Vesikäsittely

Vesikäsittely refers to the processes and technologies used to treat water, making it suitable for a specific purpose. This purpose can range from ensuring safe drinking water for human consumption to preparing water for industrial processes or returning treated wastewater to the environment without causing harm. The exact methods employed in vesikäsittely depend heavily on the initial quality of the water and the desired final quality.

There are several main categories of vesikäsittely. Potable water treatment aims to remove contaminants like pathogens, suspended solids, and dissolved chemicals that could pose health risks. This often involves steps such as screening, coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. Wastewater treatment, on the other hand, focuses on removing pollutants from used water before it is discharged. This typically includes primary treatment (physical removal of solids), secondary treatment (biological removal of organic matter), and sometimes tertiary treatment (advanced removal of nutrients and specific pollutants). Industrial water treatment is tailored to the specific needs of various industries, which might require high-purity water for manufacturing or specific chemical treatments to prevent corrosion or scale formation in equipment.

Common techniques used across different types of vesikäsittely include physical methods like filtration and sedimentation, chemical methods such as coagulation and disinfection with chlorine or ozone, and biological methods that utilize microorganisms to break down pollutants. The goal of all vesikäsittely is to manage water resources effectively, protecting public health and the environment.