full report environmental engineering site visit

8/10/2019 Full Report Environmental Engineering Site Visit

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FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING & EARTH RESOURCES

BAA3613

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

REPORT SITE VISIT (PENGURUSAN AIR PAHANG BERHAD)

Subject Code BAA3613

Subject Name ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

Lecturer NADIAH BT MOKHTAR

Section 01

Name & ID

Number1. SUZILLCO SUKI AE 11075

2. ADAM BIN ISMAIL AA11115

3. MOHAMAD AIMAN BIN MOHAMAD NAWAWI AA13056

4. IBRAAHIM BIN SHAMSUL YUSLI AE11081

5. MAGDI MOHAMMED ALI MOHAMMED AA11212

Remarks



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TABLE OF CONTENT

BIL ITEMS PAGE

1.0 INTRODUCTION 3

2.0 OBJECTIVE 4

3.0 STEPS OF WATER TREATMENT PROCESS 4

4.0 WATER TREATMENT PROCESS

4.1 WATER INTAKE

4.2 AERATION

4.3 COAGULATION

4.4 FLOCCULATION

4.5 SEDIMENTATION

4.6 FILTRATION

4.7 DISINFECTION

4.8 WATER DISTRIBUTION

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5.0 BENEFIT THAT GOT FROM SITE VISIT 18

6.0 CONCLUSION 19

7.0 APPENDIX 20



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1.0 INTRODUCTION

Based on the site visit to Pengurusan Air Pahang Berhad(PAIP), our group had selected

one of the treatment plant that is familiar and most-used treatment plant. We chose the water

treatment plant at Muadzam Shah. Started operations on year 2012 and capable of supplying

clean water 475m3/h or 7600 m3/d . Operate 16 hours and 365 days. Has an area within 4.7

hectare.

Water treatment is whereby the used water or raw water from the river is treated in

process to make the water more acceptable for a desired end-used. The goal of water treatment is

to remove existing contaminants in the water, or reduce the concentration of such contaminants

so the water becomes fit for its desired end-used. The process involved in treating water is solids

separation using physical process and chemical process.

Before the water is distributed into the public houses, the water has to undergo the water

treatment process such as follows:-

Aeration are to eliminate unneeded dissolved gases such as (CO2,H2S,NH3). It is also to

increase DO level in water and remove DOC

Coagulation is the removal of turbidity from the water. Turbidity is a cloudy appearance

of water caused by small particles suspended therein. Water with little or no turbidity will

clear

Flocculation is mixing process in which particles are brought into contact in order to

promote their agglomeration

Sedimentation is to remove suspended material from water by the action of gravity

Filtration is to remove suspended particles from water by passing the water through amedium such as sand

Disinfection is to destroy pathogens within a practicable period of time

Water distribution is to satisfy the water requirements for a combination of domestic,

commercial, industrial and fire-fighting purposes

After water passes or flowing through all distinctive features, it’s collected into water tank

and ready to be supply to houses area.



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2.0 OBJECTIVE

The objectives of visiting the water treatment plant are:-

i.

To study the types of water treatment plant used in a state of Malaysia

ii. To study the process of water treatment.

3.0 STEPS OF WATER TREATMENT PROCESS

The water treatment process in Muadzam Shah Water Treatment Plant undergoes 7 phase

which involves in physical and chemical process. The 7 phase are:

Figure 3.1: Steps for water treatment plant



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4.0 WATER TREATMENT PROCESS

4.1 Water Intake

The Muadzam Shah Water Treatment Plant water intake is from the Rompin River.

Rompin River has the quantity of water demanded can be achieved at a very low water flow rate

and far from strong current that can damage water intake structure as well as adversely affect

water intake potential. The capacity of the pump was 475m3/hour. Besides, floating debris such

as woods, leaves, aquatic plants and others are screened at the intake. After screening, the denser

suspended matters are removed by allowing water to pass through chamber where it settles down

to the bottom.

Figure 4.1: Rompin River



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Figure 4.2: Screening

Figure 4.3: Pump House



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4.2 AERATION

The first process for the water treatment plant is aeration process. In general, aeration is a

unit process where air and water are brought into intimate contact. In aeration tank, turbulence

increases the aeration of flowing streams. Raw water from the intake will be pumped from into

the aerator. In the aerator, the water will be mixed with air. In this Muadzam Shah WaterTreatment Plant the raw water will be taken from Rompin River before it being treated in the

water treatment plant.

