Which process is first in water treatment to remove larger solids?

The process of sedimentation is the initial step in water treatment designed to remove larger solids and suspended particles. During sedimentation, water is allowed to sit in a tank, where gravity plays a key role. The larger and heavier particles settle to the bottom of the tank, forming a sediment deposit. This natural separation process results in clearer water that can then be subjected to additional treatment steps, such as filtration and disinfection.

Sedimentation is essential because it effectively reduces the load of larger contaminants, making subsequent processes like filtration more efficient. If larger solids were not removed in the initial step, they could clog filters and hinder the effectiveness of the other treatments.

Other processes in water treatment, such as filtration, chlorination, and carbon filtration, come after sedimentation. Filtration further cleans the water by removing smaller particles that have not settled out. Chlorination is primarily used to disinfect the water, killing bacteria and other pathogens, while carbon filtration targets specific chemical impurities and odors but is not designed for the removal of larger solids.