Så gör vi kranvatten på Vombverket - med vatten från Vombsjön

Sydvatten

13 Nov 202305:00

Summary

TLDRThis video script details the journey of water from Vombsjön, a drinking water reservoir since 1948, to the taps in Western Skåne, serving a million residents. It explains the process at Vombverket, where water undergoes artificial infiltration, micro-sieving, natural purification through sand and gravel, and UV treatment. It also covers the reduction of water hardness by 50% and the addition of iron chloride to balance pH levels. The script highlights the importance of sustainable water use amidst climate change, urbanization, and population growth, emphasizing the need for responsible consumption to secure this vital resource for various sectors.

Takeaways

💧 Water is essential for all life on Earth and is the world's most important food and natural resource.
🏭 Sydvatten operates two water treatment plants, Vombverket and Ringsjöverket, that produce drinking water for about a million residents in Western Skåne.
🏞 Vombsjön has been a drinking water reservoir since 1948 and is the starting point for the water treatment process.
🔍 The raw water undergoes microfiltration to remove particles like grass and debris.
⏳ The water then undergoes artificial infiltration, taking two to three months to naturally filter through sand and gravel into an underground aquifer.
🧪 Vombverket has one of Northern Europe's largest infiltration facilities and uses aeration to remove iron and manganese from the water.
🔬 The water is then lime-softened to reduce its hardness by 50%, which can reduce the amount of detergent needed.
🔄 A small amount of iron chloride is added to the water to coagulate remaining lime residues, and sulfuric acid is used to adjust the pH.
🌡 UV light is used to disinfect the water by destroying the DNA of microorganisms, preventing them from multiplying in the distribution network.
🏥 Sydvatten's laboratory tests the raw water, the purification process, and the finished drinking water to ensure it meets the Food Agency's requirements.
🌐 The water is distributed to connection points in the partner municipalities, which are responsible for the water network within their communities.
💦 Water is used for various purposes in homes, including cooking, brushing teeth, and shaving, and it's important to conserve this valuable natural resource.

Q & A

What is the importance of water mentioned in the script?
-Water is essential for all life on Earth. It is the world's most important food and natural resource, and without it, society would not function.
Which waterworks are mentioned in the script, and what regions do they serve?
-The waterworks mentioned are Vombverket and Ringsjöverket. These facilities produce drinking water for approximately one million residents in western Skåne.
How does the water treatment process begin at Vombverket?
-The process starts with water being drawn from Vombsjön, a drinking water source since 1948. The raw water then passes through micro-screens to remove debris like reeds and waste before being pumped into infiltration pipes.
What is artificial infiltration, and how does it work at Vombverket?
-Artificial infiltration involves the slow sinking of water through sand and gravel in the ground into a natural groundwater reservoir. This process takes two to three months, after which the water is pumped up from wells.
What is the purpose of aeration during water treatment?
-Aeration is used to remove iron and manganese from the water, ensuring it is safe and clean for consumption.
How is water softened during the treatment process, and why is this important?
-Water is softened using de-hardening salt. The dissolved lime in the water is precipitated and sticks to small sand grains. As the lime layers on the sand grains increase, they sink to the bottom and are recycled for use in liming lakes and wetlands. This reduces water hardness by 50%, meaning less detergent is needed in washing and dishwashing.
What role does iron chloride play in the water treatment process?
-Iron chloride is added to capture any remaining lime particles, forming clumps (flocculation) that are easier to filter out.
How are microorganisms neutralized in the treated water?
-The water is exposed to UV light, which destroys the DNA chains of microorganisms, preventing them from reproducing in the distribution network.
What safety measures are in place before the water is distributed?
-As a preventive measure, the water is disinfected with a small amount of sodium hypochlorite. Additionally, samples are taken from raw water, during the purification process, and from the finished drinking water to ensure it meets regulatory standards.
What are some recommended actions to conserve water, as mentioned in the script?
-Suggestions include turning off the tap while brushing teeth or shaving, using showers instead of baths, running full loads in dishwashers and washing machines, using rainwater for gardening, and watering plants early in the morning or late in the evening to minimize evaporation.

Outlines

00:00

💧 The Importance of Water for Life

Water is essential for all life on Earth and the most important natural resource. Without it, society would not function. Sydvatten operates two waterworks, Vombverket and Ringsjöverket, which supply drinking water to nearly one million residents in western Skåne. This paragraph introduces the importance of water and sets the stage for understanding how water is processed to become clean and safe for consumption.

🏞️ Vombverket and its Water Journey

The journey of clean water starts at Vombsjön, which has been a drinking water source since 1948. Water from this lake is transported to Vombverket, where it undergoes artificial infiltration. The plant processes about 1,000 liters of drinking water per second. Initially, raw water passes through microfilters to remove particles like reeds and debris. The water is then pumped into infiltration dams, where it slowly seeps through sand and gravel to a natural groundwater reservoir.

⏳ Natural Filtration and Storage

After two to three months of natural filtration through sand and gravel, the water is pumped up from wells. Vombverket has one of the largest infiltration systems in Northern Europe. During this process, iron and manganese are removed from the water through aeration. This is a crucial step in ensuring the water's purity before further treatment.

⚗️ Water Softening and Calcium Removal

The next step involves softening the water using dehardening salts. Calcium dissolved in the water is precipitated and attaches to small sand grains, which gradually grow heavier and sink to the bottom. The collected calcium is reused to treat lakes and wetlands. This softening process reduces the water hardness by 50%, allowing households to use less detergent for washing and cleaning.

