Electricity cost of rapid filter backwashing in a water treatment plant

ABSTRACT This paper aims to determine the cost of electricity for rapid filter backwashing procedures at water treatment plants, whose flow rate is 45 L/s. Flow and electricity consumption were monitored in order to analyze the performance of the pumping systems. Additionally, the effluent water quality of three washes was monitored in filter 4 and a survey of the electricity fare data of the treatment unit was carried out. With the results obtained, it was observed that the effluent turbidity values at the end of the three washes, in this case 31, 30, and 27 NTU, did not reach the minimum values recommended in the technical literature, which is at least 15 NTU. It was also observed the impossibility of prolonging the backwashing time in order to reach the standard of the literature, due to the double function of the elevated washing water reservoir (treated water), whose main purpose is to provide treated water to the water distribution network. Taking into account these limitations and the final quality of the wash effluent, it was observed that the duration of backwashing procedures should be around 380 seconds (6.3 minutes), consuming 23.36 m3/wash. The backwashing procedure cost was estimated at R$ 1.36/m3, which resulted in R$ 31.83/wash. Considering the whole filtration unit, the backwashing procedure cost was R$ 254.64/day, R$ 7,639.20/month, and R$ 91,670.4/year. This value can be classified as too expensive considering the treatment plant studied.