Water quality enhancement through vertical and horizontal roughing filtration (case study: Drilling well at Mojorejo Village, Batu City, Indonesia)

Roughing filtration is crucial in wastewater treatment by efficiently separating small solid particles without chemicals. Conducting a pilot project in Mojorejo Village aimed to evaluate the viability of using horizontal-flow roughing filtration for drinking water treatment. The filter consists of three distinct sections separated by perforated baffles. Each compartment is filled with local sand and gravel arranged in a specific decreasing size sequence. The filter demonstrates satisfactory performance in removing turbidity and total suspended solids. Gravel was selected as the control medium due to its widespread use in roughing filters. The filter also effectively removes iron, manganese, and color. The study results suggest that horizontal-flow roughing filtration could be a cost-effective and efficient pre-treatment process, particularly when surface water is utilized as the water source. It is particularly suitable for small-scale communities and scenarios where water is free from significant pollutants. This system can serve as a comprehensive treatment system, allowing the treated water to be distributed for various uses.