Once the floc settles, the water is ready for the next stage of treatment. Clarification Clarification occurs in a large basin where water is again allowed to flow very slowly. Sludge, a residue of solids and water, accumulates at the basin's bottom and is pumped or scraped out for eventual disposal. Clarification is also sometimes called sedimentation. Hard water can also result in laundering and washing problems, because it reduces the effectiveness of soaps and detergents.
Soft water can cause corrosion in pipes.
Drinking water plants attempt to maintain a desirable balance between hardness and softness. This is accomplished by adding minerals to soft water and removing them from hard water. Filtration Turbidity is a physical characteristic that makes water appear cloudy when suspended matter is present. These suspended materials are filtered out when water passes through beds of granular material, usually composed of layers of sand, gravel, coal, garnet, or related substances. Fluoridation is an effective, economical process endorsed by many public health groups worldwide.