Which water treatment plants are classified as Category 1 plants?

Category 1 water treatment plants are classified as those that primarily use coagulation processes. Coagulation is a crucial step in water treatment that involves adding chemicals to water to aggregate particles and impurities, making it easier for these contaminants to be removed through sedimentation and filtration. This process is essential for improving water quality as it helps in removing suspended solids, organic materials, and pathogens, resulting in clearer and safer drinking water.

Plants that specifically focus on coagulation often serve as the backbone of conventional water treatment methods, which can include subsequent steps like sedimentation and filtration. Because coagulation is so fundamental and widely used in various treatment scenarios, such plants are designated as Category 1 plants, as they represent a foundational technology in water treatment.

Other classifications, like those that rely solely on chemical softening, membrane filtration, or blending multiple methods, may serve different purposes or be used in conjunction with coagulation. However, they do not specifically or primarily focus on the coagulation process itself, which is why they do not fall under the Category 1 classification.