25 Oct, 2022

One of the 21^st century’s biggest challenges is access to clean and unadulterated water. Industrial expansion, population growth, the Coronavirus pandemic – factors like these are stopping the public from utilising water without the fear of contamination and disease. However, no matter what situation an individual is in, some water treatment solutions can be used to make water suitable for use.

Today, we’ll read about

1. The necessity to treat water before use
2. The various methods for water purification
3. The advantages of using disinfected water

As one of the natural resources we take for granted, water needs to be properly treated to avoid any untoward implications in the future. Let’s begin by seeing why we should treat water before use.

Why It’s Essential to Purify Water Before Use?

Although almost 71 per cent of the surface of Earth is made up of water, only 1 per cent of it is suitable for drinking and other uses. Even this 1 per cent has a chance to get contaminated by bacteria, viruses, dust, dirt, protozoa, etc. This is the primary reason water should be treated and disinfected before consumption.

The consequences of using untreated water for drinking, washing fruits and vegetables, food processing, and medical applications, among others, can be dire. Drinking dirty and contaminated water can cause severe illnesses like

• Diarrhea
• Dysentery
• Typhoid
• Salmonella
• E. coli
• Cholera

 

Six Top Ways to Make Water Suitable for Daily Usage

There are several ways to purify water using various treatment methods. This section will look at the six most effective ways to cleanse and disinfect water. Depending upon your environment, water source and location, you can use these methods for water purification.

#1 – Boiling

The simplest and most reliable method of water treatment is boiling. Parasites and microbes cannot survive high temperatures. That is why boiling remains the oldest method of ensuring that the water is potable and disinfected properly. Bringing the water to a rolling boil will kill off most pathogens.

However, some things need to be kept in mind. The dead microorganisms and impurities will remain in the water after boiling. The water must be strained to get rid of them. Also, this process does not remove the chemical contaminants in water and takes longer at higher altitudes.

#2 – Distillation

Distillation can help free water of contaminants such as lead, heavy metals, salt, etc. The process involves heating the water so that it evaporates and then collecting the condensed water in a separate container. It is one of the safest ways to obtain safe drinking water.

A distillation apparatus can be constructed in the field using a plastic bag and a small container. A significant drawback of this method is that it is pretty time-consuming.

#3 – Water Filters

These devices are an excellent option for quick water treatment. If you’re travelling and need a safe water supply whenever you need it, portable water filters are what you need. Some of the best filters come with a ceramic cartridge that has silver inside. The ceramic keeps the larger pathogens out, while the silver kills the microbial contaminants.

Users can choose from a pump-action filter or a drip filter, the two primary types of water filters in use today. While the pump water filter is suitable for a small group of people, a drip filter is the perfect travel companion for a big group.

#4 – Chemical Treatment

Disinfecting chemical tablets are another alternative for purifying water consisting of impurities. Barring the change in taste after treating the water with chemical tablets made of chlorine or iodine, this process results in safe-to-drink water within 30-60 minutes of treatment.

It should be noted that water disinfected using iodine tablets is not suitable for pregnant women or any person with thyroid issues. Some children may also refuse to drink iodine-purified water, making water purified using chlorine tablets a better choice.

#5 – UV Devices

Disease-carrying pathogens cannot tolerate ultraviolet (UV) light. UV water purifiers are incredibly portable and potent. They can neutralise most of the bacteria and viruses in contaminated water.

One drawback of these UV devices is that they cannot remove impurities and heavy metals by themselves. They must be coupled with an RO (Reverse Osmosis) filter to remove the impurities and heavy metals. Also, if the UV device is battery-powered, you must have spare batteries.

#6 – Solar Purification

The sun’s radiation is extremely useful in eliminating almost all biological hazards in contaminated water. It is the easiest and most inexpensive or sometimes free water treatment solution available. Solar water disinfection (SODIS) requires the dirty water to be kept in the sun for a day at least.

However, as the name shows, the method needs sunny weather to work. Also, it can’t rid the water of chemical impurities and may be less effective against parasite cysts and bacterial spores. Hence, it should be combined with another method for maximum effectiveness.

Benefits of Using Disinfected Water

Following the water purification methods mentioned above will yield several benefits in the long run. Here are some of them:

• Reduced health risks – Water being one of the most common carriers of pathogens, needs to be treated and disinfected to prevent dangerous microbes from entering our bodies. If ingested, they can cause serious illnesses and, in severe cases, death.
• Minimal healthcare expenses – As a direct consequence of reducing health risks, people will have to spend less on their medical bill courtesy of the water diseases that have been prevented. It also saves the government’s money spent in case of outbreaks.
• Socio-economic benefits – In the case of developing nations, if water treatment methods are readily available, people don’t have to travel long distances for pure water and can save money that can be spent on other important areas like their children’s education and family sustenance.

An Affordable Solution that Offers Several Benefits

There is a liquid water disinfectant solution that is very pocket-friendly, multi-purpose and offers numerous benefits in a single package – Aqua Salveo.

It is a cutting-edge product, approved by the South Africa Bureau of Standards (SABS), as a non-toxic liquid water disinfectant that offers effective water purification for houses, hospitals, schools, commercial complexes, and more.

It’s time to start using Aqua Salveo to keep away preventable water-borne diseases and say hello to high-quality living.