INTRODUCTION There is a distinct difference in the buffering capacity of Salem Lake versus Yadkin River. Understanding the buffering capacity of a raw water source as it applies to water treatment is the most important factor when starting the coagulation process. Since the coagulation process occurs within a pH range of 5.8-6.3, it is important to know the amount of acid or base that can be added to the source water. Buffering capacity is measured in two different ways in water treatment. The first being alkalinity, which is a capacity of water to buffer or neutralize acids. The alkalinity of many surface waters consists of calcium carbonate(CaC03) content, alkalinity then is expressed in terms of mg/L of Total Alkalinity as CaC03 (Alkalinity Procedure). Carbonate can also be measured with total hardness, this generally shows the presence of carbonate not the buffering of acids. Second method is …show more content…
Most important of these is using less aluminum sulfate(Al2SO4), commonly called alum. Byproduct of this chemical is a sludge, that requires processing and dewatering. After dewatering this material, disposal or land applications is controlled by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) (https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/policy-guidance). Minimizing this sludge has a definite impact on the environment, with such tight restrictions on removal. With this information Salem Lake will allow for lower alum dosages over Yadkin