Plant operators said that the possible root cause of high aluminium are caused by the land opening at the upstream, and the runoffs from the land opening near the water treatment plant I am working at, causing the contamination of the raw water source with aluminium (present naturally and abundantly in soil). But, based on preliminary data analysis by lab, the probability of high aluminium in treated water is not caused by the contaminated raw water.
FYI, the coagulant used for treatment process is aluminium-based i.e. Aluminium Sulphate and Polyaluminium Chloride. Most probably the high alum in treated water came from the residual Aluminium from the coagulant. Now, the operators are dosing minimum amount of coagulant, but the presence of Aluminium is still relatively high.
There are every chances of leaching from rain, erosion of rocks, and also to soil to enter water sources through runoff.
You should make a study about the surrounding country rocks and soils where the water runs. Some rocks, especially, granites have a high aluminum ratio. Some ores such as bauxite. Also, the soil may contain a high ratio of kaolinite.
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