FAQ'S About Water
What is TDS (Total Dissolved Solids)?
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) are the compounds in the water that cannot be removed by a traditional filter. TDS is directly related to the purity of water and the quality of water purification systems and affects everything that consumes, lives in, or uses water, whether organic or inorganic, whether for better or for worse. TDS are made up of salts or compounds which dissociate in water to form ions.
Why should you measure the TDS level in your water? A high level of TDS is an indicator of potential concerns, and warrants further investigation. Most often, high levels of TDS are caused by the presence of potassium, chlorides and sodium. These ions have little or no short-term effects, but toxic ions (lead arsenic, cadmium, nitrate and other) may also be dissolved in the water. More soluble salts more diseases.
Where do Dissolved Solids come from?
- Some dissolved solids come from organic sources such as leaves, silt, plankton and industrial waste and sewage. Other sources come from runoff from urban areas, road salt used on street during the winter, and fertilizers and pesticides used on lawns and farms.
- Dissolved solids also come from inorganic materials such as rocks and air that may contain calcium bicarbonate’ nitrogen, iron phosphorous, sulfur, and other minerals. Many of these materials from salts, which are compounds that contain both a metal and a non-metal. Salts usually dissolve in water forming ions.
- Water may also pick up metals such as lead or copper as they travel through pipes used to distribute water to consumers.
- Note that the efficacy of water purifications system in removing total dissolved solids will be reduced over time, so it is highly recommended to monitor the quality of a filter or membrane and replace them when required.
How Do You Reduce or Remove the TDS in Your Water?
Reverse osmosis (RO): – Reverse osmosis works by forcing water under great pressure against a semi-permeable membrane that allows water molecules to pass through while excluding most contaminants. RO is the most thorough method of large-scale water purification available.
Distillation: – Distillation involves boiling the water to produce water vapor. The water vapor then rises to a cooled surface where it can condense back into a liquid and be collected. Because the dissolved solids are not normally vaporized, they remain in the boiling solution.
Deionization (DI): – Water is passed between a positive electrode and a negative electrode. Ion selective membranes allow the positive ions to separate from the water toward the negative electrode and the negative ions toward the positive electrode. High purity de-ionized water results. The water is usually passed through a reverse osmosis unit first to remove nonionic organic cont
Here are some facts about the consequences of higher levels of TDS in water: –
- High TDS results in undesirable taste which could be salty, bitter, or metallic. It could also indicate the presence of toxic minerals. High TDS water is less thirst-quenching.
- High TDS indicates hard water, which causes scale buildup in pipes and valves, inhibiting performance.
- High TDS interferes with the taste of foods and beverages, and makes them less desirable to consume. High TDS make ice cubes cloudy, softer and faster melting. For a truly great cup of coffee, proper TDS levels must be maintained.
- High TDS levels could impede the functions of certain applications, such as boilers and cooling towers, food and water production and more.
- A constant level of minerals is necessary for aquatic life. The water in an aquarium or tank should have the same levels of TDS and pH as the fish and reef’s original habitat.
- Some of the individual mineral salts that make up TDS pose a variety of health hazards. The most problematic are nitrates, sodium, sulfates, barium, copper and fluoride.
- Water with higher TDS is considered by some health advocates to have a proper cleansing effect in the body than water with a low level of TDS. This is because water with low dissolved solid has a greater capacity of absorption than what water with higher solids.
Note: – Water softeners do not reduce TDS. Water softeners remove magnesium and calcium ions which cause hard water, but these ions are replaced with an equal number of sodium or potassium ions. This leaves overall TDS unchanged
What Is PH? The PH scale of water has a range of 0 to 14. The closer to 0, the more acidic the water. Proper PH balance in the body more alkaline the water is. At PH 7, water is “Neutral” and contains an equal number of hydrogen ions (h+) and hydroxide ions (oh-). Because the PH scale is a log scale it means that for every number of changes, either up or down, the PH balance of the Water is changed tenfold. Most interior matter in our body has a PH balance of 6.8 while our blood, plasma and other fluids that surround the cells in our body have a PH of 7.2 to 7.3 Because of our diets.
Good Alkaline Ph In The Body Is Vital To Cellular Health: Acidosis is what is really killing us. If we allow our body to be acidic and anaerobic (lacking in oxygen), then we are allowing our body to become the perfect breeding ground for fungus, mold, bacteria and viruses. Think of a sealed freezer that is then unplugged. If left alone and opened a couple of weeks later, you would find all kinds of nasty funguses and mold growing inside. But the freezer was sealed so how can this be? The answer is that the mold and fungus was always there. Once the freezer was unplugged it simply became the ideal place for the mold and fungus to grow. The same holds true for our bodies. If we shift from a healthy oxygenated, alkaline environment to an unhealthy anaerobic, acidic environment, we become an unplugged freezer. Though our bodies look the same on the outside, the inside is now susceptible to all the viruses, molds, and funguses that couldn’t survive before.
Proper PH balance in the body is the most important factor in making sure the body stays healthy and can ward off disease. We now know that a good alkaline ph in the body is vital to cellular health. Our bodies are alkaline by design but become acidic by our behavior. This creates a disturbance in the body’s PH balance and thus makes the human body the ideal place for molds, fungus, viruses and other nasty bugs to not only live, but to thrive as well.
Why Is PH Balancing Important? Your body’s PH balance may affect your weight. An alkaline PH balances could help get rid of excess fat our bodies are a wondrous thing. When the body feels threatened it will go into a defense mode and do things to help ensure its survival. One of the things the body does when it becomes acidic and depleted of oxygen is it creates fat cells. Why? Simple, acid is stored in fat cells. The body knows that the acid levels in a ph balance that is out of sync are dangerous to all the vital organs that are needed to maintain its life. As a precaution, the body will develop fat and cellulite to form a cushion between the organs and the acid. Many individuals find that a welcomed side effect to a more alkaline PH is a loss of unwanted weight. Many times it is weight that has refused to come off for a period of years.
When it comes to funguses, molds, bacteria and viruses, they play no favorites. These body attackers will consume you whether you are male or female, a child or an adult, they just don’t care. The only way to properly defend ourselves is to become educated to the fact that our inner terrain needs to be in perfect form and in order to do this our bodies must maintain a proper PH balance.
PH Balanced Diet: Do you feel and look older than you are? Are you experiencing fatigue and health problems? Have you been putting on weight even though your diet is not all that bad? Are you a 30 year old that look 50? If so then maybe it is time for you to re-think the way you diet. In order to avoid premature aging and realize significant weight loss our bodies must avoid a high acidity level. This can only be achieved with the practice of a good alkaline diet.
It is merely a shift in our way of thinking that keeps us from feeling the best we can. A healthy PH balanced water & diet will not only keep the acidity levels in our bodies down and thusly help us to avoid health problems, but we will achieve many welcomed side effect such as weight loss and the halting of premature aging in its tracks. Do yourself the favor of beginning an alkaline diet with alkaline foods and lots of ionized alkaline water and you will not regret it. After all, we only get one life and it is meant to be lived to its fullest potential. Nutrients, and balance your PH. Drinking alkaline water will re-energize your body, reclaim your health.
Sources of Hardness Minerals in Drinking Water: – Water is a good solvent and picks up impurities easily. Pure water tasteless, colorless, and odorless is often called the universal solvent. When water is combined with carbon dioxide to form very weak carbonic acid, an even better solvent result. As water moves through soil and rock, it dissolves very small amounts of minerals and holds them in solution. Calcium and magnesium dissolved in water are the two most common minerals that make water “hard.”
Indications of Hard Water: – Hard water interferes with almost every cleaning task from laundering and dishwashing to bathing and personal grooming. Clothes laundered in hard water may look dingy and feel harsh and scratchy. Dishes and glasses may be spotted when dry. Hard water may cause a film on glass shower doors, shower walls, bathtubs, sinks, faucets, etc. Hair washed in hard water may feel sticky and look dull. Water flow may be reduced b deposits in pipes
Dealing with hard water problems in the home can be a nuisance. The amount of hardness minerals in water affects the amount of soap and detergent necessary for cleaning. Soap used in hard water combines with the minerals to form a sticky soap curd. Some synthetic detergents are less effective in hard water because the active ingredient is partially inactivated by hardness, even though it stays dissolved. Bathing with soap in hard water leaves a film of sticky soap curd on the skin. The film may prevent removal of soil and bacteria. Soap curd interferes with the return of skin to its normal, slightly acid condition, and may lead to irritation. Soap curd on hair may make it dull, lifeless and difficult to manage
When doing laundry in hard water, soap curds lodge in fabric during washing to make fabric stiff and rough. Incomplete soil removal from laundry causes graying of white fabric and the loss of brightness in colors. A sour odor can develop in clothes. Continuous laundering in hard water can shorten the life of clothes. In addition, soap curds can deposit on dishes, bathtubs and showers, and all water fixtures
Potential Health Effects: – Hard water is not a health hazard. In fact, the National Research Council (National Academy of Sciences) states that hard drinking water generally contributes a small amount toward total calcium and magnesium human dietary needs. They further state that in some instances, where dissolved calcium and magnesium are very high, water could be a major contributor of calcium and magnesium to the diet
Water Testing: – If you are on a municipal water system, the water supplier can tell you the hardness level of the water they deliver. If you have a private water supply, you can have the water tested for hardness. Most water testing laboratories offer hardness tests for a fee. Also many companies that sell water treatment equipment offer hardness tests. When using these water tests, be certain you understand the nature of the test, the water condition being measured, and the significance of the test results. An approximate estimate of water hardness can be obtained without the aid of outside testing facilities. Water hardness testing kits are available for purchase through water testing supply companies. If more accurate measurements are needed, contact a testing laboratory
Mechanical water softening units can be permanently installed into the plumbing system to continuously remove calcium and magnesium. Water softeners operate on the ion exchange process. In this process, water passes through a media bed, usually suffocated polystyrene beads. The beads are supersaturated with sodium. The ion exchange process takes place as hard water passes through the softening material. The hardness minerals attach themselves to the resin beads while sodium on the resin beads is released simultaneously into the water. When the resin becomes saturated with calcium and magnesium, it must be recharged. The recharging is done by passing a salt (brine) solution through the resin. The sodium replaces the calcium and magnesium which are discharged in the waste water. Hard water treated with an ion exchange water softener has sodium added. According to the Water Quality Association (WQA), the ion exchange softening process adds sodium at the rate of about 8 mg/liter for each grain of hardness removed per gallon of water For example, if the water has a hardness of 10 grains per gallon, it will contain about 80 mg/liter of sodium after being softened in an ion exchange water softener if all hardness minerals are removed.
