Settling basin

A settling basin, settling pond or decant pond is a place where very fine particles from water are removed by means of gravity. The dirty water enters the basin at one end and the cleaner water is taken out at the other end by decanting. The water must be in the basin long enough for the desired particle size to be removed. Smaller particles require longer periods for removal and thus larger basins. Sometimes a flocculant may be added to help smaller particles stick together and form larger particles. Stoke's Law can be used to calculate the size of a settling basin needed in order to remove a desired particle size.

See also

• Water purification
• decant tower