Home » Drinking Water Plant (DWP): Ultimate Guide [2025]
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What is a Drinking Water Plant (DWP)?
A Drinking Water Plant (DWP) is a water treatment facility designed to purify raw water from natural or municipal sources and make it safe for human consumption. The main objective of a DWP is to remove physical, chemical, and biological contaminants so that the treated water meets national and international drinking water quality standards.
A typical Drinking Water Plant (DWP) treats water collected from rivers, lakes, groundwater, or reservoirs using a series of scientifically controlled processes. These processes may include screening, coagulation and flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. Advanced DWPs may also use technologies such as Reverse Osmosis (RO), UV disinfection, ozone treatment, activated carbon filtration, and mineral balancing to enhance water quality.
DWPs play a vital role in protecting public health by eliminating harmful pathogens, suspended solids, heavy metals, unpleasant taste, odor, and toxic chemicals. They are widely used in municipal water supply systems, residential complexes, commercial buildings, hospitals, food industries, and bottled water production units.
Drinking Water Treatment Plant Process
1. Source Water Intake and Screening
Raw water is drawn from surface water sources (rivers, lakes, reservoirs) or groundwater sources (tube wells and boreholes). At the intake point, coarse and fine screens remove large floating materials such as plastics, leaves, wood, and stones. This step protects downstream equipment from damage and blockage.
2. Aeration (Pre-Treatment)
Aeration introduces air into the raw water to remove dissolved gases such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. It also oxidizes iron and manganese, making them easier to remove later. Aeration improves water taste and reduces odor-related issues.
3. Coagulation
In coagulation, chemicals like alum, ferric chloride, or poly-aluminum chloride (PAC) are rapidly mixed with water. These chemicals neutralize the electrical charges of fine suspended particles and colloids that cannot settle naturally.
4. Flocculation
After coagulation, water flows slowly through flocculation tanks where gentle mixing allows destabilized particles to collide and form larger, heavier particles called flocs. Proper floc formation is critical for effective removal of turbidity and organic matter.
5. Sedimentation (Clarification)
The water enters sedimentation basins where flocs settle at the bottom due to gravity. The settled material, known as sludge, is periodically removed and treated separately. This stage can remove up to 90% of suspended solids.
6. Filtration
Clarified water is passed through multi-layer filters composed of sand, gravel, anthracite, or activated carbon. Filtration removes remaining fine particles, protozoa, bacteria, and organic compounds, significantly improving water clarity and safety.
7. Disinfection
Disinfection is a critical step in water treatment aimed at eliminating pathogenic microorganisms. Common methods include chlorination, which is valuable because it provides residual protection throughout the water distribution system. Another method is Ultraviolet (UV) treatment, which is highly effective against a wide range of bacteria and viruses. Finally, ozonation utilizes a strong oxidant that not only disinfects but also helps to improve the water's taste and odor. Often, a combination of these methods is employed to ensure complete and robust microbial safety.
8. pH Adjustment and Mineral Balancing
Treated water may require pH correction using lime or soda ash to prevent corrosion in pipelines. In some plants, essential minerals such as calcium and magnesium are adjusted to improve taste and stability.
9. Storage and Distribution
Final treated water is stored in clear water reservoirs or elevated tanks before being distributed through pipelines. Continuous monitoring ensures water quality remains safe throughout the distribution network.
Types of Drinking Water Plants
Drinking Water Plants (DWPs) are designed in different types based on the quality of raw water, required treatment level, capacity, and end use. Each type uses specific treatment technologies to ensure safe and potable drinking water.
1. Conventional Drinking Water Treatment Plant
This is the most widely used type for municipal water supply. It treats surface water using coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection.
Best suited for: Rivers, lakes, and reservoirs with moderate turbidity
RO plants use semi-permeable membranes to remove dissolved salts, heavy metals, bacteria, viruses, and chemical contaminants.
