Patent ID: 6153094
Filing Date: 2000-11-28
Classification: C02F,Y02W,Y10S

Abstract:
Water treatment apparatus, for the treatment of polluted water, wherein:the apparatus comprises a treatment station, which includes a container, in which is contained a body of treatment material;the treatment material is sponge-like, being water-absorbing and water-retaining;the treatment station includes a water-throughflow-control-means, comprising an inlet and an outlet, and comprising a means for admitting polluted water through the inlet and onto the body of treatment material, and for enabling the polluted water, so admitted, to percolate gradually downwards through the body of treatment material and out through the outlet;the body of treatment material in the container is in the form of blocks of the sponge-like treatment material;the arrangement and configuration of the blocks in the container is such that voids and spaces are formed between the blocks, which are so large that water substantially cannot support itself therein by surface tension, whereby water in the voids and spaces can drain therefrom, leaving the voids and spaces open and clear, and enabled for carrying a free circulation of air around and between the blocks;the water-throughflow-control-means includes means for preventing a build-up of water in, and for moving water out of, the body of treatment material, to the extent that the said voids and spaces remain substantially open and clear of water, and enabled for carrying a free circulation of air around and between the blocks;the blocks are so arranged that each block has a respective entry-means through which water can enter the block from above, and a respective drainage-means;the drainage means comprises the aggregate of means whereby water can drain out from the respective block;the drainage-means comprises a means for partially constricting drainage of water from the block;a relationship between capillary sponge action of the treatment material and the constriction in the drainage-means is such as to cause a substantial residual volume of water to be retained in a lower zone of the interior of the block, without draining away, even when an upper zone of the block is dry;whereby water drains only partially out of the blocks of treatment material, leaving residual volumes of retained water in the lower zones of the blocks.