Before selecting a mechanical water softener, test water for hardness and iron content. When selecting a water softener, the regeneration control system, the hardness removal capacity and the iron limitations are three important elements to consider. You may not need to soften the water, but just control the iron and manganese.
There are three common regeneration control systems. These include a time-clock control (you program the clock to regenerate on a fixed schedule); water meter control (regenerates after a fixed amount of water has passed through the softener); and hardness sensor control (sensor detects hardness of the water leaving the unit, and signals softener when regeneration is needed)
Hardness removal capacity, between regenerations, will vary with units. Softeners with small capacities must regenerate more often. Your daily softening need depends on the amount of water used daily in your household and the hardness of your water. To determine your daily hardness removal need, multiply daily household water use (measured in gallons) by the hardness of the water (measured in grains per gallon).
Summary: – Hard water is not a health hazard, but dealing with hard water in the home can be a nuisance. The hardness (calcium and magnesium concentration) of water can be approximated with a home-use water testing kit, or can be measured more accurately with a laboratory water test. Water hardness can be managed with packaged water softeners or with a mechanical ion exchange softening unit.
Sources of Hardness Minerals in Drinking Water: – Water is a good solvent and picks up impurities easily. Pure water tasteless, colorless, and odorless is often called the universal solvent. When water is combined with carbon dioxide to form very weak carbonic acid, an even better solvent result. As water moves through soil and rock, it dissolves very small amounts of minerals and holds them in solution. Calcium and magnesium dissolved in water are the two most common minerals that make water “hard.”
Indications of Hard Water: – Hard water interferes with almost every cleaning task from laundering and dishwashing to bathing and personal grooming. Clothes laundered in hard water may look dingy and feel harsh and scratchy. Dishes and glasses may be spotted when dry. Hard water may cause a film on glass shower doors, shower walls, bathtubs, sinks, faucets, etc. Hair washed in hard water may feel sticky and look dull. Water flow may be reduced b deposits in pipes
Dealing with hard water problems in the home can be a nuisance. The amount of hardness minerals in water affects the amount of soap and detergent necessary for cleaning. Soap used in hard water combines with the minerals to form a sticky soap curd. Some synthetic detergents are less effective in hard water because the active ingredient is partially inactivated by hardness, even though it stays dissolved. Bathing with soap in hard water leaves a film of sticky soap curd on the skin. The film may prevent removal of soil and bacteria. Soap curd interferes with the return of skin to its normal, slightly acid condition, and may lead to irritation. Soap curd on hair may make it dull, lifeless and difficult to manage
When doing laundry in hard water, soap curds lodge in fabric during washing to make fabric stiff and rough. Incomplete soil removal from laundry causes graying of white fabric and the loss of brightness in colors. A sour odor can develop in clothes. Continuous laundering in hard water can shorten the life of clothes. In addition, soap curds can deposit on dishes, bathtubs and showers, and all water fixtures
Potential Health Effects: – Hard water is not a health hazard. In fact, the National Research Council (National Academy of Sciences) states that hard drinking water generally contributes a small amount toward total calcium and magnesium human dietary needs. They further state that in some instances, where dissolved calcium and magnesium are very high, water could be a major contributor of calcium and magnesium to the diet
Water Testing: – If you are on a municipal water system, the water supplier can tell you the hardness level of the water they deliver. If you have a private water supply, you can have the water tested for hardness. Most water testing laboratories offer hardness tests for a fee. Also many companies that sell water treatment equipment offer hardness tests. When using these water tests, be certain you understand the nature of the test, the water condition being measured, and the significance of the test results. An approximate estimate of water hardness can be obtained without the aid of outside testing facilities. Water hardness testing kits are available for purchase through water testing supply companies. If more accurate measurements are needed, contact a testing laboratory
Mechanical water softening units can be permanently installed into the plumbing system to continuously remove calcium and magnesium. Water softeners operate on the ion exchange process. In this process, water passes through a media bed, usually suffocated polystyrene beads. The beads are supersaturated with sodium. The ion exchange process takes place as hard water passes through the softening material. The hardness minerals attach themselves to the resin beads while sodium on the resin beads is released simultaneously into the water. When the resin becomes saturated with calcium and magnesium, it must be recharged. The recharging is done by passing a salt (brine) solution through the resin. The sodium replaces the calcium and magnesium which are discharged in the waste water. Hard water treated with an ion exchange water softener has sodium added. According to the Water Quality Association (WQA), the ion exchange softening process adds sodium at the rate of about 8 mg/liter for each grain of hardness removed per gallon of water For example, if the water has a hardness of 10 grains per gallon, it will contain about 80 mg/liter of sodium after being softened in an ion exchange water softener if all hardness minerals are removed.
Before selecting a mechanical water softener, test water for hardness and iron content. When selecting a water softener, the regeneration control system, the hardness removal capacity and the iron limitations are three important elements to consider. You may not need to soften the water, but just control the iron and manganese.
There are three common regeneration control systems. These include a time-clock control (you program the clock to regenerate on a fixed schedule); water meter control (regenerates after a fixed amount of water has passed through the softener); and hardness sensor control (sensor detects hardness of the water leaving the unit, and signals softener when regeneration is needed)
Hardness removal capacity, between regenerations, will vary with units. Softeners with small capacities must regenerate more often. Your daily softening need depends on the amount of water used daily in your household and the hardness of your water. To determine your daily hardness removal need, multiply daily household water use (measured in gallons) by the hardness of the water (measured in grains per gallon).
Summary: – Hard water is not a health hazard, but dealing with hard water in the home can be a nuisance. The hardness (calcium and magnesium concentration) of water can be approximated with a home-use water testing kit, or can be measured more accurately with a laboratory water test. Water hardness can be managed with packaged water softeners or with a mechanical ion exchange softening unit.
Water & Diseases: Water is a gift of nature. The total amount of water on the earth is finite, while human’s capacity for pollution is accelerating fast with the growth of population, agriculture & industry across the globe. Local water bodies may very quickly be exhausted and become polluted due to greed and ignorance; water can become a source of death and disease rather than life. Today, at least one-fifth of all people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water. In developing countries, most cities discharge 80 to 90% of the untreated sewage directly into rivers and streams, which are used for drinking, washing and bathing. This lack of sewage treatment has allowed dangerous microorganism to spread water borne disease; particularly diseases transmitted by vectors which live in the water environment account for about a third of all deaths in the world.
The growing pollution of our rivers constitutes the biggest threat to public health. Polluted water lead to various gastrointestinal problems, liver infections, cancer, etc. Children are often the worst affected, dying in large numbers because of diarrhea.
Water-related diseases: – The water-related infections of man are extremely numerous and diverse. In general the following are the ways in which diseases may be carried by water.
- Pathogenic organisms are transmitted from one person to another through their domestic water supply (e.g.) Cholera, typhoid and hepatitis.
- Inadequate water supply, lack of personal cleanliness-(e.g.) trachoma and skin infection.
- Infection transmitted by organism which lives in water-(e.g.) helminthes (parasitic flukes) that spends part of their life cycle in water.
- Insects vectors which are related in some way to water transmit infection (e.g.) Yellow fever, malaria etc.
Why to Allow any Contaminants in Drinking Water? All sources of drinking water contain some naturally occurring contaminants, because water is the universal solvent, many materials are easily dissolved upon contact. At low levels, these contaminants generally are not harmful in our drinking water. Removing all contaminants would be extremely expensive and in nearly all cases would not provide greater protection of health. A few of the naturally occurring substances may actually improve the taste of drinking water and may have nutritional values at low levels.
Sources of Water Pollutants: –
Direct Additions: –
- Discharge of domestic, industrial or agricultural effluents.
- Direct application of herbicides to control water plants that interfere with human’s use for freshwaters.
- Direct application of insecticides to fresh water to destroy larvae of mosquitoes, the vector of malaria.
- Molluscicides widely used in the tropics to control the snail vectors of schistosomiasis.
Indirect additions: –
- Run-off of insecticides and herbicides applied to the land.
- Carelessly dumped waste pesticides and their empty containers in pools or streams.
- Land fill sites and toxic waste dumps contaminate ground water.
