What does the formation of very tiny alum flocs in the flocculation basin indicate?

The formation of very tiny alum flocs in the flocculation basin suggests that the chemical or alum dosage is too low. In water treatment processes, alum is used as a coagulant to help particles in the water clump together, forming larger flocs that can be removed. When the dosage is insufficient, the resulting flocs are small and may lack the mass necessary for effective removal during the sedimentation process.

In a properly functioning flocculation basin, you would expect to see larger, more robust flocs that are capable of settling out of the water. Tiny flocs indicate that there isn’t enough alum to adequately neutralize the charges on the suspended particles, preventing them from agglomerating into larger masses. Therefore, this situation warrants an adjustment in the alum dosage to optimize the treatment process and ensure larger, more effective floc formations.