Successful operation of gravity filters primarily depends on which factor?

Successful operation of gravity filters is largely dependent on the even dispersal of wastewater throughout the filter media. When wastewater is evenly distributed, it ensures that the entire surface area of the filter is utilized effectively. This uniform distribution promotes optimal filtration, allowing contaminants to be captured consistently across the filter bed. If water does not flow evenly, certain areas may become overburdened or underutilized, leading to issues such as channeling, where water flows preferentially through certain paths, bypassing the filter material entirely, and resulting in reduced treatment efficiency.

While maintenance is important for overall filter longevity and performance, and pressure plays a role in forced filtration systems rather than gravity filters, even dispersion directly influences the effectiveness of the filtration process. Chemical treatment may enhance the quality of the incoming water, but it is not the primary factor affecting the operational success of gravity filters.