Types of pollutants found in water: – Organic pollutants, Inorganic pollutants, Thermal pollutants, Radioactive materials
Watered Down Safety: –You drink a glass of water that looks safe and tastes okay, and you don’t feel any the worse afterwards. So what’s the worry about the water? The problem is that diseases do not develop all of a sudden. Contaminants damage cells little by little, yet it may take years, or even decades, for the whole organ to fail or for tests to find cancer. This is why safe water is of such importance. You drink water every day, yet you may not know for 50 years whether the water you drank was good or bad for you. Actually, you will never know if it was the water, the food, the air, or bad luck. Here are some alarming statistics. The National Resources Defense Council (a nonprofit, public environment watchdog agency) reports that over two-third of the nation’s water treatment plants are obsolete and perhaps unsafe. Depletion of dissolved oxygen (the recommended do level for natural water is 4 to 6 ppm)
SOME WATER RELATED DISEASES AND THEIR CAUSATIVE ORGANISM
Diseases | Causative Organism | Mode of spread | Symptoms | ||
Bacteria | |||||
Typhoid | Salmonella typhi | Ingestion of contaminated food, water, milk, unwashed raw vegetables and flies. | Continuous fever which progressively increases day by day, the temperature being higher in the evening than in the morning. Accompanied by body aches, headache and constipation Hemorrhage from ulceration in the small intestine. | ||
Cholera | Vibrio cholerae | Ingestion of water or food contaminated by the bacteria from the stool of a cholera patient. | Painless diarrhea followed by vomiting; patient may pass 30 to 40 stools per day which soon become typically watery and colorless with flakes of mucus floating in then. | ||
Bacteria dysentery | Shigella spp. | Through contaminated food, water and by direct personal contact. | Diarrhea, with the presence of blood and mucus in the stools accompanied by severe gripping pain in the abdomen. Stools are not too frequent (4-10 per day) and the fecal matter is scanty .Patient looks ill. | ||
Leptospirosis | Leptospira | Primary hosts are rodents which carry the organism in their kidneys and the patient may become infected by wading or swimming in water contaminated with the rodent’s urine. | Fever, pain in legs, nausea, vomiting are common congestion of the conjunctival blood vessels around the corneas of the eyes. | ||
Viruses | |||||
Infective hepatitis | Hepatitis virus | Stools that contain virus contaminating the water and food | Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea accompanied by the fever. The urine is dark colored. Eye & skin have yellow coloration. | ||
Protozoa | |||||
Amoebic dysentery | Endameba histolytica | Ingestion of cysts in food and water. | Abdominal discomfort to diarrhea, with or without the presence of blood or mucus in the stools, accompanied by fever, chills and gripping pain in the abdomen. | ||
Diarrhea | Guardia (Lamblia)intestinal | Cysts which are voided with the feces and enter the new hosts in food or water. | Intestinal disorders leading to gastric pain, abdominal discomfort, loss of appetite, headache and loose bowels. | ||
Helminths | |||||
Bilharzias | Schistosomaspp. | Eggs of the flukes pass out with human feces or urine and if they reach fresh water, develop into miracidia larvae which infect snails. The herbaria stage develops in the snails and on leaving the host, herbaria penetrate the skin of humans wading in the water. | Allergy-like itch, rash, aches, fever, eosinophilia, etc. When infection is heavy, the egg may be deposited in the arterioles of the lungs causing cardio-pulmonary schistosomiasis or corpulmonale or ayerza disease, which may lead to congestive heart failure. | ||
Guinea worm | Dracunculus medinensis | Unfiltered water containing the infected copepods. | Blister near the ankle, burns around the blister, allergy and aches. | ||
FAQ’S about Water Usage & Quality
What do we use water for? – We use large amounts of water each day, as water serves many different purposes. We use water to drink, to do the dishes, to take a shower, to flush the toilet, to cook dinner and for many other purposes. But water is not only used for domestic purposes, humans also use water in the industries and in agriculture. In agriculture water is mainly used to water crops, but in the industries it serves many different purposes. It can serve as an ingredient of a product we produce, but it can also be a part of the whole production process. Water can be used to cool substances in the production process, for transportation and conditioning of raw materials, for boiling or cooking, for flushing, as a cleaning agent and for product transport by shipping. How much water does a person use each day? Americans use an average of 168 litres a person each day. For Dutch people this is about 135 litres. This water is used for different purposes.
How long can water be stored? : – One should pay special attention to how water is stored. Water should be stored in a cool, dark and dry place and it should be stored away from cleaning supplies and other chemicals. Water can pick up odors from other substances that we cannot detect in the air, so one should always pay attention to the properties of other substances that are stored with the water.
Why does tap water often smell like chlorine? : – Drinking water has to be protected from micro organisms and contaminants that can enter the water through the pipelines that transport it to households. This happens by means of disinfection with various disinfection agents, chlorine being the most widely used one. Chlorine is a very effective disinfectant, which is used to kill any harmful bacteria that might be present in the water source. The amount of chlorine that is used is based on the amount of water that is treated, the amount of contaminants that must be controlled and the time it takes for the water to reach the first house. Chlorine levels are usually low, but in some rural areas there are more dangers to drinking water and the levels of chlorine that are used are a bit higher. People can than smell it when they tap water. When one’s tap water smells like chlorine it does not mean a danger to the people that drink it. Chlorine levels used in drinking water are not high enough to form a serious threat to anyone’s health. If the water has a chlorine smell, it may actually indicate that not enough chlorine is being added to the system. By increasing the amount of chlorine used at the treatment plant, different forms of chlorine are created in the water, which diminish chlorine odors.
Which factors determine water quality? : – Water quality is determined by the presence and quantity of contaminants, by physical/ chemical factors such as pH and conductivity, by the number of salts present and by the presence of nutrients. Humans largely influence all these factors, as they discharge their waste in water and add all kinds of substances and contaminants to water that are not naturally present.
What is the difference between salt water and freshwater? : – Salt water is water that contains a certain amount of salts. This means that its conductivity is higher and its taste much saltier when one drinks it. Salt water is not suited to be used as drinking water, because salt drains water from human bodies. When humans drink salt water they risk dehydration. If we want to drink seawater, it needs to be desalinated first. Salt water can be found everywhere on the surface of the earth, in the oceans, in rivers and in saltwater ponds. About 71% of the earth is covered with salt water. Freshwater is water with a dissolved salt concentration of less than 1%. There are two kinds of freshwater reservoirs: standing bodies of freshwater, such as lakes, ponds and inland wetlands and floating bodies of freshwater, such as streams and rivers. These bodies of water cover only a small part of the earth’s surface, and their locations are unrelated to climate. Only about 1% of the earth’s surface is covered with freshwater, whereas 41% of all known fish species live in this water. Fresh water zones are usually closely connected to land; therefore they are often threatened by a constant input of organic matter, inorganic nutrients, and pollutants.
How is water quality assessed? : – To determine water quality, certified agencies take samples; small amounts of water in a medium which can be tested in a laboratory. Laboratories test these samples on various factors, and see if they suffice water quality standards. One of these factors is the number of colonies of coli form bacteria; these are an indicator for drinking or swimming water quality. Another factor is the concentration of certain contaminants and other substances.
What are water quality certificates? : – When water serves a certain purpose, such as swimming water or drinking water, people that use it need to know whether it is safe. A water quality certificate is a piece of paper that is given out by a certified agency for water quality assessment, after the assessments have taken place, when the company is content about the water quality. These certificates show people that water is safe to swim in or to drink. Water quality certificates are given out for example to pool owners. Bottled water sometimes includes a safety brand on the bottles, which shows that a certificate has been given to the supplying company.
FAQ’S about Water Usage & Quality
What do we use water for? – We use large amounts of water each day, as water serves many different purposes. We use water to drink, to do the dishes, to take a shower, to flush the toilet, to cook dinner and for many other purposes. But water is not only used for domestic purposes, humans also use water in the industries and in agriculture. In agriculture water is mainly used to water crops, but in the industries it serves many different purposes. It can serve as an ingredient of a product we produce, but it can also be a part of the whole production process. Water can be used to cool substances in the production process, for transportation and conditioning of raw materials, for boiling or cooking, for flushing, as a cleaning agent and for product transport by shipping. How much water does a person use each day? Americans use an average of 168 litres a person each day. For Dutch people this is about 135 litres. This water is used for different purposes.
How long can water be stored? : – One should pay special attention to how water is stored. Water should be stored in a cool, dark and dry place and it should be stored away from cleaning supplies and other chemicals. Water can pick up odors from other substances that we cannot detect in the air, so one should always pay attention to the properties of other substances that are stored with the water.
Why does tap water often smell like chlorine? : – Drinking water has to be protected from micro organisms and contaminants that can enter the water through the pipelines that transport it to households. This happens by means of disinfection with various disinfection agents, chlorine being the most widely used one. Chlorine is a very effective disinfectant, which is used to kill any harmful bacteria that might be present in the water source. The amount of chlorine that is used is based on the amount of water that is treated, the amount of contaminants that must be controlled and the time it takes for the water to reach the first house. Chlorine levels are usually low, but in some rural areas there are more dangers to drinking water and the levels of chlorine that are used are a bit higher. People can than smell it when they tap water. When one’s tap water smells like chlorine it does not mean a danger to the people that drink it. Chlorine levels used in drinking water are not high enough to form a serious threat to anyone’s health. If the water has a chlorine smell, it may actually indicate that not enough chlorine is being added to the system. By increasing the amount of chlorine used at the treatment plant, different forms of chlorine are created in the water, which diminish chlorine odors.
Which factors determine water quality? : – Water quality is determined by the presence and quantity of contaminants, by physical/ chemical factors such as pH and conductivity, by the number of salts present and by the presence of nutrients. Humans largely influence all these factors, as they discharge their waste in water and add all kinds of substances and contaminants to water that are not naturally present.
What is the difference between salt water and freshwater? : – Salt water is water that contains a certain amount of salts. This means that its conductivity is higher and its taste much saltier when one drinks it. Salt water is not suited to be used as drinking water, because salt drains water from human bodies. When humans drink salt water they risk dehydration. If we want to drink seawater, it needs to be desalinated first. Salt water can be found everywhere on the surface of the earth, in the oceans, in rivers and in saltwater ponds. About 71% of the earth is covered with salt water. Freshwater is water with a dissolved salt concentration of less than 1%. There are two kinds of freshwater reservoirs: standing bodies of freshwater, such as lakes, ponds and inland wetlands and floating bodies of freshwater, such as streams and rivers. These bodies of water cover only a small part of the earth’s surface, and their locations are unrelated to climate. Only about 1% of the earth’s surface is covered with freshwater, whereas 41% of all known fish species live in this water. Fresh water zones are usually closely connected to land; therefore they are often threatened by a constant input of organic matter, inorganic nutrients, and pollutants.
How is water quality assessed? : – To determine water quality, certified agencies take samples; small amounts of water in a medium which can be tested in a laboratory. Laboratories test these samples on various factors, and see if they suffice water quality standards. One of these factors is the number of colonies of coli form bacteria; these are an indicator for drinking or swimming water quality. Another factor is the concentration of certain contaminants and other substances.
