What is the role of sedimentation in the conventional treatment process?

Sedimentation plays a critical role in the conventional treatment process primarily by allowing larger particles to settle out of the water during treatment. This process involves the gravitational settling of suspended solids, which helps to clarify the water by separating heavier particulates from the liquid. When water is held in a sedimentation basin or tank, the velocity decreases, enabling larger and denser particles to sink to the bottom as sludge. This helps to reduce the turbidity of the water, allowing for improved efficiency in subsequent treatment steps, such as filtration and disinfection.

This function is essential to ensure that the water treatment process operates effectively. By removing larger solids prior to further treatment, the system minimizes the load on later treatment stages, such as filtration, and enhances overall treatment performance. Thus, sedimentation is a fundamental step in achieving clearer, cleaner water before it moves on to the next stages of the treatment process.