Water purification technology dates back thousands of years, beginning with distillation. At first, however, people mainly distilled alcohol. This method increased the alcohol content.
Some methods of water purification are appropriate for home, and this is one of them. What you would need is a commercial distiller and collection tank. You might also need a lot of time, if you plan on purifying a large amount of liquid - distilling does not produce quick results.
This is how distillation works: Fluid is turned to vapor when it comes into contact with a heating element. The vapor flows upward through piping, which leads to a cooling chamber, where the steam is cooled until becomes fluid again.
Compounds like lead, calcium and magnesium will remain in the first tank. Bacteria are destroyed by the heat. Chemical contaminants also become vaporous and pass through the tube along with the water. Cancer causing compounds such as THMs are not removed through distillation methods of water purification. Per gallon, the cost of use is 20 to 26 cents.
It used to be that reverse osmosis (also known as RO) was the most advanced water purification technology. These methods of water purification put fluids under high pressure and direct them through a semi-permeable membrane. Minerals as well as a number of contaminants do not pass through the filter, because most have larger molecules than water does.
To get rid of smaller molecules, like pesticides, herbicides, and many other man-made compounds, a carbon filter is necessary in addition to RO. These two methods of water purification should be used together. However, the combination calls for considerable water pressure and maintenance, as well as the additional cost of a storage unit. Also consider that every gallon of purified water takes an hour to produce and several gallons of wastewater. The total cost of use: 18 to 24 cents per gallon.
Pitchers and carafe-style filters are handy and self-contained. The water purification technology that they employ is activated carbon and micron filtration to remove some chlorine and lead. They are expensive to purchase, but costly to maintain because the filters have a short life span. These methods of water purification cost about 25 cents per gallon.
The most advanced water purification technology for the kitchen is a multi stage system that combines a multi-media block, with granular carbon filters, sub-micron filtration and ion exchange. These methods of water purification are recognized by the US Environmental Protection Agency as the best water purification technology available for removing VOCs, THMs and chlorine.
Adsorption is the water purification technology that they employ. Adsorption methods of water purification work in this way. The contaminant bonds chemically or physically to the surface of the filter medium. Ion exchange converts lead ions to harmless potassium, balances mineral content and improves pH level.
Multi-media blocks are made with microscopic grids that filter out cysts like Giardia and Cryptosporidium, as well as fine sediment. No water is wasted, because water does not flow around the filter. You also do not need any electricity with this kind of set up. It is far and away the most effective and economical water purification technology for the home. The proof: Per gallon, it costs less than 10 cents.
Without the modern water purification process we as a race would be susceptible to far more endemics and illnesses. The fact that we have such a dedicated water purification system is testament to the modern world we live in. Its development has allowed civilisations to grow while today it provides us with cheap and clean drinking water. The process however is not made up of one component however; it is a multi stage practice that utilises a number of different water purification methods. It is hoped that this article, a study into the different purifying methods, will give the reader a greater appreciation of what goes into their glass of tap water.
The first stage is a rather basic wire mesh that sits at the opening of the inlet to purification plant. The purpose of this mesh is to prevent large pieces of debris such as trees and dead fish from passing into the plant. Ultimately this is the first step in a process that supplies a crystal clear, life giving and thirst quenching liquid.
Purification methods do differ however for the different applications it is to be used for. Some plants purify water for the chemical, industrial and medical industries and hence this water has, in some cases, got be purer than the water we drink. Each of these plants has a method of processing the water so that it meets the demands of whatever scientific or medical application it is needed for. In some cases this process may take twice as long as regular treatment due to the exacting nature of some industrial and scientific uses.
In some scientific applications it is vital that for the water to be suitable all minerals and salts must be removed. This differs from tap water in the way that minerals are left in for health reasons. These reason some sciences require them to be removed is that they can interfere with the results of experiments and testing. The ways in which these minerals and salts are removed range from chemical disinfectants to UV lights and distillation. All work towards producing the most pure sample of water possible.
Public water purification is not as exacting but equally important. The process normally starts out at a lake or reservoir where the mesh removes the largest debris. The mesh and filters that carry out this process get smaller further through the process to produce water that is free from visible debris on entry to the plant. These filters however have to be cleaned regularly to free any extraordinarily large debris items.
The next stage involves adding chemicals and especially chlorine to the water in order to neutralise the liquid so it reaches a neutral pH level. It is only after the water is pH neutral that it is sent through for disinfection. This is when flocculation occurs, another process of filtering and adding chemical agents that removes items from the sample and bacteria.
One of the most important methods of purification is in fact one of the most simple. This is sedimentation and in lay man's terms this simply means letting the water sit until all of the particles settle to the bottom. The clear water is then pumped into another sedimentation tank and is repeated a number of times to ensure any particles are completely removed. After this chlorine is once again added to prevent any bacterial growth on the transit from plant to tap.
Amazingly this is the process that gives us the most important liquid in life. Naturally this has been in extremely simplified terms and does not delve into the more complex procedures involved. Even so, it is an amazing process that all should understand so they further appreciate the work that goes into giving them drinking water.
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