No doubt, water is an essential substance to survive in our daily life. We use water for basically everything from washing to cooking, drinking, taking our baths and so many other activities. We are made of 60% water. This shows how much we need water in our lives.
Water (chemical formula H20) is an inorganic compound that is tasteless, odourless, transparent (with no colour). it covers 70.9% of the earth's surface with a variety of species of animal present in the hydrosphere.
It is one thing for you to have water and another for it to be clean. 14% of the population in the urban and 40% in the rural suffer unclean water, it is more current in the rural area. This could result from the pollution of water supply and inadequate water control. Over the years, experts have devised means that can make your water fresh and free of micro-organisms. Purification of water is removing unwanted substances such as microbes, chemicals to use for our desired needs. In this article, we will elaborate on the proven method to help in the purification of water.
ways to keep your water clean?
Boiling
Boiling is the simplest method in the purification of water. This helps to kill the microorganisms present in the water so to prevent harm to the body. Simply place the water in the container to heat for 3-7 minutes, allow to cool and settle. Boiling water can allow the water to appear flat. boil longer depending on the level of debris, it is advisable to filter the water before you boil to reduce the compound present in the water.
Filtration
Filtration is the oldest and effective way to purify water; the ancient Egyptians used porous clay posts while the Greeks used Hippocrates sleeves. This was a piece of cloth used for filtering, which had boiled water poured through to purify it.
Filtration is a simple process in which the use of a filter medium removes solid particles in a liquid fluid; this medium could be a piece of cloth or sand. Filtration with a piece of cloth is done with any cloth but often with a polypropene filter cloth. Simply place the cloth on a container and pour the water into the container and leave to settle.
A filter bed is very helpful in the filtration of water. This method of filtration is a little more tedious than the piece of cloth but more effective. We used it for the removal of suspended debris and microbes when it flows through a fine bed of sand and gravel. We filled the bottom of the sand bed with gravel, followed by course and a layer of fine sand. You can boil water to kill microbes that pass through the filter.
Use Of Sun Rays
Sun rays are ultraviolet rays that are used to purify water. It helps to remove biologically containing (protozoa, pathogen, worm) substances from water for safe use.
Oxidative free radiation, which kills pathogens by damaging their chemical structure, helps in purification. This could take a long period. This process is quite slow and more effective if we have filtered it to allow rays of light to reach the microbes. It is a helpful way in rural areas and it requires zero to no cost in this process of purification.
Bleaching (use of chlorine)
This helps in the removal of microorganisms and undesired substances in water. In bleaching, experts recommend using 3 drops of bleach (chlorine) per litre; first prepare chlorine solution with 5% of chlorine. To make this, mix 15-gram bleaching powder with 100ml water and keep for 15-20 minutes.
To purify drinking water from bacteria, add 8 drops (0.5 ml) of chlorine solution in 1 litre of water to purify it. Two teaspoons of chlorine solution (10 ml) could be used in 20-litre water.
If chlorine tablets are available, 20-litre water could be purified using one chlorine tablet (500 ml).
The addition of chlorine can also cause side effects if not used properly. When excess chlorine is added to water, it forms hypochlorous acid which could lead to bladder cancer.
Use Of Purification Packet (P&G )
The method of purification has improved over the years. From the use of sunlight to bleach and now a significant innovation from P&G. P&G scientists invented the P&G purifier of water technology in the attempt to clean some dirty laundry. With a packet of purifier powder, you can purify a bucket of water. Pour the Packet inside the water and stir with a stick and allow to do its work. It takes to take a total time of 30 minutes to purify the water, it first settles the dirt to the bottom and kills the germs of the water.
The water purification packet contains a powdered mixture that has been proved to eliminate disease-causing microbes. It helps to remove common borne bacteria, reduce diarrheal disease and help control cholera.
Water Purification Technology (csdw.org)
Water purification is an important practice to avoid disease and illness in our bodies. When water is not properly treated, microorganisms from the untreated water can cause chronic damage to our bodies. Let us keep our self healthy. #STAYSAFE.
Source: MATHRUBHUMI