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Did
you know?
Reverse osmosis is the finest water filtration method known. This process will
allow the removal of particles as small as ions from a solution. It is used
to purify water and remove salts and other impurities in order to improve the
color, taste or properties of the fluid. R.O. uses a membrane that is semi-permeable,
allowing the fluid that is being purified to pass through it, while rejecting
other ions and contaminants from passing.
This technology uses a process
known as crossflow to allow the r.o. membrane to continually clean itself. This
is the reason of why an r.o. element can last many years before clogging or
need replacement. This
water purification process requires a driving force to push the fluid through
the membrane, and the most common force is household water pressure or pressure
from a booster pump. The higher the pressure, the larger the driving force and
efficiency.
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WATER DISINFECTION METHODS. Part 1
There
are a number of ways of purifying water. In evaluating the methods of
treatment available, the following points regarding water disinfectants
should be considered:
1. A disinfectant should be
able to destroy all types of pathogens and in whatever number present
in the water.
2. A disinfectant
should destroy the pathogens within the time available for disinfection.
3. A disinfectant should function
properly regardless of any fluctuations in the composition or condition
of the water.
4.
A disinfectant should function within the temperature range of the water.
5.
A disinfectant should not cause the water to become toxic or unpalatable.
6.
A disinfectant should be safe and easy to handle.
7. A disinfectant should be
such that it is easy to determine its concentration in the water.
8. A disinfectant
should provide residual protection against recontamination.
Techniques
such as filtration may remove infectious organisms from water. They are,
however, no substitute for disinfection.
The following are specific
methods for disinfecting water.
BOILING
WATER
Place
water in a container over heat. Bring it to the boiling point. Hold it
at this temperature for 15-20 minutes. This will disinfect the water.
Perhaps you have used this technique after a flood or when a water main
has burst as an emergency aid. Boiling water is an effective method of
treatment because no important water-borne diseases are caused by heatresisting
organisms.
ULTRAVIOLET
LIGHT
The use of ultraviolet
light is an attempt to imitate nature. As you recall, sunlight destroys
some bacteria in the natural purification of water. Exposing water to
ultraviolet light destroys pathogens. To assure thorough treatment, the
water must be free of turbidity and color. Otherwise some bacteria will
be protected from the germ-killing ultraviolet rays. Since ultraviolet
light adds nothing to the water, there is little possibility of its creating
taste or odor problems. On the other hand, ultraviolet light treatment
has no residual effect. Further, it must be closely checked to assure
that sufficient ultraviolet energy is reaching the point of application
at all times.
Advantages of ultraviolet light: automatic, no taste
or odor, and low contact time.
Disadvantages of ultraviolet
light:
low penetration power, shielding by turbidity, slime layer develops on
tube, no simple test of results, no residual effect, and ultraviolet tube
gradually loses power.
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