What are water quality certificates? : – When water serves a certain purpose, such as swimming water or drinking water, people that use it need to know whether it is safe. A water quality certificate is a piece of paper that is given out by a certified agency for water quality assessment, after the assessments have taken place, when the company is content about the water quality. These certificates show people that water is safe to swim in or to drink. Water quality certificates are given out for example to pool owners. Bottled water sometimes includes a safety brand on the bottles, which shows that a certificate has been given to the supplying company.
Water Scarcity: – Water covers 70% of our planet, and it is easy to think that it will always be plentiful. However, freshwater—the stuff we drink, bathe in, irrigate our farm fields with—is incredibly rare. Only 3% of the world’s water is fresh water, and two-thirds of that is tucked away in frozen glaciers or otherwise unavailable for our use.
Water is our past. Water is our future. Without it, we cannot survive, and there are no alternatives. Many people have likened the issue of water scarcity to our current economic struggle over petroleum. Without petroleum, we can’t drive our cars, and maybe we have to walk to school or work. This is not the case for water, as we are not dealing with simple inconveniences (as grandiose as they may be), we are dealing with the issue of sustaining life itself.
As a result, some 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to water, and a total of 2.7 billion find water scarce for at least one month of the year. Inadequate sanitation is also a problem for 2.4 billion people—they are exposed to diseases, such as cholera and typhoid fever, and other water-borne illnesses. Two million people, mostly children, die each year from diarrheal diseases alone.
Many of the water systems that keep ecosystems thriving and feed a growing human population have become stressed. Rivers, lakes and aquifers are drying up or becoming too polluted to use. More than half the world’s wetlands have disappeared. Agriculture consumes more water than any other source and wastes much of that through inefficiencies. Climate change is altering patterns of weather and water around the world, causing shortages and droughts in some areas and floods in others.
At the current consumption rate, this situation will only get worse. By 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population may face water shortages. And ecosystems around the world will suffer even more.
The human population has successfully harnessed many of the world’s natural waterways—building dams, water wells, vast irrigation systems and other structures that have allowed civilizations to grow and thrive. But water systems are increasingly stressed, and some rivers, lakes and aquifers are drying up.
Pollution: – Water pollution comes from many sources including pesticides and fertilizers that wash away from farms, untreated human wastewater, and industrial waste. Even groundwater is not safe from pollution, as many pollutants can leach into underground aquifers. Some effects are immediate, as when harmful bacteria from human waste contaminate water and make it unfit to drink or swim in. In other instances such as toxic substances from industrial processes—it may take years to build up in the environment and food chain before their effects are fully recognized.
Agriculture: – Agriculture uses 70% of the world’s accessible freshwater, but some 60% of this is wasted due to leaky irrigation systems, inefficient application methods as well as the cultivation of crops that are too thirsty for the environment in which they are grown. This wasteful use of water is drying out rivers, lakes and underground aquifers. Many countries that produce large amounts of food—including India, China, Australia, Spain and the United States—have reached or are close to reaching their water resource limits. Added to these thirsty crops are the fact that agriculture also generates considerable freshwater pollution – both through fertilizers as well as pesticides – all of which affect both humans and other species.
Population Growth: – In the last 50 years, the human population has more than doubled. This rapid growth with its accompanying economic development and industrialization—has transformed water ecosystems around the world and resulted in a massive loss of biodiversity. Today, 41% of the world’s population lives in river basins that are under water stress. Concern about water availability grows as freshwater use continues at unsustainable levels. Furthermore, these new faces also need food, shelter, and clothing, thus resulting in additional pressure on freshwater through the production of commodities and energy.
Methods: – To analyze the situation of water scarcity, enough data must be present to form a usable model. Since there is not sufficient global data to form a useful model, we decided to base our analysis on a developed nation, ideally the United States. By using data from case studies performed by Bouwer and Gleick, we created a simple model which replicates water supply and usage is the US. The stock used for the main water supply consisted of two of the largest reservoirs of usable fresh water, the Great Lakes and the Ogallala aquifer. Running the simulation into the future, the issue of water scarcity becomes salient.
Discussion: – There is currently a more than ample supply of renewable water to sustain the country. Recreational uses aside, water demands are tied directly to industry, agriculture, and domestic purposes. These three factors increase with population, which is constantly increasing. For our first run, no used water is recycled. This is done to illustrate the limitations of the water supply in the world- in light of increasing populations; there is not enough water to sustain the world.
Solutions: – In order to make any improvements regarding the issue of water scarcity in our world today, more than one solution is necessary. Although water scarcity is not a substantial problem to every country currently, many countries feel the effects of water scarcity and the issue must be addressed. If this issue is not dealt with soon, it will become a problem for many other countries in the near future, some which are already beginning to feel the effects. There are several actions that would be effective in preserving and conserving water.
One possible solution is the use of desalinization technology. This system is described as filtering salty water through membranes and removing the salt through electro dialysis and reverse osmosis. This procedure has worked for about many countries. With this system, these nations are currently producing six billion gallons of usable water a day. Recently, however, the desalinization process has become much more practical for metropolitan areas and reverse-osmosis systems have made significant improvements.
Despite these improvements, only 2.3% of wastewater that is generated by municipalities is currently being recycled and reused. If water were saved by utilizing reclaimed water for irrigation in. Globally implementing simple recycling and filtration systems would be a relatively easy task that would reap outstanding benefits. Making these global advancements would be a monetarily and environmentally friendly step in the right direction towards the reduction of global water scarcity.
The task of conserving water can also be conquered on a smaller scale, beginning with small improvements in individual homes. One solution is to develop and mandate more efficient household water heaters. In old homes with poor insulation, the time needed to heat up the water from a faucet or showerhead can often is extensive. With heated pipes and better insulation throughout the system, this wasted water would no longer be an issue as hot water would immediately pour from the faucet. If this improvement was mandated by the government and supported financially where necessary, the benefits would be sizeable. In addition to conservation of water, heating costs would also be lower. In particularly old homes, heating costs for the entire house can be extremely high, especially in the winter. If this idea can be advertised to homeowners as environmentally friendly as well as cost-effective, it should have a very high support rate. Although this is only a minute progression towards improving the issue of water scarcity, every achievable method towards preventing this from becoming a large-scale problem is worthwhile.
Plainly, more than one solution is necessary in order to reduce or solve the issue of water scarcity that the world faces today. Any action, whether it may be improving insulation of water heating systems within the home, or composing multinational treaties, is important and must be taken into consideration. Our world currently faces a dilemma regarding a limited water supply and if the issue continues to progress without significant alterations, the consequences will be detrimental.
Conclusion: – Water scarcity is a problem of the future. There are many concerns in the world today, and water scarcity is currently in the backseat. Our world can only address so many problems at a time, and we tend to put them off until the need to find a solution becomes dire. All the research and projections we have found show that this will indeed be a dire situation in as early as 20 years from now. Children are already dying in large numbers in poverty-stricken regions due to preventable waterborne illness, and the destruction of natural ecosystems is greatly reducing fresh water biodiversity.
What is Water?
What is Water? Water is not found in its purest form in nature. It is always contaminated with physical, chemical & biological impurities. Proper filtration is of much importance to prevent low pressure diffuser like emitters from clogging. It is important to understand that all water is not created equally. On a strictly scientific level, water can be described as H2O. This symbolizes the two elements that water is comprised of, two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. But going beyond the scientific definition there are many different types of water that are consumed. While all the water will share the common makeup of elements, some will contain other “ingredients” that can either make the water you consume better or in some cases worse for you. While tap water can contain all kinds of nasty little additives, such as lead and chlorine, alkaline water. Such as in the form of ionized water, is on the opposite side of the spectrum and will actually help you to improve your health. Just because you are drinking water doesn’t mean you are drinking healthy water. Healthy drinking water is PH balanced water.
Source of Water: -Water is generally classified into Two group’s Surface water & ground water.
Surface Water: -It is just what the name implies; it is water found in a river, lake or other surface impoundment. This water is usually not very high in mineral content, and many times is called “soft water” even though it usually is not. Surface water is exposed to many different contaminants, such as animal wastes, pesticides, insecticides industrial wastes, algae and many other organic materials. Even surface water found in a pristine mountain stream possibly contains Giardia or Coli form Bacteria, from the faces of wild animals and should be boiled or disinfected by some means prior to drinking.
Ground Water: -It is that which is trapped beneath the ground. Rain that soaks into the ground, rivers that disappear beneath the earth, melting snow are but a few of the sources that recharge the supply of underground water. Because of the many sources of recharge, ground water may contain any or all of the contaminants found in surface water as well as the dissolved minerals it picks up during its long stay underground. Water that contains dissolved minerals, such as calcium & magnesium above certain levels are considered “hard water.” Because water is considered a “solvent” i.e. over time it can break down the ionic bonds that hold must substance together, it tends to dissolve and “gather up” small amount of whatever it comes in contact with. For instance, in areas of the world where rock such as limestone, gypsum, fluorspar, pyrite & magnetite are common, well water is usually very high in calcium content, and therefore considered “hard”. Due to the different characteristics of these two types of water, it is important that you know the sources of water-Surface or Ground. Of the 326 million cubic miles on earth, only about 3% of it is fresh water, and 3/4 of that is frozen. Only 1/2 of 1% of all water is underground; about 1/50th of 1% of all water is found in lakes and streams. The average human is about 70% water. You can only survive 5 or fewer days without water.
Water Is Absolutely Vital To Our Bodies: - Just like the surface of the earth, our bodies are mostly made up of water. The average adult contains 40 to 50 quarts of water! The water in your body must be renewed every 10-15 days. With the intake of foods such as fruits and vegetables, you are receiving water, but you still must drink at least 8 glasses of water daily to enable your body to function properly. Water is the base for all bodily function. Water is essential to sustain life, and a satisfactory supply must be made available to consumers. Every effort should be made to achieve a drinking water quality as high as practicable. Protection of water supplies from contamination is the first line of defense; Source protection is almost invariably the best method of ensuring safe drinking water and is to be preferred to treating a contaminated water supply to render it suitable for consumption.