Figure 4.4: Aerator

Aeration process in the water treatment plant is being used for many purposes. One of the

purposes is to eliminate carbon dioxide or better known as decarbonation. Other purpose is to

oxidize dissolved metals such as iron, hydrogen sulphide and volatile organic chemicals (VOCs).

Ammonia and hydrogen sulphide reduction also is the purpose of aeration process.

The way on how the aeration process works is by two methods which are scrubbing

action and oxidation. Turbulence in water will cause the water and air mix together or known as

scrubbing action. The scrubbing action will physically remove gases from solution in the water,

allowing them to escape into the surrounding air. As a result, it can remove tastes and odoursfrom water if the problem caused by relatively volatile gases and organic compounds. Oxidation

is the other process. Oxidation is the process in which oxygen is being added, the removal of

hydrogen or the removal of electrons from an element or compound will be done.



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4.3 COAGULATION

Coagulation is the process to add the chemical into the water to cause the reduction the

force to tend the particle apart. The stabilize particle from the water source will affected by the

coagulant with charge opposite the suspended solid that added into the water to neutralize the

negative charge on dispersed non-settable solid such as clay. Once the charge is neutralized, thesmall suspended particles are capable of sticking together. Microflocs are the slightly larger

particle that formed through this process. It causes the water surrounding the newly formed

microflocs should be clear.

The method use for coagulation process is mixing the water with coagulant chemical

which is Aluminium sulphate (alum). For the good coagulation, the optimal dose of coagulant

should be fed into the water and quickly and properly mixed with it. The optimal dose will vary

depending upon the nature of the raw water and its overall composition. A laboratory experiment

known as jar test is usually used to identify the optimal dose

Figure 4.5: Coagulant Process

The rapid mixing is provided a uniform dispersion of coagulant chemical throughout

water. To achieve this, it is necessary to agitate the water violently and injected the chemical at

the most turbulent zone, in order to ensure the uniform and fast dispersal. They use the hydraulic

rapid mixing. The hydraulic mixing is use the arrangement such as channel or chamber with

baffles producing turbulent flow condition, overflow weir and hydraulic jump. The detention

time for this tank was 60 second



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4.4 FLOCCULATION

Flocculation is the third process after coagulation. During flocculation, where a gentle

mixing brings the fine particles formed by coagulation into contact with each other. In other

words, flocculation is process where to give the chemical time to act and to promote floc

formation. Normally, the flocculation basin often has a number of compartments with decreasingmixing speeds as the water advances through the basin. This compartmentalized chamber allows

increasingly large floc to form without being broken apart by the mixing blades. A flocculator

introduces velocity gradients into the water so that the particles in a fast- moving stream can

catch up collide with slow- moving particles. Such velocity gradients are usually introduced by

rotating paddles. From the site visit of Water Treatment Muadzam Shah, the baffled flocculation

tank is using in this process.

Flocs is the end product of a well- regulated flocculation process in water. Flocs is

clumps of bacteria and particulate impurities that have come together and formed a cluster. The

floc will then settle out in the sedimentation basin, with remaining floc being removed in thefilter. The larger flocs does not settle as well and is more subject to breakup in the flocculation

basin. The detention time for floculation time was 10-30 minute.

Figure 4.7: Flocculation tank



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4.5 SEDIMENTATION

The sedimentation process is to remove suspended material from water by the action of

gravity. In this process, the water passes through relatively quiet and still basin. During these

state, all flocs from flocculation process become bigger and heavier it will settling down to the

bottom of the basin while clear water passes out of the basin over an effluent baffle or weir. Thesedimentation process is to improves the operation of the filters process at next treatment

process. The main purpose of settling is to remove coarse dispersed phase from previous stage or

individual particle, and to remove coagulated and flocculated impurities. The meaning of

individual particles is the particles is constant in size and velocity during settling and the

meaning of coagulated and flocculated impurities particles is it will growth in size and slowdown

of it velocity during settling.

Figure 4.8: Sedimentation Concept

There are three types of sedimentation tank design in conventional water treatment plant.

