The process of removal of natural organic matter from groundwater by adsorption on powdered activated carbon, coagulation and flocculation was investigated. It was found that the combination of these processes yielded a decrease of KMnO4 values, which allowed the reduction of the coagulant concentration, needed to achieve the necessary quality of drinking water, up to 50%. Also, it was established that the sequence of adding powdered activated carbon and coagulant is one of the essential factors determining the efficiency of NOM removal from water, and which is primarily conditioned by the nature of the organic matter present in the investigated water.

The paper deals with pilot-scale investigations of the effect of preozonation on NOM removal from groundwater by coagulation and flocculation processes. It was found that the preozonation increased the efficiency of organic matter removal by coagulation and flocculation from 23.6 to 47.2% as judged on the basis of KMnO4 values. From the aspect of the change of content of trihalomethanes precursors preozonation exhibits both the positive and negative effects if their content in the water after coagulation is considered in dependence of the applied ozone dose. The obtained values siggest the necessity of careful optimization of the processes of preozonation, coagulation, and flocculation, especially from the aspect of the change in content of the precursors of disinfection byproducts.

This work considers the possibility of enhancing the iron (III) chloride coagulation process in natural organic matter removal by flocculation sludge recirculation. The results show that flocculation sludge has the potential to coagulate organic matter, and shows a dependence on the depth in the precipitator (0, 30 or 70 cm). Recirculation of flocculation sludge at a dose of 1.6 g/l (from a depth of 30 cm), results in a reduction of required coagulant by 25%.