Final answer:
Water treatment involves various steps including filtration, disinfection, and sometimes, storage and distribution for drinking water, while wastewater treatment includes preliminary and primary solid removal, secondary bacterial decomposition, tertiary extra filtration, and final disinfection.
Step-by-step explanation:
Water Treatment Processes
The general process of water treatment includes several key steps to ensure that water is safe for consumption and use. This treatment can be divided into two broad categories: treatment for drinking water and treatment for wastewater, such as sewage.
Drinking Water Treatment
The common steps in water treatment for producing drinking water typically include the following:
Pumping and transportation of water from sources such as rivers, lakes, or groundwater to a water treatment facility.
Filtration, which removes small particles by passing water through layers of materials like sand, gravel, and charcoal.
Disinfection, where harmful microorganisms are killed or deactivated using methods like chlorination, ozonation, or ultraviolet light.
Storage and distribution of the treated water to homes and other buildings.
Wastewater Treatment
Wastewater treatment includes the following steps:
Preliminary treatment to remove large solids and grit.
Primary treatment, which typically involves settling to remove organic solids, fat, and grease.
Secondary treatment, where aerobic bacteria break down organic matter.
Tertiary treatment, which may include further filtration and nutrient removal.
Final disinfection before the treated water is discharged into the environment or reused.
Additionally, home water purification techniques such as boiling, distillation, water softeners, reverse osmosis, and smaller-scale filtration can be implemented to address common water problems. Costs of these home-based solutions vary depending on the chosen method and the volume of water required for a household.