Water Nuggets Practice Exam

Where is the most advantageous application point for powdered activated carbon?

1. After coagulation

2. In the filters

3. Raw water intake

4. After oxidation with chlorine

The correct answer is: Raw water intake

The most advantageous application point for powdered activated carbon is at the raw water intake. Applying powdered activated carbon at this stage allows for the effective removal of organic contaminants, taste, and odor compounds that may be present in the water before it undergoes further treatment processes. By introducing activated carbon early in the treatment process, it can adsorb a wide range of pollutants, effectively improving water quality before any additional treatment steps, such as coagulation, sedimentation, or filtration, take place. When applied after coagulation or within the filters, there is a higher chance that some of the beneficial adsorption capacity of the activated carbon may be lost or less effective. While using activated carbon after oxidation with chlorine could still provide benefits for certain chlorine byproducts, applying it at the raw water intake maximizes its efficiency in removing a broad spectrum of impurities right from the start of the water treatment process. This helps in optimizing the overall treatment, ensuring that subsequent processes are more effective and potentially reducing the chemical dosage needed later in the system.