Theory and Practice of Water and Wastewater Treatment

Rating:
Summary: Good organization, poor mathematics
Review: A very easy to consult reference book. In most cases in water and wastewater engineering, the book will help you to give you the right direction in solving an engineering problem. As a basic book very good in use.

Rating:
Summary: Very practical book of reference and good basic theory
Review: A very easy to consult reference book. In most cases in water and wastewater engineering, the book will help you to give you the right direction in solving an engineering problem. As a basic book very good in use.

Rating:
Summary: Easy to understand without neglecting theory
Review: Droste provides a very good overview with good description of the theoretical background. I find this book most helpful for more unusual problems in (water and) wastewater treatment. Very good value: covers almost everything you need to know in one book.

Rating:
Summary: Good organization, poor mathematics
Review: This book is better organized than most other texts in this field. The selection of topics is generally good. Coverage of many topics is quite satisfactory. Ion exchange and membrane processes, however, are not explained well.

While descriptive subjects (e.g.microbiology, diseases,etc) and those subjects that do not require advanced mathematics are well explained, there are some serious blunders in the coverage of more mathematical topics.

For example, the author employs mathematical language and notation in trying to "prove" or "derive" certain equations in Chapter 10 (pp. 255 to 261). The mathematics used, however, is sloppy and therefore the presentation is more confusing than convincing. The analysis covering Equations 10.37 to 10.40 shows that the author does not have an understanding of the substantial (material) derivative of fluid mechanics and transport phenomona.

There are some serious mistakes in the treatment of fixed bed adsorber systems (pp.490-498). For example, equations 15.51 and 15.65 are incorrect. There is also a mistake in Equation 15.57. There are other more fundamental mistakes. The author seems confused here. I advise readers to consult Weber or Benefield et al. to study this subject.

Despite the above criticism, this book's treatment of many topics is more comprehensive and satisfactory than that of many a textbook in this field. It is a valuable and wellcome addition to the textbook literature. In preparing the second edition, however, the author should have the chapter on mass balances and reaction kinetics completely rewritten (possibly by someone from the chemical engineering faculty).