Affiliations: Department of Environmental Health Engineering
Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran | Department of Environmental Health Engineering Qom
University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran | School of Public Health and Environmental Health
Research Center Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Abstract: In this study, removal efficiency of heavy metals such as iron,
manganese, copper and nickel were surveyed in various units of water treatment
plant. Samples were taken from influent, before and after sedimentation and
after filtration under standard condition. Concentration of heavy metals in
each sample was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results
showed that removal efficiency of iron, manganese, copper and nickel were 71,
60, 79 and 40 percent, respectively. Experimental results currently showed low
efficiency for the suitable removal of aluminium. So, the aluminium
concentration in all the samples from the influent (2.03 mg
l^{-1}) and effluent (2 mg l^{-1}) of the
water treatment plant exceeded the EPA drinking water standard (50 μg
l^{-1}). It is concluded that using conventional treatment
technology can reduce metal concentrations except aluminium below
internationally approved guidelines.
Keywords: Heavy metals, water treatment plant, removal efficiency