Type1 is rectangular tank which allow the water to flow horizontally through a long tank. Type 2

is double deck rectangular tank which it is consist of two rectangular sedimentation tank stacked

one a top of other. Type 3 is square or circular sedimentation tank which horizontally the flow of

water. Selecting the design type of tanks to apply to the water treatment plant is by considering

the advantage of it tank. The advantage of type 1 is cost-effectiveness and has low maintenance

while type 2 is conserve land area. The advantage of type 3 is same as type 2. The type of

sedimentation tank used in Muadzam Shah Water Treatment Plant is rectangular sedimentation



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tank. This type of tank is usually found in large-scale water treatment plants because they need

the large amount of land area. The floc particles settle down to the bottom of the basin while

clear water passes out of the basin over an effluent baffle or weir for the next stage which is

filtration.

Figure 4.9: Sedimention Tank

4.6 FILTRATION

Water Filtration process is allowing water flows through a filter designed in purpose to

remove particles in the water. Filtration collects the suspended impurities in water and enhances

the effectiveness of disinfection. The filters are routinely cleaned by backwashing. The purpose

of filtration is to remove suspended particles from water by passing the water through a medium

of filter. As the water passes through the filter, flocs and impurities get stuck in the medium of



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filter and the clean water goes through. The filtered water collects in the clear well, where it is

disinfected and then sent to the customers.

The type of filtration system used in Muadzam Shah Water Treatment Plant is gravity Rapid

Sand Filter (GRSF). Gravity Rapid Sand Filter (GRSF) equipment are the much greater in term

of water treatment filtration rate and have ability to clean automatically using back washing

comparing to Slow Sand Filter. Rapid sand Water treatment filter does not use biological

filtration and depends primarily on mechanical straining, sedimentation, impaction, interception,

adhesion and physical adsorption. Complete filtration cycle (filtration and back washing) occurs

sequentially in this system.

Figure 4.10: Gravity Rapid Sand Filter at Muadzam Shah water treatment plant.

The filter is contained within a filter box, usually made of concrete. Inside the filter box are

layers of fine sand, coarse sand and gravel. Below the gravel, a network of pipes makes up the

under-drain system which collects the filtered water and evenly distributes the backwash water.

Wash water troughs help distribute the in-fluent water and are also used in collecting the dirty

washed water during backwashing. In addition to the components mentioned above, most rapid

sand filters contain a flow controller, or filter control system, which regulates flow rates of water

through the filter. Other parts, such as valves, a loss of head gauge, surface washers, and a

backwash pump, are used while cleaning the filter.



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Figure 4.11: Sketch of concept of water flow through the filter

Operation of a Rapid sand filter during water filtration is similar to operation of a Slow

sand filter. The influent water flows down through the sand and support gravel and is collected

by the under drain system. However, the influent water in a rapid sand filter is already relativelyclear due to coagulation, flocculation and clarification, The rate of filtration varies from 80 to

120 Lpm/ m2 meaning 4800 to 7200 Lph/m

2 of filter bed area or 4.8 to 7.2 m/h. The average rate

of filtration for design purpose may be assumed as 100 Lpm/ m20f filter area or 6m/h.

Operating and maintenance of a Gravity Sand filter consist of flow control, regular

backwashing and cleaning. The complete cycle period of backwashes depends on the quality of

the influent water and normally between 24 to 72 hour. The cleaning process requires an

interruption of the purification process of 5 to 72 hours. The backwash process must be observed

carefully which in particular the rate of flow must be controlled to avoid erosion of the filter

medium. Periodic repacking of the filter bed may be required at inflation intervals to ensureefficient of operation.

http://www.thewatertreatments.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/flow-path-rapid-sand-filter.jpg



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Figure 4.11: Backwash of GRSF

The advantage of use of Gravity Rapid Filter System (GRFS) is, it Highly effective for

removal of turbidity where it usually below 0.1 to 1 NTU which necessary of requirement

standard. The Gravity Rapid Filter System also have high filter rate about 4’000 to 12’000 litres

per hour per square meter of surface meaning small land are required. This system also has no

limitations regarding to initial turbidity levels. The important of use Gravity Rapid Filter System

(GRFS) is, it cleaning time or backwashing only takes several minutes and filters can be put back

into operation instantly.



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Figure 4.13: Chlorine gas tanks containing chlorine gases.