🧪 Final Filtration and Disinfection

Water is now pumped into a mixing tank where a small amount of iron chloride is added to capture any remaining calcium. Sulfuric acid is used to balance the pH. The water then passes through a sand filter where impurities are removed. Ultraviolet (UV) light is used to destroy the DNA of microorganisms, preventing them from reproducing in the distribution network. Finally, sodium hypochlorite is added as a preventive disinfectant.

🔬 Quality Control and Distribution

The drinking water is almost ready, but it must undergo rigorous testing. Samples are taken throughout the process, from raw water to the finished product, to ensure it meets Sweden’s Food Agency standards. The Vombverket also maintains several external facilities, including pipelines, pump stations, and reservoirs. After testing, the water is ready to be distributed to the various municipalities.

🏠 Water Use in Daily Life

Once distributed to municipalities, the water is used in homes for cooking, cleaning, and personal hygiene. Residents are encouraged to conserve water by turning off the tap when brushing teeth or shaving, choosing showers over baths, and using full loads for laundry and dishwashing. Other suggestions include using rainwater for gardening and watering plants during cooler times of the day.

🌍 Addressing Future Challenges

The paragraph emphasizes the challenges posed by climate change, urbanization, and population growth, which threaten water availability. Since water is crucial for ecosystems, agriculture, healthcare, and energy production, it is vital to adopt sustainable water usage practices. Sydvatten's mission to manage water resources is therefore critical to meeting future demands.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡vatten

Vatten is Swedish for 'water'. It is essential for all life on Earth and is the world's most important resource. The video emphasizes the importance of water for society's functioning, highlighting its role in various sectors such as food production, nature conservation, and domestic use. The script describes the process of water purification from the intake at Vombsjön to the distribution to homes, illustrating the critical role water plays in daily life.

💡dricksvattentäkt

Dricksvattentäkt translates to 'drinking water catchment'. The script mentions Vombsjön as a drinking water catchment since 1948, which is the starting point for the water's journey to become potable. This term is crucial as it sets the stage for understanding the entire water treatment process described in the video.

💡vombverket

Vombverket is the name of the water treatment plant featured in the script. It is responsible for producing drinking water through artificial infiltration, which is a method of water purification. The term is key to understanding the infrastructure involved in ensuring clean and safe water supply to the residents of western Skåne.

💡infiltration

Infiltration, as used in the context of the video, refers to the process where raw water is filtered through layers of sand and gravel to remove impurities. This natural filtration method is part of the water treatment process at Vombverket, making it a central concept in the script's explanation of how clean water is produced.

💡avhärdning

Avhärdning translates to 'precipitation' in the context of water treatment. The script describes how calcium in the water is precipitated out, reducing the water's hardness by 50%. This process is important for reducing the need for detergents and softeners in households, thus contributing to more sustainable water use.

💡filtrering

Filtrering means 'filtration'. After the water has been treated to remove impurities and hardness, it undergoes further filtration to remove any remaining particles. This step is crucial for ensuring the water is clean and safe for consumption, as mentioned in the script where the water is filtered through a sand bed.

💡UV-ljus

UV-ljus refers to 'UV light'. The script explains that the water is exposed to UV light to destroy the DNA of any remaining microorganisms, preventing them from reproducing in the distribution network. This is a key step in the purification process to ensure the water is free from harmful bacteria and viruses.

💡natriumhypoklorit

Natriumhypoklorit translates to 'sodium hypochlorite', a common disinfectant used in water treatment. The script mentions its use in a preventive measure to disinfect the water before it is distributed. This chemical ensures that the water remains free from harmful microorganisms throughout the distribution process.

💡distributionsnätet

Distributionsnätet refers to the 'distribution network'. After the water has been treated and disinfected, it is pumped into the distribution network for delivery to homes and businesses. This network is critical for ensuring that clean water reaches consumers, as described in the script where the water is distributed to connection points in various municipalities.

💡hållbar

Hållbar translates to 'sustainable'. The script discusses the importance of sustainable water use in the face of challenges like climate change, urbanization, and population growth. The term is used to emphasize the need for responsible water consumption to ensure the availability of this vital resource for future generations.

💡Vattenkraft

Vattenkraft means 'hydropower'. The script touches on the various uses of water, including its role in generating hydropower, which is a renewable energy source. This term is relevant as it highlights another important function of water beyond its use as a resource for drinking and sanitation.

Highlights

Vatten är en förutsättning för allt liv på jorden

Sydvatten har två vattenverk som producerar dricksvatten till en miljon invånare i västra Skåne

Vombsjön har varit en dricksvattentäkt sedan 1948

Vombverket producerar cirka 1000 liter dricksvatten per sekund

Råvattnet passerar mikrosilar för att ta bort partiklar

Vattnet renas genom konstgjord infiltration

Vattnet pumpas upp i brunnar efter 2-3 månader

Vattnet renas från järn och mangan genom luftning

Avhärdning i avhärdningssalt minskar vattnets hårdhet med 50%

Järnklorid tillsätts för att fångar upp kalkrester och jämna ut pH-värdet

Vattnet filtreras i ett snabb filter med sandbädd

UV-ljus används för att desinficera vattnet och förstöra mikroorganismer

Vattnet desinficeras med natriumhypoklorit i förebyggande syfte

Vattnet testas av drift laboratoriet för att uppfylla Livsmedelsverkets krav

Vombverket har yttre anläggningar som ledningsnät och reservkraft

Vattnet distribueras till anslutningspunkter i ägarkommuner

Vattnet används för många olika saker i våra hem

Klimatförändringar, urbanisering och befolkningstillväxt påverkar tillgången på vatten

Vattenkraft, ekosystem och jordbruk är beroende av vatten

Sydvatten har uppdraget att öka till en mer hållbar vattenanvändning