The treatment plant near the Ruacana Falls is small, but nonetheless constitutes a complete purification process common to most purification plants in Namibia .
The raw-water is abstracted from a huge reservoir that supplies water to NamPower’s hydro-electric power station at Ruacana.
The flocculant and lime are dosed as the water enters the flash mixer. The water then enters a cone-shaped flocculation chamber inside the clarifier. Suspended clay particles in the river water join together forming larger “floc” particles.
The floc settles to the bottom of the clarifier and is withdrawn as sludge.
The clear water from the clarifier is then pumped to four pressure sand filters which further clean the water before it enters the clear water well below the filters. A solution containing chlorine is added to this well for disinfection.
The drinking water is then pumped to a larger reservoir from where it is distributed mainly to Ruacana Town and Oshifo. Chlorine is again added at this reservoir.