Figure 4.14: Disinfection tank information signboard.



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4.8 WATER DISTRIBUTION

After the water are archiving the quality standard, the water are clean and safe to supply

it to the public user. The public water system depends on distribution system to provide an

interrupted supply of pressurized water. Distribution system consist of interconnected series of

pipes, components and storage facilities where the water are distribute by using gravity or pumpsystem. Depend on tomography of distribution area, when water level located at higher place

than the service area gravity system is suitable to use. Direct pump system is being used when

the level of water is same height or lowers than the service area. The location of Muadzam Shah

Water Treatment Plant are at the same level to the consumer’s location, that’s necessary of this

water treatment plant to use direct pump system in ensuring the delivering water to the end-user

of Muadzam Shah area.

Figure 4.15: The pumps machine used at Muadzam Water Treatment Plant



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5.0 BENEFIT THAT GOT FROM SITE VISIT

There are a lot of benefits that we got from the site. The main benefit of this site visit is

we can see how the water treatment is processed. We can gain a lot of information or input that

we cannot get from the class. The process is clearly stated by the operator that is in charge to

explain the process that is practically done at site as compared in class, that only learn thetheoretically.

The process of water treatment that been exposed in our site visit such as aeration,

coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and also disinfection. This will help us to

remember every stage and also their flow of water treatment. They also bring us to see the pump

that function as clean water that fulfilled the quality will be pumped to the balance tank. We can

see how the pump is operated for 16 hours so that water can be supply to the consumer. As

before this, we did not know what the kind of pump is been used. This water treatment used 4

pumps with different strength that consist of 475m3/hour.

In a conclusion, we learned how to interact with the employees, operator and also staff in

order to communicate with them so that they can deliver the information very well. We learn

how to discuss and share ideas about the some issues relating to the water treatment. We are also

feel very grateful to cooperate with them because they are so kind and welcomed us to come to

learn about the water treatment process.



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6.0 CONCLUSION

As the conclusion, the water treatment process is very important because only this way

today we drink and clean our body and properties safely and confidently. The meaning of clean

and safe is the water are colorless, odorless, tasteless, no suspended solid no pathogen

microorganism no dangerous organic or inorganic compound and less mineral substance. This iswhy knowledge and understanding of engineer is always needed to design a batter water

treatment plant operating according to the demand of consumer.

There are some difference between what we learning in class and what we knowing while

visiting the site itself. In the class we just knowing about theoretical which limited in scope of

understanding while during visiting the site we are expose to the real situation which able to

understanding more about the process. On the site, we know of what the unexpected natural

disaster such as flood, drought and other which can effecting to water the treatment plant.

Syarikat Pengurusan Air Pahang Berhad have experienced flooding at the end of 20013 where

effected almost overall area of water treatment plant. Some of the controlling machine, pump andmechanical device have been damaged. During visiting, the operator that is in charge explaining

what solution of this problem, make us collecting more information which important to us as

engineer in outcome.

The other experienced that we obtain from this site visit is we gained the understanding

about water treatment process based on live observation of each stages of the process. We

experiences to see the process by our self and can related every theoretical that we learn in class

at there. For example, the process of coagulation, we experienced to see how the hydraulic jump

help in velocity of water in based on the speed and how the alum and lime chemical reagent are

been mixed. According to staff, the speed of hydraulic jump and the quantity and types ofchemical reagents used is depends on the quantity and quality PH of water intake from main

source of river.

Visiting the water treatment plant is a great exposure and mind opening for us to gained

additional important information in water treatment plant and also to, understand deeply the

process of this plant as ensuring the water meet the standard of quality level for consumer. As the

suggestion of our group, the project of visiting the water treatment plant must always available in

syllabus of Environment Engineering course.



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7.0 APPENDIX

Figure 7.1: Flood level during raining season at the end of 2013

Figure 7.2: Memorial with stuff of Pengurusan Air Pahang Berhad



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Figure 7.3: En Hilmi explaining the function of water intake at this water treatment plant

Figure 7.4: En Md Yani explain about how Gravity Rapid Sand Filter work



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Figure 7.5: Cover page of document of national standard for drinking water quality in malaysia.



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Figure 7.6: National standard for drinking water quality state by Ministry of Health Malaysia.

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