Conventional water treatment processes, that were installed and used long ago
in Upper Egypt, used to treat raw water with fluctuating suspended solids
reachg a peak of 3000 mg~l during flood times before Aswan High Dam
construction. The spectacular changes in raw water quality following the
construction of the Dam were reflected in silt and coarse particulates deposition
and increased number of algae. Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) process is
known to be effective in separating low-density particles contrary to
sedimentahon. Thls study addresses an investigation of the changing quality of
raw water in the study region, using the fhdarnental characteristics of DAF to
idenhfjr its potential use as the main treatment process. The study is conducted
through identifl;ng the main characteristics of raw water and predominant
types and sizes of organic species to be removed. Application diagrams for
particles separation for both DAF and sedlrnentation were developed relating
particle size, density, settling velocity and influent water temperature. The
study also addresses the merits and demerits of DAF process that shows the
system compatibility with changing raw water in addition to expected high
removal efficiency withm a smaller footprint in the plants