Water purification is when biological, chemical, organic, and inorganic contaminants are removed from the water. The main aim of purifying water is to produce water that is pure for drinking. The purification process reduces the number of contaminants, such as parasites, suspended particles, bacteria, and algae in the water. Many pollutants are pathogen that is dangerous to humans, while some are removed to improve the water quality. Water is not declared safe for human consumption by merely looking at it; it has to pass through various processes before getting to the stage of being able to buy distilled water online.
Contaminants
of Water
The contaminants are water can be classified into four
categories
Physical impurity: they change the physical appearance and
properties of the water. They include suspended particles or organic materials
Chemical pollutants: they include elements or compounds such
as fertilizer, toxins, pesticides, which may contaminate the water.
Biological contaminants: they are microbes that are found in
water and make them unsafe for drinking. They include bacteria, viruses, and
protozoan.
Radiological contaminants: they are radioactive elements
that contaminate water. Radioactive elements are dangerous to the body of
water. They include plutonium, cesium, or uranium. They have unstable protons
and neutrons, which accounts for their unstable atoms and results in ionizing
radiation.
Methods of
Water Purification
There are majorly four ways of purifying water. They include
Boiling: This is one way of purifying water and
rendering it safe and fit for use. Boiling water increases the temperature and
eliminates microorganisms that cannot be seen with the eyes. It is generally
recommended that water should be boiled for 1-3 minutes and cooled. This allows
the particles to settle before they are filtered out of the water.
Filtration: This is one of the fastest and
effective ways of purifying water. The
right methods eliminate particles, compounds, and dangerous pathogens. The
process of filtration can be chemical, physical, and biological. Filtered water
is considered healthier than water purified using other methods because
filtered water still contains mineral salt. Compared to some other techniques, filtration
is more effective in removing compounds like chlorine and other pesticides. It
is economical and requires little energy.
Chlorination: chlorine is a filtration method
that eliminates germs, parasites, and other disease-causing microorganisms. It
is an effective method of purification that has been used for a long time. Chlorine
is a cheap way of treating water; however, it has a side effect on people
suffering from thyroid problems. Chlorine tablets eliminate bacteria, but it
must be applied to heated water. This is because chlorine dissolves faster at
21 degrees Celsius.
Distillation: this process utilizes the boiling
point has a way of separating water from other contaminants. Contaminants
increase the boiling points of water, so pure water has a lower boiling point.
Water is heated to a temperature where it turns to vapor, which is then
collected in a condenser and cooled. the contaminants have higher boiling
points and is collected as sediments in another container. The distillation
process is slow if there are a large amount of water involved and requires a
source of heat, which may not be readily available. It is a costly process of
purifying water.
Reasons for purifying water
Water is essential for carrying
out different functions. The body requires water to carry out metabolic
activities, regulating body temperature, and removing toxins from other parts
of the body. It performs an important role in the series of chemical reactions
occurring in the body. Impure water harms human health.
The presence of contaminants in
water makes them unsafe for consumption.
The most common method of purifying water in the past is the boiling
method, but boiling water alone will not eliminate all the contaminants.
Boiling only get rid of microorganism and pathogen present in the water and not
dangerous chemicals. Below are a few
reasons for purifying water:
Drinking purified water is essential for children
because it builds up their immune system
Water filters prevent the contamination of water
by toxins.
Purification of water eliminates pathogenic
organisms like E. coli and giardia. This prevents a gastrointestinal disease
that results from drinking water contaminated by these pathogens.
Purifying water reduces the risk of developing
cancer.
Purifying
water improves the overall quality of water by giving it a better taste and
smell.
How does
water filter work?
There are two techniques used by water filters to remove
dirt – chemical and physical filtration. The physical method involves removing
physical particles that can pass through a sieve or textile membrane, while the
chemical process involves uses materials that remove chemical impurities from
water. Nowadays, water filters utilize the combination of these two techniques.
There are four main types of filtration, and they combine both the physical and
chemical removal methods.
Activated carbon: Also known as activated carbon
granules, they are commonly used as household filters. It utilizes charcoal, a
form of carbon, to trap chemicals and impurities. This process is known as
adsorption. However, charcoal cannot remove the hardness of water and heavy
metals. Also, there is a need to continually replace the charcoal filters as it
clogs up by impurities.
Reverse osmosis: this makes use of a membrane in
its filtration process. Water is passed through the membrane at high pressure,
and the impurities are left behind.
Ion Exchange: they are usually made of zeolite; this method
is useful for softening water. It works by separating contaminating substances
into ions and traps them. They then release a less problematic one.
Distillation: this separates water from
impurities based on their boiling point; however, there are still some
impurities that cannot be removed by this process because they have a lower
boiling point than water.
Common types
of Water Filters
Different
types of water filters utilize various techniques in purifying water. Below
are some of the popular filter used in the purification process:
Refrigerator filter: this filter is usually
built-in with the fridge; it helps filter water for drinking purposes.
Under the sink filter: these filters can filter a large volume of
water at once because they are linked to the main water line. Just like the
name suggests, it is installed under the sink.
Whole house water treatment: these filters are
large and used to treat incoming water. Due to their size, they are usually
located in the basement.