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 A Publication of the Water Quality Research Treating the Water We Drink, When and Where We Drink It It's ironic that many areas of the world face critical shortages of drinking water on a planet whose surface is 3/4 covered with water. Most of the water, of course, is seawater which is far too saline for human consumption. And of the little "fresh" water that remains, most of it is trapped in the polar ice caps where it is difficult to harness for use by the world's population. Much of the natural supply of potable water that is accessible faces stress from a growing world population which increases the basic demand for this natural resource while reducing the supply further through biological and industrial contamination. Major population centers in developing nations without established waste treatment or water treatment infrastructures often suffer from epidemics of waterborne disease. In these areas, raw sewage often directly contaminates the rivers and streams used for drinking washing and cooking. In other cases, unchecked industrialization leads to water contamination through improperly disposed of chemical and nuclear waste. But it's not just the developing nations that face problems with water quality. Even nations with plentiful natural water resources and a developed water treatment and distribution infrastructure can face troublesome problems with spot outbreaks of waterborne disease, or specific areas that are heavily contaminated with industrial waste. Some good news about this problem is that individuals can take control of their own water quality and treat their water for nearly all biological and chemical contaminants that may be encountered. These technologies also treat for "aesthetic" contaminants that cause potable water to have unpleasant tastes, colors and odors. Point-of-use (POU) and point-of-entry (POE) water treatment equipment can effectively treat the water used by a small community, home or business. POU equipment treats the water that is used at a single tap while the rest of the water in the building remains untreated. POU equipment is primarily used to treat health contaminants like lead and aesthetic contaminants like sulphur. These contaminants are a concern in water used for drinking and cooking. POE water treats most or all of the water before it is distributed, either throughout a small community or building. POE water treats for health contaminants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be absorbed through the skin, or contaminants like radon which exists as a harmful vapor suspended in the water that can be inhaled while showering. POE is also used to describe water softening, which inhibits scale formation in plumbing while increasing the efficiency and longevity of water-related appliances like water heaters. There are many effective technologies used to provide POU/POE treatment solutions and no single technology is effective for treating all of the possible contaminants. A specific technology or combination of technologies is usually applied to treat the specific problem at hand. It should be noted that different levels of performance can be found between products using each technology. If a product is to be used to treat a health contaminant, it is important that the specific product be tested successfully for the reduction of that contaminant. Click below for a brief description of some of the main technologies and what they are typically used to treat: Activated
Alumina It should be noted again that this brief description of water treatment technologies is only intended to provide an overview of how each technology can be applied to solve a water contamination problem. the advice of a WQA Certified Water Professional or Certified Sales Representative should be sought when looking for a specific treatment solution. With a knowledgeable application of these effective POU/POE technologies you can take the quality of your water into your own hands. This complete Research Report, Order No. P9410, may be purchased from: Water Quality Association Copyright © 1994 Water Quality Research Council. |