Water purification
Because it is important to drink pure water every day
Water treatment dates back to many years BC. At that time, people already knew that water could be purified by heat, and practised sand and gravel filtration, boiling and filtering.
Their main motivation was to improve the taste of the water, given that they could not yet distinguish between clean and dirty water. They knew they had to try and reduce turbidity in the water, but didn’t know much about chemical contamination or micro-organisms.
The purification method reduces the concentration of contaminants such as :
- suspended particles
- parasites
- bacteria
- seaweed
- viruses and fungus
In this chapter, you’ll learn how UV water disinfection systems work, the parts of a UV system and what to consider before buying an ultraviolet water disinfection system.
In the left menu, you will find the complete structure of the document.
We divided it into several categories:
- The evolution of UV disinfection
- UV water purification systems
- Where can ultraviolet be used?
- Other water disinfection options
What is water purification?
It is the removal process of several compounds such as :
- unwanted chemicals
- biological agents
- suspended solids
- gases contained in water
Its aim is to produce water adapted to a specific use. Most water is disinfected for human consumption (drinking water).
Also, purification can also be designed for a variety of other uses, such as meeting the requirements:
- for medical purposes
- in the pharmaceutical field
- chemical and industrial treatments
Purification method
There are a number of purification methods for ensuring safe drinking water. Some are simple and accessible, such as boiling or filtration, while others, such as reverse osmosis, distillation or disinfection by ultraviolet radiation, allow more advanced purification.
Here’s an overview of the main water purification techniques, their advantages and disadvantages.
Filtering
- Gravity filtration: Operating without electricity, these filters use ceramic or activated carbon elements to eliminate impurities, bacteria, cysts and certain chemicals. Ideal for emergency situations or areas without access to drinking water, this method can be slow and require regular maintenance.
- Activated carbon filtration: Activated carbon adsorbs chemical and organic contaminants, improving the taste and smell of the water. However, it does not eliminate viruses or certain heavy metals. This type of filtration is often used in conjunction with other methods.
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Boiling
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Distillation
Distillation is based on the evaporation and condensation of water vapour. It is used to separate solid contaminants and certain chemicals.
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Reverse osmosis
Reverse osmosis uses a semi-permeable membrane to remove up to 99% of contaminants from water, including bacteria, viruses, heavy metals and nitrates.
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Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection
- Ultraviolet (UV) rays attack harmful pathogenic micro-organisms in the water to be treated
- Then, they destroy the pathogenic microorganisms by striking their genetic core (DNA)
- Highly effective against pathogenic microorganisms.
- Does not alter the taste or smell of the water.
- Does not require the addition of chemicals.