Once a potentially hazardous situation has been recognized, however the risk to health the arability of alternative sources, and the arability of suitable remedial measures must be considered so that a decision can be made about the acceptability of the supply. As far as possible, water sources must be protected from contamination by human & animal waste, which can contain a variety of bacterial, viral and protozoan pathogens and helminthes parasites .Failure to provide adequate protection and effective treatment will expose the community to the risk of outbreaks of intestinal and other infectious diseases. Those at greatest risk of waterborne diseases are infant and young children, people who are debilitated or living under unsanitary condition, the sick and the elderly. For these people, infective doses are significantly lower than for the general adult population.
Water for life: - Life is originated in water and it is water that makes life possible. Water makes up 70 percent of body weight, blood plasma contains more than 90 percent of water, cell cytoplasm contains about 70 percent of the water. Even bone is 20 percent water. Water is needed for Transporting nutrients and oxygen to all parts of the body via blood, Marinating blood volume, removing body waste materials, helping maintain body temperature. Plants which use water to convert the nutrients in the soil into food, which keeps them alive and helps them to grow.
Your Tap Water is really that Bad or Are We Just Being Paranoid? Read On…... Clean water is one of the most important needs of our bodies. It is a sad fact that something as essential to life as clean drinking water can no longer be granted to us. Unsafe water is not just a third world problem. In fact, safe drinking water is even harder to find especially in industrially developed countries such as U.S. According to research articles and news, most tap & well water in the U.S. now are not safe for drinking due to heavy industrial and environmental pollution. We have reached a point that, all sources of our drinking water, including municipal water systems, wells, lakes, river, and even glaciers, contain some levels of contamination.
Contaminants range from naturally-occurring minerals to manmade chemicals and by products. While many contaminants are found at levels not enough not to cause immediate discomforts or sicknesses, it is proven that even low-level exposure to many common contaminants will, over time, cause severe illness including liver damage, cancer and other serious ailments. Even the chemicals commonly used to treat municipal water supplies such as chlorine and fluoride are toxic and are known to have significant adverse effect on the human body.
Watering your growing child: - Teach your children to acquire a taste for water, the most vital drink of all! Water is essential to good nutrition! Since our bodies are more than 50 percent water, we need to continually replenish our fluids. Hidden sources of water include milk or fruit juice, soups and stews, fruits and vegetables. Have cool water readily available for your child throughout the day. Keeping it in a pitcher in the refrigerator makes it seem more special, as does an attractive cup or glass and maybe some ice cubes or a twist of lemon peel. Don’t forget to offer water often during the day, especially in warmer temperatures. If a child is well hydrated, he or she is more likely to have a good appetite.
What is Iron?
Iron in water refers to the presence of dissolved or particulate iron particles, commonly found in groundwater sources. It usually enters water supplies from natural deposits, corroded iron pipes, or industrial waste. Iron appears in two primary forms in water: ferrous iron (clear and dissolved) and ferric iron (oxidized and forms red-brown particles). Although iron is not considered a health hazard, it causes several nuisance problems — such as metallic taste, rust-colored stains on sinks, clothes, and fixtures, and slimy biofilm caused by iron bacteria. High levels of iron can also clog pipes and damage appliances. Treating iron in water typically involves oxidation, filtration, or the use of ion-exchange softeners. For households and industries, managing iron levels is crucial to maintain clean, odor-free, and safe water.
What is TDS?
What is TDS (Total Dissolved Solids)? Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) are the compounds in the water that cannot be removed by a traditional filter. TDS is directly related to the purity of water and the quality of water purification systems and affects everything that consumes, lives in, or uses water, whether organic or inorganic, whether for better or for worse. TDS are made up of salts or compounds which dissociate in water to form ions. Why should you measure the TDS level in your water? A high level of TDS is an indicator of potential concerns, and warrants further investigation. Most often, high levels of TDS are caused by the presence of potassium, chlorides and sodium. These ions have little or no short-term effects, but toxic ions (lead arsenic, cadmium, nitrate and other) may also be dissolved in the water. More soluble salts more diseases.
Where do Dissolved Solids come from? Some dissolved solids come from organic sources such as leaves, silt, plankton and industrial waste and sewage. Other sources come from runoff from urban areas, road salt used on street during the winter, and fertilizers and pesticides used on lawns and farms. Dissolved solids also come from inorganic materials such as rocks and air that may contain calcium bicarbonate’ nitrogen, iron phosphorous, sulfur, and other minerals. Many of these materials from salts, which are compounds that contain both a metal and a non-metal. Salts usually dissolve in water forming ions. Water may also pick up metals such as lead or copper as they travel through pipes used to distribute water to consumers. Note that the efficacy of water purifications system in removing total dissolved solids will be reduced over time, so it is highly recommended to monitor the quality of a filter or membrane and replace them when required. How Do You Reduce or Remove the TDS in Your Water? Reverse osmosis (RO): - Reverse osmosis works by forcing water under great pressure against a semi-permeable membrane that allows water molecules to pass through while excluding most contaminants. RO is the most thorough method of large-scale water purification available. Distillation: - Distillation involves boiling the water to produce water vapor. The water vapor then rises to a cooled surface where it can condense back into a liquid and be collected. Because the dissolved solids are not normally vaporized, they remain in the boiling solution. Deionization (DI): - Water is passed between a positive electrode and a negative electrode. Ion selective membranes allow the positive ions to separate from the water toward the negative electrode and the negative ions toward the positive electrode. High purity de-ionized water results. The water is usually passed through a reverse osmosis unit first to remove nonionic organic cont
Here are some facts about the consequences of higher levels of TDS in water: - High TDS results in undesirable taste which could be salty, bitter, or metallic. It could also indicate the presence of toxic minerals. High TDS water is less thirst-quenching. High TDS indicates hard water, which causes scale buildup in pipes and valves, inhibiting performance. High TDS interferes with the taste of foods and beverages, and makes them less desirable to consume. High TDS make ice cubes cloudy, softer and faster melting. For a truly great cup of coffee, proper TDS levels must be maintained. High TDS levels could impede the functions of certain applications, such as boilers and cooling towers, food and water production and more. A constant level of minerals is necessary for aquatic life. The water in an aquarium or tank should have the same levels of TDS and pH as the fish and reef's original habitat. Some of the individual mineral salts that make up TDS pose a variety of health hazards. The most problematic are nitrates, sodium, sulfates, barium, copper and fluoride. Water with higher TDS is considered by some health advocates to have a proper cleansing effect in the body than water with a low level of TDS. This is because water with low dissolved solid has a greater capacity of absorption than what water with higher solids.
Note: - Water softeners do not reduce TDS. Water softeners remove magnesium and calcium ions which cause hard water, but these ions are replaced with an equal number of sodium or potassium ions. This leaves overall TDS unchanged
What is pH?
What Is PH? The PH scale of water has a range of 0 to 14. The closer to 0, the more acidic the water. Proper PH balance in the body more alkaline the water is. At PH 7, water is “Neutral” and contains an equal number of hydrogen ions (h+) and hydroxide ions (oh-). Because the PH scale is a log scale it means that for every number of changes, either up or down, the PH balance of the Water is changed tenfold. Most interior matter in our body has a PH balance of 6.8 while our blood, plasma and other fluids that surround the cells in our body have a PH of 7.2 to 7.3 Because of our diets.
Good Alkaline Ph In The Body Is Vital To Cellular Health: Acidosis is what is really killing us. If we allow our body to be acidic and anaerobic (lacking in oxygen), then we are allowing our body to become the perfect breeding ground for fungus, mold, bacteria and viruses. Think of a sealed freezer that is then unplugged. If left alone and opened a couple of weeks later, you would find all kinds of nasty funguses and mold growing inside. But the freezer was sealed so how can this be? The answer is that the mold and fungus was always there. Once the freezer was unplugged it simply became the ideal place for the mold and fungus to grow. The same holds true for our bodies. If we shift from a healthy oxygenated, alkaline environment to an unhealthy anaerobic, acidic environment, we become an unplugged freezer. Though our bodies look the same on the outside, the inside is now susceptible to all the viruses, molds, and funguses that couldn’t survive before.
Proper PH balance in the body is the most important factor in making sure the body stays healthy and can ward off disease. We now know that a good alkaline ph in the body is vital to cellular health. Our bodies are alkaline by design but become acidic by our behavior. This creates a disturbance in the body’s PH balance and thus makes the human body the ideal place for molds, fungus, viruses and other nasty bugs to not only live, but to thrive as well.
Why Is PH Balancing Important? Your body’s PH balance may affect your weight. An alkaline PH balances could help get rid of excess fat our bodies are a wondrous thing. When the body feels threatened it will go into a defense mode and do things to help ensure its survival. One of the things the body does when it becomes acidic and depleted of oxygen is it creates fat cells. Why? Simple, acid is stored in fat cells. The body knows that the acid levels in a ph balance that is out of sync are dangerous to all the vital organs that are needed to maintain its life. As a precaution, the body will develop fat and cellulite to form a cushion between the organs and the acid. Many individuals find that a welcomed side effect to a more alkaline PH is a loss of unwanted weight. Many times it is weight that has refused to come off for a period of years.
When it comes to funguses, molds, bacteria and viruses, they play no favorites. These body attackers will consume you whether you are male or female, a child or an adult, they just don’t care. The only way to properly defend ourselves is to become educated to the fact that our inner terrain needs to be in perfect form and in order to do this our bodies must maintain a proper PH balance.
PH Balanced Diet: Do you feel and look older than you are? Are you experiencing fatigue and health problems? Have you been putting on weight even though your diet is not all that bad? Are you a 30 year old that look 50? If so then maybe it is time for you to re-think the way you diet. In order to avoid premature aging and realize significant weight loss our bodies must avoid a high acidity level. This can only be achieved with the practice of a good alkaline diet.
