Jar testing simulates the coagulation / flocculation process in a water treatment plant. In a set of beakers, a defined amount of raw plant water is mixed with varying amounts of coagulant. Each beaker receives an increasing incremental dose of coagulant and is then stirred for a set amount of time to mimic plant operation. The formation of floc during this test simulates plant operation. Observations from the floc formation indicate a preferred range of coagulant dosage. Thus, jar testing can help identify the parameters that promote an appropriate final water quality.

While this jar test is simple to perform, it does require time, typically about 2-3 hours, including preparation and wait for settlement. Since water quality can change seasonally (summer algae growth, flood events, forest fires) the jar test has to be repeated regularly.

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