WATER TREATMENT PROCESS IN

KATHMANDU VALLEY
By:Bibek Basnet

AMOUNT OF WATER BEING DISTRIBUTED

IN KATHMANDU

MAHANKHAL CHAUR-26.5 MLD

BANSBARI -22 MLD
BODE MANAHARA-20.6 MLD
BALAJU-10 MLD
SUNDARIJAL-21 MLD

SHORT DISCUSSION ON THE PROCESS IN

TREATMENT PLANT

Intake: Water is first diverted from the river or lake into the
treatment plant. When the water first comes into the plant it
is typically screened to remove sticks, trash or other large
pieces of contaminants.
Coagulation: Alum and other chemicals are added to the
water to form tiny sticky particles, called floc, that attract dirt
particles.
Flocculation: The water is stirred slowly with paddles to mix
the alum with the dirty water.
Sedimentation: The water is no longer stirred and is allowed
to settle. The heavy particles (floc) settle to the bottom and
clear water moves off the top to the filtration chamber.
Filtration: The water passes through filters that help remove
even smaller particles. Our filters consist of gravel, sand,
garnet and charcoal. Each layer filters out a smaller and
smaller particle. The charcoal not only acts as a filter but
neutralizes taste and odor.
Disinfection: After filtration, the water moves into a
disinfection chamber where it is mixed with chlorine. A small
amount of chlorine is added to kill any bacteria or
microorganisms that may be in the water. It is at this step
that we also add a small amount of fluoride for dental
health.
Storage and Distribution: Water is placed in a closed tank or
reservoir where it flows through pipes to homes and
businesses in the community.

INTAKE
INTAKE FROM RIVERS(SUNDARIJAL
IN CASE OF MAHANKAL CHAUR
TREATMENT PLANT) IS SOURCE
FROM SURFACE WATER
2 RESERVOIRS
A) OLD RESERVOIR
B)NEW RESERVOIR
WATER FROM OLD RESERVOIR
GOES TO TREATMENT UNIT AND
THEN TO THE LOCAL CONSUMERS
DIRECTLY.
WATER FROM NEW RESERVOIR IS
SENT TO THE MAHANKAL CHAUR
TREATMENT UNIT.

MANAHARA RIVER

WATER FROM BORING

WATER BORING FROM
DIFFERENT WELL IS SOURCE
FROM GROUND WATER
SENT TO THE BIO-FILTER.
WATER WITH MIXED
CHEMICAL CHAMBER.
BIOFILTER REMOVES
MATERIALS LIKE
ARSENIC,IRON.
THEN WATER GOES TO THE
FLOCCULATION BASIN.

BIO-FILTER AT MAHANKAL

CHEMICAL TREATMENT UNIT

SOME CHEMICALS USED IN TREATMENT

PLANT

FLOCCULATION BASIN
IN THIS METHOD SLOW STIRRING OF WATER IS
BROUGHT ABOUT TO PERMIT BUILT UP OF FLOC
PARTICLES.
MAINLY USED TYPE IS MECHANICAL FLOCULATORS.
DEPENDING UPON THE DIRECTION OF FLOW OF
WATER IN THE TANK THE MECHANICAL
FLOCCULATOR MAY BE LONGITUDINAL FLOW
FLOCCULATOR OR VERTICAL FLOCCULATOR.
THEN IT GOES TO SEDIMENTATION TANK

FLOCCULATION BASIN

SEDIMENTATION TANK

SEDIMENTATION TANK WHEN WATER

IS EMPTY

Design Details
Detention period: for plain sedimentation: 3 to 4 h, and for
coagulated sedimentation: 2 to 2.5 h.
Velocity of flow: Not greater than 30 cm/min (horizontal
flow).
Tank dimensions: L:B = 3 to 5:1. Generally L= 30 m (common)
maximum 100 m. Breadth= 6 m to 10 m. Circular: Diameter
not greater than 60 m. generally 20 to 40 m.
Depth 2.5 to 5.0 m (3 m).
Surface Overflow Rate: For plain sedimentation 12000 to
18000 L/d/m2 tank area; for thoroughly flocculated water
24000 to 30000 L/d/m2 tank area.
Slopes: Rectangular 1% towards inlet and circular 8%.

Purpose
To remove coarse dispersed phase.
To remove coagulated and flocculated
impurities.
To remove precipitated impurities after
chemical treatment.
To settle the sludge (biomass) after
activated sludge process / tricking filters.

A long rectangular sedimentation

tank can be divided into four
different functional zones:
Inlet zone: Region in which the flow
is uniformly distributed over the
cross section such that the flow
through settling zone follows
horizontal path.
Settling zone: Settling occurs under
quiescent conditions.
Outlet zone: Clarified effluent is
collected and discharge through
outlet weir.
Sludge zone: For collection of sludge
below settling zone.

RAPID SAND FILTER

AFTER SEDIMENTATION.
ARE THE GRAVITY FILTERS IN LARGE WATER SUPPLY
SYSTEM.
IT CONSIST OF FOLLOWING SYSTEM:
ENCLOSURE TANK.
FILTER MEDIA.
BASE MATERIAL.
UNDERDRAINAGE SYSTEM
APPURTENANCES

RAPID SAND FILTER

JAPANESE SAND USED IN BODE

PURPOSE OF RAPID SAND FILTER

REMOVE TUBIDITY.
TO REMOVE COLOUR.
IRON AND MANGANESE REMOVAL.
REMOVAL OF BACTERIA TO SOME EXTENT.

PIPE CONNECTION FROM RSF TO CWR

VENTILATOR USED IN CLEAR WATER

RESERVOIR

CLEAR WATER RESERVOIR

CLEAR WATER IN THE TANK

WATER FROM CLEAR

WATER RESERVIOR IS
DIVIDED INTO TWO
TANKS THROUGH 6
INCH,8 INCH G.I. PIPE.
ELEVATED STEEL TANK
TWO RESERVIOUR
FROM RESERVIOUR IT
GOES TO THE OTHER
RESEVOIR TO THE
PEOPLE.

 AFTER RAPID SAND FILTER IT

GOES TO CLEAR WATER
RESERVOIR.
SLUDGE FROM
SEDIMENTATION TANK AND
RAPID SAND FILTER GOES TO
THE SLUDGE AND DRAINAGE
BASIN.

SLUDGE TANK

NECESSITY IN

DISTRIBUTION NETWORK IMPROVEMENT

PRODUCTION IMPROVEMENT
SURFACE WATER INTAKE IMPROVEMENT
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
SEWER SERVICE IMPROVEMENT
MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT

SPECIAL THANKS TO
KATHMANDU UPATYAKA KHANEPANI LIMITED
MAHANKAL CHAUR WATER TREATMENT CENTRE
BODE MANOHARA WATER TREATMENT CENTRE

THE END