It is merely a shift in our way of thinking that keeps us from feeling the best we can. A healthy PH balanced water & diet will not only keep the acidity levels in our bodies down and thusly help us to avoid health problems, but we will achieve many welcomed side effect such as weight loss and the halting of premature aging in its tracks. Do yourself the favor of beginning an alkaline diet with alkaline foods and lots of ionized alkaline water and you will not regret it. After all, we only get one life and it is meant to be lived to its fullest potential. Nutrients, and balance your PH. Drinking alkaline water will re-energize your body, reclaim your health.
What is Hardness?
Sources of Hardness Minerals in Drinking Water: - Water is a good solvent and picks up impurities easily. Pure water tasteless, colorless, and odorless is often called the universal solvent. When water is combined with carbon dioxide to form very weak carbonic acid, an even better solvent result. As water moves through soil and rock, it dissolves very small amounts of minerals and holds them in solution. Calcium and magnesium dissolved in water are the two most common minerals that make water "hard."
Indications of Hard Water: - Hard water interferes with almost every cleaning task from laundering and dishwashing to bathing and personal grooming. Clothes laundered in hard water may look dingy and feel harsh and scratchy. Dishes and glasses may be spotted when dry. Hard water may cause a film on glass shower doors, shower walls, bathtubs, sinks, faucets, etc. Hair washed in hard water may feel sticky and look dull. Water flow may be reduced b deposits in pipes
Dealing with hard water problems in the home can be a nuisance. The amount of hardness minerals in water affects the amount of soap and detergent necessary for cleaning. Soap used in hard water combines with the minerals to form a sticky soap curd. Some synthetic detergents are less effective in hard water because the active ingredient is partially inactivated by hardness, even though it stays dissolved. Bathing with soap in hard water leaves a film of sticky soap curd on the skin. The film may prevent removal of soil and bacteria. Soap curd interferes with the return of skin to its normal, slightly acid condition, and may lead to irritation. Soap curd on hair may make it dull, lifeless and difficult to manage
When doing laundry in hard water, soap curds lodge in fabric during washing to make fabric stiff and rough. Incomplete soil removal from laundry causes graying of white fabric and the loss of brightness in colors. A sour odor can develop in clothes. Continuous laundering in hard water can shorten the life of clothes. In addition, soap curds can deposit on dishes, bathtubs and showers, and all water fixtures
Potential Health Effects: - Hard water is not a health hazard. In fact, the National Research Council (National Academy of Sciences) states that hard drinking water generally contributes a small amount toward total calcium and magnesium human dietary needs. They further state that in some instances, where dissolved calcium and magnesium are very high, water could be a major contributor of calcium and magnesium to the diet
Water Testing: - If you are on a municipal water system, the water supplier can tell you the hardness level of the water they deliver. If you have a private water supply, you can have the water tested for hardness. Most water testing laboratories offer hardness tests for a fee. Also many companies that sell water treatment equipment offer hardness tests. When using these water tests, be certain you understand the nature of the test, the water condition being measured, and the significance of the test results. An approximate estimate of water hardness can be obtained without the aid of outside testing facilities. Water hardness testing kits are available for purchase through water testing supply companies. If more accurate measurements are needed, contact a testing laboratory
Mechanical water softening units can be permanently installed into the plumbing system to continuously remove calcium and magnesium. Water softeners operate on the ion exchange process. In this process, water passes through a media bed, usually suffocated polystyrene beads. The beads are supersaturated with sodium. The ion exchange process takes place as hard water passes through the softening material. The hardness minerals attach themselves to the resin beads while sodium on the resin beads is released simultaneously into the water. When the resin becomes saturated with calcium and magnesium, it must be recharged. The recharging is done by passing a salt (brine) solution through the resin. The sodium replaces the calcium and magnesium which are discharged in the waste water. Hard water treated with an ion exchange water softener has sodium added. According to the Water Quality Association (WQA), the ion exchange softening process adds sodium at the rate of about 8 mg/liter for each grain of hardness removed per gallon of water For example, if the water has a hardness of 10 grains per gallon, it will contain about 80 mg/liter of sodium after being softened in an ion exchange water softener if all hardness minerals are removed.
Before selecting a mechanical water softener, test water for hardness and iron content. When selecting a water softener, the regeneration control system, the hardness removal capacity and the iron limitations are three important elements to consider. You may not need to soften the water, but just control the iron and manganese.
There are three common regeneration control systems. These include a time-clock control (you program the clock to regenerate on a fixed schedule); water meter control (regenerates after a fixed amount of water has passed through the softener); and hardness sensor control (sensor detects hardness of the water leaving the unit, and signals softener when regeneration is needed)
Hardness removal capacity, between regenerations, will vary with units. Softeners with small capacities must regenerate more often. Your daily softening need depends on the amount of water used daily in your household and the hardness of your water. To determine your daily hardness removal need, multiply daily household water use (measured in gallons) by the hardness of the water (measured in grains per gallon).
Summary: - Hard water is not a health hazard, but dealing with hard water in the home can be a nuisance. The hardness (calcium and magnesium concentration) of water can be approximated with a home-use water testing kit, or can be measured more accurately with a laboratory water test. Water hardness can be managed with packaged water softeners or with a mechanical ion exchange softening unit.
Water Pollution & Diseases
Sources of Hardness Minerals in Drinking Water: - Water is a good solvent and picks up impurities easily. Pure water tasteless, colorless, and odorless is often called the universal solvent. When water is combined with carbon dioxide to form very weak carbonic acid, an even better solvent result. As water moves through soil and rock, it dissolves very small amounts of minerals and holds them in solution. Calcium and magnesium dissolved in water are the two most common minerals that make water "hard."
Indications of Hard Water: - Hard water interferes with almost every cleaning task from laundering and dishwashing to bathing and personal grooming. Clothes laundered in hard water may look dingy and feel harsh and scratchy. Dishes and glasses may be spotted when dry. Hard water may cause a film on glass shower doors, shower walls, bathtubs, sinks, faucets, etc. Hair washed in hard water may feel sticky and look dull. Water flow may be reduced b deposits in pipes
Dealing with hard water problems in the home can be a nuisance. The amount of hardness minerals in water affects the amount of soap and detergent necessary for cleaning. Soap used in hard water combines with the minerals to form a sticky soap curd. Some synthetic detergents are less effective in hard water because the active ingredient is partially inactivated by hardness, even though it stays dissolved. Bathing with soap in hard water leaves a film of sticky soap curd on the skin. The film may prevent removal of soil and bacteria. Soap curd interferes with the return of skin to its normal, slightly acid condition, and may lead to irritation. Soap curd on hair may make it dull, lifeless and difficult to manage
When doing laundry in hard water, soap curds lodge in fabric during washing to make fabric stiff and rough. Incomplete soil removal from laundry causes graying of white fabric and the loss of brightness in colors. A sour odor can develop in clothes. Continuous laundering in hard water can shorten the life of clothes. In addition, soap curds can deposit on dishes, bathtubs and showers, and all water fixtures
Potential Health Effects: - Hard water is not a health hazard. In fact, the National Research Council (National Academy of Sciences) states that hard drinking water generally contributes a small amount toward total calcium and magnesium human dietary needs. They further state that in some instances, where dissolved calcium and magnesium are very high, water could be a major contributor of calcium and magnesium to the diet
Water Testing: - If you are on a municipal water system, the water supplier can tell you the hardness level of the water they deliver. If you have a private water supply, you can have the water tested for hardness. Most water testing laboratories offer hardness tests for a fee. Also many companies that sell water treatment equipment offer hardness tests. When using these water tests, be certain you understand the nature of the test, the water condition being measured, and the significance of the test results. An approximate estimate of water hardness can be obtained without the aid of outside testing facilities. Water hardness testing kits are available for purchase through water testing supply companies. If more accurate measurements are needed, contact a testing laboratory
Mechanical water softening units can be permanently installed into the plumbing system to continuously remove calcium and magnesium. Water softeners operate on the ion exchange process. In this process, water passes through a media bed, usually suffocated polystyrene beads. The beads are supersaturated with sodium. The ion exchange process takes place as hard water passes through the softening material. The hardness minerals attach themselves to the resin beads while sodium on the resin beads is released simultaneously into the water. When the resin becomes saturated with calcium and magnesium, it must be recharged. The recharging is done by passing a salt (brine) solution through the resin. The sodium replaces the calcium and magnesium which are discharged in the waste water. Hard water treated with an ion exchange water softener has sodium added. According to the Water Quality Association (WQA), the ion exchange softening process adds sodium at the rate of about 8 mg/liter for each grain of hardness removed per gallon of water For example, if the water has a hardness of 10 grains per gallon, it will contain about 80 mg/liter of sodium after being softened in an ion exchange water softener if all hardness minerals are removed.
Before selecting a mechanical water softener, test water for hardness and iron content. When selecting a water softener, the regeneration control system, the hardness removal capacity and the iron limitations are three important elements to consider. You may not need to soften the water, but just control the iron and manganese.
There are three common regeneration control systems. These include a time-clock control (you program the clock to regenerate on a fixed schedule); water meter control (regenerates after a fixed amount of water has passed through the softener); and hardness sensor control (sensor detects hardness of the water leaving the unit, and signals softener when regeneration is needed)
Hardness removal capacity, between regenerations, will vary with units. Softeners with small capacities must regenerate more often. Your daily softening need depends on the amount of water used daily in your household and the hardness of your water. To determine your daily hardness removal need, multiply daily household water use (measured in gallons) by the hardness of the water (measured in grains per gallon).
Summary: - Hard water is not a health hazard, but dealing with hard water in the home can be a nuisance. The hardness (calcium and magnesium concentration) of water can be approximated with a home-use water testing kit, or can be measured more accurately with a laboratory water test. Water hardness can be managed with packaged water softeners or with a mechanical ion exchange softening unit.
What Is Water Disease ?
Water & Diseases: Water is a gift of nature. The total amount of water on the earth is finite, while human’s capacity for pollution is accelerating fast with the growth of population, agriculture & industry across the globe. Local water bodies may very quickly be exhausted and become polluted due to greed and ignorance; water can become a source of death and disease rather than life. Today, at least one-fifth of all people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water. In developing countries, most cities discharge 80 to 90% of the untreated sewage directly into rivers and streams, which are used for drinking, washing and bathing. This lack of sewage treatment has allowed dangerous microorganism to spread water borne disease; particularly diseases transmitted by vectors which live in the water environment account for about a third of all deaths in the world.