Best suited for: High TDS water, groundwater, brackish water, and areas with salinity issues.
3. Ultrafiltration (UF) Drinking Water Plant
UF plants use membrane filtration to remove suspended solids, bacteria, cysts, and colloids, while allowing dissolved minerals to pass through.
Best suited for: Low to medium TDS surface water and pre-treatment for RO systems.
4. UV-Based Drinking Water Plant
UV plants disinfect water using ultraviolet radiation without altering taste or chemical composition.
Best suited for: Clear water with low turbidity and microbial contamination.
5. Ozone-Based Drinking Water Plant
Ozonation uses ozone gas as a powerful disinfectant and oxidizing agent to destroy microorganisms and remove odor and color.
Best suited for: Municipal supplies requiring advanced disinfection and taste improvement.
6. Activated Carbon Drinking Water Plant
These plants use granular or powdered activated carbon (GAC/PAC) to remove chlorine, organic compounds, pesticides, and unpleasant taste or odor.
Best suited for: Water with chemical contamination and odor issues.
7. Iron Removal Drinking Water Plant
Specifically designed to remove iron and manganese through aeration, oxidation, and filtration.
Best suited for: Groundwater with high iron content (common in many regions).
8. Arsenic Removal Drinking Water Plant
.Uses adsorption media, oxidation, or membrane technology to remove arsenic from drinking water.
Best suited for: Arsenic-affected areas, including parts of South Asia.
9. Packaged Drinking Water Plant
Compact, prefabricated systems that combine multiple treatment technologies in a single unit.
Best suited for: Apartments, hospitals, schools, commercial buildings, and rural areas.
Benefits of a Drinking Water Manufacturing Plant
A Drinking Water Manufacturing Plant plays a vital role in supplying safe, purified, and quality drinking water. Below are the key benefits explained clearly and informatively:
1. Safe and Pure Drinking Water
A drinking water manufacturing plant uses advanced purification technologies such as RO, UV, UF, and Ozonation to remove harmful bacteria, viruses, dissolved salts, and chemical contaminants, ensuring clean and safe drinking water.
2. Protects Public Health
By supplying contaminant-free water, a drinking water manufacturing plant helps prevent waterborne diseases like cholera, diarrhea, and typhoid, improving overall community health.
3. Consistent Water Quality Standards
These plants follow strict quality control and testing procedures to maintain consistent taste, clarity, and mineral balance, ensuring reliable drinking water quality at all times.
4. Solution to Water Scarcity
In areas where groundwater is contaminated or limited, a drinking water manufacturing plant provides a dependable source of potable water, supporting both urban and rural populations.
5. High Demand and Business Growth
The demand for purified drinking water is continuously increasing, making a drinking water manufacturing plant a profitable and sustainable business opportunity with long-term growth potential.
6. Employment Generation
Setting up and operating a drinking water manufacturing plant creates job opportunities in production, quality control, logistics, sales, and maintenance.
7. Customizable Water Production
A drinking water manufacturing plant can produce RO water, mineral water, alkaline water, bottled water, and jar water, meeting diverse consumer and commercial requirements.
8. Environment-Friendly Operations
Modern drinking water manufacturing plants are designed with water recovery systems, energy-efficient equipment, and eco-friendly packaging, minimizing water wastage and environmental impact.
9. Regulatory Compliance and Consumer Trust
These plants are built to comply with national and international drinking water standards, enhancing brand credibility and consumer confidence.
10. Reliable Supply During Emergencies
During natural disasters or water supply disruptions, a drinking water manufacturing plant becomes a crucial source of safe drinking water for communities and relief operations.
ABOUT MHT FILTRATION LIMITED
MHT Filtration Ltd. is Bangladesh’s first and leading water technology company. Since 2017, we've been dedicated to providing complete water treatment solutions and guaranteeing access to clean, safe water nationwide through our range of premium imports like RO membranes, purifiers, and industrial pumps.