RESUMO
This study evaluated clogging effects on head loss and water quality in sand prefiltration columns, followed by innovative double-layered slow-filter filtration technology using anthracite coal and sand. The study was divided into two phases. Phase 1 (filtration rate 11 m3 /m2 ·d) had a layout of a pre-filter (PF) system followed by a slow filter (SF). In Phase 2 (filtration rates of 5.5 and 11 m3 /m2 ·d), two PF systems (PF1 and PF2) followed by SFs (SF1 and SF2) were monitored, be differed only by filtration rate. Phase 1 presents a mean turbidity removal of 45.6% in PF and 23.9% in SF. PF presented a lower head loss in the superficial layers of the filter media, whereas SF presented a more important contribution in the deeper layers of the bed. In Phase 2, the mean results obtained for turbidity removal in PF1 and SF1 were 84.7% and 22.4%, in that order. PF2 and SF2 promoted mean reductions of 84.5% and 22.0%, respectively. Greater clogging is observed in the PF's surface layers, whereas the SFs dissipate greater clogging with depth. Filtration rates and water quality were similar in filter media of different compositions. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Double-layer filters show better use of the porous media in depth. Different materials produce different forms of clogging. Higher filtration rates increase the number of pre-filter and slow filter runs.
Assuntos
Purificação da Água , Qualidade da Água , Carvão Mineral , Meios de Cultura , Filtração/métodos , Purificação da Água/métodosRESUMO
Slow sand filters are considered as a great alternative for supplying drinking water in rural and/or isolated areas where raw water that is treatable with this technique is available. Some studies used backwashing as an alternative for cleaning the slow sand filter with the goal of applying the technology in small communities, since filters that supply water to a small number of people do not require much space. In this study the influence of the effective diameter on water quality in the filters and cleaning system was evaluated. A pilot system with six filters was built: three filters were conventionally cleaned by scraping and the other three were cleaned by backwashing, each with a different effective diameter of filter medium. Most filters had an average turbidity of less than 1.0 NTU, the turbidity required at the output of the filters by the Brazilian Ministry of Health Ordinance. In the study, the filters cleaned by scraping with smaller-diameter filter beds effectively filtered water better but had worse effective production. The opposite occurs in the case of backwashed filters.