Methods Of Water Treatment you must know to stay healthy
Water is one of the most abundant substances on Earth and is made up of hydrogen particles strongly bonded with oxygen. About 70% of the Earth is made up of water. Water is present in every living thing, in the cloud, on the earth`s surface, and beneath the ground.
Large water bodies exist as oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, and springs. Water is essential to humans for drinking, for domestic activities, for watering crops, for industrial (production, manufacturing, construction) processes also, hence a certain degree of purity is required- for drinking mostly.
Water is of great importance to every living thing and it plays an important role not just in our activities but also in our health. Its health benefits include cleansing the system, prevention of bladder infection improves memory retention capacity, and helps reduce the possibilities of headaches and migraines.
Water as is the most bountiful resource on earth has to share its space with other materials which introduces impurities in them; the organic materials, minerals, chemicals, and manmade pollutants are contributors to this effect. Thankfully, mankind has been able to think up ways to provide us that degree of water purity for sustenance through scientific and practical methods known as water treatment methods.
Although some of these methods might prove ineffective towards large-scale purification, when it comes to ounces or needing superfluous supply for human consumption and environmental stability, these processes have been so far very effective.
These processes of been proven to include:
- Coagulation and flocculation: In this method the chemical, aluminum sulfate popularly referred to as alum is added to the volume of water being treated. Its reaction with the hydrogen and oxygen elements in water causes a separation for other particles. Larger particles that are not components of water come together and are referred to as flocs. They can be removed from the water by filtration. The volume of water can also be allowed to settle, which then is sieved. This method is not very efficient for producing water for drinking but such water could be used for homes chores such as the washing of clothes, and irrigation of farmland.
- Sedimentation: when a mixture of sediments, is separated into heavy particles and suspended at the top. This is almost the same as leaving the water to settle in layers. The dirt sinks to the bottom and is referred to as sludge, while the liquid suspension is sieved off. Sedimentation is not also an effective way for treating drinking water as it doesn’t kill the germs present in it. But depending on the use of treated water, this method could be used
- Filtration: This is the process of passing water through a filter. Water being liquid and formless can flow through even the tiniest pores. Therefore the filter used is dependent on the dirt present in the water and the size of particles that needs to be filtered. A piece of white cloth could be used to filter water to ensure that it is separated from very tiny particles. White is preferred to show any color as clean water should be colourless.
- Disinfectant: A disinfectant is a substance used to kill germs and organisms present in a solution. Chlorine is commonly used for disinfecting water. Other chemicals that can be used 2are chlorine dioxide and ozone monochloramine. For a particular volume of water, the disinfectant should have a measured and prescribed quantity, as a small amount may not be effective and a large amount of disinfectant may lead to poisoning.
- Fluoridation and pH correction: After the water is treated, it is either stored or distributed. Such water may be used for drinking or cooking and should not affect humans or any other living thing after intake. Fluoridation is a method used in treating water to reduce fluoride ions present in water which can cause a loss of the dental cavity. The chemical, Hexafluorosilicic acid is commonly used. While PH correction is the method used to correct the alkalinity or acidity of the water. Sodium Hydroxide and Hydrochloric acid are commonly used depending on the pH of the water.
Water can be treated for hardness, drug production, brewery, and domestic use. The importance of water treatment extends to our environment and nature itself.