Water Pollutants And How They Are Treated Using Water Purifiers

While water is a vital commodity for human survival, it is important to note that not all water is clean and safe for drinking. We need to be mindful of the potential health risks associated with consuming contaminated water. Access to clean and safe water is essential for promoting good health and well-being, and efforts must be made to ensure that everyone has access to this fundamental resource. In this post we will talk about water pollutants and how they are treated using water purifiers.

What are water pollutants?

Water pollutants are any substances or materials that contaminate natural water bodies, making them unsafe for human use or harmful to aquatic life. These pollutants can come from a variety of sources, including industrial and agricultural activities, sewage and wastewater treatment plants, and natural processes such as erosion and volcanic activity.

Examples of water pollutants include chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers, heavy metals such as mercury and lead, organic compounds like oil and gasoline, bacteria and viruses, and sediment and debris. These pollutants can enter water bodies through surface runoff, direct discharge, atmospheric deposition, and groundwater seepage.

Water pollution can have serious consequences for human health and the environment. It can cause waterborne diseases, damage ecosystems, harm aquatic life, and reduce the availability of safe drinking water. To prevent water pollution, it is important to implement effective management strategies and reduce the amount of pollutants that enter natural water bodies.

Methods for Treating Water using water purifiers and other methods

Water treatment is a critical process used to remove contaminants from water, making it safe for human consumption and other uses. There are several approaches to water treatment that are used depending on the types of contaminants present. These techniques are:

Physical treatment

Physical Treatment: This involves the use of physical processes to remove contaminants from water. Common physical treatment methods include sedimentation, filtration, and screening. Sedimentation involves allowing suspended particles and solids to settle to the bottom of a container, while filtration involves passing water through a porous medium to remove contaminants. Screening involves using screens or meshes to remove larger particles from water.

The majority of water treatment systems incorporate physical filtration to eliminate suspended particles and sediment, which may include sand and dirt. The degree of physical filtration required will be determined by the amount of suspended particles and sediment present in the water supply. To get rid of larger particles, sand filters or mixed media filters must be installed in large columns or smaller pressurized containers, also known as pressure sand filters (PSFs). Backwashing can be employed to maintain the performance of PSFs and column filters.

If the amount of suspended particles and sediment in the source water is minimal, particle filters with small pore diameters may be sufficient to eliminate light turbidity. These particle filters, however, must be periodically replaced since they cannot be backwashed.

In certain circumstances, a water treatment equipment manufacturer may recommend using activated carbon filters to purify the source water.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation treatment:

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is an effective method for eliminating pathogenic bacteria from water sources. However, it cannot eliminate other types of contaminants. Therefore, physical filtration combined with UV radiation is only a suitable treatment option for water sources that are free of industrial, agricultural, or naturally occurring trace pollutants. Such water sources are typically available from municipal sources or surface waterways that are protected from pollution caused by industrial or agricultural runoff, such as natural springs.

Activated carbon can reduce the amount of industrial and agricultural pollutants present in water. As per the recommendation of the equipment supplier, activated carbon filters should also be replaced periodically.

Chemical Treatment

Chemical Treatment: This approach involves the use of chemicals to remove contaminants from water. Common chemical treatment methods include coagulation, flocculation, and disinfection. Coagulation involves adding chemicals to water to destabilize suspended particles and allow them to form larger clumps that can be more easily removed. Flocculation involves gently mixing water to encourage suspended particles to come together and form larger clumps. Disinfection involves the use of chemicals such as chlorine or ozone to kill harmful bacteria and viruses.

Biological Treatment

Biological Treatment: This approach involves the use of biological processes to remove contaminants from water. Common biological treatment methods include activated sludge processes and biofiltration. Activated sludge processes use microorganisms to break down organic matter in wastewater, while biofiltration involves passing water through a bed of microorganisms to remove contaminants.

Reverse osmosis (RO) treatment:

In the reverse osmosis (RO) membrane filtration process, water is forced through filters with extremely small pores using pressure. These filters are capable of effectively trapping all kinds of water contaminants, including microorganisms, naturally occurring trace contaminants, industrial toxins, and agricultural contaminants. The water that is not able to pass through the RO membrane is known as “reject water,” which contains these pollutants. To treat source water that is contaminated with agricultural, industrial, and trace contaminants, businesses often use a combination of physical filtration and RO membrane filtering.

From the above discussion about water pollutants and how they are treated using water purifiers, we have seen that it’s important to treat water before consuming it. Overall, the choice of water treatment method will depend on the types and concentrations of contaminants present in the water, as well as the desired level of treatment required. Proper water treatment is essential for ensuring that water is safe and clean for human consumption and other uses.

Buy high-quality water purifiers from us

Watertech is a leading manufacturer of high-quality water purifiers in Kenya. If you need a water purifier for your domestic use or commercial use you have come to the right place. Get in touch with us today to place your order or inquire about our water purification machines.

You can contact us via WhatsApp, email, phone call, contact us form or leaving your comment below. You can also visit us in Ruiru Kimbo at the Toll bust stop. We are located next to Rubis petrol station.