The growing pollution of our rivers constitutes the biggest threat to public health. Polluted water lead to various gastrointestinal problems, liver infections, cancer, etc. Children are often the worst affected, dying in large numbers because of diarrhea.
Water-related diseases: - The water-related infections of man are extremely numerous and diverse. In general the following are the ways in which diseases may be carried by water.
Pathogenic organisms are transmitted from one person to another through their domestic water supply (e.g.) Cholera, typhoid and hepatitis. Inadequate water supply, lack of personal cleanliness-(e.g.) trachoma and skin infection. Infection transmitted by organism which lives in water-(e.g.) helminthes (parasitic flukes) that spends part of their life cycle in water. Insects vectors which are related in some way to water transmit infection (e.g.) Yellow fever, malaria etc.
Why to Allow any Contaminants in Drinking Water? All sources of drinking water contain some naturally occurring contaminants, because water is the universal solvent, many materials are easily dissolved upon contact. At low levels, these contaminants generally are not harmful in our drinking water. Removing all contaminants would be extremely expensive and in nearly all cases would not provide greater protection of health. A few of the naturally occurring substances may actually improve the taste of drinking water and may have nutritional values at low levels.
Sources of Water Pollutants: - Direct Additions: - Discharge of domestic, industrial or agricultural effluents. Direct application of herbicides to control water plants that interfere with human’s use for freshwaters. Direct application of insecticides to fresh water to destroy larvae of mosquitoes, the vector of malaria. Molluscicides widely used in the tropics to control the snail vectors of schistosomiasis.
Indirect additions: - Run-off of insecticides and herbicides applied to the land. Carelessly dumped waste pesticides and their empty containers in pools or streams. Land fill sites and toxic waste dumps contaminate ground water.
Types of pollutants found in water: - Organic pollutants, Inorganic pollutants, Thermal pollutants, Radioactive materials
Watered Down Safety: -You drink a glass of water that looks safe and tastes okay, and you don’t feel any the worse afterwards. So what’s the worry about the water? The problem is that diseases do not develop all of a sudden. Contaminants damage cells little by little, yet it may take years, or even decades, for the whole organ to fail or for tests to find cancer. This is why safe water is of such importance. You drink water every day, yet you may not know for 50 years whether the water you drank was good or bad for you. Actually, you will never know if it was the water, the food, the air, or bad luck. Here are some alarming statistics. The National Resources Defense Council (a nonprofit, public environment watchdog agency) reports that over two-third of the nation’s water treatment plants are obsolete and perhaps unsafe. Depletion of dissolved oxygen (the recommended do level for natural water is 4 to 6 ppm)
SOME WATER RELATED DISEASES AND THEIR CAUSATIVE ORGANISM
Diseases
Causative Organism
Mode of spread
Symptoms
Bacteria
Typhoid
Salmonella typhi Ingestion of contaminated food, water, milk, unwashed raw vegetables and flies.
Continuous fever which progressively increases day by day, the temperature being higher in the evening than in the morning. Accompanied by body aches, headache and constipation Hemorrhage from ulceration in the small intestine.
Cholera
Vibrio cholerae
Ingestion of water or food contaminated by the bacteria from the stool of a cholera patient.
Painless diarrhea followed by vomiting; patient may pass 30 to 40 stools per day which soon become typically watery and colorless with flakes of mucus floating in then.
Bacteria dysentery
Shigella spp.
Through contaminated food, water and by direct personal contact.
Diarrhea, with the presence of blood and mucus in the stools accompanied by severe gripping pain in the abdomen. Stools are not too frequent (4-10 per day) and the fecal matter is scanty .Patient looks ill.
Leptospirosis Leptospira Primary hosts are rodents which carry the organism in their kidneys and the patient may become infected by wading or swimming in water contaminated with the rodent’s urine.
Fever, pain in legs, nausea, vomiting are common congestion of the conjunctival blood vessels around the corneas of the eyes.
Viruses
Infective hepatitis
Hepatitis virus
Stools that contain virus contaminating the water and food
Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea accompanied by the fever. The urine is dark colored. Eye & skin have yellow coloration.
Protozoa
Amoebic dysentery
Endameba histolytica
Ingestion of cysts in food and water.
Abdominal discomfort to diarrhea, with or without the presence of blood or mucus in the stools, accompanied by fever, chills and gripping pain in the abdomen.
Diarrhea
Guardia (Lamblia)intestinal
Cysts which are voided with the feces and enter the new hosts in food or water.
Intestinal disorders leading to gastric pain, abdominal discomfort, loss of appetite, headache and loose bowels.
Helminths
Bilharzias
Schistosomaspp.
Eggs of the flukes pass out with human feces or urine and if they reach fresh water, develop into miracidia larvae which infect snails. The herbaria stage develops in the snails and on leaving the host, herbaria penetrate the skin of humans wading in the water.
Allergy-like itch, rash, aches, fever, eosinophilia, etc. When infection is heavy, the egg may be deposited in the arterioles of the lungs causing cardio-pulmonary schistosomiasis or corpulmonale or ayerza disease, which may lead to congestive heart failure.
Guinea worm
Dracunculus medinensis
Unfiltered water containing the infected copepods.
Blister near the ankle, burns around the blister, allergy and aches.
What Is Water Quality ?
FAQ'S about Water Usage & Quality What do we use water for? - We use large amounts of water each day, as water serves many different purposes. We use water to drink, to do the dishes, to take a shower, to flush the toilet, to cook dinner and for many other purposes. But water is not only used for domestic purposes, humans also use water in the industries and in agriculture. In agriculture water is mainly used to water crops, but in the industries it serves many different purposes. It can serve as an ingredient of a product we produce, but it can also be a part of the whole production process. Water can be used to cool substances in the production process, for transportation and conditioning of raw materials, for boiling or cooking, for flushing, as a cleaning agent and for product transport by shipping. How much water does a person use each day? Americans use an average of 168 litres a person each day. For Dutch people this is about 135 litres. This water is used for different purposes.
How long can water be stored? : - One should pay special attention to how water is stored. Water should be stored in a cool, dark and dry place and it should be stored away from cleaning supplies and other chemicals. Water can pick up odors from other substances that we cannot detect in the air, so one should always pay attention to the properties of other substances that are stored with the water.
Why does tap water often smell like chlorine? : - Drinking water has to be protected from micro organisms and contaminants that can enter the water through the pipelines that transport it to households. This happens by means of disinfection with various disinfection agents, chlorine being the most widely used one. Chlorine is a very effective disinfectant, which is used to kill any harmful bacteria that might be present in the water source. The amount of chlorine that is used is based on the amount of water that is treated, the amount of contaminants that must be controlled and the time it takes for the water to reach the first house. Chlorine levels are usually low, but in some rural areas there are more dangers to drinking water and the levels of chlorine that are used are a bit higher. People can than smell it when they tap water. When one's tap water smells like chlorine it does not mean a danger to the people that drink it. Chlorine levels used in drinking water are not high enough to form a serious threat to anyone's health. If the water has a chlorine smell, it may actually indicate that not enough chlorine is being added to the system. By increasing the amount of chlorine used at the treatment plant, different forms of chlorine are created in the water, which diminish chlorine odors.
Which factors determine water quality? : - Water quality is determined by the presence and quantity of contaminants, by physical/ chemical factors such as pH and conductivity, by the number of salts present and by the presence of nutrients. Humans largely influence all these factors, as they discharge their waste in water and add all kinds of substances and contaminants to water that are not naturally present.
What is the difference between salt water and freshwater? : - Salt water is water that contains a certain amount of salts. This means that its conductivity is higher and its taste much saltier when one drinks it. Salt water is not suited to be used as drinking water, because salt drains water from human bodies. When humans drink salt water they risk dehydration. If we want to drink seawater, it needs to be desalinated first. Salt water can be found everywhere on the surface of the earth, in the oceans, in rivers and in saltwater ponds. About 71% of the earth is covered with salt water. Freshwater is water with a dissolved salt concentration of less than 1%. There are two kinds of freshwater reservoirs: standing bodies of freshwater, such as lakes, ponds and inland wetlands and floating bodies of freshwater, such as streams and rivers. These bodies of water cover only a small part of the earth's surface, and their locations are unrelated to climate. Only about 1% of the earth's surface is covered with freshwater, whereas 41% of all known fish species live in this water. Fresh water zones are usually closely connected to land; therefore they are often threatened by a constant input of organic matter, inorganic nutrients, and pollutants.
How is water quality assessed? : - To determine water quality, certified agencies take samples; small amounts of water in a medium which can be tested in a laboratory. Laboratories test these samples on various factors, and see if they suffice water quality standards. One of these factors is the number of colonies of coli form bacteria; these are an indicator for drinking or swimming water quality. Another factor is the concentration of certain contaminants and other substances.
What are water quality certificates? : - When water serves a certain purpose, such as swimming water or drinking water, people that use it need to know whether it is safe. A water quality certificate is a piece of paper that is given out by a certified agency for water quality assessment, after the assessments have taken place, when the company is content about the water quality. These certificates show people that water is safe to swim in or to drink. Water quality certificates are given out for example to pool owners. Bottled water sometimes includes a safety brand on the bottles, which shows that a certificate has been given to the supplying company.
What Is Water Impurity ?
FAQ'S about Water Usage & Quality What do we use water for? - We use large amounts of water each day, as water serves many different purposes. We use water to drink, to do the dishes, to take a shower, to flush the toilet, to cook dinner and for many other purposes. But water is not only used for domestic purposes, humans also use water in the industries and in agriculture. In agriculture water is mainly used to water crops, but in the industries it serves many different purposes. It can serve as an ingredient of a product we produce, but it can also be a part of the whole production process. Water can be used to cool substances in the production process, for transportation and conditioning of raw materials, for boiling or cooking, for flushing, as a cleaning agent and for product transport by shipping. How much water does a person use each day? Americans use an average of 168 litres a person each day. For Dutch people this is about 135 litres. This water is used for different purposes.
