Drinking Safe Water: Purification Methods

DRINKING SAFE WATER: PURIFICATION METHODS

There are many contaminants like bacteria, virus, minerals, chemicals, and other particles in water which make it unsafe and unfit for drinking. There are various technologies and methods of water filtration and purification which range from inexpensive and easy to costly and complex.

Now, you might ask:
What can be done to get safe and clean drinking water?

We have categorized the water purification methods for obtaining safe and clean water into the following 4 groups.

1). Separation – This method uses gravity, heat, and light to purify water.

• Boiling
  Boiling is one of the easiest ways to remove impurities from water. However, it will not get rid of any solvents like minerals and salt.
• Sedimentation
  It is a water conditioning process which uses gravity to remove insoluble suspended particles from water.
• Distillation
  It produces pure water by boiling the water in an enclosed container and collecting the steam to convert it back into the liquid form. Though it is a highly effective method, it is complex and expensive.
• Ultraviolet Light
  There are many kinds of equipment which use UV light for decontamination of water. When it is passed through water, all the impurities like bacteria, virus, and other microbes are inactivated or eradicated.

2). Water Filtration – This method uses various mediums to remove impurities from water.

• Porous Materials
  These are inexpensive like clay which removes the insoluble from water. Water is allowed to settle in containers made of such porous material, which then trickles down, leaving behind the contaminants.

• Cloth Filters
  A cloth is used as filters to remove insoluble particles from water.

• Plant Filters
  Nuts or roots are used in this method to purify highly turbid water. It produces clear water free from any insoluble substances.

• Reverse Osmosis
  This is a popular method in regions which are rich in salt and minerals. It uses a semipermeable membrane which separates the solvents from the water. Hence, RO systems are widely used for water filtration in Lafayette, Indiana.

 
For more information on this method, you can check out our RO Systems Product Page.

• Charcoal
  Activated charcoal or carbon is also used in many water conditioning devices for purification.

3). Using Chemicals – Many less harmful substances are used for water purification under this method.

• Chlorine
  It is an inexpensive and common substance used to purify water. It is a fast way to kill microorganisms.
• Iodine
  This is a widely used method of water purification by campers. Iodine kills various disease-causing microbes.
• Hydrogen Peroxide
  It produces oxygenated water which is considered to be safer. It is used in case of emergencies.
• Silver
  The antibacterial mechanism of silver helps to kill bacteria and virus, making it fit to use for water purification.

 
4) Oxidation – All types of water can be treated using this method.

• Ozone
  Using highly charged oxygen molecules or ozone is an effective way to kill bacteria present in water.
• Aeration
  It is the best way to remove bad taste, odor, and dissolved gases like carbon dioxide from water in order to make it fit for drinking.
• Dissolved Oxygen
  As the name suggests, this method uses dissolved oxygen which effectively removes the contaminants from water.

Now that you are familiar with various methods of water filtration and purification, be wise and make use of these. Drink pollutant-free water for your wellbeing. However, it is always advisable to call the experts for best results. So, do not hesitate to contact us at (765) 588-6779 in case of any water-related problems.