HOW and WHY do we manage DRINKING WATER PRODUCTION?

Summary

Veolia is dedicated to improving resource access while ensuring their preservation and replenishment. They produce drinking water by extracting it from natural environments and groundwater, using tailored water treatment technologies that meet public-health standards. The process involves screening, coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection with methods like ozone, chlorine, or ultraviolet rays. Continuous monitoring and adjustments maintain water quality, ensuring it's safe for human consumption before distribution.

Takeaways

• 💧 Veolia is dedicated to improving access to water resources while ensuring their preservation and replenishment.
• 🚰 They produce drinking water daily to meet people's needs and secure long-term supplies.
• 🌐 Veolia's water treatment technologies are adapted to local conditions and adhere to public health standards.
• 🏞️ Water is sourced from natural environments like rivers, lakes, and groundwater tables.
• 🔍 Long-term resource protection involves monitoring water availability, quality, and extraction volumes.
• 🚫 A screen at the water intake prevents large objects from entering the water supply.
• 🔄 The water is pumped to treatment plants where suspended matter is removed through screening and coagulation.
• 🌀 Coagulants are added to bind dust and soil particles into flocs, which are then settled out in a pond.
• 💦 Clean water is harvested from the surface, and further filtered through sand or other materials.
• 🛡️ Disinfection is achieved using ozone, chlorine, or ultraviolet rays to eliminate viruses and bacteria.
• 🔬 A final chlorine dose is added for safety, and sensors and analyses are used to continuously monitor water quality.
• 🏡 The treated water is safe for human consumption and can be stored in tanks before distribution.

Q & A

What is Veolia's main objective in terms of water management?

Veolia's main objective is to improve access to resources while preserving and replenishing those resources, particularly focusing on producing drinking water to meet people's needs and securing supplies over the long run.

How does Veolia ensure the water treatment technologies meet public-health standards?

Veolia tailors its water treatment technologies to local conditions and ensures they all meet public-health standards through a series of processes including screening, coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection.

What methods does Veolia use to extract water from natural environments?

Veolia extracts water from natural environments such as rivers, lakes, and groundwater tables, and measures and monitors water availability, quality, and extracted volumes over time to protect the resource.

What is the purpose of the screen covering the water intake?

The screen covering the water intake is used to block the largest objects and solid waste, preventing them from entering the water supply.

How does the coagulant process work in water treatment?

A coagulant is added to the water, causing dust, soil particles, and other residual materials to gradually combine into clots called 'flocs'. These flocs are then dragged to the floor of a settling pond by gravity and removed.

What is the role of filtration in the water treatment process?

Filtration is a key step in the water treatment process where one or several thick layers of sand capture the finest materials, and in some cases, activated carbon or porous membranes are used to ensure the water is clean.

How does Veolia disinfect the water, and what are the methods used?

Veolia disinfects the water using ozone, a gas that destroys viruses and bacteria. Other methods include using chlorine or ultraviolet rays.

Why is chlorine added at the end of the treatment process, and how much is added?

Chlorine is added at the end of the treatment process to prevent microorganisms from developing while the water is in the network. Veolia adds one drop of chlorine for the equivalent of five bathtubs of water.

How does Veolia monitor and maintain water quality throughout the treatment process?

Veolia uses sensors and runs analyses to monitor water quality at each step in the treatment process, adjusting it as required to ensure the water is fit for human consumption.

What happens to the water after it is deemed fit for human consumption?

Once the water is fit for human consumption, it is stored in tanks before being distributed to consumers.