Water can be contaminated by environmental and industrial pollution, requiring filtration or purification. Boiling and chemical methods can be used, but water purification systems are the safest and most effective. Carbon and reverse osmosis are used together to eliminate impurities.
Contaminated water can come from all types of environmental and industrial pollution. In order for people to drink water without getting sick from impurities, a water filtration method or water purification system is needed. Filtration of water used to be the only method available to clean water, but over time we have managed to find ways to further purify water, making it safer to drink.
The two different types of water filtration methods are boiling and chemical. Boiling water is often used to kill microorganisms. It takes about three minutes of boiling water to kill most bacteria; however, that doesn’t always kill everything. Third world countries, where running water is not prevalent, need to boil water every day just to have water available for drinking and cooking.
The particles can separate from the water and be left behind after boiling. These particles must be sieved using a piece of cloth. While boiling water for three minutes or more makes the water mostly safe to drink, it doesn’t eliminate chemical pollutants if they are present. Even boiling water won’t get rid of the bad taste.
The two types of chemical filtration methods are iodine and chlorine. Both of these chemicals are relatively cheap and easy to use. Iodine can kill bacteria, viruses and protozoa, but it takes longer to purify water. Iodine is generally used as a short-term treatment. It is not recommended for pregnant women or people with thyroid problems.
By mixing chlorine with water, dirt and debris separate from the water. The dirt and debris then sink to the bottom, making the water clearer. If chlorination is not done properly, it can cause disease, damage to internal organs and death. It is considered highly poisonous if too much is used.
Water purification systems can be more expensive but are safer to use. These systems involve the use of activated carbon and reverse osmosis in combination with each other. They use filters to filter out particles in the water. The pores in filters must be very small to prevent particles from passing through. Filter elements in water purification systems can be made of fiberglass, ceramic and block carbon.
Carbon eliminates bad taste, odors, pollutants and reduces chemical levels in the water. Carbon alone is generally not effective at eliminating particles or microorganisms, so it is often used in conjunction with reverse osmosis. Reverse osmosis removes impurities such as asbestos, lead, radium or other toxic metals. Both methods used together tend to purify water the best.
Most of the well and tap water around the world contains impurities due to environmental and industrial pollution. Lakes and rivers also include contaminants. To benefit from the best water quality, for health and taste reasons, people often install a good water purification system in their home.
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