Wastewater

How does it work

1. Preliminary screening- raw wastewater goes into the plant and large objects like rubbish and plastics are
removed through filter screens.
a. Rubbish from the screenings are disposed at a landfill
2. Grit removal- inorganic material sink in the water and the water is drained leaving the inorganic material
inside the tank.
3. Clarifiers- most of the remaining solids sink to the bottom of the clarifier and form a sludge. This sludge
is wiped away, and is separated from the water.
a. Sludge is then moved to be treated and becomes fertilizer or for agriculture.
4. Aeration- water is aerated so microbes (beneficial bacteria) can live in the water (need oxygen to
survive)
a. Microbes eat the remaining organic material
5. After a few alternations of steps 3 and 4, water is then released into the ocean
a. To make sure the water is not harming the marine environment, frequent testing and regular
monitoring is vital.
b. Water is continually being treated while in the ocean through the ocean’s natural salt content,
sunlight, oxygen and ocean currents.

Nathan Ng
Dams
How does it work

1. Water from dams are moved to be processed

2. Coagulation- Adding alum (double sulfate salts) into water to make solids stick together
3. Sedimentation- Removing the “clumped” solid material by using gravity
4. Filtration- Removing other smaller particles that may be in the water
5. Chemical dosing- adding chemicals to control water to become quality potable water
a. Controls quantitative levels e.g. pH levels
b. Chlorine is added to disinfect the water (or UV light is used)
c. Fluorine is added into the water to make the water healthy for strong teeth.
d.

Groundwater – 46% of WA’s total supply of drinking water

How does it work

1. We extract water from the aquifers using bores. In Perth, there are three layers of aquifers in Perth
(Gnangara Groundwater System).
2. Water extracted from bores are then processed. There are 6 steps to this process;
a. Aeration- the addition of air into the water to remove trapped gasses and adding oxygen
b. Coagulation- the addition of alum (double sulfate salts) to “clump” solid material like dirt
together
c. Sedimentation- Separation of coagulated dirt and water by using gravity
d. Filtration- removal other impurities that still may be in the water
e. Disinfection- purification water by using either an UV light or chlorine to kill the bacteria
f. Fluoridation- The addition of fluoride into the water to prevent tooth decay
3. Potable water is then added into storage and is then distributed to the people of Perth

Nathan Ng
Desalination- 47% of WA’s total supply of drinking water
How does it work

1. Water from the ocean is directed into a pre-treatment filter which removes the larger particles in the
water
2. Water the undergoes reverse osmosis
a. Reverse osmosis, as the name suggests, is to reverse the natural phenomenon of osmosis (water
with lower saline concentrations will always move to water with high saline concentrations)
b. By using a pump to force water with high levels of saline concentrations through a semi-
permeable membrane, the water’s contaminants are separated/ trapped in the membrane and
the water is then forced through the membrane. Contaminants are then returned into the water
source (e.g. ocean, river)
3. Chemicals are added into the water to control pH-levels and other factors that may not abide with
potable water standards
4. Water is then cleaned disinfected with chlorine or an UV light, and fluoride is added to make the water
give you strong teeth
5. Potable water is then added into storage to be distributed to the people of Perth

Nathan Ng
Nathan Ng