In various industries and sectors of society, the availability of clean and safe raw water is very important to support the production process and other operational needs.
However, raw water from rivers, lakes, reservoirs, or other natural sources generally contains various contaminants such as mud, organic materials, heavy metals, and microorganisms that can harm the system and reduce process efficiency. Therefore, a reliable and integrated raw water treatment system is needed so that the water can be utilized optimally.
Lautan Air Indonesia, with more than 41 years of experience in the air treatment industry, is present as a trusted partner in providing effective, efficient raw water treatment solutions that are in accordance with the specific needs of each customer.
What is a Raw Water Treatment System?
A raw water treatment system is a system designed to process raw water from natural sources into water that is suitable for use for various purposes, such as industrial processes, coolers, boilers, and even further processing into drinking water.
This system aims to remove or reduce the content of suspended solids (Total Suspended Solids/TSS), organic materials, microorganisms, heavy metals, and other unwanted chemical compounds.
This raw water treatment system is the first and most crucial stage in the entire air treatment system. Without good raw water treatment, the efficiency of advanced systems such as RO, demineralization, and heating and cooling systems can be disrupted due to the accumulation of abrasive, corrosive, or scaling impurities.
What is included in the Basic Raw Water Treatment System?
The raw water treatment system consists of several main components that work synergistically. Each part has a specific function and is designed to handle certain types of contamination. Here are the basic elements of a raw water treatment system.
1. Chemical Dosage
Chemicals are important elements to help the coagulation, flocculation, disinfection, and pH adjustment processes. Some types of chemicals commonly used include:
- Coagulants (eg: Poly Aluminum Chloride/PAC, Aluminum Sulfate): bind fine particles into larger clumps for easy sedimentation.
- Flocculants (eg: anionic/cationic polymers): help form stable and rapidly settling flocs.
- Disinfectants (eg: chlorine, sodium hypochlorite): kill pathogenic microorganisms.
- pH adjusters (acid or base): keep the air pH at the optimal range for the treatment process.
2. Clarification (Initial Sedimentation System)
Clarifier is a unit that functions to sediment suspended solids resulting from the coagulation and flocculation process. In this system, solid particles that are heavier than air will settle by gravity to the bottom of the tank.
The clearer water will flow to the next stage. This system can be in the form of a circular clarifier, tube settlement, or lamella clarifier, depending on the capacity and land area requirements.
Read Also: Clarifier in the Water Industry: Function, Types, and Applications
3. Filtration System (Filtering System)
After passing through the clarifier, the air is directed to the filtration unit to remove any remaining fine particles. The filtration system can be:
- Filter media: using silica sand, anthracite, activated carbon, or DMI-65.
- Cartridge or bag filter: for precision applications with small to medium capacities.
- Automatic backwash filter: for large capacity systems with continuous operation requirements.
4. Control Panel & Instrumentation
To ensure the entire process runs efficiently, the raw water treatment system is equipped with an automatic control panel and instrumentation. These components include:
- Flow meter, pH meter, turbidimeter
- PLC and HMI for automatic control
- Alarm system and failure protection
- Integration with SCADA or IoT systems (if required)
With automatic control, customers can monitor air quality and quantity in real-time, and adjust process parameters quickly.
How Does Raw Water Treatment Work?
The raw water treatment process begins with taking water from a natural source, which then goes through a series of stages as explained below:
1. Intake & Screening
Raw water is first taken through an intake system, usually equipped with a screen or coarse filter to catch large debris such as leaves, wood, and plastic.
2. Chemical Dosing
After going through the intake, the water is flowed into a rapid mixing tank where coagulant and flocculant chemicals are added. This process aims to form floc particles from fine suspensions in the water.
3. Clarification
The water mixed with chemicals enters the clarifier, where floc sedimentation occurs. The settled solids are collected and removed periodically, while the cleaner water moves to the next stage.
4. Filtration
The clarified water is filtered using filter media to remove remaining particles and improve water clarity (turbidity). At this stage, activated carbon can also be used to remove odors, colors, and certain organic compounds.
5. Disinfection & pH Adjustment
The final step in raw water treatment is disinfection, to ensure that no pathogenic microorganisms remain. In addition, pH adjustment is carried out so that the water meets the specified quality standards.
6. Distribution or Further Processing
Water that has gone through the processing process is then channeled to the utilization system, such as a boiler, chiller, or further processes such as RO and demineralization.
The Foundation of Quality Water Starts with Raw Water Treatment
Raw water treatment is a critical stage that should not be ignored in the water treatment process chain. This system not only functions to filter and remove contaminants from source water, but also forms the basis for the efficiency of further systems such as Reverse Osmosis, Demineralization, Boilers, or Chillers. With the right design and selection of appropriate technology, companies can save operational costs, extend equipment life, and maintain the stability of the production process.
However, the success of raw water treatment is highly dependent on understanding the characteristics of raw water and the implementation of an integrated system, starting from the chemicals used, equipment such as clarifiers and filters, to accurate automatic controls.
That’s why partnering with an experienced solution provider like Lautan Air Indonesia is a strategic move. We not only offer products and technology, but also provide a holistic approach that includes system design, chemical supply, installation, training, and operation and maintenance (O&M) services.
Read Also: Why Demineralized Water Still Contains Silica
Trust Your Raw Water Treatment to the Experts
With over 41 years of experience and a service network throughout Indonesia, Lautan Air Indonesia is ready to help you face various raw water quality challenges. We understand that every water source has unique characteristics, and every industrial process has different standards. Therefore, we offer customized, tested, and guaranteed sustainable solutions.
Want to know more about how we can help your project? Contact our team for a direct consultation and get the best solution for your facility’s raw water treatment system.