously secured.

Securing safe drinking water

Water utilities that make use of surface water must conduct an analysis of microbial safety of drinking water (Dutch initials: AMVD). The analysis, which uses a quantitative microbial risk analysis (QMRA), must show that the infection risk does not exceed the threshold value of 1 infection per 10,000 people per year. Slow sand filtration (SSF) makes an important contribution to the removal of pathogenic microorganisms in this regard. The extent of the removal of the pathogens will be determined through experiments and, subsequently, translated via a process model to the operational context, in which the relevant process conditions can vary.

Testing sand filters for all pathogens

In 2016 at the De Punt treatment plant, it was shown that Cryptosporidium was very effectively removed. This was not anticipated, because earlier tests had actually shown relatively poor removal levels of bacteria and viruses. There is therefore a need, for the purposes of the AMVB, for a new assessment of the removal effectiveness of bacteria and viruses under better controlled conditions than those of the earlier tests.

Validation of the slow sand filtration process model

The results of tests of the effectiveness under different conditions can be used to validate a model for slow sand filtration. This would enable predictions for the removal of pathogens under different operational conditions. This knowledge will make it possible to manage the process in such a way that safe water is always produced. A reliable, validated SSF model is also of interest to water utilities Dunea and Waternet, which also make use of SSF.

Kolomopstelling voor het testen van langzame zandfiltratie

Column set-up to test slow sand filtration.

Securing safe drinking water

Testing sand filters for all pathogens

Validation of the slow sand filtration process model

Biological activity

Microbial safety

Evaluation of WASH indicators associated with diarrhoeal disease among under-five children in an urban slum pocket, Mumbai city, India: a community-based repeated cross-sectional study

Using Artificial Intelligence to extract information on pathogen characteristics from scientific publications

Effect Based Monitoring in Water Safety Planning - Factsheet Applicability of Effect-Based Methods in Sanitation Safety Planning and Water Reuse

Alternatieven voor chloordioxide nadesinfectie

Quantitative chemical risk assessment for mixtures: Application to alkylphenol mixtures and phthalate mixtures in tap and bottled water

Application of Effect-Based Methods to Water Quality Monitoring: Answering Frequently Asked Questions by Water Quality Managers, Regulators, and Policy Makers

Water safety management during the initial phase of the Covid-19 pandemic: challenges, responses and guidance

Alternatieve bronnen en toepassingen van water