Groundwater treatment using polystyrene foam filters with upflow filtration

Abstract

The groundwater is less susceptible to anthropogenic influence and the water quality of these sources is more stable. At the same time, the groundwater often has an increasing iron concentration. Despite the sufficient availability of proven methods for iron removal from water, it becomes necessary to search for more resource and energy saving technologies which is due to the constant rise in the cost of resources for the construction and operation of water treatment plants. The aeration methods for the iron removal from groundwater are often used, as cheaper ones. The polystyrene foam filters with upflow filtration are of particular interest, as the most reliable in operation among the developed types of filters with floating medium. A further reduction the cost of water is possible by using granules of foam polystyrene obtained by a production method, which ensures an increased grain size in comparison with the traditional method of their obtaining. The positive experience in such filters implementation allowed to recommend the placement of iron removal equipment in the existing water towers.