Dissolved air flotation in potable water treatment: the Dutch experience

This paper reviews the experience the drinking water companies in The Netherlands have gained in the last twenty years in the field of dissolved air flotation. An overview of the Dutch flotation plants with their individual objectives is presented. The efficiency of flotation towards the removal of different parameters, such as turbidity, organic matter and micro-organisms is good, which is illustrated by data from the water companies. Both in the past and at present water companies compare flotation to other floc separation techniques, such as sedimentation or direct filtration. Specially for waters with (relative) low turbidity and high chlorophyll-a content, flotation proved (in combination with rapid sand filtration) to be very effective. The efficiency of the flotation process has been improved by the development of different nozzle-types. Some of these types are described here, each with their advantages and disadvantages. In general dissolved air flotation has proved to be as sturdy and reliable as sedimentation techniques, such as lamellae settling.