Bank Filtration: A Natural and Sustainable Water Treatment Process

Bank filtration (BF) is a natural water treatment process that has been recognized as a proven method for drinking water treatment in Europe for over 100 years. It is a cost-effective, robust, and sustainable technology that involves the flow of surface water through soil/sediment and into a vertical or horizontal well in response to a hydraulic gradient.

A Brief History of Bank Filtration

Bank filtration is first mentioned in the Bible, highlighting its long-standing presence in human history. Over the years, it has been refined and developed into a reliable method for water purification.

Understanding the Mechanisms of Contaminant Removal

Despite its long history, the mechanisms of removal of different contaminants during BF are not fully understood. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of BF in removing various contaminants present in surface water sources, including bulk organic matter and organic micropollutants (OMPs) like pharmaceutically active compounds and endocrine disrupting compounds.

Removal of Organic Micropollutants

It was found that biodegradation and adsorption play primary and secondary roles, respectively, in the removal of OMPs during soil passage. Furthermore, using field data from BF sites and chemical properties of OMPs, models were developed to estimate the removal of OMPs during soil passage.

Optimizing Bank Filtration Design and Operation

It can be concluded that the removal efficiencies of BF for these contaminants can be maximized by proper design and operation of recovery wells, taking into consideration source water quality characteristics and local hydrogeological conditions.

Product Details

Publisher: CRC Press; 1st edition (June 28, 2018)
Language: English
Hardcover: 208 pages
ISBN-10: 1138406945
ISBN-13: 978-1138406940