MEKANISME PENURUNAN JUMLAH BAKTERI INDIKATOR DALAM PROSES KOAGULASI FLOKULASI

Abstract

Coagulant application is one of effective manners to reduce indicator bacterial number in drinking water treatment process. In order to achieve optimal condition of coagulant function in such treatment, it is important to know the removal mechanism of indicator bacterial number by this coagulant. Currently, there is no research publication explaining how the coagulant could reduce the number of indicator bacterial. This research aims to carry out the removal mechanism of indicator bacterial number by coagulant application. For this work, the number of indicator bacterial was counted from a set of samples taken from Situ Cibuntu. Filter membrane method was used to enumerate the total of indicator bacterial in the samples. Other parameters measured in this experiment were turbidity, pH nutrient contents. Results of this research showed that the removal process of indicator bacterial number caused by coagulant application seemed to be three ways or mechanisms that probably worked in the same time. These three mechanisms should be related to the decrease of pH, flock trap and the decrease of nutrient contents.