Water is a fundamental human need. Water makes up sixty percent of our bodies, and we lose a large amount of water every day through exercise and other activities. It’s an essential part of all of us, and something we have to continue to maintain. Most medical experts recommend that we drink at least six to eight glasses of water every day.
We all use water for cleaning, cooking, and drinking. Because of all these uses and many more, it’s important for homes to have clean water systems. They prevent disease and infection and generally help us maintain optimal health and wellness.
Water treatment helps makes the water fit for cleaning, drinking, and other uses. Water treatment is also used for irrigation, maintaining water flow for lakes and rivers, farm irrigation and returning water safely back into the environment.
There are many water treatment options available for homes and businesses. You can find out more online at Home Fix Planet and other websites. You can learn about different systems, pricing, and availability. You can also inquire about different home water treatment products and services at your local specialty retailer.
Here is a brief rundown about how water treatment systems work:
1. Raw water.
The first step is the input of raw water from private wells or municipal systems, such as city tap water. Water is usually filtered into a central location. The water is usually collected in tanks or metal reservoirs so that it can be properly treated.
2. Pre-treatment.
The next stage is filtering the water that is collected. This process is done to remove potential dangers such as herbicide, chloroform, chlorine, and a chlorinated hydrocarbon. Filtration also works to greatly reduce any particles that may be suspended in the water as well as any volatile organic compounds that could cause harm to people or animals. Sediment filters are also used to trap dirt and other heavier particles.
3. Distillation.
Steam distillation occurs next. In this process, the water is heated to 100 degrees Celsius. This is done to eliminate giardia, cryptosporidium and any other biologic impurities that may have been in the raw water. Steam distillation works to either remove or significantly eliminate a great number of biological and non-organic compounds that could be found in drinking water. Because steam rises, the inorganic elements are left behind in the boiler tanks. It removes compounds such as arsenic, fluoride, lead, mercury, sodium and other heavy metals and potentially hazardous contaminants. Water distillers can remove up to 99.9% of harmful contaminants.
4. Venting.
This process boils the water gently to allow any volatile organic chemicals to be burned off. This process prevents substances including chlorine, pesticides, herbicides, and other dangerous chemical compounds from being left in the raw water.
5. Condensing.
The next step involves cooling the steam on a repeated basis. Distillate condensing helps to maintain water purity. Stainless steel condensers are used to provide more consistently pure water quality.
6. Post-treatment.
In this step, an organic carbon filter is used to aerate and distill any remaining volatile organic compounds in the water. This process also further enhances the water’s purity and taste.
7. Purification.
The final step in the process collects the water that has been purified and considered safe for drinking, bathing, and other general uses. This water is contained in a stainless steel reservoir. From there, the water is ready to be used in wells or from city reservoirs for the general public in their homes and office buildings.
These are the seven steps for standard water treatment. There are also proactive measures that you can take at home. You can easily add water purification products in your home to ensure the safety and purity of the water that you use every day.
You can buy a home water distiller for your personal use. Home steam distillers do a good job of removing any pollutants and contaminants that are remaining in well water or tap water. Most units go for around $200 or more, depending on the make, model and features that are offered.
Then you could also consider investing in UV ballasts.
Another option is purchasing a reverse osmosis water purification system. Reverse osmosis works by moving tap water through a semipermeable membrane. This membrane allows water to pass through it freely but effectively traps any heavy metals or other potential contaminants.
Water softeners are another quality investment for your home. Most water that comes into a home’s pipes is considered “hard” water, because it contains minerals like magnesium and calcium, to name just a few. Water softener systems work to remove those minerals. This leaves the water “conditioned” or “softened.” While the purchase of a water softener and softener salts can be expensive at first, they can significantly save you money in the long run in terms of avoiding damage to your plumbing and other appliances in your home that use water. It also provides water that is safe to use for everyday use.
If you are in an area that has unsafe drinking water, you can also boil your water for better results. Boiling is one of the cheapest and safest forms of water purification. It can help flush toxins out of your body, aid in digestion, improve blood circulation, reduce pain and constipation and even prevent premature aging. Boiling water is commonly used in areas with less access to electricity and modern plumbing. It’s also used by hikers and outdoor enthusiasts as a way of removing potentially harmful bacteria and microbes. You can do it at home if you want. The health benefits alone are well worth the attempt.
All of these precautions help keep our water free of disease and bacteria. They make it safe for us to drink, cook, bathe, run laundry and do many other things. All of these processes take time and repeated effort, but they are very beneficial for our overall health. Effective water treatment removes microscopic bacteria, pesticides, and other harmful substances so that we can replenish our bodies and go about cleaning, washing, and many other daily activities, all of which would not be possible without clean water.