Lab testing for the purpose of water treatment design
Published May 26, 2025
Verhoeve not only builds water treatment plants, but can also play a role in the preparation in determining the starting points for the treatment. We are regularly asked to provide solutions to challenges in water problems. A small selection of these projects:
- A new factory site requires significant drainage. The water to be extracted is contaminated with heavy metals (cadmium and zinc) and has a low pH of 4. Verhoeve was engaged by the company to devise a suitable solution to meet the discharge requirements;
- An existing Ultrafiltration plant at a Dutch grower in Africa keeps clogging up, despite multiple settling and pre-filtration steps. Stable operations are hampered as a result. The exact cause is unclear. Verhoeve was asked to first determine the cause and then offer a solution.
Verhoeve has a testing facility for such issues. For the former project, the new plant site, several tests were conducted with representative water samples. These tests focused on filtration with and without the addition of various additives at different concentrations. The additives include pH correction, coagulant and flocculant.
Attached below is a picture of water with different additives in the tests performed.
Findings
Based on such tests, the nature and quantity of products to be added was determined. For the drainage water contaminated with heavy metals, the concentration of heavy metals before and after treatment was of course also examined. The findings have since been translated for this site into a design for a full-scale water treatment plant with a capacity of 70 m3/hour.
Contact
We can imagine that you have questions, but perhaps you have a problem of your own as described here. If so, please contact Edward van de Ven,(e.vd.ven@verhoevemw.com, +32(0)483270932)