How long can water be stored? : - One should pay special attention to how water is stored. Water should be stored in a cool, dark and dry place and it should be stored away from cleaning supplies and other chemicals. Water can pick up odors from other substances that we cannot detect in the air, so one should always pay attention to the properties of other substances that are stored with the water.
Why does tap water often smell like chlorine? : - Drinking water has to be protected from micro organisms and contaminants that can enter the water through the pipelines that transport it to households. This happens by means of disinfection with various disinfection agents, chlorine being the most widely used one. Chlorine is a very effective disinfectant, which is used to kill any harmful bacteria that might be present in the water source. The amount of chlorine that is used is based on the amount of water that is treated, the amount of contaminants that must be controlled and the time it takes for the water to reach the first house. Chlorine levels are usually low, but in some rural areas there are more dangers to drinking water and the levels of chlorine that are used are a bit higher. People can than smell it when they tap water. When one's tap water smells like chlorine it does not mean a danger to the people that drink it. Chlorine levels used in drinking water are not high enough to form a serious threat to anyone's health. If the water has a chlorine smell, it may actually indicate that not enough chlorine is being added to the system. By increasing the amount of chlorine used at the treatment plant, different forms of chlorine are created in the water, which diminish chlorine odors.
Which factors determine water quality? : - Water quality is determined by the presence and quantity of contaminants, by physical/ chemical factors such as pH and conductivity, by the number of salts present and by the presence of nutrients. Humans largely influence all these factors, as they discharge their waste in water and add all kinds of substances and contaminants to water that are not naturally present.
What is the difference between salt water and freshwater? : - Salt water is water that contains a certain amount of salts. This means that its conductivity is higher and its taste much saltier when one drinks it. Salt water is not suited to be used as drinking water, because salt drains water from human bodies. When humans drink salt water they risk dehydration. If we want to drink seawater, it needs to be desalinated first. Salt water can be found everywhere on the surface of the earth, in the oceans, in rivers and in saltwater ponds. About 71% of the earth is covered with salt water. Freshwater is water with a dissolved salt concentration of less than 1%. There are two kinds of freshwater reservoirs: standing bodies of freshwater, such as lakes, ponds and inland wetlands and floating bodies of freshwater, such as streams and rivers. These bodies of water cover only a small part of the earth's surface, and their locations are unrelated to climate. Only about 1% of the earth's surface is covered with freshwater, whereas 41% of all known fish species live in this water. Fresh water zones are usually closely connected to land; therefore they are often threatened by a constant input of organic matter, inorganic nutrients, and pollutants.
How is water quality assessed? : - To determine water quality, certified agencies take samples; small amounts of water in a medium which can be tested in a laboratory. Laboratories test these samples on various factors, and see if they suffice water quality standards. One of these factors is the number of colonies of coli form bacteria; these are an indicator for drinking or swimming water quality. Another factor is the concentration of certain contaminants and other substances.
What are water quality certificates? : - When water serves a certain purpose, such as swimming water or drinking water, people that use it need to know whether it is safe. A water quality certificate is a piece of paper that is given out by a certified agency for water quality assessment, after the assessments have taken place, when the company is content about the water quality. These certificates show people that water is safe to swim in or to drink. Water quality certificates are given out for example to pool owners. Bottled water sometimes includes a safety brand on the bottles, which shows that a certificate has been given to the supplying company.
What Is Water Scarcity ?
Water Scarcity: - Water covers 70% of our planet, and it is easy to think that it will always be plentiful. However, freshwater—the stuff we drink, bathe in, irrigate our farm fields with—is incredibly rare. Only 3% of the world’s water is fresh water, and two-thirds of that is tucked away in frozen glaciers or otherwise unavailable for our use.
Water is our past. Water is our future. Without it, we cannot survive, and there are no alternatives. Many people have likened the issue of water scarcity to our current economic struggle over petroleum. Without petroleum, we can’t drive our cars, and maybe we have to walk to school or work. This is not the case for water, as we are not dealing with simple inconveniences (as grandiose as they may be), we are dealing with the issue of sustaining life itself.
As a result, some 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to water, and a total of 2.7 billion find water scarce for at least one month of the year. Inadequate sanitation is also a problem for 2.4 billion people—they are exposed to diseases, such as cholera and typhoid fever, and other water-borne illnesses. Two million people, mostly children, die each year from diarrheal diseases alone.
Many of the water systems that keep ecosystems thriving and feed a growing human population have become stressed. Rivers, lakes and aquifers are drying up or becoming too polluted to use. More than half the world’s wetlands have disappeared. Agriculture consumes more water than any other source and wastes much of that through inefficiencies. Climate change is altering patterns of weather and water around the world, causing shortages and droughts in some areas and floods in others.
At the current consumption rate, this situation will only get worse. By 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population may face water shortages. And ecosystems around the world will suffer even more.
The human population has successfully harnessed many of the world’s natural waterways—building dams, water wells, vast irrigation systems and other structures that have allowed civilizations to grow and thrive. But water systems are increasingly stressed, and some rivers, lakes and aquifers are drying up.
Pollution: - Water pollution comes from many sources including pesticides and fertilizers that wash away from farms, untreated human wastewater, and industrial waste. Even groundwater is not safe from pollution, as many pollutants can leach into underground aquifers. Some effects are immediate, as when harmful bacteria from human waste contaminate water and make it unfit to drink or swim in. In other instances such as toxic substances from industrial processes—it may take years to build up in the environment and food chain before their effects are fully recognized.
Agriculture: - Agriculture uses 70% of the world’s accessible freshwater, but some 60% of this is wasted due to leaky irrigation systems, inefficient application methods as well as the cultivation of crops that are too thirsty for the environment in which they are grown. This wasteful use of water is drying out rivers, lakes and underground aquifers. Many countries that produce large amounts of food—including India, China, Australia, Spain and the United States—have reached or are close to reaching their water resource limits. Added to these thirsty crops are the fact that agriculture also generates considerable freshwater pollution – both through fertilizers as well as pesticides – all of which affect both humans and other species.
Population Growth: - In the last 50 years, the human population has more than doubled. This rapid growth with its accompanying economic development and industrialization—has transformed water ecosystems around the world and resulted in a massive loss of biodiversity. Today, 41% of the world’s population lives in river basins that are under water stress. Concern about water availability grows as freshwater use continues at unsustainable levels. Furthermore, these new faces also need food, shelter, and clothing, thus resulting in additional pressure on freshwater through the production of commodities and energy.
Methods: - To analyze the situation of water scarcity, enough data must be present to form a usable model. Since there is not sufficient global data to form a useful model, we decided to base our analysis on a developed nation, ideally the United States. By using data from case studies performed by Bouwer and Gleick, we created a simple model which replicates water supply and usage is the US. The stock used for the main water supply consisted of two of the largest reservoirs of usable fresh water, the Great Lakes and the Ogallala aquifer. Running the simulation into the future, the issue of water scarcity becomes salient.
Discussion: - There is currently a more than ample supply of renewable water to sustain the country. Recreational uses aside, water demands are tied directly to industry, agriculture, and domestic purposes. These three factors increase with population, which is constantly increasing. For our first run, no used water is recycled. This is done to illustrate the limitations of the water supply in the world- in light of increasing populations; there is not enough water to sustain the world.
Solutions: - In order to make any improvements regarding the issue of water scarcity in our world today, more than one solution is necessary. Although water scarcity is not a substantial problem to every country currently, many countries feel the effects of water scarcity and the issue must be addressed. If this issue is not dealt with soon, it will become a problem for many other countries in the near future, some which are already beginning to feel the effects. There are several actions that would be effective in preserving and conserving water.
One possible solution is the use of desalinization technology. This system is described as filtering salty water through membranes and removing the salt through electro dialysis and reverse osmosis. This procedure has worked for about many countries. With this system, these nations are currently producing six billion gallons of usable water a day. Recently, however, the desalinization process has become much more practical for metropolitan areas and reverse-osmosis systems have made significant improvements.
Despite these improvements, only 2.3% of wastewater that is generated by municipalities is currently being recycled and reused. If water were saved by utilizing reclaimed water for irrigation in. Globally implementing simple recycling and filtration systems would be a relatively easy task that would reap outstanding benefits. Making these global advancements would be a monetarily and environmentally friendly step in the right direction towards the reduction of global water scarcity.
The task of conserving water can also be conquered on a smaller scale, beginning with small improvements in individual homes. One solution is to develop and mandate more efficient household water heaters. In old homes with poor insulation, the time needed to heat up the water from a faucet or showerhead can often is extensive. With heated pipes and better insulation throughout the system, this wasted water would no longer be an issue as hot water would immediately pour from the faucet. If this improvement was mandated by the government and supported financially where necessary, the benefits would be sizeable. In addition to conservation of water, heating costs would also be lower. In particularly old homes, heating costs for the entire house can be extremely high, especially in the winter. If this idea can be advertised to homeowners as environmentally friendly as well as cost-effective, it should have a very high support rate. Although this is only a minute progression towards improving the issue of water scarcity, every achievable method towards preventing this from becoming a large-scale problem is worthwhile.
Plainly, more than one solution is necessary in order to reduce or solve the issue of water scarcity that the world faces today. Any action, whether it may be improving insulation of water heating systems within the home, or composing multinational treaties, is important and must be taken into consideration. Our world currently faces a dilemma regarding a limited water supply and if the issue continues to progress without significant alterations, the consequences will be detrimental.
Conclusion: - Water scarcity is a problem of the future. There are many concerns in the world today, and water scarcity is currently in the backseat. Our world can only address so many problems at a time, and we tend to put them off until the need to find a solution becomes dire. All the research and projections we have found show that this will indeed be a dire situation in as early as 20 years from now. Children are already dying in large numbers in poverty-stricken regions due to preventable waterborne illness, and the destruction of natural ecosystems is greatly reducing fresh water biodiversity.