ABSTRACT
Municipal water treatment operations and associated treatment unit processes are designed to provide reliable, high quality water service for customers, and to preserve and protect the environment for future generations. This chapter focuses on water treatment operations and the various unit processes currently used to treat raw source water before it is distributed to the user. It discusses the reasons for water treatment and the basic theories associated with individual treatment unit processes. Many water treatment unit processes are commonly used today. Treatment processes used depend upon the evaluation of the nature and quality of the particular water to be treated and the desired quality of the finished water. The operation of a water treatment system, no matter the size or complexity, requires operators. To perform their functions at the highest knowledge and experience level possible, operators must understand the basic principles and theories behind many complex water treatment concepts and treatment systems.
