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The purification of water entails the power to ensure that all people on the planet can have access to this vital resource. However, we know that not in all countries and continents there are the same availabilities and ways of making water drinkable. It is estimated that only and exclusively 0.4% of the world's water is suitable for human consumption. For this reason, at present, more and more research and proposals are focused on investing in projects that facilitate access to drinking water for all inhabitants of any corner of the planet. But, how to make water drinkable for human consumption? Can rainwater be made drinkable or even seawater drinkable?
Keep reading this Green Ecologist article and you will find answers to these and more questions about how the water is made drinkable.
What is water purification
The water purification is a process that is based on the treatment of water to convert it into suitable for consumption of human beings and domestic animals, so that it 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 the purification of the water substances that can be toxic are removed for people, such as sand, lead and zinc. Various organisms with the ability to cause disease and infection in humans are also killed: certain species of algae, viruses, and bacteria.
In this way, it is possible to make well water drinkable, as well as water from rain and the sea, as long as any element that is a potential risk to our health and that of domestic animals is eliminated.
In this other Green Ecologist article we tell you more about what drinking water is and its characteristics.
What is drinking water for?
Being a basic requirement for life and health, drinking water is used for both drinking and preparing food. However, numerous diseases caused by drinking water in poor condition they continue to affect and kill millions of people every year. Mainly in Asia and Africa there are various water-borne diseases, such as gastrointestinal infections (eg diarrhea and cholera) that kill millions of people, most of them children under 5 years of age. Therefore, guarantee the access to drinking water It is essential to avoid deadly diseases transmitted through water.
On the other hand, the demand for drinking water In the world, the consumption of water for domestic, industrial and livestock purposes is increasing, being valued as a whole (with the exception of irrigation water). Due to the incessant increase in the world population, as well as the populations of domestic animals, the consumption of water has multiplied by six in the last 100 years. To this disadvantage should be added the fact that worldwide access to water resources decreases every year due to the increase in water pollution. You can learn all about the Causes and consequences of water pollution here.
Next, we will see in detail what the water purification process, Step by Step.
How to make water drinkable - techniques
The water is made drinkable in the water treatment plants, technically known as the Drinking Water Treatment Station (ETAP). In these facilities, the industrial techniques that are followed, step by step, during the water purification process are as follows:
- Water pretreatment: large solids, sands and some organic substances are removed.
- Coagulation- Flocculation: In a mixing chamber, various chemical components are added to the water that guarantee its purification, as well as coagulating agents. In addition, the pH of the water is adjusted.
- Decantation: By action of gravity, the suspended particles that remain in the water are separated. On the other hand, those denser sediments that are harmful remain at the bottom, where they are eliminated. Learn what sedimentation of drinking water is here.
- Filtration: They finish eliminating any type of impurities, using a porous medium that filters them.
- Water disinfection: finally, to eliminate viruses and bacteria, chlorine is added to the water, or ultraviolet radiation or ozone is applied.
- Analysis: To ensure that the water purification process has been carried out successfully, it is necessary to carry out various analyzes to ensure that the drinking water obtained is colorless, odorless and tasteless, also complying with the current regulations of the country in which the water is made. water purification.
If you want to read more articles similar to How the water is made drinkable, we recommend that you enter our category of Other ecology.
Bibliography- Romero, M. (2002) Treatments used in water purification. Guatemala: Faculty of Engineering, Rafael Landívar University. Electronic bulletin nº8, pp:
- Morató, J., Subirana, A., Gris, A., Carneiro, A. & Pastor, R. (2006) Sustainable technologies for purification and wastewater treatment. Colombia: Lasallian Research Journal, Volume 3 (1), pp: 19-29.
- Ramírez, H. & Jaramillo, J. (2015) Natural agents as an alternative to water treatment. Cooperative University of Colombia: Journal of the Faculty of Basic Sciences, Volume 11 (2), pp:
