What is water purification?
Water purification is the process of removing impurities from water. The goal of water purification is to produce water that is clean and safe to drink.
There are a variety of methods that can be used to purify water, including filtration, distillation, and chlorination. Filters are often used to remove suspended particles, such as sediment, from water. Distillation involves heating water until it evaporates and then condensing the vapor into a clean container. Chlorination involves adding chlorine to water in order to kill bacteria.
Water purification is an important process because it ensures that people have access to clean, safe water. This is especially important in areas where there is no access to clean water sources, such as freshwater lakes or rivers.
Methods of water purification
Water is an essential component of human life. It is required for various purposes such as cooking, cleaning, and quenching thirst. Although water is a natural purifier, there are several methods that can be used to purify water further. This section will cover a few methods of water purification.
Boiling
Boiling water is the safest method of killing harmful bacteria and parasites, making it ideal for emergency situations where purified water is not available. All you need to do is bring the water to a rolling boil for at least one minute. Allow the water to cool before drinking. Boiling can also be used if you suspect your water has been contaminated with chemical pollutants, as the heat will help to evaporate many harmful chemicals.
Chlorination
Chlorination is perhaps the most common method of water purification. It involves the addition of a chemical called chlorine to the water, which works to kill bacteria and other contaminants. Chlorine is added to water either in the form of compressed gas or liquid chlorine.
Distillation
Water distillation is a process of purifying water by boiling it and then condensing the vapors back into a liquid. This is one of the oldest and most effective ways to purify water, but it does have some drawbacks. Distilled water is essentially free of contaminants, but it can also be quite expensive to produce on a large scale. Additionally, distilled water has a very “flat” taste, so it is often combined with other methods of purification (such as carbon filtration) to improve the taste.
Filtration
Filtration is a process that uses a physical barrier to remove particles from water. Filtration systems can be used to treat both drinking water and wastewater. There are several types of filtration systems, including:
-Granular media filters
-Activated carbon filters
-Ultraviolet disinfection
-Reverse osmosis
Natural water purification methods
Nature provides many ways to purify water. Some methods are more effective than others, but each method has its own set of pros and cons. In this section, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular natural water purification methods.
Solar water disinfection
One of the most cost-effective ways to disinfect water is to let the sun do the work for you. Solar water disinfection, also called “SODIS”, is a type of point-of-use (POU) water treatment that uses sunlight to disinfect contaminated water. Solar disinfection is an environmentally friendly way to treat small amounts of water (up to 20 liters per day) for household use.
Solar water disinfection is a simple process that anyone can do. All you need is a clean plastic bottle (PET), some sunlight, and a little patience. Fill the bottle with contaminated water, place it in direct sunlight for 6 hours (or longer on cloudy days), and then the water will be safe to drink.
solar water disinfection works best when the sun is directly overhead (between 10 am and 2 pm), but it will still work even if the sun is not directly overhead. The UV rays from the sun will kill bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, making the water safe to drink.
Solar water disinfection is not a new technology – it has been used by humanitarian organizations for over 30 years to provide safe drinking water in developing countries.
Rainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is the process of collecting and storing rainwater for later use. It is an ancient technique that has been used for centuries to provide drinking water, irrigation water, and water for livestock.
There are many benefits of rainwater harvesting, including reducing your dependence on the municipal water supply, saving money on your water bill, and reducing the amount of stormwater runoff.
There are a few different ways to collect rainwater, including using rooftop gutters and downspouts, constructing cisterns or other storage containers, or digging pits or trenches. Once the rainwater is collected, it can be used for any number of purposes, such as watering your garden, flushing your toilets, or washing your car.
If you are interested in harvesting rainwater, there are a few things you need to take into consideration, such as the weather in your area and the amount of space you have available for storage. You will also need to make sure that your system is properly maintained in order to prevent contamination.
Why water purification is important?
Water is an essential component of life. Every cell, tissue, and organ in your body needs water to work properly. For example, water:
- Carries nutrients and oxygen to your cells
- Flushes toxins out of your body
- Help regulate your body temperature
- Lubricates and cushions your joints
Because it is so important, it’s crucial that the water you drink is free of harmful contaminants. Unfortunately, even water that looks clean can be contaminated with microbes, chemicals, and other pollutants.
That’s where water purification comes in. Water purification is the process of removing contaminants from water to make it safe to drink. There are a number of different methods that can be used to purify water, including:
- Boiling
- Filtration
- Chlorination
- Ultraviolet Radiation
Conclusion
While there are many ways to purify water, some methods are more effective than others. Boiling is one of the most reliable and inexpensive methods, but it requires a source of heat. Filtering water through a cloth can remove large particles, but it will not kill bacteria or viruses. Treatment with ultraviolet light is effective against bacteria and viruses, but it is expensive and requires electricity. Chlorination is a very effective way to kill bacteria and viruses, but it can leave an unpleasant taste in the water.