What is the purpose of flocculation in water treatment?

Flocculation is a crucial step in water treatment processes, specifically designed to enhance the removal of suspended particles from water. The primary purpose of flocculation is to agglomerate smaller floc particles into larger ones. This is achieved by adding chemicals called flocculants, which help destabilize the small particles, allowing them to clump together or coalesce into larger flocs. The formation of larger flocs is advantageous because it simplifies the subsequent sedimentation process, leading to more efficient removal of impurities from the water.

As the larger flocs settle out of the water, they carry with them suspended solids, bacteria, and other contaminants, significantly improving the water quality. By efficiently increasing the size of particles, flocculation plays a vital role in making the filtration and clarification processes more effective, ultimately ensuring that the water reaches safety standards for consumption.