The concept of sedimentation has an exclusive use in the field of geology since it is called a process that consists of the formation and deposit of sediments.
What are sediments?
Sediments are solid materials that accumulate on the earth's surface as a consequence of various processes and phenomena that affect the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, and the biosphere, including: winds, rains, climatic variations, water drag, action of agents. chemicals, among others.
So, sedimentation is the procedure through which these solid materials are deposited in certain areas of the surface and in some cases they are even capable of marking the appearance and appearance of the area.
The most common is that generated by the dragging of water from the solid material
One of the most common sedimentations occurs with solid material that is mobilized by a stream of water and is deposited by it at the bottom of the river, in an artificial channel, in a reservoir or in some space that was specially built for the sediment accumulates there.
Water currents that carry large flows and drag speeds are capable of transporting sediments, while they are the areas characterized by depressions in the ground where sedimentation usually occurs. These depressions in which sediments accumulate are popularly known as sedimentary basins. The law of gravity is largely responsible for sedimentation. On the contrary, elevated areas are affected by the erosion process.
Procedure involved in water purification and wastewater treatment
We must emphasize that sedimentation is a necessary process at the request of water purification and wastewater treatment. Let us remember that the purification of water is a fundamental and very important process so that the water is optimized for human consumption and does not imply any type of risk to health and the treatment of wastewater is a process that implies several actions in order to eliminate or minimize water pollution.
There are some devices that help in the production of sedimentation in the cases mentioned, such as: desander, decanters and filter dams. They all pursue the retention of those large solid parts.
Photos: iStock - OGphoto / ercegokhan
