Water purification entails being able to ensure that all people on the planet can access this vital resource. However, we know that not in all countries and continents there are the same availability and ways of purifying water. It is estimated that only and exclusively 0.4% of the world’s water is suitable for the consumption of human beings. Therefore, at present, there are more and more research and proposals that focus on investment in projects that facilitate access to drinking water to all inhabitants of any corner of the planet. But how to purify water for human consumption? Can rainwater or even purifying sea water be purified?
Continue reading this ecology article and you will find answers to these and more issues about How water is purified.
What is water purification
The Water purification It is a process that is based on the treatment of water to turn it into Suitable for consumption of the human being and domestic animals, so that he does not present any type of health risk. Also called “drinkable” water, drinking water has been previously treated for consumption following a series of quality standards, which are determined by both local and international authorities.
To do this, during water purification substances that can be toxic are eliminated For people, such as sand, lead and zinc. Various organisms are also eliminated with the ability to cause diseases and infections in human beings: certain species of algae, virus and bacteria.
In this way, it is possible to purify well water, as well as water from rain and sea, as long as all that element that is a risk potential for our health and that of domestic animals are eliminated.
In this other ecology article, we tell you more about what drinking water and its characteristics is.
What is drinking water for
Being a basic requirement for life and health, drinking water serves both to drink and prepare food. However, numerous diseases caused by water consumption in poor condition They continue to affect and end the life of millions of people every year. Mainly in Asia and Africa there are various diseases of water origin, such as gastrointestinal infections (for example, diarrhea and anger) that cause death to millions of people, most of them, children under 5 years. For all this, guarantee the Access to drinking water It is indispensable to avoid deadly diseases transmitted through water.
On the other hand, the Drinking Water Demand In the world it is increasing, valuing together, the consumption of water for domestic, industrial and livestock purposes (except for irrigation water). Due to the incessant increase of the world’s population, as well as domestic animals populations, water consumption has multiplied by six in the last 100 years. To this disadvantage we should add the fact that the worldwide access to water resources decreases every year due to the increase in water pollution. You can know everything about the causes and consequences of water pollution here.
Next, we will see in detail how the Water purification processstep by step.
How water is purified – Techniques
Water is potabilized in Potabilizer plantstechnically known as the Potable Water Treatment Station (ETAP). In these facilities, the industrial techniques that are followed, step by step, during the Water purification process are the following:
- Water pretreatment: Large solids, sands and some organic substances are eliminated.
- Coagulation-flocculation: In a mixture chamber, various chemical components are added to water that guarantee its purification, as well as coagulant agents. The water pH also adjusts.
- Decantation: By action of gravity, the suspended particles that are in the water are separated. On the other hand, those dense sediments that are harmful remain at the bottom, where they are eliminated. Learn what the sedimentation of drinking water is here.
- Filtration: They finish eliminating any type of impurities, using a porous means that filters them.
- Water disinfection: Finally, for the elimination of viruses and bacteria, chlorine is added to the water, or ultraviolet or ozone radiation is applied.
- Analysis: To ensure that the water purification process has been carried out successfully, it is necessary to perform various analyzes that guarantee that the drinking water obtained is colorless, odorless and tasteless, also complying with the current regulations of the country in which water purification is carried out.
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