The Truth About Water Purification Technology

Water purification technology has advancedIt creates wastewater that cannot be used for
tremendously in the past few years, particularly indrinking or other purposes. It operates slowly and
the area of home filtration systems. Here's a briefrequires electrical energy.
look at some of the different methods of waterChemical contaminants, such as we face today are
purification available today.not removed. And, additional steps are required to
Distillation is very old water purification technology,remove bacteria and bacterial cysts. For home
but it is still commonly used. It was first developed,purifiers, water purification technology has advanced
not as one of the methods of water purification, butbeyond this method.
to create alcohol. In archaeological excavations fromIn most of our homes, the liquid that flows from our
Pakistan to South Asia, alcohol distillers have beenkitchen taps has been through a number of methods
found. A simple explanation of the process follows.of water purification. Treatment facilities vary, but
Liquid is brought to a boil and it vaporizes. The vapordepending on where you live, the methods of water
travels through a tube, where it enters anotherpurification used by major facilities include RO,
chamber, cools down and once again becomes amembrane and ultra-filtration, flocculation, UV radiation
liquid. Anything that has a higher boiling point than theand, of course, chemical disinfection.
liquid or cannot be vaporized in the steam remains inThe use of chemicals to kill bacteria and disinfect
the first pot.was, at the turn of the century, a major leap
This is one of the methods of water purification thatforward in water purification technology.
leaves the minerals behind and causes an acid pH. ItBefore its introduction, there were numerous
has been learned that for drinking purposes,outbreaks of cholera, typhoid and other diseases
de-mineralization and acid pH levels are not healthy.relating to bacterial contamination. It appears that
Advancements in water purification technology havewhat was good for our society in general was bad
aimed at removing chemical and biologicalfor the health of the individual.
contaminants, without destroying the natural mineralOne of the chemicals most commonly used for
content and pH level.disinfection is chlorine. When it is used at the
Reverse osmosis is often touted as the latest intreatment facility, other chemical by-products (THMs)
water purification technology, when in fact it hasare released. Both, THMs and chlorine, as well as their
been around for at least 50 years. It was developedgases and vapors, have been linked to cancer and a
for use in industries and large scale treatmentvariety of other health problems.
facilities. In the 1970s, it became popularized as oneNew advancements in water purification technology
of the healthiest methods of water purification forfor the home are aimed at removing those threats.
the home.One of the best methods of water purification for
It was truly a boon to water purification technology,this purpose is carbon filtration. Chemicals and other
since it can be used to remove salt. In coastal areascontaminants stick to the filter, making the output
and island communities, this is an important andsafer to drink.
desirable feature. Basically, it works by pressurizingThis method also removes odor and improves taste.
and forcing liquids through a porous membrane. TheMost of the newest home purifiers make use of this
size of the pores determines what is removed andtechnology.
what travels through.This was a brief overview of water purification
RO is another of the methods of water purificationtechnology. It would be impossible in an article of this
that de-mineralizes, so not the healthiest for drinking.length to cover the subject in its entirety, but
There are several other disadvantages to thehopefully, you are now a little more informed.
system.