INTRODUCTION OF SUDOFLOC “LIQUID ALUM” FOR WATER TREATMENT AT LWC ADIYAN AND IJU WATERWORKS: ITS BENEFITS AS AN ALTERNATIVE/OPTION TO SOLID ALUM AND LIME OR SODA ASH

(Be dynamic, just like life. Innovate. Create. Explore. Never become stagnant)

“Change is Inevitable, Evolution, however is Optional”, as “to improve is to Change, to be perfect is to change often”.

Water is the most crucial compound for life on Earth, and having drinkable water is a key worldwide concern for the twenty-first century.

For Water to be potable it requires certain level of processes or treatment. This treatment is the process that improves the quality of water to make it appropriate for drinking and domestic use.

The Administration of Lagos Water Corporation under the present leadership of the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Muminu Adekunle Badmus with the support of the “Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Administration”, is known for her dynamism in its operations since inception in 2015, striving towards the delivery of safe and quality drinking water and good services to meet customer’s expectation, satisfaction and promote community health.

In the recent time, Lagos Water Corporation Introduced and commenced the use of “Liquid Alum” at Iju and Adiyan Waterworks, as an alternative or better option to the use of Alum and Lime/soda ash in the treatment of water.

This development had impacted positively on the quality of water produced and distributed to the Corporation’s customers.

Presently, LWC is continuously exploring innovative ways to improve the quality of water produced as well as efficient usage of treatment chemical through the use of new dosing pumps.

The change from Aluminium sulphate to Liquid Alum for coagulation has several benefits such as:

The Reduction in Need for PH Stabilization: Liquid Alum is effective over a broader PH range than the traditional alum. Because Liquid alum consumes considerably less alkalinity than aluminium sulphate, the need for PH stabilizers such as lime and soda ash is virtually removed.

With the use of liquid Alum there is no need for the use of pH boosters such as lime & soda ash especially since the pH of raw water is not affected/depressed comparism with the use of the solid alum.

Reduction In Sludge Production: Because of the lower aluminium content of liquid alum, there is less sludge from residual aluminium produced in the backwash water, this reduces the frequency of backwashing thereby ultimately reducing the energy cost required in operating the backwash system.

Reduction In Production Costs: The current cost of Aluminium sulphate has increased greatly in Nigeria over the past years due to factors exacerbated by the Novel Corona Virus such as the increase in exchange rates. Because of liquid alum’s superior coagulation efficiency and over 200% increase in the price of traditional aluminium sulphate, liquid alum has a cheaper cost per usage.

Also, the reduced need for PH stabilization and reduction in sludge production will significantly reduce the overall chemical and operating expense of the Lagos Water Corporation.

A comparative analysis of the liquid alum as it compares to Aluminium Sulphate (using Adiyan and Iju Water plants as a case study) shows that between 10-20ppm of the liquid alum was needed for the treatment of 3000m3/hr of the raw water for Adiyan W/wks as against 60-70ppm (part per million) of Alum and 20-40ppm of soda ash/used to achieve same the same result.

The recent attestations and confirmation to the superiority of Liquid Alum over Alum and Lime/ soda ash by the LWC Water Quality Assurance, Production, Distribution Departments and notable bodies within the Corporation cannot be underestimated, as proofs have clearly shown greater impact in the delivery of quality water to the expectations & satisfaction of State residents of over 22million population.

Sustainability of this landmark achievement in the treatment of raw water in Lagos Water Corporation is worthwhile and should be put into serious consideration, as the Corporation is moving to the next level in discharging of her primary mandate of provision and sustainability of Potable Water Supply to her ever-growing population in the State.