Producing safe, clear drinking water requires stable coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation and filtration performance—especially when raw water quality changes seasonally or even daily. Onschem supplies drinking water treatment chemicals to help utilities and water plants meet turbidity and aesthetic targets while controlling sludge volume and total chemical cost.
Our core products for potable water processes include Polyaluminium Chloride (PAC), Polyferric Sulfate (PFS), Polyaluminium Ferric Chloride (PAFC) and Polyacrylamide (PAM) flocculants, supported by practical application guidance and consistent quality documentation.
Key Pain Points with Coagulation & Flocculation (PAC / PFS / PAFC / PAM)
Unstable turbidity removal when raw water changes
When turbidity and organics shift rapidly, a fixed coagulant dose often fails. This can lead to poor floc formation, weak settling, and turbidity spikes after filtration.
What plants need: coagulants with a wider operating window and faster optimization methods based on raw water conditions.
Residual aluminum/iron concerns
Incorrect coagulant grade, poor product consistency, or overdosing may increase residual Al/Fe, affecting compliance confidence and customer perception.
What plants need: consistent specifications, COA/batch traceability, and dosing strategies that minimize residual metals while maintaining clarification performance.
Higher sludge volume and difficult dewatering
Inefficient coagulation can create light, bulky sludge that dewaters poorly, increasing polymer consumption and disposal costs.
What plants need: optimized coagulant + PAM pairing to produce denser flocs, improve thickening, and lower total sludge volume.
PAM selection is often trial-and-error
Wrong ionic type or molecular weight may cause floc breakage, carryover, or even filter fouling. Overdosing can destabilize the system.
What plants need: targeted PAM selection (anionic/cationic/nonionic) and stable make-down/feeding recommendations.
Total cost per m³ is rising
Chemical price volatility and higher energy/labor costs make treatment economics more sensitive to performance.
What plants need: higher-efficiency chemicals that reduce dose demand, stabilize filter runs, and lower sludge handling costs.
Recommended Chemicals
✔ PAC (Food Grade)
High basicity; low residual aluminum.
✔ PAFC
Strong coagulation; excellent turbidity removal.
✔ Activated Carbon (Powdered)
Removes odor, color, organic matter, and chlorination by-products.
Benefits for Drinking Water Plants
Safe and compliant with drinking water standards
Wide pH adaptation; works even in cold water
Fast floc formation and clear supernatant
Minimal sludge and low dosing consumption
Removes odor, organic matter, and color
Applications
City water supply plants
Rural drinking water systems
Emergency water purification stations
Water purification equipment manufacturers
FAQ?
Which coagulant is best for drinking water—PAC, PFS, or PAFC?
The best coagulant depends on source water turbidity, NOM/color, alkalinity, temperature and pH. PAC is commonly used for general clarification, PFS offers strong coagulation and settling, and PAFC can perform well in more challenging water with higher color/NOM and broader pH tolerance.
Can PAM be used in drinking water treatment?
PAM is commonly used as a flocculant aid in clarification and sludge handling when properly selected and dosed. The correct ionic type and controlled feed are essential to avoid overdosing and filtration issues.
How can we reduce sludge disposal cost in drinking water treatment?
Improving coagulation efficiency and matching the right PAM program can produce denser flocs, reduce sludge volume, and improve dewatering, which lowers hauling and disposal costs.
Do you provide product specifications and COA?
Onschem supports customers with standard quality documentation such as product specifications and COA to help ensure consistent performance and easier process control.