Method for treatment of contaminated water

A method for treating contaminated water contaminated with undesired solid, liquid, and gaseous materials, the method comprising the steps of

• flowing the contaminated water into a holding tank of an apparatus for treatment of contaminated water, the apparatus comprising a holding tank, having a top and a bottom, the holding tank including a means for venting the undesired gaseous materials from the contaminated water, and having a means for removing undesired solid materials from the contaminated water;
• and a separation tower, having upper and lower ends and a longitudinal axis, in fluid communication with the holding tank, the separation tower, including:
• a water inlet for the flow of contaminated water from the holding tank into the separation tower;
• a means for removing undesired solid materials from the contaminated water in the separation tower;
• deflection means in the separation tower for deflecting undesired solid materials in the contaminated water downwardly toward the lower end of the separation;
• a vacuum apparatus including a vacuum pump, the vacuum apparatus for applying a vacuum in and at the top of the separation tower for drawing the contaminated water from the holding tank through the water inlet and upwardly into, and through, the separation tower and for removing undesired gaseous materials from the contaminated water;
• electro-floculation means for disassociating ions from the undesired solid material and contaminated water and for releasing undesired gaseous materials contained in the contaminated water;
• a water level sensor in the separation tower for sensing a level of contaminated water therein, the water level sensor in communication with the vacuum pump for controlling the level of contaminated water in the separation tower,
• drawing the contaminated water from the holding tank into the separation tower with the vacuum apparatus, removing undesired gaseous materials from the contaminated water by the vacuum apparatus,
• disassociating ions from the undesired solid material and contaminated water and releasing undesired gaseous materials contained in the contaminated water by flowing the contaminated water through electro-floculation means,
• sensing a level of water in the separation tower,
• controlling the level of water in the separation tower with the vacuum apparatus in coordination with a level of water in the holding tank,
• flowing the contaminated water as the contaminated water is drawn upwardly through the separation tower against a first deflection means and deflecting undesired solid materials downwardly toward the lower end of the separation tower,
• flowing the contaminated water against a second deflection means to deflect undesired solid materials downwardly toward the lower end of the separation tower,
• removing treated water from the separation tower, from a first location proximate the upper end of the separation tower and above the first deflection means,
• removing undesired liquid material from the separation tower from a second location proximate the upper end of the separation tower and above the first location, and removing undesired solid materials from the holding tank and from the lower end of the separation tower.