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| 2016 WORLD WATER DAY |
Water is one of the natural
resources that is indispensable, the availability of clean water is vital to
the good health and existence of mankind. We are thankful to the Master of the
universe for the availability of diverse sources of water. God, our awesome
creator saw the great significance in the creation of light and separation of
the water as key elements in the maintenance of the earth because without
light, there would be no evaporation, and it will be impossible for water-vapor
to evaporate into the colder layer of the atmosphere, where it condenses and
falls back to the earth. The condensed water that falls into seas, lakes, and
rivers percolate via the soil where some end uplogged in permeable rocks.
Before I proceed, I would love to
refresh myself with a glass of clean fresh water; believe me, potable water is
the only liquid mineral that brings life to the human body and here I say Happy 2016 .
If wishes were horses, I wish the
world could go back to the beginning and have a different approach to the
general usage and maintenance of the earth. However, time is like a river that
flows without looking back and returns with a different water current.
In the year 1781, water, a
"liquid mineral" was first discovered by Henry Cavendish, he
described water as a liquid mineral that consist of two volumes of hydrogen
combined with one volume of oxygen. Cavendish synthesized water in a eudiometer
that indicated the formula H2O. Researchers and scientists are still
undergoing research on this liquid substance, even going as far as trying to
prove if water has a memory. Considering the view that every drop of water has
been drunk and used by someone else, maybe several times over, if the theory of
water having a memory can be proved, this would give solutions to unanswered
questions.
For this 2016 Water Day, I would be
discussing about why domestic usage of water needs treatment, treatment
principles and possible dangers of taking contaminated water.
You might be wondering if there is
any such thing as ‘pure water’ in this present day and age where ground water
are sometimes cleaner and purer than surface water. This phenomenon is due to
the presence of millions of microorganisms that are virtually always found in
lakes and rivers. Natural water has been found to contain some dissolved gases
and minerals. Ground water quality is influenced by the chemical make-up of
geological formations in which they occur. Also the length of time that it must
have been underground influences its quality.
There are three general categories
in describing water quality which include physical, biological and chemical
properties.
Physical properties come first when
determining water quality. It is determined by test, odor, turbidity and color.
Biological properties of water are determined by the type and number of
microorganisms present. It is important to note that when water has a certain
taste, odor or turbidity, bacteria are most likely to be responsible. Chemical
properties of water are the final step in determining water quality. It is
determined by the type and amount of dissolved substances present in water.
Such substances may include iron, magnesium, sodium, bicarbonate, silica,
sulfate, chloride, nitrate, fluoride and other dissolved mineral substances
that may be present depending on local conditions.
So many factors contribute to the
occurrence of chemicals in water, some of these factors dates back to the
beginning of creation where the first weathering and soil leaching took place
followed by others. Man-made causes such as the regular disposal of industrial
wastes, chemical fertilizers, petroleum products etc. also contribute to the
occurrence of chemicals in water.
So how can you treat your water
source if it looks or tastes compromised?
It is important to collect water
samples from different sources so that it can be analyzed by a recognized water
laboratory. However, some natural water sources especially that from springs,
deep wells and clean rivers are most likely drinkable or potable without
treatment, but large domestic water supplies from springs, deep wells and clean
rivers requires purification in a storage tank prior to being used
domestically. Once it has been proven by the water sample test result that a
particular source of water needs treatment, the chief processes for treatment
that can be employed are sedimentation, coagulation and filtration but
sterilization and partial water-softening are also often regarded as desirable.
I would give a brief explanation on
how the treatment processes work; sedimentation allows the settling down of
fine sand and mud, this is followed by coagulation in which organic matter is
precipitated by the addition of carefully regulated amounts of aluminium
sulphate or other suitable reagents. The flocculent precipitate traps
microscopic impurities, including many bacteria but leaves the water cloudy.
The cloudy water is then passed through a series of filter-beds containing clean
sand pebbles, finally the water is sterilized. This can be done with ozone,
exposure to ultra-violet rays, addition of minute traces of chlorine (which is
fatal to bacteria), or simply considering the purification of water using
reverse osmosis filter system which doesn’t require the application of
chemicals before the water comes out clean and drinkable.
Without a detailed water sample
test, it would be difficult for a water engineer to construct the appropriate
water treatment system because the water sample test is the key to having a
suitable water treatment system. The domestic utilization of untreated or
poorly treated water can be very fatal, the possible hazards associated with
contaminated water varies from excess amount of bacteria, fungi, and viruses to
the presence of inorganic or organic compounds that contributes to the
different contaminants in the water. The domestic utilization of contaminated
water may lead to diverse health challenges such as: gastrointestinal
illnesses, cholera, shigellosis, tuberculosis, typhoid, infectious hepatitis,
nervous system impairments, birth defects, blue-baby syndrome, and spontaneous
abortions in humans amongst many others.
Regardless of how scary the possible
hazards may sound, knowledge is power, if in doubt, find a
professional!
Reference
1.
Holy
Bible
2. Water Issues Programs and Education - Domestic
water treatment for homeowner - www.agwt.org
3. Binny
Brothers Total water treatment solution- Domestic Reverse Osmosis Systems - www.binnybrothers.com
4. New
Caxton Encyclopedia - Volume Eighteen(1969 Edited Copy) International
Learning System Corporation Ltd
5.
Dr.
Bisi Owolabi (Luscent Clinic) - Medical News
6. Memory of Water - Structure and Science www1.lsbu.ac.uk/water/memoryof water.html
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| Olubode Afolabi- www.9livewaterworld.blogspot.com |
