What should the operator do first during turbidity breakthrough in filter effluent?

What should the operator do first during turbidity breakthrough in filter effluent?

• A. Backwash the filter
• B. Increase coagulant dose
• C. Increase filtration rate
• D. Bypass the filter

Answer: (A)

When turbidity breakthrough happens in filter effluent, the immediate priority is to backwash the filter. Breakthrough means the filter bed is clogged with settled particles, reducing its ability to remove turbidity and increasing headloss. Backwashing reverses flow through the filter media, loosening and pushing out trapped solids to waste. This freshens the bed, reopens pore spaces, and restores the filter’s ability to remove particles, bringing turbidity back under control. After a backwash, you’ll recheck turbidity and headloss to see if the performance has recovered. Other options aren’t the first step: increasing coagulant dose might help long-term removal but won’t immediately fix a clogged bed and can waste chemicals; increasing the filtration rate tends to push more particles through and worsen breakthrough; bypassing the filter would skip essential treatment and isn’t safe.

When turbidity breakthrough happens in filter effluent, the immediate priority is to backwash the filter. Breakthrough means the filter bed is clogged with settled particles, reducing its ability to remove turbidity and increasing headloss. Backwashing reverses flow through the filter media, loosening and pushing out trapped solids to waste. This freshens the bed, reopens pore spaces, and restores the filter’s ability to remove particles, bringing turbidity back under control.

After a backwash, you’ll recheck turbidity and headloss to see if the performance has recovered. Other options aren’t the first step: increasing coagulant dose might help long-term removal but won’t immediately fix a clogged bed and can waste chemicals; increasing the filtration rate tends to push more particles through and worsen breakthrough; bypassing the filter would skip essential treatment and isn’t safe.