Pure Water, Water Filters

TIME magazine (October 16, 2006), in an article on child mortality caused by diarrhoea, a water- borne disease, says that the annual toll of the disease is 1.9 million children. A telling comment on what humanity has done to its water resources!



When we see photographs of distant planets taken by space probes, one thing strikes

us immediately. Without water bodies, they look so lifeless. We realize how singularly

unique and blessed our planet is and how human existence is inextricably linked to water.



What have we done with the abundant resources of water given to us by Nature? Our lakes, rivers and oceans are filled with chemical effluents, industrial wastes, sewage and myriad forms of pollutants. They kill plant and animal life in them and inhibit the natural processes of recycling of water.



Pollution of Earth's Water Resources

In 1999, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) reported that 200 scientists in 50 countries had identified water shortage as one of the two most worrying problems for the new millennium (the other was global warming).

The American humourist Mark Twain said, "Whisky is for drinking and water is for fighting over". It is predicted that, more than oil, water will be the bone of contention in the wars of the future. Alarmist though it might sound, this is not beyond the pale of possibility.

The problem is compounded by the fact that human beings go on polluting natural water sources in several ways thus reducing the quantum of useable water.

· Sewage and fertilizers find their way into water bodies. Their chemical contents over stimulate growth of water plants and algae shutting out sunlight from the depths.

· Run off rain water from garbage dumps, landfills, construction sites, factories carry pollutants to lakes and rivers

· In Third World countries, where disposal of human waste is still not organized and open sewers are the order of the day, water is the first casualty.

· Water borne chemical effluents entering our waterways are a feature of the 20th century. Herbicides and pesticides are in wide use in agriculture. Even cows grazing grass are liable to yield contaminated milk.

· Even the pristine purity of our glaciers and ice caps have been compromised by expeditions . Mount Everest, for instance, has become a tourist haunt. Mountains of plastics and other pollutants are left behind by every team that takes a crack at the peak.

· Rainwater is also contaminated by atmospheric pollution, acid rain being an example.

· Oil spillages, radioactive wastes and polluted rivers discharging into oceans are severely affecting marine life and the food chain, setting the stage for an ecological disaster. One litre of oil can pollute one million litres of water.

· Contamination of drinking water sources with the urine and faeces of infected animals or people.



Urgency



The clock seems to be ticking as warning signs appear. Alfred Tennyson's Ancient Mariner said, "Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink." But today, even we landlubbers have come to a similar pass. Clean water, pure water is no longer available. Safe drinking water is fast becoming a myth. Indeed, more than a billion of the world's population does not have enough drinking water at all.

Water drawn for human consumption from wells, bore wells, lakes and rivers can no longer be considered absolutely safe. Water today needs to be rid of contaminants to produce pure water for human consumption or for industrial use.

The villains of the water story are parasites ( such as Giardia or Cryptosporidium) , bacteria, algae, viruses, fungi, minerals including toxic metals such as lead, copper etc., and man-made chemical pollutants.

Water Filters

Water is used as a cleaning agent in our daily lives. It is also vested with a spiritual symbolism. Baptism with water or bathing in River Ganges is supposed to wash away one's sins. But if water gets polluted, how shall we get it purified? The answer is filtration!



We have come a long way from the days of Hippocrates of 4th century BCE who introduced the method of putting boiled water through a cloth bag which is now called Hippocrates's sleeve.

Water filters employ a variety of processes, often in combination with one another:

· Oxidation: Using chemicals like chlorine and chlorine dioxide effective against microorganisms, combined with sand bed filter

· Boiling - kills microorganisms, an age old method

· Ozone - A molecule of oxygen, broad-spectrum disinfectant, effective against protozoa that produce cysts, and most other pathogens.UV radiation - eliminates pathogenic bacteria causing cholera, typhoid, and salmonella dysentery

· Reverse osmosis - use of a membrane to keep out salts, insoluble ions and concentrations

· Carbon filtering - removes many compounds including toxic ones

· Distillation - purifies water 99%, but tasteless and addition of minerals improves taste

· Ion Exchange -removes heavy metal content and softens hard water

· Micro filtration through ceramic cartridges - even the minutest contaminants are denied passage through these filters

Choice of Water Filters

Before you choose your water filter, you should get the water analysed and determine the filtration processes called for, the output and cost effectiveness. You have a good variety of water filters to choose from.



· Filters: Aquasana produces water filters for kitchens and for showers as well. Its household model employs four stages of filtration. Periodic replacement of filters is advised.

· Distillers: You can choose from among Water Wizard, Pure Magic and Waterwise 7000 series. There is also a non-electric model (1600). All these distillers come with a supply of trace minerals which lend taste to the water after distillation.

· Ionizers: For alkaline water - Bion Tech Digital BTM -3000N turns dead tap water into vibrant water. Bion Tech BTM-200N uses silver impregnated carbon filtration before ionization. Bion Tech 500 incorporates twelve stages of filtration. Bion Tech BTM-105 U takes care of acidic water as well.

· Pi Water: The Neos Pi Water Filter incorporates an eight stage filtering system which also invests water with taste and vibrancy after filtering out all kinds of contaminants.

Conclusion

In urban areas, municipal authorities operate water purification plants and supply protected water to their populations. But where finer standards are prescribed for domestic or industrial purposes, water filters have come to play an important ancillary role. In the rural areas and the outback, they will play the primary role in ensuring supply of safe and palatable water for domestic use.

The Age of Aquarius is at hand. May the gentleman with the down turned pitcher of flowing water pour wisdom into the hearts of men and inspire them to preserve in all its purity the life giving gift of Nature!



For more information go to http://www.aquasana.com.au